Calderdale Really 2012 Leg 2

Mixed feelings about our run. After a night out on the Friday I've come to the conclusion that I really can't hack booze any longer! What I would have downed 20 years ago most nights in the Navy now brings me pathetically to my knees; Saturday was written off. An early start on Sunday morning still saw me tired but after a warm up we got the baton in sixth place and I seemed to be moving okay. Andy seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilating and not quite getting going but as we got onto the tops heading towards Studley Pike he really got going and I had a very hard time keeping up. Fortunately I was descending better and I got a bit of a breather dropping down to London Road. We had passed two pairs so far and we were just in touch with Todmorden, well maybe a minute behind. If they went wrong we could maybe catch them? Instead we went wrong, Instead of dropping down to the church at Salford we managed to contrive to add an extra few hundred yards and a few of those stop start, double back and head scratching episodes. Preston caught us up and unfortunately followed us in our little misadventure. Anyway Andy shot up the next climb and now I was hyperventilating, my had was throbbing and my legs were jelly! We dropped the Preston pair okay and the final descent I stretched away from Andy and with encouragement from club mates handed over to the next pair.

They promptly got lost!

I've given up drinking again!

Possible Races 2012

Calderdale Relay Leg 2 Weets? Great Lakes Run Wasdale? Borrowdale Ochil 2000 3 Shires or Keilder Blast Ian Hodgson UKA Relay Great Whernside Half Trog or Full Tour of Pendle

Coledale Reflections

Nearly 4 weeks on from Coledale and it's still colouring my training with the stark need to get in long steep climbs and descents and improve my agility over rocky ground. With that in mind I've booked a few days in the National Trust campsite at half term. Should be able to get in good walk and mountain bike outing with the family and either a turn around the northern part of the Wasdale route or a bit more of the Great Lakes run, although that's less likely. I've also got the preceding Friday free so I'll try and get up to Borrowdale.

Great Lakes Run Recce

A very tough day over a tough route. Thoroughly enjoyed having to navigate in low visibility on the tops, having to keep moving fast to keep warm but struggled with the very rocky terrain. I haven't been on Scarfell for some years and I don't think I've been across to Scarfell Pike at all. The weather cleared descending to Slightside and I got great views down to Wasdale and out to sea. The climb out of Mosesale was hard but not as hard as the last descent off Pike o Bliscoe. I might have to rethink that last section, maybe even another recce.