Tuesday 30 June 2009

Tough Tuesday with the Harriers Fast Group

My wife was just back from her weekend away, and didn't fancy her usual IH Tuesday club run, so I took the rare opportunity to get down there. Did a 11 mile route with Nic R and a couple of other guys up Beamsley Beacon and Round Hill.

And at a really fast pace for me!

I am completely knackered now - was hoping to cycle tomorrow but I think I need a couple of easy days.

Monday 29 June 2009

Another easy recovery

My legs still feeling it after a hard couple of weeks, but managed to find a gap in my day to do a 40 minute off-road recovery run including middleton woods and the Owler park road trail.

Yesterday I had a busy but great day with the kids at Newby Hall. Finished off with a paddle in the Wharfe after tea!

Saturday 27 June 2009

The Other Place - again

Before leaving Liverpool went for a steady 30 minute jog along the seafront at Crosby.

It was actually the Sefton tri and Crosby Baths - if I'd known I would have been able to have a go!

Friday 26 June 2009

Wharfedale TTT Reccie

Thanks to some support from the in-laws, I was able to go across and see my folks today. It is my Mum's birthday, who is now out of hospital and on the mend.

On the way, I'd planned to spend a few hours reccie-ing the Wharfedale TTT course for next Saturday's race. It was a fine day and although quite warm and muggy in the dales it was wonderfully fresh when up on tops.

The route is advertised at about 12.5, and climbs out of Kettlewell, with a bit over the top into the start of the Nidd valley and then back up to the summit of Great Whernside, with a bit of zig-zagging around before returning down to Kettlewell.

I had a great time - really enjoyed it, and managed not to get lost (my map reading is atrocious). It was also a good workout.

I wore my garmin and the route I followed can be found from this link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7637484.

Made it to Liverpool for tea-time and to catch up with parents, sister and family.

Thursday 25 June 2009

Leeds and Back

Feeling inspired by yesterday's Solstice Ride, and with the forecast still for dry, fine weather, opted to cycle into work and back today. Only about 18 miles each way, but after a tough week of training I thought it would be a killer. However, it actually felt fine and I really enjoyed it (even coming home into the wind)

Perhaps the enjoyment was also fuelled by the thought that I have 4 days off work ahead of me. Emma is off for the weekend with some old girl friends to Spain so I'm on kids duty.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Summer Solstice Bike Ride

A long tradition with the Early bird group I ride is to mark the Solstices, both Winter and Summer with a long ride. The movement through the seasons of sunrise is significant to us as we are normally riding to greet it each day.

A fantastic morning of weather - but I will copy Ged's report of the ride (from : http://forums.cyclingweekly.co.uk/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/65132/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD ) as it catches the mood and spirit of the EB's perfectly!:

"Summer Solstice Celebration
24/06/2009 15:50
Time: 4.30am , Today
Location: Wharfedale
Event: Summer Solstice Celebration

Our annual Summer Solstice ride, a 45 mile circuit in beautiful Wharfedale, aiming to end up in Ilkley Costa Coffee at 7.15am

The Riders:-

El Cid, Earthdreamer, Dyna, Gizzajob, Mel - For descriptions of these riders , see previous Flanders report.
Today, Gizzajob aptly sporting his Kazakhstan Railway shorts, and Mel resplendant on his immaculate Colnago.

Mark - Slender Mark has been increasing his fitness with speedy commuting miles and evening TTs

Rollin Home - Talented runner, came into cycling following a nasty ankle accident. Carefull and cautious descender, mitigates this by his ability to climb just as fast as he descends. Naturally phenominal engine - lungs,heart,legs. Most druid-like out of all of us with his beard and flowing locks.

Radge - Wins the award for the Most Improved rider of the year so far. His efforts are directed at the Etape Du Tour, where he will be camping with his family. Which will he find most gruelling - Mnt Ventoux or camping with his family?

Stefan - Ogre on a bike. Fell running, mountain biking, road riding, he's not stylish but he can devastatingly turn his hand to any discipline

Graham Peace - Surprise and welcome appearence from Fell Running megastar (and a very good cyclist).

Finally, an even bigger surprise, after years of searching, we finally got our first ever sacrificial virgin, courtesy of Mark, the smiley, beautiful and virginal, Catherine

Catherine - Astride a gleaming new Giant, the virginal Catherine wore lycra and a retro Campagnolo jersey with the zip pulled down in a sexy and suggestive manner. She was not aiming to complete the ride, but was just there for early virgin sacrifice duties before returning home to the kids whom she had left asleep in bed.
Now I know what you are thinking about the logistical difficulties suffered by virgins with children, but I believe its been done before. And anyway, at 4.30 in the morning I'm willing to take a nice virgin laid before me at face value.

Departing the meeting place at about 4.35am, Rollin Home and I took the first turn on the front, in order to set a nice pace and to stop some of the other loons setting off like crazy.

The air was mild and fresh, the sun begining to magically light up the Dale. The first of hundreds of suicide rabbits zig zagged in and out of the peloton, thankfully without accident. A pair of hares majestically bounded alongside, one in the field and one on the road. Near Beamsley a deer was ambling up the road, but on hearing us approach it quickly bounded over the fence and into the woods.

Just before the strid we swung off to let some fresh legs through, as I reached the back of the bunch I realised that the virgin had been sacrificed and was nowhere to be seen.

On the foothills of Burnsall Fell the cry went up "Puncture". It was fell running ace Graham with a back wheel puncture. You could tell that he is a runner, because he had to borrow a tube, a lever and a pump. But moreover he committed the faux pas of putting his bicycle upside down on the saddle and handle bars to take the back wheel out. Mel was aghast and looked horrified, but the died in the wool cyclists were much too polite to comment (yet)

As we stood being eaten by midges, the view was superb. We were bathed in a strong early morning sun, but down below us the valley was covered in a heavy mist which was just begining to dissipate. Finally a "runners" repair was effected, but as we restarted Graham and Stefan made a severe breach of etiquette, as they announced they would now turn short at Burnsall. After we had waited while they fixed the puncture! They were heartlily chastised by the whole peloton.

Now behind schedule, Radge and Gizzajob were stung into action. They went to the front and set a blistering pace up Burnsall Fell. At the crest the peloton was fragmenting, with riders sprinting over the top, grasping for the shelter of the wheel in front.

This continued up the sharp pull after Burnsall, after which Mel and I decided to get to the front and impose a steadier tempo for a few miles. After 4 miles dictating the pace in a niggly headwind, we swung off to allow fresh horses to the fore. Again Radge slung himself into the breach to begin what turned out to be a gargantuan tap at the front, first partnered by Earthdreamer, and later by Gizzajob. It only came to an end when Gizzajob wilted slightly near the top of the climb after Walt Disney Bridge.

As a calming influence, I took a place at the front, quickly joined by Dyna. As we swung a left on the hill above Barden, we were swooped by a big owl, reminding us that although we had been riding for over 2 hours, it was still early in the morning.
Then, just before the tricky descent into the Valley of Desolation , another deer bound gracefully accross our path. A couple of seconds later and it would have been over Dyna's and my top tubes!

As we swished through the Cavendish, there was MarkII (used to be Mark 7 but he's changed his name) , in his Belgian Champs jersey, waiting for us by the fountain. Always keen, he slotted in next to me on the front, mashing his big ring round. He explained he was tired after the weekend's Mountain Mayhem 24hr MTB race, so he did nt feel up to the full Solstice Celebration, but did nt want to miss out on the crack.

Picking up the pace slightly for the last 6 or 7 miles, Costa Coffee was calling us. But little did we know that Gizzajob and other Mark were hatching a plan behind. Down the last descent and onto Golf Club Straight, Mark attacked hard down the right of the peloton, glancing accross with a sly smile.
Ever alert, Mel and Earthdreamer jumped for his wheel , leaving the rest of us scrambling, lining out looking for shelter. 500m to go to the Ilkley sign and Mark just slightly started to slow at the front. MarkII used this as a signal to jump hard, down the right hand gutter, quickly moving clear of the bunch. Some fat old bloke whacked it in his 12 sprocket and lurched after him, quickly gaining a lead on the remnants of the bunch. As he came up to MarkII's back wheel he used the slipstream to gain the tiniest of breathers before jumping by into the final chicane and sprinting up the ramp up to the sign.

We staggered into Costa Coffee at 7.14am, bathed in sweat, endorphines raging. Seated with our coffees, we were happy to see a tramp-like figure with his arm in a sling shuffle through the door. It was ride absentee, the recently injured Old Warhorse, Cacophony, coming to join his chums.

Cacophony was informed that Roentgen, who performed his brain scan at the hospital, was only able to find an image of Homer Simpson in there.

A quick coffee, much loud talk and a bit of laughter and it was time to go our separate ways, back to normal life.

The solstice is over - the nights are drawing in now. "

Tuesday 23 June 2009

Efforts on the canal

I may have said I couldn't feels Sunday's exertions yesterday, but I could feel them today!

However, I'd committed to Richard to resume our canal efforts on the Leed-Liverpool canal towpath.

We started a new programme of 4 x 800yd efforts - for me in 2:50 with 2 mins recovery between each. We had been doing 400yd efforts previously and today, with the step up in distance, the intense humidity and a hard week behind me it was really hard work.

Still, we managed to do them to a fairly good quality level.

Richard is aiming for a 1hr30 half martahon this year but has a few Sportives and Triathlons to do as well.

Monday 22 June 2009

Early Bird Recovery Ride

Nice gentle ride down to Cavendish Pavillion and back this morning with Ged. Good to be on my bike again and couldn't feel too much of yesterday's efforts.

Sunday 21 June 2009

Father's Day Heat

My wife ran the Run for All this morning, and between her getting back and lunch, I went out for a hard hilly road run.

It was midday and the height of midsummer, so I ran up across one of the highest local roads which is the route known locally as Langbar. It is a tough climb, and with the searing heat doubly difficult.

But, I managed it, and then diverted down Owler Park Road for a pleasant but very taxing effort.

Saturday 20 June 2009

Back on the bike

After a few weeks off the bike, it was good to get my Focus out of the cellar and take it out for a spin this morning.

Did a fast 2hour rode down to Grassington and back with Alistair, Mike, Rogan and Steve W. Although Alistair went on up Wharfedale and we seemed to lose Rogan at Barden.

Very enjoyable ride though!

Thursday 18 June 2009

HDSRL - 4 - Richmond


The 4th race in the HDSRL series tonight. Travelled up from central Leeds with Steve W. Despite me being 30 mins late to our rendezvous point, we managed to get there in good time.

Even though there was a little rain and some strong winds, it was a very enjoyable but tough run. A hard climb at half-way (must have been 200m of ascent?) broke up the rhythm.

Got round the 5.5m course as third Harrier in 36.49, so not a bad effort. I've yet to work out if I've improved through the series. My performance largely feels that it is based on how tired I am when I run, which in turn is based on how much rest I've had beforehand.

Good turn-out from the Harriers again!

We are second in the male vets category for the series (which I count for) with one race to go. We also lie second in the Supervets (55+) and the ladies Vets.

I'm planning on resting tomorrow (Friday) and then doing a 2 hr cycle ride Saturday morning, and then a long road run (18 miles) on Sunday.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Another slow recovery

4 miles along the canal towpath at 8:30 min/mile pace today. A nice slow run. HDSRL race #4 on Thursday.

Received some bad news yesterday that good cycling friend Simon Warren had come off his bike:
(courtesy of Ged from the Early Bird Forum)

"Today ShuttVR was cycling with a small, Earlybird peloton when he crashed into a wall on the descent of Kidstones Pass.

He is now in Airedale Hospital, with a punctured lung, broken ribs, broken collarbone, various lacerations.

I’ve been up to Kidstones this evening with Mike K. to collect ShuttVR’s new carbon bike from behind a bush, and its a write off.

He is a strong lad, so best wishes to him for a swift recovery."

Sunday 14 June 2009

Bradford Millenium Way

It was the Bradford Millenium way today, organised by St Bede's AC.

My friend Richard Reeve and I did Leg 2. However, I was out at the Schools PTA's "Summer Ball" last night and was the worst for wear. Couldn't really pull out of doing it even though I was in no fit state to run 9.5 miles!

Full Harrier team times:
Open team, 8th 6:29:08
Jamie Hutchinson, Dave Wilby 1:19:58
Paul O'Looney, Richard Reeve 1:25:37
Neil Chapman, Pete Shields 1:07:21
Nick Richardson, Malcolm Pickering 1:12:38 (5th fastest pair on this leg)
Jez Hellewell, Jonathan Sinclair 1:23:34 (6th fastest pair on this leg)

Mixed team, 18th, 2nd Mixed team 7:22:20
Dave Jepson, Sally Morley 1:27:32
Joyce Marshall, Henry Heavisides 1:33:02
Helen Horton, Keith Wood 1:22:04
Alison Bennet, Neil Smith 1:20:58 (Fastest mixed pair on leg)
Val Kerr, Nigel Tapper 1:38:44

Friday 12 June 2009

Recovery Run

Did an easy 6 mile recovery run today with my wife. Carters Lane and back via Owler Park Road. A regular run for the Harriers and Emma but not one I'd ever done before.

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Bingley St Ives


Not been running much over the last few days due to illness in the family, but got out tonight to run the Bingley St Ives Trail race.

Was second Harrier home in 38:28 (15th). Tom Adams won the race by a handsome margin, and Ilkley beat Bingley in the "mob match".

Thursday 4 June 2009

HDSRL - 3


Competed in the Harrogate round of the HDSRL tonight at Beckwithshaw.

It felt very cold while we waited - but warm enough once we were off.

Finished the course 38th in 38:31 which I was pleased with (about 5.5 hilly miles).

Wednesday 3 June 2009

Recovery "walk"

Decided not to do the Otley Chevin race as I felt a little tired and decided not to overdo it.

Went for a long walk across the moor with my dog, Macy. Included a trip to Badger Stone.



Tuesday 2 June 2009

Harriers "Away-run"

Tonight was an Ilkley Harriers "away-run", where rather than running from the local Tuesday meeting point (the Tennis club), there is a drive to a different location to experience some new paths.

As my wife is away I thought I'd make use of it again and join the run.

We enjoyed glorious sunshine again, and from the top of Emmsay moor, went down across fields to the Cavendish Pavillion, along the paths to Barden Tower, round the reservoir and then back to the start point.

9.5 miles so a fair effort. I took it easy as I am thinking of doing the Otley Chevin fell race tomorrow and have a race in the Harrogate Summer league on Thursday.

Afterwards 3 pints of "Landlord" in The Masons Arms !

Monday 1 June 2009

On my bike with the Harriers

On my bike again with the Hrriers tonight. A leisurely ride around Askwith including a loop to Low Snowden.

A eventful ride, including punctures, a falling off, and a chain/derailleur catastrophic failure!

Enjoyed a pint afterwards with a few of the guys, and then took my dog Macy for a long walk afterwards.