Dark 'Un 2013

The Dark Un has been and gone. The focus of so much of my attention for the last couple of months is over. How did it go? Well, I must say it went pretty darned well again. I had a few on-the-night glitches which had the stressometer bouncing off the rev limiter but they were soon resolved. They did make me realise that I need to factor in a few contingency plans for next year.
At the risk of sounding like one of those tedious American style over emotional types the thing that struck me yet again was - how many people 'got' it. I put a lot into this race, both time and effort. I like people to know what's going on, I like to inject some fun into the proceedings, I like to have a couple of social recce runs in both daylight and darkness so that people know what to expect and, you know, I really believe that people pick up on this.
There are some truly nice folk doing the race and there are a whole lot of bloody good people helping to make it what it is. I have been even more aware this year of the kindness and generosity that people have shown - donating presents, marshalling, helping mark the course, lending walkie talkies and much more. It's been quite humbling.
On the night we got 62 runners taking part, a bit down on the 75 limit but not to worry. I had been marking out earlier in the day and had a look at two areas of the course with ice on. The night before I had a sleepless night worrying about this - should I re-route, or even cancel? On inspection I opted, correctly I feel, to make sure that everyone was well appraised of the danger and put extra marshals in the problem areas.
Shortly after 7.30pm they all charged off into the darkness and then it was all pretty much out of my control. Last year there was a bit of a lull at this point but this time it seemed to be pretty headlong immediately - setting up the finish, getting the fire bin lit(!), getting the water station sorted and all the timers and finish line crew sorted and in place. It flew by. Last year I'd had at least one pint by this stage and was far more sanguine and relaxed about things. I definitely make a mistake in doing without - note to self for next year: get some pints paid on beforehand!
Once we were set up and organised my phone rang. It was Will up at the moortop Acid House Disco (what? Doesn't every fell race have one?) to say that the leader had just gone through. Blimey, it was going to be a quick time! Soon, away up the field, a little twinkling light became brighter and brighter and then Mark Russell flew across the finish line for a comfortable win in a new record time. He won it last year too and seems to be making the race his own.
After a short while the second placed runner arrived and then the flood gates opened and it was pretty much a stream of people coming in. I tried to give everyone a quick 'well done, thanks for doing it' and a handshake. I still couldn't relax and kept checking with the timing crew that all was well. They were fantastic and had no problems at all. Very organised and efficient.
Soon they were all home and heading off to get changed. I cleared the finish line and put the fire out before heading to the marquee that Mark and Alison of the Royal had kindly put on for us. Inside there was a great hubub of knackered runners swapping tall tales, supping beer and queueing up for their chip butties.
Paul Livsey put me out of my sobriety by furnishing me with a pint that barely touched the sides and then it was time to do the presentation.
Forcing back my natural shyness I had to become Mr Sparkle, race organiser. I balanced unsteadily on a bench in front of a table laden with prizes and did my 'Thank you's'. Alison and Mark had provided bottles of wine for the age group winners and everyone got something off the table too - sweets, beer and Body Shop stuff. I also gave a prize for best reaction to the disco because ... well, just because it amused me I suppose! Then some spot prizes and a couple of throw outs until everything went. Phew! I could relax at last.
Back into the pub and the beer began to flow. It turned into an excellent night with loads of banter. There's few things better in life than a good Dashers piss up! Eventually it was time to get home and so we packed 7 people into a 5 seater car and set off for Darwen. Gifford in the boot, Linda across the back row knees and Vikki with her head out the window, throwing up.
As I've said before a lot of people gave a lot of help for the event and I am really indebted to them all. You know who you are. By the time I'd finished clearing the last of the course markers away on Saturday I was receiving emails from people who'd taken part thanking us for putting it on and especially thanking the brilliant, enthusiastic marshals.
Will it be on next year? If Alison and Mark will have us, if Untited Utilities give us permission, if the FRA will insure it, then Hell Yes! See you there!
Results  here:
Thanks to:
The Royal - chip butties, prizes and venue
All Dashers and friends who helped in any way.
Sweatshop for race numbers and vouchers
Sport Sunday for attending and loan of walkie talkies http://www.sportsunday.co.uk/mr-sparkles-dark-un-2013
Frank Barnes for loan of skip lights
Lancashire Telegraph for helping promote it and sending a photographer/ reporter
Bolton Mountain Rescue Team
Every single person that took part.

Starting again.

Last year didn't end very well for me. The foot/ankle injuries combined with the weird unexplained weight loss, high blood pressure, headache, blurred vision thing meant that I just didn't want to know about anything exercise related. I was getting into the mindset of 'well, I'm 50 now, maybe this is just what happens. Time to give it up'. Just another symptom of depression I expect.
I went to see the Doctor at Cath's insistence and although she said she wasn't sure what was the problem she prescribed me some Vit D supplements. Must be some pretty heavy doses as I only have to take 2 tablets a month for the next 15 months. I don't know if it's coincidence, placebo effect or what but I have been feeling a bit happier with life. My foot is still pretty knackered but I have decided to start running again. Nowt too extreme but a bit to keep me ticking over. The Sunday mountain bike rides with the lads are back on the menu too and I'm starting to feel less like it's a chore and actually enjoying it.
First run of the year was January 26th! Cath dragged me out for a bimble up to the Tower and back with her and the dog. It was great! There had been a massive dump of snow the night before and it was still thick on the ground. Slow going but it was just great to get out. On the way back down I took the short cut through the little quarry near the Tower. I wondered why there were no footprints in the snow. Well, I did until I went shin deep into the drifts! The dog was loving it, bouncing around. Further down it got really deep and I got stuck in snow up to my knackers! I forced my way through, laughing my head off. When I looked back Cath had got stuck and the only way she could get out was the crawl and then roll down the hillside! It was bloody funny! 51 minutes to run 3.7 miles! We did stop a few times to chat to people to be fair.
The second run of the year was the day after. It had rained heavily during the night and the lovely snow had turned into horrible slush. It was pretty much unrideable and so the mornings planned mountain bike ride became a fell run. We (me, Dave Billi and Livsey) ran over the tops and then onto the route of the Dark Un, picking it up on the return leg.
Tough going through a lot of shin deep slush and ice cold streams that used to be paths. Despite the wonderful Sealskin waterproof (ho ho) socks I was wearing, my feet were soon soaked and like blocks of ice. I was glad the other two guys were there as I probably wouldn't have done the run on my own. Piss taking and pride are such great motivators I find. As we headed back up towards Fingerpost we caught up with a woman running in the same direction. I had a bit of a chat with her and explained about the Dark Un. The next night she put two entries for the race through my door!
We carried on, wading and thrutching across the tops until we reached the point we had started on the course. I think we were all pretty pleased that we could now head home and try and get warm! I know I was. 8.5 miles took us an hour 53. Slow going. Satisfying though.
After that and suffering no real further injuries etc I determined to try to get back to running a couple of times a week, hopefully back on the Thurs night club runs soon, and riding the bike at least on Sundays, possibly on Weds nights too. I've even considered starting riding to work again. We'll see.
Anyway, I must be feeling a bit more myself as I have entered my first event of the year - a sportive style mtb ride at Malham in April. So, I'll suck it and see. Hopefully the enthusiasm I am starting to feel again will keep me going for a while. I'll keep you posted.

2012 a review

Yeah, it's been a while I know. Reet, I'm going to break it down into 3 areas.
1. Running
Like many of my races the year went like this: Started off pretty crap. Picked up a bit in the middle and tailed off slightly towards the end. I decided to complete Dashers fell race series. And then in a mad fit of enthusiasm I decided to do every race in it. Ker-aaazy, me. And I almost managed it, too.
Here's how it went:

Stanbury Splash                   Sun 22nd Feb    98th/369         60:54     2nd Dasher

Ilkley Moor                          Sun 26th Feb     99th/255        51:57    2nd Dasher

Heptonstall                           Sun 18th Mar    52nd/ 168       2:35:23  2nd Dasher

Liver Hill                              Tue 27th Mar     28th/ 174        37:58     7th Dasher

Anniversary Waltz                Sat 21st Apr       96th/ 289        2:15:26      2nd Dasher

Cake Race                           Sat 5th May       24th/149         1:20:15      3rd Dasher

Helvellyn& The Dodds  Sun 3rd Jun        26th/71            3:13:07      2nd Dasher

Settle Hills                            Sun 17th Jun      20th/121           1:01:47       3rd Dasher

Ingleborough                        Sat 21st Jul         33rd/ 187          59:02         2nd Dasher

Pilgrim’s Cross                     Wed 15th Aug   56th/141            50:39          4th Dasher

Golf Ball                               Wed 22nd Aug  24th/122            48:07        4th Dasher

Whernside                            Sat 22nd Sep     29th/131            1:54:10      3rd Dasher

Withins Skyline                     Sun 21st Oct      86th/303             57:31          2nd Dasher

Bronte Way                          Sun 28th Oct     51st/168              1:08:10           3rd Dasher

Tour of Pendle                      Sat 17th Nov     FAIL - couldn't face this due to injury and illness. Just too far.

I also did a couple of Dashers races:
Darwen Gala                        Sat 18th Aug      11th/61                 29:01             2nd Dasher

David Staff                           Sun 25th Nov     34th/184                42:20           2nd Dasher

and a Park Run                  Sat 24th Mar        12th                      19:31

That's probably the most running I've done in Donkey's Yonks. Purely by dint of having done a shitload of races I ended up 2nd in the Dashers fell race champs. A feat I am unlikely to repeat! I managed to turn my ankle at Ingleborough in July and it never really recovered. Just to finish the job off I went for a little run up to the Tower over the Christmas hols and stood on a rock. I knew it was a bad 'un straight away as I could feel a 'crunch' followed by sharp pain. I hobbled home. it looks like I've re-done the original tendon damage on my foot from when I first started running about 15 years ago. Not the best end to the year but I'll rest until it recovers and it could have happened at a far worse time. as well as the racing I think the most satisfying running I've done has been leading the club runs on a Thursday night at Dashers. I really get off on coming up with some mad route and then showing to to everybody and I get a real buzz if anybody says 'Yeah, that was fun!'
I'll not drone on about the Dark Un as there has been plenty said about that already. Suffice it to say it went bloody well and I'm hoping for more of the same this year. Fingers crossed. The Toy Run thing wasn't quite so successful. I thought it was a nice idea but it didn't really take off. I was disappointed that more Dashers didn't turn up on the day, that the other local running clubs and indeed the hospital weren't more interested and that it just turned into a damp squib. You can't get everything right but that was a real confidence basher.

2. Cycling.
Pretty happy with how the year went. I managed to complete the Horwich mini hill climb series and really enjoyed it. If it's on next year I'll try to do it again. After all I am a one trick pony and that trick is riding uphill!
I completed the Brownbacks mtb series as well. I like racing up at Lee Quarry despite it being totally singlespeed unfriendly. Well, it kills me anyway... It's a really good set up there and I'm dead keen on 'grassroots' stuff like that. All being well I'll be back for another kicking this year. I will be racing the Vet 50 class (I refuse to call it bloody Silverbacks) so that's a bit of motivation if I need it.
The Rapha Rising Challenge on Strava was something else I did. That was pretty tough due to the horrendous conditions. Getting up way early to ride the long way in pissing rain into work before doing it again on the way home. And then again after tea sometimes. Ah, the loving caress of cold, wet chammy...
Anyway, I finally cracked the bugger and I could feel the strength in my legs improving.
Which leads us to the 'Ride with Brad' sportive. Getting  a free entry courtesy of our Will's twitter comp win was a good result. I must have been in pretty much peak condition as I got round the 'short' 62 mile route pretty bloody fast, though I say it myself. 7th out of 723 is quite amazing. It helped that I ended up riding round with Sam 'Watdog' Watson and Mark 'Goldie' McGoldrick who turned out to be really top class fell runners (as well as top blokes).
I'd trained hard for the 3 Peaks cx as I figured that at 50 I wouldn't have that many more attempts in my increasingly knackered body. My stated aim was just to not be slower than the previous year. Really I wanted to see how close I could get to the magic 4 hour time. As it turned out the weather put the kibosh on any chance of a decent time. I should have been gutted but it was such a battle with the elements that I was just elated to be out in it all. It was truly memorable and just ...well,  fantastic really. 168th overall wasn't too bad either.
Other than that I did the Chain Reaction Mountain marathon in Shropshire which went ok. There were quite a few Sunday rides with the lads, maybe less than normal. Certainly less Wednesday night rides, sadly. Real life seems to have put the mockers on that one.
The main event was, of course, my Real Ale Wobble. Now that was a legendary one! Let's hope for more of the same in 2013.

3. Real life.
Let's just say that certain areas of my life need looking at. Things could be a lot better. I know that ultimately it's down to me to sort them out before it's too late.

Three Peaks Cyclocross 2012

Before.
5th 3 Peaks. 50th edition. Just turned Vet 50. It all added up (in my mind at least) to giving it a bloody good go. I'd worked hard at getting fit over the last few months with pretty much everything geared up to the Peaks. I'd get asked what I wanted to achieve - sub 4 hours? high up the field? I knew neither of those were realistic but inside I really wanted to stop my trend of getting slower every year. The signs were good - a great ride at the 'Ride with Brad' sportive, a pretty decent time for a Singlespeed ride on the Mary Towneley Challenge and some reasonable fell race results. I was feeling good.
Finally the week of the race arrived. I was sensible. I tapered. I took Vit C and avoided people who were even mildly ill. Inside I felt a kind of giddy excitement. When asked if I was ready I could honestly say 'yes'. No nerves, no worries, no doubts. The weather forecast began to be mentioned with increasing regularity on Twitter. It was pretty bad. Strangely even this did nothing to affect my mood. I'd trained hard, the bike was right. I could do nothing about the conditions and, after all, they would be the same for everyone.
During.
If you're reading this then I guess you already have a fair idea of the conditions on the day of the race. Other people's blogs, the photographs and stories are already mythologising the 50th Three Peaks. So, how was it for me? It was tough. Maybe the toughest thing I've done for a good few years. Yes, there were 50 mph winds. Yes, the rain peppered you like shot. Streams became torrents, puddles became lakes. Any hope of a decent time soon faded. Bizarrely what didn't fade was my feeling of euphoria. The worse it got, the more alive I felt. This was wild in all senses of the word. I could trot out hackneyed phrases about elemental battles and conquering mountains etc etc. I'll save you all that, there's plenty of it elsewhere. The upshot is, when all the rhetoric is done, it all boils down to some numbers. I recorded a PW. 4 hours 39 minutes.

After.
Immediately after finishing I was gabbling excitedly to other racers and were also buzzing. Wandering off to find Cath and Hannah and the warmth of the car, I became aware that I was shaking and it wasn't excitement. Teeth chattering and soaked to the skin, I thanked my lucky stars when the car arrived just as I got to the road and I was able to peel my sodden kit off and get some food inside me. Then it was time to reflect. My feelings veered between two polar opposites: I was disappointed to be unable to record a good time despite all the work I had put in. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep battering my body, especially my arthritic knees, so the amount of races I do in future is going to start lessening. On the other hand I had survived an event that, I'm sure, will be spoken of in hushed tones in years to come. Not only survived it but had actually loved it.

The 50th Three Peaks Cyclocross race. I was there.

Half a hundred

I turned 50 the other day. People say it's a milestone. I'd say it's more of a millstone. People say it's only a number. Yes, a bloody big number. I think in my subconcious it's been niggling me for quite a while. In a way I think I've been feeling that I was already 50 for ages and yet in other ways I was slightly amazed that it actually happened. I don't think I'm your average 50 year old - riding bikes, running and listening to loud noisy music - but then, maybe that's what everybody does. Hmm, maybe not.
Anyway, it's been looming over me for some time and not in a good way. I found myself becoming increasingly introspective, self critical and just generally bloody hard work. Of course I wasn't conciously aware that it was the 50 thing that was causing it. Maybe it wasn't, but I think it was certainly a contributing factor. Problems at work lead me into a fairly depressed state. There was a black cloud constantly over my head. Mentally I was in a pretty dark place at times.
I didn't really want to celebrate my birthday at all but eventually I decided that rather than having some 'do' what I would really like to do was just go for a drink with a few people that I genuinely liked. No mass invite, no formal bullshit. I got it organised that we would meet at the Sunnyhurst and walk over to the Royal and have a few bevvies before wandering back. There was a good turnout - about 20 or so. Sadly there were quite a few that I would have liked to have seen that night who couldn't make it for one reason or another.
It was a good night and I had a few good chats with people and I ended up pretty plastered and staggering home at 2.30am. It helped to know that I've got some good mates and it cheered me up a lot. Two other things that are helping are the new cross bike I got as an early birthday present. And - we've got a new dog. Sam is a collie pup and he's ace.
I am trying hard to put things into perspective and be more positive about life. I know that compared to most people in the world I am living in paradise and I am extremely lucky. Sadly it's not as easy as that. I'm hoping I've turned a corner though. Let's see how it goes.

On the whole... good!

We had a lovely family holiday in Asturias, Northern Spain. a lovely spot twixt mountains and beaches. Perfick. AND even better, Cath and I took our bikes.

We did all the usual holiday stuff, yada yada but we got to ride in some 'proper' mountains. Those Sierra's are steep rascals! The intense altitude training camp thang that was secretly brewing in my mind never actually happened but I did get some truly memorable rides with Cath and took in some great views, grovelling climbs and "weeeeohmygodohmygodweeee" descents - you know the type. The journey back home wasn't particularly restfull - Bay of Biscay up to it's old tricks and then a 300 mile drive. Ah well.

Once back in Blighty and back into the cut and thrust of top competition. Well, ok, I had a go at Darwen Dashers Uphill Challenge. I did the one last year and enjoyed the masochistic element of it. I think I might have come third, last time, behind Russ Owen and Mark France. I felt like I'd improved my fitness since then so I was feeling fairly confident about getting a good result. I think there was only about 10 of us turned up to take part, which was a bit poor. Linda and Jo had gone to a fair bit of trouble to organise it. Unfortunately for me one of the people that did turn up was Mark Walsh. Doh!
The format was - you set off at minute intervals from right down at the bottom end of Sunnyhurst Woods park, at the Hawkshaw Rd entrance. You then pelt along the flat bit towards the bandstand and then turn up towards the Lychgate. Through the gate at the top, left, right and then straight up the most direct route to the Tower and stop at the trig point. Easy , eh... :0/
Mark W had been drawn to start after me and Jonathan S a minute before. My goal was to catch one and not get caught by t'other. My heart was properly boucing off the rev limiter as I passsed Stubbsy just bbefore the Lychgate. Getting out oto the moor I could see a group ahead. Head down and do my best. as I got closer I could see it was Andrew the vicar, Gary Taylor and his son Gareth. Could I catch 'em? The Taylor were engaged in their own little battle and I just managed to draw level with Andrew on the steep little ascent to the Tower. He started to come back at me and I surprised myself by having enough left to sprint ahead. Such a painful challenge! When we got the results later I had been beaten by 'Usain' Walsh by 32 seconds. I knew I'd given it a good go but I felt a bit disappointed that I wasn't closer to him.
Next up - Pilgrim's Cross fell race. The afternoon of the race I'd felt a bit 'off' at work. Not quite sure what was going on but I certainly didn't feel at my best. Persuading myself that I was being soft I turned up for the race and pretended all was well. It's a pretty tough race, this one, and I never seem to have a good run there. I usually manage a decent start as it's a stiff climb up Robin Hoods Well. Not today. I got a bit stuck in traffic on the initial section annd then when I  reached open moorland and tried to keep up with Des Reilly I knew that the wheels had fallen off. In the distance I could see Mark W and young Jonathan B enggaged in a good tussle at the sharp end of the race. I wouldn't see them again until the end.
Sheer cussedness kept me going but Des was soon well away from me. I sought another target to keep me distracted and tucked in behind the next person to overtake me. He had a lovely easy running style and seemed to glide over the ground. The jammy git! I became more aware of my laboured lumbering.
As you head towards Peel Tower there is a steep grassy descent. Everybody else charged down it whereas I had to put the brakes on. next thing I went over on my left ankle. Bloody brilliant, I was still struggling with the sore tendon from going over on my right one at Ingleborough. I carried on, but  really the towel had been chucked in by then. When, ages and ages later, we reached the final descent back down Robin Hoods Well, I just wasn't in the mood and ended up walking some of the tricky slippy stone sections. I must have lost about 20 places along here but I just didn't care. I held a guy off right at the death but it was pretty much from force of habit than anything else. I got in the car and went home. One to forget.

Darwen Gala fell race is one of my favourites. It's a cracking little course - only 3.7 miles long - but it packs a couple of decent climbs in before the sprint back down through Bold Venture to the finish line. Another thing I like about it is the free beer at the finish! More of that later...
A reasonable turnout of 62 runners lined up at the start. The usual mix of local club runners and young lads thinking 'how hard can it be?' were joined by an almost unnoticed slight looking young girl and her Dad. We set off and the climb up through the park soon took it's toll on the unprepared. Finally we popped out of the trees and onto the moor. As I glanced ahead I could see the young girl. She was leading! Not only leading but putting a distance into the nexy runner. Wow! I got on with my own little world of pain and a bit of a battle with Clayton runner Andy Orr. He's a bit good is Andy but I was  pretty close to him at Ingleborough so I thought I'd have a go. We were neck and neck pretty much, up to the Tower but he sprinted off on the steep descent. I knuckled down and was right behind hhim by the time we got to the top of the climb up the 'diagonal'. It had taken it out of me though and I couldn't keep the pressure up. That was pretty much game over for that contest. I knew he'd be a lot quicker than me once we reached the end of the flat bit across the top of the moor and it's then pretty much flat out descending. And so it came to pass... I did try but y'know. I managed to beat Beckie Taylor again. This is becoming a habit. Seeing as she is frequently first Lady in a lot of races this is a bit deal (to me). At the finsih I found out that the young slip of a girl had won by a country mile with her Dad coming in second. She had broken the Ladies record by over 2 minutestoo. Not bad at FIFTEEN! Last year I'd had a decent run at the Gala and actually managed to get a PB! How had I gone on this year? Whilst I was waiting for the results coming out I had a wander round and a good old social with a lot of familiar faces. I was aided and abetted in this pursuit by the complimentary pint of Runners Ruin. I say 'pint', by the time I was weaving home I'd managed to neck 6. Another PB! Oh, and I was 20 seconds faster in the race too. Not a bad day out.

The day after Cath and I went cycling with some bloke called Wiggins. Will won a competition on Twitter for 2 places on the Ride with Brad sportive so we decided to tackle the 62 mile option (the 100 mile was a bit much at 2 days notice). We drove up to Barnoldswick and eventually picked up our numbers and joined the throngs waiting to set off. We'd seen Brad Wiggins set off with the 160km crew earlier although he was just a dot with a yellow helmet on in the distance. Cath was joined by Sue Taylor which I was glad about, whereas I was on my todd. Great! Initially I rode with a largeish group of Scousers but I decided that they were a bit too sedate for my tastes and put the pedal down. A lot of the route was on lanes that were unfamiliar to me but it was very well marked and there were plenty of riders on the course. It's a lovely part of the world and there are some impressive looking houses round there. I dug in a felt comfortable at a fastish pace. After about half and hour or so I became aware that I was pretty much riding at the same speed as a couple of lads on Trek's. Eventually I let on to one of them and we struck up a bit of a conversation as we hammered past everybody. This was more like it. We weren't exactly doing a classic 'though and off' but we were soon working together and all doing our bit on the front.
By the time we reached the first checkpoint I think we'd got an unspoken agreeent that we'd try to stick together for a while. I loaded up on the free gels and bars and topped up my one water bottle. We seemed to stay at the CP for longer than I would have liked but I didn't want to be rude and make the first leaving moves. Soon were were away again. Same format - hammer time!
There were 2 times uphills on the course where you could go for King of the Mountain. I had a bit of a go but wasn't too hopeful - there were a lot of people doing the event and many of them were proper club riders. As we progressed I learned that my 2 new mates were also fell runners, members of Wharfedale Harriers. I got the feeling that they were also a bit good. Talk of being 4th in a major Lakeland race before getting lost in the clag etc. One of the guys was game for hammering up the climbs and I was game for playing too. I generally managed to just finish in front of him but it was a close thing every time. I remember Jeffrey Hill being a particularly tough 'un for both of us. Some of the descents were a bit scary too!
On and on we went and hit the next KOM challenge - Nick o' Pendle. I went for it as I was still feeling pretty good despite us being well into the event by now. I felt like I'd made a good attempt at it but was soon caught over the tops by the other two. Over towards Barley now and soon we could see mighty Pendle Hill. There is a massive '1612' on the side of it as it's the 400th anniversary of the witch trials. I made some very weak gag about the digital clock stopping or something. To be fair I was doing well multi-tasking speech and pedalling by this stage...
The hills started to become a bit relentless towards the end of the course. I love climbs but even I was suffering a bit by now. Thank God I hadn't done the 100 miler, I thought. And, I hope Cath is ok! The baking sunshine that we started the sportive in had been replaced by mizzle. That fine rain that soaks you through. I was glad I had swiped the gels at CP1 as it turned out that we had ridden right through CP2. Doh! We were all getting low on water but we knew that we couldn't have that far to go. I must say that even out in the sticks there were people standing out cheering us on. I know they had come to see 'Sir Bradley' but they certainly gave us all a boost by encouraging us round. Fantastic!
After I while I had lost myself in my own little bubble and was just tapping it out at my own pace and it took me quite a while to realise I'd dropped my mates. I concentrated on not making any stupid mistakes and binning it on the rather dodgy back lanes, with their potholes, gravel and slimey coverings. Unexpectedly I made a turn and was directed into Barnoldswick Cricket Club. Nearly back! I'd lost all track of time now but I was now on the lane that I'd set out on and then turning back into the event grounds. Large crowds cheered as I got in and grinnned for the photographer.
It was when I stopped that I realised how cream crackered I was. It took me a while to get organised enough to pick up finished goody bag and get back to the car to get changed. I met my fell running buddies in the food tent and had the crack with them while we hoovered the rather disappointing free pasta dish. I started cramping up badly while we sat there but that was ok, I'd finished now.
Cath and Sue got in a while later. Cath said it had been tough but I was bloody proud of her for finishing it. I was also quite jealous when it emerged that Brad Wiggins had ridden next to her at one point and let on to her!
A few days later I learned that I was 10th fastest out of the 723 doing the 100km course. 3hr 52 mins 17th on Waddington Fell KOM and 31st on Nick O'Pendle. Cath was 544th in 5:56:11

Big up to Mark McGoldrick and Sam Watson for being great riding companions.

Pain, rain and gain

Rapha Rising Challenge

Ooh, this looked like a whole world of pain 'n hardship - emulate the TdF riders climb while they were in the 'Circle of Death' of the Alps and Pyrenees. 6881m of ascent in a week and unlike the 'easy life' Tour riders I'd have to do it working round the tedium of work and real life. Hmm. A bit of calculating and putting it into old money revealed that I'd have to be doing 3000' of climb a day. Except I wouldn't, as I didn't really have a week to do it - I had a fell race on the Saturday and I was off on me jollies early doors on the Sunday. Riiiight... Well, it's not called a challenge for nowt is it? I'd got a bit of a start with doing the CRC mtb mara on the first Sunday luckily. That gave me a very useful 4696' fer starters. Just to give me a proper boost and to prove my commitment I headed out on the 'cross bike when we got home from Shropshire and did a 1191' ride. Easy.
Monday morning and things weren't quite so rosy. Rain on the extended ride in. nice. Little did I know but this was going to be the theme for the whole week. Also I realised that 'only' 845' gained on the way in wasn't going to be enough. I was going to have to get creative with some of the local hills. On the way home I did Smithills Dean, Belmont Bleach Works, Stones Bank Rd, then off to Edgeworth and along Roman Rd. this little lot gave me 1743', more like it.
I decided that that route was probably my best hope of racking the climb up so I did that morning and night, day in and day out plus whatever other rides I could fit in. One night I rode over Belmont to Rivi where Cath was doing a 5 mile (running) road race. That gave me 2745' but also meant I'd done 65 miles that day. I was starting to feel pretty fatigued. I was also running out of cycling gear and constantly soggy. The saddle with it's holes torn in it, was so wet at times that I could squeeze it and have water run out. Yuk.
Knackered as I was, I was determined to finish this bugger. It seemed at times that not riding the bike felt wrong. I'd got the Friday booked off and I worked out that I could finish it with one decent ride. Up the easy height gain of Pickup Bank, down to Edgeworth and then turned off through Hawkshaw and into Rammy. In a moment of inspiration I decided to do the Rake - national hill climb route. Perfect! Blimey, it's a cheeky rascal! It really kicks up near the end and gets the heart beating a bit. Turn right at the top and along to Helmshore and the the climb up the Grane, back down Pickup Bank and another late addition, Eccleshill. as it turned out it was a good job I stuck that one on as I didn't have a clue how much climb I'd done until I downloaded it to Strava when I got back. I imagined how I'd feel if I got back and downloaded it all to find I was short! Surely I'd done enough? Well, I got back and rather tensely did the 'Save ride' thing. And waited while the Rapha Rising bit acknowledged it and told me how I'd gone on. Had I worn my appropriate 'Col de Tourmalet' jersey in vain? Finally the electrickery put me out of my misery...
Completed - 101%! Job done.

Ingleborough fell race
http://www.sportsunday.co.uk/ing-fell-race0050
With all that bike climbing in my legs and no running for a week, how the hell was this one going to pan out? I certainly didn't know. After the disappointment of Bull Hill I wasn't feeling massively confident, I must admit. I'd travelled up with Stubbsy and Mark W in Jonathan's rather swish VW camper. As it turned out that was 4/5 of Dshers taking part. For quite some time I was optimistic that I could get 2nd Dasher until Des rocked up and rained on my parade. Doh! George T, who had come up with Katy, completed the line up. I realised that I was pretty hungry just before the start and I'd cunningly managed to forget my gels. Luckily I managed to buy a rice crispy cake from one of the charity stands dotted around the field.
When the rather enthusiastic drummers performing on the Gala field had finally finished their performance and buggered off we got to line up. The typical too fast start as we headed through town before turning off towards the mass of Ingleborough . I was next to Jonathan at this point and I can't remember whether I spoke out loud or it was just in my head but I was trying to work out where Des was.
I finally spotted him (no club vest on, see) and gave chase.
At first the track is pretty much flat but gradually it becomes a little steeper and rougher. I could now see both Des and Mark W ahead of me. Des looked possibly catchable but Mark was quite a way in front. To distract myself from the pain I tried to count what position he was in. I made it around 20th. When I finished my mind games and focussed again I had made up quite some ground on Des. I remembered Mark W saying that the race was pretty much all runnable. Right, that was my goal then.
Des was really close now as was Andy Orr, from Clayton, another really decent runner. What's this? Des was walking. Interesting. As I passed him I asked if he was ok. 'Not really.' was the answer. I ran on and incredibly I passed Andy too. Uncharted teritory for me. Dig it in, dig it in. I caught and passed Becki Taylor just as we reached the stone steps. I really really would have liked to say I ran them but I just couldn't. Too steep and too big, too much lactic and too hot. So many bloody big steps. Briefly they were slightly smaller and I could run again and passed a couple of runners, aware of their sidelong looks.
Up to the trig point and two thoughts ran through my oxygen starved brain - the next time I'd be up here would be on a cyclocross bike, hopefully, and the coplete indifference of the marshals. I was killing myself here, the least they could do was to try to disguise their indifference, the feckers.
That was all the up finished and now all the down. and the first bit was steeply down. So much that my feet shot from under me and I whizzed down a fair strech of it on my ass. Looping round to join the stepped path I was soon dodging in and out of still ascending runners. I could feel the hotspot on my heel which is always the tell tale sign of a blister. Putting it to the back of my mind I gritted my teeth and held on. Could I manage to keep in front of Des on the descent? No way was I looking back. The track seemed to have grown in length. My God, it was endless! Finally the end of the track was in sight and just as I was readying myself for the transition to tarmac two thing happened - Andy Orr passed me and then I went over on my right ankle. I could feel something crunch. Ooh, that hurt. No point pulling up now. I wasn't going to repass Andy but I had no idea where Des was.
Across the road, cutting the corner through the car park and into the field. Down the banking trying not to take a prat fall here, and through the line. I was still pretty close to Andy and Mark Walsh was still knocking about, not changed or anything!
To my massive surprise and delight I'd had a bloody good run there. 33rd out of 195 in 59:02
Results here
Video here