Golf… Perfect Cross Training!

Back to Glasgow…

14:59 5 miles 35:12

1 7:07 2 7:14 3 7:12 4 6:52 5 6:47  Average 7:03 min/miles

After a few soggy days in the Lake District I was delighted to return to Glasgow today and find warm sunny weather. Heading off for my run in shorts and t-shirt, I was appreciating the temperature and the sun on my back. Imagine my surprise then when with just over a mile to go I received blows about the head and body of Mike Tyson proportions. What seemed like hail stones at first, became huge drops of water as torrential rain bucketed down on Linwood. My trainers felt more like leather walking boots and my clothing was sticking to me tighter than Skins that are two sizes too small! I was finding it hard to see where I was going,  and by the time I turned for the final stretch for home, the water level was almost as high as the kerbs. It was incredible! 

Somehow I maintained the faster pace over the final mile, but I think that was probably due to a desire to get home out of the rain, rather than a deliberate effort to run harder!

My legs are still not great. The hills were hard today (I guess as a result of the fell race), and I continue to feel like running is more of an effort than it used to be. I’m sure I’ll be back to my old self soon though!

I didn’t run yesterday. Instead I settled for the more leisurely sport of golf, at the lovely Keswick Golf Club. I used to have a handicap of 9, although regularly shot lower than that, but I haven’t played golf for at least three years so wasn’t expecting miracles. As it was I played pretty well, even managing to beat my playing partner in matchplay (although he did have to give me a few shots!).

I hit some great shots, some average shots, and some terrible shots, but most importantly really enjoyed the game. The course was lovely, with some fantastic holes, the par 3, 16th being perhaps the signature hole. The views of the hills were fantastic throughout the round, especially during the short section of sunshine we were blessed with!

The course has no bunkers. The reason for this is that it’s part of the National Park, and therefore planning permission is required, and causes a problem. They use the natural amount of water available in the Lake District to cause plenty of other hazards though!

Thankfully we were really lucky with the weather and stayed relatively dry, and after sinking a few putts, we headed into the clubhouse to sink a few beers. Thus leading to me spending an extra night away from home, and missing the running club last night!

Thanks to Mrs pacepusher’s Aunt and Uncle for putting up with me this weekend. Although I can guarantee that they won’t read this unless someone shows them it, or prints it off for them. The mobile phone is still a piece of technology too far for them, so the internet is just beyond their powers of imagination!

Went Up A Mountain, Came Down A Hill!

It was pointed out by Debs that I may have spelt Caroline’s name wrong during a part of my WHWR video. You are in fact mistaken. Caroline in fact has an Austrian cousin called, Craoline, who looks very much like her, and was kind enough to come across to Scotland to support me during the race. Thank you Craoline, and thanks Debs… she may never have noticed!

Anyway, here I am sitting in the bar of the lodges I am staying in this weekend in the Lake District. With beer in hand and lap top connected to the real world, here’s my latest running tales…

Thursday 0 miles, Friday 0 miles, Saturday 0 miles, Sunday…

11:08 4 miles 28:01

1 6:51 2 6:47 3 7:05 4 7:18  Average 7:00 min/miles

This was a pretty hilly route, actually, I’m in the Lakes, it was a very hilly route. Well the first two miles were anyway. I didn’t feel like I was really pushing things, but with the first two splits, the undulations, and the way I tired as the miles went on, I was clearly faster than I should have been. Still I enjoyed running somewhere new and was pleased with my pace overall. I’m sure the tiredness in the latter stages is still a result of the WHWR… and a few beers the day before!

…anyway, in the afternoon, I came 14th in my first ever fell race!

15:05 1.27 miles 18:04

…14th out of 18 competitors that is!

If you’ve ever seen the Father Ted episode which involves the Craggy Island Gala Day, you may appreciate a little about the Langdale Gala Day. The announcer had a dry voice, and the announcements were always informative, “there’s only one tomato plant left now!” The stalls and the events were also comical, tombolas etc. filled the stalls, and as for the events… there was the vintage car display (4 cars), the dog show (not many dogs worth showing), the falconry display, in which the bird just looked at the guy and said “no, I won’t fly and get that meat, you’ll bring it to me!” Then, there was the traditional Cumbrian Wrestling. Two guys hug each other until one can’t take the lovin’ anymore, they then lose and the winner goes off to hug the next competitor! If this was performed by women it might have attracted my attentions, but as it was I was off to find the registration tent. 

There’s a history regarding Lake District Gala/Sports Days, and the beginning of Fell Races. I can’t remember the exact details, and don’t want to bore you with the details, but I felt that this was the time to give fell running a try!

Signing up I asked what the standard was, “there’s not many applied you should have a good chance”, I corrected him, and pointed out the reason for the question was not that I expected to win, but that I didn’t want to embarrass myself!

So standing on the start line I looked up the hill and waited for the word go! The uphill burns, my calves are still on fire now, but the downhill was great fun. I didn’t have the kind of fell shoes that allow you to just let rip, and wasn’t going to kill myself running for fun. Myself and a guy running just behind me both had the same problem. He passed me approaching the bottom of the hill. It wasn’t deliberate, he fell, shouting, “coming through left”, and continued to basically fall till the road at the bottom! I tried to catch him, and almost did, sprinting downhill on thickish grass, looking something like Phoebe from friends, arms and legs swinging out of control. Unfortunately though, like parachute jumping, the best bit was over too quickly. It takes ages to get up, and no time at all to get down. However, it was so much fun I was on a high for ages!

It cost me three pounds to get into the gala. Registration for the race was free, and I got sports drink and a medal for competing. In the words of Mastercard, “participation… priceless!”