Training Log Archive: ba-ba

33.77km. Duddon, Hardknott, Eskdale, Birker fell from Ulpha

Good night at Wasdale Head last night. Beers seemed to keep my legs loose (and my guts looser... I'll blame the race!)

Parked at the duddon bridge in Ulpha. Brief nap to be woken by some weird wicken/druidess palarva - 10 or so ladies all in white, flowers in their hair, single beat drum, singing a song in procession to the river. All a bit summer isles but no sign of a wicker man or sounds of a mass drowning suicide so all good.

Driving back from Wasdale a fortnight back both Jack and I said as we drove over birker fell how much we'd rather be riding it, so we returned with bikes. Jack's crank was falling off as we rode up duddon but thankfully found some cyclists with an 8mm Alan key so it could be tightened (between us we couldn't beat 6mm). Hardknott was ok, thugging up the steep bits before settling down on the easier grades. Tarmac on the descent was shit though! Birker fell was a delight, even if the normally stunning views were diminished by clouds hiding the Scafel massif - got enough views yesterday mind.

I was in my (not very pro but looks fairly swish) cycling kit, Jack in cargo shorts and a buff so i felt a bit of a bell. Stuck with flat pedals and trainers in case i had to get off and push, but legs responded ok to yesterday. L knee niggled a bit but managed it better than last weekend.

Wasdale champs race, 15th
(2mins running to old start point)

Lovely day and glad to put the 2013 nightmare to rest on the race that made me fall for proper long fell races.
The plan to enjoy and run my own race, especially early and when low down in the heat, worked well. Settled in with a group that left me a bit on the climbs but never by too much. It had scoffer in it so the lines around to pillar were nailed, and happy to be around Steve Heb and Sam Stead (and, now I know who it was, Al Anthony).

Skirting Scoat we out-lined and caught a pack ahead so there was a big group of about 12-15 at pillar, of which I was one of the last to summit. No-one was risking going ahead of Scoff, which was a bit off, so I took the lead over the more technical bit of the run off and was pleased to gap the rest of the group with easily - bored well fornthe descents off gable and ScafellP. Stopped at Black Sail to re-tie shoes so was back to back of the group again, but only MMB ran off the front on the grinder to beck head.

Got up Gable with Sam, a group of Scoff, Kieran H and Heb just ahead. Closed them down off Gable and we passed a cramping Lamby and a suffering John Helme - bit surprised as he has done very well in the Lakeland classics so far. At Styhead Cal Tinnion and Swifty arrived from the right having gone walkabout. Andy shot off to regain places. Suffered a bit znd lost a bit of concentration att the start of the drag to esk hause, Scoff eased away. Thankfully Sam picked me up and helped me back to Scoff and past John Helme. There were plenty of people close behind at the hause, but over broad and Ill crags those who eased away on the runnable stuff slowly came back to me (Swifty was walking after pulling a big gap. Knew he'd come back).

Quite enjoy barrelling down the Like when it's choc full of walkers. Closed in on the pack ahead, dropping Al, passing scoff, Sam and Heb in lingmell col. Latched on Kieran and Cal on the rocky bit and passed a cramping J-App, but then i cramped, quick stretch but legs started to work when I heard J behind running again. Over style fine but he got me in the last field, but I managed to reel in Cal.

Finished ahead of everyone I was in a group with and picked off a good few fast starters and exploders. Didn't feel top notch but ground it out well, tactically good and a brilliant day out.


http://live.sportident.co.uk/home/multistage/stage...
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Looking forward to a day out at Wasdale. It's not going to be the peak of the summer I'd initially hoped, but trying to go in with a positive mindset to enjoy, keep on grinding and hopefully pick of some fast starters.
I'm then going to take some time off 'running' in an attempt to kick this fatigue (i will probably commute a bit as it's nicer than the bus, and will yomp in the hills as it's good fun) - I've got an entry for Borrowdale so might do very little before that.

Pissing about on Bleaklow with Dan and Tom. Nice to see it in daylight and warm weather. Dan nailed the direct Trigger line to shelf stones!

still feeling pretty leggy despite sleep being pretty good at the moment.

Very easy round Graves Park with Han.
My L knee feels fine when running but niggles a bit during day-to-day life.