Monday, April 16, 2012

Caythorpe Canter - 14 April 2012

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and whilst I was warming up like the professional athlete I am (well I did a nice stretch when I reached down tying my shoe laces), Bob was seen reclining in the front seat of his car reading the paper - no doubt studying the form for the Grand National later in the day.  Ahhh, we Bounders make fine role models to the younger generation................

I had decided to run the long course and Bob the short as he had to get over to the football in Sheffield in the afternoon.  It was a small but beautifully formed field at the long start and after the first mile or so I tucked in about 3/400m behind the race leader and followed him (as I couldn’t catch him) for the next 13 miles, although I felt pretty good at this point.  At mile 14 the route took a few twists and turns and my memory let me down so I resorted to the running notes and route map for guidance (two weeks running I’ve now used a map – this must be a record for me) and my pace slipped with the occasional stop / start at unmarked junctions whilst I considered my options.  After 21 miles we reached Ancaster and turned for home straight into a head wind, which combined with some small inclines and tired legs, required significant will power to keep at a decent pace.  I managed to complete the course as runner up in 3.16.45 which I was really pleased with and Bob turned in a fine performance in the short course in 1.56.17

The post race shower, teas, sandwiches and cakes were up to the expected Caythorpe high standards we have grown to love, so until next time.........

Ian

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Edale Skyline 2012


It's been a few years since I entered the Edale Skyline as it's held the weekend before the 4 Inns. However having felt really strong during the event last year I wondered if I could do both? There was only one way to find out, so this year I put my entry in.

Checking the forecast the day before it looked like there wouldn't be any problems with route finding, with a clear sunny day on the cards. As it turned out I couldn't have picked a warmer day, great for sunbathing not so good for a 21 mile fell race!

The organisers had changed the requirement for full waterproofs to wind proofs, but you still needed a long sleeve top. I was wearing mine, black to absorb the heat and had only brought waterproofs! 
The start was the usual melee and it was nice to get going and catch the breeze on Ringing Roger and then follow the very dry path along the edge of Kinder. I stuck to the tree line along the ridge to Win Hill to make the most of the shade and was going well into Hope. The pull up Lose Hill was as stiff as ever and when I got to the top a young marshal informed me I was 219th! Arriving at the top of Mam Tor was like being on Skeggy sea front; I've never seen so many people up there. The support was welcome though.
Crossing Brown Knoll was a bit of a slog (as you can probably tell from the photo) and I managed to lose both shoes in close succession.
 Once back onto Kinder the focus was on reaching Grindslow Knoll and then making the return to Ringing Roger which always seems such a long way on tired legs. On the advice of Steve I had planned to take it easy to save the legs for the following week but still managed to cross the line in 4hrs 20min 36sec, 214th out of 299 finishers. Along way off the front - 2hrs 41min 55sec but 17 minutes faster than my previous time.
The race doesn't get any easier and the legs were a bit sore for a few days afterwards, however I still made it to the start line of the 4 Inns and had another cracking day in the Peak.
Richard

Monday, April 9, 2012

An Abandoned BGR Leg 2 Night Recce and Easter Monday on Hellvellyn

An Abandoned BGR Leg 2 Night Recce and Easter Monday on Hellvellyn
8/9 April 2012

With the BGR season fast approaching I’m trying to get back up to speed with a couple of legs, one of which is Leg 2 from Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise which will be the night section for Ian Haigh, the chap I am supporting.  After agreeing to take Jake for a scramble up Striding Edge on Easter Monday I had the bright idea of going up Sunday night, and then running from Threlkeld to Hellvelyn and back once it had got dark.  As we drove up the sky grew darker and the road wetter and by the time we arrived at the campsite, the monsoon season had arrived with a vengeance.  We were both cold and wet by the time we had the tent up so at this point sanity took over and I decided Jake really needed to be introduced to Theakstons Old Peculiar and the chip shop in Keswick, both of which were to be had in dry and warm surroundings, rather than being left on his own for a few hours! 

After a blustery night’s sleep we drove around to Glenridding, put on every piece of kit we had with us (the monsoon was still in full flow) and headed off up the track past the YMCA/YHA/etc..  Once at Red Tarn we were in the mist and a very wet and slippery scramble ensued.  I tried to paint a picture of the views Jake would have seen if we weren’t in the middle of the aforementioned monsoon (which had now started to include occasional driving sleet showers), but he wasn’t convinced!  At the top we paused for a nanosecond and headed off down towards Hellvellyn Lower Man.......or that’s where we should of gone.......  With my head down, and not paying close attention I realised we had missed the path off to the right and were on the one down to Thirlmere so 15 minutes later we were back at the top of Hellvellyn and this time with compass out and map in hand to make 100% certain, headed off on the correct path!  A good lesson for us all here when conditions are really rough, don’t just trust your knowledge, but get the compass out to provide back up.

Back in the valley Mountain Rescue had laid on a charity duck race for us and so I obligingly bought tickets for all the Bounders (you all now owe me a pound).  As the ducks came paddling (sorry floating) past I realised the one in second place was 2261, which was mine (no, it wasn’t any of yours and yes I have the stubs to prove it – and yes, you still all owe me a pound).  Jake at this point suggested I check my ticket to be sure but I was already chasing it down towards the finish where it came a very respectable 4th place.  I was already planning which prize to secure (for us all of course) when upon checking my ticket stub, I realised mine was in fact 2281 and not 2261 (Jake at this point had that ‘I told you so’ look on his face)!  2281 had in fact gone off looking for food and was last heard shouting “where’s Fin, he always has some spare grub”

Hope to see you all at Caythorpe next weekend......

Ian

Four Inns


Bounders in sensational Four Inns record breaking success
The Bounders team comprising Roy(mad dog)Jackman, Richard(iron man)Andrews, Mark(crimper)Wilson, and self.
After dramatic last minute withdrawal of Finn after strange and mysterious episode with his Indian clubs, the bounders are reduced to a rump of four, Crimper returning after a 30 year sabbatical recorded a four hour personal best(one assumes the years were wisely spent erradicating torpor from his muscles) and Richard also proudly boasts a new seven minute personal best. Remarkably, the bounders are only seven minutes slower than 25 years ago and at this rate will still be below 10 hours in our 80th year!
The conditions it must be said were drier than fading memories can recall which set us up for one of the finest four inns outings ever. Roy although questioning his resolve to carry on after this, his 30th year, still put in a fine captains innings(marred only by the occasional onset of cramp).
Hope that this memorable outing will fire us up to a sub 9 hour time next year!
Bob

Photo Finish

Photo Finish

 

I have several finishing photos from over the years, but the one from Clumber Duathlon is probably the best. However, I won’t be sharing it as I look like poo. Still at least it shows I gave it my best shot, don’t want to be finishing fresh do we?

 

Clumber Park is a great scenic location and it was a quiet but friendly atmosphere on a cold and misty morning as people busily set about lifting bikes from the top / inside / back of their cars. Amazed at how some people manage to get so much in small cars; saw one guy wrestling his bike out of a Ford Ka. There was some nice gear on display; bikes that weighed less than my flask and cycling kit showing prestigious club names. Still not to worry, I was wearing my 1986 Ivanhoe Runners vest, real cred. Its always re-assuring when you see someone at the start who you think you might beat; the big guy with a mountain bike the size of a tractor, and 3 lads from up north had lights on their bikes, clearly not expecting an early finish.

 

There had been lots of warnings about getting there on time, so with a hour and a half to go, I set off walking with bike and kit box to transition. Nice walk across the fields, nice steady walk, ideal warm up, relaxing long walk. That’s good warming up now, gosh it is a long walk, still nice to be having a stretch. Does seem a long way though, but clearly going in the right direction with everyone else. Dear me, it is a long way, oh dam this box is difficult to balance on the bike. For #### sake why do we have to walk so bloody far?

 

It was about half a mile, but no queues and racked with no fuss. Shame I had to go back to the car which meant I did a 2 mile warm up. Shouts of ‘Uncle Bobbie!’ as I returned meant that my niece Holly had spotted me. An excellent swimmer from Lincolnshire (its the webbed feet) she is moving up to Triathlon and was doing the short course as a tester. I reminded her that there was no swim today and returned to my bike.

 

There always seem plenty to do in the half hour before the start of a run, double it for a Duathlon as there’s bike and transition kit to fiddle with. And go check where you run / bike in / out of transition, in the hope that you will set off on your own bike when the time comes. Adjacent places on the rack where taken by gentleman of a similar age and we chatted about events of years ago while young men warmed up their lycra. Ready to start, but delayed for 25 min due to the mist (the bike is on a busy rood).

 

Eventually to the start, didn’t seem many of us, but there were several different groups going off at 5 min intervals. We’re off, the ‘male classic’ group. Once we were over Clumber bridge, the route took off up a hill and the pace settled down. It was an out and back course, twice. So we soon met the leaders who had been to the cone at 2.5 k and were sprinting back – I could get lapped on a 10k! And to add to the confusion, as we turn at 2.5 k, we see the ‘classic women’ catching us, closely followed by everyone doing the sprint distance, (a shout of ‘Go on Uncle Bobbie’ as I meet Hollie). Back to 5k in 24 min ok, and ready for another lap. Completed 10k in sub 47, my fastest for a while, so I would have been pleased had the day ended there.

 

I cannot believe the transition times, neither mine or the leaders. Surely I didn’t take almost 2 minutes, and no way did the leaders do around 40 seconds; I couldn’t do a straight run between the 2 lines in that time, never mind collecting a bike.

 

Enjoyed the bike, it was good to have a sit down and found myself overtaking several in the first few miles. Another ‘Go on Uncle Bobbie’ at 3 mile as I went past Hollie who had run 5k and now on for 1 lap on the bike. Well marshalled on a busy main road, lots of swapping places as we catch the slower sprint distance riders, but still being overtaken by others, presumably keen cyclists who hadn’t enjoyed the run. The route takes us back to main entrance to the park, down the tree lined avenue and this is where we lose about 75% of the field who turn to finish their one lap on the sprint distance.

 

So the second 12 mile lap wasn’t as busy, but more chance to settle down, although its an undulating route and I never seemed to be in the same gear for more than half a mile. Second time into the park, change down for the last 400m give the legs a spin and into transition again.

 

‘T2’ was much better, 1 minute! Must have forgotten something, but I had swapped shoes and wasn’t running in my helmet so that was good. My legs weren’t particularly painful, in fact I couldn’t feel them as I had left them in transition and was using a pair borrowed from a an elderly lady who had clearly had a glass or two of port. After a mile I’m moving ok, and its another uphill jog to the cone at 2.5k and back. Finished the 5k in 25 min, and overall time of 2.34 well within my target of 2.45 so delighted with that until I check the bike to find the route was only 38k, as confirmed by other recovering athletes.

 

So my personal challenge to ‘just beat Rosie Dear’ as referred to in a previous article has failed. Rosie had completed Rutland a month earlier in 2.45 and the bike route is 42k.

 

Hollie? Didn’t see her at the end, but facebook confirms she enjoyed it and will be back.

 

Final task; delete the finishing photo.

 

 

 

Bob

 

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Hassop to Chatsworth

Another fine sunny day on the Hassop training run, via Haddon Hall & Chatsworth, and the first outing of the Bounders new team vehicle.

Steve

Hathersage circuit - combined results

A fantastic result for the Bounders training outing on the Hathersage circuit

Finn & Bob – 22 miles, 3,500 ft of ascent
Meg Haworth – 46 miles, 7,000 ft of ascent

A fairly steady 5 hrs 15 but we did stop for lashings of tea and fruit cake, and some Grouse for Meg.

Steve