Coniston 10k

Bob on the Coniston shore

'Tomy's' My First Race Number!

Well the day finally arrived and this was the setting for my first event - not too shabby for a location really. After ran early start for the hours drive we were pretty much one of the first there to get parked up. 

A quick registration process and then some sitting around waiting for others to arrive and things to get moving. A little wandering around the field to stretch (and some proper stretching of course) a quick peek at the Pete Bland Sports Stall, 3 nervous loo visits and  before you know it is 10:45 and you're being called to line up.

The banter in the holding area was good and it soon dawned on me that there were plenty of others that had never run this course before too, the countdown begins and we're off. Now, having run to the Windmills on Caton Moor a number of times on different routes I felt prepared for the looming ascent - damn fool I hear you cry! Steep doesn't even touch it!

Thanks to James Kirby - http://www.jameskirby.me.uk/

So after 4k you hit the summit of the course and the bloody knees have given out on the uphill, bony, bouldery, muddy, slippy, awesome trail but what goes up must come down. The next 2k would be interesting on the descent to Torver and relatively level ground. Leaping from point to point rather than running whilst trying to absorb as much of my surroundings as possible proved quite difficult as the knees got worse, so a gentle walk ensued whilst I had a good look around too but not before I was captured on camera.

AJ handing me my finishers goody bag

So the last push from Torver onto the lake side and back to the landing point at Coniston Old Hall started and it was back to more comfortable terrain. The sub 1-hour mark had gone out of the window so I was just hoping to finish before the knees exploded. Plenty of encouragement from those around me saw me end up finishing in 69 minutes.

Overall a great trail but never again will I under estimate the Lake District mountains! A massive thanks to Lakeland Trails and all the Marshalls - see you next year!

The night before

Well it's the night before the Coniston 10k I'm all packed ready for the off and feeling good thanks to an hour from Lancaster Massage Therapy - I didn't realise just how sore my legs were! Let's hope for some decent weather so my cheerleaders stay dry whilst tucking into my Cartmel sticky toffee pudding!

The Countdown Continues.....

As the day of reckoning draws ever closer I thought I'd make today my last run before the Coniston 10k - I figure a couple of swims and maybe a massage next week is the way to go!

So after Tuesdays 12.5k effort (my longest run) my knees were feeling the strain so Thursday I decide to hit the tarmac again and just keep my hand in with a gentle 5.5k - hardest run ever.

A few days off got me thinking - 'Could I actually run a half Marathon?' with the 3 days rest and a little bit of eagerness to venture into some of the local hills Sunday morning seemed an unlikely candidate for  me to try a half! What a glorious day to set off in to the wild green yonder, with the sun beating down at every turn some welcome shade was sought in forests and woodland I never knew existed. Out on to Caton Moors and behind the local windfarm then down past the old quarry (I had often wondered where the brickworks ropeway went - now I know!) Only a couple of hesitations in the Moors as to whether I was on track but you can't really get too lost all roads lead to somewhere. Out at the Fenwick Arms and dropping down to the river - here was the biggest mis-judgement made to date - always be on the right side of the fence. i got myself hemmed into a corner where jump or long slog back were the options - of course jump I hear you cry. I did! It was a good 10ft vertical into a silty, sludgy beck but I made it. With a good few kilometers left before I hit the magical 21.2k my knees were now really feeling it, mostly from the vicious descent past the quarry but I'm sure the landing from the jump hadn't helped. At 19.5k I felt the will fast leaving me and the knees were giving up quick, but on I trudged in ow walk, jog, ow, ow, ow, walk, jog, ow kind of way eventually making it home - so in answer to my earlier question - yes I can run trail/hill/fell half marathon! Another bonus is that between the calf guards and some kinesiology tape the shins were fine!

The Longest Run

With just over a week to go before my first event I thought I'd have one last long field run, with around 16k in mind I set out once more into the fields behind my old Primary School. It's a fair old ascent the the mere fat lad and by the time I had topped it out I was pretty knackered and could feel the shins starting to act up again.

The next part of the journey was involve a constant uphill slog on tarmac, but with the shins starting again I decided to give it a miss and sacrifice the 16k. Instead I diverted across the 'Big Dipper' (yes, I know more tarmacked hills) and headed for the softer ground of the river.

A new angle on to the river almost brought things to a halt as where I had once known access was all now eroded and fenced off - fear not intrepid readers I got through it (very slowly)! Off around my usual haunt on the river banks this time including the loop by the breakwater towards Halton. From here I ventured further into the woods than ever before expecting to end up somewhere near the old station, sadly it only actually added .5k onto the total.

I was now on the home leg back on the cycle track, my shins were aching and my knee throbbing from a slip I encountered earlier in the week but I pressed on. Into the woods, out of Halton road end and up the hill to home.

Having set out to complete 16k I was semi-glad I hadn't but still chuffed to have completed 12.5k, just a couple more runs now and it will soon be 11am Saturday 5th Otober at Coniston Old Hall waiting for the starters siren!!

Once was lost.....

Despite the error of my navigation ways on the 20th I sought guidance from a local dog walker and headed back to the fields - success!! The pathway I was searching for was apparently right under my feet!!

So with the sheep seen off I was back onto the tarmac across the 'Big Dipper' down the hill and into the fields by the river as per usual, only this time I added in the extra 1k of the meander in the river. over the pipe bridge and into the woods with the light ever fading this time I was prepared with trusty head torch - that was as much use a candle in the wind (that's 2 song references in this post!)

Woods navigated and back into the fields by the river light still disappearing and mileage not totting up - I had to add the next set of woods in. Ordinarily I'd run these the other way round so figured I'd know what was where how very wrong I was and how very different it was. A vague glimmer of light to show me the way along the knotty, tangled mess of roots only a slip away from being in the drink and my knowledge of what I thought I knew to see me through to the other side. What with it being dark and me not having much light I decided an exploration was the best idea only to hit a dead end and have to come back anyway to the dreaded steps. At this point you should note that the 1 kilometre part of the run that incorporated the steps took nearly 9 mins to complete mostly due to the wet, mossy, shiny, dark, dark steps that go all the way up and then all the way back down!

At last I was out of the woods in more than one way but still short on mileage for the 10k I had in mind. a quick dash up the lit cycle path, a brief stop in the local stores for a pint of milk, a delivery of a spare key and home - now what better way can you think of to spend an evening!!

Lost in a field

With a view to getting some hill work in and getting back upto 10k out into the fields I head with my route in mind having Google Mapped it. Being the ever conscientious countryside gent I stick to the way marked paths - mistake as I end up nowhere near where I want to be and have to hit the roads to complete the circuit. As I get to the top of the hill I remember a vague tail of another path to take me back towards Caton and the old Forge Mill, so off into another field I trot still not really sure where I'm headed. I end up doing one big u-turn arriving back on the road 300 yards lower than when I went into the field!! (see the 'square circle')

With the light fading fast I give up and stick to what I know - down onto the river. I ended up on hte old faithful river run through some woods - not my greatest idea as it was all but pitch black fortunately I have a rough idea where it heads.

So despite getting lost in the fields and having to avoid rocks and roots in the dark it was a pretty good run.

Saturday Morning Running

Having managed to drag myself from bed before 9am on a Saturday I thought I'd try Wednesdays trail run again - you know just for shits and giggles.

A few stretches, the new (muddy) kit on and we're off. This time remembering not to set off like a scalded cat!

Into the woods again determined not to be beaten by the steps and out around the river - a bit cool and breezy but nice nonetheless. After a short stint on the track I headed into the dew laden fields on the banks of the River Lune (awww - that's poetic isn't it!) the muddy kit now mostly clean but very very wet.

A slight change in the return leg this time coming back down the other side of the river and home via the cycle track again. Another reasonable time but now looking ot build the distance to 10k and 15k with some hill work and hope that he legs hold up - a few little tracks in mind involving Caton Moors so they will probably have to wait for next weekend and some daylight - don't fancy getting lost on the moors it's all a little bit American Werewolf in London!!