Mark Smith's Paddy Buckley Round Blog

It's not looking good....

2009-03-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

I'm just not getting the training in.

Last week i got out once, this week twice so far, with the skyline tomorrow. I;ve not managed to run for much more than an hour, cumulatively, this week. I'm in a very unique period in my career that will never happen again. I'm creating a new organisation from scratch with my colleagues - not just a small thing but the country's 4th largest local authority. It comes into being on Wednesday and i'm working 12 hours a day and will be hard pushed for the next few weeks, until i've recruited my team.

It just doesn;t seem a very good time to train for a round. So, i'm going to call it off.

If all goes well, i might go for August, but really, i might just leave this for another time in my life. I have enough stress and donlt need another source of pressure.

But i'm going to train as much as i can still - i'm going to use the light nights to get out and get fit for a summer of racing. I miss racing, training for target races and being part of my sport. The Skyline tomorrow marks a return to fell racing and 2009 will be a year of good racing.

I'm going to get plenty of hill runs and speedwork in. I'm going to return to the club once a week (not been for a month) and return to the track on a wednesday.

I feel releived - a round is a wonderful but all comsuming thing. Races are different, you can build up to them over a short space of time from a decent bed of fitness. That is something that will keep me fit and sane.

The PBR will be done - just not yet

Mark

15 March - Full training, half hearted...

2009-03-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

Had a couple of weeks of good training, despite working like a dog and putting in 60 hour weeks. Not been very good on the blog though - just been frantic/knackered...

This last week has seen no long run but 8500' climbing. Got 6000' in the week before. Just shows that you can get some serious climbing in once the nights starts to get light. Darkness staying away till 1830 means Moel Famau becomes reachable after work and winter finally feels like it's coming to an end.

Despite spring's advance, the impending clock change and more chances to make fellrunning part of the normal day - i'm torn. I'm not really sure that the Paddy is a realistic proposition this year. Two reasons really - one is that the new job is going to make getting fit enough difficult, although i think some days off and getting out most evenings along with doing events like the fellsman should make it ok. The second reason is the worrying one. I'm happy to be training for a round, i love the motivation that goes with that, but there's something missing that I had when i prepared for ther BGR. It's a love of the round. I don't know snowdonia and am looking forward ro exploring it, but until i do that, I can't get worked up about the round itself like i did the BGR - which traverses an area i know and have loved since i was a kid.

I need to mull this over. I also need to get out and explore. I also need to decide because i don't want to mess people about. I'm tempted to keep training and aplly it to smething else. The Wasdale fell race perhaps? Maybe Steve Parr's lakeland 2500'ers round - a 36 hour round in my beloved Lakes. I don;t know.

For now, it's the PBR. I hate giving up and so will keep going. I'll get a 2 day recce in soon, and then decide. Trouble is...when? Work is demanding but i'll see what I can do.

I'm a funny boy at times....none more so that at the moment.

Last week's training:

Mon - Quick way up and down Moel Famau - 3M, 1000' ascent
Tues - Ditto - getting bit dark on the way down - gorgeous moon and lights below. Glad i took headtorch!
Weds - too much on at work to train
Thu - Cycled to work and back
Fri - 7M, 2300' ascent run on MF, really good run. Muddy conditions but 1hr 20min is a good time for that route
Sat - 3 railways - 1000' - quick session squeezed in between lots of chores and other things to do
Sun - 3600' - gamelin reps (2) plus some nice hillrunning from Britannia Inn. 2 hours.

Total - 8900' ascent, probbaly about 35 miles? distance not really important

Tune in head - Snow Patrol - If there's a rocket tie me to it

All is well, now time to train....

2009-02-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

The results from my CT scan are back. The GP surgery rang having chased the results up and the verdict as relayed by the kindly receptionist was that there was 'nothing suspicious' to report - all is well.

Phew.

I'm so relieved. Very very relieved.

The stress has been palpable - those close to me are probably sick of me. I've been busy at work, which has been a blessed relief, but the pre-occupation has been ever present which has made the last three weeks almost unbearable.

Whilst not operating at the kind of intensity or frequency that the PBR requires, I have been training throughout this period. I've not dared do anything than go through the motions atthe risk of tempting fate, so it's been a bit mixed and unstructured. Road runs, some speed work, some hill work, some races and even some circuit training (which hurt!). I do feel fit, and ready.

I'm not ready enough though to be confident about doing the PBR in May. I just think that it makes for a pressured run up to the event. I'm going to go for early July. this means I can use the Fellsman (early May), Dave Sykes' BGR (early June) and lots of long summer nights to get really fit and ready. Work is also very busy and April/May will be very demanding, and so a late May PBR is just not on.

I'll canvass for availability amongst my terrific Tattenhall supporters, but the first weekend in July seems about right.

It already feels more achievable now.

This week's training:

Monday - rest, tired from Long Mynd and XC races
Tuesday - 7 miles, included 6 * 500m efforts
Weds - Circuit training - ouch
Thursday - 10.2 miles - including 4 * 0.8M hilly efforts and 3 downhill efforts
Friday - rest
Saturday - walk in Peak District - 10M, about 1500' ascent
Sunday - wet run, Lose Hill Ridge and Cavedale - 7M, 2000' ascent

total - 37 miles, not much climbing at all (4000' tops)

What does it matter when you're well...?

2009-02-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

I got quite a shock today (actually, I got a few during the eventful Long Mynd Valleys race - more on that later) - one that made me smile, despite the fact it was a telling off! There I was dashing to the loo for a(nother!) pre-race pee when i was confronted by a fellow fellrunner who told me quite certainly that I have to make sure I update this blog more often! So, whoever you are, here's a new installment.

I do have an excuse. I've been a bit preoccupied. Since going for my x-ray, my GP has decided that he was a little suprised by what he saw so he has sent me for a CT scan. He noticed that my lypmh glands in my cheste were swollen. He didn't think it was to do with my spate of chest infections and thinks it is something i've had for ages. He's sure that's not anything sinister (but didn't rule it out - they never do) but more than anything, he just wants to know what it is. Good friend, erstwhile doctor and all round good egg Doc Martin had a chat with me and was very reassuring - thinks it's probably something congenital and looks a bit odd on the x-ray. The fact is, i;ve been running and racing and feel absolutely fine. None of the other glands are up and i have no symptoms. I'm hoping so much that Tuesday's scan firms up what I already know...

Runnign wise it's been great - at least at the weekends. Work is making mid week runnig tough, but last weekend was great - 4 closed XC loops in 29 mins and then a great day in snowdonia with dave and ian in sunday with 6000' climbing around the snowy slopes of the glyderau and carneddau.

This weekend saw a 2 race weekend - saturday was the XC race at Oswestry (did ok, just so pleased to be able to run) and today was the very very snowy and icy Long Mynd Valleys - 4500' and 11.5miles. Descending on ones arse was a bit of a novelty but the snow and ice meant a new technique - impromptu tobogganing. The time was much slower than last year (2:30) but conditions were mainly to blame, as was the race the previous day.

I feel like i'm just glad to be able to run, and each run feels like confirmation that i'm ok. For now, that's the focus.

Once the scan is done, and the results are fine (keep thinking positive!!) i can think about getting more climbing in each week. And then the Paddy might seem something i can prepare for. Right now, that seems like a pipe dream. I don't think i'm anywhere near where i should be for that, although being healthy is a pretty good start.

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

2009-01-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

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

17 January - Inhalers! X-rays! Arrrgh!

2009-01-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

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.....

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

2009-01-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

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!!! :)

Great way to end the year...

2008-12-31T04:49:00.000-08:00

Finally, I've managed to put a few decent runs together. It's been great, and today was the cherry on the icing on the cake - a lovely temperture invresion on my local hill Moel Famau.

This follows a Christmas period where I;ve managed to get out quite a bit. I've done a 4500' reps session at Moel Famau, a windy and wild run around Helvellyn et al (bagging another 4500'), 6 railways at Tattenhall (there's 2000 more feet) and today's lovely run which had 2200'. Add a couple of shortish road runs into the mix and it finally feels like I'm in training.

I'm not yet seeing the results, but i know they'll come soon. There's always a period where you start something like this when you put in the effort and the results don't show - a sort of early training lag. All you feel is tired. I'm there now, but the BGR taught me that once you get past that, you can train more and more and feel less tired - once you get into the grove that is.

That groove is the first aim for 2009 - here's to that!

Happy new year

Mark

w/c 15 December - So much to do, so little time

2008-12-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas is offically a pain in the arse. I don't wish it could be Christmas everyday because if it were, I'd never get any training in and would a fat bastard, not to mention a skint one.

Shopping, finishing my job (2 weeks off until the new job - yesssss!), stuff at home, seeing friends.....do these people not realise i've got an obsession to feed?

I managed some training last week, but not training every day as was planned. I did circuits on monday and learned that squat thrusts are just killers. Tuesday saw mw do some 1km reps at the club, which was cagey as my chest was still a bit not quite right. Then a combination of christmas parties and shopping got in the way until i did 4 of the Tattenhall Closed XC loops on Saturday (7:30, 7:00, 7:07, 6:55 - very muddy, ran well tho) and the 4.06 mile Tattenhall Christmas Handicap on Sunday (25:18, over a minute slower than last year). So i did get out, but nothing of consequencem, other than a reminder that i was not as fit as I was last year.

Still, the chest is improved and i do feel like i'm back.

Let's hope so. Starting with making the most of the 2 weeks i now have off work...

14 December 2008 - right, that's IT

2008-12-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

Went for a little run this morning. The run itself was not remarkable - a 90 min saunter up and down MF - about 8 miles and 2500' ascent and descent. But what was lovely was that the hunger is back. I ran slow and was careful after this chest infection but the run has many of the non-running ingredients that i;ve missed - getting up early, coping with not great weather, plodding up at a metronomic pace, sipping coffee from a flask afterwards, the rhythm, the cold, the satisfaction of finishing.....

I feel like I can start training properly. I;ve had a setback, it was nothing major and now I'm back.

So this week's paltry 4000' ascent is just nothing to worry about. I'm now going to train every day.....

w/c 8 December - Frankly, crap

2008-12-13T08:39:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure I've been in such appalling form ever since I started running. Life, the universe and everything are conspiring to make any attempt to train consistently and well virtually impossible. Visiting in-laws, a chest infection, changing jobs, coaching meetings and bloody christmas have made this week a non starter.

Chief culprit has been the chest infection. I woke on Monday to feel dreadful. I went to the Doc who provided antibiotics. He said i could run but not to expect much in the way of performance. He wasn't wrong!

I rested until Thursday and felt a little better. I then ran with Trevor's group (the slower group) at Tattenhall and felt ok, but a short run with Dave on Friday afternoon up Moel Famau showed me up. I was very weak. Dave just bounced ahead of me. I was pathetic. I managed to run up MF and asked Dave if we could abandon the longer run we'd planned and we took a steady run down. Just 1400' ascent and it felt like hell.

JUst feel like i'm unfit, unwell and just too busy and preoccupied for all this. Need a change in fortune.

In order to run tomorrow in the hills i[m going to have to get up at 6:00 and avoid family stuff. Surely it doesn't have to be this hard...Let's hope it saves my week.....

w/c 1 December - Toughing it out, already!

2008-12-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

It's been a funny week and despite feeling like things aren't going so well, I hit my week one PBR training target of climbing 5000'. Not a huge amount but really good considering....

...considering that my chest feels raw, i feel a bit poorly and my legs are rediscovering the joys of fellrunning.

I've trained six days this week for the first time in ages, which is satisfying but i don't feel as fulfilled as i might because i seem to be very off colour.

This morning I ran the Cardington Cracker, but so very nearly didn't. The closer I got to the village, the worse i felt. My chest was raw and tight and i had a horrible sense of forboding that racing was a bad idea. Race today and i could be out for weeks....

But it was a stunning morning, a clear sky, perishingly cold and as clear as clear can be. I decided to run, not race, and see how i fared. After all, this is what it's all about isn't it? Getting out on the hills on days like this? It's a curse of fellrunning the the competitive side of things can make you forget that what it was like up there is more of a measure of your day that how fast the scenery moved past you. You can live a hundred years without really living a second if you're not careful - so all thoughts of canning it were gone and I lined up on the start.

I went out easy and picked people off. I let my usual sparring partners race off into the distance and enjoyed being at the back. I didn't wear a watch, I didn't have a target. I just ran easy. It was fantastic. Took it all in - the view south off Caer Caradoc was amazing, with patches of fog forming a patchwork along with the fields around Church and Little Stretton far below us. I felt better as the race went on and ended up crusing home in about 1:40 or so and I couldn't have been happier!

My chest was ok, got no worse, but boy did i cough up some interesting coloured phlegm! Let's hope that i don;t get any worse...

This week:

Monday - 7M, brisk on a very hilly route up to Llay from Rossett. 7.17 min/mile average, about 400' ascent on that route. Really really cold.

Tuesday - 6 * 850m - a series of hard efforts around a good fast and flat loop in Rossett. About 5M all told, really cold also.

Weds - Circuit training - bloody hell it was hard. First time i;ve done that for years! My girly arms and shoulders sore after that. Great fun though - and such joy to see the lovely Claire again!

Thurs - 11.5M, brisk hilly circuit around Brown Knoll, Tattenhall, Burwardsley. Great!

Friday - Not sure how far - but 2 * 1150' climbing with Dave Sykes on the fabled Moel y Gamelin reps. These have got Simon and Dave into great shape in the past and it was good to see where this secret little gem actually was. I was tired and didn't run that well. BUT, it was toughed out and i did it, even in a cold, sleety wind. Dave was far stronger but this was about mental training. I was tired and obviously this chest infection was brewing without my realising it at the time. Glad to have done it, and the reps each took about 23 mins. So, there's a baseline...

Sat - Rest, well Christmas shopping,,,

Sun - Cardington Cracker - 8M, 2700'.

Total - 5600', about 42 miles-ish

Tunes in head - Radiohead, Jigsaw Falling into Place

w/c 24 November - Still getting ready....

2008-11-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok now i can start training.

Dates have now been sorted, and it's going to be May, not June. May 22/23 2009 to be precise. Also, a spate of three weekends in a row of being away and seeing friends (and not really training) has been and gone. Whilst that's been really nice, it really is time to start training for the PBR.

I;ve done a schedule which is pretty demanding. If i can get out and do this, it'll mean I'm physically ready. It'll also mean i'm in possession of route knowledge too, much of this time is going to spent out there in Snowdonia on that testing route.

The 10,000 feet per week maxim will be met and hugely exceeded too. This time, I'll be doing far less road running and will get onto the railway and Moel Famau, even in the dark. That way I climb more feet earlier and reduce the impact of road running and the chance of injury.

Here's the plan, sort of...

Next week's goal - 5000' feet of ascent, and a good run out at the Cardington Cracker on Sunday.

It's back on!

2008-11-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

Berlin has been and gone. I've recovered from that and the niggles are fading. Time now for some unfinished business.

And not before time! The last few weeks have been busy and stressful and my running has been taking a real back seat. Applying for a new job when my existing one is under threat has been the priority. It's clear to me now though that rather than wait for a less tumultuous time in life to start focussing on something like the PBR, now is exactly the time to do it. Running is a salve to tough times, but running well and with an exciting life-event at the end of it is more than a salve - it's a much needed rock to keep me sane.

When i have been getting out, I've run poorly. Only the Clwydian Hills and Roaches fellraces and a recent outing on the hills around Llangollen have been truly enjoyable. That tells me it's time to hit the hills again.

The first job is to work out when to do it. The most likely looking date is 5/6 June 2009. May/June is a busy time of year, with other people's 24 hour rounds and other events around that time competing for attention. This date comes a couple of weeks after Dave Sykes will possibly do his BGR and a month after the Fellsman. Perfect!

The next job is to do something of a training schedule. It's a nice job - a sort of fantasy fellrunning. It takes someone with iron confidence to be able to casually knock out a schedule with things like "30,000' climbing this week" without getting a bit daunted.

So, i'll get going on that and then start recruiting some support.

Can't wait to get started. That begins tomorrow...

Postponement - Deutschland Beckons

2008-04-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's off, at least for the time being, probably until 2009.

I'm doing the Berlin Marathon in Sept 08 instead. Part of me is releived - I was finding it hard to put those big fell days in time and again, whereas road runs you can do from your house.

I will return to this - it is unfinished business, but in the meantime I will do my best to break 3 hours at Berlin.

I think that a sub 3-hour marathon and the BGR would be two great feathers to have in your cap. I have one, and will train really hard to get the other.

So, this blog will be suspended, but I'll do another one for my Berlin preparations!

Wish me luck...

w/c 24 March - Should I stay or should I go?

2008-03-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

When I decided to do the Bob Graham Round, everything else was set up for me to allow me to do it, and to prepare for it. Work was steady, home commitments were easy to adapt to the training required and there was no question that this was something I wanted to do. That unswerving desire to do it was what got me out of the door in all weathers and at all hours, time and again.

Not so sure about this. A so-so performance at Edale at the weekend, new pressures of life and the fact that the excitement gained from the novelty of training for a round is not there this time is making it harder to focus on this. I'm wondering whether I'm missing a stage out in the recovery from the BGR. I feel like I could do with a summer of just enjoying racing and getting really fit for that. Perhaps i'm forcing a round too soon? Perhaps I assumed training for a round would help me address other problems in life whereas in fact it adds to the pressure?

One thing I do know. You've got to totally want this if you are to succeed. I don't feel like my mind is right for entering into a round. So I need to consider my options.

I could postpone and go for winter round. Seriously. This has the virtue of taking the pressure off now. It also adds a new dimension to the proposition and perhaps will provide an extra motivation? It is quite a leap tho, from a summer BG to a winter PB. Perhaps next summer instead? Or maybe just go for it and stop being a wet blanket.

This leap is seen in stark relief after the Edale Skyline on Sunday. I rather ambitously targetted a 3:30 finish, but hoped at least to beat my previous best of 3:42 from 2006. I ran 3:46. OK, the faster time was done in fast ground conditions - the bogs were frozen back then which I know makes a huge difference so perhaps it was a better run this year? Not sure, esp as i fimished in the same position as in 2006, weirdly. I was affected at three points by a bloody horrible stitich (why did I eat that cereal bar 30 mins before the start?!) which meant walking for a few mins 3 times.

Whichever was the better run, and however much I can justifiably pat myself on the back for Sunday, it means that I'm about in the same condition at the start of this process than at the start of my BGR prep, which means I've got to do more to meet this target. Scary.

As it goes, this weeks training was light to prepare for Edale.

Mon - rest
Tues - 9M, 5 reps of lower Burwardsley loop. Felt good.
Weds - 5M, track session, 200,400,600,800,1000,800,600,400,200 pyramid. Ran well.
Thurs - rest
Fri - rest
Sat - rest
Sun - Edale Skyline, 21M, 4800' climb

35miles, @6000'?

Next weekend is the Tattenhall BGR boot-camp - a 2 day BGR with various aspirants, helpers and other hangers-on :-) I can only make the first day (Humphrey Lyttleton beckons on Sunday!!!) which sees a reaquaintance with legs 1,2 and a bit of 3. I'm looking forward to that - provided that the flying BGRers primed and ready to go in May are willing to wait!

I seem to have a virus now tho, so the weekend may not happen. I'm feeling worryingly like I did at new year when I was shattered, but I've got the anti-biotics in early this time so fingers crossed. Legs are also so very very sore after Sunday, so at least I know I worked hard.

Think I need a rest, a rest from all manner of things not just running.

So, no running until Friday. Hope I feel better soon :-(

w/c 17 March - Dirty

2008-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

God o mighty the Peak District is a filthy place. I've done my fair share of fellrunning to know how utterly minging you can get after a good run out on the fells, but there's something about peat that propels it into a league of its own when it comes to gunk. There's a certain adhesiveness and gloopyness to it that makes running at any kind of pace so difficult.

Peat is arguably the toughest running surface, if you can call it a surface. It wears you out like no other terrain and does so for three main reasons. 1 - You lose nearly all of your momentum with each footstrike because it's so hard to get any form of grip, and so each step is taken almost as if from standing. 2 - It sticks to you, especially your feet, thus adding to the burden. It makes me laugh that Innov8 do two versions of one of their (many) models of shoe, one being 10 grams or something lighter than the other so as to be lighter for racing. I don't think they had racing in peat to mind when deciding to pursue that one! Peat can ball up in your studs almost like snow in crampons so you're carrying weight and losing grip (and therefore momentum, see reason 1!) 3 - Peat tends to exist on hills with shallow gradients, and so the compulsion is to run rather than walk hard, unlike on the steeper, rockier climbs. Running is so much tiring than walking (duh!) and these gradients lull you into tackling them at pace.

I had plenty of time to muse on this (as is evident from the above!) during an excellent Good Friday outing on the Edale Skyline route. It's the race next week an I'd like to do well in it by my mid-packer standards. So I decided an early start from Edale was in order.

I must say, it's a brilliant course. It has a bit of everything (apart from perhaps really huge climbs). There's runnable fast ground in the early stages, cropped grass, good tracks and even tarmac and paved paths. After just over halfway, the peat shows itself. Most of the climbing and just over half the distance is done, but the difficulty starts when the black sea of ooze lays ahead. As a race, it's a test of fitness; not just of speed but of strength. Fast road runners would not prosper on this course without the strength of joints and body that good fellrunners tend to have.

I love it and can't wait for the race on Sunday!

The recce was done in a very cold wind, good visibility and at a nice steady pace with a couple of stops for food and text messages ;-). I bumbled round in just over 4 hours and felt strong throughout from mile 1 to 21. I wasn't the only one - there were studmarks everywhere! I had the pleasure of another fellow fellrunner's company for a good few miles too which makes the time tick by. It was a rewarding run - esp at the end when you stand in Edale, do a 360 and realise that it is oneof the best, most appropriately named fellraces there is - it truly does cover every bit of the skyline you can see.

The rest of the week's training was steady enough - upping the milage was a test, esp two 20 mile runs in three days! I feel like I'm getting fitter and am confident about the race next week. I, along with the organisers Dark Peak Fellrunners, will be hoping for slighly better conditions than last year's gales, hailstones and thunder! This year we're all required to carry a working mobile phone - unprecedented in the fellrunning world as far as I know. I kind of have mixed feelings about it, but the overriding feeling is that the organiser's word is law and to be respected full stop. So I'll be there, front and centre, phone charged and ready to go!

I need to remember not to judge myself too much against the guys I race against from the club - they're in the throws of BGR training and a short few weeks out from their rounds. I remember the confidence and sheer good shape I was in then - I'm not there now and would be happy to get somewhere near them on Sunday. For me, it's about the clock. If I can get round in about 3:30 I'll be happy. We'll see....

Training this week:

Mon - 7 Miles - Llay loop, hilly. Steady pace - ave 7 min/mile. Felt good
Tues - 8 Miles - hill reps - Harthill. Felt good, bouncy legs!
Weds - 5 Miles - track session - 8 * 600m - pushed all the way by quick guy at Chester Tri - enjoyed the challenge!
Thurs - rest
Fri - 21 Miles, 4500' - Edale Syline recce
Sat - Rest
Sun - 19 Miles, trail run with Alison and Amanda. very easy paced. Sluggish at the start, felt good at the end and would have carried on with no worries - good sign.

Totals: 60 Miles, @6000'

Tune in head: Tiny Dancer - Elton John. Brilliant track that plays right through twice if you listen carefully. Really ought to be on my top 20 CD but it's in the car nonetheless.

w/c 10 March - never can get enough

2008-03-20T01:17:00.000-07:00

It's rare that a training week ever goes completely to plan. You have to get used to life getting in the way. There's always that extra session you feel you could have done, that extra mile you could have stuck on the end, that extra rep you could have pushed through etc etc

Fact is, unless you're a professional athlete or lottery winner with time on your hands, you've got to earn a living, spend time with people you want to spend time with and fulfil your various obligations and responsibilities. So, rather than beat yourself up for the session/mile/rep you didn't do, marvel at the fact that you're embarking on something like this at all. When one thinks of all the reasons why you can't do something like this, the whole prospect assumes monstrous proportions.

So it's with a clear conscience and a healthy perspective that I can report that last week's training wasn't bad at all. But if only I'd have got more climbing in....!

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - Club session (shortened due to AGM) - 7 miles, 6 * 400-500m hard efforts at Dark Lane. Felt good.
Weds - 6 miles, from home. Very hilly. Ave pace about 6.50min/mile - good tempo run
Thurs - 11 miles - 3 fig 8s at Burwarsdsley. Ran OK but tied up at bit on 2nd lap. Paul kicked ahead and I couldn't respond whereas I had been able to in recent weeks. A bit flat.
Fri - 10 miles, 3200' - Lovely circuit from Horseshoe Pass. Ran all the climbs and felt great - not fast but like i was climbing well
Sat - watched the inter counties XC in Nottingam, with A running for North Wales. Alas, I was not selected :(
Sun - 11 miles - roads and trails around Nottingham, very slow and easy. Pouring with rain.

Total - 45 miles, @ 4500' climbing

Looking forward to the Edale Skyline in 2 weeks. This is my first target. Much depends upon the conditions but I'm hoping to get somewhere around 3hours 30mins. This will help me establish where I am. I think it also marks a boundary in the training between building a base of speed and fitness over the winter and getting the longer harder days in.

Also really looking forward to getting out amongst the local hills in the light nights. Yes, i'm actually looking forward to getting out to Moel Famau in the evening again after so many ascents lastyear during my BGR. The Tattenhall railway also beckons!

w/c 3 March 2008 - Stronger

2008-03-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

Definately getting stronger already. Only trained four days this week due to the stuff of life getting in the way, but it was enough to tell me that I'm doing alright already.

Important things on Sunday meant that this week's long run was done Saturday - 17 miles and 4500' ascent in the Clywdians. It was a repeat of a run I did with Paul and Dave a month ago. They're both in the throws of their BGR training (they go in late May) and I really struggled to stay with either of them then, despite the perfect conditions. This time it was pouring down and very windy with the clag down, and I just had Paul for company. Rather than flogging around trailing in their wake like last time, I felt pretty comfortable with Paul, running all the ups and coping well with the very strong winds. Paul and I ran together and despite feeling tired at the end, I was never hanging on.

One slight thing that is worrying me is that I am wondering how much I want this. Sounds odd, but there was never any question of me not wanting to crack the Bob Graham. I do want to do it of course, but there's something about this that's different. Perhaps it's because I've done a 24 hours round before so there isn't a novelty to this? When I started the BGR everything was fantastic and new and it was all go go go. Doesn't quite feel the same.

What I need to do is explore. Last time, the rigours of training for a round were new. What I have to do to get the best from myself is to get on with the things that are new this time - and the new things here are some of the remote hills of the Welsh countryside. Last week I loved the long run with Paul, the recceing and the exploring. I'm really keen to get out and explore those far reaches of the PBR that I've never visited.

Last week's lesson to myself was all about keeping this manageable by taking it a run at a time. This week, it's about keeping it fresh.

Training summary:

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 7.5M, 6 * 800m Dark Lane efforts - ran well on tired legs despite a hard day on Sunday
Weds - 5.5M track session - 4 * 1200m - first in the group and felt O
Thurs - 12.6M steady run with club. Easy for 10M and then did the last 2 at 6min/mile pace and felt OK
Fri - Rest
Sat - 16.7M 4500' ascent, 3hr 20min - Clwydian Hills with Paul. Wet, windy, cold and claggy.
Sun - Rest - Andrew's christening in Lancaster

Total - 43M, @ 5000'ish ascent

PS - Tune in head this week was 'Stronger' by Kanye West. Look at me, aren't I down with the kids?!

w/c 25 February 2008 - A big day in the North

2008-03-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

This week marked the start of my proper training for the PBR.

I love it. I love it already.

Today, I did a huge day in Snowdonia, my biggest hill day for months and it was FAB with a capital, erm, FAB. I loved being out for seven hours again, climbing well on tired legs and recceing new ground. I loved getting stupid tunes in my head again ("Don't marry her, f**k me" by the Beautiful South - honestly!). I loved the monster omelette, chips and pint of tea in Pete's Eats afterwards too. I loved feeling pleasantly knackered when I got home.

Had a good training week in general and feel as though I'm in better condition now 6 months from the PBR than I was 6 months out from the BGR.

Monday - rest

Tuesday - 10.5M - 3 fig 8s at Burwardsley - ran well after Osteopath appointment!

Weds - 5.5M - 6 * 800m at the track with decent warm up and down. Chester Tri session. First in group, averaged about 2:45 for reps and all 6 were even

Thurs - 11M - Steady run with club - Tattenhall, Huxley, Beeston loop

Fri - Rest

Sat - 8M easy on road out of Rossett

Sun - 20M, 10,000' and 7hrs: Llanberis - Moel Eilio - Moel Cyngorian - Snowdon - Penypass (and beans on toast!) - Glyder Fach - Y Garn - Foel Goch - Mynedd Perfedd - Elidir Fawr - Elidir Fach - Llanberis. With Paul Miller - felt good, legs a bit heavy but kept a decent pace. Found new way through quarries. Also saw a double Glory on Y Garn - amazing sight, 2 massive spectrum halos.

Total for week: 55M, @ 11,000'

Long long way to go...

2008-03-01T04:53:00.000-08:00

As well as posting the various thoughts and accounts of the training I'm doing, I thought I'd post the bare bones of the training programme I hope to follow. Bloody hell mum I'm scared now! It's another huge undertaking and I feel very very daunted by it, especially as so much of it is unknown. I feel in need of some inner strength, courage and inspiration.

The current Mrs Smith is a proper marathon queen and has incredible mental toughness that goes with the ability to grind out those intense road miles one after the other. She warms up after about 15 miles and has this ability to be able to extract every last drop of energy from her body in each and every race more than anyone else I know. She always looks a right state at the finish line and has been known to pass out in the funnel and even puke on her shoes. How on earth does she manage to consistently push so hard? And how can I get me some of that?

Her trick is her policy of only ever thinking about the next mile ahead. She doesn't cram the whole race in her head at one time - if you tried to do that you'd just want to lie down. She stubbornly breaks it down into lots of smaller and frequnetly met goals during the race- it's a neat trick and it obviously works.

So perhaps the way to embark upon such a programme without kacking myself with fear is to tackle it by just doing one run at a time.

I'll start that by going out now getting that 8 mile road run in...

PBR Outline Training Programme

25 weeks to go - Total climb: 10,000', Main run - Llanberis, Moel Eilio, Snowdon, Glyderau with Paul Miller 8000', 19M
24 weeks to go - Total climb: 7,000', Main run - PBR leg Hebog/Nantlle 5100' 9M
23 weeks to go - Total climb: 3,000', Main run - Long road and trail run (Nottingham for the weekend) 20M
22 weeks to go - Total climb 10,000', Main run - PBR leg Snowdon 6100' 13M
21 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - Edale Skyline Race 4500', 21M. Target 3:30
20 weeks to go - Total climb 30,000', Main run - 2 day BGR boot-camp (!) with Tattenhall et al
19 weeks to go - Total climb 12,000', Main run - 2 legs of PBR (Carneddau/Glyderau) 12,000' 22M
18 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - none, 4 * 2000' sessions Mon-Thurs before holiday
17 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - PBR leg (Siabod-Moelwyns) 8,000' 19M. Holiday for most of week so will be rested for increase in training.
16 weeks to go - Total climb 12,000', Main run - not sure, somewhere in Scotland
15 weeks to go - Total climb 13,000', Main run - Fellsman Hike 11,000' 61M
14 weeks to go - Total climb 14,000', Main run - Pete's BGR support legs 2/3? 12,000' 31M
13 weeks to go - Total climb 14,000', Main run - 2 PBR legs (Snowdon and Glyderau) 12,000' 23M
12 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - Dave and Paul's BGR support legs 3/4 12,000' 26M
11 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - 2 PBR legs (Siabod-Moelwyns) 8,000' 19M.
10 weeks to go - Total climb 6,000', Main run - none, just Moel Famau runs + Welsh Castles road leg
9 weeks to go - Total climb 30,000', Main run - whole PBR over 2 days
8 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - Jamie's BGR support 2 legs
7 weeks to go - Total climb 9,000', Main run - Local long run on Moel Famau 5,000' 17M. Easier week.
6 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - Wasdale fell race 10,000', 20M
5 weeks to go - Total climb 18,000', Main run - 2 PBR legs, including one at night 12,000' 23M
4 weeks to go - Total climb 30,000', Main run - whole PBR over 2 days
3 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - Borrowdale fell race 17M 6500'
2 weeks to go - Total climb 3,000', Main run - Clwydian Hills route 3,000', 9M
Final week - No running, and then the PBR at the weekend

w/c 18th February 2008 - A hazy shade of winter

2008-02-24T03:52:00.000-08:00

This week's training has been pretty darn good, lots of quality and no long run, but generally really enjoyable. It's not really PBR training, more like finishing off the cross country season and the winter in general. I've had just about every weather condition this week, other than snow and heatwave. The difference in temperature between the speed sessions on Tuesday and Thursday was 15 degrees C!

I feel strong, but have a sore back after the national XC on Saturday. Never had a sore back before so will have to get that looked at. It doesn't stop me running buts hurts after an hour or so.

This weeks training:

Monday - 13.5M, 1000' climbing - trail run on Peckforton Hills. Sunny and warm. Lovely easy paced run with fast finish.
Tuesday - 7M - speed session at Covert Rise - included 1 mile TT after previous efforts and warm up. Ran 5:40 for that - had stitch so not as quick as I know I can. Freezing cold - well below freezing.
Wednesday - Rest, out for lovely tea :-)
Thursday - 7M - simlar speed session to Tuesday, much warmer and strong breeze. Ran 5.35 for the mile TT after a longer warm up. Ran well in subsequent efforts.
Friday - Rest
Saturday - English National Cross Country championships - 12km. Really tough course and a hard race. I ran my heart out for 2 and a half laps and then the wheels came off and my back was sore. Pleased with 45:00. Felt ok afterwards, suggesting there was more in the tank. Back was really sore and I need to get this looked at.
Sunday - Moel Famau run with Tim in foul weather - 8M 2700'. Cold and windy and very wet!! Started sluggishly but felt better. Back became sore after an hour so cut short the planned run.

Totals: 42 miles, @4000'ish

Bit worried about my back but will get it attended to. Feels like I need someone to just sit on it and wait for something to 'click'. Generally though, it's good to be feeling reasonably strong and fit as the winter makes its mind up whether to go or stay a while longer.

February 24 2008 - Let's get it started!

2008-02-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

Still can't quite believe that I'm commiting to this. It's scaring the pants off me at the moment.

So much of it is unknown - the terrain, the difference in difficulty between this and BGR and even when and where I'm going to start and finish on the round. There's so much to learn and decide. Scary. Daunting.

But so much of it is known. The rigours of a 24 hour round, the training, the climbing, the eating! The obsession and yet the struggle for balance and fairness and the meeting of ones responsibilities. Getting out for long runs at the weekend, fitting in climbing via Tattenhall railways and Moel Famau runs after work, losing weight and gaining strength. Scary and daunting also.

All these knowns and unknowns combine to give me plenty to do. The first thing to do is to sort out a training programme. This means I'll also need to decide on a date.

Two factors will come into this and they are in opposition. The most suitable date is the point at which they balance. The first factor is having enough time to prepare and train and the second is to have as much daylight as possible on the day. Mid to late August seems about right. That gives six months to train and just about enough daylight to get around.

Based on that, I've worked out the guts of a training programme. It focusses on weekends and ascent per week. I don't want to plan every day and live to a schedule, so the weekdays will evolve as and when, with railways and Moel Famau finding their ways back into my life!

It gives me a 15/16 August date. Very provisional, but that's the first draft. I've still got to be sure I'm doing this and be clear how it relates to everything else. Right now, this training schedule starts to help me realise what this actually is. Once I know that, I can really get it started.

February 19 2008 - Here we go again...

2008-02-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

I always like to get myself something for my birthday. This year, on the occasion of my 35th anniversary, I got myself a new blog. Perhaps more significantly, I made the decision to go for the Paddy Buckley round sometime towards the back end of summer 2008. I've got 6 months to prepare.

I'm so excited! I loved having the BGR in my life despite the sacrifices I made. It bought the best out in me in terms of determination, preparation and friendship. I miss it and want another challenge. The Paddy Buckley represents that. Moreover, completing all three British rounds is something I would love to do. But hey, one step at a time....

I beleive that my BGR demonstrated to many that you really do not need to be athleticially gifted to do it. I know there are people who saw me get round and then re-evaluated their own ability to do likewise. I'm sure some have and have thought, "If he can do it, I bloody well can". I'm wondering whether the PBR falls into the same category or is it simply just a bridge too far for the regular mid-packer, no matter what preparation goes in?

There's only one way to find out. I'm going for it. It'll be an August attempt I think, maybe even late August. I want six months to prepare and I have to (really want to actually) support some BGRs over the summer and return some major favours.

I'm in the throws of looking at a training schedule and will probably post it soon (comments welcome!). In the meantime, I'm steeling myself for another campaign.

Here we go again....!