Today's Training

Achilles Tendonitis and Spring Fever are not a good combination.

After my last race (on 11th March), the right Achilles tendon told me it really needed a rest (it had been giving me a niggle for a few weeks). I have been doing heel drops off a stair, (although not nearly enough), and didn't run again until last Sunday, when I went for a tentative run up to the Outwoods; the shortest route that avoids using the same path out and back.

Today I went out for a slightly longer route to the Outwoods; after Sunday's mud bath, it was definitely time to get the Walshes out. As I came out of the woods, I noticed two things: the short section of road to the entrance to Beacon Hill country park was closed to all traffic (for roadworks), but still open for pedestrians; and there was a runner a little way ahead of me, going even slower than I was. But above all, it was the bright sunshine (which we haven't seen much of for the last two weeks) that induced a severe attack of Spring Fever, and instead of turning left to go back home, I carried on up the road and up to Beacon Hill. My eventual route was essentially the reverse of my usual Buck Hill and Beacon Hill route. Yes, it was slow, and I was walking up the steep bits that I can usually run up; but it certainly felt good.

Now, three hours after getting back, there's only mild discomfort from the tendon; and it's certainly in better condition than the left shoe. It's true, what I've read from many other people's experience: the quality of stitching on Walshes is not what it used to be. As for the tendon, tomorrow morning will be when I find out if I've done any significant damage.

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

Achilles Tendonitis and Spring Fever are not a good combination.

After my last race (on 11th March), the right Achilles tendon told me it really needed a rest (it had been giving me a niggle for a few weeks). I have been doing heel drops off a stair, (although not nearly enough), and didn't run again until last Sunday, when I went for a tentative run up to the Outwoods; the shortest route that avoids using the same path out and back.

Today I went out for a slightly longer route to the Outwoods; after Sunday's mud bath, it was definitely time to get the Walshes out. As I came out of the woods, I noticed two things: the short section of road to the entrance to Beacon Hill country park was closed to all traffic (for roadworks), but still open for pedestrians; and there was a runner a little way ahead of me, going even slower than I was. But above all, it was the bright sunshine (which we haven't seen much of for the last two weeks) that induced a severe attack of Spring Fever, and instead of turning left to go back home, I carried on up the road and up to Beacon Hill. My eventual route was essentially the reverse of my usual Buck Hill and Beacon Hill route. Yes, it was slow, and I was walking up the steep bits that I can usually run up; but it certainly felt good.

Now, three hours after getting back, there's only mild discomfort from the tendon; and it's certainly in better condition than the left shoe. It's true, what I've read from many other people's experience: the quality of stitching on Walshes is not what it used to be. As for the tendon, tomorrow morning will be when I find out if I've done any significant damage.

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Niggles/injuries often feel worse in the morning - the best test is tomorrow afternoon - if it is much worse in the afternoon you have done too much, if it is much the same you can tentatively carry on, but I would suggest caution as these are your first runs since March 11th. Apologies if I am stating the obvious.

I concur with Mike on that but would also add that heel raises rather than drops are the way to go with physio for Achilles tendonitis.
You need to engage basically your entire rear leg muscles up to your glutes in order to offload the tendon.

Our first grass training session of the summer last night.

8 x 1 minute reps.... the reps consisting of 50 seconds hard, and 10 seconds sprint.

3 minutes rest periods.

I'd had a rather punishing physio session in the afternoon, and also was struggling a little with hip flexor strain, so probably should have reduced or even skipped the session.

But i saw it through.... and am now suffering the effects!

That will probably be it for me this week in terms of hard sessions.... i think thursday will have to be missed as i've got plenty of mileage planned on the Howgills and Dales this weekend and don't want to be carrying injury.

9.5 miles for the session, on top of 4 very easy AM miles.

Lunchtime saw me head out for a recce of next week's inter-counties course on Winder and Arant Haw.... it'll certainly be a test for the legs and lungs, and will be a hectic pace... but not really a genuine fell challenge.

I know they've designed the course for the World Mountain Champs (of which the inter-counties is the trial race).... but in my view an up-and-down from Sedbergh to the Calf summit would have been slightly better, and at least then included the stiff pull up onto the Calf plateau via Calders.

After concluding my recce, took a direct line back up to Winder summit again for good measure, and back into Sedbergh via the main Dales Highway path.

7.5 miles


Teatime and it was into the road shoes, from Hawes headed out on the road towards Ribblehead, but quickly turned off and onto the Cam Road, then Pennine Way, all the way over to Kidhow Gate.

Stunning views over to Pen Y Ghent and Ingleborough. But i had to turn away and follow the minor road which eventually led me back downhill into Hawes from the south, via the lovely hamlet of Gayle.

A gorgeous sunny evening. And didn't see a soul once i was a couple of km from Hawes.

11 miles and approx 1450ft

Tomorrow i'll be out somewhere on the Y3P course.

Setting out from Ribblehead i ascended up to Ingleborough via the long and quiet north-east ridge. Upon reaching the Y3P route near the top of Ingleborough i then followed the race route in reverse down to Hill Inn and up onto Whernside.

Leading runners started coming past on the Whernside ridge, and there were plenty of fellrunning spectators around that i recognised. Also at the summit i bumped into marathon-man-of-the-moment Emile Cairess.... after congratulating him on his fine performance last weekend, i obviously told him he was wasting his time running 2:08 marathons and should surely be preparing for the Four Fans in July.... As we peered over the steep upper slope of Whernside he did say he had done the odd bit of fell stuff in the past, but nothing as tough as the Y3P.

Then followed the tourist route off Whernside back down to Ribblehead.

13.5 miles and 3000ft.

This evening i set off from the summit of Buttertubs Pass, into the murk as i headed for Great Shunner Fell... I was rather relieved that there was a fence to guide me up to the summit, as it was arduous and confusing ground which reminded me of Bleaklow.

Once on the summit it was easier going down the Pennine Way all the way down the ridge and back to Hardraw/Hawes.

8.5 miles, 850ft... was surprised to see a single person on this run.... a lone lady near the summit of Great Shunner Fell. Otherwise it was complete solitude.

I was interloping on MrBrightside and MrBreeze cycling territory today, with a wet and grey morning on the Wharfedale roads.

Just over 6 miles from Kettlewell to Grassington on the minor road to the east of the river. Cyclists far outnumbering cars. One other runner who had the cheek to come past me.... as i wound things up a bit to get back to him, he turned round at Consitone and headed back north, obviously not fancying a 3 mile shoot-out down the road to Grassington.... where i spotted many bedraggled folk walking in to finish the Fellsman.

80 miles this week. Has been a fantastic weekend in Yorkshire and a new-found love for the whole area. Often neglected (by me) in favour of the Lakes and North Wales, but every bit as good.

Next week its simply a case of being as fresh as possible for the inter-counties at Sedbergh next sunday... i'm on a hiding to nothing on that course and with the anticipated quality of field... We have four runners in the Warwickshire team and i would reasonably expect to be 3rd counter, but i'll certainly have a pop at the two faster guys.

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Originally Posted by Travs

Next week its simply a case of being as fresh as possible for the inter-counties at Sedbergh next sunday... i'm on a hiding to nothing on that course and with the anticipated quality of field... We have four runners in the Warwickshire team and i would reasonably expect to be 3rd counter, but i'll certainly have a pop at the two faster guys.

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I thought you were veering towards the negative, but then you pulled it back at the end. Like the attitude; modest but confident.

I made a racing career out of beating people who were better than me (using better nav, more appropriate tactics, digging deeper when it really hurt etc). When faced with a quality field of better runners, I just used to resort to beating the vest in front of me, then the next one, and the result's whatever it is.

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Originally Posted by Marco

I thought you were veering towards the negative, but then you pulled it back at the end. Like the attitude; modest but confident.

I made a racing career out of beating people who were better than me (using better nav, more appropriate tactics, digging deeper when it really hurt etc). When faced with a quality field of better runners, I just used to resort to beating the vest in front of me, then the next one, and the result's whatever it is.

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That's basically what i do, but i need some tricky downhill to make it work, my legs tend to turn to jelly if i push too hard anywhere else.

Grass session last night....

1-2-3-4-3-2-1 minute reps.

Not a great session.... fatigued from heavy mileage in Yorkshire at the weekend, and still not quite 100% happy with my hip flexor, i was well below par.... in fact pulled out of the session with two reps still to go.

Just a case of resting and going easy between now and sunday... i've got the fitness, i just need to be fresh on the start line.