Training Log Archive: ba-ba

https://live.opentracking.co.uk/bgr2020/?n=5
About bloody time.

What a fantastic day.

Most people I know think I’ve already done a BG but it was always a case of “I’ll go and do it at some point but I’m not really willing to sacrifice a racing season for the prep and recovery required”. As is over the last 8 years I’ve managed to build up enough fitness and endurance and knowledge of the route that I reckoned I could get round with a few longer runs in the bank and no unnecessary recceing. Helping Adam’s Lakes 24h attempts and Steve’s Wainwrights had usurped the the excitement of BG support for me, but I was ready to rekindle it.

March’s Welsh champs race was obviously the season opener and closer so thoughts meandered to a BG. Maybe in May or June. Lockdown persisted and in this way I’m glad it did as it meant I could get 3 good months of training in, 10h+ a week with plenty of climb. Working early shifts for social distancing purposes meant more time for decent weekday runs, 500m+ height gain becoming the norm, and 20 miles on a Sunday with well over 1000m of climb likewise. A couple of longer runs to test the waters and stick my head above the parapet with some 100 mile weeks with hefty climb, returning to normal mileage the week afterwards to maintain consistency. A 6h20, cruise of the Lyke Wake (40 miles, 1400m) gave confidence and although I didn’t feel as good after this as I had hoped, it was better than the usual effect race-recover-taper-race has on me at this time of a normal season. As it was Useless Boris shortly announced lockdown easing so a BG in 2.5 weeks time was on the cards and reducing the time on feet was acceptable.

Covid restrictions, the idealistic idea of going fairly low on support, and that it would be nice to share the day with someone else, lead to me dropping Jack Wright a message. He’d had some good days in the hills during lockdown and I figured it was about time he did a BG as well. He didn’t take much persuading and Selwyn was very excited. I looked at schedules and a few pacers, whilst everyone in Ambleside wanted to help Captain Jack. It was looking like a busier round than I initially envisaged, but then we had a crack crew and the opportunity of a fast time. I think I’ll leave lower key for the Paddy and Ramsey and was happy to lean in to the bells and whistles of a BG. The plan was to stick together for legs 1 and 2 and hopefully for the whole thing, but we bolstered the pacer crew from leg 3 onwards so we could go separate if we needed to.

We settled on a 19.5h schedule from Lucy and sanity checked against Malley’s 19h20. This was conservative but we know that setting off too quick can be catastrophic. I think we were both thinking something starting with 18 would be good, but of course getting around and enjoying was the first thought. The date was selected before I checked the long range forecast, where the predicted weather window held for the 12 days before the round. The weather was perfect.

We arrived at Moot Hall to find Charlie Lowther also setting off at 4 on an 18.12 schedule. We let them shoot off and it was an enjoyable SPOOK leg 1 with Malley and Jack Miller. 70mins to Skiddaw was 7 mins faster than schedule but felt very easy. It was misty and Malley was using 5 year old knowledge so initially missed the massive motorway over Hare crag. The Parachute drop off the Blen was a bit hairier than expected but probably easier on the legs.

Leg 2 was an all Ambleside affair, with Tommy Shitwick, Pup Harris and Corny. My hamstring started to twinge on the steep part of Clough Head but thankfully never got any worse. We were moving easily, knocking chunks off the splits along the Dodds and Corny said this felt more like 17h pace We had company from Rob Browne and Floyd for a section and Pup’s anecdote about mowing Wendy Dodd’s overgrown lawn was a particular innuendo-laden highlight. Descending to Grisedale Tarn my Mudclaws did what all Mudclaws eventually do as the heel cup parted company from the sole. I nursed them into Dunmail just behind Jack, though Selwyn could keep up with me.

Nearly an hour up at Dunmail but thankfully everyone was there – Jack Wood just. Shoe and shirt change and some noodles on the climb up Steel Fell, moving and climbing well. We had Tom Fellbaum, Josh Jardine, Jack Wood and Matt Reedy as support, with a few hangers on for sections. We made good progress across the Langdales and taking 5 minutes off the Bowfell split was another boost. Scafell Pike was busy but we got through the crowds quickly only to catch Charlie’s round at Broad Stand and have to wait 5 minutes or so for our rope up, courtesy of his crew, Katie Wright and Torben. We hadn’t seen Charlie since we were at the bottom of Great Calva and them on the ridge, so we had gained plenty of time on them over leg 3. Rakehead scree descent was excellent and we hit Wasdale in good shape.

Jack Wood ran through on the leg 4 (bold call given his renown at bonking) and I had Joe Kenny with me – a fellow Helm member that I’ve not really met because I’m a remote member, but he’s fast and planning a BG in a few weeks. Jack had Ben Abdelnoor and Paul Tierney. We climbed Yewbarrow well but my stomach flipped a bit so Jack was about a minute or so ahead. Despite this I took 8 minutes out of the splits to each of Yewbarrow and Red Pike, went through Charlie’s group and sub-18 was well on. Jack looked a bit tired on the out-and-back to Steeple and by Black Sail pass he was only a few minutes ahead of me. But I suddenly felt lethargic as we started the climb and then I tried to go to the wrong summit of Kirk Fell (this is the one peak I’ve never approached from the BG direction or been to in a race), losing a few more minutes. I was still moving strongly and wasn’t grinding to a halt, but definitely halting to a grind. Kept moving over the Gables, made sure of both summits on Grey Knotts before mincing into Honister.

Had a good boost from Olly Crudge, Craig Fishwick and Hannah on leg 5 – though my initial plan to drop Hannah on the up and Craig on the descent didn’t happen. The impetus had maybe gone a bit but still moving pretty well. Hit the road and changed shoes to see Charlie had closed me down. We managed to get moving well and 7 min/mile felt pretty great considering. Pushed the last section for 17.40 and downed my finishers pint. Jack cruised ahead for 16:58; Charlie was 5 mins or so behind me.

A cracking day out on a big weekend in the Lakes. Excellent company on the hills and good road support from Hannah, Andy and Mel. My parents showed up a few times as well.

C • Well done 8

Tallentire and Bridekirk. Mostly shuffling along. Legs a bit deadened after a week sitting on my arse.

Nice and easy from Gribdale.

Ultb 16 as a cool down from painting

ULTB16 + extra.