tired and i want it all

not been feeling myself all week. tired. no energy. no motivation. personally i blame the clocks going back. anyway, i've been seeking inspiration and making plans. this weekend sees entries open for several races that i'm really keen to have a go at. not wanting to tempt fate i'll not mention them by name until money has changed hands.

but i have been trying to make a real training plan, something which i don't normally do. i've been thinking about why i wasn't ready for an attempt at the bob graham. a lot of it was due to motivation but the real issue was not being organised enough with training. and not being willing to make sacrifices, such as biking less, choosing races over recce's and going to scotland 4 times the beginning of the year instead of the lakes.

is it possible to run long distances and still ride bikes some of the time? even more importantly, is it possible for me to actually stick to a plan!

the omm: bog-o-rama

joints still ache, trainers still muddy, first load of washing done and ibuprofen still being swallowed (by jane). we went with expectations of grueling ups and thigh burning downs. there were weather warnings all week for heavy rain and gails. we had visions of reaching mid camp in the dark, not making it in the allotted time and even 'dnf'ing.

none of these things happened. ok, so there were some hills but they were short and sweet. the rain did fall but nothing torrential. what we hadn't expected was the endless stretches of bog and tussocks, tussocky bog and boggy tussocks. despite being told that this is what the elan valley would be like-no one can prepare you for the shear vastness of moorland dampness!

despite our reservations we did ourselves proud, especially jane. who, yet again, surprised me with her toughness. when i was tiring she was there to play coach and get me back in the game, when i was getting bored of bog hopping, she kept me focused. the mid camp was a test of kit and resolve, with heavy showers and blustery winds. and a very long and muddy toilet que.

we were 'lucky' that we had late start times on both days. the clagg had lifted and navigation consisted mainly of following the muddy trods that weaved their way around the grassy mounds to the next check point.

in some ways i feel a little disappointed that there wasn't more route choice but i've come to the realisation that with the omm, the challenge lies with the 'score' catigories. so, maybe next year a different class but for now we can feel pleased to have completed our first omm and b class at that.

over all we came 93/191 of finishers and 5/11 in the female teams.

a new low

back at the climbing wall last night. still weak and clumsy but eager to get better. another ride planned for this evening, hopefully more singletrack and less weather. with all this other activity i've really neglected the running over the past fortnight. which traditionally means there's a forth coming race....we're off to the omm tomorrow. somehow, and it's not my fault, we've ended up in B class. we've tried to change our category but have been denied. the forecast is for hill fog and rain. this weekend is going to be about pure survival.

what should make things a little easier is that i'm now only 5 lbs off last years weight. it's amazing the difference having a non-desk job makes and the lack biscuits at the end of said desk.

commute.work.ride-the wetter one

another 'straight outta work ride'. this one was a bit wetter, more canal path, less singletrack. one rider shorter but another new face and someone else to chase. james proved yet again, that not everyone you meet via the interweb is a weirdo, even though he rode a bouncy bike.

thumb less tender and nail turning an interesting colour. but those cranks do look lovely. no doubt pictures will follow soon...

as predicted

everything was going well. new bars on and nearly half the weight of the previous one. left pedal off, left crank off. no problems. right pedal, ooh, it's a bit tight. big effort, hand slips, thumb nail chain ring interface. do a little sweary dance. feel a little bit sick. now have a small hole in the middle of the nail that wont stop bleeding. eventually extracted cranks and new ones fitted. no longer able to see the beauty in the polished aluminium. ring-spider is 1/8" ......going to town now to buy a new chain.

skin loss

can't type much. fingers too raw. a great morning at burbage south with a very patient and gracious teacher.

i'm still amazed that adele agreed to take a bunch of weirdo's (well, vikki and jon) off the interent before even vetting us. hope we didn't scare her off!

bouldering on actual factual rock is brilliant, i don't know why it's taken me so long to get outside.

a most productive day

this morning was spent chasing men on fixies. perhaps the most inappropriate bikes for a 4x track. back in time for lunch with visiting vegans and baby. baby is at a stage where she is strangely drawn to hard objects with sharp edges. this afternoon we made final kit checks for the omm, baked and tried not to eat all of the cookies.

tomorrow there are plans for bouldering. but after wednesdays painful trip to the climbing wall my arms still feel like matchsticks. i'm predicting i'll be home by lunch or when all the cookies have gone!

cheeky postie

thanks to stw classifieds, i've had some (very) early birthday presents and the scandal's diet is nearly over. even the postie commented "oh, another part for your bike"!!

no doubt there will be further posts about my skillful spannering.

commute.work.ride

work is good. even better if you get to sneak out a few minutes early. better still if the ride is starting just across the road. can it get any better? well, it didn't rain, the air was warm, trails dry and fast. there was a new face, an old face, a fast pace. plenty of chat and a whiskey stop. the only problem is trying to switch my brain off and get to sleep. work in less than 8 hours....

kinder trog recce

within minutes of leaving the car the drizzle started. but the steady climb to lantern pike kept us warm. touch the summit and straight back down. despite the wet the ground was still hard under foot and the going was good. a bit further down and then there it is, back up we go. the higher we climbed the less we saw. the clag was thick but the path obvious. running along the slippery flagstones across the plateau and now into the wind. time for jelly babies. with no view to distract the from the constant pounding of rubber on stone all we could do was push on. an eye on the watch, unsure if we'd make the cutoff.

drizzle turns to rain, winds to gusts. stop to add a layer. stuff aching damp fingers into gloves. try not to lose the map. a sudden realisation that it really is cold. round the edge of kinder. bet the views would be great. we can hear the waterfall but we can't see it. keep moving. then another realisation. which direction? the flagstones have gone. replaced by a lunar landscape of peat bog and rounded grit stone. back to the trig point, duck down out of the wind and take a bearing. more jelly babies.

keep moving. down, down, follow the faint trod. lose the trod but stay on the bearing. at least we're out of the wind. slightly. across the stream and straight back up. definitely on route again. keep climbing. keep warm. along the top and an easy path. the cloud begins to lift. lush green fields, neatly squared by dry stone walls. burnt orange grass and dark, chocolaty peat. we can see it all. some more jelly babies. take a layer off. the final down and up. leads perfectly to the final down.

tea loaf awaits us in the car.

september in numbers

a bit late but i've been working out actual distances for last month, as it's been the start of proper running again. the races in september have probably fudged the stats a bit but also explain why i've been more tired than usual. it's quite a good start but more is needed if i want to beat last years time at pendle-just over 6 weeks away. and i'm going to have to watch out for jane, who seems to be putting in lots of secret training -not that i'm competing against her.....but she'd ran 5m before i'd even woken up this morning!

3 races
0 toe nails lost
1 off road century ridden
72 miles ran
16998 ft of running up hill-ness
2 bottom brackets changed
1 new chin whisker found

cake of the month: wilfs table of tray baked delights

click.and it's done

strathpuffer. solo. entry sorted. brilliant.

i.like.my.job.

yep, that's right, it's not a typo. i'm actually happy in my work. despite working all weekend i don't feel like some kind of black hole has been sucking out my soul. my training has finally finished and i'm no longer in need of supervision. so beware, if you happen to brake a bone in nottingham, it might well be me sticking needles in you. but don't worry, i'm not a doctor!

a short, hilly, fast run this evening was rounded off with a little too much toad in the hole. not a bad weekend really.

no cake today

three weeks into running training, which worryingly means only seven weeks until the tour of pendle. today was 'long' run day. no running with friends and no race for motivation. just drizzle and pavement. feeling good that after some deliberation i managed to get out the door. distance covered and in the allotted time.

no left over pudding this evening but there was the promise of fair treats. the annual arrival of goose fair, with disappointingly few gooses, is just down the road. but despite the smell of toffee apples and candy floss, the only thing i fancied was a giant tube of smarties. jane said that i could probably buy it cheaper in asda. so we came home and had cheese and biscuits instead. we didn't even go on a ride. i think we're getting old.

first cake of the month

"it's a flat ride, with a few hills at the end" said simon, "about 25 miles". ok, sounds good, just what my legs need, i thought. the only problem being the on going saga of my inability to maintain a working bike. i'm sure changing brakes pads shouldn't be a dark art but mine just seem intent on impromptu resistance training.

proving i'm not entirely incompetent, simon also confirmed that the brakes are in fact, a bit rubbish. with some brute force and loosing a little fluid the wheels could almost spin freely. oh well, lets ride bikes.

the trails were perfect. dry. dusty. hard packed bridleway. conkers are falling and leaves are crunchy under rubber. stopping for secret ingredient flapjack under the dappled shade of an oak tree we couldn't believe it was october.

legs are far too sore for such an easy ride. pudding was required. a school dinner-esque, sloppy, lemony delight.