Middle Pack

Not really much going on for me. Training is slow, but at least I have started running a bit of milage. So instead I am putting out a few things I have been reading this week.

The biggest thing for me that I have read recently is that Steve Birkinshaw is attemping the Lakes 24hr record. The current record set in 1997 by Mark Hartnell is huge challenge that takes in the Bob Graham 42 tops plus another 35 lumps bumps and tops. Steve hopes to at least add one more to this round.

The date set is May 23rd.  If anyone at the moment is able to do it at the moment then it is Steve, with fast times in the big 3 rounds and winner of the Lakeland 100 not to mention multiple elite mountain marathon winner. Good luck with that one Steve and the offer of help is there (if I am fit enough to be of use).

Next is the Virgin Global Row. Madness! Thats the only way to describe an attempt by Ollie Hicks to row round the antarctic.

Maximum respect to this guy, he is obviously built from a different mould! His previous adventure being the youngest person to row across the Atlantic.

The adventurer is expecting this solo row to take up to nearly 2 years! Ollie set off in early January yet due to the seas and the wind has spent the majority of the last 6 weeks rowing forwards then getting blown back therefore making hardly any ground at all.

I am hooked on his blog entries just to see if he has managed to actually get anywhere.

The other thing that has caught my eye is watching the new look Saab Salomon Adventure Racing team website take shape. An eyepopping display of UK talent all pooled into one group of racers. A list that includes Robb Jebb, Angela Mudge, Rob Hope, Natalie White, Ricky Lightfoot, Tom Owens etc etc. The strength and depth is amazing. These will be one to watch this year in both running and adventure racing.

Loads of cool stuff already happening this year and people plans for 09 are already taking shape. I reckon this year is going to be a good one for a fair few people.

The last two nights I have finally managed to get running again. A small step to getting fit again after a few very patchy months. I realise I have a fair bit to get back to where I used to be back in Autum. I also realise I should have got myself sorted a LOT sooner. It is a stupid thing to do to continue running when injured, but when running is such fun and quite important to my wellbeing, it is hard to tell yourself you need to stop.

This gap since pretty much Mid November, with the odd race to “test my foot” (Another stupid thing to do) and no training has meant I have managed to look at my season goals and make a few adjustments.

Main thing is  no Bob Graham round in 2009. Was planning on the 5th June as it is my birthday that day, it falls on a full moon and is in the height of summer. It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. Now I think I will give it a miss. I don’t want to rush it. I want a long build up and to enjoy the whole experience. Not cram in a load of training and just end up injured again right before summer.  So plans are afoot for a 2010 BG but there may be some other runs in the meantime worth reading about.  Also means I am free for recce’s and support for anyone interested in a bag carrier?

The lack of a Bob Graham free’s up a massive chunk of my year and given me the chance to be a bit more varied in my events.Something missing last year.

Some of my favorite races are now free for me to do! So the first thing I can now do is the Lakeland Classics series again! I have entered Wasdale and Langdale as it is English Champs races and I will do Duddon and Ennerdale to qualify.

I will also spend some of those planned Bob Graham recce weekends doing adventure racing or mountain biking. I have a few pencilled in already as well so should be good. I will also be spending a few weekends either running or biking or both, with wild camps  in our national parks generally having fun and taking in the views with friends.

I will try to do the Runfurther series, albeit without the Fellsman as a friend is coming over from New Zealand that weekend. Mates come before a run! I will also partake in the club championships. First race of 09 ebing Noonstones next week. My first race back (hopefully)

All in all, despite putting my big goal to one side for a full year, I am looking forward to this year! I actually think I am looking forward to it more now than I was before. Without the BG training shadow looming over me, without the recce, recce, recce mentality getting in there, basically without Bob Graham I can relax and enjoy the build up to June 2010.

A sneak preview to some of the google mapping  I have added to the site.

Maps page

It is not all finished yet and I will probably play around with the size of the map, add images, and change the layout of the page. I wanted to initially just get some things up there on the site as this will give me a bit of a kick start to keep moving with this.