Farewell to 2017... Hello to 2018

2017 has been a good running year for me. I love stats and being on Strava and having Garmin Connections gives me loads of data to oggle over. I set myself a goal of running 2017 km in 2017 that goal is now 2018 km. A good early year of long runs meant I was ahead of my target by a good margin. This would prove to be a benefit later on as I seemed to lose my motivation from August and not get it back until November.

Monthly Distance 2017

Three of the four ultra distance races were also in the first half of the year, again adding to the overall distance for the year.

I like to finish the year off with a good old run and this year was no exception.

Having signed up for both the 50 mile and 100 mile Chester Ultra races I need to put in some serious training to make the 'events' as painless as possible. Oh I'm not kidding myself, I will have low points in both events but I'm hoping the physical and mental training will help me survive them.

Therefore, the last run of the year was a recce run which starting at Barns Bridge car park in Delamere Forest followed the last section to the finish line in Waverton. It was then cross country back to where I started.

Running towards Beeston Castle

To mix things up more I decided I'd try to simulate the condition I'd be in on the day by reducing my calorie intake during the run, (I seem to fade when running at the long distances even if I graze food throughout the run).

So I found myself worse for wears as I joined the canal path at Warton's Lock for the final leg back into Waverton. This will clearly be an emotional section back to both finishes... It was horrendous! Flat, muddy and boring all equal to a challenge I can't wait to overcome on the respective race days.

For 2018... As I write this I've signed up to four ultra distance races so that should keep me busy with either the training or recovery between them. I'm hoping to smash my running distance target for 2018... Who knows we'll see.

Pennine Barrier 50 Ultra - It Started with a Kiss

There wasn't any kissing involved, but I got your attention. They'd built the start/finish arch and as I looked on, I couldn't help remember the last time I saw it, albeit with a different banner, the Chester 100 mile race. All quiet at the start The 'Did Not Finish' (DNF) for the Chester 100 has played on my mind since waking the next day. I know I made the right decision, but that didn't seem to quieten the nagging voices. The training between the Chester 100 and the Pennine Barrier was limited . Limited by a change of a job and losing my running 'Mo-Jo'. The job was exciting, losing my running Mo-Jo was scary; without my running I can't fight my dark days. So, I toed the start line, (well actually about 15 metres back, I didn't want to be trampled ), convinced I had 50 miles in my legs no matter how limited my training was. I didn't know how painful the adventure back to the finish line would be. If anyone knows me, or been a

The Wheels didn't fall off. They just wouldn't turn fast enough

The headline is, I didn't finish the Chester 100 Ultra. The story, well it's complicated. A Cheshire field.. The view looking back. Preparation and build up for the event was as good as I could have asked for. I not only stood at the start line healthy, I was looking forward to the challenges the experience would throw at me. The heat was a concern, but my feeding plan is simple. Have my watch beep every kilometre which would remind me to drink, eat and ask myself was I hurting. So that is how the day went. I stopped and enjoy the views and even used the excuse of sorting my socks out to take on an ice cream whilst at the Delamere Forest checkpoint. Sorting my feet out So where did it go wrong? The short answer I'm not too sure. On reaching checkpoint 6 I had my first drop bag waiting for me which contained a change of clothing, more food and some 'wet wipes'. An actual necessity as my face had more salt on it than a Northwich salt mine. I to

Telegraph Road Trail Run

This route is one I often run when I am staying at the lodge. It is local and I can start it from my doorstep rather than having to drive to the start. The route gets its name from a lone telegraph pole I stumbled across when I first recce the route. I'm also a Dire Straits fan. I'm always within 15 minutes of the lodge, yet it can feel so remote when I'm running around Moel Ddu (SH7290 3269). I've only ever seen a few people in the area when I've run the route and they've invariably been on the sections of path which my route joins together. The mixture of bogs and wet mud covered rocks means I'll never beat any speed records . I've been running the route for over two years now and I'm always surprised to see an abandoned quad bike south east of Craiglaseithin (SH6856 3333) near the shore of Llyn Gelli-Gain. I'm not sure of the story behind it. Maybe the farmer has forgotten it's there ! Running clockwise around the shore, I event

Muddy Out and Back

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