Where has all the time gone? Update.

(having problems editing this post, all the text at once) It's been a while since I last blogged. I've still been doing a bit but have slowed down a lot since last year. The main reason is Mrs Lightning and I have been going through the adoption process. It's been about a year, so far, of courses, CRB checks, interviews, form filling in, more interviews, more forms,,,,,,,but it seems as if we are getting towards the end of a rather long tunnel. And, because of this we have been spending spare time readying everything for "their" arrival and generally making the most of our spare time enjoying ourselves before we start having to be the grown ups. We also became pig farmers a couple of months ago. Um, yes, strange for a veggi. But, now we live in the country and have the space, we think we can do it ethically and rear happy, healthy, organic, free range pigs that will produce good quality meat for our family. We'll see how that one goes. I've not been completely idle though, Carding Mill Valley Race 5th Feb. 4 miles and 1800 feet. Classic Shropshire AS. Several short sharp shocks. Hell in the Middle. 12th Feb. Part of the Hell runner races. In one word. CRAP!! In a few more words, all the worst things associated with road races. Large entry fee £20, goodie bags full of crap. Too many people throwing plastic bottles everywhere and a crap route. Long Mynd Valleys Weekend 5/6th March: Titterstones clee race 2.5 miles 750 feet. Long Mynd Valleys Race 11.5 miles 4500 feet. Championship counter, so lots of big names. I chose the early start option and had the pleasure of spectating whilst competing. Amazing watching the speed of the big names. Also got a tshirt from Mercia for entering both races. Wrekin Fell Race 27th March. 5.5 miles 1700 feet. My local hill, and even though we had friends round the night before (slight hang over) I felt obliged to run it. I've also squeezed in a few kickboxing, weights and training sessions. I've mostly been very slow in the races but am glad to have taken part. I think it will be difficult to do as many races this year as last but am hopeful to at least get the local Shropshire races done

Carding Mill Canter

Titterstone Clee

Long Mynd Valleys

Long Mynd Velleys Presentation

Wrekin Fell Race

All photos provided with the kind permission of Fell Running Pictures

Long Mynd Valleys Recce 9/2/11

Not 100% sure I will have an entry for this race as, being a championship race that sold out very quickly, I didn't get onto the start list. But, I'm on a reserves list and I've agreed to turn up on the day. If there's a place I will run. If not, I will offer to help out.

So, just in case I get in, I thought it may be a good idea to remind my body how much climbing will be required of it in a few weeks.

I was out for four hours in the end. Some jogging, some walking and a couple of water stops. It was hard going but an enjoyable few hours in the hills.

Wrekin run and hill sprints 31/1/11

Jog up and over the Wrekin. Down the other side to the foot of little hill. 4 sprints up little about 25 seconds each. Then with jelly like legs, jogged back round the south side to the car. Out for just over an hour. Didn't want to over do it as after that I drove to Kidderminster for a session of sparing.

Kick up the backside and RUN 12/1/11

After all last years runs I thought I'd earned a week or two rest. This in reality had turned into a couple of months +.
Although I'd been "doing a bit", I hadn't really been taking it too seriously(apart from my beer and ale drinking which I've been taking very seriously) and I'd been deliberately avoiding the scales. I think the scales had been avoiding me as well, I saw them cowering in the corner of the bathroom a couple of times but I didn't have the hart to inflict myself on them. So I knew I'd been putting weight on.
This morning I decided I would see how bad it really was. Couldn't be that bad, could it?
OMG! How much? No it can't be? It seems as though I have put on nearly a stone in the last six months. Really not happy.
Oh well, I think, early March is the Long Mynd Valleys race weekend. Plenty of time to sort myself out.
Then I receive an email telling me my race information pack and number will be sent to me in the next few days. What? Seems I had agreed to run Hell Runner on the 12th of Feb. So not much time to sort myself out after all.

Afternoon off work. So I popped down to Stretton for a run on my way home. A bit of a struggle and I found myself walking the steeper bits but I managed to plod round. At least I got a few miles and a bit of climbing in.
link to workout page
Hopefully this has kick started my training again.

Now, off t'pub. Doh! No.....

Wrekin Night Run 5/1/11

As the tittle says.
link to workout page
Found it hard going with the lack of exercise and extra weight I've put on over the last couple of months. I was however pleased with the head torch and enjoyed running through the woods at night. Hopefully, after this coming weekend, I'll be able to get back into some sort of regular training and get some races in the diary.

New torch !

Quick run up the Wrekin to try the new torch.

Despite all the advice on which torch to buy (thanks guys) I ignored it all ( sorry guys) and bought a less power full Petzle.
Suits me just fine. I usually start off with a light but find the light is too bright once my eyes have acclimatised. The light I've got has a red light which is good for this scenario.
I ran halfway up with the light on full, then turned it to half strength until the top. Once there I turned it off all together and jogged halfway down just using ambient light. Once in the darker woods I used the red light and only used the normal light at the bottom to save scaring the crap out of some walkers just starting up the hill.
Great to be night running again.

I think the torch will also be usefull at work teaching pilots to fly at night.

Wrekin Training Run 21/10/10

Just got to the foot of the Wrekin in time to leg it up and down before it went dark. 30 mins.

I must get myself a new head torch. I didn't do much night running last year and tonight I remembered how much I enjoyed it two years ago.

Lake Vyrnwy Training Run 17/10/10

A trip over to lake Vyrnwy in Wales to help the Panther with her preparation for the Birmingham Half Marathon next weekend.

It was ideal preparation. 12 miles round the lake with no climbing or descending. I generally don't like road running but with such nice scenery it wasn't too much effort to plod round. With the pace we had on the way round the Panther looks good to equal her time of two years ago. I'm not sure whether I'll plod round with her on the day or run it as fast as I can just to see what I can do it in.
photo taken on a previous visit
After the run we popped in Lake Vyrnwy Hotel for a chilax in the steam room and Jacuzzi to aid with the recovery of the leg muscles.
We finished off the visit with a pint and a meal in much acclaimed restaurant. I think this is my favorite hotel restaurant combination ever.

Hinstock 5k Race (road)

After some light jogging up and around the Wrekin on Thursday night, 90 minutes, I knew my back still wasn't able to cope with too much abuse.

So I had my excuses ready when the Panther and I hobbled down to the village hall to register. It was there I saw a Chris, fellow villager, in a Newport Running Club vest. I had no idea he was a runner (well road runner if that counts). And, a road runner of some note. Bugger ! first local was now even more unlikely. Oh well.....
90 runners gathered outside the Falcon Inn for the organiser to warn us about some slippy parts of the course (maybe the road runner will take a fall)? and inform us the course is actually "a bit" further than 5k. Then Lord Morris counts us down and blows the horn that starts the race. I start off tentatively to see what the back feels like. I still hurts, even after taking MattR's advice of brufen brufen brufen, but it's only for 20 minutes or so, so, I plod on. Ahead I can see the lead pack pulling away. And, with it, villager Chris. After them were a second group which I try to keep up with. I pass the supportive marshals and some relatives that popped over to see us. Now in about 25th position I seem to be getting used to the back pain so decide to pick up the pace and try and reel in some runners. It takes some time but slowly I bring them in. Still a good way behind the lead pack and no chance of catching them I somehow manage to start pulling away from the rest of the runners behind with only the occasional challenge from another local (young lad). With about a mile to go I reach the "slippy bit" and there is no sign of any fallen local runners. With no chance of local winner there is now only pride to fight for. With 800 meters left I look round to see a group of five club runners bearing down on me. YOU WILL NOT PASS I think to myself and put on a bit more speed. Last 100 meters and there's now only one challenger on my shoulder. We both put on a sprint finish as we round the corner towards the village hall car park and the finish line. I hold him off.
In the end I came in 12th overall and second local. I'm pleased with 12th out of 90. Much better than I usually do at fell races. Maybe I should start doing more road runs ?.........Naa
The good news is, I found out talking to him afterwards, Chris is moving out of the village in a few weeks. He will be sorely missed. But not by me next year ;-) I just have to make sure I can stay ahead of young lad. Unless something were to happen to him leading up to next years race ?
Wohahahaha ! Wohahahahah ! Wohahahahahahahah

Catch up

Kickboxing 13/9/10
75 minutes sparing and circuit training. Very difficult after running the Peris two days earlier.

Wrekin training run 15/9/10
Quick blast up. Started slowly and reluctantly but felt strong on the second half of the climb. Jogged down then around the other side. About 1 hour all together.

Road run 16/9/10
With the Panther to help prepare her for the Birmingham half marathon in 5 weeks. It was only supposed to be a shortish one as there wasn't much day light left. In the end though, after several wrong turns, we ended up doing 9 miles. Doh ! It was well and truly night by the time we got back. On the plus side though it looks like she maybe on target to break 2 hours in five weeks.

Trail run with some sprints thrown in 18/9/10
Away for the weekend but managed to squeeze in a 60 minute trail run with the Panther. Nice and light for the trail run but finished off with some hill sprints.

Last run before Ben Nevis

I wanted to go for a run but nothing too strenuous as we are running the Ben Nevis Race on Saturday.

I popped down to the Wrekin and had a quick blast up to the top. I thought I'd do this bit as fast as I could as the last few times I've been there I had been running for endurance rather than speed and wondered what I could do it in. 16:58. I was pleased with the time. Only 20 seconds slower than my best ever time.
After that I slowed it right down. Jogging down the opposite side and around the southern side trying to get my technique right.

In total I was out for just over an hour. Really pleasant trail run on a nice summers day. Probably not many of those left this year.

5k trail/road run. Weigthts 30/8/10

Quick run round the lanes followed by an upper body weights session.

Peris Horseshoe recce 2

10 miles 4500ft ish.

After missing the turn, for the last bit of of the route, on my recce last week I decided to go back and finish the job.

It was probably a good idea as I think navigating and common sense will be lacking after 16+ miles and 7000 feet+ of climbing/descending. Although, if the weather is as good as it were yesterday, navigation should not be a problem.

Looking forward to the race even though I know it's going to be really tough.

Just about got back in time to enter the last Fell Race in the Shropshire Summer Series.

Peris Horseshoe Recce

17 miles, 7000 feet, ish.

With the Peris Horseshoe Mountain Race coming up in a few weeks and the disappointment of being timed out at Borrowdale I thought I'd better get some miles and some climbing in my legs. What better way than give the race route a recce.

I did the Half Peris last year (9 miles 4500 feet) so I was familiar with the first section. But, as most of it was in mist last year and I ended up tagging along with some local fellas, I didn't think it would do me any harm to find myself round.
zigzaggin through the quarry
It starts as it means to carry on. Brutally ! From Llanberis a 2700 ft climb through the disused quarry then continue up to Elidir Fawr. Scramble over a load of rocks then some contouring and another climb up to Foel goch. A nice fast descent than another climb up Y garn. Another fast descent before a real slog up to Glyder Fawr. After that try and find a good line of Glyder down the Pen Y pass car park and the finish (of the half that is). That is a mammoth race on it's own.
After that the real battle starts. A gradual climb up the miners Track with all the ill equipped tourists asking stupid questions then some relief from the tourist as you cut off the main path and head up the trail towards Y Lliwedd.

looking back towards the miners track

With tired legs this is really difficult and towards the top it's so steep you're using hands and legs to pull yourself up.

hand and leg stuff

Next is a series of ups and downs (mainly ups) up to the summit of Snowdon. Snowdon behind the cloud

Again, the last couple of hundred feet is hands and leg stuff.

view across to Y-Lliwedd taken on another occasion

Once at the top you are reunited with the masses. A lot of whom have gone up on the train and get in the way even more than the walkers. Start going down the Llamberis path for a few hundred metres and look out for a left turn taking you down the Snowdon Ranger Path. I missed this turn and continued down the Llamberis path. By the time I'd realised I couldn't muster the energy to drag myself back up to take the correct route so continued the 4.5 mile down to where I started. I should have gone down to the foot of Moel Cynghorion for the last climb and then down the very steep grassy section which takes you to a path leading back into Llamberis.

I am now aware of the enormity of the task ahead. This must be one of the hardest most technical races on the calender. I can't wait.

Wrekin slow run 4/8/10

2:20

Up and over the Ercal, down the road past the hotel, up the steepest part of the Wrekin, up to the summit, down the other side, up and over little hill, round the side of the Wrekin, back up to the summit, retraced my steps towards the Ercal missing out the short cut, up and over Ercal again and back to the truck. All on no breakfast.
Probably last bit of running before the Borrowdale Fell Race this Saturday.

Hill Sprints and Jog 22/7/10

10 min warm up jog up and over little hill (wrekin). Then 6 x sprint up, walk down and start the next one straight away. First one 20 secs but by the last one I was covering the same distance in 25 secs. Finished off with a slow jog back to the truck.

Looking forward to the Snowdon International Race on Saturday.

5k road run 30/6/10

Nice and gentle run round the block with Mrs Lightning. Wore the vibrams to try and get my technique right.

Training run with Shropshire hill running champ

Well.......not really. I was driving past the Wrekin and had my kit in the truck with me. Decided to go for a quick blast (I thought blast) from wellington car park to the top and back again. Two thirds of the way up I heard foot steps behind me. Who could possibly be catching me up ? (well, actually, lots of people could have been catching me up). Friendly voice says "Hello, I've read your blog". Steven Cale of Shrewsbury athletic club and current local hill running champion jogs up beside me. So, I'm blasting up the Wrekin puffing and panting and Steven says he's out to stretch his legs before work. He kindly slows down to give me a chance to keep up then engages me in conversation, which, I find difficult with all the puffing and panting I'm doing. Easy to see why he leads the races and I'm somewhere way behind. He looked like he was running at 50% while I was more like 90%. Luckily we were nearly at the top and once we turned round and started running back I found conversation a little easier. Once at the bottom Steven continued his run back to work and I fell into my truck. It was nice to meet you Steven. I wish you all the luck defending your tittle this year.

Two and a half hours later I found myself driving back past the Wrekin and I still had my running stuff on. What the hell. I ran it again ! No companion this time but the temperature had dropped and the run was most pleasant.

Ercal Wrekin training run 5/6/10

A nice slow run with Methuselah. Just over 6 miles and 1500ft ish of climb.
Started on the north east side of the Ercal. Up and over then along the road to the foot of the Wrekin. Up and over the Wrekin down to, then up, little hill. From there a nice steady jog round the south side of the Wrekin and back to the Ercal. Not much energy left so it was a walk up to the top of the Ercal then jog down back to the truck.
Mostly very slow but trying to put on some speed up some of the hills.

Road Run in Vibram 5 fingers

Flat run round the lanes and tracks near my house.

I've been reading a book recently, "Pose method of running", and thought I would have a slow jog to try to incorporate some of the authors methods into my running technique. Not sure how easy it will be to adapt some of Romanov's ideas into mountain running but he seems to be banging on about the same sort of stuff as many others. Basically, stop heel striking and run fore foot mid foot.
I've also bought "chi running" which I will read next. That, I'm guessing, will probably say the same thing but in a different way.