Stanbury definitely splashed

Running total to date - 92 miles

I made a deliberate decision to try and rest a bit and not run at every possible opportunity this week. Sunday 22nd was the Stanbury Splash - a Woodentops fell race that I have marshalled (I think) every year for at least the last 5, even with birthday generated hangovers. 

Marshalling is great. You get posted to your watch and then spend X hours (depending on the race length) chuntering to yourself (and companions if you happen to have more than one of you), stepping from foot to foot, clapping, small words of encouragement and occasional abuse and some directional pointy hand gestures. Some runners acknowledge your existence, some ignore you, some say thank you. Over the years we've chauffeured people back to the start, given bits of chocolate or a sip of hot tea, taken in un-needed coats, stopped countless folk getting completely lost, taken some pics and generally helped to make sure these slightly bonkers fell runners can race with the surety of the back-up and support we provide.  Every runner should marshal or help out at a race - you might just find some appreciation of the number of people who (gladly) volunteer their time so that you can run.  

This year however, for the first time, I was to be a runner rather than a marshal. 

Saturday and the wind was howling across the moors like you would not believe. I took Blue around the usual 5 mile moor loops above our house and at various points couldn't breathe, step forward or move for the ferocity of the gusts blowing at me. This very short video clip will offer you two things that my text can't - the noise and power of the wind and the ridiculous size and boisterousness of our Blue! 

So, all prepared, nicely rested (or so I thought), wind must have blown itself out meaning Sunday will be calm, tranquil and a breeze of trotting round and about the Penistone moorland. 


None of it. Sunday morning and the wind was literally breath taking. Standing up was an effort, let alone attaining any forward momentum! Nevertheless, I will do this! Bloody Caren had done the Hebden 15 on Saturday so wasn't running this one. Frankly I thought this quite rude but I may forgive her! There were a few other lovely folk, including my new mate Steve (who incidentally had a really nasty injury last year so to be back and running is nothing short of miraculous) who has run at the back with me at a couple of these. I couldn't keep up with Steve on this one though - hip and left leg pain conspired against speed. 

The route takes you through some of the most stunning Yorkshire moorland scenery. Down unreasonably steep hills that require you to bond with your inner child, through bogs and mud, up sheer faces of heather covered moorland and through three 'splashes' of ice cold fast flowing rivers!   


It's a strange thing to come to terms with realising that getting really muddy, splashing through rivers and scrambling up stupidly steep hills is what lights your fire. I finished 358 / 370 in 92mins 33 seconds. So very pleased! If my hip and left leg hadn't hurt so much I might have been faster but I still finished and loved it. 

Caren at Bronte Falls

The other run of note for me this week was my birthday run. Friday saw me celebrating my last 30 something birthday. What better way to celebrate than going for a run?! Just after 6:30pm and Caren and I set off across Penistone Hill to Bronte Waterfalls. Pitch black, snow on the ground, still and peaceful evening. 


I found this the most truly exhilarating run. We paced up the hills not stopping and then opened up on the down hills stretching out and letting go. 


A small navigational error on the way back saw us wading across boggy moorland endeavouring to locate one of the multiple criss cross paths that cover it. There's not many people I know that would find stumbling around in the dark, muddy and boggy with no path in the least bit funny. Cheers Caren! 

The river at Bronte Falls

A small gathering of friends - most of whom didn't know one another but who all live very locally - back at our house made for a fantastic end to a really excellent birthday. Who'd have thought I'd finish my 30's a non-smoker and a runner!?


Today we set off to recce the leg of the Peninne Bridleway relay we're running next weekend. Over in Lancashire it's a bit of a drive and requires car juggling as it's an end to end run rather than a circular route. 


Jill, Irene (Duracell Hill Bunny), Sarah, Diane (runs faster than she thinks and does do hills in spite of what she claims), Si and I set off on this 8.5mile first leg. The whole route follows the Mary Townley Loop - 47  miles of bridleway across some fantastic Lancastrian landscapes. I don't run with other people very often. Today I found an absolute joy. We all varied in our strengths and abilities so ran in different combinations at different points throughout the 9 miles. The support and encouragement was just brilliant. It is a shame that we have to set off at 6:30am next Sunday to run it for real!!!! 

There's two more days of January left - can I clock 100 miles in my first month? 

Week three - slightly injured but still buoyed with enthusiasm

Running total to date = 62 miles 


When I started this running milarchy in July last year my aims were really quite simple - lose the weight I'd carelessly gained in the process of giving up smoking and put myself in a position where I was able to keep up with my wonderful children without puffing and panting too much. 


My personal trainer, Ben, has been a great motivator. Accompanying me several times a week in all weathers along the "Goit" - a mile and a half riverside path from Haworth to Oxenhope and then back again. Ben has managed to perfect a fabulous running style that, to his running companion and any casual observer, makes him appear to be running whilst in reality he's actually going slower than his usual walking speed.


In conversation this week Ben gave me the most enormous confidence boost. He told me that now 'I run with bollocks'. Whilst my feminist friends will no doubt baulk, tut and frown disapprovingly at that expression, you'll all know exactly what he means. Ben told me that I'm now running and, whilst not fast or managing any degree of speed, keeping on going through all terrains and conditions qualifies me as 'running with bollocks'. Apparently if I was being fired at I'd keep on going without batting an eyelash. Personally I'm not sure about the latter but am both hugely amused and very chuffed at his feedback. 


Ben is available for hire at reasonable rates! He's also my son and without his support I definitely wouldn't be where I am now. Thanks Boy x 


Have I achieved my aims? Not yet! I've lost most of the weight I gained through quitting the fags and starting to eat sensibly - there's more to lose that doesn't seem to want to leave me yet. Can I keep up with my children? Rosie still has me on my knees on our occasional shopping sprees to Leeds so work to do there. The next test of that is in March when I see if I can beat Ben in the Keighley 10k.


White Holme Circular
Sunday saw me entered in to another of Alan Greenwood's fell races - The White Holme Circular. A new route for 2012, 8ish miles and 1200ft ish of ascent and descent. On a map it looked great. From the start a steady 1 - 2 miles of uphill with the rest of the route following reservoir contours around the moor in a loop then returning down the 1 - 2 mile hill to finish. 
We arrived and registered as I realised this was a 'proper' fell race - only 82 runners, no 'spectators' as such - just an "off you go" and off we did. 


True to form I started at the back - with a great group of people who I now recognise, so nod in recognition and share supportive words. Across the moor and up the hill - very icy underfoot, the temperatures had dropped to -4 / 5c in the night. We reached the top and plateaued onto the track that then followed the contours, almost without changing for the next 7 miles. 


The weather was truly beautiful. Crisp and icy sharp air, crystal blue skies reflected in the reservoirs frozen surface. The track was unbelievably dull! 3 miles in I found myself right at the back, my left leg aggravatingly painful every time my foot connected with the floor and everything in me telling me to stop and walk back to the start. 


Many years ago when I had a very half hearted attempt at running, whilst still a confirmed and devout smoker, I gave up on a fell race that I should never have started. That experience has stayed with me (a story for another blog perhaps) so deep in my concious there is something telling me that I cannot let that happen, I cannot give up again. On I ran! And on, and on, and on. 

The scenery was unbelievably stunning - it may have been a race but the photo potential was too great to pass on. 


Ovenden last week was a route of changing landscapes, bogs and tracks, up and down. Interest at every step. This was just so dull! 


Very definitely not my best but still glad I finished, 81st out of 82 runners! 1hour 45minutes 29seconds - considering how bad my leg was my time was pretty good for me!
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results.php?id=1152 

And who ever measured it at 8 ish miles was lying - very definitely 9 ish miles! 

Messing around on Twitter on Sunday night whilst looking in awe and amazement at what the mad, bonkers folk doing 'The Spine' were up to (the whole 268miles of the Penine Way in no more than 7 days - http://thespinerace.com/ these folks are hardcore or need certifying) I managed to get my colleague, Caroline Pease, who is training to run the London Marathon this year, raising money for her local Samaritans who she also volunteers with every week, mentioned in the London Marathon Daily http://paper.li/hibbsy/1288115532. So my top tip is to hashtag #LondonMarathon if you're tweeting details of JustGiving pages - they get picked up and spread like wildfire. 


I also got my own mention from the Twittersphere oracle on all things fell running - made me smile a lot  

"Fellrunninbrief Fell Running Briefs  And we're not just about the elite you know. Why not follow new runner @LiviBF as she aims to run 1000 miles in 2012"

Monday and I had a well deserved day off. I say that but I wanted to run! If my leg didn't hurt so much I probably would have. 


Tuesday saw me on my usual train to London. Having got this train for many months, same one almost every Tuesday and stand on Shipley station plaform next to or near the same woman every week. We smile and nod but I now recognise her as someone who ran the Auld Lang Syne - there's even a photo on the WoodenTops website of both of us in the same shot. Small world that we live in. 


I have a pair of road trainers in my desk drawer in London to save me lugging more 'stuff' up and down. So off I set on Tuesday evening with 30 minutes available between finishing work and checking in to my hotel before meeting up with a colleague / friend for a long overdue catch-up. My legs were so stiff and sore. I managed a two mile loop around over Mill Bank and back over Westminster Bridge. Back to the hotel to shower and change.  

The House by Night

I was only 10 minutes late! 

It wasn't until I got home on Wednesday night and looked at the run on SportsTracker on my PC I realised I had run my fastest ever miles! They certainly hadn't felt fast. 

I have rested my legs for the rest of this week - I know it's the sensible thing and Sendraks is right to point this out - he's right about many things (that will make him nod sagely). 

I shall get up and trot round Blue's moors in the morning before Sunday sees me run rather than Marshal the Stanbury Splash. More about that, and hopefully a physio appointment, in my next thrilling installment! 

I'll finish by thanking those of you that have given me feedback on this blog. It was a rash thing to start and still feels very indulgent. I do hope that in taking the time to read this someone will find something that makes them smile, think or gain some confidence and inspiration in what you can do. I'd really welcome your comments on any of these blogs - tell me what you think. 

https://www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles

Races within races, injury and success

Running total to date = 46 miles 

I was going to write all about how my first flush of enthusiasm is being tempered by the realisation of how hard this is going to be. But after a week of opposing emotions, as it draws to a close, I'm feeling completely fantastic!  

Saturday dawned and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach was gradually replaced by small butterflies as I prepared to run my next fell race. Ovenden Moor is a race organised by another amazing man - Allan Greenwood. My first encounter with this race was many years ago, standing on ice packed tracks to support Simon, my husband, who had been cajoled into running it with an old friend of ours, Ant Meyer. I can remember Simon's excited and verbose chatter after he'd finished it very pleased with himself and full of enthusiasm for the next one and even .. maybe .. possibly .. joining a club! That didn't happen for years and is a story for another day. 

Back to the present Ovenden race. I had already confirmed that Caren was running it. This is significant for me as, whilst we don't know one another well, our paths have crossed over the years and of recent months she has given me great encouragement - mostly through facebook! We're very evenly matched in our running but she has far greater experience and fills me with confidence that if she says I can do it (and she's also running it) then all will be well. I was proved right with this theory on the Auld Lang Syne on New Years Eve. Without Caren's motivating support I probably wouldn't have finished that one. 

Ovenden Moor race is 8miles and a bit, 1200ft, over peat bogs and valleys above Ogden reservoir.  It sets off with a steady hill, which I managed to keep a slow jog going on, to reach a flatish but seriously boggy moor. The route then follows every bog it can find in a loop that takes in a number of steep descents and climbs until your back running down the starting hill to the finish. I really loved it. 

I got an absolute sense of the many races happening within the race. Running at the back every one of us had our own reasons to be there - beating a personal best, trying not to come last, finishing the route, just running to enjoy the freedom and experience, racing against the landscape, pitching self against the conditions (the wind was bitter and strong). The comradery in the small group of us at the back of the field was just brilliant. I was flagging, my legs slowing and a hand at the side of me held out a jellybaby. As I started to slow to a walk on a flat conduit a hand on the small of my back and "c'mon love dig in" in my ear. Comically falling over flat on face in a peat bog but knowing I just needed to get up and carry on - it wasn't quite as spectacular as the somersault a Bingley Harriers gentleman displayed. Of course he stood up and carried on! I knew none of these fantastic people but without their altruistic attitude to their fellow runners I'm not sure I would have finished. 

Approaching the finish at Ovenden

Finish I did! "185 LIV FARRER KEIGHLEY & CRAVEN 1-46-24" (I have no idea why it's so hard to spell "Farrar" right!) I am so enormously pleased with this - it all felt right! 

With thanks to a friend, Ash, who spotted this article in the Telegraph (I have no idea why he was reading that particular newspaper - perhaps he could explain?) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness/8998810/The-runners-who-are-a-breed-apart.html which offers a far more articulate article on Fell Running, featuring this Ovenden race. 

Sunday saw me trotting round Blue's moors above our house, riding on my euphoria and post race feel good endorphins. But then deep despair and frustration as I gave up on a run on Monday. Shin splint type pain replaced with searing knee pain whilst out on my usual run. This isn't good. I've been going less than two weeks and I can't put my left foot on the floor 'cos it hurts too much. So Monday was a serious reality check moment. I really need to temper my enthusiasm with reality about what's sensible. It's all well and good aiming for 20 miles a week but I've sub-consciously started to aim over that so I can 'bank' a few miles for rest days later or allowing myself to be injured. All well and good except I should perhaps have rested my leg for longer. Am I setting myself up for more injuries or will my body start to heal itself as it learns a new physicality? I have a lot to learn this year!

So Tuesday's day trip to London gave me no option but to rest (parents evening for daughter (brilliant) required a return home rather than stay over) so Wednesday arrived and I was back down to London for an overnight stay with an evening to run. Running in a City is such a totally different experience to the fells. The landscape is obviously different but the flatness does make for a far faster pace. Strangely, there is a type of beauty in the landscape and built environment that as you run through can be quite striking in its own way. I'm mostly passed by ipod runners who seem to make no connection to anything in the environment around them, including acknowledging the fellow humans but then this is London. They're all faster than me but as they pound past I don't really care. This week I found myself clocking up 8miles, steadily round 3 beautiful (if it was light and I could see) parks. 

London landscapes

Quite oddly I stopped for a brief chat with my local MP, Kris Hopkins (lives up the road in Stanbury, does a bit of fell running), who I bumped into on Millbank - bit odd.  A few miles later a phone call from husband to report a poorly son and give a work update. So, given all that chatting, I thought 1hr25mins was ok for 8 miles. But then I compare that to Saturday at Ovenden, same distance but massively more challenging terrain - I know which one I'm happier with. 

Caren modelling the latest in night running

Back home late on Thursday meant another rest day but Friday saw my first evening / night 'social' run with Caren. I'm quite used to running alone. It's been a really learning experience and a challenge for me to learn to run on my own, be with my own company and motivate myself with no one else around. I've reached a place where I really value this time on my own. But, being quite a sociable being, I would like to run more with others - not just in races. So before Christmas a hasty exchange on facebook left Caren and I 'committed' to running on a Friday evening. It would seem that there aren't that many folk who think running in the pitch black over the moors is fun. Fortunately Caren does and we had a great, steady, frosty with beautiful clear starry skies, run round the moors tonight. I look forward to many more of these - night running will perhaps be the topic of a future blog but to wet your appetite have a look at this - The Bedlamites  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE-8qdHwrtw&feature=g-upl&context=G290debeAUAAAAAAAAAA 

I started this entry with my mileage to date and I'll finish with a gentle reminder that your support in sponsorship for Asthma UK or Sue Ryder's Manorlands Hospice would be brilliant and very motivating! https://www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles 

New Money ... Old Money and Darkness

I've spent some time this week wondering about how best to describe the distance I need to run to myself, not least because I need to manage the conversion between miles (my preferred currency) to kilometres (this years FRA Calendar has finally decided to use new money). Does using kilometre speak make it sound (1) more impressive or (2) more achievable?  How best should I break down the annual total to be achievable but not too daunting on a daily / weekly / monthly basis? How will I make sure I'm not going to get to the middle of December and find myself with 100 miles missing? 

Miles to Kilometres 
1000 miles = 1609.344km - round it up so let's say 1610km .... Sounds Great! As long as I remind myself it's still 'only' 1000 miles.
Aiming over on a weekly basis allows for some slippage (injury, rest, illness) 35km pw x 50 weeks = 1750km (too high!)
Or, if I average 30 - 32km pw x 50 weeks = 1500km - 1600km - this risks leaving me with a deficit come December, perhaps not!
Or, 4.41km per day x 365days - I could have the leap day off! Less than 5km per day sounds good but what about days I can't run?
So, 322days @ 5km per day = 44 days off (it is a leap year). Psychologically this is perhaps the one that sounds the best - more than a month off! Plus given most of my runs are now between 7 - 10km I can bank some credit to earn more days off.

Alternatively, I could just revert to using old money - 20 miles a week for 50 weeks. Some weeks will be a bit more, some a little less, 2 weeks spare for injury / illness / can'tbebotheredness. It's great what your mind chooses to think about when you're slogging through the dark in the howling gales, bouncing hail, floods and a little bit of rain.

Darkness
It's been a bit of a dark and weathery week. Rain, hail and gales causing havoc with the travel network. All trains to London were cancelled on Tuesday. The 6:35am from Shipley was turned back at Doncaster to go back to Leeds - that was a waste of my 5am alarm. However, it did mean that I got to run on the moors rather than London streets on Tuesday evening.

A few people have asked me about how I will fit in this 'challenge'. I don't get home until 7pm (when I'm not away), it's pitch black by 4:30/5:00pm. Answer - winter nightrunning. Headtorches are a fantastic invention. It's a bit like having your own mini street light on your head. My family generously bought me an 'alpkit gamma' headtorch for Christmas - it's brilliant! The moors up above my house where I routinely run with Blue are very uneven and 'undulating' so you do have to be a bit careful about where your feet go else you risk a broken / sprained ankle. Night running for me isn't fast, I have to concentrate hard on where my feet are going, not missing the path turns, not falling into the bogs or pools that look disconcertingly like solid ground by torchlight. But it is really peaceful. It's very rare that I meet anyone else, there's almost no noise funnelling up from the road down in the valley, on a clear evening the starry night sky and fluorescent moon can be truly stunning.

If you haven't tried it I can only recommend giving it a go - makes me smile (even in the gales)!

Christmas Headtorch - thanks family! 

Wasn't there a song about this?  Night Swimming?  

"The photograph reflects, every streetlight a reminder. Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night." REM Night Swimming 1993

Just Giving pages now live and first mini update

I've set up my Just Giving 'team' page now at https://www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles from here you can donate to either Asthma UK or Sue Ryder Care.

If you want to join me in my 1000 mile challenge you can join the Just Giving 'Team' page - let me know and I'll add you!

A first mini update and a taste of what's to come with this blog - if I manage to keep it up!

On New Years eve I managed to complete the Auld Lang Syne Fell race. This is one of a number of local fell races organised every year by the truly brilliant Dave and Eileen Woodhead - have a look at what they do here http://woodentops.org.uk/. I've marshalled many of Dave's races over the years and am very accustomed to standing at gates and path junctions to show the way, count them through, count them back and generally cheer a bit of encouragement along the way. I always said I'd never do it! So after 6.5 miles and 900ft of very wet moorland, drizzle that soaks through everything and a driving wind on the tops that chills to the bone I crossed the finish line - 373rd out of 393 finishers in 85 minutes 23 seconds - a result I am very happy with. A special thanks to Caren who I ran with for most of it as she provided much needed boosts of motivation to keep me going.

New Years Day and my legs were a little sore but The Giants Tooth beckoned - a short and fast little 3 mile race around Ogden Reservoir. This is another race that I've stood at the edge of for a few years, cheering Simon and other friends on, always wondering why on earth anyone would willingly don shorts and vest in the wind and rain.  It was far too fast for me but I did finish in a respectable (for me) time of 32 minutes 35 seconds, 116 / 121.

The real test will be repeating these two races in 12 months time at the end of this challenge!

This week will see a couple of runs on the local moor with Blue, our 6stone Rottweiler Alsation cross Dog, and an evening run in London on my weekly stay down there for work. Next weekend, all being well, I'll have a go at the Ovenden Moor fell race - 8miles(ish) and 1200ft around Ogden and Ovenden moors.

Pictures to come!

New Year, new ambition

2011 was a definitely a year of challenge and changes. Now for 2012!

The fags went in February. Best thing I've ever done but so hard. The running started in July. Being married to an inherently fit and active man who sits around and does nothing then gets up and runs a reasonably hard and fast fell race offers a different perspective on running and what you can reasonably expect from yourself.

Over the coming months I will write about some of the challenges I face in maintaining the enthusiasm and commitment to achieving this - New Years resolutions are so easy to brush under the mat and move on from.

1000 miles in 2012 is my personal challenge that I've decided to make public - hence this blog. There's a number of races I plan to enter - each of which is it's own challenge: Keighley 10k; Yorkshireman Off Road Half Marathon; and the Wadsworth Half Trog to name but three. So, rather than pester all my good friends and others for charity sponsorship for each of these races individually I'm asking you to sponsor my 1000 miles challenge.

The two charities I want to raise funds for both do amazing work which has personal connections for me.
In 2007 I lost my brother to an acute asthma attack so Asthma UK needs the support to be able to continue their amazing work in helping people to live full and active lives and to research into the causes and cures.
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope has provided the most excellent palliative care for some of my friends and family members at the end of their lives. The care and support they provide is so important that running a 1000 miles seems a small contribution to make.

Once I figure out how to do it I will post a link to a Just Giving page where you will be able to choose which of these two brilliant charities to donate to if you want to support me in this challenge. If you want to join me and run your own 1000 miles that would be fantastic - let me know and I can add you to the Just Giving team page. I will be logging all my runs on 'Sports Tracker' http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/profile/view_profile - this is free to download and use on your mobile phone. From here you'll be able to see maps of the routes I have run and more.

I'll use this blog to update you about my runs, post pictures of the wonderful landscapes I have the privilege of running in and any amusing stories that might occur along this journey.

Thanks for reading!
Livi