My last blog was almost a year ago. And what a year it has been… The C Bomb I recall at the end of February 2020 I had written about what might be in store for us in the year ahead- a new baby, Liverpool win the premier league, a month in the campervan in … More Good Year Bad Year
It is always good at the start of a new year to take some time to look back and reflect on the previous 12 months. Maybe its because I have been so busy (possibly) or maybe its poor time management (most likely), but its the end of February and I finally get my act in … More 2019- a PB Running Year
High Terrain Events have always delivered some of my favourite races over the years. Fond memories of snow on the Whinlatter duathlons, 4th place at Scafell Pike Marathon (still one of the most varied races you could wish to do), pulling my calf warming up for the Borrowdale 21k and marshalling for hours in the … More Ennerdale 50k
The “dambusters” dam at Fairholmes in the Peak District was the spectacular backdrop for this year’s national fell running relay championships, hosted by Dark Peak FR club. Last year’s event in Grasmere was a real highlight in the calendar, and this year the organisers had the unenviable task of bussing hundreds of runners from Bamford … More British Fell Relays aka the Battle for North Leeds
Grasmere in the Lake District was the picturesque venue for this years British fell relay championships, with Ambleside AC hosting the event. This is one in which our club Valley Striders AC has had some attendance at in the past but not with regularity. This is in part due to often long distances required to … More Bhaji Butties, Bus Epics and British Fell Relay Champs
“We light it up we won’t come down, and the sun can’t stop us now, watchin’ it come true, its takin’ over you, oh, this is the greatest show…” Ok, so PT Barnum may not have been referencing the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in “the Greatest Showman”, but he might as well have been. Once a year at … More UTMB: The Greatest Show (for Trail Runners)
Last summer I wrote about taking a fantastic trip to the Highlands of Scotland and running through the Cairngorm mountain range self supported via the classic Lairig Ghru and returning via the Lairig an Laoigh routes. Well this year I was back again, this time to take part in the official race for the route that … More The Lairig Ghru Hill Race
Last weekend saw the now annual Valley Striders AC fell runners trip to a classic fell race. Last year it was a few nights camping in Rydal for the Fairfield Horseshoe, and this time a bunk barn excursion for one of the newer classics, the Duddon Valley fell race. Set in a quiet corner of the Lake … More Duddon Delights & Nav Nightmares
It may only be March, but already I find myself celebrating my first two major “achievements” of the year: 1) I am not injured (yippee). 2) I was finally able to gain a ballot entry into the OCC race in August in 2018. Its a measure of how popular a race is when it sells … More On the Trail of the OCC
Every August a small village in the Yorkshire Dales holds an event that is synonymous with fell running- the Burnsall Feast Sports. This year gave me my first opportunity to take part in this classic race steeped in history, with origins dating back to 1870. And it was on my birthday too, so a bonus camping weekend ensued! … More The Classic Fell Race
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