Sunday 25 January 2009

w/c 19 January - a more mixed week i cannot imagine

It's Sunday and six days ago I was not a well bunny. Fever, a raw chest and very pissed off. Even yesterday I went along to the North of England cross country champs and bailed out at the last minunte cos i was worried that i was not ready for racing - and how pissed off was i then! Probably a good move tho, my chest was still just a little rattley even tho there was no infection.

Nothing like a good day in the hills to sort that all out! Kill or cure!!

And what a day!!! Today I went out with Ian and Pete, two much stronger runners than I, to the depths of Snowdonia. There was plenty of snow above 2000 feet, we had some blizzard-esque conditions to contend with for a short time as well as some sheet ice and even cornices. Our studs were sometimes found wanting... It was brilliant.

Starting from Llanberis, we climbed through the quarries to the lofty Elidir Fawr and into a very cold, windy, misty and icy scene which seemed to suggest a short day ahead. The summit ridge was deep in snow and there were holes aplenty for a limb to explore and recoil from! I slipped at one point and have copped a serious looking gash on my shin. From the summit we decided that the Glyders were not a place to be running today but opted to make our way over to Ogwen and then climb Y Garn from the other side. This was Ian's idea and was based upon choosing the most difficult way to traverse the terrain, i.e. across ridges and not along them. As we traversed above Ogwen abd then climbed Y Garn, the snow conditions were fab - people with axes and crampons were probably tutting at us (as we passed them) but it was wonderful. I was tired and weary after being ill and didn't climb that well - but i stuck it out and that's what's important. Ian and Pete were really strong, Ian especially. This was demonstrated after our ascent of Y Garn when after skidding through more ice on an iffy slope below the summit, he decided that we should drop to the stream seperating Y Garn and Elidir Fawr and then re-tackle Elidir straight up a very very very steep slope. This was 1:1 and steeper in places and was a 1500' pull up the rocky band near the top. All in all, we'd climbed 7000' and done 15 miles by the time Pete's Eat's provided relief in ommeltte form....

The best news is I'm back and the setback has gone. My legs are sore and i'll rest until Tuesday, but i'm back and this day out has re-stoked my desire and love of long, strong days in the hills....

Roll on next weekend when i'm free both days!!!!!



15 miles

Saturday 17 January 2009

17 January - Inhalers! X-rays! Arrrgh!



I've got a chest infection. 4th one in a year. The doctor thinks that's worth a look so I have an x-ray booked on Tuesday and I have to use an inhaler.

I;ve been so poorly. Feverish, hot and cold, tired....awful

All this out of nowhere! I was training so well.

More to report after Tuesday.....

Sunday 11 January 2009

w/c 5 January - Wise owl, or wuss?

This was, on balance, a good week's training, especially when you consider that it was my first week in a new job and the fells are not always especially accessible this time of year.

I did something on 6 of the 7 days this week, climbed about 6500' in total and put in a hard weekend and so i should be pleased, and i guess i am.

Just wondering whether i'm as determined and 'fell hard' as i was. Yesterday (Sat 10 Jan) I went to the Carneddau to reaquaint myself with my classic loop out of aber which takes in 16 miles and climbs 5300'. I've done it before in January and was looking forward to it again.

I got there and set off up Moel Wnion and into a fierce wind but could see quite well. As I climbed Drosgyl (climbed well too) it got colder it was notceable that the weather was coming in. I got to the summit cairn and decided i shouldn't go any higher today. The plateau on the Carneddau is consistently above 3000' and it was not great at 2500 where i stood. The wind was very very cold and it looked threatening above. So, muttering things about discretion and valour, i turned back climbed the small peak of Gyrn and ran back up Wnion again before heading back to Aber for soup and a sandwich at the lovely cafe. I ended up doing 9 miles, about 3500' ascent and was out for 3 hours 15 mins.

Two years ago i did the full route, again alone, in January in similar conditions. There was no snow, but it was cold and windy with no vis above about 2900'. It was a little better than yesterday but the same ball park. What spurred me on that day was a determination to get fell-tough and be ready for the Bob Graham and whatever it threw at me. Yesterday, that hunger wasn't there. What was in the forefront of my mind was that if i were do twist an ankle up there i'd be in real trouble. I'd get really cold, really quickly if i couldn't move and who knows what predicament i'd be in then. But it didn't stop me two years ago when the hail pinned me down high on Yr Elen and the top of Foel Grach was an ice rink. The weather was clearer then, and the ice not as widespread lower down so i guess it would have easier to push on, but i can't help wondering whether i just bottled it yesterday?

Honestly, i think the difference between two years ago and now is that i have done a big round. Back then, i didn't know whether i was capable of doing the BG or anything like it so didn't want to pull out of anything. Now i'm more calculated. I know that during the winter months, it's all about getting a good base of fitness and getting the climbing in. You don't need to go up high onto an icy plateau to do that. For me now, it's not about proving myself every time i go out to build confidence, cos i already have confidence. I simply need to get fit.

So, i think i did make the right decision, but a few tough days in the hills wouldn't hurt either. If this has served to ramp up my determination, it ccan't be all bad.

This week's summary

Mon - 3 miles easy on very very icy roads.
Tues - nothing
Weds - 6 * 800, all around 3 mins, with the last two a bit faster, Rossett.
Thurs - 8.5M road - easy
Fri - 4M very easy at work
Sat - Carneddau - as described above!
Sun - 7 railways - so that's 2400' climbing. Tough after yesterday but did well.

Summary - 6500' ascent, 6 outings, probably only about 30 miles

Tune in head - tiny dancer, again!!! :)