Fred Whitton

I’ve harped on enough about the Fred Whitton but I thought I’d share this. There were a few photographers around the course. catching you at your finest moment. I’d looked for one of me and there wasn’t one to be found in the original batches sent round. Apparently the camera’s weren't happy with all the rain and they lost a few photo’s.

Luckily for me they recovered a few and I was in one of them, so here I am struggling up the 3rd pass out of 6. Newlands pass, near Buttermere. Its one of the easier passes and only hits about 25-30% at the very end. Not like Hardknott that is like that for most of it!

Anyway here I am in all my uphill-ness. 50 miles in and 60 to go! It ended up taking me 8 hours and 8 minutes and 50 seconds. If I’d been 8 minutes and 51 seconds quicker I would have got a 1st class time. Maybe next time

Nice cuppa tea

112 miles. 10,000ft of climbing on roads up to 30% gradient in the wind and rain of a very 'normal' West Cumbria. Fred Whitton Challenge. All 6 passes in the lakes in a day. Radio is a whole load less tiring, even when its not going well. Looking forward to getting back on the air

anterior cruciate ligament

Until this morning I had no real idea what this was. Now courtesy of a gentle stinging in my knee I now know that my right one isn't as happy as it could be. I'm begining to think that my running days are numbered. So far I've managed to break my ankle, knacker up my toes and now a prescribed 6 to 12 months off running .

I think I'll stick to cycling, but then again I ought to curb my super descending down cold fell as knowing my current sporting luck I'll come off. I nearly hit a sheep at 45mph on tuesday evening...Is someone suggesting that I ought to stick to video games or something else.

Edinburgh marathon

Today was my second and quite possibly my last marathon. At 26c it was way too hot for me and quite a few others and although I finished in a time quicker than my first it was an hour slower than in my training runs.

New Years Marathon

Each new year generally starts with a resolution or two. I'm not one to buck trends so have never really done any. presumably that means that i fall into the category of not being able to keep to mine. So far this year I have vowed to add in a little bit more than just radio onto this blog. Back in 2004 I entered the London Marathon and managed to complete a degree of training and stagger round in 4:30 ish. That was the result of a challenge from a brother in law. So this year I am going to recreate the uncomfortable feeling of plodding round a stupidly long run for no real gain. Armed with the bravado of knowing that the Endinburgh marathon is in may and thats months away I'm going to predict a better time that the London affair. I'm going for under 3:30.

Training starts properly on the 25th January and is going to comprise of 3 running sessions and 2 cross training sessions. The 3 running will be a speed session, tempo and long run whilst the cross training is likely to be bike based with a long ride out on the weekend to help the fred whitton riders and another session, probably revolving round commuting. Until then its increasing fitness for 4 weeks in order to be able to train!

The resolutions then is to keep reasonably good notes on this blog that remind me of progress against the plan....we'll see how it goes.

Back running

I completed my first 10k race in what must be 2 years after all sorts of bother with one thing or that. Needless to say there was no PB on the cards but I was quite happy with a 46 minute run and I didn’t feel too knackered at the end of it. pleasing on all counts.

 

My MEng still gets in the way of most things but I’m developing a plan for the Edinburgh Marathon next may to get me in a state where I don’t get bother from my ankle and still do a reasonable time. I’ll target a few races over the coming months to see how I get on and also attempt to get some kind of log on this site.

Ankle recovery

An update on the state of my ankle and it’s recovery…..It’s been a few months since I had the injury, almost 4 now and whilst the bone healed quickly the stubborn joint hasn’t actually made much progress in the last 2 months. There is still a low level of discomfort and stiffness and I haven’t even given running a serious go.

I’ve had a couple of goes at swimming, but with recent experience i can safely say that I’m certainly no natural at it. Stroke, breathing and just general ability is pretty poor so I can only manage about 250m freestyle without feeling knackered. I’ll be having some tuition by a superstar on Friday to see what he can suggest but this is a good opportunity to take a few months to learn how to swim properly in case I can aim for the Cockermouth Triathlon.

Busy times

Long time no blog!

Well since breaking my ankle I've not been out much. In fact this morning was the first outdoor cycle to work since December and boy it was a hard slog just to get up a small hill. It just goes to show how your fitness drops off quickly. Still it could be worse.

My new employer does the cycle to work scheme and whilst still in plaster I made enquireies and on friday took delivery of my new Trek mountain bike. Very nice it is too. So fitness will be returning slowly and I have no major plans to get back running this side of the summer. Slowly does it I think. Perhaps this is the ideal opportunity to learn how to swim properly so that I can do the local triathlons and not get laughed out the pool. Either that or floundering to make it to the end of each length.

It seems as though it's quite a common injury and it definately leaves you with a stiff ankle so plenty of wii fit and core exercises to build up strength again and then work on the cardio vasular stuff. So the plan is:

1. Follow the 100 push ups plan
2. Wii fit 3 times a week focusing on yoga and strength
3. Cycle to work 3 times a week (maximum)
4. Once a week lanes at the local pool

Plenty of opportunity to do something other than cycling or running and probably write this year off for PB's etc but do some local races at the end of the year ready for the Etape 2010......

Cast off mi hearties

the cast has come off and I've ad a chance to view my withered looking leg for one day at least. walking is still hard work but at leat some of the stiffnes is going so at least it bends a little. The vet told me to use the crutches for another 4 weks! pah what does he know, he's only trained for 10 years and had a further 20 years experience...

I'm not capable of driving just yet but i'll have a go down the drive over the weekend...note to self, don't do this again it can seriously annoy you

Nearly back to normal

After the brief post the other week I can gladly say that I'm nearly back to normal. The plaster cast is still on and the discomfort has left me with some really nasty itching right where fingers, wooden spoons or knitting needles won't make it.

Having only done a simple break I can't image how unpleasant a proper break is.

My thanks go to the kind Scotsmen who helped me off the beach and drove me back to the mother in laws. No thanks go to the weather for making the sea freeze!

As soon as I'm back to full strength I'll be starting the new HF Lite kit and posting the steps on this site, until then the beacon monitoring is all I can manage.

oops

A run down the beach ended in a little more than the post exercise stiffness thanks to some ice

Fred Whitton results

Came 438th (I think) at 8 hours 28 minutes. Not bad for a first effort. Shame not to have made it under 7 hours but the long stops were needed in the hot weather

I think the photo say's it all really. This was only 50 miles into it and the first proper climb. Not enough food in the belly and definately not enough to drink. Still after another two passes I felt a load better and was able to climb a bit better.

Shame that this was the only photo on offer from Kennedy, my wifr took a better one!

Fred Whitton results

Fred Whitton results for the St Bees lot

Fred Whitton

So it's over. A lovely day out with all St Bees starters finishing one way or another. The official results aren't in but my timing was 8 hours 28 minutes, so well under the 9 hours target. Only a little sunburn to contend with today and not too much stiffness. A full report when the results are in.....

Fred Whitton

ooooo eck.......what have I let myself in for?? I've been up Hardknott twice, both of those times I nearly had a heart attack!!

Sport - Bass weeks is over

Battered

Bruised

Broken

Bass week

All of the above have made it a difficult week. My lack of ability gave me a 28th out of 46th over the whole 16 race where I managed to get in 5 races and 2 retirements. Once for a broken clew tie down and the second down to the 4 dunkings I got on one leg, not surprisingly a run. Still I did manage to almost hit the laser logo on one of the 'offs' just goes to show the power in the wind by throwing a 85Kg man 3 metres through the air!

The bruises on my shines have nearly gone, the one on my forearm has turned a lovely green colour and the chunk that is missing from my right hand is growing back nicely. All things considered quite injury free.

Sport - Merida photos

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Just a couple of action shots from the Selkirk Merida for the pot.

The first photo was after about 7 miles just before entering a steep ditch and the second after around 35 miles after the last fast off road descent through the heather and believe it or not a short bog (It was July and in Scotland so just be thankful I wasn't eating midges all the way round).

Before you ask I wasn't holding that lot up behind, I'd just overtaken alright!

Photos taken by a nice man from sleepmonsters.co.uk

Sport - Merida MTB Marathon, Selkirk Part 1

I thought I'd put in 2 posts for this one, the first will be the narrative and the second just the personal stats.

The whole thing was a 6 hour 20 minute slog of which most of it seemed to be up hill. The course left the Selkirk rugby club at 10am sharp and Duncan and I latched on near the back of the peloton (I'm assuming the same goes for mountain bikes) for what was to be a really eventfully first 5 km's. No sooner had we got to about 10 m outside the club then an unusual and quite loud clunk came from the bottom bracket area. Strange seeing as this was supposed to be fixed by the skilled mechanic at the Bike Bank, Workington.

In reality the usuless idiots had actually created a new problem rather than solving the slight squeak I had so I was to be followed around the course by an annoying clunk every pressure stroke. Here's a tip, don't bother with the bike bank. Rude, incompetent and theiving would be 3 choice words.

Anyway back to the course...

At 4.5km there was a bit of a crash, a bit of a crash would be an understatement. I suspect the usual too 'close in a pack and eventually touching' thing happened with at least 2 people ending up in a ditch. One just looked a little dazed whilst blood curdling screams were comming out of another, either a youngish lad or a woman competitor based on the pitch but either way they were in a lot of pain. I hope that they were looked after well by th elocal ambulance crews and are on their way to a recovery. Not much else you can say.

A fully bunched up pack made slow progress up the first gentle climb and the traffic jam that ensued as the path became narrow eventually brought us out onto a heather moor and a simple downhill section in between the heather, I suspect that the front runners actually cut the path. A little bit of a backlog followed through some steep descening in amongst the trees (best done on foot) and back onto the open fire roads. This routine carried on but with each bottle neck the crowd thinned and thinned again as the 50Km split from the 75km and 100km routes.

A couple of fast road sections allowed you catch your breath whilst picking up a fair speed (up to 50kph) with the knobblies followed by a breather for some banana's ad a fluid top up. The began the climb. 10km of it. 6.25 miles of it and all of it up hill. Open tracks. Steep switchback. Wooded section. Rock strewn paths and open windy tacks all made for a challenging climb where only small parts were eligable for a heathly rhythm. We stopped half way up for some sandwiches and a vegetable slice (much needed) before pressing on to the top.

What goes up must come down.

And down we came

And up

And down

You get the point

The final downhill section was taken as quickly as possible before reaching the tarmac for the last time before the right hand turn into the rugby club. Select the big rig at the front and smallest at the rear and muster up all the strength you can, cross the line inches ahead of Duncan (who lead most of the way) in a true Tour de France style to take the stage victory. Get a free t shiirt and have a lie down

Excellent ride. Where do I sign up for next years?

Sport - Say it ain’t so Floyd. Then prove it

The Tour and cycling in general could do with out the recent headlines. If the rumours and subsequent A and B positive test results may cement Floyd Landis in the Tours history books for all the wrong reasons as he could be the first person the be stripped of his title due to doping. The now common place guilty until proven innocent routine earlier adopted by the T-Mobile team with Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso just goes to show the lengths that will be taken to stop cheating in this already damaged sport.

There will of course be a thousand and one excuses and a similar amount of explanation's as to how this came about through natural effects or conspiracy theories as to how this abnormal ratio was detected. The simple fact is that rules are rules and if they are broken then there are consequences. Not so long ago Alain Baxter had his Olympic medal taken away for an infringement with a Vicks inhaler, legal over here in the UK but in the US it contains a banned substance. Try as he might to recover the ban it has effectively ended a promising career at the hands of an over zealous ruling and a genuine mistake. If the same happens to Landis then at least the rulings will be consistent

Lets just see what the B sample says. I bet you a tenner it's a fail as well.

Sport - A win of sorts

News just in from Bassenthwaite sailing club

A win for me in the Laser / Handicap fleet for the night jar series. Third
overall but a winner in our class, it doesn't really count for much because
its on a personal handicap so it will go alongside the Unwin cup for
'Sporting perserverance' that I lifted it a rather lofty way when I was a
mere slip of a lad. I think it was just a nice way of saying ' You have a
go and are ok but lets face it your never going to be Daley Thompson' which
is certainly true seeing as he has a moustache!

Maybe this will get me in the good books back home for running off every
thursday night for a secret rendevous in rubber. Steady on I mean a night
on the lake with Hazel Eyes and a wetsuit!