Back in the Lakes

Saturday 20^th February

3 Dallam runners 1 COLT 1 dog

This weekend we had a splinter group returning to the Cowen Bridge run (the big girls!), only joking family needs, I know how hard it is to juggle family life and training needs.

So the Bg, big boys went to do leg 1, as we drove through the lakes the snow capped hills were spectacular making us apprehensive about the task ahead, would there be too much snow? Had our winter training been enough? Would are legs survive the extra length of climbing? Time would tell. Just before we approached Keswick the phone went, Martin B was parked up but he couldn’t find a Spar shop anywhere, I had a little laugh to myself only later finding out that the Keswick Spa has been renamed to The Keswick leisure centre, sorry about that one.

We set off 25 minutes later than I scheduled but we were under way and the clock was ticking, my target for the day was to hit the first two summits on 23 hour schedule time then to recce to fence line route to Blencathra. As we had started at the wrong side of Fitz’s Park, I was thinking 81mins to the top Skiddaw, the early track was hard and frozen with some small patches of ice but good overall our pace was brisk and we soon shed our jackets. The upper car park was full and with clear views to the summit of Skiddaw, we could see numerous walkers which we would use as targets. Martin was dropping off the pace slightly and I was thinking that the pace was a little quick, as we came to the snow line Mickey P dropped back to Martin to encourage him up leaving Andrew and me to push on to the summit. The snow was getting deeper but was well packed not slowing us too much I hoped, we came to the upper gate which I think is a five bar gate normally, but only two rails showing today making it an easy hurdle to stride over, pushing on again for the final few yards I touched the trig point with Andrew only a few steps behind me, I checked the watch then I had to check it again I was very surprised and very happy with 71mins, we turned quickly to run back for Martin and Mickey P ( I’m sure Mick would have hit the summit with me, it’ll be my turn to hang back next time) they hit the summit at 81 mins perfect BG pace although I’m not sure Martin thought it was.

Great Calva was in the distance, all we had to do was the easy snow covered grassy section then the narrow track after the Cumbrian way as we approached the lower cairn we passed 3 walkers, we would see them again later aswell, Great Calva done and again 16mins ahead of the Bg pace, but it felt comfortable winter training had been good to us. We stopped for some lunch, the 3 walkers passed us then we gave Martin the option of taking an easy route back but he was having none of it saying ‘I’ll only kick myself if I don’t do it’. Lunch done we were to check out the fence line and ease off the pace, no bracken around the only hazard today being icy rocks so we walked down until we could run on the grassy bits, then its an easy narrow path that follows Wiley Beck, no jumping bracken or dodging rocks, then cross to the wider Salehow Beck, only me getting wet feet today thanks to Tizzy knocking me off balance at the wrong spot ,before making a direct line to the summit of Blencathra over that soft spongy grass, frozen today but I had the usual wet feet feeling. Our pace was slower making the walk up pretty easy, Martin was finding it hard we tried to fill him with gels, water, Mars bars as much as we could push in to him, he was white and feeling it. As I hit the summit I passed the walkers we saw on Great Calva, I asked which route they had taken it was the same as ours, this being great news for me our line must have been good and our pace too we had walked, recced, and had lunch and got to summit at the same time as them, the clock said 207 mins perfect ! I was happy all we had to do now was run back to Keswick, easy!

We dropped off towards The Blencathra centre then onto the old railway line. I felt for Martin he was fading fast so the for the last 2 miles we walked, I know its not ideal training but we went out together so we were going to come in together and I want him to come along again. Back at the car the banter was good, we laughed and joked whilst refuelling on hot chocolate, coffee and whatever we had left before the drive home,but it was not enough as we had to stop in Ambleside for more supplies . Overall we were all pleased with our climbing on our first trip out back in lakes much more fun than Barbondale!

Sunday 21st Feb 2010

6 Dallam runners 3 Colts 1250ish other runners

Sunday morning we saw snow falling as Helen and I prepared for The Great North West Half Marathon (road running) today was all about Helen’s training for London. My target for the day was to pace her around and get 13miles in the day after leg 1. We were unsure if the race would go ahead with all the snow on the pavements, but it did. We made a few mistakes on the day main one being leaving Helen’s road shoes at home, luckily she had her trail shoes in the car. We started with the 8min pacer, he was rubbish his first two miles were slow then he had to speed up before slowing again, We did our own thing. Helen ran very well, only one a little downer at about 7 miles before picking it up again at mile 8. With her head phones in she was in the zone blanking her mind from the feelings of endless road running just putting one foot in front of the other no rocks, no mud, no becks, no scenic views just sweaty runners dressed in lycra and shinny road shoes, that said we stuck to our task of a consistent 13.1 mile run which she did with a pb of 1:47, 20ft of ascent, London's looking good for her. My legs felt good after previous day but my feet had taken a battering I’d put on the wrong shoes, old Swoops one size small leaving me with sore toes nails, life’s a learning curve.

Saturday totals: 16.5 miles 5580ft Ascent 3.5mph (we walked the last 2 miles)