March Challenge.... It's a good job I did that extra long run!

Run plans update

Before I get down to detail I'll just update my concrete plans for 12-in-12 runs -

Jan - Hull to Bridlington - 27 miles - COMPLETED 25/01
Feb - Round Hull run - 43 miles - COMPLETED 23/02
Mar - Hardmoors 55 - 22/03 - 54 miles - update to follow.
Apr - The Woldsman - 12/04 - 50 miles
May - Centenary Way - probably 10/5 - 83 miles
Jun - 10 Peaks: The Lakes - 28/06 - 29 miles
....
Oct - The Yorkshire Marathon - 12/10 - 26.2 miles

I have plans for the other months, but not sure of the order I'll be tackling certain lone challenge runs or settled on which organised event in some months.

The picture above is from Helvellyn Lower man looking down towards Ullswater and capturing on the right some of vertigo-enducing "Swirral Edge" path over to the steep-sided Catstye Cam. A view I'll get part way around the '10 Peaks: The Lakes'

The Golden Fleece Circuit - 01/03/14

I was feeling quite good and felt I recovered quite quickly after the Round Hull - a nice steady pace helped I think. So I put a last minute entry in for this event, which I'd been reminded about and persuaded to run by somebody at my running club... who didn't end up doing it themselves... but no matter it's a run I'd be happy to do every year. So just 6 days after my 43 miler I toe'd the line for an additional long run I'd not planned on doing in March. It was also my first organised event run of the year and although an LDWA Challenge and not a race as such, I'd be competing with my previous time set for the route two years ago and my own target. A good weather forecast would help too - and I was in luck, no wind (great after last weekend) and sun breaking through the early mist late morning.

This being an LDWA challenge - and quite a popular one despite being only 3 years old - there was a mix of walkers and runners at the start. About a 50/50 split and I got there late so had to try and pass as many walkers as possible in the first few hundred yards on road before we were funneled into field edge paths. I caught up with a few club friends in the early section before I settled down into a steady pace that I hoped I could keep for the distance.

This event takes in an area of the East Yorkshire Wolds in a kind of loop from South Cave and is flat-to-undulating and often on road or good quality trail. So it would be a runnable, fast off-road event for me, which can be tougher than longer and slower ones if you pace it wrong! But I seemed to have plenty of go passing through Everthorpe village, along minor roads, into fields, skirting North cave and taking in the tree-lined driveway through Hotham Hall Park. I kept regularly topped up on food and drink, something about every half-hour and was aided in variety by the presence of Checkpoints (CP) on route, which are often a source of great home-baked treats in LDWA events!

Through Hotham and following a track north, west, north and onto field edge paths I was gradually catching and passing runners who'd started a bit quicker than me. The grayness of the mist gave the area a more isolated feel than up until now despite a few runners in front and behind me. Briefly into the woods and skipping along a sometimes boggy, but "not too bad today" track north before an eastward turn and a long track-cum-road to North Newbald.

At the CP leaving North Newbald the long and short (15 miles) routes separated and of the latest two runners I had nearly reeled in ahead one went each way. Still munching CP 'homemade' flapjack (yum) I made a quick march up the first real hill on route at 7.25m in. It was soon over and back down the other side of the hill, before a steady climb up through a Wolds dale to meet the Wolds Way route heading north near Sancton Wold. We were soon back off this Long distance footpath though and heading east along a puddle-strewn track towards Newbald lodge. The first promising signs of the sun's rays breaking through the mist could now be seen, but the air remained moist, still and cold so I was glad to be working quite hard.

The sun should always shine in Woo Dale

I exchanged places with a lady over the next field edge and then track section to Bishop Burton. I passed as she stopped to pick-up a glove, then was re-passed as I stopped to navigate. Following a CP, the mapped route then takes you on a non-marked route diagonally across a large field, which she took. I decided to take the more obvious and trodden field edge route around this field. Her way was marginally quicker, but she had to work harder and I passed as she stopped to eat.

I came into Bishop Burton and then it was an undulating mile-and-a-bit section south on road. I was alone again, but could make out some runners over a half mile ahead who I didn't think I'd pass any time soon. This felt like the point where I'd settled into my place in the field. The route then hopped over a field to Walkington and another CP and chance to munch. I could feel leg stiffening now, but not to the extent that I was slowing down. Undulating tracks now took the route passed Risby Park to edge Skidby and onto the long stretch along Eppleworth rd. This can seem quite hard when your tiring, but I'd been down this road/track in the other direction just last week towards the end of Round Hull, so today it didn't seem too prolonged by comparison.

Leaving the track I had to walk up the bank of the small hill as my tired legs struggled in the mud. The group of two ahead were at this point only a few hundred yards ahead and seemingly moving well, so if I could reel them in and not lose distance I could be positive I was still running strongly still. 

Across Riplingham rd and I grabbed a few sweets at the last manned CP with about 5 miles to go. Two years ago I'd been happy to run this route strongly in 4 hours 22 minutes, I now knew I'd beat that this year and aspiration-ally looked to break 4 hours. But I was already over 3 hours and with the hardest section of the route still to come I knew there'd be some slowing.

Mount Airey climb from Woo Dale

Turning west at 'Muddy Cross roads' I was now on familiar ground following the Wolds Way as it rose steadily to the top of Brantingham Wold and a steep descent down Spout Hill. I tried to push hard on this compacted trail and a road section and again as the path leveled out. On the tarmacked road section down the hill I pressed hard, but cautiously on tired legs. Then on the trail descent to the Brantingham dale road I pushed as hard as I dare without losing balance on the mud (with a barbed wire fence close to my left which the path cambered towards).

Back on road I had nearly caught two lads in front at the gate to climb the first of the two hills in the final 2.5m. I ran and then walked hard to go over the top into picturesque Woo Dale and marched hard up the larger second climb to top Mt Airey. I caught and strongly passed the two guys on the way up here as I was able to summon a run towards the top of the hill and knowing a downhill and a final fling on tarmac was to come. There's a great field path downhill from half-way up the drive to Mt Airey farm, but if anything it was too steep and slippy for me to take advantage on tired legs. 

I hit the road into south cave with just less than a mile to go - less than five minutes to four hours, so not possible to get inside, but I'd be close! No looking back just push and push on the tarmac to the finish nearer the other end of south cave. The sun was now out and the warmth of midday greeted us towards into the village. I tried to run down the next two guys in front, but they were strong and held distance, obviously experienced and pacing as well as I felt I had. I stepped into the hall stopping my watch on 4:01:53 for 27.65m, the fastest longer than marathon trail run I've ever done.

After a brief recovery sit down (who needs an ice bath?), and a bit of stew kindly provided by the organisers to all competitors, I had a quick change and drove back into South Cave to meet my dad, Clare and Isaac in the Fox and Coney pub. The sun shone down as I enjoyed a pint sat out front - a great way to top off a run :)

The Hardmoors 55 (what goes up...)

3 weeks after the Golden Fleece Circuit, less than 4 after Round Hull and I was at the start of the Hardmoors 55, with three more weeks running, not too little, not too much I had every reason to believe I could easily run the strongest Hardmoors 55 I'd ever run. This event was a step up on the runs I'd done so far this year, not just in distance - 54 miles - but also in terrain. With high, weather-exposed tracks in the highest areas  of the North York Moors moors a common feature along this route with 9000ft of ascent and descent along the way to boot.

I had history in this event too, I've run every staging since the first in 2010, seeing weather varying from 12 hours of freezing rain and wind, to sunny and calm and then snow drifts and really-freezing winds just last year. The weather this year just looked to be cold and with some rain, but I had every reason to believe I could beat my personal best on the route this year.... and beat it well.

But, it didn't quite work out that way. 

I felt somewhat less than perfect the afternoon of the day before as I got ready to go. I got a coffee for the 80min drive to Helmsley, which picked up my energy a bit. Once there I had a nice evening, a pint in a local pub with a few other runners and cooked a pizza back at the YHA I was staying in.

I struggled to get off to sleep and woke hours before the event and couldn't quite get back off. I had a dull headache, but not the type that a paracetamol helps with and felt hot. In the morning I got on with things in my pre-event ritual from 4.30am, dressed, final bag checks, two bowls of porridge and some fruit and then head for the bus to the start, which was picking up nearby.

On the bus I sat and chatted with my good friend Mark Dalton, about the event and what we'd been up to in the last few weeks since we ran round Hull together. It was a lovely start to the day as the bus crossed the sunny moors. At the start I got ready, got kit-checked, handed in drop bags and queued for the loo. After a long queue for the loo twice and not been able to go it seemed I was destined to start the run uncomfortable.

Off we went, 200 or so runners of various shape and size. With a time limit of 15 hours this event doesn't have walkers. The way training had been going I'd hoped for closer to 10 hours this year, which would beat a PB of just under 11 hours set the previous year on a slightly shortened, but snow covered course on an extremely cold North York Moors day.

But I just couldn't get comfortable, down the old train track path I passed a few people and I tried to run or fast walk the uphill towards Guisborough woods. Undulating through the woods I had a chat with a guy doing this run as warm-up for the Thames Towpath race (100 miles) in early May. This distracted me for a awhile, from feeling I was working too hard for the pace I should be able to run at this stage in this event. For the first hard climb, up Roseberry topping I felt flat. This is to an out-and-back CP on the top so I pushed downhill and then laboured onward to the next climb to the hill-top Captain Cooks monument. Most people around me were walking up here, but I felt I should have more zip and I couldn't get going on the downhill. My legs now feeling tired and lacking energy and when I tried to run I felt dizzy. At the bottom of the hill I could only run-walk on the flat road into the village of Kildale, I'd barely done 11 miles!

It was all over here, I tried to start up again running with Mark who'd caught up with me on the way to Kildale. But soon turned back again feeling dizzy and achey. I could have gone on further, but the Kildale indoor CP marks the last place for 20 miles where I could retire if needed and easily get back to Helmsley. As the next 20 miles were on high moorland, weather exposed and the most difficult hills of the route. CP only occured in the next section where the route crossed a moorland road.

Andy and Sarah of the organising team gave me a lift on to Osmotherley where the 31m indoor CP was being set up. I fell asleep in a chair once there. Waking up in time to see Jon, Shirley, Andy, Sarah and others in the RO team greet in the first few runners (exciting in a running geek way as these are pretty damn good, if unheard of, runners due to the low-key nature of trail running). From here I got a lift back to Helmsley with Jon and Shirley as they went ahead to open and setup the finish in Helmsley town hall. It was quite sad to arrive here and not see runners resting, rehydrating, eating and chilling after having finished this tough event. But a nice incite into the organisation side on the day, which I enjoyed and I was feeling a bit better so helped lift some supplies of food an drink in and put out chairs and tables.

That pretty much ends my up-and-down story of March, I managed a longer than marathon run as per my challenge, just not the one I thought it would be. Next up is the rather tough Woldsman 50, which is less than a week away as I write this. I'm hopefully fit and raring to go for this one, and the Hardmoors 55 this year was a one-off!

February Challenge: Round Hull - 43 miles

Hull??

Same weather, but another month has passed and come the end of February it was time for challenge two. And my quite well planned/recce’d Round Hull Run. It may seem odd that I’ll run an non-local event/race without seeing the course, yet want to know a lot about a route in my own back yard. But when you enter an event/race a certain amount of route marking or at least route checking/writing is done for you.  Plotting the route also revealed to me how little I know about off-road paths east of Hull – I’m pretty “au fait” West and getting there with north. And considering the length of the undertaking I didn’t want to make a poor route choice that would cause extra miles if the path on the map wasn’t a reflection of reality.

Back to the task in hand, about 43 miles of varying terrain around, and at some points through, Hull. To run a loop around – preferably outside of built-up areas where at all possible – the city. My friend and companion for many a long run over the past 5 years Mark Dalton was able to make it down to join me for this one, company which would be a big bonus. He arrived before 8 and I’d already been up nearly two hours getting breakfast and last minute kit packing/checks. I said good bye to Clare and Isaac, then Mark and I took a short drive north to Wawne – a village north of the city of Hull on the east bank of the River Hull.

Parked up, we got bags and gear ready, I realised I’d forgot my chia drink bottle so would have to rely on water in my packs bladder till about half-way when Clare would meet us. Mark provided some last minute energy in the form of chocolate he’d got at clearance from his work as it was on (or just passed) date – a useful job perk for a long-distance runner. And at 8:47 we were off – heading east (clockwise) back through the village from where I’d parked by the river.

Nothing too scary was weather forecasted, light cloud and only a small chance of rain. But, as forecasted the wind-machine had turned on, but was helping us initially as it blew from the south-west (SSW to be exact). We made quick progress on tracks and paths, which had dried nicely over the last few weeks to Fairholme house Bridge where we started to zig-zag south-east getting a taster of the wind challenge to come on this exposed stretch. We were soon in Swine and much faster than I’d thought, we were running a decent pace for a road long run at this point!

Towards and through Swine we made good on a few miles of minor roads before crossing the A165 at Coniston. About 100 metres down Thirtleby lane we swerved left on a path through a field and made our way to pass just east of Bilton on field-edge paths. Turning east we followed the road to Wyton and then back into the fields and a challenging stretch across a ploughed field due south into the teeth of the wind. Once over the field a small nav error as I missed the bridge over the ditch and we had to track a few hundred yards west. We continued south over a few more fields, with more shelter from hedgerows for bits before we closed in on Preston. Here is was a west turn to experience the wind furthermore down the long-straight Neat marsh Road that would bring us close to Hull.

The path alongside Alexandra dock, complete with superferry

It had warmed up a bit and our fast start had continued so we stopped to take on some energy. Half a Clif bar seemed good for me as mark tucked in to peanut butter sarnies. I had already reached for energy on the move earlier – apple, half a 9-bar - as trying to keep my levels as topped up as possible as we kept a good pace up. As I really didn’t want to burn out too early today and face a long walk to the end.

Hull loomed into view, firstly Saltend Chemical works, and the top of the big north sea ferry in the docks. The road, now a rutted track, hit the suburbs of Hull near Marfleet and we followed the edge of a field south to join the long, now tarmacked, ex-railway line path as it burrowed into Hull. Passing Craven Park I attempted to explain the east-west rugby rivalry to Mark. After just over a mile we took the railway bridge path south, over the goods railroad and we then crossed Hedon road and followed the road to the river-front between King George and Alexandra Dock.

This was the bit I’d feared, seeing the forecasted wind and now I was here could see we were in for a challenging stretch along the riverfront path. I run this path to work and back regularly, but rarely when there’s such a strong wind and with 15m already in my legs. I stopped to picture the waves, it was quite a low tide, but seeing the waves bashing the river defences beside path you’d think this were a seafront not a river (I know,  tidal estuary to be precise). We now faced potentially the next 10 miles on exposed river-front paths being buffeted by a south westerly building up momentum over the river. Head down time and luckily plenty to see along the river section – I could do a bit of a Hull tourist guide thing for Mark :)

I’m not sure what it is about this path, but I don’t tire of running between the docks and river and then along the “prom” of the Victoria dock village. Sometimes you get great sunrise and sunsets and on a sunny day I think the views along river are great. Although I love running countryside trails, hills and mountains the most, I think what highlights this section for me is the old dock warehouses. Timbers left to rot and fall into the river, industrial skeletons, now detached from the riverside, the graffiti remaining on them will never be cleaned off. Maybe I’m a biast local? As I also find the huge abandoned mills alongside the River Hull somewhat spellbinding – a remnant of the past industrial heritage, the city has moved on, but it’s still there, silent and slightly foreboding.

Back to things running, after crossing the marina at the lockgates – glad they were shut, saves a half mile round trip – it was onto the elevated section of path which runs over the roofs of Albert dock warehouses. A bit of a novel route I’ve always thought, I explained to Mark that I think it was built for people to view a “royal arrival” by boat to this dock a long time ago, but wasn’t really sure. For completeness of my rugby league brief started in the east, I also pointed out the KC stadium from this elevated viewpoint. Tourism aside, the effect of running into the wind was tiring me so I opted we take a more sheltered route from St Andrews Quay down Hessle road to our halfway food stop in Hessle square. The original planned route being the path running along the south of the A63 close to the river. The combo of more wind-blasted miles combined with the traffic roaring past didn’t enthral me.

It was now early afternoon and it was starting to feel warm. Maybe a trick of the wind, but I was also thirsty and glad when we trotted into Hessle square just inside of four hours and just over 22m. Clare had passed us on the way in as we took a ‘rare’ walk-break – honest – and I was glad to see her, Isaac and my bottle of chia charge mix – which would be welcome in the second half. The excitement was lost on my 1 year old who was mid-nap.

The Real Sandwich shop was still open and the massive choice on offer must have been too much for my brain. So I just went for a cheese and spring onion and a bottle of coke and we sat down on a bench in the square to eat. Ten minutes later, onwards again and we headed down station road and then took the path under the Humber bridge and dipped down the steps into the Country park and out again onto the shore.

Passing the - still shut after “Storm surge” flooding – Country Park Inn we were confronted by a confusing array of signs at the start of the shoreline path to Ferriby. On one hand very large “path entry / no access” signs on the other a sign saying this path will be closed for works until “21/02/2014”, i.e. yesterday. Was it finished or would we find an impassable section of path collapsed into the river? We took a chance, went down the path, and it paid off. There was just a short section of closed path with works vehicles around it and nothing going on today (a Sunday). We were able to get around this and run on a new piece of defence wall that had been built, before re-joining the path and running into Ferriby.

Ferriby Church

We passed through the village up Church Rd, High street and passed the pub, before an upward turn to climb Woodgates Lane and the start of the day’s undulations-cum-hills. Near the top we cut through the plantation and crossed the field passed the ‘radio mast tree’ and into the next plantation, which I always knew when young as Scout Wood. Down the hill past the small campsite and we carefully negotiated Melton Bottom road before heading uphill on the track through Bow Plantation with the large chalk quarry to our right. At the path junction we made a left following the Wolds Way route as it visited the edge of pretty Welton village and then headed through scenic Welton Dale. With its grassy bank to the west and tall tree covered bank east, one of the most scenic parts of the county.

We followed the Wolds way as it undulated along paths to the hamlet of Waudby and then on tracks through ‘muddy cross roads’, York Grounds Farm and on to cross Riplingham Rd. North of the road we picked up a field edge path that led north-east tick up the eastward bound track then road into Skidby – munching mini-jaffa cakes as we went. We were more run-walking now than in the urban sections, tiring but enjoying the going, especially with the wind now behind us. Leaving Skidby – our second-to-last village on route – we tracked north to Risby Parks and took the road east to cross the A164.

Now on narrow woodland/crop-field tracks – ‘Jillywoods’ – the light turned golden as the sun lowered in the sky and behind thin cloud, lighting up the area in a warm, comforting way. Time to eat again and we shared a peanut butter sandwich as we moved along wriggling paths towards the electrical substation ahead. Beyond the quite scary substation we crossed the railway line and the route felt more suburban again. Under the A1079 we picked up a green lane into Dunswell as the sky darkened with clouds, the sun now setting.

A last brief negotiation of a muddy track and we came to the Beverley-Hull road and crossed, heading down a road to pick-up the river Hull. The next section had frustrated me in route planning, I’d really wanted to cross the river near Wawne, but the nearest bridge is a few miles south at Kingswood or a few miles north at Beverley (how inconvenient). So we’d have to head south along the west bank of the river here, cross the bridge, and head back north up the other river bank to get to Wawne. I’d even considered planting a dirigible boat here at one stage to save some running – but then sanity prevailed, running 40 miles and then drowning in a muddy river to save a miles running wouldn’t be good.

The River Hull, in evening colours.

It was running into the wind time down towards the bridge and Mark was flying, I’d got a slight energy return, but couldn’t keep up at this stage until he stopped for a walk. Over the bridge and we made quick work of the final mile and a half – wind now behind us – up the meandering river bank to return to my car parked by the river. A good days running - as we completed the loop of Hull and nearby countryside on a varied and interesting route.

The final scores on the doors were 43.6 miles in 8 hours-and-38 minutes. Now for possibly the highlight of the day the return home to feast and replace the 4500 or so calories burned. In fact there was no chance of doing this in one go, so I would get to help myself to “seconds” guilt-free till at least Tuesday. A curry takeaway from Raj Pavilion was the choice this evening. And that’s 2 down and 10 to go! Next up, the 10 miles+ longer and considerably hillier Hardmoors 55 in the North York Moors on the 22^nd March.

pre- Round Hull Run (RHR) update

My plan is to go ahead with my planned 43 mile or so Round Hull Run this Sunday, probably starting early in the dark so I don't finish too late in the day.

My initial aim with this one was to make the route true to its name and keep outside built-up areas (on farmland paths and tracks mostly). However, to keep the length down I’m going to cut through West Hull suburb villages and towns – not strictly Hull so I think that’s fair enough.... etc. 

But, I wasn't entirely happy with that, and decided to truly maximise the 'orbit of the city' idea I started with I've changed the route a bit avoiding suburbs of Hull in the west and taking in the Wolds-edge countryside paths around Ferriby, Welton to Skidby. And I've reclaimed the extra distance that would have cost me as I'm now going to start on the loop rather than running from Home, north 2.5m and then starting the loop (with the same at the end).

Rough plan is to start from Wawne, run paths and tracks to and through Swine, minor road to Coniston, across field paths to edge Bilton and a short road section and more field-edge to Preston (thats still in East Yorkshire for the out-of-town viewers). Follow an old green road to edge Hull and then join a long straight ex-railway path to journey through much of Hull parallel to Hedon road. Head south to hit the river and run along Alexandra and Victoria dock paths which is probably the most scenic bit of urban running on route. And hopefully some nice river views if I stick to my timings and hit this section at around sunrise.

Across the marina and passed the old docks. Unfortunately no avoiding using A63-side path south of the city... which has no south. A small price to pay and adds to the variety. Into Hessle and the first hill on route to go into town for a mid run meal of some kind. Then take the riverside - if path is passable - or road route to Ferriby and into the plantations over the hills to Welton on the Wolds Way route. Skirt Welton and through beautiful Welton dale and follow footpaths rolling over hills and the long track to Skidby.

Through Skidby and north on field edge paths towards Risby and across the A164 and more farmers field edge paths over towards the big power sub-station north of Cottingham. Across the railway line and under the A1079 and a green road into Dunswell. Dog-leg down the river Hull to cross at Kingswood and back up the bank to finish in Wawne.

Then I think a beer and a takeaway may be in order. I've even hopfully got some company for the whole distance, which is great and will help the hard miles fly by. Happy days

January Challenge: Hull to Bridlington - 27 miles



Now I feel I have some real focus with my year long challenge, I'm going to try and keep the blog updated with run reports. In the last few years I've not done this well and I think at least part of that is that I felt I’d be duplicating the good reporting of somebody else or multiple others doing the same event, who invariably get their act together with reports quicker it seems. Many of my runs this year though are solo projects, so I feel i should tell you a bit about these runs, with some pictures too.



The Hornsea Rail Trail, a few miles out of Hull



My boy turned 1 a little over a month ago and started nursery full time. Hence, I’ve spent December and January suffering one bug or another he’s brought home! Things were going well in early January with two good weeks training and I was geared to do the Brid run Saturday 18^th – only to be flattened by another virus midweek before. So I did my very best to eat, drink well and look after myself to try and be fit for my January run in January rather than fall behind at the first hurdle.

It must have worked as after a light protein/carb-balanced breakfast – to try and engage “fat burning mode” for the run to run steady all the way instead of fast early and suffer later on – I was out the door at about 9.45 on the morning of Saturday 25^th. At about 27 miles this should have been a gentle introduction, but with recent bouts of illness I figured I’d be happy just to get around and made sure I was well prepared for all eventualities on route. Weather looked ok for January, rain mid afternoon which I hoped to beat, about 5c, sunny spells and the wind would mostly be assisting me on this point-to-point venture. Nevertheless, best to be over-prepared, in the bag I had:

·         waterproof jacket, water-resistant jacket and over-trousers

·         clothes change (which I hoped I wouldn’t have to open till Brid)

·         ibuprofen and paracetamol

·         plasters and light dressings

·         woolly hat, thin gloves and thick convertible mitts

·         Drinks: over 500ml water in bladder, 500ml chia charge drink in bottle

·         Food for run: chia charge flapjack, chia charge trail mix, banana chips, chocs from Christmas supply, clementine

·         Food “just in case” and for after: sachet of chia charge mix, electrolytes, powerbar recovery bar

·         All in a Saloman S-Lab 12 pack

More than I’d carry for most runs, but the pack didn’t feel too heavy and nearly all tried-and-trusted stuff. I know if it rains and is windy close to zero degrees you quickly need a few layers, especially if you’ve been out a while and you’re tiring as your body doesn’t manage temperature as well. The food and drink should be about right. Barring the trail mix I’ve been using Chia Charge products for a while now and find them tasty and effective without feeling too manufactured – very effective energy release for long days on the feet.

I live just under 2m south of the outskirts of Hull, but backing on to the Hornsea rail trail, which is a godsend quick link to the countryside for a trail-preferring runner like myself. The path follows the old track bed of the Hull to Hornsea railway and is now hard path for a few miles out of Hull before it turns to cinder-path. As I passed under road bridges, crossed minor roads and passed dog-walkers in the initial suburban miles I checked my pack fit was good and adjusted clothing to comfort.

Towards the edge of Hull my baselayer and windjacket combination was feeling a little warm, but not so warm I wanted to take off the jacket. I knew I needed longer to get comfortable and see how the winds out of town effected me, so should leave the jacket on. So I rolled-up the sleeves a bit pulled the zip down and got on with it. For the kit geeks out there I was wearing/carrying:



One of the old railway station platforms on-route



·         Inov8 Trailroc 255 shoes

·         Drymax mid-protection trail socks

·         Ronhill DXB tracksters

·         Odlo Evolution warm baselayer

·         Sugoi Windjacket

·         Buff (pirate style)

·         Map

·         Garmin 910xt



Out of town a bit of breeze kicked in predictably, but I felt comfortable, all systems go and I now had about 7 miles of the Hornsea Rail trail to make some progress along – as the route once I left this track may not be as clean or fast. Being a fairly straight route and consistent surface for long stretches these miles seemingly dragged, despite maintaining a good 6mph+ pace without great effort. Hitting road crossings and the trail-break and mini-climb – to over 20 metres above sea level, a regular mountain on this landscape – passing through New Ellerby provided marks of my progress and I otherwise looked forward to half-hourly drink or food breaks.



A rare uphill on route at New Ellerby



At 30 mins chia charge trail mix, banana chips, chocs and at 90mins half a chia charge flapjack went down well respectively. With chia charge drink on the hour between. Lots of that “Chia Charge” word there, they don’t sponsor me, but I find these products very agreeable and chia seeds – and what they are mixed with in these products – do seem to provide a good drip feed of energy/nutrition from not just carbs, but protein and fat

Not long after New Ellerby near the old Sigglesthorne station – distinguishable as a few of the old station on route are by still having platform edges at side of the path – came the end of known route for me. Looking for a left turn to a series paths I didn’t know, which would take me to my destination. The turn came and it wasn’t promising, crossing a stream on a bridge which had a felled tree laying across it I had to manoeuvre through the branches of – not a good start, hopefully not a sign of things to come! Then it was my first brief bit of mud following a field edge in an arc away from and almost back onto the path I’d just left, before rejoining roads through a hamlet called Goxhill.

A few more fields edged or crossed now, some quite thick mud where I probably worried some tentative walkers as I barrelled past them in sucking, ankle deep stuff. I then passed into a wooded outcrop and over a fallow field to arrive at Seaton – Hornsea Mere remained just out of view to my right, which was a shame. Edging Seaton I hit a farm track heading north. It was about the best part of the morning now, the sun was out and the wind wasn’t much in evidence. I was feeling very happy to be here doing this. But my tranquillity was soon shunted as I passed a farmhouse and was persued by aggresive dogs for a while, probably harmless, but one of them was confident enough to dive at and nip close to my legs. I accept this kind of thing as an occupational hazard, you can’t expect rural homes to tie up their dogs all day just to suit the rare passer-by on routes like this such as myself.

Hitting Beach at Fraisthorpe Sands

Next it was past Bewholme and a zig-zag route around newly built houses on a nice soft grassy path they’d laid out. I look at my watch and was over half-way, and still moving well so messaged Clare to say I was running on or maybe ahead of time and would arrive at my destination at about 1.45-2pm. I slipped into a self-congratulatory moment, took on my planned foodbreak and rook my eye off the map.

The route bounced around unusually shaped field-edges at this point and I got to a hedge with a gap and what might have been a downed bridge over a ditch. There was no footpath sign here so it was going to be guess work if I should cross here or follow a similar line this side of the ditch. In the end my desire not to wade the ditch made me decide to keep following the field edge this side. I got going again, but soon enough ran out of path so back-tracked slightly to find a place to jump the ditch now there was no blocking hedge. I’d probably gone wrong, but not far wrong, but the stops to check route had punctured my good-going bubble. No biggee though, I wasn’t in a hurry and I soon came back onto minor road through Dunnington. Following a zig-zag minor road I was passed by a fast group of cyclists who I reckon were having as much fun as I was on these quiet roads.

I soon came upon Skipsea, but didn’t pass through, instead crossing the damp field past Skipsea castle – which I’d seen on the map, but had never been to before and had me wondering. In reality all that remains is the motte (hill/mound) the castle would have stood on and the earthworks looping around that probably formed the defences. Thankfully I didn’t see the ghostly ‘lady in white’ that haunts the hill – she probably kept away more scared of me than I would be of her. Reality was soon very much restored as I past a sewage works.

I was soon back on road briefly and passing through Ulrome. Pausing to picture the unusual – or so I thought at the time, doesn’t look so much from the picture – clock tower on the church. Over a large field and across a wide drainage channel on a wooden bridge brought me to Barmston and within short distance of the coast for the first time. I turned right down the main village road and then left back onto rural path, just a short distance before this road abruptly ends where land – and a holiday park – has been eroded by the sea at a rapid-pace.

I rounded one of the biggest hills I’d see on route @26metres or 85ft above sea-level. The challenge today was more the terrain than the hills – I’d only ascend 425ft in total on route. I then arrived at a dike which impeded onward progress and made me turn east to finally join the coast at Fraisthorpe Sands – a naturist beach, but too cold for “action” today.

The Sun always shines in Brid

I now turned north for the last leg on clifftop, beach and then clifftop again. Plenty of people were about now on the long stretch of good clean sand south of Bridlington. I passed another Holiday village and park-and-ride - very much empty today – and was gathering pace as I hit the south promenade. I gave passers by a comedy minute or so as I dropped a cereal bar packet and then chased it as it was blown along consistently just faster than I was running, but in the same direction. Every time I raised speed to catch it and stamp on it, I couldn’t stop dead on tired legs to pick it up, so it blew on past me again. At about the fourth or fifth attempt and about 300 yards I finally got it. I wonder if anybody did more than me that day in Brid to Keep Britain tidy?

I’ve not walked the Bridlington south promenade for many a year and I was impressed by the tidy up job they’ve done on it. Wide, smart, clean, and my perception probably helped by low-footfall on such a winters days. Approaching the harbour and I slowed up the last hill (ramp) to bring me to street level and into the town centre near Audrey’s fish and chip shop/restaurant. I stopped the watch at just over 27 miles and 4hrs50mins, just after 2pm in the end, but sufficiently early that Clare or my dad weren’t here yet. I popped into the nearby conveniences to change into my spare trousers and baselayer and came out again just as the rain arrived and the wind seemed to ramp up too. I chomped on a power bar recovery bar and directed Clare towards the meeting point, whilst getting battered by the sudden onslaught of wind and rain. I perched in the doorway of a closed shop and was glad when Clare, Isaac, my dad and grandma arrived and we could go inside Audrey’s to get warm and have fish and chips!

Post run facilities, changing on the right (WC), food on the left, mmmmmm :)

12 Great runs in 2014

At the end of every year or the start of a new one we all think about what we want to achieve in the next year. And with a world of running out there and a young family to consider this means for me to find a way of satisfying my need for long distance challenges, whilst devoting plenty of time to Clare and Isaac still…. A time machine would be handy! With this in mind a few months ago I came up with a plan to fit in a variety of challenges, whilst not upping the training or spending many hours, days away from family.  

12 challenges in a year, one per month meaning an almost ideal amount of time for recovery and muscle repair between each event to leave me primed for the next - without a need for very long training runs in the weeks between. This might not work in reality, but I'm going to try it.

12 challenges also satisfies my other personal requirement this year, which is to provide a big overall challenge that I can hopefully raise some money for charity doing. The loss of my mother in 2013 leaves me wanting to do something in her memory. She devoted a lot of time to volunteering, especially to assist the visually impaired. And took on all kinds of challenges you might not think a visually impaired person would - to name a few sailing, climbing, archery, drama and her favourite in recent years, yoga. So I hope people will find my challenge worthy of a donation for HERIB (Hull & East Riding Institute for the Blind) so activities such as the yoga group for the visually impaired can continue long into the future.  

So a bit more on the Challenge, a few simple ground rules:

• Each challenge will be over marathon distance in length (26.2 miles +)
• Each will be completed on foot (you have my word on this and those who know me wouldn't doubt this anyway).
• 1 challenge per Calendar month (at least, more than one is optional).

 

The Wolds, near Wetwang

My year of challenges will start with a Hull to Bridlington run at the end of January. I've picked out a route avoiding roads where possible; starting on the Hornsea rail trail before leaving this before the Mere and following mostly footpaths, or field paths and tracks until I hit the coast for a final few miles into Brid. It’s about 27 miles, or a bit longer, and is one way as a fairly gentle challenge to break in the legs.

February sees a step up to a route I’ve often thought about, but only recently mapped out – Round Hull Run. I’ve tried to make the route true to its name and keep outside built-up areas (on farmland paths and tracks mostly). However, to keep the length down I’m going to cut through West Hull suburb villages and towns – not strictly Hull so I think that’s fair enough. I’ll also need to use the path alongside A63 and those around Victoria/Alexandra docks and the cycle/footpath that runs parallel north of Hedon road (old railway line), as the only alternative to go around south of Hull is to swim. I was quite surprised that this route came to at least 43 miles long.

 

Wolds valleys



In March and April I’m going to run in established events. So I’ll benefit from food and drink provided on route (my January and February challenges will be self-supported so I’ll only eat/drink what I can carry or buy on route). But I won’t be taking it easy as I step up the distance again. In March, the Hardmoors 55 – 55 miles over the North York moors, with many hills and often a lot of weather. And April, The Woldsman – 50 miles of East Yorkshire Wolds hills and valleys.

May will see a return to self-supported challenges and a big distance step up too. The Centenary Way is a marked long distance footpath running from York to Filey, via the Howardian Hills – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and the East Yorkshire Wolds. So it should be a real treat…. All 83 miles of it I hope.



Mardale Head, Lake District



After that a route of less than 30 miles in June should be easy you’d think? Well maybe, except these miles will be part of the organised 10 Peaks: The Lakes event. Which is no picnic as these 10 peaks are in the central Lake District area and vary from 2470 ft tall to 3210 ft tall (Scaffel Pike) – to give a total ascent of 10500 ft (and I should think a similar amount of descent). And this is the shortest route of the three on offer!

Back to flatter tracks in July, but this will also be my distance peak of the year. It’s another self-supported venture. I’ve not planned the route yet, but a clue about the distance is in the name – East Yorkshire Grand Tour. So I think it will have to include the coast, some riverside paths and my favourite running grounds in the Wolds. I should think to hit all of the “best bits” may take me a few days and three figure mileage.

I’ve not settled on challenges for August to December yet, but will in due course as there are no shortage of options.

I’ve called the non-event challenges above, self-supported. But, I won’t turn down any company for part or even all of these challenges… so if you fancy a good leg stretch!

Haweswater in the Lake district

The challenges of summer 2013

Before I start, there is a Since Summer 2012... part 2 in the pipeline. I'm still working through mini reports on events in late 2012. But I just wanted to bring this up-to-date so I could spend more time on current events, without being put off writing by feeling obligated to interrogate my memory of things that happened over 6 months ago. So takes more time to write up and I don't have the luxury of the free time I once did....

...The main reason for this is the arrival of Isaac just over 6 months ago on Christmas day. It's

been quite an adventure so far and despite getting running in it doesn't have the priority or get the time allocation it did in previous years. Clare and I are very happy parents and I can't quite put into words how much joy he brings us..... so I'll stick to running talk.

I'll detail this further in another post, but for this year I entered all the marathons in the Hardmoors 26.2 trail series as I like running in the North York Moors, enjoy the atmosphere of the Hardmoors ultra's and they were handily spaced two months apart throughout year so I have rolling targets to keep me running.

The first of these was from Osmotherley and very hilly. I had an easy one with Mark and enjoyed the many undulations and reasonable February weather. I'd run a bit off-road in the winter and the wet conditions had done good work for my leg strength despite modest mileage. So I decided to do a few more long runs and enter my usual Spring target event the Hardmoors 55 in March.

The Hardmoors 55 was a very cold and windy event (more on this in another post), but I ran well on good training and ran under 11 hours. Over an hour faster than in previous years in easier conditions.

Come April and the Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones marathon I was primed to attack another tough course and gave it real effort from the start. I probably started a bit hard, but still ran an immensely satisfying 5:06 for the 27.25m course with a HUGE 6500ft of ascent and descent packed in.

So far so good then... then my Icarus moment. Last minute personal plans meant I couldn't run the Fellsman, which I felt well prepared for. So I agreed a substitute in late May with Clare (the boss) and Isaac (her boss). They thought I was mad - usually do - as this was the Hardmoors 110. The tough combo of the Hardmoors 55 on the hills of the North York Moors and then the extremely undulating coastline from Saltburn to Filey! I started the event, again running with Mark, at a modest pace.... but knee pain and general exhaustion finished me off at 70m.

What had gone wrong! I couldn't help but think my approach had been right, I'd done the 52m of this years snow-covered, super-chilled and windblasted Hardmoors 55 in less than 11 hours. I'd covered a similar distance this pleasent and relatively mild-to-warm night and morning in 14 hours. With extra training, that seemed like a modest enough pace for me to still have the energy and leg condition to get further.... but I'd been struggling since well before the 70m withdrawal.

So what next?

I still don't have an answer as to what went wrong exactly. I guess even though I was running slower in the 110 than the 55, I was still out on my feet along time, which could be the issue. It's prossible I'm a better marathon-to-double-marathon distance trail runner than before on the training I've done, but I'd not done enough to pull off the extra distance.

Regardless, the sensible answer to "what next" seemed to be to play to my strengths for now and perhaps revisit the extreme 3-figure mileage distances at a a future time when I could devote more miles to training (some don't need mielage in training for confidence, I obviously do).

I've not completed a 100m+ event since my first in 2010, it struck me that perhaps my motivations for running 100m aren't that strong anymore and having done one I'm not prepared to "dig in" when the going gets very tough and subject myself to hours of slow and pained progress.

But, in events less than 100m I only have one DNF - which came in the masochistically tough, 70m, TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie), where time on feet was equal to many 100 milers. I've knocked out quite a few 50-70 milers over the last few years, not without some distress at times, but overall I've finished these and enjoyed doing so.

So the obvious answer seems to be to concentrate on what I can do well now and try and do it better. I still like the challenge of a hilly trail route the most and a "fresh" challenge is what is needed. So I have entered the first 100km Ultimate Trails Ultra Marathon Race in the central Lake District. Where I've enjoyed many a happy hour/day running the fell and trail in the past.

Sounds ideal, but those who know me know that I don't just want to get around. With several months to prep my target is a real improvement on my 2012 trail run efforts - the most equivelentLakeland 50, which I completed in under 11 hours (and was probably my best run last year all things considered). And I'll have to be cleverer about getting more out of training in less available time too, or the bosses won't be happy!

Since summer 2012.... part 1

Following the biggee in the Alps I didn't stop. So here's a whistlestop tour of late summer 2012 to now.

10k PB attempt and relays

Once I felt somewhat recovered from the TDS. And for something a bit different from really long runs and hills off-road. I had a midweek run in the clubs 10k Championships down at the Costello track. It was long a go an ambition of mine to break 40mins (ever since I broke 45), but I somehow lost interest in fast road runs when the lure of long and varied trails tempted me away from urban place. I often dabbled once a year and in the previous year had got to within 11 seconds, off training more specific to ultra-trail challenges - that had suprised me a bit, my previous PB was 41:24.

A track seemed a great place to dispel the 40-minute demons, I could simply count off the laps at specific pace and the lack of anything like a hill would be to my advantage. It's a very strange experiance running 25 laps of a track. I was lapped 3 times by the fastest guy and I lapped the slowest runner 3 times. And it got dark and finished in floodlights whilst I was out. I set out at a pace just under 40min pace and held it despite the laps seemingly taking forever to countdown. I got quite confused about 5k in as didn't realise the lap change board was being modified for the leader who was gaining laps on me at intervals. But I had enough time per lap to roughly calculate what time I should finish next lap in.

But I got my PB and first sub-40 - 39:26. Happy with that, but somewhat of an anti-climax when all's said and done. For years I was slightly obsessed with getting down to a sub-40 10k and couldn't do it - couldn't get within a minute of. But since I took up the longer, slower, softer but bumpier stuff when I have been in form and done a 10k its given me a PB just outside 40 and then this today. Funny what happens when your not really that bothered any more.

The weekend following I ran an even shorter distance and even faster pace at the northen six stage relays at Leigh Sports Village. Being the penultimate man up in City of Hull AC's 'B' team I had chance for a pleasent 6m or so warm-up around a local lake - possibly the longest warm up of any competitor that day? I kept topped up on liquids and energy as it was a rare warm day that summer. The start of my lap took me around the AC's track and down the back of the football/rugby stadium, I was overtaken quickly and couldn't keep up with at least two people who started near to me. I soon realised I was actually trying to run too fast, sucked into others pace. The lap went on and eventually I restored my self confidence by overtaking somebody as the track went OAB on a muddy woodland trail before coming back to the sports village to start lap 2. Though you never know in these frenetic events if those you're overtaking are actually on the same "man" as you, so you are gaining a place, or a man ahead or behind. I believe the leading 2 or 3 teams passed me on their 2nd laps and finished their event during my first lap?!

Lap 2 was a case of "keep on keeping on" and I didn't shed too much pace. I felt pretty sluggish running around the track again to finish in a fast for me 23:16 - for 3.75m - but comparatively pedestrian to many ther that day. Still I was the 2nd fastest in my team and helped us to a, not last place (so achieveing our ambition), finish of 78th of 87 complete teams and I was 478th fastest of 616 runners that day.

Hardmoors 60 - 63m - 8750' asc 9000' desc

I wasn't sure I'd make the startline for this one, but having done the Hardmoors 55 3-years running and ran some of the route with Mark Dalton when he did the 110 (gulp!), I fancied tackling the other half of the Cleveland way along Yorkshires fantastically varied coastline.

A very early start after a late night - prep left till last minute not good! - to the race finish at Filey to be coach bound for the start at Guisborough. I relaxed once on the coach and after enjoying some of the fantstic moors scenery as the sun rose I driften off into a brief sleep.

Start was a bit delayed from Guisborough Sea Cadets as the queue for the toilets just wouldn't go down quickly (glad I got in fairly early). Hint to all ultra runners: When you get off transfer coach, always kitcheck, register straight away... why... so I can get to the toilet before the queue gets big ;) (works every time). From the gun it was off to climb a muddy track through Guisborough Woods to Highcliffe Nab (yes this is a Jon Steele event so there is always an OAB to a high ground CP) and then coastward bound.

The route undulated before diving to the coast, I was already feeling a hit wooden-legged by the Saltburn CP, not good especially combined with the recent spectre of the DNF from the TDS eating away at me. I took what I needed from drop bag 1 and was forced to slow down by an ascent to run along high clifftops out of town.

Must be the training, but the revelation from here on was that my mindstate and aches in first half had me doubting I'd finish, especially coming off back of TDS DNF. But then, from 35m or so I just felt better and better - even though was slowing marginally - until Scarborough. By which time I knew I'd cracked it.

Passed a good few in second half and only one seemed to come back at me in a few places (4m from end - thought I'd lost him, but caught up again a good fifteen minutes later when I briefly stopped to take a picture, then 2.5m from end when I slowed to make sure I wasn't going the wrong way into Filey). In fact in final road/hard surface miles through and around Filey I was convinced when I looked back I could see their light several times, at about 2m, 1.5m, even as late at .5m from the end. But now I see the results, can't have been as nearest competition was 9 minutes back at the end. Kept me pushing though! Not quite sure why, but legs more mush than normal over a long trail event - must be all the steps into and out of ravines every few miles.

First 50+ ultra run using Chia Charge drinks (alongside traditional energy drinks), not sure if benefitted me as pretty much ran the pace I thought I could based on Lakeland 50. Maybe did though as not necessarily sure I'm in quite as good condition as was pre-lakes, three tough events, ran hard, since then and was on the verge of a cold at start of week. Legs felt a bit achey inside ten miles so I was just managing my effort and nutrition regularly from there, sure if I'd dipped too far into the energy bank I would have crashed at some point. So a success all in all!