MAJORCA 2009 – the experience according to Jo

The week in numbers: 75 / 70 / 90 / 84 / 89 / 67. That’s kilometres on each of our bike rides. Total: 475. Maximum speed: 52 kph. Dead bodies: 3. (We heard that a 79-year old cyclist had a heart attack on the road; next day we saw a pair of stockinged feet sticking out from a covered mound in the car park at Lluc monastery – wondered where the ambulance that passed us on the way up was heading; and a cyclist apparently keeled over on the toilet at a party on their last night).

Names of the week (in no particular order): Campanet, Buger, Muro, Petra, Seycelles, Lluc, Puy Major, Cala San Vincent. Not Randa, not Soller, not the Orient, not the lighthouse. They’re for next time.

Smiles of the week: silly things like Mike’s buns, bananas stolen from the breakfast buffet, everyone’s nicknames: Stealth, Donut Dave, Rocket.

Triumphs of the week: finding myself fitter and abler than predicted, but still learning to ‘dig in’ on a hill; keeping up with the others on a slight gradient (hill to me); finding my pace and keeping at it till the top, rewarded by coffee and cake or bocadillo con queso e tomate; descending smoothly and fearlessly (the latter is an aspiration not an achievement).

Staying at a place with a 30 metre pool was amazing and meant the Pollensa Park hotel was teeming with triathletes as well as cyclists, and even some iron women who did Iron Mans but looked and sounded very ordinary close up.

Next year: I’ll see if I can beat my record for piling mounds of salad into my bowl, and a steady four on puddings. Only to load up for cycling so I can get out there and bust some ass on those hills of course.

Clarion Club House ... we had a cycle ride out here today - 65 mile round trip from Horwich to the Clarion Club House at Roughlee. Set up 99 yrs ago by the Nelson Independent Labour Party and still run by volunteers, it offers an open fire, an even warmer welcome and credit crunch beating pints of tea @ 50p (last price rise in 2007). You bring your own sandwiches (Sainsbury's at Burnley supplied ours) - they sell sweets and minerals - and then it is lunch looking out over Lancashire from the veranda. No finer way to spend a day! Only open Sundays and some bank hols. Martine

Cheshire Cat Sportive.. kitten or tiger?
66 miles and 5000 ft of climbing

Black ice at 8:00am left us huddled in our various vehicles waiting for the sun to rise. And it did. Miscalculations on the clothing front had me with surgical gloves over my inadequate ones and Jude lamenting her collection of warm tops neatly folded in draws.

At the first feed station Dave became Donut Dave but did not give in to Mike goading him to eat a 3rd. By the time we caught our first sniff of Mow Cop, donuts, nerves and sun had warmed us. Any lingering chills were seen off with the effort it took to ride up the 25% incline. 3 came away with medals for a clear run. As always, i was spurred on by the sight of men pushing their bikes. Sort your gearing boys!

After Mow Cop that we knew that hills were the order of the day ... and so their were ... relentlessly. Macc Forest had us threading the bike thru the eye of needle to avoid ice on the road but we gobbled up the challenges .. hill we love 'em! and yes there were even more boys pushing as i danced on my peddles. And that included Swiss Hill - a cobbled hill climb. The hardest bit was avoiding the charlies who gave up but then just stood where they stopped. Jude and I gave them clear instructions - MOVE! NOW! We got some unwelcome info from a guy at the top... cobbles played havoc with his manboobs seemingly.

The home stretch was flat and world champ Glynis powered us home for a 6hr finish - including stops - 5:15 worth of riding.

The "goody" bag was interesting - nothing to eat and mainly leaflets on how to torture ourselves some more . Any takers?

Noon Stone - Todmorden
Following my frustration at not being able to take part in the Anglezarke I decided to enter this event on 28th February at noon. The course measures about 9 miles, includes 2300 feet of climbing and is regarded as a true test of fell racing due to the terrain, stamina needed and navigational demands.

On arrival at the race HQ (Top Brink Inn at Lumbutts) I duly signed on and handed over my £4 entry fee (bargain compared to such delights as the Manchester 10k!). It was now time for the nerves to kick in for the next hour as I faffed around getting changed and sorted my 'stuff' out. My fears grew as looking out to the tops of the moors all I could see was cloud - yes, the dreaded pennine 'clag' had descended and map and compass were got out and bearings taken. On this occasion, injury was to sideline Martine, much to her frustration, but she did do an excellent job in support!

The atmosphere at the starting line was jovial and very friendly, the starter wishing us 'Good Luck' with our navigation for the section with no markers across the top of the moor (nervous laughter followed) and then we were off! A brief warm up along a lane and it was straight up a hideously steep hill (virtually unrunnable), back down, up Stoodley Pike and then up and down through endless mud and bogs which sapped the energy from my legs causing a couple of dives in to the mud, peat and heather! Luckily, the clag had lifted for us so navigation was not an issue at all.

For the last few miles I managed to keep with a local lass (Cath I think) who had lots of encouragement from marshalls, but I had my own from Martine near the finish which did raise the spirits!



Nearing the Finish after the last climb exhausted, but its all downhill from here!



Have I ever run so hard? No.
Have I ever put myself through non-stop agony for 1.5 hours? No.
Have I ever been so utterly knackered? No.
Have I ever been so muddy? No.
Have I ever felt so satisfied after an event? No.

Will I be back for more? Yes!!

For the record, it took me 1 hour 38 minutes which I was chuffed with!



Post race washing facilities were basic but effective and much needed.

Anglezarke Amble (finishing with a hobble)! Long standing ambition achieved this Feb to run the 25 mile Long Distance Walkers local event - around Anglezarke, Darwen and beyond. Hooked up with running club folk at for the first half (who needs a map when you have friends!), grabbed a cuppa and cake at the check points and sped round in 5:08. Ran the Darwen moor section more or less alone ... now where did that Tower go ... very grateful for the jelly baby when i finally got there. Well pleased .. even it had cost me a couple of blisters and a left knee ligament. Hot pot and peas went down a treat and the glow of the hot bath and satisfaction lasted for days ... as did the blisters.... spent the afternoon making good use of the TV remote. Martine

January 2009
Martine and Mike completed an off road half marathon out of Hebden just to start the year off in style!!!

Jude having missed role call for the event didn't want to waste her prep and went and did the same mileage, on her own out in the peaks!

Aspirations for the year - Jude is off to Patigonia next week, M and M are off skiing in Switzerland next month, Martine has joined Horwich Harriers and Liz and Jo have joined Chorlton Runners. Jude, M and M and D and G are signed up for the Cheshire Cat (102 miles) in March, just as a warm-up to all of us being in Mallorca for a week's cycling in April. M and M are working on doing Lands End to John O'Groats and M and M, Jude and Dave and Glyn are signed up for the saunders mountain marathon in June.

December 2008
Liz and Jo completed their ten day trek to Annapurna basecamp and have a fab slide show to prove it!

the morning after!  happy birthday martine

Just what is Dave leering at?

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon

July 2008 .....and Glyn and Jude are off to their first coordinate.......












coming in at the end of day 1

it looking rather dark over there..........

start of day 2....

final effort and smile....

Saunders Mountain Marathon 5/6 July 08 Helvellyn and the Dods (smallish lumps) to the north.

We had practiced nearly everything but not quite ... on the real thing it rained for a start and yes, we did need all those plastic bags.

On the Saturday we had moments of navigational brilliance -at one point walking on bearing in the mist on to the checkpoint, followed by moments of a total cock up .. On the right is us finishing at the end of day one - the pride before the fall!

On day two Mike slipped on a narrow path to hit his head on a sharp rock to get his very own "Dod on the Head" ouch!! Much relief to all concerned he got back to his feet and after saying "you've got to get me to hospital" ... a bit worrying in the rain and mist kms from anywhere ... we abandoned the event and returned to base. Still took us 2.5hrs. Ice packs and arnica now being applied and there is no lasting damage.

Not quite so sure about his mountain marathon career however ..

Team J+G Force arrived at camp smiling through the rain on day 1 - we had been in the tent for a couple of hours and were mighty relieved to see them, so much so we put up their tent. They still had the energy to neck a beer in the evening. Finishing 38th out of 57 in their class - pretty decent for a first attempt. The question remains, will they be back for more! Entries for the OMM in October are filling up fast!

Post race analysis still needs to happen as we had to rush off in search of an ice pack.

For anyone interested in a light weight camping bed made with modelling balloons and silk check this out www.balloonbed.co.uk and for anyone faced with a 1:40,000 map spend 99p and get yourself a romer with the scale on! www.harveymaps.co.uk/acatalog/Navigation_aids.html

Three Towers, Three People and just a bit longer than three hours.  Ok we were five hours.  The sun shone and the breeze blew us gently round. After the first trot up Peel Tower from Ramsbottom we were nearly diverted into abseiling down it but didnt want to lose our focus.  Although Darwen Tower wasnt actually in our focus, i think we could only make out the Welsh hills and Blackpool Tower.  It was still way beyond our view.  The Witton Weavers were wayward and wandered all over the hills, even using ditches for paths and at one time even put into doubt our expert map-reading skills! But we couldnt miss the welcome sight of Darwen Tower, totally exhilarated, or was it totally knackered and only half way!  The route became familiar as we headed for Great Hill and back along Georges Lane.  Never has Rivington Pike been so magical to see.  We even made the last run up it and with great achievement in the evening sun - nearly bedtime! 

Carbon Loaded!!

Here it is - the long awaited carbon beauty - a Look 555 - full carbon (even down to the bottle cage - a 2nd one is on order) plus Ultegra 10 speed.

Out for the inaugural ride in the June evening sun tonight with clear views over Wales and out to Blackpool.

The ride feels stiff on the climbs and steady on the decent (touched 36 mph) and thankfully, the minimalistic saddle was gave hints of potential comfort. Not sure my legs were in the best form after a 15 mile fell run yesterday with Jude setting a good pace. The hot vimto at White Coppice was well earned! Signed up for the Round Roses sportive (20 July - 74 miles round Lancs/Yorks) .... in anticipation.

Mountain Marathon Practice, June 15-16
... but just what were we practicing. Some were practicing running in new shoes, some were adamant it was just a 'kit practice' (packing large plasters into small rucksacks), some were testing sugar snax consumption. The idea that this was about running a long way with a heavy bag to unknown destinations was soon an anathema.

On making the first ascent, and hearing that "this was virtually un-runnable" the walk began (as did the kit practice). Navigation in cloudless skies and sunshine meant the compass didnt even emerge and we enjoyed a long run along the tops and down to the marshy stream. After a few contours looking for non-existent markers we made camp and welcomed the back-up walking support. Total 5 hours, ascent 900m, distance 15km

The restaurant that night was the best experienced for a long time - the ambiance in front of the log fire was so cosy we felt as though we were the only ones in there, the food exquisite - tasty and varied menu, very quick service and beautiful oven to table presentation with modern minimalist colourful plastic and titanium.

The packs the next morning felt light, not just because Dave had taken out the rubbish, but we were envigorated for the next run home. After a steep ascent, run along the tops, steep descent via bracken disturbing deer herd and buzzard family, river crossing, first aid, steep ascent, run along the tops, tarn and humans, lovely running descent home we made it back in 4 hours 30 mins, ascent 800m, distance 15km.

Lessons learnt:

• pack less
• run more
• snack often
• know your first aid
• avoid contouring
• check out the long way round before steep descents
• use less plastic bags
• eat expedition foods
• pack clothes for easy access
• water is heavy but check supply points
• pint of ale at the end is essential!
  

Gran Fondo Cymru

Bala, Gwynedd

25th May 2008

Distance: 146Kms

Ascent: 2325m

Riding time: 7 hours

Average speed: 21 kph

Quote of the day 'it's virtually unrideable'

Manchester 10K 18th May 08 : Me, Mike, Julie, Sue, Glynis, Jo and Liz all entered the 10K (plus 31K others ..) - on the day Glynis came down with something and Sue was twarthed by public transport .. the Cheshire set crowded out the trams so that there was not even an air pocket for poor Sue. She did turn up on Chester Road to shout encouragement and managed a few kilometres along side Julie.

There were LTB's all round (life time bests - the new PB). Me on 46.24 (evidenced by the grimace on the finish line!), Mike 44.43 and Julie 56.23 - all despite being was overtaken by a banana and Mike holding off Batman!

Liz and Jo came in at a very respectable 1:06:23 and 1:07:09 respectively.

The winner, Jo Pavey ran 31.58 running 3.12 per km giving 19kph or 12mph ...now there's something to try on the threadmill .... I averaged 13kph .... Martine

Mallorca 2008

G&D: Petra - 100kms

G&D: Lluc - 103kms

Day 1: Llubi - 67kms

Day 2: Lluc (Selva, Llubi, Santa Margalida and Can Picafort) - 97kms

Day 3: Puis Major (Santa Maria, Bunyola, Lluc and Pollensa) - 134kms

Day 4: Sineu (Llubi, Muro and Alcudia) - 84 kms

Day 5: .....

Day 6: Cap Formentor and Cala St Vinceni - 80kms

Day 7: Sa Calobra - 107 kms

Dave and Mike making their debut ride down into Soller....on their way to Puis Major......

and Dave honoured his commitment to see the bottom of Sa Colobra......the long and winding road....

Coniston 14 April

6 mates went to run went to run a big run, 6 mates and 4 friends, two bike 2 vans and a dog went to run a big run.....

Glynis finished 1018th.....and Julie 1012th in just over 2 hours 17 mins out of 1303 completing the run!

Jude came in 484th in 1hr 54mins with Dave managing by proxy to record a PB coming in at 437th

Mike and Martine also did PB's coming in 416th and 404th respectively in 1hr 52 mins

Meanwhile Sue went for multiple activities running one side of the lake and hitching a lift on the otherside and Liz, Jo, other Dave and Paula saw us right with good cheer and a beer. Once again the hot tub at Ruslands was a great place to end the day.