Fairfield

Saturday 19/05/07

Fairfield Horseshoe fell race - 10miles / 3560ft
121st place 1hrs 37mins 45secs
English Championship medium counter. Nul points scored (again).

What was that about setting off too fast ???
Managed a sprint up the little bank at the end to avoid a major scalping.
Watch out Wardy, Steve O'Keeffe is after you.
The only saving grace was being 3+ minutes quicker than last year.
I then went on to do 4-13 at Jura, what will next weekend bring?

Buttermere Sailbeck

Sunday 13th May 2007

Buttermere Sailbeck horseshoe.
(Borrowdale FR club championship race)

Being daft enough to run far too much this week I came out in a cold sweat on the way to work on Friday. I don't think it's quite 'over training syndrome', perhaps it's 'not enough rest after London stupidity'.
I still thought of bimbling round anyway, but am now glad I didn't as the BFR turnout was a bit sharp...
Simon
Phil
Jim
Johnny
Martin M-B
Schoffer
Chris Steele
Barry
Corny
Mikey
Stevie Hicks
Had fun taking photos of them all at three different parts of the race.
The rain held off for most, though a lot of people were complaining of slow times.
A very busy day in Newlands with the Fred Whitton and an 'open' adventure race too.
Some of the 40 odd pictures I took...

Dockray Hartside

Wednesday 09/05/07

Dockray Hartside fell race - 6miles / 1950feet
I stopped the watch at 60 mins dead though I think the time keepers had me down as a few minutes quicker than that. I won't be complaining (!)

Nice mid week lakes race with the usual suspects - Chris, Mike and Hazel.
Ben Bardsley and Morgan made their intentions clear from the off.
Ben even coughed to reccying it the day before.
Perhaps I should have done that instead of battling round Buttermere Sailbeck yesterday in the wind.
Felt strong on the climb and tried to get up to Andy Beaty coming off Hartside.
Then it all went pear shaped for me and Keith in taking the high route to Common Fell.
The down and up route is miles quicker as Richard Unwin smugly informed me as I crossed the line.

Coniston

Saturday 05/05/07

Coniston fell race - 9miles / 3380ft
27th place - 1hr 28mins 18secs

Started off well up Mauldry Bank but wilted when the real running started on the flanks of Wetherlam. Jackie Lee cruised past, no repeats of Wednesday then, soon to be followed by the train led by Stuart Shuttleworth. He clearly knows his way around this as he sneaked his way up to 5th by the finish.
Valiantly tried to keep Colin V in view as I knew he would have a decent line off the Old Man as it proved to be.
Good craic afterwards in the last of the afternoon rays at the Sun.
Ample pints of Bluebird clearly didn't slow Lloyd down in Wales though!
Results

Caw

Wednesday 02/05/07

Caw fell race - 6 miles / 1800 feet
14th place - 56mins 26secs

Small field, nice weather, good race (except for the road bits).
It's the minor victories that keep us bimblers plodding along. This one involved holding off a fast descending Jackie Lee on the run in. The road finish and slight climb to the end were a struggle indeed. Fortunately Jackie thanked me afterwards because in trying to catch me she equalled the ladies record.
There are a multitude of route choices on the way to Caw from Knott. I plumped to follow Gary Thorpe, Chris Speight and Paul Knowles up a gully to the left. I don't think there's much in it, whichever route you choose. But as usual, I still managed to find every bog and hole, ending up covered in mud on what was a bone dry evening.
Apparently Chris Upson wasn't even trying in running himself into 5th place in front of Mike Robinson, believe that if you will. Not like Chris to be "uncompetitive!"

Results

London

Sunday 22/04/07

London Marathon - 26 miles 385 yards
1538th place - 3hrs 09mins 45secs

Splits were...
10km - 41-23
20km - 43-24
half way in 1-29-30
30km - 44-25
40km - 49-37 (pathetic)
and the last 2195 metres in 10-56

Very similar to last years performance, though I set off even more quickly this year.
I knew that it was a bit impetuous when Commonwealth steeplechaser Don Naylor cruised past after 3 miles. You've got to give yourself a chance though eh?

Lots of good results posted by the northerners and fell runners including...

Steve Littler 2-33-07
Andy Peace 2-37-18
Dan Golding 2-38-40
Adam Breaks 2-40-20
Alex Rowe 2-43-56 (third over 50)
Steve Hallas 2-45-24
Mikey Cunningham 2-52-37
Chris Upson 2-53-19
Steve Myerscough 2-58-57 (negative split for 2nd half)
Mike Walsh 3-54-57 (first over 75!!!)

Results

3 Bridges 10km

Sunday 15/04/07

Lancaster 3 Bridges 10km
28th place - 39mins 24secs

Not content with getting burnt over Winder and Arant Haw I did a 10k race the following day.
Reasonable course as 10ks go, mostly on footpaths.
The steep climb up to the canal bridge added a bit of interest.
Was dropped by Kirkby Stephen's Sarah Tunstall in the last few km.
Sarah was a close second to Nathalie White at Paddy's Pole the following weekend.
Was in good company with others getting ready for London - winner Steve Littler amongst them.

Results

Arant Haw

Saturday 14/04/07

Kendal Winter League - Arant Haw race ~5miles / 1930ft
41st place - 50mins 13secs

Wasn't very wintry for the last race in the Helm Hill winter league.
The good weather brought out the big guns - Joe Symonds, Lloyd Taggart and Jackie Lee.
I set off with all good intentions but the head dropped when Ali and Aly went past.
Then when Jonesy came through gunning for Aly Raw I knew I'd had it.
Hazel was right I suppose, I should have been looking after myself for London.

Results
Westmorland Gaz article