january in numbers

55.41 Miles run but only 11.84 was off road
25987 Feet climbed. That's 14013 off the suggested 10000 a week for BGR training
204.09 Miles ridden, with just 62.38 being on road
1 Metric century completed. Road bike
1 Imperial century completed, if the Strathpuffer counts!
1 Tankards won
15 Lazy days taken
2.5 Jobs applied for

There is obvious room for improvement. However, I've now written a proper training plan that leads right up to the last weekend in June. I may have left things a little late but I don't think all is lost, just yet. Training will start in earnest, just as soon as we get back from holiday!

Yes, we're going back to Scotland. A whole week of playing in blizzard conditions with the assistance of Glenmore Lodge. Hope we don't get snowed in and I'm late back to work...

speed hurt

The combination of being a bit lazy and having some difficulties at work have meant that the glory of Strathpuffer was quiet short lived. In the past week I've managed a couple of hilly road runs, filled in 3 job applications, joined a union but most importantly completed my first ever speed work session.

I've always found the nature of speed work a bit mystifying and could never work out how to incorporate it into my runs. So today after work we both decided it was time to discover for ourselves what lung busting torture could be had if we went to the local track. Well, it's certainly easier to work out distance and pace. All you have to think about is your stride and not whether you're about to tread in dog shit or get run over. It was a revelation. There's certainly a large element of pleasure/pain in these sessions but I really enjoyed it. Just need to do a bit of research now about what type of speed work I should be doing. Any advice greatly received.

strathpuffer: possibly the best race in the world...

I can almost feel my finger tips now and walk unaided. There's a damp pile of kit that needs sorting, bikes requiring attention and a tent in desperate need of drying. And I need to erect a mantelpiece to display my silver tankard. Yes, 2nd Solo Lady Singlespeed, that's me that is! Ok, so Anja McDonald, who won, was in a different league and I actually came 3rd in the Solo category but for me the event was about being my first singlespeed adventure.

The course had a little bit of everything. Fast swooping descents on dense forestry tracks, long and winding climbing that rewarded you with views of snow capped mountains. Even the gloopy muddy parts were fun. The sections of technical granite rock were right on the edge of my ability. I have to admit I didn't manage a clean lap. The weather was just as varied. Beginning with balmy Scottish winter sun, freezing rain, horizontal hail and finally snow. Perfect 'puffer weather.

My plan was to swap bikes after the first quarter. The Kona with its disc brakes, front suspension and 32:18 ratio was meant to be my 'secret' weapon. Giving me comfort and confidence during the long dark hours. However, the bike felt all wrong. It was heavy and unresponsive. I was 15 minuets slower. My lesson learned, do not use a race to test ride a 'new' bike.

So, after one lap I was back on Blackie with 16 hours still to go, and on we went. Pausing occasionally to enjoy the smokey fires set up along the first climb. I only had one mechanical, which was resolved rather too quickly thanks to the kindness of a fellow soloist and Squarewheels.

By 07:30 on Sunday morning I'd had enough. I really thought I couldn't manage another lap. I knew Lisa Kamphausen had just started out and to move back up to 2nd I'd have to catch her and stay in front. I just couldn't do it. Despite Jane's best efforts I refused to go back out. Even the lovely kilted mechanic tried to get me back on my bike. But my race was over. It was time to soak up the atmosphere and savor the moment.

There were some phenomenal performances by other riders. Particularly both Solo winners who rode singlespeeds. Twinkly Dave managed to give me encouragement every time he sprinted past me despite being part of a real race for first place. Also of note where the Bionicon Minxs, who were the only female pair but went on to win the Mixed category.

Strathpuffer is a small yet perfectly formed 24 hour race. The organization was faultless, as was the energy of the marshals. They also gave out a prize for the "Dodgiest Bike", yes Blackie won that too! And if there was a prize for the best support Jane would have won, no contest. All in all a top weekend and well worth the 900 mile round trip.

singlespeeds are GO!

Apart from having a shower and the small matter of a 450 mile drive, I'm ready....well really it's we are ready. Jane's support duties begun at the start of the week with flapjack making, list compiling, keeping me calm when I had no working bikes (due to mechanical ineptitude) and most importantly reminding me that the race will have 17 hours of darkness and that I'll need a LOT more batteries.

Despite this being my 4th event of this kind, I'm still amazed by the sheer amount of stuff that we're going to try to fit in the car. This will be the first time I've taken 2 bikes and all of my biking clothing. It's going to be a tight squeeze to say the least.

9 days of work and a several late panicky nights are not the best preparation but how do you really prepare for staying up all night and riding in circles? I don't even know how long the laps are. I guess it doesn't matter really, as long as I keep going, and going, and going....

against the clock

I made the decision on Friday that I was going to try and ride singlespeed for Strathpuffer. Since then I've stopped doing anything and just mainly been using distraction techniques for ignoring the whole adventure. As Jane has been getting more active I've started eating more biscuits. There's been a direct correlation!

So I've had 4 days of mopping about and halfheartedly getting stuff ready. So far I've achieved a mountainous pile of camping gear in the front room, removing the gears from my other bike, breaking a chain tool, getting Jane to make some flapjacks, washing nearly all of my biking clothes, buying my weight in sugary treats and eating half already and raiding Simon's bike shed for spares. (thank you Simon)

In actual fact it's nearly done. So what if I haven't ridden a bike since last Thursday and neither of my bikes have chains at the moment and that I really haven't been getting enough sleep lately. Might as well start getting excited and try and ignore the sense of impeding doom.

i'm so proud

Today was Jane's first fell race. She's been running for just 10 months. Her only aim was to get round and not come last. She achieved this brilliantly. She's already talking about where she could have gone faster and what the next race is going to be. Unfortunately, due to being at work I didn't get to witness her moment of glory but luckily her dad took some pictures. First race and it was a B Short. Look at her go! This is Jane half way, still over 3 miles to go. I'm so proud...

famous last words

"Do you fancy doing a different route? As the usual's gonna be really muddy?"

So off we went following Tim though a maze of terrace house lined streets, parks and ring roads. 10 minuets in and we hadn't really got off road yet. I think Tim could sense decent amongst the troops and came clean, "we may have missed the turn". This was only the second time he's ridden the route. The other was following some else in the daylight. Certainly the dark clag wasn't helping navigation and there was the small matter of the fine yet persistent drizzle.

All I can say, is that I'm glad we didn't do the 'muddy' route! Last night I had a glimpse into the future and the future is cold, damp and muddy. Perfect Strathpuffer training but I fear it maybe too little too late.

For the benefit of fellow guinea pigs, here's the route we were taken on.

decision time

More road running today but it helped to clear my head after slightly unpleasant day at work. I'm trying to do the most amount of hill in the shortest distance which is making for some pretty boring runs. But I had lots think about today...

Unfortunately Rich is unable to make Strathpuffer and the 'likely suspects' I've been badgering have all politely declined. There's only one thing for it, I'm doing it solo. So, to singlespeed or to not singlespeed, that is the question?

meeting weirdos off the internet

Despite the numerous public safety messages about meeting up with strangers in unpopulated, quiet, unlit areas from the internet, that is precisely what I have been doing today. The plan was to meet up with Jumbly and Trio-I called them by their real names today! and have little singlespeed ride around Hope. Mainly because it would be fun but also we were all too frightened to try the 'just one gear' approach on our own or in the company of geared bikes on such big hills.

What we hadn't planned for was the combined faff of 3, a slight diversion at Fairholmes, oh and the small matter of a blanket covering of snow with the odd bit of treacherous ice thrown in too. All of which ended up with the most magical decent back towards Hope. Thick shimmering blue snow and fading sunlight made for the most intense riding I have done in a long time.

I soon forgot that the weirdos I was riding with were strangers. We chatted happily (some more than others!) as we rode and pushed our way around the Dark Peak. The riding is always great there but today it was made better with the fresh dump of snow and great company.

two edges, a cake and a slice

After hearing tales of cloud and temperature inversions, and the need to get some serious hill work in my legs, Jane and I headed off to Derbyshire for a spot of running today. Our route started from Hathersage which importantly has a lovely cafe with fantastic cake. We took in Stanage and Burbage edges and some other less known (to us) paths. It started off unbelievably cold and overcast but the sun broke though in later part of the run. No cloud inversions though, but as Jane said "you can't chase them, they just happen". Yeh, very philosophical, whilst I was at work last week I know several people who were enjoying such a phenomenon.

Along both edges were hoards of people. It's great to see so many enjoying the outdoors. I spend most of my free time trying to convince friends to take up running/biking but with little success. However, the selfish part of me wishes they'd all stay away, at least on the days that I'm out in pursuit of wilderness.

Anyway, we had a great day out. It was good to get off road again and I chose the best cake. Ginger sponge will always win over a shortbread slice.

1/12 century a month challenge (metric)

I had to do this ride either today or on the 31st and for once in my life I didn't leave things until the last minuet. That doesn't mean that this was a very well planed ride though.

Today was also the first chance in 7 days to have a lie in. So there was no early start and since the road bike hadn't been used since November there was a small amount of faff before setting off. I had a vague idea of where I was heading. Mainly towards a cafe stop (Sherwood Pines) and then back home. However, when I got to half a mile from home I still had at least 8 miles to do. I couldn't quiet remember the conversion of 100km to miles but had an idea that it was less than 65 but more than 60.

The last 8 miles were spent riding up and down the ring road-the flattest and smoothest road near my house. Before I brought the bike inside Jane confirmed that 62.38 miles was just over the century. Next time I'm going to put more thought into the planning stage. I don't want to end up riding along busy roads at dusk when I'm pretty much spent.

100.39km 1550m climbed 23kph Ave.

so, here's the plan...

My only resolution is to get a new job, then the rest will follow...

I hope to enter more local(ish) fell races this year, particularly the mid week summer events. There's also a few classic AL races in the Lakes that I hope to get an entry for. Also on my radar is the Vasque Ultra Series. As for climbing and biking I just hope to do more. Trio's challenge should help with that.

However, my main aim for this year...I don't even know if I can type it, it seems almost arrogant to even assume I can attempt it. Particularly considering my current condition and navigational prowess. But I hope with a bit of clever cross training and a lot of bloody mindedness that by the end of June I'll be in a position to have a go at the Bob Graham Round.

There, I've said it. It's official. Better start getting the mileage/ascent in. And even more importantly, planning some trips to the Lakes for some long days out on the fells. Anyone care to join me?

road run

5 miles. 11 Quality Streets. Could do better.

reset the counters

Things didn't really go to plan this morning. Instead of running into work, and starting as I mean to go on, I had a frustrating snooze-off with the alarm clock. Ended up driving in. Spent the first half of the shift desperately trying to ignore the tin of Quality Street and the second half giving in to the intense boredom of office life and surcoming to the chocolate treats.

However, I did manage a 3.5miler after work, which is about half a mile for every sweet. So the balance is almost resumed. I'm definitely running in tomorrow. Definitely.