July saw the start of actual Bob Graham training, gone were the majority of 'filler' runs, little 5k's just to say I'd been out. I finished the month on 90.5 miles and 33,022ft of ascent, despite missing the last week or so.
August started not too badly, only 1 run in the first 7 being below a 2,000ft gain, but I was struggling for mojo, and for the desire to put a long day in. A lot of this was due to my two main running friends from being away for 4 weeks and 3 weeks each, leaving me with the majority of the month to head out solo. I used to love the solo days, it meant my own pace, no one waiting for me and no pressure, but since starting my new job, and the small running group we have within work, I found myself really struggling to get out with friends to go with. Alas with the extra ascent I've been grinding out, I'm not as hideously slow behind them, though they still get a few breathers on the up hills. My main stay in a run with friends is to set off a few minutes early, as is the nature of fell running there is generally a whacking great climb straight away, the point at which my heart doesn't really do its job, so a few minutes head start generally puts us at the top together!
Probably the best run this month was with my good friend Byron (@byronodonnell88). He had never run Scafell Pike and despite being able to nav, he wanted to go with someone the first time out, just incase. The forecast wasn't good, but we thought we'd possibly escape the first hour. Wrong. The rain started whilst we were lacing our shoes at the car! Not to be deterred we set of through Seathwaite Farm and up to Stockly Bridge. We took the route to Styhead Tarn, and I really struggled. No shame in admitting it, I just couldn't find a rhythm, I even struggled on the relative flat up to the stretcher box. From the stretcher box we headed off on the Corridor Route, garnering a few "mad bastard" comments from three guys walking up. After the first couple climbs my legs started working a bit better, and after some careful negotiations on the bad step with the dog, we were moving quite well. I should point out that Byron was ever a runner, and I helped him turn his attention to running. Our first run around Derwentwater had me waiting for him, now on Scafell he was destroying the climbs, and me! We hit the summit about 12 minutes slower than my PB, but considering the sideways rain, high winds and super slick footing for most of the route, we were pretty happy. We didn't hang about though, visibility zero and temperatures more common with November had us moving swiftly over to Esk Hause, where we scared the crap out of a group of hikers as we shot out of the mist like sweaty bearded demons. Following Grains Gill to Stockley Bridge was a comedy of sorts, with the rocky path being so wet and slippy, and unsuspecting hikers headed up with their heads down in concentration, we were slipping, sliding and dodging our way down the path. Back at the car I was super happy to have packed a towel and dry clothes as I was soaked right through my 'waterproof' jacket.
I put quite a few ascents of Grisedale Pike in this month. With 2200+ft in 4.4 miles on a mixture of grassy and technical terrain, it's the perfect after work blast, and on the way home!
As always threw a few Skiddaw ascents in the mix, one of which garnered a fairly horrible injury to my friends hand, as he landed on slate, cut his hand op and then pushed the flap of skin and tissue up into his finger. Cue emergency Buff bandages and a hasty retreat down Jenkins!
I also made use of the 1.5 hour lull between Azja starting work and me starting work. A warm up consisting of running to the first gate on Spooney Green Road (Latrigg) then 4 x 100ft reps, 10 breath recovery top and bottom (it's pretty steep) then the 5th rep I run until the timer hits 30 minutes (timer starts as soon as I hit SGL so includes the warm up jog). Generally hitting 700ft ascent, quick shower then work :)
Stats:
74.4 miles
25,579ft
344ft/mile
14 runs
Laters taters!
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