Scores on the Doors Miss Ford...

Its time to update all of my vital statistics. Im doing this now as I will be tapering my running right down and my food intake will be going up so I wont be able to get a accurate reading later in the week. Im at work this evening so I did my run early, sorted meals out for everyone, did my jobs then headed out to work.

 

Keep on Running

Blogging:

This has been a revelation to me and made me so accountable. Im really humbled that people have taken an interest in what should be quite a dull subject and Im honoured to have had you along for the journey. Im definitely going to continue it for the Lakeland 100 next year. Its also been a real outlet for my mental state, letting me express feeling and thoughts Ive never been able to talk about before. Because of the blog Im going to see a councillor about my mental health and hopefully come to terms with my personal circumstances. A big thanks to everyone who has been concerned about me and got me talking. Its extremely hard being a double carer but at least now I feel like the old proverb, a problem shared, is a problem halved. Thank you!

 





Start

Final Weigh in and stats.

Starting Stats:

Weight - 11 stone 9
BMI - 24
BF- 22.4
Water content - 57% (must mean I'm full of pee!!)

Finish Stats:

Weight – 11 stone 7
BMI – 23.9
BF – 21.4
Water Content – 58






7 weeks, 500 miles and lots of hard work

What this all means Im not too sure. At first glance Im a bit disappointed in the fat loss to be honest but Ive read a few things about body fat analysis and my scales sound like they are way out. There are pictorial guides online and I look more like Im around 14% body fat, (22% is obese!) so Im at a loss. However I look much more leaner than before and I feel great so thats all that counts. I wanted my weight to stay around the starting weight and Im happy with this.

My body has definitely changed, my oblique's have probably improved the most, giving me a rock solid core. Also my arms and shoulders have become stronger and more defined helping me drive my arms when I run. My hip tensors have developed well too, powering my quads and legs, plus my calf muscles have exploded, giving me loads of spring in my stride. Ive noticed a difference in the small muscles around my knees and shins, those help to stabilise my balance. Overall Im happy with the changes, Im still a work in progress and Ive got far to go!

Food

Looking back at my blog Im extremely happy with what Ive eaten. The health benefits have been massive and I feel really healthy and Im recovering very quickly after heavy workouts.

Training:

This has been excellent. Ive hit every training session with a clear objective and nailed them all. On the odd occasion where circumstance has stopped me, Ive just swapped my rest day, of made up for my mileage the next day. Ive ran just under 500miles in 7 weeks which even Im impressed with and I smashed my 5k PB out of the park. Ive also competed my strength work very week and noted a big difference every week. My confidence in my ability has definitely grown and I now have to believe in everything Ive done and trust my training and race plan. Bring on Saturday!

Running: 9.38 miles 9.18/mi 1:27 hrs

I dropped Oliver off at school just as the heavens opened and the wind picked up. I headed home, got changed and set out into the cold, wet and windy morning. It was a perfect morning for a run in different conditions as its been a while since Ive ran in the rain. I was wearing my leggings and waterproof jacket today, a polar opposite from running topless two days ago. I decided to keep on Walney and the wind was blowing up from the south east so I headed off directly into it. This reverse loop would have the wind and rain behind me on the long open coastal path. There was no point fighting the weather today, Im on taper and its supposed to be easy (ish).

I had to run with my head down and power into the driving wind and rain as I pushed towards Biggar Village. It was hard going but the drop in pace felt easy on my legs. Ive now dropped a gear so I wont be running under 9 min miles for the rest of the week, keeping it gentle and just letting the muscles tick over until race day.

Once I was on Biggar Bank, the wind was behind me and I enjoyed a strong tail wind, helping me along. The wind and rain cooled my body very quickly and I was glad Id put my waterproof on and a base layer to keep my core warm. I normally run in all weathers so the task wasnt anything new, just a gentle reminder of what I can control and what I cant come race day.

The rest of the run was at the same easy pace and my heart rate never once rose too much to make me feel like I was exerting too much. As often happens on Walney, the weather suddenly stopped, the hard and cold rain ceasing its barrage almost instantly. I added an extra 2 mile loop to my usual route and got home and stretched out.

A good, easy run, if a tad moist! I could have quite happily kept going today, good news for the weekend!

Food Diary:

Breakfast:
Oatso Simple Porridge with nuts and chia seeds.

Post run snack:

2 slices of GF Toast with Manuka Honey and Almond Butter

Lunch:
Salmon Fillet with steamed vegetables, rice and quinoa mix.

Dinner:
Chicken and Chorizo pesto with GF pasta

Sunday - a day of rest.

After getting home late last night from work, I was exhausted this morning. I had planned to do my scheduled 10 miles later in the evening but as the day dragged on my energy levels dropped so Ive swapped tomorrows rest day for today. Ive had a  lot of jobs to get through today, my usual Sunday  basket of ironing (have I ever told you I hate Ironing?) ;) , tidying and getting ready for the rest of the week. Joanne has been bad again all day today. She tried some sourdough bread as someone told her the process destroyed most of the gluten (obviously not enough) and its triggered her IBS!!!
Plus our new (UN)fitted kitchen is being delivered this week so I had to make room for it in the garage. Im fitting most of it myself but its staying in its boxes until after the race! By the time I had done that and got dinner sorted my eyes were getting heavy and my legs were feeling very lethargic after the beach running yesterday. Tapering is about recovery and rest so I made the decision and I know its the right thing to have done.

Im going to do my weigh in and comparisons tomorrow. Because I will be eating more and training less this week I will put one or two pounds on before Saturday. This is all part of the science as its building my reserves of energy up and hydrating me before the weekends abuse! Im really focussed, laser sharp now and my race plan is 99% complete. Ive also been keeping an eye on the weather forecast. Although it wont be exact until probably Thursday, Im keeping a keen eye on hurricane Joaquin that is heading our way into the Atlantic from Bermuda at the moment. Fingers crossed eh!
Weather and ground conditions are some of the things of a race you cant control, just  plan for.  Ive ran in all weathers in all seasons, so Im not worried about that. Is just visibility on the high fells that will slow proceedings. But thats all part of the fun!

Food Diary:

(I haven't been very hungry today - its not like me and I need to watch my intake closely this week.)

Breakfast:
Slice of GF Toast with manuka honey

Lunch:
Ham and Spinach Omelette

Dinner:
Roast Chicken breast with sweet potato mash, leeks, savoy cabbage, broccoli and a spoonful of  gravy

Roast Chicken and Veggies

Bio Yoghurt with pineapple, blueberries and melon with Granola

Snacks
Apple, cashew nuts

Saturday is TISWAS!

Ive just read back the title and realised if your under 40 you wont have a clue what it means. TISWAS used to be a crazy and anarchic Saturday morning show for kids (and adults ;)  ) which launched Chris Tarrents and Lenny Hernrys careers (look it up on youtube its ace!). The acronym stands for This Is Saturday Watch And Smile!

I was at work Friday night and was quite tired when I got to bed. The whole family slept in until 9:30am, unheard of in our house.  So today felt a bit rushed, I was at work for 4pm and I had a lot to do including a half marathon. I took Oliver to my mums and returned home. After I had done all my jobs I set out for a run. I got home and had lunch, a dip in the bath and went to work. We had the comedian, Ed Byrne, on tonight and he was very funny. I wanted to watch a bit but there were lots of operational jobs to do for Sunday and Monday so it was a really busy night. I went home and straight to bed.

Running: 11.75miles   8:33/mi   1:40 hrs

I set off not knowing how long I was going to run for. It was about 11:30am when I set out and really needed to do 13 miles but time was against me today. I ran along the prom up to North Scale and along to the airfield. I used the path I ran on yesterday and crossed the island to the West Shore. I turned onto the small paths I had spotted yesterday and jogged along the gravel path. The trail led into the salt marshes that ran along the boundary fence of the airfield. In all my years living in Barrow and Walney, I had never been this far up the tip of Walney. It was really enjoyable, the paths easy and light took me further into the dunes. I get a great buzz from exploring, its like something is inbuilt into humans, questioning and curious; what's round that bend, what's over that hill, what's the view like from that mountain. Its perhaps why humans were such a prolific species, forever wandering the planet, nomadic in nature. I love the way running in nature makes me think, makes me wonder about the world around us and the bigger picture.

The sun felt really warm again as I ran along in the hazy afternoon.The path split in lots of directions, ready to take walkers and nature lovers around the Nature Reserve, but I headed forward into the sand dunes and heath, following the trail in the grass. It was a great bit of off road running, trekking through the sand and grassland, up and down the small hills. The sharp, needle like hay blades pricking my skin as I pushed past them, sharpening my senses. The path ended on top of a dune and I could see for miles around. There was still some of North Walney left to explore but to the west the sea was out, revealing a beautiful, flat and soft running track. I made my way down to the beach and ran out about half a mile to the still and peaceful sea.

I turned and ran back along the shore line, following the waves as the sea made its steady march towards the land. Although a thick haze covered the landscape, the sun was really hot, shining through the misty air directly in front of me. I took of my running vest and enjoyed the cooling effect of the gentle sea air on my skin. The ripples in the sand, left there hours earlier by the retreating wavelets, felt bumpy under my feet, making my ankles and calves work overtime. Its such a good workout, the soft surface reducing the impact of each step and for the same reason making you push harder to get forward motion, working my legs much harder. My quads were really screaming towards the end of the beach run. After a couple of miles the tide had pushed me into the shore so I rejoined my usual coastal path at the Caravan site, put on my vest top and carried on towards home.

It was another fantastic run around Walney. I loved exploring the Nature reserve and its opened up lots of training options for the future.

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

Oat So Simple Porridge with nuts and seeds.

Lunch:

Cajun Chicken Wrap with Asparagus, avocado and spinach.

Bio Yoghurt with Granola

Dinner:

Turkey Chilli with rice

Snacks:

Nuts and seeds, humus and oatcakes, Small bar of dark chocolate, apple, banana, 9bar.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

I was at work tonight so after I dropped Oliver off at school I went to get some shopping and look for a new work suit. All this running is seriously no good for your wardrobe or your wallet. Every piece of clothing I own is hanging off me! Joanne had an appointment this morning but it was cancelled last minute so she came to the shop with me. I only needed a few items from Asda and half way round she had to stop, out of breath, in pain and dizzy. I got her to sit in the window and wait for me to I finish, she really didnt look well at all. This is how bad she is, how hard day to day , mundane tasks have become to her. I took her home, got her comfortable and went for a run. On my return I had a gently stretch and concentrated on my lower legs. Oliver was out with his carer after school so Joanne could rest all afternoon. I then made a chilli, tidied up and went off to work.

Running: Approx 6.5 miles

My garmin hadn't charged properly so  went out without it this morning. It didn't feel that warm so I shoved a T-shirt on...mistake! By the time I go to the prom I was red hot sweating profusely in the October Sun (not two words you usually put together). I carried on, slowing my pace until I came to 13 corner lane at North Scale. The road was closed and completely blocked by diggers and trucks. Bollocks!

A flicker of a thought sparked in my head and I recalled seeing a path by the airfield which I thought led to the West Shore of Walney. I headed on down the road and ran down between the allotments and straight back out again as it was a circuitous path through the corrugated iron gardens. I came back to the road and continued all the way down to the airfield gates. A small "permitted path" led along the fence towards West Shore. The tiny single track was easy to run on and twisted its way along the length of the airfield to the end of the runway. Some white paths in the sea grass took my eye. Id never seen them before and wondered where they went to. They seemed to head north through the dunes and past the airfield boundaries. I didnt have time today but I will go and explore them next time Im out. It could be a totally new route for me and add some mileage to my normal circuit of Walney.

The coastline opened up at the end of the path and the sea, which was far out, looked cool and inviting. I bounded over the rocks onto the soft sand opening up my stride and working hard against the moving, shifting surface. I reached the incoming tide and turned south towards Biggar Bank, running along the edge of the ocean. The salt water splashed up my legs and felt cold but refreshing as I pounded along in the waves. I came to a water inlet where the current was flowing in very quickly that was about 8 ft wide. Im no long jumper but I took a step back and flew across the gap, splashing down in a foot or water on the other side. There is something about the great outdoors that turns me into a child, back to an age of innocence and getting mud up, wet and dirty. I squealed with delight as I came down heavy in the water, laughing out loud. I was getting hot and as there was no-one to be seen, I stripped off my shirt and ran along knee deep, sloshing through the cold sea, pushing my legs through briny sea. It was exhilarating!

I came to a rocky section and ran straight through the middle, keeping each foot strike as light and as short as possible. My ankles twisted and turned in every direction, negotiating the stony surface with practised movements. This was an amazing way to train for trail running, it reminded me so much of some of the technical descents in the fells. “Why the hell have I never done this before” I said to myself, my smile beaming across my face. All the times Ive ran past here in the past and Ive never once though of doing it.

I got to the edge of the rocky sections onto a sand bank and sunk about 4 inches into the soft, wet surface. What a good workout this was becoming, the delicate sand not returning any of the force I was applying with my feet, forcing me to push off harder and harder with every step. It was really tiring but good for my lower legs. My muscles were aching as I pushed on over some more pebbles, slipping occasionally but compensating with my following leg, catching me as I ran. The small stabilising muscles were working overtime supporting my legs, ankles and hips as I shimmied and danced amongst the stones and the shingle.

I came to Thorney Nook and the end of my beach run, it had been a very enjoyable session on such a lovely day. I returned to the beach path, put on my Tshirt and jogged back to home. A wonderful and uplifting run that left me tired but with a massive smile on my face.

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

Granola with Fat Free Yoghurt

Lunch:

3 Egg Omelette with peppers, ham and spinach

Dinner:
Homemade Turkey Chilli with wild rice

Snacks:

Nut and seeds, apple, banana

9 days and counting...

 

That's all that's left. 9 days of training left, well I say training its tapering. This is the period of the training that no-one likes. I hit my "Peak Week" last Sunday and Ive been Tapering off my training since. The theory is to peak your fitness, then spend a couple of weeks doing less and less until race day, repairing all the muscle damage, resting and restoring glycogen levels into the body. It can be a really frustrating couple of weeks as you feel great and ontop of your game, but that was what peak week was for. I know exactly how to taper now and I use the down time to rest, plan my race tactics and double check everything.

I woke early this morning and made my lunch and a Chicken Curry for the slow cooker and headed off slightly early for work as it was day 2 of my course. The day went quickly and I got a lot from the course. I walked home and everyone was ok for a change and I managed to get out for a recovery run after the Bootcamp workout last night. I returned home and after a stretch had tea and tidied up. I did Olivers spellings with him and he got all but one right (international) which I thought was quite advanced for an 8 year old. He's doing so well with his work (he's had a couple of blips at school this week, hitting out and not answering his teachers but I'm thinking he's picked up my stress earlier in the week as he's really susceptible to it ).

I checked for an update on the Ultra Website and was really lucky. They had just started a Webinar with the organiser going over the route and mandatory checkpoints. Im really glad I caught it as it gave me quite a bit of extra information and it was really interesting. There was the ability to ask live questions and talk to the organiser direct which I thought was excellent planning by them.
After the webinar I downloaded he updated race info pack and put Oliver to bed, wrote this and jumped in a hot bath.

Running: 7:17 miles   7.55/mi  56 min

I set out into the beautiful and unseasonal sunshine and ran my normal route around Walney. I was sweating like mad it was so warm and humid. I kept the pace steady as I was a little achy after last nights bootcamp. My upper body was sore, especially under my arms in my lateral muscles and my shoulders. This was from all the burpees, thrusters and press-ups I did last night, painful but in a satisfying, hard earned sort of way.
By the time I got to the half way point the sun was still beating down but a cooling evening breeze picked up, evaporating the sweat away. My shoulders were really fatigued and I had to run with them by my sides for a while. I don't mind them being like this as it shows I worked hard and there are changes taking place. I made my way home and had a cold drink as I stretched in the garden.

It was a nice easy run and was good to loosen up some tight and sore muscles.

Food Diary:
Breakfast:
Mini Shredded Wheat with Skimmed milk and Blueberries

Lunch:
Tarragon seared chicken and avocado salad.

Dinner:
Homemade Slow cooker Chicken Tikka with wholegrain rice and green beans.

Snacks:
Apple, nuts and seeds, banana, slice of sourdough bread with manuka honey, square of dark chocolate.

Bootcamp..the return

My alarm went off at 5:30am and I automatically got up, got changed and had an espresso. I had a 7 mile run around Walney to do.

There are only 10 more days until my ultra so every run counts, every run finishes the job and completes the miles Id laid down on paper, seemingly so long ago. The end is near, at least for this chapter anyway. Ive got a little 100 miler to do next summer and Ive decided Im going to continue my blog for that too! The blogs really been helping me, its been a good tool to look back at my sessions, to offload any pressures and has made all this journey seem so much more real and added a validity to it. I cant wait for the race.

I completed my run, got home and had a gentle stretch. I made some scrambled eggs for my breakfast, made a pork casserole and shoved it in the slow cooker, sorted my lunch, tidied up and got my self ready for work. Not a bad mornings work if I dont say so myself. I was on a Project Management course at work today and I found the first day quite interesting as its something that applies to my job really well. I went home and got changed for Bootcamp! Yes it was back for a once a month special. After Bootcamp I showered, had some lovely Pork and Apple Casserole with rice, tidied up, put the boy to bed and wrote this blog.

Running: 7.14miles 8.45/mi 1 hour

I was stiff when I set out into the dark morning. The waxing super moon glowed silvery and bright in the morning haze as I made my way on my regular route around the island. I had a flashing arm band on as it was still pitch black, its red LEDs flashing, seemingly in time with my footsteps. I tried to clear my mind but it was, as usual, full of crap, so I just ran. The sun started its slow arc into the sky half way through my run, flooding the dark with pastel shades of purple and pink. Above me the sky was clear but a little fuzzy around the edges as the morning mist started to rise along the channel. It is a very peaceful time of day and fills me with so much energy for the coming day.

Soon I was on the shoreline and ran carefully over the stony trail. The visibility was still poor and I didnt want to go over on my ankle so I treaded lightly, keeping my cadence high and my footstrikes soft. The moon still hung over my shoulder, trying its best to light my way, to show me the contours of the path. I opened my eyes wide to take in more light and pushed onto Biggar Bank. From here I could see the beautiful Sunrise over to the East, rising slowly along the island. Ive been so lucky with my training runs, seeing so many amazing sights at all times of day.

I turned off the coast and ran the 2 miles back to home, soaking in the uplifting, bright and colourful sunrise. The clouds on the horizon had created what looked like a mountain range high above the land, the sun lit them from behind, giving them an edge and shape. My run came to a gentle end and I slowed to a jog, warming down. Im still quite low after the weekend and with so much going around in my head Ive decided to talk to someone about it.

It had been a lovely mornings run but my head was still full of feelings and thoughts I dont need or want so I will have to get that sorted and soon!

The Return of GB BOOTCAMPS!!

It seems like an eternity since I had my last bootcamp session. If you didnt know its what started me on this crazy ass journey and the main man, Gareth has become such a close friend, coach and mentor to me over the last 2 and a half years giving me amazing advice and pushing me hard whenever we train. It was so good to see many of the old faces there tonight and although a few regulars were missing we still had a good craic and a right laugh as we always do. Id not thought about how much I miss the camaraderie because of my recent training, but it all came flooding back tonight as we enjoyed catching up with each other.

 

The Bootcamp Posse

 

Gareth called us together to get started and we did some mobility exercises to get the blood flowing ready for a hard workout. As always happens at his point, before it gets hard work the double entendres start to flow and it soon degrades into laughter. Its more like “Carry on Bootcamp” at the start and its one of the many reasons we all come back, the laughter, mixed with the hard work and friendships makes an addictive cocktail.

Because of the once a month format, Gareth had decided to do a base line fitness test that we could use to compare our progress with next time we met. It was a lap of the block (about 500m) then straight into 20 press ups, 20 squats, 20 sit ups and finally 10 Burpees (If you've never met a Burpee, google it then try one - they aren't easy). I had already decided to push hard tonight, I needed the release for one, but I also wanted to see how my fitness was after all the hard work Id been putting in. We all gathered in a line and set off. I bolted from the off, letting my quick pace push me along. I was breathing hard but it was only a short distance, so I let myself push harder. I was first one back and launched straight into to the press up, pushing the floor away and quickly returning as I breathed deep, keeping my core tight and my back straight. Next were the squats and situps which I completed with no trouble.

My breathing was now slowing down from the run and I threw myself to the floor for the Burpees. The full body exercise used to be my nemesis. Because of the problems I had with my back, I could only ever do 1 or two, but with perseverance and the mentality to work on what your weaknesses are, Ive mastered them. I squatted down, my hands on the freshly cut grass and with arms straight, I kicked my legs out to land in a press up position. Then the powerful muscles in my hips thrust upwards and I pulled my legs under my torso landing on my feet. Continuing the move I extended quickly, jumping my weight from the floor in one movement. On my return to earth (after jumping 60 feet high!! ;) ) I bounced gently and bent straight into a squat again keeping the momentum high for the next rep. I finished the test and cooled down, Id pushed myself hard but my recovery was quick ready for the main workouts.

Thruster - Squat with a 20kg sandbag shoulder press

I felt strong, fast and totally in control of my body during the rest of the hard workout which involved more Burpees, tyre throwing, thrusters and shuttle sprints to name but a few of the tough exercises. After all three circuits of workouts we came together for a cool down and stretch. I had pushed myself really hard tonight and I loved every second of it, being outside with my great friends and totally enjoying myself. I cannot wait until the next one.

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

4 Scrambled eggs with 2 slices of GF Bread

Lunch:

Mackerel, avocado and rice salad.

Dinner:

Homemade Pork and Apple Casserole with vegetables and wholegrain rice.

Snacks:

Banana, Apple, nuts and seeds, flapjack, Seed 9bar, oatcakes with humus.

Running Biss

Finally a good nights sleep! The Doctor had given Jo some different pain relief and she slept like a babe, consequently so did I! Before bed last night I did my strength and core work, upping the reps by 10 and doing them all unbroken (no stopping when doing a exercise). I even knocked out a personal best 7min plank!! (No you filthy minded individual, plank is spelled correctly ;)  ). I hope this means my core strength is really good and it should support my frame and posture for the 50 miles.

I woke up at 7am and started to get my kit ready for todays run. Joanne was being taken to Asda by her friend and I had some free time. I took Oliver to school and came home, tidied up, made the beds hung the washing out and flew out of the door. I was in such a rush to go, I forgot my GPS watch..DOH. I made my way to Newby Bridge Parked the car and went for an amazing run. I retuned home, showered and picked Oliver up from school. It the best part of  day when I pick him up. He peered around the door and a smile beamed across is little face. "DADDY" he shouted as he bolted from school into my arms. It totally blows me away. Later Im going to do my strength and core work  before bed.

Running 6.5 miles out and back - 13 miles total Approx

 (and that's just the length of the essay below!!!)

I had parked my car in a lay-by by the Swan Hotel as it is right on the run route (and as a bonus its free parking). I loaded all my gear onto my back and set off over Newby Bridge, crossing the River Leven and over the A590 main road. The route led up the road to Canny Hill then off road into the fells above. The sun was blazing down today, just like a summers day but it was nearly October! I was hot already but had minimal layers on so it would have to do, they were moisture wicking and should cool me down as I ran. The gentle slope lead onto a gravel track public bridalway, the suns rays penetrated through the leafy canopies above and created a wonderful speckled effect on the path ahead. The air was calm and I felt light and strong as I made my way along the path.

 

Forest Track

The route then came out into a small valley, covered as far as the eye could see in a blanket of autumnal gold and red. A moist, peaty smell rose from all around, filling my head with the earthy tones as my feet crashed through the bracken. It was a wonderful feeling, pushing the bright and dry fronds aside as I made my way up the hill, each one brushing against me and moving aside easily. I stopped when the trail did and checked my map. My compass was going haywire and I couldn't get a true reading for north. What the hell was happening? As thorough as ever I went through the possibilities of why the needle would spin? Was it the Compass? I checked the plastic device, it wasn't that. Was it a bizarre natural phenomenon caused by the Super Moon? - Theoretical but improbable. Was I stood over a magnetised surface? No.....but there is a speaker in my phone....and speakers have magnets......and Ive just put the phone in the map pocket which is directly under the compass....”you knob head” I chastised myself in the middle of the bracken.

Golden Brown

What a stupid schoolboy error!! I held my phone between my knees (you get a better reception there!) and the compass, now away from the magnetic speaker, worked fine so I took a bearing and headed off in that direction. The path lead over the top of Old Backbarrow and down through some woods on a muddy and rocky trail. I enjoyed the change of pace and let the slope carry me down, shifting my weight over protruding roots and rocks, sidestepping the puddles and mud. It came out at the tiny hamlet  of Low Brow Edge and onto a B road. The route followed this road up to Bigland Hall then would join the Coastal Cumbrian Way. I trotted along the road, saying good morning to a couple of farmers who were stoking two roadside bonfires, burning the rotting vegetation. The smell as I passed was a smokey natural one and very earthy but not repulsive. Almost like barbecue smoking applewood chips that you burn to flavour the meat. I suddenly felt hungry so I had a flapjack bar and pushed up the gentle country lane.

Bigland Tarn

Bigland Hall estate came into view with all the stables fronting the property. I couldn't see the hall from where I was but the surrounding area looked very well kept and manicured. The Hall is now a special Equine centre specialising in Dressage or so the signs said. The track turned off to skirt around Bigland Tarn and I enjoyed the stunning reflections of the hills in the still water. As I ran around its circumference, a bouquet of pheasants (thats the proper collective noun for them don't you know...) jumped me and flew in every direction, croaking in that guttural squawk they are known for. I honestly shit myself and yelled like a girl as they escaped from the undergrowth that had been previously still and silent seconds earlier, haha! I recomposed myself, looked around and saw no-one around, so with my pride still intact I moved on looking for the Cumbrian Coastal Way.

Looking across the estuary

 

I found it easily and it took me over the hill onto Bigland Heights. The view was utterly breathtaking, stretching across the bay, taking in Barrow, Ulverston and Greenodd, before returning on the near coast to Cark. I bathed in the vista looking for familiar landmarks: Piel Castle and Hoad Hill Monument, tracing the outline of the Cumbrian hills with my eyes. You dont realise until your up on a hillside like this how beautiful our tiny corner of the planet is.

After a mini photo shoot and some gratuitous running selfies (its the law!) I took another map reference and headed down into the wooded area at Grassgarth. The trail crossed a small road and headed upwards over a fell. I was treated to more amazing views at the top before dropping onto a farm track. This was the last 2 miles of the race, I would remember that come race day. The track, tarmacked years ago, was warn in places and the grass grew in abundance, especially down the centre of the single track road. The surface felt hard after running in the fells but it meant I could put my foot down a bit and stretch my legs out. After a cheeky little undulation it was all down hill into Cartmel.

Cartmel Priory

I had never been into Cartmel before and didnt realise just how busy the tiny village would be. From the shops, pubs and Xtypes poured lots of very middle class elderly couples (cynical but true) all turning their gaze at me as I ran down the middle of the main street to the Priory. That was the end point of the race and I wanted to see it first hand. Nearly every person stopped dead in their tweed slacks and chequered jackets. Their glasses were pushed to the ends of noses so the posh eyes could see me. I was dressed in my race kit, compression gear and two bottle race vest and to be honest probably stunk! In an act of total defiance I continued to the Priory despite all the looks and said good morning to an elderly gate assistant (there was a festival on!) whilst I took a photo. The look on his face and that of others was a picture! I turned face and retraced my steps with what could only be described as a smirk on my face and nearly got run over by a Jag on the way out. Thats karma for you!!

I ran back along the route, committing it all to memory as it would be dark when I would be here next. The trail was much easier on the way back as I didnt have to stop for map references or bearings (or selfies!!). I did stop for lunch on an outcropping Id spotted earlier and it was thoroughly enjoyed along with some wild blackberries I picked en route. I ran the return leg much faster and the second half really felt downhill all the way. I reached the car back at Newby Bridge in plenty of time so I decided to try and find a path I couldnt find on my last recce.

Natures larder

It was from Finsthwaite to Newby Bridge through some woods. Its a good climb to the top and there is a lookout tower at the top. I decided to go at the path from reverse and backtrack so I could see where it lead. It was an arduous climb up a rocky path with some slate steps in the middle. I reached the summit but could not for the life of me find the tower or the trail. The path completely disappeared in the ferns and storm damaged trees. I tried to head on a compass bearing but the ground was too unpredictable and definitely not the right path. The race organisers have said they will way mark some of the latter sections as they are difficult to find in the dark. I hope this is one of them.

I turned tail and headed back down to the car, down that gnarly path. My favourite- technical downhill. I took off down the steps and the path, accelerating, pushing my body into tight turns, shifting my body around and over trees, through bushes and finally out to the road. It was another exhilarating descent, I love the freedom it gives me and the rush of adrenalin. Its bloody awesome and makes me feel so alive. I made my way back to the car and realised Id lost my sun glasses....DOH!

It was a beautiful sunny day, just what I needed for an amazing, uplifting run. Pure running bliss!!!

 

THIS is why I run!

Food Diary:

Breakfast:
Oatso Simple Porridge with nuts, Chia Seeds and honey

Run Nutrition:
2x Flapjacks, 1ltr water with 2 electrolyte tabs.

Lunch:

Falafel and Humus Wraps (from Tesco)

Dinner :

Gluten Free Lasagne with Avocado and Tomato Rocket Salad

Fat Free Yoghurt topped with Oat Granola and nuts

Snacks:

Apple, oatcakes with cheese, boiled ham, humus and olives