Borrowdale Fell Race 4/8/12 (tick)

AL.

Everything seemed to go to plan. Better than expected even.
Slow weight loss over the last few months, carb loading 36 hours leading up the the race and some gells to keep me going throughout. That was in contrast to last time when I was heavier, hungry, with only a snickers to energise me through the race.
Last time I timed out at the honister check point. This time I had 0:40 minutes to spare. I finished the race in just under 5 hours. Still slow by many standards but I'm really pleased with the way it went. Hopefully I can continue to loose some excess weight and continue to improve on some previous race times.

Snowdon International Race 21/7/12

AM. Great race a usual.

I had a good run up and managed to pass a few people. I was looking forward to the run down as I usually do well on the return journey. Started ok, but just after this photo was take by Alastair I got some terrible stomach cramps. It was very, very nearly a case of the, world famous, bottom(no pun intended)photo.

I had to walk several times to contain the..........and, in some pain, stumbled to the finish line. Only a couple of minutes slower than my 2010 time. It could have been, a lot, lot worse.

BORROWDALE is looming, in less than two weeks. The thought of which is also causing some discomfort.

Stipperstones Fell Race 18/7/12

AS. Really enjoyable run. The slow weight loss seems to be paying off. Although still not fast, I felt faster going up and seemed to have got back some confidence and speed going down hill. I came in almost two minutes faster than my 2010 time.

                                 Photo from Alastairs FellRunningPictures

Next race is Snowdon International Race in a couple of days. Lets see if I can improve 2010s time again.

Callow Fell Race 1/7/12

AS

762m

8.1km

A lot of climbing/descending in a short amount of distance.
Never done this local race before. It clashes with the Skiddaw Fell Race, up in the lakes, which I usually run. My running buddy "M" went to the lakes and I stayed local. Glad I did too, Callow fell race is a fantastic route in the lovely Shropshire hills. It just seemed to be steep hill after steep hill. I can't even remember how many. I think four or five, none of them runable.
Alastair of FellRunningPictures managed to find three locations for the photos (he must of covered some distance him self).

Bridge shot taken towards the start of the race.

 About two thirds of the way through.

Coming over the finish line. Very demanding AS which I think I would like to do again next year.

Pontesbury Fell Race 27/6/12

AS. I last did this race in 2010 when the race route was reversed. So, it's difficult to work out, again, if I'm any faster, or, much slower. It looks like everyone was generally faster in 2010 so I'm not too worried about being a couple of minutes slower this year. I was faster than in 2009 when the course was in the same direction as last night.
My weight is slowly coming down and I feel like I'm on track to conquor Borrowdale in a few weeks. I have a way to go and a few more races to complete, but, I'm feeling positive.                                                   

Thanks to Alastair of Fell Running Pictures link for the photos and support at the race.

Rodneys Pillar 20/6/12

AS. Reversed route from last time I did this race, so I don't know whether I was any faster, or, much slower. Felt ok.

Thanks as always to Alastair of Fell Running Pictures for his photos. And the encouragement.

Batch Bash 30/5/12

AS. Local race in the Shropshire hills. Really enjoyed this race again. Lovely course.

Shuttlingsloe 26/5/12

AS. Clashed with Cadir Idris. Virtually contracted to run this every year though. Part of the rose queen fate and the area where my Mother in law came from. All proceed go to the up keep of the little church.

Wrekin Streak 25/4/12

AS. Reluctantly went and ran my local hill again. It's always the getting there that's hard. Once I'm there I usually enjoy it.

Llantisilio Mountain Race 31/3/12

AS 6.2 miles 2100 feet.
Really enjoyed the run.
A photo I took a while ago when flying past.

Wrekin Fell Race 25/3/12

AS 519m 8.8km (it's all gone metric)

Up and over the Ercall, up't Wrekin and back again.

Very hot, very slow, but it's the taking part that counts, apparently.
Alistairs photos

Long Mynd Valleys Weekend 4&5/2/12

Organised by local fell running club Mercia fell runners


Titterstone Clee Race. AS. Just about caught the foulest weather we've had all winter. Only time I've ever worn my water/wind proof on a race. Wore it to the start line and decided not to take it off. It was cold cold cold.
I really felt for the marshals and Alistair of : Fell running pictures (pictures)


Long Mynd Valleys Race next day. The worst of the weather had passed leaving a lovely day for running. Although, there were some interesting descents down the steeper parts of the course.

Not my fastest times but another really enjoyable couple of runs.

Morning After Fell Race 1/1/12

BS 5 miles 900 feet.

New years day run.

Trying to get the year off to a good start

Just got to work on the belly now.

Pictures from Fell Running Pictures

Devils Chair Dash 26/12/11

AS 3 miles 800 feet.
Boxing day charity run/walk from the Stipperstones Inn

A good way to get rid of some of the excesses of the previous day and good preparation for the excesses of the following few days.

More information on race page

Corndon Classic 18/12/11

AS 5.8 miles 1850 feet

Didn't seem as hard as Cardington a couple of weeks before. I even had chance to enjoy this run.

Photos as usual with kind permission of Fell Running Pictures

Hoping to do Devils Chair Dash on Boxing day.

Cardington Cracker 4/12/11

9 miles 2600 feet.

After several months not running. This I hope is the slow road back to normality. Not surprisingly, I found it really hard going. It took me a lot longer to get round than last time I did this race. Walking was difficult for several days afterwards.

Photo from Fell Running Pictures

Wrekin Jog 13/6/11

Up and over the Wrekin. Then jog round the south side back to the truck. Hard work but glad I did it. Got to try and get back into it.

Last nights Kickboxing Session

Well, not really. Found this on the tube. Awesome!

Getting fatter and slower

I've been a bit quiet since my last post.
We'd been busy working towards the adoption and looking after the pigs as well as the normal 9 to 5s. This didn't leave much time for training and racing. On top of that, we'd been making the most of any spare time having meals out and generally living an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, as the tittle suggests, I have put on a fair bit of weight.
Oh well, I did at least get out and do some races. Although, in my current state they became more like training runs:
Llantysillio Mountain Race 9/4/11, AM 6.2 miles 2100 feet. A shock to the system.
Market Drayton 10k road race. Local race with Mrs and neighbour. Note to self: I hate road running.
Cader Idris 28/5/11 AM 10.5 miles 3000 feet. By now definitely too fat to run up mountains. As well as seeing the usual Shropshire and Welsh runners, Steve (sbrt) and fellow blogger run forest run came over and said hello. Nice to see him again. Mrs Lightning commented on how nice he was. I agree, nice chap ;-)
Shutlingsloe 30/5/11 AS 2 miles 900 feet. Friends round the night before and for some reason I didn't think drinking whisky until 2 am would have any effect on performance. I was wrong.
Batch Bash 1/6/11 AS 3 miles 1000 feet. Number 3 of the Shropshire summer series, but, the first one I've been able to attend. Absolutely terrible performance, but, good to get into the hills.



The pigs are very happy free ranging in the field digging huge holes everywhere and completely oblivious to what the future will bring for them. Their transport to the great sty in the sky is booked for 4 weeks time. That will be a hard day for us.

Hopefully see you in the hills soon.

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