Hadrian's Wall Count Down

With less than three six weeks to go I’m into the final preparations for my Hadrian's wall run. I will be following the Hadrian's wall path from Wallsend in Newcastle to Bowness on Solway on the north Cumbrian coast on July 22nd. The path is 84miles long but I will be taking some alternative routes along the way to avoid the more fragile parts, the areas with gates every 50m and some of the extra loops near the end when the road will do. I intend to have a rest break at Housesteads so that will add some back on so I expect it will be close to the full distance.

Since my last post I have been on a short break to Northumberland, raced three times, been to a presentation night and enjoyed Eden Festival near Moffat, and gone back to work for a full week and survived.

Northumberland

I manages to squeeze an interval session before setting off. Phil, Tony, Kirsty, Rob and myself met at 9:15 at Cockermouth school and jogged out to the Setmurthy road to do 6 repeats. I did 1K repeats the rest 0.5m repeats. The times were a bit slower than before the marathon but I suppose that's to be expected. The break in Northumberland was great though not as relaxing as I'd hoped and yes I did squeeze a few runs in along with the castle visits, coastal walking and visits to the beech. Catherine's parents had come over from France to join us so we had a holiday cottage full. On the Sunday we all trooped off to Warworth Castle and Warkworth Hermitage as I suggested it as a good place to go on a potentially showery day. The kid's loved it and I reminised! 

Catherine and Kid's at Warkworth Castle

Evening strolls became a feature of the holiday as once the children were in bed Catherine's parents could look after them while we went for a quiet coastal walk.

Red Beadlet Anemones

On Monday we had the day to ourselves so walked from Craster to Alnmouth along the Northumberland coastal way, taking our time and soaking up the scenery.


The obligatory visit to the beach happened on Tuesday (30th May) but it was too cold to swim, not really the water but the getting warm again after in breezy conditions. Harry and Jessica still really enjoyed themselves digging and making things.

Jessica's Mermaid

Harry playing in the sand Dunstanburgh Castle behind

Wednesday was my last day so after a leisurely morning I was dropped of at the train station at Alnmouth and headed back to Carlisle to do the Carlisle-Tri 10K.


Carlisle-Tri 10K
This should have been a good PB course but it didn't turn out like that on the day. There was a breeze true but still. There was a good Derwent AC turn out with five running which was encouraging. James Douglas was also warming up so everyone new the likely winner after his 30:36 at the Manchester 10K. Win he did by a good margin with Russell Madams coming in a good second. I along with a few others had a disappointing time though the run felt good the time showed otherwise, maybe the wind, maybe too slow a start may be still recovering from the marathon maybe just one of those days but 36:15 was still 30 seconds faster than last year.


A Slump and two races??
Not sure why but on Thursday morning (2nd June) I had a slump and dip in both mood and energy, I got up fully intending to go into work and get two days in but ended up falling asleep and the next thing three o'clock showing on my phone. The slump lasted until Saturday morning when I managed to get myself moving (just) to get to Staveley for the race. I new if I failed to get myself there, the real risk of the slump dragging into the next week was present...


Staveley trail race
Adam was at Staveley already and so were Russell and Pippa Maddams so I had we had the likely winners in the Maddams' and a top five in Adam. The weather was weird on the day both hot and windy  but somehow muggy as well - perfect sunburn weather and I had no cream! My race plan was flexible with the first few miles going to dictate the rest of the race. I'd decided to just enjoy it but if by five miles or so I was still in touch with the top five that I'd push for a top five. By five miles I was sixth (turns out it was fourth as two were 10K runners) so I decided to ease back a bit until the end when I would push for the finish. Five runners past me during my easing off miles with Pippa being one of them and cruising. I stuck to my plan and kept it steady then took two of the runners back over the last mile or so on the decent to the finish. Shame I didn't know I was in fourth earlier as I believe I could have held it or fifth at least. Russell and Pippa were first man and first woman and Adam was first Man. Adam will probably also win the spring series but he is tied on points but he ran the third race so should win on the tie-break!

Adam at the Staverly trail race

Abbeytown 10
The day after Staveley was Abbeytown ten a good PB course but a bad run again, partly due to the slump, partly Staveley, partly the wind and partly the toilet stop at 6 miles. Still a good race, came third in a slow 63:47 and the buffet at the end was exceptional. I highly recommend this local West Cumbria race.


Monday 6th June onwards
After the two weekend races I rested on Monday (well an hour of pilates instead of running) and did a six mile recovery on the Tuesday following the guidelines from my new marathon training book - Advanced Marathoning. For the next few weeks the plan was to follow this guide as much as possible ready for the Hadrian's Wall run with the correct enthasise on what to eat and drink and when to do so along with running at the right pace at the right times. I way to often do similar sessions too close together!

Fastest Man, Fastest Vet Man and most funds raised

On Tuesday night I was presented my trophy for the fastest man on the Workington to Keswick Charity walk. This was followed by a buffet and music quiz which Catherine and I managed to come last in with 11/40!


Wednesday was 6 x 1K intervals on the school field with Tri-Lakeland followed by pilates.
Thursday a reccy of the Cumberland Ale 10 route with the club plus a bit to make up to13miles
Friday a recovery run out along Setmurthy of 4 miles before heading off to Eden Festival


Eden Festival
Catherine the children and I set of for Eden Festival on the Friday night not knowing quite what to expect as it was not a festival we had been to before. On first sight of the festival Harry and Jessica squealed with excitement so a good start. The midges were a problem while pitching the tent but  once up we headed of to explore the arena. The camping area felt somewhere between Cockrock and Solfest both of which I'll be at later in the year. Squidging through the mud to the entrance we had our first views of the internal festival

Eden Festival Main Stage

We wondered through past the usual hippy shops and dodgy food out lets but gradually it changed as we moved towards the children's area the shops were less standard and reasonable prices the food more interesting and the entrances to the tents made from willow tunnels wrapped in ivy. We wondered around for a while and watched the fire show until just before eleven (cola helped) then of back to the tent for the usual unsettled sleep -ear plugs are a must!


Saturday morning was bacon butties and then off to explore again as festivals are often much different on the second day and early after the party animals have burnt themselves out on the first night. We juggled, walked on stilts, hula hooped, made endless things, played in the hay and occasionally stopped to listen to some music.

Catherine and Jessica near the circus skills area

Managed to get a run in in the afternoon a ten mile run out at general aerobic pace followed by 8 x 100m strides down by the river near the saunas (you have to keep the fire going yourself).


Late afternoon/evening was fancy dress more making of things and a spectacular fire show that revolved around circus skills with flames, dancing and stilt walking monsters...

My fly outfit

Fire show

Sunday was more the same with a 6 miles morning run squeezed in and very sleepy children but surprisingly little grumpiness! We stayed until Gomez came on as Catherine had heard a
lot about them from her sister. Not really my thing but the crowed enjoyed it and it put the kids to sleep!

The Gomez effect

Gomez crowd

Took a day of running on Monday as felt very tired and the 10miles scheduled would probably have been a bad idea went for the early night instead. Right better end it there for now as off to do a short recovery pace run with the club before tomorrows race: Gosforth 10