Hi Graham
I have not done any races in the "Covid years". I am slowly getting slower, and if I did race again I have no doubt I would be well towards the back, but at least I no longer feel tired after a 12 miler for example.
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One up on you: I am rapidly getting slower. :rolleyes:
Hmmm . . . I remember the Mount Famine race, a month short of my 60th birthday, when Barry Blyth M70 came past me on the descent. And of course Ann-Marie Jones, a mere 5 years older than me, was well ahead of me by that point.
The axe men were always good viewing at the show, it was the guys who did it on the high planks that got me, no way! Where would H&S even begin with a risk assessment?
https://youtu.be/dYU0iVsKmow
8.66 miles, 2,976 feet, 3 hours 4 minutes: Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Stagshaw Gardens - Wansfell Pike from two sides, including twice down and once up the race route to/from the kissing gate. Sunshine and some high clouds; the distant high tops were partly obscured by haze. A cold wind from the south east. Terrain dry and firm with the occasional patch of ice. Traction good as long as the ice was avoided. Lots of walkers on the steps to the Pike.
I did some drills in Borrans Park - bum kicks, high knees, side to side, hopscotch, skipping, straight legs - then, rather than strides, I did 40 second efforts with 20 second or so recoveries until I had done one and a half miles. It is a lovely setting.
9.33 miles, 3,240 feet, 2 hours 51 minutes: Loughrigg trails, taking in Fishgarths Wood, Todd and Ivy Crags, Lily Tarn, Loughrigg top, down to the road at High Close, and the track past the old golf club to Miller bridge. Overcast, the clouds just catching the high tops. A strong wind from the south east. No Precipitation. Terrain dry with good traction. Lots of walkers on the main routes, and even quite a few on the minor routes - I imagine they were a mixture of the lost and the knowledgeable.
8.53 miles, 3,703 feet, 3 hours 10 minutes: Wansfell Pike from three sides, including once down and once up the race route to/from the kissing gate. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet. A strong wind from the south west; a few minutes of drizzle/light rain. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Very few about; one fellow runner seen.
13.15 miles, 4,303 feet, 4 hours 17 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Clappersgate - Todd Crag - Loughrigg top - High Close - Swinescar Pike - Lang How - Silver How - High Close - Loughrigg top - old golf club track - Miller Bridge - Rothay Bridge. Overcast, with the cloud base above the high tops. Intermittent drizzle/light rain. A strong wind from the south. Terrain damp but not that slippery. Very few about.
9.79 miles, 3,436 feet, 3 hours 32 minutes: Wanfsell Pike, including along the ridge to the true top and back, and once down the race route to the kissing gate. Sunshine and clouds, and, for the first hour or so, intermittent drizzle/light rain. The cloud base was at about 2,500 feet. A strong wind from the south at the top of the Pike, not so bad elsewhere. Terrain saturated and slippery - there was clearly a lot of rain overnight. Lots of walkers on the main routes; three fellow fell runners seen.
11.55 miles, 3,829 feet, 4 hours 6 minutes: Elterwater Common - Swinescar Pike - Blea Rigg - Sergeant Man - High Raise - back much the same way, but also taking in Lang How and Silver How. Sunshine and clouds, mainly the latter; the cloud base just caught the highest tops. A few minutes of drizzle. That strong wind from the south is still present. Terrain anything from dry to saturated - slippery in places. Not many walkers about; seven fellow runners seen.
A group of five runners was going the same way as me, so we were close to each other for quite some time. They had two dogs with them, not on leads, and they were shouting to them every 20 to 30 seconds - not exactly peaceful - or am I turning into a grumpy old man?
10.51 miles, 2,795 feet, 3 hours 7 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including the Roman Ruins, Borrans park, Todd and Ivy Crags, Lily Tarn, Loughrigg top, down to the road at High Close, and the track past the old golf club to Millers Bridge. Overcast, with some shafts of sunlight; the cloud base was at about 2,500 feet. A strong wind from the south. No precipitation. Terrain mainly dry/damp, but wet and slippery in places. Not many walkers about; two other runners seen.
11.67 miles, 3,422 feet, 4 hours 7 minutes: Elterwater Common to High Raise and back, taking in Swinescar Pike, Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, Lang How and Silver How. Overcast, with high clouds above the highest tops. No precipitation. That cold wind from the south persists. Terrain mainly damp/wet - slippery in place. Very few about.
7.45 miles, 2,789 feet, 2 hours 58 minutes: Wansfell Pike from two sides, including once down and once up the race route to/from the kissing gate. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 1,200 feet. Constant drizzle/light rain. A gentle breeze from the south west. Terrain wet and slippery. Very few about.
I have tested positive for Covid - the faintest of faint lines for me - my partner is positive as well - a very thick line on her test; we both have sore throats but are otherwise OK. When out I am staying well away from others, and not going into any enclosed spaces. A friend is doing our shopping. Both of us are taking it easy for a bit.
I hope you and your partner are not too ill with it. Hurray for vaccinations.
11.44 miles, 1,883 feet, 3 hours 11 minutes: Loughrigg trails, taking in the Roman Ruins, Borrans Park, Brathay trails, Todd Crag, Lily tarn, and Loughrigg top. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 1,200 feet initially, higher later. Intermittent drizzle/light rain. A breeze from the south. Terrain damp/wet/saturated and slippery in places. Some school parties on the fell, otherwise very few about.
8.45 miles, 3,362 feet, 3 hours 46 minutes: ODG - The Band - Crinkle Crags - Pike o'Blisco - ODG. Wall to wall sunshine; barely a breeze, even on the tops. Terrain anything from dry to saturated - slippery in places. Very few about - two fellow runners seen.
I tried a couple of variations away from the race descent off Blisco - whilst they are not shorter/quicker than the race route they are more enjoyable - until the bracken reappears.
8.29 miles, 3,059 feet, 3 hours 9 minutes: Travellers Rest - Winterseeds - Grisedale Tarn - Cofa Pike - Fairfield - Great Rigg - Heron Pike - Alcock Tarn - Greenhead Gill - Travellers Rest. Blue sky, with some thin high clouds. Windy - from the east - on top. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Lots of walkers about, and half a dozen or so fellow runners. Parking areas and town very busy.
I took the four trods to the right bypassing the rocky tops on the descent from Fairfield; rather then going to Nab Scar and turning sharp right on the usual path I descended directly to Alcock tarn from the fourth trod - no path but easy running on steep grass.
Had an attack of Spring fever today. Went out for a walk, and ended up doing 13-14 miles. Out via Windmill Hill to Old John in Bradgate Park, then through Newtown Linford to John's Lee Wood and the mudbath footpath past Sandhills Lodge, past Ulverscroft Priory to Beacon Hill and back home. 4 hours 22 minutes, including a couple of stops for water and flapjack. Sunny, with a cold east wind, and I didn't take gloves so my hands were very cold by the end.
10.39 miles, 4,433 feet, 4 hours 3 minutes: Travellers Rest - Winterseeds - path on top of Great Tongue - Grisedale Tarn - Helvellyn - Grisedale Tarn, ascending and descending via the steep grass next to the wall - Seat Sandal - Winterseeds - Travellers Rest. Sunshine, and fluffy clouds above the high tops. A strong cold wind from the south east. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Not many walkers about, but then I did start early. Eight fellow runners seen.
7.76 miles. 2,845 feet, 2 hours 40 minutes: Wanfsell Pike from two sides, including twice down and once up the race route to/from the kissing gate. Sunny, with some thin high cloud; hazy in the distance. A cool breeze from the south. Terrain dry with good grip. Quite a few walkers on the steps.
A young fit agile runner started descending the steps at the same time I started on my second grassy descent on the race route - he beat me by about 15 seconds. I know which is more fun!
12.11 miles, 3,549 feet, 4 hours 21 minutes: Elterwater Common - Swinescar Pike - Blea Rigg - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Blea Rigg - Swinescar Pike - Lang How - Silver How - Elterwater Common. Sunshine and high clouds, hazy in the distance. A cool wind from the south. Terrain dry with good grip. I saw perhaps a couple of dozen walkers, and six fellow runners. Down to two layers top and bottom - that sun is gorgeous.
9.26 miles, 2,560 feet, 2 hours 54 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including Fishgarths Wood, Todd and Ivy Crags, Lily Tarn, and down to the road at High Close. Sunny and warm, with thin high clouds, and a cool breeze from the south. Terrain dry with excellent grip. Quite a few walkers about, including several school groups.
Down to just a T shirt today - amazing weather.
6.73 miles, 2,610 feet, 2 hours 53 minutes: NDG - zig-zag path - Stickle Tarn - North Rake - Pavey Ark - Thunacar Knot - High Raise - Sergeant Man - Stickle Tarn - zig-zag path - NDG. Sunshine and high clouds, a cool breeze from the south. Terrain dry and firm with good traction. Not that many walkers about, yet the car park was nearly full when I left.
11.55 miles, 3,362 feet, 3 hours 33 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Waterhead steps - Wansfell Pike - Wansfell true top - Kirkstone-Windermere Road - Kirkstone Inn - Red Screes - Roundhill Farm - Ambleside. Blue sky with a few high clouds. A refreshing cool breeze from the south. Terrain dry and firm with good grip. Very few on the fells. The Kirkstone car park had 18 cars in it, so about half full.
T-shirt weather again. We are so lucky.
8.02 miles, 3,140 feet, 3 hours 46 minutes: NDG - Harrison Stickle - Thunacar Knott - Pike of Stickle - High Raise - Sergeant Man - Stickle Tarn - zig-zag path - NDG. Sunshine and high clouds, a lovely cool breeze from the north west. Terrain dry and firm with good grip. Lots of walkers about, and three fellow runners.
The NDG car park was about one third full when I got there at 9 o'clock; when I left, it was full, and there was a sign at the entrance saying this, but people were still driving in.
11.07 miles, 3,389 feet, 4 hours 7 minutes: Elterwater Common - Swinescar Pike - Blea Rigg - just above Stickle Tarn - Sergeant Man - Blea Rigg - Swinescar Pike - Lang How - Silver How - Elterwater Common. Sunny, with some high clouds; a gentle cool breeze from the south. Terrain dry and firm with good grip. Not many walkers about, but today's Kendal Winter League race was based at Elterwater - it goes to Silver How and back - so lots of fell runners seen.
Good race, elterwater, if I could afford petrol I'd have gone.
I have done them all except Barbon and Sallows. The only one I did not like was Whitestones - running around the perimeter of a waterlogged field is hardly fun. It is a shame the senior races do not start until 1 o'clock, and you need to get there early as there are often parking issues. Having said that, they are great for families if the children also run.
I've got a mind to do a full Bofra season one year. But would probably mean binning everything else off and having it as full priority, so it's just not on the cards quite yet.
Just a slight worry how a season of only running really short races would affect me the next year going back to longer stuff (although i'm sure it would benefit me in other ways)
I have never done a BOFRA race, and these short, brutal races don't really appeal to me - with one exception. Some day, before I am too old, I would like to do the race up Kirkfell at the Wasdale Head Show: the unremitting steepness up 2400 feet of climbing (and descent!) is something I would like to experience in a race.
9.13 miles, 2,493 feet, 2 hours 47 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Stagshaw Gardens - Kelsick Scar - Wansfell Pike from two sides - race route descent - Ambleside. Overcast and very foggy at first, later the cloud base was at about 1,200 feet. Very still, not even a gentle breeze. Intermittent drizzle/light rain. Terrain damp, but traction was surprisingly good. Very few about.
11.87 miles, 3,570 feet, 3 hours 43 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Waterhead Steps - Wansfell Pike - Wansfell true top - Kirkstone Inn - Red Screes - Roundhill Farm - Ambleside. Sunshine and clouds, the cloud base just catching some of the highest tops. A cool breeze from the north. No rain. Terrain anything from dry to saturated: slippery in places. I only saw about twenty people whilst I was out.
9.48 miles, 2,888 feet, 2 hours 53 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including Todd and Ivy Crags, Lily Tarn, Loughrigg top, and down to the road at High Close. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet; patchy snow below that to about 2,000 feet. A strong cold wind from the north; a few brief light snow flurries. Terrain damp, but grip was good. Quite a few walkers and bikers about; no other runners seen.