Steaming ahead

Fortunately, the UPS man arrived at ten this morning, bringing my brand new legs. After years of wearing the same legs all year round, and putting up with all the usual tiredness, aches and niggles, I finally decided to bite the bullet and start using disposables.

"We can rebuild him, we have until Juneathon."

What a revelation!

Normally, I'd wait until the beginning of the calendar month before switching sets, but since the January issue are now pretty overused (despite going for the upgrade this month), I figured I may as well unwrap the new pair and set them to work. Since I've also had a couple of colds over the last few weeks, I really pushed the boat out and spent almost an hour in the garage giving my lungs and sinuses a full degrease, polish and lube. Then just a new groin bearing and I felt good as new.

So despite yesterday's long hilly excursion, which was way too far, and too fast for comfort, this morning I felt fresh as a daisy. On my run tonight it was all I could do not to keep going, and going, and going into the frosty night.


Another new route tonight - which was a bit of a south western extension to a loop I did last year, in torrential rain and floodwater. Back then, the nervous highlight was crossing a flooded plain, knee deep in running water, gambling on finding a submerged bridge crossing the swollen river. This year, although much drier, I played it safe and ran further out, to follow a more reliable path along the Wey, and the sloping sanctuary of the railway embankment.

River and railway was a running theme (ho ho) of much of tonight's outing, and certainly the new sections. Once off my hill, I followed St Swithun's Way to Bentley village, and then crossed the A31 over a cattle bridge, before turning to join the river meadows. In and out of trees and paddocks, over footbridges and stiles, it included a quarter mile stretch where I was accompanied by curious (therefore spooky) horses. This predominantly direct return to Farnham alternated between the grassy wiggles of a riverside path, and the muddy straights of the railway.

The steam rose from the river as it wound its way along, and as the frost settled around me I had to remember to breathe downwards, as bursts of exhaled air would catch the light of my headtorch and temporarily dazzle. In these clouds of steam, and running on shiny new bio-mechanical engineering I felt like the Flying Englishman.


Tonight's run: 13.6miles, 1:57hrs, 8:37/mile avg pace, 318ft ascent, 1900cals, 20ish spooky horses
Janathon total: 295.61 miles - 4.39miles to go for the mighty 300!

LSR - Lumpy Sunday Run

LSR in the runner's vocabulary normally stands for Long Slow Run. It's a common staple of the marathon training schedule, and since this forms part of a winter regime for most, is often reserved for Sundays.

Today, for myself and fellow Janathonist Beanoutrunning, LSR became the Lumpy Sunday Run.

A couple of weeks ago, Beany and I agreed to conclude (almost) our Janathoning with a run together in the last Sunday, followed by some social grub at ours with the Better Halves (and Little Widgers).

Beany suggested a timeline that could include being joined by non-Janathoner Tom (the Racing Snake), and I duly plotted a two hour(ish) route from my front step, delivering a favourite local trail loop, only with a new start, and a finish neither of them had seen before.

By all accounts, it went down pretty well. We headed uphill from mine onto the highest point at Caesar's Camp, then down Old Park Lane into Farnham town. Jinking through the churchyard and across the water meadows, two pedestrian bridges got us onto a sneaky footpath that I haven't run for maybe five years, which slices between the gardens and garages of south Farnham, into the heart of Bourne Woods.

And now the route became familiar to Tom and James, having run it as a group many times in reverse. Through forest and farmyard, over the River Wey (using footbridge rather than ford), and along byways and footpaths to Tilford Village. After a scamper along the Mercedes-lined roads around the village grean, we darted back into bridleways and headed for home on Moor Park Lane, past WWII pillboxes, and sandstone caves.

Within the last half mile we sent Tom ahead to grab the first shower, while James and I wheezed behind, laughing about our common Janathon aches and niggles, and concluding that the groin pain resulting from sidestepping round gates and fences was undoubtedly the worst feature of the month.

Eventually, cleaned up and calmed down, a lunch of naughty fish pie (which is pie full of good fish and eggs, covered in marvelous melted cheese), a good natter, and chance for the mums, dads and babies to shoot the breeze, Sunday style.

Today's run: 14.8miles, 2:06hrs, 8:33/mile pace, 925ft ascent (oh yeah!), 2094cals, one jay, some coughing.
Janathon totals: 29 days, 282.0 miles. Looking good for 300 in Janathon.
My Janathon stats can be viewed at RunningFreeOnline here, and you can leave comments below. Thank you.

Little Switzerland

Apparently the Surrey Hills used to be known as Little Switzerland. It's a bit hilly, I grant you, but I was there all day, and I didn't eat any chocolate, or have to pay a bail bond to drive my car across the border.

Trig point on Pitch Hill, Surrey

Today was a day of bike coaching. I start the day with six clean, energetic people who want to improve their mountain biking, and end the day with six muddy, knackered people who want to go home and drink beer in the bath.

I had a really good mixed-ability group today, and we had great fun. It began with half a day of "core skills" coaching, made up of a little bit of theory, lots of practical drills, and thirty minutes of single-track riding to put it all in to practice. Half the group were making a full day of it, so after lunch we went out again for a guided ride, where I ease off the coaching, and focus on leading the group round some of the best trails this area has to offer, all at an appropriate level for their newfound techniques.

I love doing this. I do most of my MTB coaching for a great little company called Astounding Adventures, who simply call me when they want my help. But since my Monday to Friday job is so frequently Monday to Sunday (take note, all those that want my job after yesterday's blog), I don't get to do nearly as much of this as I would like.

However, this did mean that by half five, I'd already done a few miles up and down the ridges and valleys of Holmbury Hill, and the legs were a little weary. Still, Janathon isn't Pedal, Log and Blog, so off with the bike gear, on with the running gear and headtorch, and straight up the hill once more.

Tonight's run gave me chance to check a few new (and a few old) trails. The "rideability" of singletrack waxes and wanes, depending on factors like weather, timber harvesting activity, and mainly the recent use by bikers; cycles follow the trails, and the trails follow cycles, if you will.

Today's run: 6miles, 54:14mins, 518ft ascent, 823calories
Trails run: Reservoir Dogs, I Should Coco, Son of Coco, Telegraph, Three Corners
Janathon total: 28days, 267.2miles.

Work work work

Very rarely, but now and again, I have to run for work. Well... run, or mountain bike, or at least walk fast.

I plan sports events. These have ranged in the past from two day urban multi-sport treasure hunt style events, to straightforward (but carefully put together) trail runs.

I have to choose the locations, and work out the routes for these events. It's all about finding what's best for each particular type of event, and our expected participants.

Today I was in Nottinghamshire, on site at two of our event locations, meeting with the forest managers and checking the condition of last year's routes before submitting 2012 route proposals.

This meant a midday run at Sherwood Pines, round a 13k(ish) route we use for one of our "Notorious Night Runs". Legends of Sherwood takes participants through thick woods on twisty trails, scattered with forest (and manmade) obstacles, including "the Swamp", "the Borrow Pit" and "Spooky Wood". Slow going today, as many of the guerilla trails this event uses are less obvious this year, but a bit of sunshine made a nice change.

Then to Clumber Park, to check out the route of our 10k Trailblazer run, which is an event designed for first-time trail runners (or quicker types looking for fast, flowing courses). I ran the race route (unfortunately mostly in freezing rain), and since I've never done it before, added a lap of Clumber Lake for good measure.

Certainly not a bad day in the office.

I took videos, but my work phone won't talk to my PC. I'll work it out, but the last four days of Janathon and some sleep first I think. 

Legends: 9.1miles, 1:31hrs, 10:02/mile avg pace, 382ft ascent, 1254 cals. One swamp.

Trailblazer: 10.1miles, 1:25hrs, 8:27/mile avg pace, 276ft ascent, 1421 cals. One lake.

Janathon Total. 27 days, 261 miles. Roll on February!

You can view all my run stats on RunningFreeOnline here, and please leave your abuse below. Cheers!

Random Excuse Generator

I did a few miles tonight. The was much less than the least I wanted to do, but considerably more than the most I should have done.

Whilst there's only one reason I went, there are many more I ignored in order to leave the front step. I decided that since I ran anyway, I can defer any of these reasons for not running, and supplant them as a fitting excuse for writing a rubbish blog instead.


Pick a number between one and six.

Now scroll down to see what excuse you picked for me.








































1. My cold has come back. Either that or truck has unloaded a half a ton of sawdust into my chest, and half a ton of gravel into my sinuses... and reversed over me as he left.

2. I had to work late. Well, not that I had to, but you know how you get those cans, and you open the can, and inside the can it looks like spaghetti, and it's not spaghetti but something else.......

3. I have an early start and lots of driving tomorrow. I don't have much time to get my stuff together, and then I'm coaching on Saturday so have to get my bike gear sorted. Not that I've done any of this of course.

4. I wanted to spend some time with my little boy. I had chance to take him off Fighter Command's hands for thirty minutes, and give him his bath and put him in jammies. It was that or six miles. Easy choice tonight.

5. There been a mist/freeze combo that's turned the pavements into icerinks. It's lethal out there. Thinking about it is affecting my ability to blog creatively. My plodding was unaffected, but don't tell anyone.

6. Twenty six days of consecutive running? Do we need an excuse for an off-day?



Thank you for listening. I ran a smidge over three miles, in the clothes I worked in, on the dullest route I could muster. I shall consider today's efforts merely a datum against which I shall measure the heights I aim to reach in the future.

janathon total: 242 miles.

How to – Trailrunning at night

 “Trailrunning... at night? Seriously? But won’t I get mugged, or attacked by werewolves, or break my ankles?”

 For five months of the year the evening sun has set by half past six. So if you’re a nine-to-fiver, then your afterwork  run options start and finish with pavement plodding under orange streetlights. Trail running is relegated to the weekend, if you have time. Rubbish.

 But you should venture offroad, and regularly. Physiologically, it’s good for you. Surface conditions that constantly vary by softness, angle, and type creates variety that can prevent much of the repetitive damage caused by tarmac.  Psychologically, it’s good for you. Escape the concrete jungle, and you’ll notice the seasons, the local wildlife, and see the good in “bad” weather.

 “But at night?” Being in the woods or the hills in the dark feels liberating. After any initial nervousness, the thrill of being out at night remains, and soon you’re in your own world. A concentrated field of vision heightens your senses, and you become more aware of your immediate surroundings: the feel of the trail underfoot, the temperature of the air, the sounds and smells, all amplified.  

Kent Sunset. Headtorch on!

 Let there be light

 Get yourself a capable LED headtorch. Something with at least three AAA or AA batteries, preferably mounted at the back of your head for comfort. You should be able to adjust the beam to focus on the ground about twenty feet ahead, and the headtorch shouldn’t jiggle when you’re wearing it (try running on the spot in the shop). You could hold a torch in your hand if you prefer.

 Grab a mate

 Running scared is no fun, and unless you can tune into what you’re doing, there’s a much higher chance you’ll take a tumble, or get lost. Go running with some friends, but you’ll all need your own light sources, and be sure to leave the hi-viz clothing at home, otherwise you’ll dazzle each other.

 Layer up

 The sun isn’t going warm your back, and a frost can descend quickly. Consider an extra layer as a back-up.

 Know your trails

 Start with a trail run that you know well. It’ll look very different in the dark, so you shouldn’t venture anywhere new until you feel confident you won’t get lost. Just in case something unplanned does happen, take a phone, and leave route map and a timeline with someone responsible.

 Take it easy

 Take shorter strides, and slow it down. You’ll need to pay attention to the ground ahead of you, as obstacles like tree roots, holes, or slippery rocks will all look different at night. For your first few outings, you may feel like your torch isn’t up to the job, but this normally passes.

 Run responsive

 You won’t notice things far ahead of you, so you have to respond to conditions as you find them. This might mean focusing on where to place each foot, or even walking a few steps if your vision is compromised by something bright in front of your torch beam, like a hanging branch. On the plus side, you may find it much easier to run up hills, when you didn’t see them coming from a distance, and taking each step as you find it can benefit your running.

 Enjoy it

 If you’re not having fun, change whatever’s holding you back. If you always feel nervous, run with friends, or change your location. If you find yourself tripping or stumbling, focus on looking for good places to place your feet, rather than being distracted by the bad stuff, or take a handheld torch for some extra perspective. If you keep getting lost, do the run in the daylight, and make a note of key waypoints that are easy to spot in the dark.

 And now you've given it a go, and you're enjoying the "Dark Side", what next?

 Get a grip

 If you haven't already got some, get a pair of proper trail shoes. Look for an aggressive grip to help you in the loose stuff, and a low, narrow heel to help prevent a turned ankle. And since you’re likely to get wet and muddy, some technical, cotton-free socks will keep your feet comfy mile after mile.

 Blaze a trail

When you feel confident to be out at night, you can consider trying new trails as part of your nocturnal excursions. The easiest way to break new ground is to look for extensions to the loops you already run at night, or to identify a local trail like a circular walk, or long distance path that’s well signposted. If you’re a map and compass person, there’s an extra level of challenge navigating at night.

Headtorches at the "Mighty Deerstalker" Notorious Night Run

 Respect your environment

With all this new-found confidence, you may feel like you can take on Mother Nature, and win. Bear in mind, however, that despite our temperate climate and mostly timorous indigenous beasties, the risks and repercussions of being off the beaten track will always be greater at night, and should be taken seriously.

From my own experience, the greatest benefit of night-time trailrunning is that it creates huge opportunity. My leisure time is no more determined by the hours of daylight as the seasons, the weather, or even my location. In a country where we arguably have more to fear within our urban, than our rural areas, once you’ve challenged the notion of “straying off the path”, your horizons become infinitely broader.

Tonight's run went west across soggy fields & fairways, along unused footpaths & overused driveways.

9.0miles, 1:18hrs, 479ft of ascent

Janathon totals: 25days, 239 miles. You can check all my routes and stats by clicking here. 

Parenthood

 In the eight weeks since being a daddy, I’ve yet to hear any pitter pattering, although there has been plenty of "the yelling of tiny voices". But the introduction of a new human into our lives has meant many other changes, some obvious, some subtle.

 Things I realise that I can’t do anymore:

1.      Not sway. I can’t stand still without rocking side to side, or in a figure of eight motion. I call it Core Instability training. Anytime I’m stood up I look like I’m on the foredeck of a crab-boat.

2.      Walk away from a shopping trolley. Regardless of whether my child is actually in it or not. I'm no longer surprised to also find myself pushing it back and forth as I subconsciously rock potatoes to sleep.

3.      Wake up refreshed. Sleep is like the cartoons I watched as kid. They’re suddenly not there anymore, and now they’re gone I suddenly see how good they were, and I want them back.

4.       Leave a washing machine dormant. The thought of domestic appliances not working while I sleep/shop/work is enough to chill me to the core. If we had a dishwasher, I suspect I’d need a shrink. Factor Janathon into the laundry mountain, and it’s the stuff of nightmares.

5.       Regularly run more than eight miles a day. I’ve been thinking about this during my Janathon runs, whether I could run further, and blog less, but it's the day-in-day-out time away from home that adds up. If it’s personal and recreational, suddenly there’s a much finer balancing act to be done.

 However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Parenthood brings with it some unusual discoveries, including a whole host of things I realise I can now do one handed (since there’s invariably a baby occupying the other one):

1.       Type. Currently beinng dedmonbstratedd refasonabbly profhicienttly....

2.       Make a cup of tea. Though I suspect it will be many, many years before I get to finish one.

3.       Open a new pack of baby-wipes, or unpop poppers, or unfold blankets, or wipe peanut-piccalili (or something of similar appearance, consistency and aroma) off the lower half of a wriggling mammal. Nappy times are either the proving ground of the ambidextrous, or a bio-chemical catastrophe.

4.       Open and close screwtop bottles, jars etc. I still don’t know how this is done, because I’m always doing it at four in the morning in the pitch dark, but I can assure you it is somehow possible.

5.       Wash up, hoover, fold clothes, i.e. any housework-related effort that doesn’t involve chemicals or dust.

 Tonight I ran late again, but got the miles in. Another new route included a couple of decoy trails that turned into bramble or swamp, and the odd section of shoe-slurping mud slowed things down, but the mist was very pleasant, there were lots of friendly deer out, and I managed to wind the pace up for the final two miles, which always feels good. 

 The next mini-milestone of parenthood to look forward to will sadly mean less trail running. Once I'm happy that Littl'un can stabilise his head properly, he'll be joining me for the odd outing in his joggy-buggy thing. I'm sure I don't mind a bit of tarmac if it means I've got some company, and I'm excited to add one-handed running to my new parental repertoire.

Tonight's run: 9.03miles, 1:14hrs, 456ft ascent, 1265cals, two dead end trails

Janathon: 24 days, 24 blog posts, 230 miles