Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Welsh Hills and Valleys
Descending into the valley
I had a lovely weekend last weekend- really great training and really great company! Nine of us descended on Pontypool in
Mike B very kindly gave me a lift, and we all set off for the first walk at around 3pm. Well- it was quite hilly!! Also very muddy in parts, and at times we found ourselves floundering through remaining snow drifts. At one point we found ourselves at the end of a track, and Andy pointed to a steep bank- covered in bracken, brambles and loose, slippery mud- and said "We need to go up there!"
I was well at the back as I am useless on that sort of terrain... we had a level scramble following loose rocks from a collapsed wall and more brambles, before another steep climb through loose mud! My pack weighed around 8kg and I was convinced I'd end up on my back, legs flailing, in true turtle fashion!
The Steep Climb!
We found a track, after crossing a few barbed wire fences and walls (thank goodness for strong blokes willing to heave my short legs over!) and followed this to the charmingly named village of Pantside, passing the 'Pant Social Club' and a group of not so friendly local youths.
As we descended out of the village darkness descended, so we donned headtorches and followed the tracks across the moor and down into the valley and Pontypool, getting back at around 9pm before a quick shower and descending on the Harvester Restaurant, who kindly agreed to stay open for us.
Saturday was gorgeous- warm and sunny all day! Andy had mapped out an 18 mile route, and I walked with Rach and Perks. We started off climbing the track we used to descend last night, before topping out onto the broad summit, and descending towards forest. We missed the track we should have taken into the forest, but managed to pick up another track and rejoin our route.
There then followed a lovely, gentle downhill on a forest track to a village with an unpronouncable name...
Rach and Perks On The Forest Track
Coming out of the village, we had a steep, long climb along the road back towards the head of the valley. As the road levelled out, we followed a track straight ahead before realising we should have taken a left turn, so retraced our steps- at least this meant we had made up for the bit we cut off earlier! Andy joined us and we had another even steeper road ascent.
Views Over The Valley
Eventually this became a track, then path back onto the broad hillside, and we gradually followed this over the moor and back to the starting point.
Welsh Mountains
We followed the same track we ascended back down to the road and village.
View Over Pontypool
It was a fantastic day, with plenty of climbing, which is what's needed! My rucksack weighed around 8 Kg both days which I was pleased with. After dinner (egg and chips! Heaven...) we all gathered in our room for champagne kindly supplied by Gilly. All I can say is- you know you are with a group of Ultra nutters when everyone whips off their shoes and socks and start comparing toenails, then asking how everyone's chaffing is...
Good fun though! I am off to my sisters today, the idea being to head up to the Lakes for some good mountain walking Thursday, Friday and hopefully Saturday!
Labels: Pontypool, training, Wales
ECG Sorted (Hopefully...)
Well, I finally got around to booking myself in for my jabs for Morocco (which kind of makes me wonder whether I should have had any before going trekking the year before last but hey- I survived!!)
I resolved to ask the nurse about getting an ECG and signed GP certificate, and struck lucky! Turns out she regularly completes Ironman Triathlons, and her and a friend were considering the MdS but decided it was too difficult to get a place. So not only did she know about the MdS and need for various jabs, she also, when I tentatively mentioned the fact that I'd need an ECG, said "Oh I'll book you in for one, we won't charge you for that". So I have my EGC booked for 3rd March and the appointment with the GP straight after.
Let's just hope it comes back bloody normal!!
I resolved to ask the nurse about getting an ECG and signed GP certificate, and struck lucky! Turns out she regularly completes Ironman Triathlons, and her and a friend were considering the MdS but decided it was too difficult to get a place. So not only did she know about the MdS and need for various jabs, she also, when I tentatively mentioned the fact that I'd need an ECG, said "Oh I'll book you in for one, we won't charge you for that". So I have my EGC booked for 3rd March and the appointment with the GP straight after.
Let's just hope it comes back bloody normal!!
Labels: ECG, Marathon des Sables
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Becoming A Bit Of A Chore...
Track Towards ThringstoneI must admit, the training is becoming a bit of a chore now... as I said before these are the few final weeks (can you believe), the culmination of the last two years and the last push before the taper... and I'm still knackered!!
I am also sick of walking in winter... sick of everywhere being so wet, muddy, slippery, slushy and boggy... of fighting my way through slippery fields, of feeling the wind slice through me, of having to get up early due to the short daylight hours, of constantly washing muddy kit, of trying to clean running shoes which resemble blocks of mud... but it will all be worth it when I cross that finish line and get that medal round my neck!!
I did get in my hill run last week- there was snow, but it had not yet turned to slush higher up so I got to run up the hills. I ended up running up the longest, steepest hill three times (slowly!!) so was quite pleased. Friday was a rest day (yay!!) and pizza night.
Thought I'd better do two back to backs over the weekend, and as I was seeing a friend in Loughborough Saturday night, chose a 13 mile route round neighbouring Shepshed. I parked a little way from the start, and ended up walking back to the car when I realised I had only got one glove (It wasn't in the car, and I later discovered my friend who's house I'm sharing had found it on the path- luckily I didn't need it!)
I misread the start- wandering around the cemetary before discovering it starts at the side of it. The route was quite nice, but consisted of muddy railway track, muddy fields, very muddy woodland tracks involving lengthy detours through brambles (my legs look decidedly s & m like...) extremely muddy ploughed fields with the kind of mud that just stuck to my shoes and felt like I had lead boots on, and not so bad grass and road. The footpath had been closed at one point, and I got a bit lost and went out my way, so had a road detour- must have done about 14- 15 miles in all before I presented myself at my friends covered in mud...
Sunday's choice was a 20 mile circular route from Cresswell Crags, a lot of it following routes me and Perks had done New Years Day but in reverse. I packed up the rucksack to around the same weight I've been using lately and decided to weigh it- to my surprise, it actually came in at 10.2 Kg!! So I have been training with 9- 10 Kg on my back without even realising it!!
Cresswell Crags car park is a bit of a building site as they are constructing a huge new visitors centre (once I found it, which involved an unplanned detour round Worksop) Parts of this walk were nearly as muddy as yesterday, especially the first few miles through forest.
Sand Stone Gorge- And Muddy Track!Going through Clumber Park it wasn't too bad, had to back track slightly to find Hardwick Village. There were quite a lot of prople around.
Dam From Ford Near HardwickI stopped for sandwiches and a coffee at a ruined picnic table before a long 3 mile stretch through forest to Hazel Gap- quite a good track but rather boring! I headed up to another forest afterwards- Gleadthorpe Breck Plantations- before following muddy tracks to Church Warsop.
The final part was through slippery field back to Cresswell Crags, which I reached just as it was getting dark- there were quite a few people around here which I didn't expect. Both walks took me longer than I thought cos of the mud! I ran a little both days but not too much cos I am not very confident in mud!
Cresswell CragsAll in all, quite a good weekend! I had intended going to the gym last night, but rebelled cos I felt so tired! I ended up walking two miles instead- to Morrisons. Which was shut!
I am trying to become really enthusiastic about tonight's hill run...
Labels: Cresswell Crags, Cross training, Shepshed, Sherwood Forest
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Six Weeks To Go...
The Big Freeze...
Great. It's snowing. Again!! How on earth am I going to do tonight's hill run without breaking something, probably my neck!
I am so knackered at the moment... there are now only around three weeks of good quality training left before I need to start to taper... where the f*ck did those last two years go!!?!? So far, since last Thursday, I have done;
Nothing last Friday as it was little sis's engagement party (unless preparing mountains of food, tying balloons and dancing count!)
Saturday I strapped on the pack and did a 7 mile walk with a bit of jogging thrown in for good measure. And discovered that there are toilets in Colwick Park!! Then I went into the gym and did my new weights/ core regime plus 40 minutes run/ walking on 5% and 10% inclines on the treadmill, and 20 minutes on the stepper. This is a weird machine. It consist of a track which folds into steps, and you have to keep stepping onto the newly formed step, once you've managed to mount the thing! I daren't take my eyes off it or I'd fall off!!
Sunday I cobbled together an 18 mile route- from near Cotgrave along the canal to Kinoulton. There was loads of snow around, and I cursed myself for not taking my camera. The path along the canal was packed snow- not too difficult to walk on but not suitable for running. When I reached Kinoulton, I carried along the canal to Hickling and back to add in three more miles. I returned through Cotgrave Forest but got a little lost! The snow was quite thick here, but good practice for the dunes! Hopefully...
Monday saw me back in the gym- again- usual weights/ core stuff plus a tough 30 minutes on the ellipticals (up to resistance level 18).
Tuesday- 8 mile run... tried to push the pace a bit as I wasn't wearing a pack, and had some short faster bursts a la Fartlek.
Last night- gym again- weights, core and 3 mile run at 2% incline- my least favourite as it's so-o-o boring!! I went on the other stepper machine for 20 minutes and set the resistance quite high...
And tonight was supposed to be hill running... it appears to have stopped snowing but has settled and is no doubt turning slushy and slippy as we speak (or rather, I write and you read...) I feel as though all I do at the moment is go to work, eat tea, train and go to bed! I know it's the last push and won't be for too long, but it's taking its toll!
I am going back to Wales next weekend with some of the 2009 MdS'ers, the aim is to get a couple of decent back to back walks/ runs in. I am thinking of going to stay with my big sis the week after (I'm off work) and doing some good walking in the Lakes! I feel I need a bit of serious mountain stuff...
I am so knackered at the moment... there are now only around three weeks of good quality training left before I need to start to taper... where the f*ck did those last two years go!!?!? So far, since last Thursday, I have done;
Nothing last Friday as it was little sis's engagement party (unless preparing mountains of food, tying balloons and dancing count!)
Saturday I strapped on the pack and did a 7 mile walk with a bit of jogging thrown in for good measure. And discovered that there are toilets in Colwick Park!! Then I went into the gym and did my new weights/ core regime plus 40 minutes run/ walking on 5% and 10% inclines on the treadmill, and 20 minutes on the stepper. This is a weird machine. It consist of a track which folds into steps, and you have to keep stepping onto the newly formed step, once you've managed to mount the thing! I daren't take my eyes off it or I'd fall off!!
Sunday I cobbled together an 18 mile route- from near Cotgrave along the canal to Kinoulton. There was loads of snow around, and I cursed myself for not taking my camera. The path along the canal was packed snow- not too difficult to walk on but not suitable for running. When I reached Kinoulton, I carried along the canal to Hickling and back to add in three more miles. I returned through Cotgrave Forest but got a little lost! The snow was quite thick here, but good practice for the dunes! Hopefully...
Monday saw me back in the gym- again- usual weights/ core stuff plus a tough 30 minutes on the ellipticals (up to resistance level 18).
Tuesday- 8 mile run... tried to push the pace a bit as I wasn't wearing a pack, and had some short faster bursts a la Fartlek.
Last night- gym again- weights, core and 3 mile run at 2% incline- my least favourite as it's so-o-o boring!! I went on the other stepper machine for 20 minutes and set the resistance quite high...
And tonight was supposed to be hill running... it appears to have stopped snowing but has settled and is no doubt turning slushy and slippy as we speak (or rather, I write and you read...) I feel as though all I do at the moment is go to work, eat tea, train and go to bed! I know it's the last push and won't be for too long, but it's taking its toll!
I am going back to Wales next weekend with some of the 2009 MdS'ers, the aim is to get a couple of decent back to back walks/ runs in. I am thinking of going to stay with my big sis the week after (I'm off work) and doing some good walking in the Lakes! I feel I need a bit of serious mountain stuff...
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Feeling Better... Weather Shite...
Well. I finally got rid of the lurgy and we end up with about three winters worth of snow in just under a week! It's the kind that quickly turns to slush and then decides to freeze, so less than ideal running conditions. I have been out for a slow march with my pack instead of the hill run I had planned... daren't even walk up hill... if I break a leg or something at this stage, it's game over...
... Seven weeks to go before we fly to Ouazazate!!
I have had my gym programme revised- she has changed the weights, and made them much more serious. I now have to squat with a 20 kg bar on my back, do lunges holding 5 kg weights and do deadlifts. I also have upper body stuff, in the form of circuits. She has promised me it'll change my body shape!
Had a good walk Saturday- it was the Tring 2 Town. This was originally a 40 mile route along the canal from Tring in Herts to Brentford in London, until it was made into a two day event. We decided to do the first day, which was Town 2 Tring. Well, when I say decided, I hadn't actually entered it- Perks and Tricia, who is doing the MdS next year had, and suggested that me and Rach go along to walk and keep them company.
We left Perk's car at Tring and took mine to the Premier Inn at Brentford, where we met Rach and settled for the night- although I didn't sleep well. The start was a civilised 9am, and me and Rach hung back during the pre race briefing, trying to look inconspicuous. I saw a few faces I knew, including Jo, who has just completed the Lanzarote Ultra and is in training for the Arch to Arc- amazing lady! Most people there seemed to be running it, except us so me, Rach, Perks and Tricia stuck together. We managed to maintain a fast pace, around 4 mph, for most of the day as the cut off times for the first three checkpoints was quite tight.
Not much I can say about the scenery... flat, canal on the right, flat, canal on the left, dodge the dog sh*t and used syringe on the ground... I managed to choose two wee stops next to a busy train line... and we found ourselves on the wrong side of the canal at one point, and had to traverse a lock...
My legs started to ache at 20 miles, and really felt them for the next 10. Probably cos my pack was the heaviest I'd had it, around 5kg- 6kg. I felt much stronger after 30 miles though so the nurofen had probably started to kick in! It was Tricia's first Ultra, she felt the cold a few miles before the end but we helped her put another layer on and make it to the end. We all got a t- shirt and medal, plus soup- even me and Rach! Best event I've ever gate crashed!! We finished in around 10 hours and 40 minutes, so a PB for us all.
we got back and tested expedition meals and pot noodles... I had experimented by piercing a bag of crisps, squeezing all the air out, crushing the crisps, leaving it for a few days before stuffing it into my rucksack for the day. The result? Crisp and perfectly edible, so I think crisps are on the menu for the Sahara!
... Seven weeks to go before we fly to Ouazazate!!
I have had my gym programme revised- she has changed the weights, and made them much more serious. I now have to squat with a 20 kg bar on my back, do lunges holding 5 kg weights and do deadlifts. I also have upper body stuff, in the form of circuits. She has promised me it'll change my body shape!
Had a good walk Saturday- it was the Tring 2 Town. This was originally a 40 mile route along the canal from Tring in Herts to Brentford in London, until it was made into a two day event. We decided to do the first day, which was Town 2 Tring. Well, when I say decided, I hadn't actually entered it- Perks and Tricia, who is doing the MdS next year had, and suggested that me and Rach go along to walk and keep them company.
We left Perk's car at Tring and took mine to the Premier Inn at Brentford, where we met Rach and settled for the night- although I didn't sleep well. The start was a civilised 9am, and me and Rach hung back during the pre race briefing, trying to look inconspicuous. I saw a few faces I knew, including Jo, who has just completed the Lanzarote Ultra and is in training for the Arch to Arc- amazing lady! Most people there seemed to be running it, except us so me, Rach, Perks and Tricia stuck together. We managed to maintain a fast pace, around 4 mph, for most of the day as the cut off times for the first three checkpoints was quite tight.
Not much I can say about the scenery... flat, canal on the right, flat, canal on the left, dodge the dog sh*t and used syringe on the ground... I managed to choose two wee stops next to a busy train line... and we found ourselves on the wrong side of the canal at one point, and had to traverse a lock...
My legs started to ache at 20 miles, and really felt them for the next 10. Probably cos my pack was the heaviest I'd had it, around 5kg- 6kg. I felt much stronger after 30 miles though so the nurofen had probably started to kick in! It was Tricia's first Ultra, she felt the cold a few miles before the end but we helped her put another layer on and make it to the end. We all got a t- shirt and medal, plus soup- even me and Rach! Best event I've ever gate crashed!! We finished in around 10 hours and 40 minutes, so a PB for us all.
we got back and tested expedition meals and pot noodles... I had experimented by piercing a bag of crisps, squeezing all the air out, crushing the crisps, leaving it for a few days before stuffing it into my rucksack for the day. The result? Crisp and perfectly edible, so I think crisps are on the menu for the Sahara!
Labels: gym, snow, Tring 2 Town
