Vagabond Runner

Kyle Skaggs, The Tramp and The Squirrels.

2012-03-03T09:21:00.001-08:00

http://www.desertexposure.com/201110/201110_swgardener.php

A dear friend relayed to me a wonderful story the other day. As she had walked in Hyde Park she saw a man, obviously homeless, slowly walk and sit at the base of a tree. In his hand was a brown paper bag. Now preconceptions would determine that inside the bag would be alcohol, glue or something equally bad for ones health. As he opened the bag, she quickly saw that, in fact, it contained nuts. She watched entranced as, one by one, first a single squirrel, but quickly followed by many more, appeared from the branches above, approached the unkempt man and ate the nuts held in his hand. They did so without fear. It was immediately obvious to her that this was not a solitary one off action, but one which he carried out regularly. The squirrels were his friends.

I listened intently. I was impressed, but not surprised she had stood and watched. In these days of hustle and bustle it is all too easy for people to fail to notice these commonplace acts of pure, innocent beauty, to be too wrapped up in the everyday pressures of aspiration and material gain. As she finished the story and commented on this man who had nothing, we both reached the same conclusion. Did he actually have nothing or did he, in fact, have everything?

Kyle Skaggs has, since my return to running, been a big inspiration to me. Part of the new breed of U.S ultrarunners with his brother, Eric, and Anton Krupicka, that made long distance trail running cool. With minimalist ideas to, not just running, but to life, they echoed the views and ethos that I had arrived at over my journey to make sense of this crazy, but wonderful world. I marvelled at his performance in the 2008 Hardrock 100, and how he'd based himself for the proceeding months of the race at Silverton, Colorado and constantly ran sections of the course, aiming to beat the race record. The Hardrock is, perhaps, the hardest 100 mile race in the United States, if not the world. With 34,000 ft of elevation and equal amount of descent , all at an average elevation of 11,000, it is certainly a major test. That year Kyle made history, with arguably one of the best ever utlradistance performances ever. He finished the race in a time of 23hrs 20m, becoming the first (and so far only) man to complete the race in under 24hrs. In doing so he beat the course record, held by another ultra legend, Scott Jerek, by an amazing 2hrs 45mins. I followed sporadic performances over the next couple of years, then he seemed to just disappear.

In these modern days of virtual communication, it is very rare for an elite athlete, especially with the pressure of sponsors to appease, to have no presence on the internet. As far as I could tell Kyle had no facebook page, no twitter feed and no blog. Frustrating as it was for people interested in his running, it was also liberating. Here was someone who seemed to be untouched by the need to massage his ego, to not feel compelled to tell people what training he was doing and what races he was competing in. I came across snippets that he was organic farming in New Mexico, which appears were true. A couple of days ago I stumbled across the article at the start of this blog.

It is all so easy to pigeon hole ones running and take pride in times, places and performances. It is easy to enjoy the interaction with nature on the paths and trails, but to disregard this love in an holistic sense in life and everyday actions- to refuse to see the negative connection between such things as driving or flying great distances to be part of this beauty. To buy less and ethically, to shun transport utilising fossil fuels, to just be more respectful to our mother earth should all be part and parcel of enjoying nature. It's not easy, just as ploughing by horse instead of tractor isn't..... but it's right. For that, Kyle, I salute you. An inspiration.

Summer then Winter, Summer then Winter.

2012-02-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

After his experiment of living alone in the woods for a year, Thoreau discovered that by living a life of voluntary simplicity he could meet all his expenses 'by working about six weeks a year.' This left him with the whole of his winters, and most of his summers free. Having secured his freedom, which is what he sought, he had no reason to envy (and indeed had reason to pity) the 'succesful' capitalists, merchants, shopkeepers, mechanics, farmers, lawyers, doctors etc, etc, who were money rich , but time poor. He commented that those who spent their time earning superfluous money deserved some credit for not having committed suicide long ago- 'Their highest duty in life to accumulate coloured paper. Does any divinity stir within them? What are their destinies worth compared to coloured paper?'

The following passage continues this belief.
'Those slight labours which afford me a livelihood, and by which it is allowed that I am to some extent serviceable to my contemporaries, are as yet commonly a pleasure to me, and I am not often reminded that they are a necessity So far I am successful. But I foresee that if wants should be increased, the labour required to supply them would become a drugery. If I should sell both my forenoons and afternoons to society, as most appear to do, I am sure that for me there would be nothing worth living for. I wish to suggest that a man may be very industrious, and not spend his time well. There is no more fatal blunder than he who consumes the greater part of his life getting a living.'

A recent article written by an end of care nurse echoed this sentiment. She reported that the most common regret amongst the dieing was that they had spent too much of their time working, when the time could have been spent doing something they truely enjoyed.

I know this, have always known this, even in previous times when I worked alot. I will never work large hours for long periods of time again. My time is more valuable to me than a 52" T.V, or a big house with a big mortage. My value of time dictates I travel by bus, train or bike. The only status symbol I seek is in terms of free time.

I spend large amounts of time thinking.
'What do you really want to do Dennis?' 'Which career would you ultimately like to pursue?'
I think of none.
Eventually I will need some money, and the only way to legally obtain it is by working. Would I be able to earn enough in 6 weeks to last all year? Short of crab fishing in the Bearing Sea, I doubt it. But this view does provide me with hope. Work just the season / part of the season you need to, save and live the rest of the year off the proceeds. Work in an intense short burst is something even I can get my head round.

I hate the English winters. By Christmas my fragile brain chemistry is shot. I hate the darkness. I hate the dull, grey days. I yearn for sun, for adventure.

This summer I will be here. I may be working, but only in a job which demands no responsibility, no stress. Probably minimum wage. Definately minimum time. The light days will provide mornings and late evenings on the beaches and hills.

In the winter I will be gone.

Summer then Winter, Summer then Winter.

Is Life Art?

2012-01-24T05:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever sat next to a pond and watched ducks?
A nice Summers day. It's warm. The sun's shining. The water looks so still and inviting. Some of the ducks are laid on the floor, head tucked under their wings. Some are in a similar position, but standing on one leg. Are they awake or asleep? Why don't they stand on two legs?
Some are swimming, some walking, some flying.
Have you ever sat next to a pond and watched ducks, and thought, ' I wish my life was like that. I wish my life was that simple?'
I have.
I used to live next to some duck ponds.
I did it alot.

-----------------------------

I'm sat at home. The tele's got the radio on. I really can't do with that daytime shit today, rather listen to Radio 5. I'm not very well. Cold. And I'm not supposed to be writing this. I'm supposed to be applying for jobs. Jobs that I don't want. Jobs which I will never take. Playing the system. Ticking the boxes that keep people happy and make it possible to get a few quid off the state. A few quid that I don't need, but a few quid that I'll take anyway. Thanks very much.

The woman looks at my C.V. Maybe shes alittle surprised. Maybe not. The qualifications are there. No doubt, alot better than hers. The work history is terrible. A catalogue of Mcjobs and self employment. Evidence of an education wasted. She asks me what sort of work I am willing to do. ' Ought,' I reply. 'Not bothered.'
'Would you consider working 16 hours a week?' she says.
'Would I still get dole?' I reply.
' No, you would still qualify for housing benefit. You would be better off. Your wage would be about £90 a week'
'Are you fucking mad!' I think. ' I'm getting £70 a week now for nothing. You seriously expect me to work 16 hours for £20?'
'Yes,' I reply. ' I will consider anything.'

------------------------------------------

http://salebyjoggingcentre.blogspot.com/2012/01/story-of-creation.html This post made me think. Life is about creating, but life is also a creation. Perhaps the greatest creation. The opportunity must not be wasted.

The Emergence of 'SLOW'.

2012-01-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

Three or four years ago came an idea which rocked the running shoe manufacturers to the core- the proposition that running in barefeet was good for you and running shoes actually bad for you. The gear manufacturers responded, lowering heel differentials,telling gullible consumers about the benefits of shoes which allowed you to run as if you had no shoes on. New advertising campaigns were designed, damage to profits minimised. The wind of change continues to blow. However this particular paradigm shift is one that threatens the profits of the watch makers, the race organisers and maybe the existence of competitive running per se............The emergence of 'Slow'.

Other outdoor activities seemed to get it from the start.

The surfing scene in the 60;s and 70's,shunning competition and chasing beautiful waves and heavenly locations. They got it.

The Yosemite climbing scene at the same time. They got it.
Chongo, in between smoking weed, holding court at the corner table in the Lodge cafeteria, and discussing quantum theory, liked to climb the big walls. Slowly.
In 1970 Warren Harding and Dean Caldwell spent 29 days on the face of El Cap, putting up the route ' Wall of Early Morning Light.'
In 1981 Richard Jensen and Mark Smith spent 39 days on El cap to establish the route 'Wings of Steel.'
They got it.

Last year I gave thought to running the Spanish pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago. I talked to walkers, looked on the Camino forum and the response was the same, 'Why run it?' Instead of taking 10 days of slog and toil, why not take 30 and enjoy it? They got it.

And times are a changing in my particular love,running. The move towards slowness is quickening. Times are becoming irrelevant. Racing a waste of time. News has reached me of two 'slow' challenges guaranteed to prick up a few years. Two iconic routes under attack by the non fleet of foot.
The first is in the peak district, and will be carried out by a friend of mine,and vanguard of 'The East Lincs Slow Movement.' The fifteen trigs is a well known fell challenge devised by our friends from the Dark Peak. The Fifteen Trigs in Fifteen Days is a test of stamina and courage. Will our friend make it from one trig to the next in one day? Only time will tell.

Tortoise. He got it.

The Endless Summer Gang. They got it.

Chongo on the slackline. He got it.

Enough wine for 29 days?

The Wings of Steel Boys.

Garmin.......Scared.

The second challenge is a biggy. Some say impossible. The 42 day Bob Graham round. Peak out/ camp, peak out/camp, peak out/camp....42 times. One thing for sure- if its successful, and that's a slim if, the public will definitely notice the emergence of 'SLOW.'

Don't forget: ENJOY
THINK BIG
...................THINK SLOW!

A Morning Walk

2012-01-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

The view was always one to savour. It was one that I had seen many times. I had grown up here, spent childhood years playing on the caravan site which was my home, messing around on the beach, swimming in the sea. Even so, as I rounded the point to see the a high tide pushing onto the vast expanse of beach, it was still special. I decided as soon as I drew back the curtains, welcoming in the light of the new day, that I needed to get out. Normally I would decide to run, but that could wait till later, to bring routine to a quiet evening. This morning I fancied a walk.

I made in the direction of Skegness, without haste or idea of final destination. The day was glorious- clear blue skies, a brilliant sun, combined with the chill of a perfect winters morning. My girlfriend had given me a camera for Christmas. I'd take a few pictures, head to the cafe at Winthorpe, have a brew and walk back. I've always walked alot, but mostly as a mode of transport, rather than as a source of enjoyment. Things were slowly changing though, and now walking, especially in the countryside, was starting to appeal to me nearly as much as running. Instrumental in this change of mindset was Satish Kumar.

At the age of nine Satish became a member of travelling Jain monks,practising the doctrine of ahimsa-'Do no harm to living things.' At 18 he became a follower of Gandi, and then after Gandi's death, joined a social movement led by Vinoba Bhave, Gandi's foremost disciple. It was in his twenties that Satish realised the spiritual significance of 'walking.' In the late 1960's Satish and a friend began their 'pilgrimage for peace.' Inspired by the philosopher, Bertrand Russell and his campaigning work against the nuclear threat. the 'pilgrimage for peace' took the form of a 8000 mile journey from India through Russia and Europe to America, all on foot. The two men would spread the word of peace, extol the virtues of vegetarianism and carry no money.

My favourite story involving Satish comes in the form of a chance encounter as Satish and his friend were climbing the Khyber Pass. A car passed the pair and came to a halt. The driver reversed and sensing they may be in difficulty offered the two men a lift. Satish politely declined the offer and stated, ' No thankyou. We're walking.'
'Walking to where?' asked the driver.
'To the United States of America.' stated Satish.
The driver then stated that he was from the USA,and after giving Satish and his friend his address, bade farewell. A couple of years later Satish called the man, reminded him of his chance encounter with those two crazy men in Pakistan who were walking round the world. Well those two crazy men were now in America and , as promised. were coming to pay him a visit!

Satish now resides in Hartland, a village in Dorset. He is Programme Director at Schumacher College, the acclaimed institution specialising in 'green' initiatives and alternative thinking, and editor of the famous bi-monthly magazine,Resurgence. From reports I have read the special thing about Satish are his personal attributes. He shows no emotional signs of rancour, enmity or resentment- all negative emotions that plague me and most people I know. It is this that I aspire to.

--------------------------------------------------------------

As I ran over the fields this evening, my path only illuminated by my headtorch, I once again thought of Satish. A person dear to my heart, when asked by myself what my writings on this blog told her about me, replied, ' Someone who's searching.' The more I've mulled this over this last few days, the more I agree. While others accept, I question. Opinion and confrontation have been, are still are,to some extent my friends. But this is not something I welcome or accept. I am searching, and the search is for inner peace, something that Satish seems to have found. This last year may not have been productive in terms of material gain, but has been productive in the journey to peace. I realise that the path is still long and winding, but progress has been made. Relationships have been repaired and one special person has taught me, not only to love, but to accept love. The path goes on. The walk continues.

The Tryanny of Competition

2011-12-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop/myths.html

Next year marks a major year in British sporting history, when the nation hosts the 30th Olympic Games. A festival and celebration of human sporting achievement, and a chance for athletes to compete in the dreamquest for that illusive Olympic gold medal. With this in mind, I have made a decision- to refrain from any competitive attempt, with the exemption of those events I am already committed to, namely a half marathon in Morocco at the end of January, and the London Marathon in April.

The past year, for myself, has been a year of analyzation. The opportunity to escape the confines of a normal working day has provided plenty of time to think about all manner of things. At the start of December last year I had plans to devote myself to running and I expected to see a marked increase in performance levels. This hasn't materialized. The increase in time to think has, however, allowed me to question many things. One of them is competition.

I remember early school days with immense enjoyment. The highlight of the year were the annual sports days. Myself and my brother were always the best in our year at our tiny primary school. Between us, we won virtually every event. It was with dismay that I attended my own sons primary school sports days and witnessed the 'politically correct' games, which resulted in, neither, winners or losers.

'It's human nature to compete,' I reasoned.
'This is so wrong!'

But, of course I would think like that. I was the kid who always won. I wasn't the one who was not blessed with as much athletic ability, who finished last, was laughed at, mocked in the playground, called names. The results of the sports days were always the same. One person won, the others lost. One persons success resulted in another's failure.

At present, for myself, competition represents a pressure that I do not always enjoy. I dislike the feelings of guilt and failure associated with missing training runs. That gentle nagging which refuses to allow you to settle down for the night, to go out and enjoy yourself, or just, basically, enjoy an unscheduled day off running. In fact, I'm beginning to dislike the whole concept of training full stop, in terms of preparation for a competitive attempt. I want to run because I want to run, not because I'm frightened I won't get under three hours on my next marathon.

Ed Viesturs, the american climber, summed it up for me in his book, 'K2: Life and Death on the Worlds Most Dangerous Mountain.' Although Ed is only one of 26 people to have summited everyone of the worlds 8000m peaks, there is a recurring theme throughout his writing- safety, preparation and humanity. No peak is worth more than attempting to save a fellow climbers life, and, certainly, no peak is ever worth sacrificing your own life for. The aspect of competition- to be the first to climb a peak or establish a new route, or to do it in the fastest possible time, blurs the reasons people take to the mountains in the first place- to feel alive in the wilderness of nature. The ultimate achievement is to be able to enjoy the experiences without the constraints of time, and be able to relish them as memories.

Next year, as my friends and fellow runners obsess over miles, calories, heartrates and personal bests, I'll be out running. Running in wild places, places I've never before trod. When I see something beautiful, I'll stop. When I feel like walking, I'll walk. Without a watch, with nothing to prove. Just enjoying it.

Lifeblood

2011-11-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

Bjork, crystalline, thinking of times past, the box, nothing exists only what I see, and is this real or an illusion, fluoxetine, 5 o'clock depression, not half eh poop pickers, bright eyes, taste of honey, speed, you'll end up with no teeth, yeah but I've got nice trousers.

When I'm happy I sleep. When I'm troubled I sleep.

Remember, Chris, when Edgars grandson, Richard, used to come down? He was so good looking and was always getting off with beautiful girls on holiday, behind his girlfriends back. I thought she would be stunning, but she wasn't. I think of him every time I run on the seafront. The bit near Butlins, that was concreted that summer. You remember? Someone wrote 'Tom Face' in it before it set. Jennifers cousin who wore that two tone suit- it was that time-Quadrophinia-got to be something to do with that.

Harry Hayes, Douglas Jardin, that Scottish girl runner I used to fancy, but can't remember the name of. Gary Numan, Cliff Richards, Radio Luxembourg.

Sat on that bus on way to Kool Kat, with Dom and that divvy girl who took all his knives and forks, got any mintolas?

Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Fugazi

The Emperor wears no clothes.

2011-11-21T02:49:00.000-08:00

Emperor Wu of Liang heard a great Buddhist teacher, Bodhidharma, had come to China. When they met, Emperor Wu asked the teacher how much karmic merit he had gained from his noble support of Buddhism. Bodhidharma replied, 'None at all.'
The Emperor then asked, 'Then what is the truth of the teachings?'
'Vast emptiness, nothing holy,' Bodhidharma replied.
So the Emperor asked, 'Then who are you, standing in front of me?'
'I do not know,' replied Bodhidharma, and walked out.

Today marks a special day. It is one year, exactly, that I found 'no work'. I sold my share in the family business, with the intention of taking a few months out, do a lot of running, abit of traveling, and to reassess in what direction I wanted my life to go. I had plans to run long miles- I have, but no longer than when I was working. I have traveled- but only to the mountains of Gran Canaria for a month or so. I would look for some work as the summer came round- I didn't. As the months passed, despite periods of guilt that I should be working, I discovered that not working was exactly the sort of liberation that I had sought, and I now adored it.

Not working when you have savings is easy, providing a comfort blanket against misfortune and unexpected events. However, as my savings have dwindled, my desire to work has not returned. Choosing not to work and survive on savings is acceptable. Choosing not to work and live off the state is not, or is it? My reconciliation is simple. If the powers that be can afford spending millions on bailing out failing private organizations, and provide a defense budget running into billions, then, weighed against these evils, giving someone a couple of hundred pounds a week to live and provide a roof over their head, is surely no bad thing.

Ultimately, however, I am aware that a culture in which people refuse to work, but rely on state payouts, is not fair and not workable in the long term. If an individual is serious about working less or not at all, there has to be radical changes in lifestyles and attitudes, especially regarding consumption. We currently live in a culture in which hard work, and being a hard worker, is regarded as a noble, rather than a foolhardy trait. It takes innocent eyes to see that the Emperor actually wears no clothes. We are all pressured towards work from childhood, bombarded with aspirations of wealth and ownership. The more you work, the more you earn, the more you buy, the more you own, the more you work. The perpetual circle goes round and round.

To work less we have to consume less, to be prepared to challenge the concept that just because your neighbor owns 'x', which necessitates working 'y' hours, while you, yourself, owns little, the neighbor is in no sense superior. To be able to live a comfortable lifestyle by carrying out the least amount of work possible, freeing up time for leisure and family, is surely the preferable option?

Two weeks ago I moved house. My entire worldly possessions fitted the boot of a super-mini. However, rather than regarding this as a failure, I viewed this as a great success. With every possession shed over the last few years, the burden on me was lifted. The black dog, that constantly walked by my side, was let further off its lead. Although I am certain that I will work again, I am also certain that the amount of hours given over to it will not be excessive. Life is too precious. It is my hope that when politicians or anyone beseech the valve of hard work, then others, in common to myself, will actually see they are naked.

Dale Farm and The Voice of the Bigot

2011-10-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

After promises that there would be minimal police intervention in what is essentially a civil matter involving breaches of planning consent, it was these very people who breached a back wall at Dale Farm and started the days chain of events. The whole scenario astounds me. Many people of all creeds and class are involved in planning disputes with their local authorities, both individual home owners and larger corporations. ( Tesco are notorious in flouting the law). It is rare that these people are subjected to the type of vitriol that has been aimed at the Traveling community who call Dale Farm home.

In a more enlightened and accommodating society, in which I hoped we now live, it has. been saddening to hear and read of comments which can only be construed as rascist. In this age it is no longer acceptable for sectors of society to voice shortsighted and ill informed stereotypical opinions against various ethnic groups, but some peoples opinions towards the travelers have left me stunned. All the usual stereotypes have been trotted out- they don't pay tax, they leave rubbish everywhere, they shoplift, they steal etc, etc. One comment on twitter even described them as ' scum'. The residents of Dale Farm are not on trial. The only issue in question is that they have broken terms of planning consent,and that hardly warrants the degree of hatred aimed at them.

The Simple Things

2011-10-05T02:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm laid on my mat, still in my sleeping bag in a tent in the middle of Leicestershire countryside, peering out at the cloudy sky and rolling green fields, thinking, " Lifes not so bad!" It's the start of October, the start of the dark mornings and cold nights, but the last few days have been idyllic. There's something so pure about camping- not the fill your car with every creature comfort sort of camping, but the walk to the campsite, with everything in your rucksack sort of camping. Waking up when it gets light, snuggling when it gets dark. Listening to the radio on Radio 5 live, above the rustle of the wind and feeling comforted that you are not at home getting irate about who Louis puts through to the final 16, but feeling that maybe the experience would be more pure without this damned phone.

There's a couple on the far side of the field, who appeared walking into the campsite with full packs, looking like they had been on the road for a while. She's got a mediterrean look about her, while he's got curly hair and thick beard. They're young, but you get the impression that they've done the usual India/ Thailand thing and , now they are just carrying on. Traveling the world in their two man tent, with nothing to show for it but late night stories in the dark, experiences of different people and different places, the sun, the wind and the rain- and, of course, their love.

Take me somewhere nice.

2011-09-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

Show me the things for which I've searched,
but never found.
The wonders,the mystery,the feelings,the key.
Pan, on mountain meadows, running naked and hooved.
Echoes of smiles, laughter and love.

Stay calm as I paddle in seas that scream in blue,
to ride on boards with wing keeled fins.
And stand on shores,
that glisten with gold.
Both holding hands, with arms open wide.

Teach me of scales,and bridges,and chords.
Of melodies that rise and somersault and soar.
The best songs play on constant repeat,
In eyes and hearts,
In minds and soul.
Take me somewhere nice.

The Tommy Franklin Story

2011-09-26T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Return of Pan

2011-09-25T03:55:00.000-07:00

After drinking two bottles of wine I awoke this morning 10 minutes before my alarm was due to go off with a headache. The cold I'd had over the last few days seemed to have cleared up to some extent. I no longer had a sore throat, and it was doubtful that the remaining headache had anything to do with illness. It was early- 7.30am and I was going to watch The Berlin Marathon.

I'd had a real easy week, having ran The High Peak 40 at the weekend, and I must admit, totally loving it. The week before I'd been talking to my brother telling him ,again, tof my intent to try to run a few fast 10ks. He replied that in 2012 he doubted that he would race at all. It wasn't that he was not going to run. Indeed he was going to have a mammoth year of running, completing a personal goal of running every country footpath in Lincolnshire. No one ,except people he had chosen to tell would ever know about it, no times would be known, no comparisons able to be made.

After the marathon ended, with my headache easing slightly, I came across a link my brother had posted by Anton Krupicka. In it Anton was discussing the idea of best known times for various runs in his home town to Boulder. The discussion spread to mention of UK fell runners and in particular The Bob Graham Round. My brother had completed this a couple of years previously and what struck me was the way that it seemed to obsess the people who would attempt it. It would literally take over a persons life from first thoughts to completion.

I struggle with concepts of ego. I therefore struggle with various aspects of racing. Of course it is nice to see your photograph on the back page of the local paper, and to have people say they seen how you'd done in race X or race Y, but ultimately its not about that. My struggles lay in the knowledge that I feel an immense personal need to achieve, and the method I've chosen to do this ,at present, is though running. Is it a failure to feel this, or is it a basic need? Whatever the philosophical questions, the main way to achieve the need I have is through racing.

I have big problems about races, both financially and ethically. I chose not to owe a car for environmental reasons mainly, but also for financial reasons and mental health reasons. In an attempt to minimize stresses, the absence of uncertainties such as MOT repair costs, insurance costs etc are liberating to me. Living in Skegness this presents problems. The public transport system is inept and on Sundays (usual race days)non existent. I normally have to cycle the 60 mile round trip to Boston to catch the club transport or rely on lifts from others, both of which are not ideal. The car, especially in rural areas can be a curse to non car users like me. If more people tried to break the cycle of reliance on motor vehicles, maybe there would be more attempt at organizing things locally, or events that could be reached by public transport. Ultimately,however, some problems I'm fully aware are caused by myself. I could join a nearer running club, run for no club or stop running altogether. I could take up a sport that had ample local competition opportunities.

Charity involvement in races also causes me concern,basically because I don't believe in the basic premise of giving to charity, as a moral concept. Racing has, at least in bigger events, become hijacked by charities. This summer the RNLI attempted to organize a beach 10k in Skegness. I'd done it the year before and the organization left alittle of be desired. In some circumstances i.e if the race is cheap, this can be a plus, but the entry was £12. This year the entry was £18. Not surprisingly the event was cancelled, due to lack of entries. If charities want to raise money it would please me personally if they would clear off and did their fund-raising somewhere else.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that , perhaps, the idea of best known times does present an extra option to a person with a competitive drive, but wants to avoid races for one reason or another. The icing on the cake of the best known time idea is , as Anton rightly points out, is that it is a best known time. What about the unknown times? Earlier this year I followed the progress of a woman who attempted ,and succeeded,in completing the pilgrimage walk in Spain, the Camino de Santiago. She was running it to obtain a World Speed record. The only way that it could be a world best would be if every completion had been timed. To my knowledge this is not the case. The same is true of The Bob Graham. Although there is a list of procedures to adhere to in order to officially become part of The Bob Graham Club, as in witnesses of peak ascents etc, the fells,and so the Bob Graham course is open to anyone. Therefore the Bob Graham Club can only give the best known times for the round. The fastest known time was set by Billy Bland in the 80's. It would be a romantic thought that somewhere there could be sitting in his front room, someone who has satisfied his need to achieve, to have run the fastest Bob Graham Round in living history.... but had not told anybody.

The Boston Banksy and The Hackgate Conundrum

2011-07-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an entertaining day. I spent the afternoon glued to the amazing spectacle of the Murdochs being questioned on live tv by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Riveting viewing. Later that night I discovered a work of art worth, potentially, upwards of six figures to anyone who unwittingly owns the masterpiece.

I admire, respect and am intrigued by Banksy. I like the veil of mystery in which he has enveloped himself in. I like the healthy disregard he has towards authority and large corporations, and the way this contempt is demonstrated in his art. I like the way he sets his own agenda and functions outside of normal society rules. Most of all I like the fact that he refuses to authenticate any of his work.

Banksy has claimed that millions of pounds worth of works of art attributed to him are fakes. In 2008 a body set up by the artist himself, 'Pest Control', said that 89 street pieces and 137 screen prints had been falsely attributed to him. In recent years the number may well have escalated. To replicate a Banksy is not hard- all that's needed is a stencil and a spray can, and , as the man himself admits, many of the fakes are of a better quality than his own. The question which needs to be asked is why would someone spend £200,000 plus for a work of art potentially carried out by the young lad down the street with typical teenage interests of grime, M-CAT and street culture. The answer is simple. The buyer is taking a risk that the authenticity of a piece is either positively proved or, indeed, never proved. The ultimate motive is the accumulation of wealth and greed.

Watching Murdoch Snr struggling to answer questions about allegations, to supposedly have little idea of the corruption operating in a company over which he presided, it was hard not to feel sympathy. It was like watching your granddad and feeling the urge to protect him, put an affectionate arm round his shoulder and give him a hug. Then you remember who he is.

Could someone so successful in business really be so oblivious to what was happening under his nose? Was he telling the truth or deliberately denying knowledge in a way routinely done so in previous investigations into corruption by News Corp employees- placing the onus of proving the authenticity of the claims on other people. Disgraceful acts were carried out by Murdoch employees, under Murdoch supervision. The motive was again simple. The accumulation of wealth and greed.

It may take a while for facts to be proved, or they may never be proved, but, at this moment my mind is made. The Boston Banksy is real. Murdoch is lieing.

(Images of Boston Banksy and location withheld until purchase attempt completed. I need to accumulate wealth)

The ' True' Essence of Running.

2011-07-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I posted a clip on a social media site showing scenes from The Self Transcendence 3100 mile race, organized by the Sri Chinmoy organization. Arriving at the clip had been a roundabout route starting with Don Ritchie, the great Scottish ultra legend,leading on to 6 day races and then James E Shapiro's seminal book 'Ultramarathon', in which the author re lives his own attempt to break the US 24hour record at Crystal Palace athletics track in 1979.

The Self Transcendence 3100 mile race is the longest certified race in the world. The competitors seek to compete 5649 laps of a 0.5488 mile course in a time span of 52 days. The route takes the competitors around one single block in Queens, New York. I commented that this race must be the ultimate test of body and mind. The difficulty of running a vast distance is compounded by the enormous mental challenge of negotiating the same stretch of road for such a long period of time. This morning I received a comment on the clip from my brother.
'Soul destroying- a freak show event that is devoid of the true essence of running.'
This got me thinking. What exactly is the true essence of running?

In modern Western society people predominantly run for three differing reasons- physical health benefits, mental health benefits and financial benefits. Humans evolved to run for one reason- to catch food. No one living in the Western world runs to catch food, so surely the 'true ' essence of running has already vanished. The nearest people may get to this is what I term 'Utility running (see previous post, 'Utility running, Rodney Mullen, success is elusive.') However the number of people using running for this purpose is also severely diminished, except in the developing world. People just don't view running as a bone fide means of transport except, perhaps, for running backwards and forwards to work now and again.

The number of athletes able to use running for financial benefit is minuscule. There are opportunities to earn vast sums in distances up to the marathon, but the talent required to take advantage of these opportunities eliminate the majority. Beyond the marathon prize money is virtually nonexistent full stop. The elite runners at these distances would find it difficult to rely on it inorder to fund day to day living.

The physical benefits of running are obvious and immediate, both to the individual and the greater society as a whole. This is where most of us begin. We take up running for the physical benefits bestowed, usually to lose weight or just 'get fit'. For most who continue to run long after the physical benefits are effected, it is usually to do with the mental health benefits afforded.

It is here that things get complicated. The mind is a complex mechanism and the predominant tool in formation of individual personality traits. People think differently, like different things. While some like rock, others like country. The same is true with running. Some people like roads, some like trails. Some like the flat, others the mountains and the fells. Some like short, others long. If one were to put it to competitors in the 3100 mile race that their performances were devoid of the true essence of running, they would certainly beg to differ. Similarly, if one were to put it to competitors in The Hardrock 100 or to someone attempting a Bob Graham Round that their attempts were devoid of the true essence of running, they would also disagree.

The thing is, in areas such as this, there are no rights and wrongs. Everyone identifies their own essence. There is no ' true' essence, only your own. That is why it is so beautiful.

The journey.....or the destination?

2011-06-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was hot. Very hot. The kind of day where your life energy seems to have deserted you and all you feel good for is lounging around, gradually feeling more irritated. I usually like running in the heat, like the freedom of being able to run in just shorts and shoes, but yesterday even got me. I waited and waited for the temperatures to ease and by the time I laced up the flats it was approaching 9pm. The run was easy, about 10 miles and by the time I reached back to the carabanger , it was turning dark. As I hit the last section of road before home I started to increase the pace, as is normal at the end of most of my runs. The heat was still present, and as I reached halfway down the home straight, I started to feel it. It was then that a thought entered by head. I slowed down, and as I reached the banger , was feeling a mixture of exhilaration and calmness.

In my current circumstance I have felt self imposed pressure to produce some sort of race performance which would leave me feeling satisfied with myself. I have chosen not to work for a while, not particularly to run, but have a chance to experience life at a slower pace. However I have had more time to run and felt that if I did not start running better, then the whole experience would be abit of a waste of time. As I made it halfway down the last straight, the thought that entered my head was the question of the journey and the destination. Most running I do is with a destination in mind- a race, a performance, whatever. Most of the running anyone does has a destination in mind- to lose weight, get fitter, whatever. As most wise people will tell you , it is the journey, not the destination, that is to be savored. Enjoy the present, don't think too much of where it will all lead. This got me thinking, ' Is it possible to enjoy running as a journey with no destination?"

I know plenty of runners who train hard and race hard and often. It is the competitive aspect of the personality that gives them the determination to get out on those cold, dark winter nights - the thought of that target race of the year or new pb. I know plenty of runners who don't train hard, but like to race. However I don't know any runners ( well, maybe one) who train hard, but do not have the desire to race. Is it possible for someone to continue running ,say 100 miles a week, with absolutely no plans to race? To enjoy the journey so much that there does not need to be a destination. In some pursuits competition is frowned upon by the purists. The original Yosemite dirtbags looked with derision at the advent of competitive climbing, and so was the case with surfing. To love the actual act of running in so much as that it is all you need is surely a desirably thing. To love the purity, the expression of freedom, so much that the ego does not need reassurance from race performance. To know the journey is, in itself, enough. That you do not need a destination.

Unstructured

2011-06-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

I loved running as a kid, did it for fun and for a few brief years was the best in my limited, small environment. I was the fastest person in primary school and , after moving up to secondary school, was one of the fastest there. I liked winning, liked to be known as being a good runner. I knew in the grand scheme of things that I would never be a world beater, and this was emphasized as the level of competition increased. I may have held my own to County level, but after that I was nowhere.

This was especially emphasized on going to Birmingham university. If you were a runner in the mid 80s and was interested in further education there were only two places worth their salt. The king of the pile was Loughborough University, riding on a running wave since the exploits of Seb Coe. They had Graham Williamson, Jack Buckner and a host of domestic running talent. I applied for Loughborough. It was top of my list. I got rejected.

Next on the list was Birmingham. It had great credentials and great athletes at the time. In my first year the National Junior Cross Country was won by one of our lot- Chris Sweeney. Bev Hartigan( then Nicholson),winner of a 1500m medal in the Commonwealths in the early 90s was on my course and a close friend for a while. Although being in such a positive environment did have many pluses, it also served to reinforce my own mediocrity. I knew that however much effort I put in, I would never achieve a standard I had dreamed of achieving. I spent my youth running for fun. I had whole periods at 13/14 yrs of age where I would get up before school and run a 4 mile loop round the village. On getting home I would run two laps of the circuit. I ran this with my twin brother. We,d run this on school days, then on weekends run longer. It felt like it was us against the world. We were obsessed by the US marathon stars of the day, people like Alberto Salazar and Bill Rodgers and ran because we loved it. It also gave us identity. We were the Rainbows - and we were runners.

With the increase in aspirations and effort, came the increase in structure. From running for as far and how often I liked, I now had training schedules, set sessions to be done everyday and at specific paces, and it was great. I wanted structure, wanted to feel like a proper athlete in training. This involved sacrifice and self control. When I was competing at a lower level and winning the effort seemed worthwile, however, as it became evident that I was not as good as I hoped, the effort and sacrifice became a bone of personal contention. I wanted to do things that normal people of my age did- get drunk, party, live a little. The structure imprisoned me and , in the end, I dived from the rocks of Alcatraz and swam to shore. I gave up running.

For twenty years I ran little. I would attempt to get fit at odd times, but commitment was lacking. As I made it to the midway point , I weighed over 15 stone, was overworked, under motivated, unhappy. I made tentative steps to running, and then competing and have been ever since. I vowed I would learn for my mistakes, would run to enjoy like I did when I was 14, would not do anything I didn't enjoy. My inspirations were the new breed of US runners. As, in my youth when motivated by the marathon men, I was again motivated by the long distant trail runners. Runners like Kyle Skaggs, Eric Skaggs and Anton Krupicka possessed not only immense talent, but embodied an ideal more akin to activities such as climbing and surfing- they lived to run, broke the rules, lived minimally, had long hair, looked cool. I wanted to run long miles, to free myself from some traditional aspects of aspiration, to drop out, to grow my hair- and for a while I did.

I ran long miles, grew my hair, had a sprinkling of local success, but stuck true to my ideals. I liked running big distances, but slow. I loathed speedwork and did none. I timed no runs, accurately measured no runs, took days off when I felt like it, made sessions up on the spur of the moment and , in the most part enjoyed it. Then I ran London this year. I ran a mediocre time, but I felt a sense of achievement- 2hrs 54m. It awakened a desire to run faster and I immediately
signed up for the Amsterdam Marathon in October. I found myself getting uptight about my non improving times for short distances, and listening to my peers who advised that my training needed more structure.

Its The Western States 100 this weekend, possibly the best known long distance trail run in the world. The internet has been full of pre race interviews and numerous blog updates from the main contenders. Yesterday I sat reading an update from Geoff Roes on his excellent blog, Fumbling towards endurance. Geoff is arguably the best long distance trail runner in the world today. He is undefeated in all 100 mile trail races he has competed in. In his latest entry he mentioned that his approach to this years race has been characterized by one main thing- lack of structure.

I pondered this throughout the day. I thought of my last post where I mentioned increasing mileage by 10% a week and introducing speed work into the equation. I thought of this introduction of structure. Then I made a decision. I'm not running Amsterdam, not sticking to any prearranged schedule, not doing any speedwork. I don't care if I run faster over 5k, 10k or the marathon. I want to run long miles, enjoyable miles. I've entered myself in a couple of long races for later in the year instead,trail ultras over testing courses. I want to compete, but on my own terms. To run with a sense of abandonment and lack of structure. I look to my ultra inspirations and want to emulate their lifestyles of running and simplicity, to be in tune with myself and my surroundings, to grow my hair and a long, bushy beard. It is with their inspiration that I once again have an identity.

My name is Dennis Rainbow. I am a runner.

Mas Locos are go!

2011-06-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

This weeks training.

Saturday 11th June. 20miles easy. Shoes:Ascis Hyperspeed 4
Sunday 12th June. am 8 miles easy with the club. Hyperspeed 4
pm 7 miles easy. Hyperspeed 4

The morning run was gorgeous along the beach in warm sunshine. The evening run was a trial against adversity- rain and strong wind.

Monday 13th June. 10 miles easy. Hyperspeed 4
Tuesday 14th June. am 10 miles easy. Ascis Piranha
pm 7 miles easy. Hyperspeed 4

Wednesday 15th June. pm Wolds Dash race 7.3 miles- total with warmup/down 9 miles. Ascis piranha

This was the second race in The Wolds Dash Series over a slightly longer course of 7.3 miles. It was my first race since the bad run at Woodhall Spa. I managed to finish in 5th place and was pleased with that. Felt very strong over the second half of the race after struggling abit over the first couple of miles.

Thursday 16th June. noon Yoga for 90 mins.
I've been doing this once a week yoga class for about 4 months now and am convinced that there are a multitude of benefits to be gained from it for runners, in terms of flexibility and increased strength. While I am not sure it will increase levels of performance, I am sure that it will become integral to me in terms of injury prevention.

pm 7 miles easy with club

Friday 17th June. Day off.

Total miles for the week. 78miles.

Overall it was an ok week. It is the first time in a few years when I have actually scheduled a day off into the training week. Normally a day off occurs every few weeks as and when I feel like it. The race on Wednesday was pleasing and the plan is to continue to increase the total mileage by 10% a week over the next 5 weeks until the volume is about 120 miles a week. At present I'm going to concentrate on keeping one fast session a week in the form of either a race or fast run/ interval session and one long, continuous run of over 20 miles. Once I reach 120 miles I'll start to integrate another fast session a week into the weekly mix, before gradually easing down the mileage on the last four weeks before Amsterdam.

The big news this week is the official news of a visit from Micah True/ Caballo Blanco
, the main character in the best selling book, Born to Run, and organizer of The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon. I was blessed a couple of years ago to make the long trip down to the bottom of the Canyons to the small town of Urique,where the race starts, and compete in the CCUM. The trip,for me and most others who have made the journey was a life changing experience. To experience a glimpse of the culture of the Tarahumara was a privilege,and it is the safeguarding of their unique culture that Micah has devoted his life to, and in the process inspiring thousands to run free.

Micah will be visiting the Uk in September on a speaking tour to raise awareness of the Tarahumara culture and fund raise for the cause. From reports of his talks in the US, the nights promise to be immensely interesting and entertaining for runners or anyone open to a good story. Dates confirmed so far can be found at http://caballoblanco.weebly.com

Week 4/6/2011 - 10/6/2011

2011-06-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday 4/6- Northern Track and Field League, Doncaster.
Again a depleted team resulted in the same old suspects doing as many events as possible just to score points. The end result is a lot of races and very few good performances. Its not just our team, but seemingly everyone and it does make you wonder what is the point of these leagues and how long it will be before they die out altogether.
Competed in 3000 steeplechase, 5000m, 400m, 4 x 400m relay and Triplejump. I don't know the exact times/ distances, but know they were all terrible!

Sunday 5/6 - Woodhall Spa 10k. 45th. 38.36m
A bad run -about 40secs slower than last year. Felt terrible from the start, but did seem to get into my stride at about 4k. Would have liked a pb (37.58m), but it was not to be. Yesterdays long, tiring day didn't help.
Shoes: Asics Piranha

Monday 6/6- p.m. 13 miles easy. Shoes: Asics Piranha

Tuesday 7/6 noon. 10 miles easy. Shoes: Asics Hyperspeed 4
p.m. 8 miles easy with the club. Shoes: Asics Hyperspeed 4

Wednesday8/6 noon. 10 miles easy. Shoes: Asics Hyperspeed 4
p.m 7 miles steady. Felt good on this run which was faster than marathon pace. Shoes: Asics Hyperspeed 4

Thursday 9/6 noon. Yoga for 90mins
p.m 6 miles easy with the club. Shoes: Asics Hyperspeed 4

Friday 10/6 Day off. One of those days. I had problems with backache and toothache, both increasing my levels of tiredness. Had 20 mile long run today, but decided to put tat off for a day. I have decided to have one day off from running each week now.

Miles for the week: 70

The Cost of Running: Saturday. Train return fare to Boston £9.00
Bus Cost to venue. £8

Sunday. Entry to race. £12
Monday. Work Day at Running club. Train return £9
Tuesday. Train to club session. £6
Training fee £3.50

Total for the week: £46.50

The main point to be taken from the week is that I have realized that I need rest. It may be an age thing, but I do find that I get to the stage every now and then where I feel listless and totally de motivated. From now on I am taking one days rest a week. Next week I am introducing one day of intervals into my training, in an attempt to increase my basic speed. If I want to get a pb at Amsterdam I realize that I have to work on my basic speed.

The fact that I spent nearly £50 on running last week surprised me. This is mainly in the form of race entries and in getting backwards and forwards to Boston. Taking the train is roughly twice as expensive as taking the bus, but the cut in the bus service leaves me with little choice. I was looking at racing once or twice a week, but , on reflection, this is an unnecessary cost on what I would basically regard as training. I may as well just discipline myself to train hard from my door step, which will cost me nothing. I have decided to race the Spilsby 6 in early July and then The Seabank Marathon in mid July. I may find a half marathon for mid August- we'll see!

Ch,Ch,Ch,Ch, Changes.

2011-06-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

As we again move into the summer, then life ,as is often the case, throws up little surprises and hints of promise. It is a lucky man who is able to follow whims and chances of adventure, to be free from the normal shackles of life, all entirely inflicted on ourselves, and feel excitement at what may be just around the corner.

Until then its the mundane. My terrible run at Woodhall has energized me this week, given me an extra slice of motivation that has been lacking somewhat on the comedowm from London. Negatives forming a positive, reaffirming my belief that , with the correct attitude, all negatives can be viewed as positives if the right lessons are learnt and acted upon, which , in turn, mean negatives do not really exist! I'm back to twice daily training. Despite my attempt to get a run in early morning, they haven't materialized. I love sleeping, love waking and knowing that I can nap for another couple of hours, so I figure why deprive myself. The two runs therefore take the form of a mid day run and then a run at about 7/8 o'clock.

I've spent a few hours this week reading the excellent blog of U.S runner Nick Clark- Dirt Mountain Running. I don't know why it is but I find the blogs of these american trail runners just so much more inspiring than those of British based runners. Its interesting to read of the basic speed that Nick has. This year at New Orleans he ran a 2.36 marathon and he is expected to be at the sharp end at The Western States in a couple of weeks. A definite darkhorse to watch for. Even though he predominantly runs distances over 50k, he does at least one interval session a week on the track, running reps of distances from 300m through to a mile. Very interesting and something to definitely keep in mind.

Another interesting thing about Nick is that he has a definite interest in the cost of running. I've decided to follow Nicks example and log the actual ' Cost of Running' for an entire year. This will include money spent on anything to do with running,from shoes and kit, to race entries,transport,and costs involved through participation with my running club. It will be interesting to find out. It is in my interests to keep this as low as possible, alleviating the need to work too much and if this means cutting back on racing etc,so be it!

Another interesting read was the competitive life of U.S triathlete Scott Molina. He detailed his life in the 80's and his constant search for competitions which offered prize money. He would forgo certain higher reputation races if a less established race offered him the chance to win money,and hence ensure he could maintain his lifestyle of training and competing, which he loved. As always the time spent running, in this case ,an easy 10 this morning gave me ample time to think. Lately I have rallied against athletes selling their souls for the cooperate dollar, but, on reflection, is this a bad thing. People who devote large amounts of time to any particular activity normally do things because of a financial incentive. Why not runners? The amateur ethics of the sport which were not really broached until the mid 80,s may be a curse. Athletics in this country is suffering precisely because no money can be earn until elite standards are reached. Compare this to football where even lower league players can earn decent living. Of course to attract money one has to attract sponsors, and to attract sponsors one has to attract viewers. Maybe things need to change. Clubs are faltering because they cannot attract coaches/ officials/ whatever because these activities are carried out purely on a voluntary basis. Instead of thinking that this is the right and noble way that things should be carried out, should clubs be run as a business instead of a service?

The Boredom of Minimalism.

2011-06-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more boring than people going on and on about things ( I should know because I do it a lot , I'm told!). Although I do agree with the reasoning behind the barefoot/ natural/ whatever marketing departments want to call it debate, I tire of reading yet another article about how man was made to run in bare feet etc/etc/etc and the usually accompanying feature on minimal running shoes. Minimalist running shoes are nothing new. Most major brands have always carried them in their ranges in the form of racing shoes. It is boring to see the same features on the same brands- vibram/ vivo barefoot etc, etc- all having two similar characteristics- not a lot of cushioning and very expensive. I have some vibrams and have trained and raced in them. They may be minimal, you may run like nature intended, but you do feel like a prize plonker. They just look crap and make you feel like a circus clown. Plus they are way too expensive. Instead of buying the 'now' brands and paying a fortune , it just needs abit of thought and creativity. I bought a pair of Puma Cortland 11's(cross country spikes), cut out the metal spike bits on the bottom and had a great shoe( except, ironically, in the mud!) And they were £9.99. My latest shoes are the Ascis Piranha. I know the Piranha 3 or 4 is out now, so mine have been lurking about in the back of a shop somewhere, but for £30 they are great. Plus they make you feel cool! They conjure up images of Frank Shorter and other great runners in the mid/late 70's in their Tiger flats and Quenton Cassidy on his comeback in the US marathon Trials for the 84 olympics ( note - he is fictional. I'm refering to the sequel to the book , Once a Runner!) They don't make you run any faster though. Today I ran Woodhall Spa 10k half a minute slower than last year. Last year I was running in the Hitec vlite sirocco sandal and that's not a shoe even designed for running! But ,as I said , I did feel cool!

Training for the marathon is a potentially complex business. I've entered for Amsterdam in mid October, with the obvious intention of setting a personal best. Having ran 2.56 last year at London and 2.54 this year, I would love to achieve a sub 2.50 showing. Both previous times have been set on big miles ran ,predominantly, slowly. After London this year I thought I may improve if I start to adjust training and incorporate a few faster sessions. After racing today( 38.30ish 10k) I'm not so sure. I can compete with guys in the marathon who have much more basic speed than me. I've raced, and beaten, people I know with 10k times of around 35mins ,over the marathon, while my pb is a meagre shade under 38mins.I know that one of my heroes, Ron Hill, basically advocates that a good marathon can be run on big mileage mixed with regular racing over varying distances(at least 1 or 2 times a week). After great personal experimentation, he found that training over 140 miles a week had little extra benefit. Everyone keeps telling me that I need more structure to my training. What I think they mean is more quality, as it has structure in the form of going out once or twice a day. So I think I'll give the Ron Hill approach a go for this attempt. I'll try a get a mid week and weekend race in and mix this with big weekly mileage and a weekly single long run of 20 miles plus and see what happens.

One thing I did enjoy about todays race was running without a watch. The battery has worn out on mine so it was a decision taken out of my hands. I've been reading about Steve Jones a lot this week and how he liked to run on instinct. In the first marathon he finished at Chicago he ran without a watch and won the race in a low 2. 08. I thought it would be interesting today if wearing a watch, and being able to check for splits actually made any difference. I thought that ,for me, it wouldn't - if I was running well and had good early splits then I try to keep that pace hoping for a good un, and if my splits were bad,invariably, I was feeling bad and couldn't speed up anyway. Today I knew I was running a bad one and thought I was on pace for between 38 and 39 and I was!

Anyway- onwards and upwards!!

In the Club

2011-05-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

A very well respected and highly accomplished coach from my running club was commenting to me on the modern mind set, where people are likely to presume that information that is charged for, is, in some way more valuable than information that is given away for free. The subject matter was the rise in the number of personal trainers charging for their services. Some may have relevant experience, but many do not. The art of running can sometimes be a complex beast, sometimes not improved by mere text book knowledge, but by experience.

Many of the older generation of athletes rose through the ranks of the British athletic club system and realize their importance, but many of the new generation of runner, seemingly targeted by the monthly running periodicals, such as Runners World et al, seem to have lost that connection. Virtual running clubs, online coaching, and various websites provided by equipment providers offer ways to keep motivated and dish out snippets of advice, but are no match for the knowledge to be gleaned form joining a local club. Our club, as most, is all served by coaches on a purely voluntary basis. The expertise given, aside from a small session fee and yearly club subscription, is all passed on for free. This is not a reflection of the quality of advice, more a reflection of the character of the people who give up countless hours a week, not for financial reward, but for the reward of seeing improvement , both athletic and personal, that involvement in our sport results in.

A lot of beginners tend to regard joining a club as the domain of the superfit. This couldn't be further from the truth. Our club, as most others, have a mix of fast and slow, young and old- but they provide a meeting pot for people who share a passion, regardless of ability. So my advice to any of the new breed- join your local club!

Yesterday was the first of my ' slow races.' This is a reference not to my running pace, but to the overall ethos of racing. Currently having plenty of free time on my hands affords me the priviledge of taking life at a more relaxed pace that normal. Instead of rushing from work, running, then rushing back home again, I wanted to make a simple local race into an event. The first of the Wolds Dash series, hosted by Louth Ac was held last night. This forms part of a 5 race , midweek series over distances from 4.5 to 7 miles. They are the sort of races I love- £3 to enter, low key, basically, but adequately organized, with a field of mainly local club runners. The cycle to Louth is around 22 miles. This took me a couple of hours steady biking and ,as I warmed up for the race, hadn't seemed to take anything out of my legs. My 6th place in the race was my highest placing in a Dash for many a year. After warming down, chatting and having a post race brew, I commenced the ride back in beautiful ,warm summer weather. I eventually made it back to the carabanger at 10.45pm. Altogether I'd been out and about for nearly 8 hours in order to run a £3 race, but the enjoyment of the day was immense. The Slow Life indeed!

Monday Morning Blues

2011-05-16T02:42:00.000-07:00

Mondays were always difficult days for me. I'd set off from Skegness on Friday around 6pm and start the 2 hour drive to Barnsley to pick my workmate up. I'd already be tired from a hard week working the markets and venturing to Manchester a couple of times on buying trips. I'd pick up Johnny,then start the 2 hour plus drive down the M1 and M69 to Wellsbourne Market,just south of Coventry. We'd call at the motorway services and stock up on items needed to stay awake- cigarettes and Red Bull normally. Invariably Johnny would be asleep within half an hour of leaving the services, despite his Bonkers cds still being played at full volume. We'd reach the market just before midnight and try and sleep. The back of the van was full, leaving only the cab. Johnny stretched over the passenger seats,while I slept upright behind the steering wheel.

We'd be up at 4a.m, setting the stall up,then work a full day. By the time we'd packed away for the day it'd be between 6 and 7p.m. We,d begin the drive back up north to a patch of wasteground just outside the field where Thorsby sunday market was held,have something to eat,sometimes a beer, then try to sleep again. At the stroke of 4 a.m we'd be up again for another days work. After dropping Johnny off I'd get home for around 9 p.m , stopping at the shop to get a bottle of wine. I looked forward to Sunday nights. Friday and Saturday nights out were never on the radar, so Sunday was my night. I'd make sure I never went to bed without drinking the whole bottle, despite the normal protests from my wife and despite,invariably waking up in the early hours alone on the sofa, with just the TV for company.

Mondays became a day of melancholic moods. Those close to me knew to keep their distance. It was the day when problems seemed larger than before, and although I never worked on Mondays, I rarely enjoyed my one day off.

Things have greatly changed since then. I have an enviable life of leisure now compared to those times. Mondays normally fall into the pattern of just another day. However twice this past month there has been news which has contributed to a revisit of the ill forgotten Monday Blues.

In the age of social networking, a quick morning glance at twitter is normally enough to ascertain what has been happening in the world overnight. Three weeks today I awoke to be greeted by the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden. After spending a few minutes reading messages I was overcome with a sadness that I just couldn't shake. It's not that I was sad over in murder of Bin Laden especially, but the way his death was being glorified. Everyone has beliefs and everyone has the power within to exercise how to see their beliefs are implemented. I always hold dear the hope that change can occur through peace and non violence. Bin Laden choose,in my view, the wrong path. But he was not alone. The major governments in the world,with their involvements over the last few years in Afganistan and Iraq,were equally wrong. The fact that a persons murder could ever be celibrated is a sad indictment of human nature. For the whole day I felt sad.

I awoke this morning in a relatively good mood, but on checking twitter, again saw some sad news which,again filled me with sadness. Sammy Wanjuri, the 2008 olympic marathon champion had been found dead at his home in the Rift valley, Kenya after apparently jumping from his own balcony. I witnessed Sammy at first hand as he won The London Marathon in 2009. That year he won the race in a fraction over 2 hrs 5 mins, and I remember reading a race report in AW where he had berated his pace makers at the half way point of the race to go faster,even though they were already on world record pace. Sammy ran two of the classic marathons in history,firstly overcoming the heat of Bejing in 2008,then winning an epic man on man battle at Chicago in 2010. Running provided him with the financial riches only dreamt of sportsman, but ,as is often the case, wealth, it seems, did little to affect affairs of the heart. There had been reports of domestic conflict between Sammy and his spouse, and early reports would seem to point to this conflict having a part to play in his death.

Let's Go Fishing For a Dream.

2011-04-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

One day, as the high sun set over the mountains of the most sacred kingdom, a ragged messenger crossed the moat and entered the wooden gates to the castle. He was ushered inside, truly and diligently by the Royal servants, until he stood in front of the King himself.

" It is true, Sire. It has been reported that a peasant in the outer reaches has indeed been fishing, and catching dreams, in the Great Lake of Tranquility."

The Kings eyes widened. His Kingdom ruled the world. He had gradually gained more wealth, more power, more possessions than anyone on Earth. He worked hard, suffered no fools, and would stop at nothing to get whatever he wanted. However one thing bothered him. When he finally allowed himself to sleep, he could no longer dream.

The next day the King sent a thousand of his finest men to the Lake of Tranquility.
" Catch me a dream" he ordered.
The men fished all day and caught only fish.

The next day the King doubled his efforts and sent two thousand men to the Lake of Tranquility.
" Catch me a dream" he ordered.
The men fished all day and caught only fish.

The peasant walked to the Lake on the first day to see one thousand men surrounding it. He loved to fish, but more so enjoyed the peace offered by the Lake of Tranquility. He would set up his rod, then relax in the midday sun. He had no money, no possessions, but a wife who loved him. And he had time. Time to enjoy. Time to fish.

After sleeping he would walk back to the village to be asked, " Have you caught anything?"
" No", he would reply. " Only a dream."

The second day the peasant walked to the Lake. He saw double the amount of people there than the day before.
" Nevermind", he thought, "I've plenty of time. I'll come back tomorrow."

He turned around and started the walk back to the village. He smelt the wild garlic growing nearby,listened to the beautiful birdsong. He smiled as his son ran towards him with a huge smile on his face.
" I may not be rich", he thought, " but I'm wealthy."

As he reached his hut he kissed his wife and sat on his front step. The sun still shone brightly. He was tired. He closed his eyes and slowly fell to sleep.

And then he started to dream.

London Marathon 2011

2011-04-18T02:19:00.000-07:00

If I'm honest I wasn't particularly looking forward to running the London this year. The weekend jaunt to the Capital with the clubmates is always a great weekend, but in the proceeding weeks I almost wished that I was just going down to spectate, not compete. I had gradually become disillusioned over the last year or so with,what I considered the negative side of running-the high race costs,the charity involvement, the whole commercial side of things. After London I would concentrate on low cost,local,low key running or even cut back on the amount of competitive running I did full stop. That was until yesterday.

I was aiming again for a sub 3 hour performance. My best time ,well only road marathon time was set in last years race at 2hrs 56.30 something. If I bettered that it would be a bonus. I had been putting in lots of miles,the majority of which were slow. The only runs I ever did at sub 8 min mile pace were races. The last race before London was The Friskney Half Marathon which I ran about half a minute slower than last year in 1 hour 24 .14. I was disappointed with this, and thought that maybe a sub 3 performance might even be out of the question. I finished yesterday in 2 hrs 54. 27 - taking about 2 minutes off my best. I managed to run a relatively steady paced run and thought that I might have managed 1 or 2 minutes faster, had it not been for aching thighs from around 8 miles.

I awoke this morning feeling inspired. An event which I considered to sum up the worst aspects of running, has actually given me a buzz I have not felt for a while. In my quest for self I had,all but decided, that the way to go was to escape the mass participation events in favour of the tranquility of the trails. I had penciled in a couple of big trail runs this summer,but,at this moment feel the urge to do things a little faster. I find myself getting excited about the challenge of running a sub 2 hour 50 marathon.

I sometimes get this elitist view on running. Personally I get inspired by people who take things to extremes. However everyone has their own priorities in life, and for most running is just a small part of it. I tend to think of running, not only physically, but spiritually. It defines who I am and provides me with things I desire in life and have failed to find elsewhere. It has power. This morning thousands of people will be going to work, each with their own unique story to tell about their run in The London Marathon. Some will have succeeded,some will have failed, but all will be feeling that power- and that surely is a great thing.

The Slow Race Tour 2011

2011-04-12T03:21:00.000-07:00

The current financial situation is cutting deep into many peoples pockets. Regardless of which political party is to blame, it does provide an ideal chance for people to step back slightly,reassess their lives and, perhaps change things for the better.

It seems ironic that in times where everyone is conscious of the effects of enviromental abuse, and severely aware of the ever escalating fuel prices and the cost of motoring,that ,in the name of finance, it is public transport that is suffering. Many people I know are, for maybe the first times in their adult lives, realizing the actual cost of motoring and exploring the potential of using public transport as an alternative. It was with great dissappointment, therefore, that I found that the extent to which bus routes operated by our local provider were being cut. I travel from Skegness to Boston at least once a week. Our club training nights on Tuesday finish at 9 pm and the last bus back to Skegness was at 9.45 pm. The last bus has now changed to 6.45 pm. Sunday services,which allowed me to reach Boston in order to connect to club transport for race days have curtailed altogether.

In my present circumstance I am lucky. Taking a prolonged break from work offers me the benefit of time. I can quiet easily cycle the 26 odd miles to Boston with no real hassle, but things would certainly be different if there were constraints on my time. This situation does emphasis the position we place ourselves in in modern day society. We work/play sometimes in places that make us reliant on motorized transport. Instead of moaning about the cost of traveling or the unavailability of transport, maybe we should travel less ,for the main part, and concentrate on working/playing in areas that are either local or accessible by non motorized forms of transport.

It was with this thought in mind that I formulated the plan for my 'Slow Racing Tour'. The Slow Movement is a movement which encompasses many things- Slow Food, Slow Travel, Slow Journalism, Slow Fashion etc and basically advocates a cultural shift towards slowing down lifes pace. It is about living life and experiencing life in a fundamentally different way. It is about connectivity with the land, family and friends -about the valve of time and the importance of its presence in a modern world where urgency, speed and deadlines are king.

I began by identifying several criteria for races to fit the bill. Firstly they all had to be accessible either by walking or biking. This meant that the distance from Skegness could not realistically be much more than 30/40 miles away. Secondly they had to be cheap. I don't want another useless medal or trophy,and have quite enough t-shirts already, thankyou. What I want is cheap entry fees. Thirdly the races had to be somewhere nice. Surrounded by beautiful countryside we are,in Skegness, blessed with plenty of scenic villages which for one day or night a year are the venue for low key road races. The locations would have to have campsites or be remote enough to allow me to get away with a spot of wild camping for either the night before or after the race. It excited me to think that a low key race, with maybe 100 runners, could potentially be turned into a 2 or even 3 day low cost adventure.

The races were easy to find. Several local clubs arrange a summer series of races. The races are all no frills. They have no prizes, consist mainly of local club runners and have an average cost of £3. The Slow Race Tour is about getting back to the basics of running. It is about experiencing very simple pleasures. It is about racing other runners, instead of the clock. It is about helping the grass routes-the local running club,the local pub, the local shop etc. However , most importantly, it is a chance to stick up two fingers to the 'everything needs to be done quickly' crowd and just doing things at my own pace. Slow.

The Slow Race Tour Dates:

The Croxby Crawl Race Series- Wed 4th May 4.4 miles
Wed 1st June 8.8 miles
Wed 6th July 8.8 miles
Wed 3rd August 4.4 miles
Wed 31st August 4.4 miles

The Wolds Dash Series, Hubbards Hills, Louth-

Wed 18th May
Wed 15th June
Wed 13th July
Wed 10th August
Wed 7th September

The Clickem 5 mile series- Wed 11th May
Wed 22nd June
Wed 20th July

The Present

2011-04-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

' The secret to health for mind and body is not to morn for the past,worry about the future,or anticipate troubles,but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.'

Buddha.

I have always been a seeker,seeking to find that secret which would lead to that unobtainable nirvana that we all strive towards. Intrinsically I have always known that it was not to be found in many things that people attach importance to in the search. I have never aspired to own the traditional trappings of success,even when working hard and earning good money.I have never owned,or wanted to own a house,have never had vehicles which could be used to display monetary or social status. My fault is more complex-living too much of my life in the past and the future.

Failures,especially in terms of the heart,haunt me-taint my view of the world today.I still harbor grudges from times past and refuse to accept that people/lifes/opinions would have changed. I reminisce with songs,allow them to take me back to times past-both good and bad. The same old songs,the same old artists.

I look to the future. I am a dreamer. I dream of love to be won,races to be run,challenges to conquer-all in the future. At the end of the day I realize that I've spent all day planning and missed out on a beautiful morning full of bird song,a wild winter walk on a stormy beach,a chance encounter with an old friend-the present. I realize that life needs to be lived in the present,accept the past,forget the grudges,allow change and forget about the future. The future can only be shaped by what we do today.

I finished my last job precisely because it robbed me of the present. I enjoyed the company of workmates,but this was not enough to compensate for the tedium that I felt. I found myself wishing away the present ,looking forward to the next break/the end of the day/the end of the week. It became obvious that I could no longer accept this. Life is too brief,too full of wonder and opportunities to wish a vast proportion of it away.

Running allows me to connect with the present. The moments when you are acutely aware of your body,your breathing,the surrounding. Running in fivefingers helps-allows me to be aware of the terrain,to feel the difference even between the different road surfaces-allows me to connect with the present.

Still,with running,it is easy to lose the present. On long gentle runs it is easy to let the mind wander,thinking of events past and future,to miss out on what is happening around you. Indeed the whole competitive aspect of running lends,at least in part, to living in the future. Everyone has times and races they would like to achieve and do well in and therefore look to the future. My goal is simple-to enjoy my running everyday. If there's aspects of training I dislike-intervals or circuits for example, I will think of how I could make them enjoyable,and if I draw a blank,simply not do them. I now place no emphasis on race performances,if I run well-all well and good,if I don't -theres always another. The ironic thing is my performances continue to improve. To forget about the future allows me to forget about races,allows me to disconnect with preformance as a booster to ego.I don't follow any schedule,don't run any set distances or times.I like to run longer and like to run relatively slow-to enjoy the run,enjoy the present.I'll run as my mood on the day takes me.

Tuesday was a case in point. I awoke in the morning to a beautiful, bright spring day. It was precisely the sort of day for spending outside. I wanted to run and wanted to run long. I decided to run the 26 mile seabank marathon course from Skegness to Boston,mainly because I had training that night at Boston with the club and running there ,on such a great day would enjoyable-would make the present enjoyable. I ran 8 miles with the club that night and ,on returning to the banger ,felt shattered. I'm racing our local half marathon this weekend and thoughts went through my head that I may have harmed my chances of running fast.However as the Great God of Sleep reared his head I thought, 'You know what..I've really enjoyed today...I don't care! '

Sounds of March

2011-03-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Vagabondrunning Gran Canaria Part Three: Morro de Santiago-Analysis and Realization.

2011-03-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

The meal at the restaurant at Ayacata really hit the spot-a starter of parma ham and tomatoes on bread,drizzled in olive oil,and a main course consisting of a seafood pasta dish. The restaurant was a popular stop over point for coach trips,delivering hikers and mountain bikers to the nearby peaks,for road bikers who stopped for a drink and the hordes of,mostly old tourists in their hire cars.I had sat outside several days earlier,on the return leg of a recce down to San Bartolome. A coach had pulled up and the tourists descended and took photographs of the canyon scenery.After several minutes they got back on the bus and they were off.This,to me,emphasized the dramatic disparencies between my holiday experience and theirs. They were staying in warm hotels,traveling in luxury coaches and taking pictures of the 'oh so beautiful scenery.'They were enjoying what I considered to be 'beauty in a bottle.'For this they were paying a premium.I wasn't. I was living in the heart of the beauty. I was experiencing the elements first hand. It wasn't always comfortable,or enjoyable.Sometimes the hardships blurred the perception of beauty,but when things were right-that odd moment of stillness,of quiet,when one could truly take in the majesty and soul of the surroundings,nothing else mattered.

The next campsite was 'Morro de Santiago',only 2/3 miles down the road from Ayacata along the main highway towards San Bartolome.I had read a comment on some travel blog that the campsite had a source of running water,but during the previous week at Las Ninas realized that I had not actually verified the facts with the information available on the government website on camping provisions on the island. I had no access to the web,no phone and no electricity so one overcast day decided to run to the campsite to check things out and put my mind at rest.That particular morning the weather was passable at Las Ninas, but,as I climbed the highway to Ayacata I quickly became enveloped in cloud.I had contemplated doing the run in shorts and t-shirt, but opted for tights and a waterproof top which I had tied around my waist.I was thankful for this when ,around 3km from the top off of the climb I gradually became wrapped in a blanket of fine drizzle.I made it to the road exit to the campsite,where a sign pointed to the direction of the site and gave the distance to it as 200m.The road forked off in 2 directions,so I decided to take the bigger of the two roads and headed up ,maybe 400m.On seeing no sign of a campsite I jogged back down and took the other fork.After approximately 100m I came across a clearing.That was it-just a clearing-no facilities,toilets,burners or water,at the top of a hill.My heart sank.Why hadn't I done more research? There seemed to be evidence that camping had taken place here,but,in the cloudy wetness,I barely wanted to contemplate spending any period of time here.I walked back down the hill throughly dejected.As I reached the fork again I looked again at the sign and decided to give the larger road another go.Again I jogged up the dirt road and after about 1km,I rounded a corner and was greeted by the sight of the official campsite,complete with water and toilet provisions.The road signs on the island seemed to be so precise in their accuracy.I guess this was just a lesson in not to take anything for granted.

Morro de Santiago was situated,perhaps,5oo/600m higher than the previous site,which afforded it magnificent views,both towards the inland areas around Roque Nublo and also towards the coast in the opposite direction.The cloud and rain,however,over the next few days put pay to this.I spent the morning running exquisite,rocky singletrack from Cruz Grande down to San Bartolome,to restock supplies,and the afternoons checking out the trails surrounding the reservoir 'Presa le Chira', 5km below the camp at the base of the valley.The first few days were great.The campsite was quiet.I was the only person there.I didn't see a single person there ,day or night, for the first 3/4 days.- enjoyed this at first -finishing runs,strip washing,just wandering around as if I owned the place.However this solitude,combined with the poor weather gradually began to take its toll and my moods began to darken.I was lonely.I mixed with a few folks in town in the mornings,but for the remaining time I was alone.

I had always had a romantic ideal.I had read about people who had retreated from society,people like the Barrowdale Hermit,and felt a kind of envy,that living life essentially cut off from civilization would be a good option to take.It would mean less stress,less pressure to live up to any expectations,would be liberating.I have always been a person comfortable with being alone,never feeling the need to have a vast circle of friends and can easily wile away lazy days formulating dreams and schemes.However this was different.In my home enviroment I had the choice to be alone or mix with friends and family,where as here I didn't.I had no friends here-nobody even knew - was here.

My thoughts became preoccupied with Chris McCandless.Chris was the subject of a best selling book and big screen movie ,a man who had ventured 'into the wild' in Alaska,eventually dieing through bad luck and bad preparation.He was a top grade student and a promising runner,who seemed to develope an unease with the modern world.Issues such as materialism,racism and the such troubled him.The whole world and its injustices seemed to start to trouble him.I acutely identified with this.I,d given up my car several years early in pursuit of a purer,greener life and now had given up my livelihood.I saw conflict in everything I did or wanted to do-the double standards that I displayed in flying to this island being one. My personal life over the last years had been problematic.I was unhappy with everything,including myself.I couldn,t work out if my being unhappy clouded my judgement on everything,resulting in me rallying against them,or if these things were making me unhappy in the first place. I often thought of a scene in the film where Chris is stranded in the bus,cut off from safety by raging spring rivers.He seems to have a revelation that the important things in life are family and friends.They provide the key to true happiness.I had ample time to think,perhaps too much. I missed my son-felt selfish for being away for six weeks,essentially for my own pleasure when I knew he was missing me.I thought of relationships,mainly within my close family that had soured over the recent years. I realized that again the cause of this was perhaps jealousy,longing and deep personal unhappiness. I thought of the meditative term ' Take in the bad,give out the good.'I had been taking in the bad,and the good,but had only been giving out the bad. It had been a drain on people to be near me-my constant rallying and restlessness driving all moods darker. Mostly I thought of love.I realized that I needed love,needed to embrace it,not push it away and realized that I wanted to give it out-wanted to be a nice person to be around.I came to the island to run,but running wasn't important-not in the grand scheme of things-just as most things like success,possessions,careers,whatever weren't.I realized the most important thing was love.

The weather continued to be unsettled.After 3/4 days of intermittent low cloud,cold temperatures and rain,combined with my increasing loneliness,I began to feel totally miserable. One morning I woke up,took out my journal and wrote down the number of days I had left until the date of my return flight. I counted the days and felt despondant and for the first time unmotivated since my arrival. I contemplated going back to sleep for a few hours and just doing one longer midday run. As I lay down and closed my eyes I was struck by the thought-this trip was not some sort of test or punishment-there was no reason why I had to stay six weeks.I decided to cut down the trip duration to a month. This trip was supposed to be enjoyable, a pleasure.I instantly felt better,rejuvinated.I would get two runs in today and tomorrow would have a day off,go to Las Palmas,change flight dates and have a little downtime. The trip to Las Palmas was an enjoyable diversion.I caught up with some emails,changed my flight and bought a book,the thickest I could find in the bus station newsagents-'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.'The brightening of my mood was accompanied by an improvement in the weather. I was still the only person on the campsite,but was visited by the Ranger every morning. The Rangers at Las Ninas had been abrupt and unfriendly. This man was different,quiet and bearded, and very helpful.Although his grasp of english was basic he managed to point out on my map the off road paths that I could run that day. His knowledge of the area was extensive. One morning I returned from another jaunt to San Bartolome and saw him stood on the egde of the plateau just gazing at the view. I walked the quarter mile upwards to my tent and when I turned back he was still stood admiring the view.The sight of him gave me some peace and made me hope that I would eventually find some sort of vocation I would love as much as he obviusly did his. The running around the site was good with a multitude of dirt paths and rocky single tracks mainly eminating from Cruz Grande. I once again had a spring in my step. I was enjoying the present more and also looking forward to Visiting an area that I had been told was a mecca for trail running-miles and miles of single track through the beautiful pine forests of Tamabada.

On The Beach

2011-03-09T01:21:00.000-08:00

Photo: The Beach at Chapel St Leonards.

Photos: Percy and his boys in the dunes at Portsea.

Photos: The Uks most famous running dunes- Merthyr Mawr,Wales.

I live in Skegness,probably a mile from the beach.I've always loved it.The majority of my runs take place along the promenade between Skegness and Chapel St Leonards,about 5/6 miles away.In the summer it can be busy during the day,but the evening(and no doubt the early morning,if I was ever up!) provide a wonderful backdrop to any run.It's those days that provide hope during the cold winter months-running to the top of the access path to be greeted with the wide panorama of natural beauty.Those days where the beach is quiet,the sun still emphasising it's golden yellow tones,the sea, still, calm and inviting.It makes me calm and I feel blessed to have such beauty on my doorstep.Some people don't see the wonderment of it all.Comments are make deriding it's beauty in comparisons of the mountain landscapes,but ,to me,it is natural perfection personified.

On Saturday I ran The Belvoir Challenge.Its a great LDWA type event-low key,minimally marked,no prizes,but wonderful food at the end.There is a 16 mile option and a 26 mile option,which combined attract over 1000 runners/walkers.I had not entered either,but several days previous was offered a place in the 16 mile event after one of my clubmates dropped out.The run itself was good,but testing,with the rainfall over the previous weeks making some of the going extremely squaddy.I was pleased with my 3rd place,but disappointed to find that the mud had taken a toll on my shoes-both soles had become detached.I had chosen to run in Puma Cortland ii's.They were cross country spikes,which I had doctored to make running flats by cutting off the metal spike screw in on the sole with a stanley knife.I liked the minimal feel,and was contemplating buying another couple of pairs.These had cost £9.99,and with the cross country season drawing to a close,it was a good time to buy.I'd ran perhaps 500 odd miles in them,mainly on road and a few shorter cross country races,but was let down to see the state of them after 16 miles of hard terrain.The conclusion.....Puma Cortland ii's.......they're crap!

This event prompted me to start looking for alternatives.I wanted a minimal shoe,but all options seem so expensive.Innov 8 prices are just way too dear,along with virtually every other minimal shoe on the market.I have a couple of pairs of fivefingers, purchased 2/3 years ago,before their price sky rocketed,so will wear those for some training,but now have decided to shed the shoes altogether again by taking to the beach again,as temperatures start to rise.I refuse to believe any running shoe is worth paying over £25/£30,especially minimal shoes.Surely with minimal shoes should come minimal price,or ,at least a more minimal price compared to normal running shoes.

I had seen a couple of things over the last few weeks.Firstly there was this interview with fellow Mas Loco,Patrick Sweeney :http://birthdayshoes.com/interview-with-patrick-sweeney-winner-of-the-palos-verdes-marathon.Patrick says his bread and butter is 10/15 mile soft sand runs.I regularly run on the beach,but more often than not,avoid the soft sand.

I also stumbled across this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgUQ1GDgVrI.Pat Porters training used to regularly utilize the soft sands of the Colorado sand dunes.And of course,there are the well documented training of Percy Cerutty and his boys at Portsea ,Victoria.

Skegness is situated in Lincolnshire,one of the flatest counties in the U.K.There are hills nearby,perhaps 10/15 miles away,but these would have to result in a bus ride and a return cost of around £5.I like the idea of finding out if running in soft sand can in anyway replicate the effect of running on the hills.I also adore the thought of using nature as a training tool,and also ,by running barefoot,like the idea of the pureness of it all.I'm currently running on average 20 miles a day,everyday,so plan on the morning 10 to be on the beach.We'll see how it goes!!

A Rock and a Lightening Bolt.

2011-03-04T00:11:00.000-08:00

' Richard brought the main course-following your prerogative.If that squared with others-fine.If not,'Tastes differ' he'd often say.Richard went on to climb more routes in more places than most of us combined,all with such a low profile he might have remained anonymous,but for his full page photo in Meyer's Yosemite Climber,cranking an early ascent of Nabisco Wall,a young John Yablinski belaying.'

John Long-'Stonemaster'

Utility Running,Rodney Mullen,Success is Elusive

2011-02-24T06:16:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Mullen

A utility bike is a bicycle designed for practical transportation,as opposed to bicycles which are primarily designed for recreation and competition,such as touring bikes,racing bikes and mountain bikes.The majority of these bikes are found in the developing world.They are the most common form of bicycle globally.

Over the last few weeks my interest has been sparked in what I term 'Utility Running.'The Human Body,in common with a utility bike,is built for practical transportation.So why don't we use it that way?One of the things I enjoyed on my recent trip to Gran Canaria was the daily morning run to the nearest shop to buy food.Sometimes this involved a round trip of up to 20 kms.I had no other form of transport.I had no bike and there were no buses,so if I wanted to eat I had the choice of either walking or running,and running was faster.As I have previously mentioned, this action felt almost primal.Since returning to the UK,I have decided to keep this up.I've been based, temporarily, about 5 miles away from my home in Skegness,but have had to make the journey there and back,for one reason or another,almost daily.This has been carried out by running.If I need to change clothes/pick up groceries etc,I take a backpack.The quality of the runs,in terms of effort and speed,may be somewhat lacking,but this is trumped by the feeling that the running is useful.It alleviates the need for a car,bike or a bus,and,of course,is free.

Whats all this to do with Rodney Mullen?I'd heard his name,having seen it on my sons Tony Hawks computer games,but that was the extent of my knowledge.Inexplicably I ended up this afternoon watching the above interview.Rodney's current views on skateboarding echo my current views on running.He was a childhood prodigy,world champion and influential innovator,but the pressures of expectation enslaved him and ruined his enjoyment of the sport.He has now found peace and enjoys skateboarding for the intrinsic pleasures he derives from it.Maybe this is a lesson for us all-to run because it gives us pleasure and is useful,and realize that,surely,these should be runnings prime objectives,rather than competition,kudos,fame and fortune.

VAGABONDRUNNING GRAN CANARIA. PART TWO: Presa le las ninas.

2011-02-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

Photo: Presa Le Las Ninas

Photo:Soria

Photo:Roque Nublo

Despite the unwelcome intrusion to my nights sleep by the frisky young lovers,I awoke at about 6 a.m next morning feeling refreshed and optimistic.It was still dark and I had no idea when the sun would start to rise.I packed away my sleeping equipment,had a breakfast of pasta,threw on my pack and went in search of a bus stop.As luck would have it I found one literally 100m from the beach.Within 30 minutes I was hot footing it to Las Palmas.The bus soon pulled into the bus station,and from previously consulting a road map of the city streets,I knew that the Government offices were a mere short walk away.The offices opened at 8.30 a.m and I was first in the queue to get served.I told the female advisor the campsites I wanted to stop at and how long I wanted to stay at each.She checked my passport for identification purposes and issued me with a permission letter for each site.It really was that easy.

Out of the 14 sites listed,I had narrowed down the choice to 4.As my predominant activity would be running I knew that access to a water source was vital.I would need to keep hydrated in the heat of the day and also need water for cooking.Transporting bottled water was logistically impossible and, although some people are wary of drinking tap water in foreign climbs,after drinking untreated water in Mexico the previous year and suffering no ill effects,I knew I would be fine.The sites which fitted the bill were Presa Le Las Ninas,Morro de Santiago,Llanos De La Pez and Tamadaba.I knew,through research on the web and youtube that Presa Le Las Ninas was one of the bigger sites and very popular with the locals,so choose that as my first port of call.Morro De Santiago was chosen as next,due to its proximity to Las Ninas,and Tamadaba was chosen as the choice for my third week.Although the website stated that the maximum duration of stay at each site was 7 days,and that's what I asked for,the advisor wrote out permission to camp for 8 days at each.My original plan was to stay for six weeks,but not wanting to push my luck,told the lady three sites would do-I would make another trip to the office in a few weeks time and sort out the rest of the trip.

My map told me that the nearest village to Las Ninas was Ayacata,situated at the base of Roque Nublo(1803m / 5915 ft),the second highest point on the island.After enquires at the bus station I found that I could get a bus to the town of San Mateo,then catch a connection to Ayacata.The remaining,what looked between 10 and 15 km on the map would have to be on foot.I noticed that Las Ninas was situated at 932m/ 3057 ft,so as least the hike would be downhill.During the one hour wait at San Mateo I stocked up on supplies at the local Spar shop-more pasta,sardines,porridge and jam,adding considerable weight to my pack.I had considered waiting and buying food from a shop in Ayacata.As I got off the bus a couple of hours later,I discovered that Ayacata consisted of three restaurant/bars,and that was it.No shops.I had envisaged a pilgrimage up and down the hill to Ayacata every morning to stock up on supplies,but as I commenced the walk down the hill,knew I would have to study the map and find an alternative place to purchase food.

A large brown sign pointed the direction of the campsite,and gave the distant to travel as 10 km.I considered attempting to hitch,but noticed that the majority of cars which passed me were small cars,obviously hire cars,driven by predominantly aging ,graying couples-not a good combination for attempting to gain a ride.I decided to keep my thumb down,and slowly walked,visions of John Rambo strolling into town at the start of First Blood going through my head.

The first sight of Presa Le Las Ninas was stunning.A large reservoir surrounded by lush,green mountains.After pitching my tent and checking out the basic,but entirely adequate facilities,I cooked tea,and retired to bed at the first sign of darkness.

After two days of no running,the next morning I was eager to finally get some miles in my legs.The weather was glorious and later that morning the temperature would be well into the 20's.At around 9 a. m I set off with the intention of running around the lake,what I considered to be a nice gentle introduction to my trail running holiday.I set off in a counter clockwise direction,and after an initial start on the road,quickly found a path which took me half way round.At that point the path stopped.My map was not detailed with any off road paths and shortly I found myself on top of a mountain,peering down at what I presumed was the town of Soria,about 400m below me.From this height I could clearly see a dirt path which would have easily taken me to the village had I set off in the opposite direction.I was now faced with a decision-turn back and retrace my steps or descend the mountain,which would involve a little climbing and alot of scrambling.At that point I heard a noise,looked up into the sky and saw a helicopter approaching.The thought of my brothers words on the way to the train station several days earlier resonated in my head,that ,on trips such as these,if anything could go wrong it would.I imagined reports of an inexperienced Brit tourist falling to his death in the mountains of central Gran Canaria and the reaction of the folks back home-typical Dennis,we always told him to get prepared!

The helicopter slowed and hoovered above me.It looked like some sort of military craft and I later found out that I was on protected land,where access was forbidden.The side door of the helicopter was open and someone was sat in the entrance.I considered waving,but thought this may be taken as a distress signal and prompt a rescue.I ,therefore,decided to act nonchalantly.There I was on top of a mountain,clad only in shorts,my white torso betraying the fact I was obviously a tourist,carrying a coke bottle of water,basic map in my hand,whistling and smiling,totally ignoring the helicopter.Eventually it moved off.I started to climb down the hardest section of the descent,a drop of perhaps 20m of rock face,until some greenery started where I would be able to walk.With map stuffed in my shorts waist band and the coke bottle between my teeth ,I had got half way down the sheer descent when the helicopter reappeared and resumed its position above me.I tried to maintain my relaxed nonchalant disposition and look as if I knew what I was doing,despite the fact that my entire life's climbing experience was limited to a handful of days in the Peak District whilst at university 25 years previous.I reached the bottom of the face and obviously realizing I was not going to be another statistic,the helicopter again disappeared.30 minutes later I was jogging into the quaint village of Soria on the banks of the equally stunning Soria Reservoir,covered in scratches and blood.At least I was still alive!

Over the next few days I quickly developed a routine.The morning run would be along the dirt path into Soria,roughly 10 kms each way,the outward leg predominantly downhill,the return predominantly uphill.There I would buy my food for the day,typically two 500g bags of pasta,which I would run back to camp with,one in each hand.I liked the fact that this felt almost primal.I had to make the journey every morning.It was a necessity,or else I would be without food for the day.I would return by midday,have some pasta for dinner,brew up some coffee and have a quick snooze.At around 3 p.m I would get up again and set off to the rear of the campsite and run for up to 3 hours on beautiful pine needle covered dirt tracks.

The next few days were bliss,constantly clad in shorts,running free as I had dreamt I would be.The arrival of the weekend brought a flurry of activity with locals descending for a weekend of camping.The camp in the week was virtually deserted-a German couple mountain biking around the island,Micheal,a Dutch guy doing the same and a handful of local fisherman.The noise and exuberance of the predominantly young locals,made a welcome change.

As the weekend passed the weather began to turn.Although still hot in the day and mild at night,the cloud level began to drop and come Monday I experienced my first taste of rain.My 7 day stay was to end on the Tuesday,but due to the office girls mistake,I was not booked onto the next site until Wednesday.I decided that on the Tuesday I would therefore clear off the site all day on a long run-if the Rangers couldn't find me,they couldn't do anything.I decided to head towards the south coast to the town of Mogan,a round trip of approximately 30 kms.As I sat off that morning the rain was steady,but i noticed that the wind was picking up.Not expecting any rain on the trip I had taken my tent purchased for the Mexico trip for £15 from Home Bargains.I was not entirely sure that it was up to the job of eliminating the effects of adverse weather.

The road down to Mogan was like one of those alpine roads that you see in the movies.The actual town didn't look far away as I began the descent,but the road was constantly switching back and forth,meandering in a seemingly haphazard fashion.I presumed as I went down the hill the weather would improve.I was wrong.The lower I got,the more the cloud closed in,the harder the wind blew and the harder the rain started to fall.I began to get concerned that if the weather was getting worse on the way down,what would be happening at the campsite....and what was happening to my tent!After running for around 10 kms I made the decision to turn back.

Arriving back at camp I was initially relieved to see the tent still standing.A closer inspection left me deflated.I had pitched the tent on a slight slope descending towards the water.This slope was now a little stream,going straight under the tent.The trickle of water at the side of my pitch was obviously the main inlet for the water from higher in the mountains and had now turned into a raging torrent.I looked inside the tent.The groundsheet was soaked,but luckily,as I had placed my rucksack on top of my self inflating sleeping mat,my clothing was still relatively dry.I knew I had no choice,but to move the tent.The tent had a double covering and to move it I would have to take off the outer water proof cover,resulting in the non water proof inner shell letting in water and soaking my stuff.I was wet through,tired from running and cold,but knew I would have to wait until the rain eased.

Firstly I had to get warm.I stripped down to bare feet,and shorts,searching for dry gear in the tent when I heard a voice behind me.'Permiso,permiso.' It was the Park Ranger wanting to see my permission letter.He continued ,'Permiso,permiso.' I was shivering and my mood was rapidly deteriorating.If I heard his voice again I was torn between turning around and knocking him out,or sitting down on the soaked ground and crying.I felt a fool,unprepared and stupid.I showed him my letter,fully expecting him to pick up on the fact that I should be moving that day.He inspected it,handed it back and smiled.He pointed to the torrent at the side of the tent and muttered in broken English,'You better move tent.You get washed away!'

The rain eased temporarily,I moved the tent and hunkered down,abandoning thoughts of a second run that day.I thought of polar explorers and alpine mountaineers,who could be tent bound by bad weather for days on end and developed a new found respect for them.The next 12 hours resulted in gale force winds and driving rain.The tent just managed to keep standing and eventually,as the storm passed,I feel into a deep,tired sleep.

The next day,as I packed up my tent,the glorious weather was back.It had been a great first week or so of running.My aching legs had found new strength after three or four days,finally getting used to the the relentless incline/decline nature of the trails.I headed back up the 10km climb to Ayacata, once again feeling positive.I felt that I had earned myself a treat and resolved to spend around 20 euros on some decent food at the summit cafe.It would be more than the cost of the food which I had purchased for the entire week.

The Ego ,The Miles,The Search for Self.

2011-02-16T01:31:00.000-08:00

Ego:an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others.

Anyone who runs will ,at some point ,have experienced the feeling.The sacrifice of early morning runs,evening runs,getting out in all weathers and conditions produce a feeling.When people question and deride your lifestyle,you smile to yourself,feeling smug,feeling,'I am better than you.I am a runner.'

I used to feel like that.Sometimes still do.When things start to go bad in life you start to train harder.Believe a new p.b will bring you some sort of personal redemption.The nature of the athlete demands competition.We start to run,we begin to think about how fast we can run the distance,if we can finish the distance.We become competitive.

But is this healthy?I,like many others,run with goals in mind,competitive goals.I pound the Skegness streets thinking of The London Marathon.Will I be able to duck under 2 hrs 45 mins?But sometimes this feels so constrictive.I love running,cherish the time on the roads and trails.I base my life,in a big way ,around doing what I love.But I refuse to follow any schedules,refuse to run any predetermined pace,decide the distance the night before,or usually the same day.Sometimes the upcoming race places pressures I dislike,takes away from the joy of the moment.

Sometimes I think of giving up racing altogether.Is it possible to rate your worth as a runner by your intrinsic enjoyment of the activity,rather than by competitive results?I think so.

For the first time in years I have the privilege of the wealth of free time.All I want to do is run long,long miles,just spend the days logging 150/200 miles per week.Not compete,just run.

How to fall in love with a Girls Polyester Cycling Top-Size 12.

2011-02-14T23:36:00.000-08:00

I don't really know how it happened.It was a cold night and I was feeling the effects of staying in a house with central heating on for just several hours a day.I was at my mothers.I,d placed the carabanger in storage to save a few pennies,til after my jaunt to the Canaries.The first night I'd gone to bed warm,but woke up in the middle of the night cold.I mentioned this the next night,just before retiring to bed.My mother rummaged in a pile of clothes and threw me a black long sleeved top.She told me someone had left it in the changing rooms at the local theatre,where she helps out.It had been in the lost property box for ages,no one had claimed it,and it ended up at her house.She said it might be too small.It was a cheap looking black long sleeved top,with a zip at the collar.Examining the label I found it to be 100% polyester ,a size 12 with a brand name,Cyclelife.Ignoring the fact it was a girls top-I was only going to wear it in bed,I slipped it on.It was a little tight,but ok.

In the morning sun I hit the main road to Maspalomas.It was a few kms before I could pick up the rocky singletrack down to San Bartolome.This was the nearest town to the campsite,and this particular run I carried out every morning ,bringing back with me the food I needed for the day.It was around 9 a.m.The sun was rising in the sky,but a chill still existed.I jogged down the hill to Cruz Grande.I had on my black ,short shorts,waffle racers,and polyester top.Dressed entirely in black I felt like John Walker.I'd not taken many clothes with me and had gradually developed a liking for the top.It looked slightly too small,but in a cool way.It was warm enough to keep the morning chill at bay,but not uncomfortable when the heat increased.It was also light and long sleeved,ideal for taking off and tieing around my waste.Being at the campsites predominantly alone,not having to make a great effort appearance wise,I wore the top virtually exclusively.I started to fall in love with it.

Back in England,running in morning and evening gloom,I glance down.I,ve got a helly hanson thermal on,and my black top over it.With black tights and waffles on, I am again reminded of John Walker and think,' I love this top-am going to wear it all year,all the time.'

The Vagabond and The Poacher - Redemption and The Flow.

2011-02-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

http://dontdatethatdude.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/the-vagabond-and-the-poacher/

Life.Love.Loss.Redemption.

I too was sat in a restaurant.I'd tried and failed.I looked at her smile,the smile which people fell in love with.And I looked into her eyes.I saw sadness.But perception is in the eyes of the perceiver.She looked sad,I felt sad.I was sad.

The beach,the road,the paths,the trails,the miles.The solace I needed to ease the pain.

I awoke,cold,stiff.As I got out of the tent,the rain began to fall gently.High in the mountains,surrounded by cloud,visibility down to nothing.I removed my socks,laced up my shoes,started to run.The rain began to fall heavier.On the trail the mountains came to life.I noticed creeks flowing with water I had previously missed.Waterfalls had appeared.The water made its way down from the high ground to nourish below.The Flow.

Next morning I stood on the high plateau of the campsite. I looked around the cloudless sky,savouring the surrounding peaks.I gazed at the sea miles below and thought of the waters journey the previous day.The chill above,the heat below.The sun causing the sea to rise to the clouds.The Flow.

Days later I awoke again.The dreams had seemed real and pure.I thought of her words,her smile,our future times together.My heart was alive with yearning and passion.She looked beautiful,I felt beautiful.I was beautiful.I listened as the rain started to fall.The Flow.

VAGABONDRUNNING GRAN CANARIA. PART ONE:Arrival

2011-02-12T13:25:00.000-08:00

The seed for this particular vagabond adventure was sown in March last year.I had just returned from running The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon in Mexico,and,as is usually the case after a holiday,had developed a touch of wanderlust and a wetted thirst for further adventure.The timing was significant,as I had just taken the decision to cut down my working week to four days throughout the summer,traditionally the time when extra hours could be worked and extra money earnt.Due to this decision I realized that any future adventures would have to be done ' on the cheap.'I was searching for a winter running adventure with two simple prerequisites:

(i) It had to be somewhere hot.

(ii)It had to be somewhere cheap.

There are plenty of places where it is possible to live cheaply in a hot climate,places such as Indonesia,Asia,Africa and Central and Southern America.However the cost of flying to such places normally involve significant expense.There are also plenty of places where one is able to fly cheaply,predominantly in Europe,but where the climate in the winter months is not too dissimilar to the U.K.I eventually found a location which fit the criteria on both counts-the Canary Islands.I found it was possible to obtain a return flight to one of the numerous islands in the winter months for less than £100,and that the climate was consistently hot throughout the year.

The next issue was trying to identify a way of staying on one of the islands without spending much money.I instantly thought of camping.If the climate was hot throughout the year,camping in the winter months shouldn't be an issue.Upon investigation,however,I discovered that campsites in the Canaries were generally few and far between.Additionally those that existed usually closed during the winter months.A little more research,however,unveiled an intriguing article from the archives of The Guardian newspapers travel section.The brief article mentioned the existence of 'free state run campsites.'These were all situated within the mountainous interior of the island,the majority of which is a protected environment,and were an attempt to encourage the locals to appreciate the natural beauty bestowed upon the area.With permission granted by the Government offices in the capital city,Las Palmas,these were available to be used by all.A quick search on the Government website revealed the existence of 14 free campsites,some small,some large.Some provided basic amenities,such as toilets ,a water supply and BBQ areas,some provided nothing.They all,however,shared two things in common:

(i) They were all hidden in remote areas.

(ii)They were all in the mountains, which I knew made for exquisite trail running locations.

********************************************

I landed at Gran Canaria International Airport mid January.The previous few months had caused myself the normal problems associated with the decrease in daylight hours-an increase in my dark moods and in my underlying anxieties.The weather had also been consistently bad,with weeks of snow before Christmas.I was looking forward to getting somewhere warm and running, clad only in shorts and my battered waffle racers,enjoying the wind in my hair and the sun on my back.My financial circumstances had altered somewhat.Over the Christmas vacation I had negotiated the sale of my share of the family business to my brother and ,subsequently ,now had spare cash.The trip didn't need to be carried out on a shoestring budget.The change in my attitudes to the concept of working,however,had also influenced my views to prosperity.If I wanted a life free from excessive work,and I did,I had to be comfortable with a lifestyle free from excessive materialism,ownership and expense,and I was.The trip would still be carried out ' on the cheap.'

As is my usual style,the research and my preparation for the trip was minimal and,to be honest,rather haphazard.I knew I could cope with a basic knowledge of the native tongue,and as the entire island only measured 50 odd kms in diameter,it wouldn't be as if I would ever totally be out on a limb.I had marked the campsites approximate locations on my basic tourist map,done a little reading on the web.I was ready!

I had decided to take my old Raleigh racing bike with me.I'd got the idea that it would come in handy to transport me to the campsites and I visualized jumping on it every few days to scoot down to the nearest towns to buy provisions.It was equipped with two relatively new tires and I'd had the bottom bracket replaced a few days previous.The only fault which now persisted was a worn spring on the derailleur.Whenever I changed gear this resulted in the chain developing excessive slack and I had to flick the mechanism back with my foot to stop the chain coming off.This didn't concern me.Years previous,on a year long stay in Australia,I'd bought an old VW Combi van.The spring on the accelerator pedal had perished,meaning everytime you pressed the pedal down ,it stayed down.To decrease the revs the driver had to put his foot under the pedal,and with a deft movement,give it a flick back up.The repair would have cost peanuts,but I drove the van ,in that condition ,for a full year!

I had bought the bike from a workmate several months earlier for £20.It had idled in his garage for years.Out of the 12 gears it was equipped with,I could get ten,and I'd bulked at suggestions to buy racks and panniers.I wouldn't be using it often and they seemed like an unnecessary expense.I'd purchased a clear plastic bag for £10 from The Cycle Touring Club to transport the bike on the plane journey and that would do.Most people recommended a cushioned bike bag for this purpose,but this necessitated dismantling the bike.If I covered the entire bike in plastic all I had to do was take off the pedals,lower and twist the handlebars and lower the seat.Additionally it was obvious to any baggage handlers that it was a bike,so maybe they would go easy on it.This idea bore fruit.The bike was the first item on the baggage carousel upon arrival in Gran Canaria and it looked in perfect shape.I'd developed a good feeling about this trip.I adjusted the handlebars and the seat and headed out of the arrivals lounge and into the sunshine.

I had made no set plans for my first night on the island.The flight landed at midday,but the government office in Las Palmas closed at 2p.m.There was no way that I would have the time to get a camping permit on my first day,so had resolved to head in the direction of Las Palmas,find a beach somewhere and sleep under the stars.The island is surrounded with a good road network,dual carriage ways and motorways circle it,but I wasn't sure if bikes were allowed on them.I certainly couldn't see any,and so got out my map and plotted a route that would take me initially inland on quieter roads,before turning towards Las Palmas.I removed my tent from my backpack and attached it to the bikes cross frame with a couple of bungee straps,and then ,with pack on my back and sleeping bag in my hand/on the handlebars,commenced my adventure.

After, approximately 10 minutes,I knew I had once again bowed down to The Great God of Naivety.The first hill wasn't even all that steep,but in my lowest gear I was struggling big time.My backpack was too heavy,my shoulders were aching,I was sweating profusely,and was wobbling all over the road.In the face of adversity I did as I always do...carried on.The summit of the second hill threw up another problem,a puncture.I had specifically purchased two new tubes filled with some sort of green goo,which,supposedly,were puncture proof.They were not.I changed the tube,remaining upbeat.It was only 15-20 kms to Las Palmas and some had to be downhill.

The next few kms were downhill-steep downhill.As I wobbled at speed down the hill,passing a local police car,I was exhilarated.I pedalled like fury,trying to boost momentum for the up coming climb.I changed down gears at the bottom,stood up on my pedals ready for the push,and that's when it happened.The chain jammed,the pedals stopped and the derailleur shattered.I came to an abrupt halt,just as the police car sailed past.I disembarked,surveyed the reckage,and sat down.I was half an hour into the trip and already things were going pearshaped.I walked up the hill.I would have to get to Las Palmas,find a bike shop,and get it fixed.At the summit of the hill I entered a small residential area.At the side of the houses were a row of dustbins.I walked past them,stopped,and then returned.In those few seconds I had made a decision.My trusted iron steed would not be up to the task in hand.I rested it against the bins and walked on,refusing to look back.I hoped that some enterprising Spanish youngster would stumble upon it,recognize the quality of the Reynolds 531 tubing and take it on as a pet project.Realistically I knew it would be consigned to the scrap heat.

Despite my shaky start,I was still upbeat.I knew the island was small and that the approximate vicinities of the campsites could be reached by public transport.I glanced down at myself.I'd taken a pair of shorts with me,my favourite 10 year old 'Animals',forgetting that ,by the end of the previous summer,they had developed rather big holes on the front and back.They were now covered in oil.My hands and finger nails were covered in oil,my legs were covered in oil,and my face,complete with my newly grown month old beard were,no doubt,also covered in oil.As I walked into the nearby shop the assistants face said it all.She examined my 20 euro notes for an age,as I bought a consoling Coke.I looked a mess.I'd been in Gran Canaria for an hour.

After consulting my map once again,I decided to locate the nearest beach and call it a day.I headed towards a development named La Garita.On the way down to the coast I was fortunate to pass a large retail park,with major supermarket attached.I bought batteries for my radio,water,a lighter and a bottle with 'alcohol' written on it in the decorating section.I'd bought a Trangia camping stove in the U.K,never used one before,but knew it ran on methylated spirits.I presumed any substance that was alcohol based would work as a fuel source.I walked towards the beach as the sun was setting,and once there,made my way to the cliffs at the back,protecting me from view of the road and apartments above.The alcohol worked and I cooked and ate some pasta,laid out my sleeping mat,jumped in my sleeping bag and stared at the stars as I listened to the sound of the waves.I thought of one of my heroes,Chongo Tucker.Chongo lived rough for several years evading the Park Rangers in Yosemite National Park,while climbing full time.I remembered a comment of his when he said he refused to think of himself as homeless-wherever he choose to sleep on any particular night was his home.I was living it like Chongo.I thought of the package holiday makers who shared my flight over.They'd be at their hotels by now,having a meal or,perhaps,a few drinks.They'd be doing the usual holiday maker thing,at a considerable cost.I was truly living it,it was free,and so easy.As I drifted to sleep the last thought that entered my head was it would be really scary if I awoke in the night and someone was there.

I fell asleep shortly after the onset of darkness,at about 7 p.m.As I awoke ,I heard voices.I looked at my watch-10 p.m.I rose my head and in an alcove,perhaps 30 m away saw the end of a lighted cigarette.Someone was there.I lowered my head again,curiously not scared or freaked out.I knew it wasn't the police and it was doubtful that I would be unlucky enough to get mugged and murdered on my first night.I closed my eyes and tried to make out the voices.There were two,one male,one female and they both sounded young.I saw the man,in the darkness stand up and unfold a blanket.More talking continued,then silence.Soon enough I heard the unmistakable sounds of a couple making love.They obviously hadn't seen me,perhaps mistaking me for a lump of drift wood or something similar.By this time I was bursting for a pee,but knew any movement I made would scare the living daylights out of the young lovers.I eventually fell back to sleep and when I woke again the coast was clear.I had a pee,got back in the sack and thought , 'Now that is a classic first day to a Vagabond adventure!'

Beards are the future.

2011-01-12T02:35:00.000-08:00

Photo: Forrest...ran and ran....beard!

Photo:notice the two runners leading the race.....beards!

Photo:Krupicka is cool....got beard...and chicks like Jenn dig it!

Photo: Can guess who won this race!

Photo: Rasputin..beard!

A couple of times this last week people have commented on my new years attempt to grow a beard.'God-you look like you're a tramp' was one of them.People need to get on the beard band wagon-realize that beards are the future.Cool people throughout the ages have had beards.Jesus had a beard..and he looked cool,in any bodies eyes.Dennis Wilson,Brian Wilson,The Beatles at their peak,cool bands like Band of Horses...all got beards,realize it's hip,that chicks dig it.Intelligent men like Socrates had a beard,as did legendary madmen ,like Rasputin.

The iconic bearded runner is Forrest Gump.He had a good beard...and look how far he ran-backwards and forwards across America...and he didn't stop once,not even to sleep.Anton Krupicka has a beard.He's hip,likes good music,runs 200 miles a week in high mountains and how does he do it?Simple-the beard.Great 60's/70's marathon stars had beards-Amby Burfoot,Benji Durden to name a couple.Britains own Mick McLeod had a beard..and he won at silver medal at the LA Olympics.

I've been growing my beard for about a month,and already my running seems to be improving.My runs are getting faster,with no increase in effort and my recoveries are getting faster.I can sense it-keep the growth going and big things are gonna come.Watch this space!

Gear-who needs it?

2011-01-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

Photo: Puma Cortland II XC spike-used without spikes.

Photo:V-lite Sirrocco Sandal

Photos:Nike Waffle Racer XC.Splits cut at front of toe box,all insoles removed.Perfect!

It was interesting over the New Year period to see how many of my running acquaintances posted messages on the social networking sites regarding equipment(running shoes/clothes etc),they had either received for Christmas,or they would need for the forthcoming year.One thing I love about running is that it is a cheap sport to participate in.Or is it?

Reading any running magazine the reader is bombarded with advertisements offering not just the latest 'must have' trainers,but also clothing,now made out of 'technical'materials,all assortment of electrical gadgets to measure times,altitudes and heart rates and nutritional aids and sports performance/recovery drinks.But do we need them?Do they make any difference to the average runner?Will a pair of shoes costing £100 provide you with better performances/protection than a £20 pair?Will running in a T-shirt made out of technical fibres make a blind bit of difference to a run of the mill cotton T-shirt?Will drinking a fancy electrolyte drink be any better than normal tap water?

2010 was probably my best running year since being a youngster-definitely since I resumed running again 4 years ago.I probably averaged 70/80 miles per week throughout the year,lowered my p.b's in the 5 mile,10k,Half Marathon,Marathon and 12 hour races and did not get injured once.Maybe this was good luck,but ,for certain ,it wasn't down to equipment.

The amount I spent on shoes for the year was .......£10!.This was for a pair of puma cross country spikes,which I use on mixed terrain,any run which will take me on both road and trails/fields etc.I have a 2 year old pair of Mountain Bear Gladiators which I use on exclusively off road courses,but wanted more of a trail shoe.The cost of brands such as Innov-8 put me off buying a pair.The pumas,used without spikes,do the job perfectly.They were on offer at £10,no postage and included a free T-shirt(technical material!) and free pair of socks.The combined price of these two items,priced individually on the same website came to £12,so you could say that the actual cost of the pumas was -£2!Not bad at half the price.

The bulk of my mileage was done in Hitec v-lite Sirrocco sandals.I was first alerted to these,prior to competing in The Copper Canyon Ultra in Mexico,by the fact that they were race organizer,Micah True's shoe of choice.I figured if they stood up to the harsh trails of the Sierra Madre Mountains they would be ok for the country paths,the beach and the flat roads surrounding Skegness.I bought one pair on sale on the net for £14.99,found I liked them and ordered another two pairs a week later.They have since been discontinued.These were purchased in August 2009.I currently have two pairs on the go,with one pair still pristine in the box.The only problem I,ve had is that the front strap of one of the shoes snapped,but that was down to my ignorance.I was in the Lake District helping my brother recce the final leg of The Bob Graham Round,which he was attempting a couple of months later,and descending a steep decline of scree in sandals is not recommended.Other than that,although both pairs probably have over 2000 miles wear,there have been no problems.

This last week,while on a clear out,I came across a pair of Nike Waffle Racer XC flats.I like the minimal,flat style of these shoes,but always found the toe box a little narrow.Rather than throw them away I thought I would try a few modifications.I cut a split in the outside of the outer edge of the front of the shoe,allowing my toes a little more space,took out the insole,and now running in them,sans socks,makes them just perfect.Another few quid saved!

My biggest expense this year was when I purchased a T-shirt,two long sleeve tops and two pairs of tracksters before I went to Mexico.That cost me about £50,but ,to be honest,I didn't need them.I've got a Helly Hanson Thermal top that I purchased in 1985 still going strong and enough T-shirts awarded as prizes a the end of races to last a lifetime.Still,the grand total of £60 for a years running gear is not bad,and shows things can be done on the cheap.

Ohh..and I did get some running gear for Christmas-2 Karrimor lightweight jackets on offer from Sports Direct for £6 each from my mother!!

When is a Trial a Trial?

2011-01-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

It's been 5/6 weeks now since I embarked on 'The Trials of Miles',a phase and idea taken from John L.Parker Jr.s seminal running novel 'Once a Runner'.The original idea was to replicate a sort of life lead by the hero character in the book-Quenton Cassidy,who retreated to a cabin in the woods,to live a hermit type life,training to take on the fictional mile world record holder,John Walton.A sort of revelation hit me today.I have always admired the lifestyles of the soul surfer/climbing fraternity-people who live life gaining intrinsic pleasure from riding new waves/climbing new routes.For these people competing was /is a small part of the actual experience.As the sport of surfing/climbing gradually became commercialized the actual act of obtaining a sponsor was looked upon with derision in some circles,as if the purity of the lifestyle was being eroded.

The word 'Trial' conveys a test,a sense of sacrifice...but is this 'Trial' necessary,especially with the ultimate focus being a race performance.You run the race and achieve the time/position you longed for-what next?You don't achieve your target and are disappointed,making you question why you sacrificed things in the first place.The revelation that hit me today was that maybe I had achieved my target,that starting the 'Trials of Miles' was actually the finish of my real 'Trials of Miles'-a trial I have embarked upon ,not realizing for the past few years.To be in the position I am right now,having all the time in the world to run,is maybe,the ultimate success for me,more important than achieving any race position or personal best time.

In a little over a week I'm heading over to Gran Canaria for six weeks,in the mountains,essentially to run.I'm going to run,not because I feel I need to ,with races coming up etc,but because I want to.A 'Trial' is the wrong word.It will be a 'Pleasure'.

The Future is Rainbow Coloured.

2011-01-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

Photo:Roque Nublo(5,915ft)
Photo:Maspalomas

The premise for the next year or so(maybe forever?) is simple-run in beautiful locations,run some classic races,have some adventures-all in a minimalist style,on a shoestring budget.

With the severe winter weather we've been recently experiencing,I've decided I need to get away,somewhere much warmer.Browsing locations several months ago on the net I came across an article on free state run campsites on Gran Canaria.There is a network of around 14 of these,mostly inland,in the mountains,nestled away,and mainly the reserve of well informed locals,not tourists.However,by registering at the local government office in the capital,Las Palmas, it is possible to get a permit which will allow you to stay at these.The process,on paper,looks relatively simple.Only time will tell.

I fly to Las Palmas on 17th January,taking a tent,basic camping gear,a few clothes,a couple of pairs of running shoes,and my trusted iron horse-my 1980's Raleigh Equipe bicycle.The plan is very basic-arrive at the airport,bike the 12 miles or so, into Las Palmas,pick up a camping permit,buy some food,and then head off into the mountains.At the moment,gazing out of the window into the cold and darkness,I have visions of running plentiful mountain trails,with the sun on my back.I want it to to be a minimal trip,just basically running,hiking,exploring,relaxing and sleeping.The main aim is to live as cheaply as possible.With the campsites being free,in theory all I need will be food.I'm used to a basic diet of predominantly porridge,rice and pasta,so the cost of food should be small.It would be nice to find somewhere which I could use as a winter bolt hole.I'm sure things will not be as simple as I think,although on past experiences,sometimes things can be that easy.My return flight is 1st March,which gives me plenty of time to find out what's what!Looking forward to it!

What's it all about?

2010-12-31T14:53:00.000-08:00

New year 2011.Time for reflection..about triumphs and failures..wants and needs.For the last couple of days I've been ill-didn't feel like doing anything,let alone running-but felt guiltly.I wanted to do 140 miles this week,but things have conspired against me and I feel guilty only running about 90 miles this week.What the hell is that all about?I was watching a youtube clip about Ricky Gates yesterday.He was documenting a trip in 2008 when he raced in Europe,competing in mountain races and cycling in between them.I delved further ,looking at Rickys website and noticed that he commented that at college he had followed rigorous ,structured training programmes,yet he started racing well when he started following a 'run as you feel' schedule.I like that.I like all things like that..reading of people running without watches,keeping no track of mileage,running free,allowing running to be a freedom,not a constraint.I packed in my job because I wanted freedom-freedom from routine-so why am I setting myself a goal of doing X amount of miles this day at this time etc,etc.That is what I want to get away from-to free myself of structure,of constraints,of stresses.I want to run from the heart,from the soul.I don't want to know of maximum heart rates,miles ran during the week,pace per mile..nothing..I just want to do it.I've got the freedom of time.If I want to get up early and run I will..but probably won't..I hate getting up early in the morning,let alone running in the morning.It makes running into a chore..all this 'no pain,no gain 'stuff.I prefer to wake up and think..will go running now..or have a few more hours sleep ..and go later!Lazy attitude-maybe..but that's the way it rolls.

One of my favourite blog posts was by Lucy Colquhoun.She had just helped Jez Bragg on part of a mid winter attempt on The West Highland Way.She'd had to drop out sooner than expected and on the post,written just after,sounded so down.She'd not succeeded in her attempt to get entry to The Western States and sounded so fed up and I remember thinking..this is what I want to read in blogs.I don't want to read of miles done,pace..anything like that..I want to read of raw human emotion..and I remember that particular post because it conveyed that.Everyone who runs alot knows what it means to us-know how much we love it,but sometimes hate it.We make it such a large part of our lives,but,as much as it adds to our lives at times,it can also take away.

And then 2011.Yesterday I booked tickets to Gran Canaria from the middle of January until the start of March.This year is going to be a bench mark year for me..got a feeling!I'm going to do a super cheap holiday there-landing at Las Palmas,with a ruck sack and my trusted Raleigh and living basic for a few weeks.Apparently the island is pretty good for mountain/Trail running..so am going to camp on the free state run campsites..run /sleep/think of the girl I love..and that's about it.The plan is back to the U.K at the start of March,then straight back out to France..at the start of the Camino De Santiago..and run that..50 mileish a day..gonzo style!!

Happy New Year All!!!!! xx

Ultra Marathon Running Movie - Indulgence

2010-12-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Whatever happened to the Heroes?

2010-12-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

Simon Lawson

The person who provided me with the initial inspiration to run longer distances, as a kid, was a guy called Harry Hayes.You've never heard of him?Perhaps that's because he wasn't real,only existing in the world of celluloid.I remember being about 10 years old and watching 'The Games'.The film followed fictional characters from various parts of the world as they trained to compete in the Olympic Marathon.The Harry Hayes character captivated me-an ordinary working man (a milkman),who under the guidance of an overbearing coach and a grueling training schedule,gradually rose to the higher echelons of British distance running.The pivotal scene for me was in the changing rooms just before the start of the Olympic Marathon.Harrys coach informed him that,not only did he expect him to win;he wanted him to run the first sub 2 hour marathon.When the film was made,in the late 1960's, when the world record was around the 2 hr 10 min mark,it was certainly a huge ask.Harry set off on schedule,but in scenes reminiscent of the famous Jim Peters collapsing scenes on the final lap of the track,at the end of the race,he failed.However I was inspired,got changed straight away,and went outside with the intention of running until I collapsed.My bedroom door,until I left home to go to university,had a homemade sign pinned to it bearing the legend,'Think of Harry Hayes and Douglas Jardin.'Douglas Jardin was the English Cricket captain on the infamous 'Bodyline' ashes tour-but that's another story.

The influence of Harry Hayes probably inspired my interest in the mavericks of long distance running.I devoured information on Percy Cerutty and his 'stotan'regime,at Portsea,Victoria ,which produced several great athletes,the most famous being Herb Elliot,the mile world record breaker.There were also Ron Clarke and Derek Clayton.Ron Clarke trained 3 times a day,often raced at least once a week and trained with the same intensity all year.He did not attempt to peak for races or championships,seldom trained on a track,did not keep a training log and never used a watch.Derek Clayton was similar.He was entirely self trained and,typically,ran between 140-170 miles per week,sometimes running over 200 miles.This approach brought results-he was the first man to run a marathon in under 2 hrs 10 mins and 2 hrs 9 mins.

With the increase in scientific knowledge over the past couple of decades the number of these maverick heroes have become few and far between.Vo2 max tests,blood lactate tests etc have shown the types of exercise needed to achieve the results,therefore the number of people ready to rip up the rule books are decreasing...but there are still some out there.

One of my personal favourite runners is Anton Krupicka.Anton appeared 4/5 years ago as part of an emerging young guard of ultra running.Traditionally the reserve of older athletes,these youngsters,including Anton and the Skaggs brothers,Kyle and Eric, ripped up the record books.Their approach echoed the 'dirtbag' surf and climbing lifestyles..they literally lived to run,living cheap,and shunning much of the modern technolgy used in running circles.Antons approach is basic-big miles everyday,usually ran at a comfortable pace.That is basically it-no intervals,no core/gym work-just plain running.The fact that Anton regularly runs close to 200 miles a week and that most of it is done on mountains and at altitude is awe inspiring.

A little closer to home is another maverick,altogether less well known.Simon Lawson is a Welshman,currently studying for a medical degree.In 2009 he won a silver at The European Junior Championships.His typical training day defies belief:
Up at 5a.m 10 mins of sit ups
Morning Run
Another 10 mins of sit ups
One hour core work in the gym
Another 10 mins of sit ups

Lunchtime 10 mins of sit ups
Lunch time run
10 mins of sit ups

P.m Quality session of the day-intervals/reps etc
One hour of core work

His basic philosophy is simple-run far,run often,lots of core work,nothing complicated.Again Simon is self coached.
In 2009 he completed one of the fastest Half Marathon times for a Britain as a teenager ever-65mins 49 secs.

Another remarkable aspect of his training is his diet.For the last 7 years Simon has not eaten anything that he considers to be 'crap food.'He has consumed not a single chocolate,sweet,fizzy drink,chip,burger or cake.The only liquid he has consumed has been water.

The Simon Lawson story does not have a happy ending.As is often the case with mavericks he has had his fair share of confrontations with the Athletic authorities.In the 2009 Euro Junior champs he was not allowed to compete in the 5 000m ,several days after the 10 000m,the authorities telling him it was too much.He was dissappointed with his silver medal in the 10 000m,and attributed it to him not being allowed to prepare for the race his own way.Lawson did not believe in tapering,indeed the day before his half marathon performance he completed 3 runs-16 miles/9 miles and 5 miles -but was told to take it easy before his 10 000m race.He disagrees with the over protective attitude of the governing body-that less is more.

Unfortunately Simon Lawson announced his retirement from the sport earlier this year,at 20 years old.He was disenchanted with the fact he could not obtain lottery funding,that he even had to pay £3.75 to use his local track.This ,combined with a period of injury caused by slipping on a pile of leaves,proved to be the icing on the cake for Simon.He decided to concentrate on his medical degree and resume playing football.

The Trials of Miles-Week 4 summary.

2010-12-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

Friday 17th December 21.5 miles
Run from Southview to Chapel pullover,back to Skegness Pier on the beach.Then Skegness to Anchor Lane and back on the seafront.

Saturday 18th December 10 miles
Southview to Anchor Lane on the road,back on seafront.

Sunday 19th December a.m 11.5 miles
p.m 13.5 miles
Morning run was from the Lifeboat Station along the beach to Butlins and back,then The Skegness Santa Fun Run 5km (1st).
Afternoon run from Southview to Chapel Pullover and back on the seafront.

Monday 20th December 31.5 miles
It was a cold day,but beautiful and bright.I went out with the intention of running 13.5,but the weather was so nice I decided to carry on.I ended up going from Skegness to Mablethorpe and back.It turned very cold on the way back,as the sun started to set.I was glad to get back in the warm.Left ankle was playing up on the way home.

Tuesday 21st December a.m 10 miles
p.m 7.5 miles
The morning run was a standard run to Anchor Lane on the road,back along the seafront.
The night run was with the club at Boston.Left ankle was fine on the first run,but painful on the second.

Wednesday 22nd December 10 miles
Southview to Anchor Lane on the road,back on the seafront.

Thursday 23rd December a.m 5 miles
p.m 10.5 miles
Morning run was at Bourne Woods.Traveled over with Jose and Aidan and it was nice to get a change of scenery.The trails in the Woods were still covered with snow,making for nice running conditions.
Afternoon run was a club run from Currys,with Geoff J,David J and Thomas J.

TOTAL MILEAGE FOR THE WEEK: 131 MILES

__________________________________________________________

Overall it was a pleasing week.It was my intention to push up the mileage towards the 140 miles per week point,but 131 miles is more miles than I have completed for a while.I'm steadily getting into the routine of things now.It is essential to make sure that I resist the temptation to lay in in the morning.If the first run of the day is not until 12 p.m ,the temptation to fore go the second run of the day,especially in the cold and dark is sometimes too great.
My left ankle has been playing up slightly.I have switched shoes,to my Puma Cortland IIs and this seems to be helping.The Cortlands are Cross country spikes.I noticed that there were several styles of spikes which are also available as Cross Country flats(with no spikes) in the States.The U.K version of these shoes are perfectly good to wear as minimal shoes-just don't screw in the spikes!These were a particular bargain,costing only £10,with no postage,and including a free T-shirt and pair of running socks.The price of these alone come to more than the purchase price of the shoes.It is definately a wise move,especially considering that similarly minimal type shoes,like the Innov-8 Xtalon 190 are currently selling for £70/£80.Remember.....Cheap is Good!!!

Guerilla Running

2010-12-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

Looking at U.S trail runner,Nick Clarks excellent blog 'Rocky Dirt Mountain Running',I was interested to see the ethos of a race/run that was being organized by Nick and some running pals-The Chubby Cheeks 50k.The thing that stuck me was the 'guerilla' nature of the run.There were basically no aid/drink station,no prizes and no entrance fee,with all runners self timing themselves.In these days of major sponsors,exorbitant entry fees,and all the other things that go along with modern day races,this hit me like a breath of fresh air.I always welcome anything that cuts the costs involved with running,and this approach definitely fits the bill.

The legality/ illegality of such events adds to the experience.The race has no permits.On his blog Nick posts that if anyone is approached by anyone in a uniform,they are to say they are doing a group run,not a race.Of course,in this litigation age,everybody taking part would have to understand that the race was,basically,a run and that no-one could be held liable if anything went wrong.But its certainly a cheap way to race.

Today was cold,really cold,compared with the normal weather experienced in Skegness.The temperature on waking this morning was -7C.Due to this fact,as I lay under my quilt,sipping one of numerous coffees needed to give me the kick to stir,I wasn't looking forward to braving the elements.This week has been going well,mileage wise,and I was looking to cover at least 20 miles today,in order to bring the weekly total up to this weeks target of approximately 140 miles.I decided the best way to do this would be to do my normal Skeg to Chapel and back run-about 13 miles,and then an easy 7 tonight.As I set off I was astounded by the surrounding beauty.There was no wind,but with the low temperatures,everything was covered by a white frost,giving everything a Christmas card look.The day was bright and that quickly boosted my mood,giving me the incentive to do all 20 odd miles needed for the day in one go.

As I approached Ingoldmells Point and made my way around the outlet going into the sea I had an idea.I love running on this beach-each day is different due to the tides and weather conditions.The outlet has got a red buoy on the top and further down the coast at Chapel St Leonards there is a similar outlet,with a similar buoy.An idea started to seed that there could be a race/group run between the two outlets,which I was thinking could be called 'The Buoy to Buoy'.On reaching Chapel St Leonards,and feeling great I decided to carry on down the coast.I knew there was another outlet at Mablethorpe,another 5 miles or so down the coast.On the way there I passed another 3 outlets,which were all nicely spaced,and also split the beach down into smaller sections.By this time I was pondering a Buoy to Buoy race from Ingoldmells to Mablethorpe,or even a double Buoy to Buoy-Ingoldmells to Mablethorpe and back.Im toying with setting up a facebook group where runners could post their best times for a 'Buoy to Buoy' and a 'Double Buoy to Buoy'.We'll see.

By the time I reached home the sun was beginning to set,the temperatures had plummeted again and I was cold.Checking the distance of the total run on Mapometer revealed that the total distance covered today to be 31.4 miles.Not bad.

The Trials of Miles

2010-12-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Things have happened this month which will certainly change my future-for good or bad is yet to be seen.Three weeks ago I sold my share of our family business to my brother.I now have no job and no income.In the space of four years I have gone from working 60 odd hours a week to none at all.Some see this as the ultimate act of madness,the culmination of my mental decline.I prefer to see it as a rebirth-a chance to start again and do things I truly want to do and which I enjoy.My life has simplified beyond belief.Choosing to live in this caravan affords me the luxury of small bills and gives me a time scale to put plans into action.Steve Jobs in his famous speech at the Harvard Graduation Ceremony mentioned that if you wake up in the morning,look in the mirror and realize that you hate your job too many times,it's time to change.The banality of most work has weighed on my shoulders,especially during the last two years.I have no aspirations to be rich and only long for basic material possessions-so whats the point of working too much.I want excitement,change,risk,adventure-and I wasn't going to get that stuck in a factory day in ,day out,constantly struggling to stay awake...and most days failing.

The day of my departure coincided with my brother and ex-business partner finally lending me his copy of 'Once a Runner' by John L.Parker.I read it quickly and realized that the action of the hero of the book,Quenton Cassidy,who retreated to the solitude of a cabin in the woods to train,echoed what I wanted to do for the next few months.To forget about work,earning money,maintaining a certain standard of living and concentrate doing something I loved,to the exclusion of much else...run.I'm only an average runner ,but want to spend the next six months or so running big miles,enduring my own trials of miles.

The start of The Trials have been ok.I wanted to spend a few weeks just getting into the swing of running everyday,doing perhaps 100 miles or so a week,and then build it up from there.My immediate goal,race wise,I have decided will be the East Hull Harriers 24 hour race.Originally I was thinking of the Hardmoors 110 mile Trail race,but want a challenge that will test pure running ability.Not having ran in many trail races I wanted to exclude the chance of navigational errors,and the lure of the 24 hour race,with its immense heritage,appeals to me-a 400m track,a runner and a classic battle of endurance.

The weather these last few weeks has been cold.The first day of The Trials saw the first snow of the year in Skegness,and this has continued,virtually unabated since.I hate the winter-the cold,the short days and long nights.Therefore I have decided to decamp mid January to Gran Canaria.Theres a network of free state run campsites doted around the mountains,so the plan is to take a tent and spend the warmer days running the mountain trails,relaxing and reading.I'm not exactly sure how long I will spend there.I have decided to run the Camino De Santiago at the start of March.This should take approximately two weeks if I can average my target of 50 miles per day.If all goes to schedule that would result in me being back in the UK for my pre London Marathon race,the Friskney Half Marathon on April 3rd,then it will be the marathon itself on April 19th.The 24 hour race is the start of July.

The middle of the summer the strap on my watch broke.I quickly mislaid the actual watch,meaning I have been without for the past few months.I never use a watch in training.I have a rough idea of the pace I am running and that will do for me.I used to always race with a watch,but this has not recently been so,and in some ways has been liberating.No longer am I checking splits every mile or km,and my race performances have not been affected at all.I like the idea of running free,using your instinct and soul to guide you.I doubt whether I'll ever use a watch while running again.

Week One: Friday a.m 13 miles
p.m 10 miles

Saturday a.m 13 miles

Sunday a.m 30 miles
p.m 10 miles

Monday a.m 13 miles

Tuesday a.m 13 miles
p.m 5 miles

Wednesday p.m 5 miles

Thursday p.m 5 miles

TOTAL FOR WEEK 117 MILES

Week Two
Friday /

Saturday Race 10k X/c 10 miles total(inc warm-up/cool down)

Sunday a.m 7 miles
p.m 10 miles

Monday a.m 13 miles

Tuesday a.m 15 miles
p.m 7 miles

Wednesday p.m 21.5 miles

Thursday p.m 13 miles

TOTAL FOR WEEK 96.5 MILES

Week Three

Friday p.m 13 miles

Saturday p.m 7 miles

Sunday p.m 13 miles

Monday p.m 13 miles

Tuesday a.m 13 miles
p.m 5 miles

Wednesday p.m 13 miles

Thursday a.m 13 miles
p.m 5 miles

TOTAL FOR WEEK 95 MILES

Sockhanded in the Moonlight

2010-10-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

The weather over this last week has definately took a large step towards winter.The proceeding weeks of mild weather have given way to near frosty nights,combined with biting winds.This change,combined with the rapidly diminishing hours of daylight,has put me into prime winter mode,where the motivation to step out the door,into the cold,is often tested,but,where,once out and running,a whole new dimension is added to the training experience.Wednesday night was a case in point.I've had an easy week this week,due to feeling the effects of the weekends efforts.Monday,I did not run-my thighs were way too tight and Tuesday was only a steady 5 mile or so run with the folks from the running club.By Wednesday,I was ready for something slightly longer.By the time I had returned from work and got ready,it must have been 7 p.m or so.The night was bitter,mainly due to a virtual,cloud free sky.Armed in tights,hat,thermal top with a t shirt on top, I set off.I looked for a pair of gloves,but couldn't find any,so settled for a pair of socks,worn over each hand.If you haven't got to carry anything,I prefer these to gloves-you just look abit strange wearing them in daylight.

I decided to head up to the seafront.I had run this route,from Winthorpe to Chapel,so many times over the summer-sometimes twice a day that I had got totally fed up with it,and ,consequently,had not run it for a while.However,tonight,in the darkness,it appealed to me,as I knew it would be very quiet.The view I get when I crest the top of the path,before hitting the promenade,always takes my breath away-winter or summer-the vast expanses of sand,stretching in both directions,and the varying conditions of the sea-sometimes calm,sometimes wild,sometimes somewhere in between.As I headed north towards Chapel,the quiet,the darkness-my path illuminated by a single white beam of light,the cold and the nights full moon reflecting exquisitly on the still expanses of ocean,made the journey quite magical.To think that,within 20 minutes of leaving the banger,I was enjoying this beauty amply rewarded the effort needed to break out into the darkness.Glancing into the brightly lit front rooms of residences on the way up,noticing people glued to ever increasingly big flat screen tvs,at ever increasingly bad quality programmes,made me thankful for the gift I had been given within--to actually want to carry out,and,indeed,enjoy the basic freedom of running.

Last night was another great night run,this time with David J,for around an hour,in similar conditions,in and around Skegness.I went to sleep last night feeling the onset of a cold and ,on waking this morning felt terrible.The first cold weather of the year had taken its toll!Not wanting to make things any worse,I decided to take the day off-keeping warm,checking out bloggs,sleeping and listening to the radio.

As mentioned in the previous post,one area I want to concentrate on in the year ahead is,what I will coin 'Eco-running'-essentially trying to keep the adverse enviromental damage caused by running to as low levels as I possibly can.This will involve work in several key areas:

(1) Transport/Travel
This is an area where I have been a culprit as much as,if not more so,than other people.Last year I travelled to Mexico,in order to complete The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon.Although I have not taken many long haul flights in recent years,the enviromental impact ,and the ethics of travelling for 10/11 hours certainly have to be questioned.I am not ruling out extensive travel,but the adoption of less carbon hungry ways of transport will,in future ,be used.I have been extensively reading about the concept known as 'Slow Travel.'This basically emphasises the merits that the actual journey can add to your trips-avoiding air transportation and instead using 'slower' means of transport-buses,trains,ocean liners,freight ships,houseboats,bikes etc.A large element of my whole experience in Mexico was,indeed,the travel.Landing at Mexico,I had to take buses and trains all the way to the canyons.This gave me a wonderful oppurtunity to interact with the local people,try out my bad spanish and savour amazing scenery,as well as a wide variety of other interesting sights and sounds.This did take time,but is an experience I valve.I have visions of other epic trips to Mexico-this time taking freight ships across the Atlantic-what an experience that would be.

Travelling to local races can also cause problems also.A change in recent years for races to be held on Sundays is a big problem,especially in a public transport back water like Skegness,as Sunday services are drastically reduced compared with the rest of the week.Some local places are easy to access-Lincoln and Boston-by bus,Mablethorpe can easily be reached without too much effort by bicycle-but with many local races occuring in small villages,off the beaten track,the chance to reach these races are limited without cars.Purchasing a fold up bike and travelling to a place near by ,by bus or train ,then cycling,is an option-the other being not to do them.If there were enough people who followed this lead,then race organisers would have to factor in public transport concerns when organising races.People run for alot of different reasons,but my main enjoyment is connecting with nature,enjoying the great outdoors-and if causing damage to this-by using cars or planes-results,it is a great irony.A great irony I will try hard to address.

I have plans for several races that I could easily do-any race in Lincoln(Lincoln 10k,Tales of the riverbank,Ducks and Drakes,The Spires and Steeples),Boston(Poppy run,6/12 hr races)and any races in Louth and Mablethorpe.I am also looking to compete in several LDWA events,held on Saturdays over distances from 20-100 miles.By not working on Fridays this gives me the idea opportunity to travel on that day,stay overnight near the race,then return on the Saturday afternoon.The time taken and the costs will be more than travelling on the morning by car,but a whole weekend adventure will more than make up for that.

(2)Equipment

Just a look at the athletes at the start of any road race,and especially trail races,and you cannot help but notice the plethora of products worn by runners.From Gps watches,Heart Monitors,Bladder packs and different shoes for every condition-the list goes on and on.Of course all of these have their valve in certain situations.A GPS watch may be wise if venturing into the mountains,but on a road race?A Bladder pack may be useful on long unsupported runs-but on a trail marathon with water stations every 4 miles?
Running shoes are advisely changed every 6/800 miles.By whom?The shoe manufacturers ,of course.In my experience this is totally unnecessary,and will get any old school runner from the 60s/70s and 80s shaking their heads.Back in the day a resole and copious amounts of shoe goo were the order of the day and shoes were not discarded until they,literally, fell apart.My current footwear cost £14.99(Fair enough-it was a sale item) and have logged pretty close to 3000 miles,I would estimate,and still have plenty of life left in them.By realising that the majority of claims about the merits of certain items of footwear and clothing is ,usually,marketing hype by businesses,primarily aiming to maximise profits,runners should be able to use more discretion in purchasing products,and cut down on unnecessary comsumption.And ,of course,lower levels of comsumption can only have positive effects as far as enviromental impact is concerned.

Steeples and Spires Trail Marathon

2010-10-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

I was looking forward to this event for several reasons.Firstly ,it was a chance to have a good run out.The event is run in a similar fashion to the LDWA events-being a walk and a run.The walkers set off at 8.30,followed by the runners at 9.30.The cost of the event,to enter on the day was £12-if you entered before it was £10.For that you got a rather nice t-shirt,plastic cups of finest tap water(well presume it was tap water!),and thats about it.That's exactly how I like it.The race was over the marathon distance-but the accuracy has to be questioned-and if you wanted to know how fast you ran,it was up to you to time yourself.These type of events always tend to be really friendly,with alot less big egos around than sometimes found at races.

The conditions were near perfect.The proceeding night was cold,and a heavy mist hung over Lincoln Castle at the start.The forecast was good-about 14 degrees,combined with a clear,sunny autumnal day.Setting off from the castle grounds on the way down Steep Hill to the river saw its normal fast start and the usual exuberance by people who should perhaps have taken it a little easier at the start.Once we hit the cycle path a lead group started to form with myself,Jon Hobbs,a couple of army guys and a couple of lads I had not seen before-and not forgetting Pip-Jons dog!We stayed together,until the army lads tailed off,leaving 4 of us together.If anything I thought the start was alittle to fast.Jon is smack bang in the middle of a hard training block,in preparation for the Florence Marathon at the end of November,and seemed to want a long,hard training run.Combined with having to stop/start regularly to keep check on his dog,who couldn't resist chasing the local wildlife-usually in the opposite direction to the race,I think a good training run was what he got.

At the aid station around half way,I inadvertently developed a 50m lead.I think it was solely a case of the other runners spending more time getting drinks,rather than me speeding up.I knew I was approaching an area where last year I took a wrong turn.This year I did exactly the same and found that my lead had disappeared,and had to chase the leading two runners up the subsequent inclined field to catch up.I was feeling good and decided to up the pace slightly.The rest of the run was on my own.I crossed the line in 3hrs 02 mins to win,and was slightly disappointed at not registering a quicker time(my brother won the event last year in 2hrs 52mins),but several runners clocked the course longer this year-the finish was moved,and we had a detour this year to miss a railway bridge,which added extra distance,so my time was probably worth a sub 3hr run.Anyway,I'm not bothered.It was a pleasant day,nice scenery and good company.On days like these positions and times are largely irrelevant.

The logistics of getting to and from the race also added to the experience.Choosing not to have a car can cause problems,especially if no-one else you know is going ,to share a lift with.Sundays are the worst-the reduction in the number of trains and buses make travelling,even relatively locally,a task in itself.I,ve been looking at LDWA events for the coming year precisely because some of the events are held on Saturdays,making travelling on public transport a hell of alot easier.In days of old-well the 60's and 70's,the majority of road races were held on Saturdays.This would be ideal for me,but I suppose the passage of modern day life,in relation especially to working patterns ,have eroded this.Shame.

However today was very,very simple.Bus to Lincoln from Skegness,arriving half an hour before the start,and a train from Sleaford an hour or so after the race finished.I was back in Skeg for just after 3.

All in all,a good day!

Search for Adventure

2010-10-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

'No matter what you're doing,or where you are in your life right now,it is crucial to be vigilant in a dedication towards adventure.It is immensely important and keeps the existential fires burning brightly.Adventure keeps you creative and alive'.

I was sat at my wife's flat at the tail end of last week.The flat is on the 3rd floor and has large patio doors which overlook a communal,grassed play area.The weather was bad.Strong winds blew the torrents of rain straight against the doors-the resulting noise making the weather seem even worse.It was comforting to be inside and warm,but the wildness of the weather always stirs the wild edges of the spirit and sets the mind wandering of potential adventures new.

Browsing facebook,I came across pictures of a friend who had carried out a 130km hike to Santiago ,in Northern Spain.This interested me.It reminded me of the walks that Ken,a member of my running club,had done carried out over the same routes earlier in the year.On his return ,he told me that it was the sort of thing that would be right up my street.Remembering this I carried out a piece of impromptu research.

There are a number of walks,all converging on Santiago,due to bones being found that were rumoured to be the bones of St James.This resulted in the routes being used by Catholic pilgrims.The routes are still walked by many Catholic pilgrims,but also by people seeking a spiritual experience,or by people just doing the walks for sport.The religious and spiritual aspects of the walks appealed to me.The religious pilgrims were the first people who really travelled for long distances,with peaceful aims,rather than the aim of claiming and taking over land.I am not religious,but would like to consider myself as spiritual-and am interested in seeking a spiritual experience ,through running.

The Camino De Santiago route that caught my eye was the Camino Frances,starting at St Jean de Port,in France,crossing the Pyrenees and finishing 780km later in Santiago de Compostela-travelling the breath of Northern Spain.There are cheap hostels situated every 20km or so along the route,so the options are:(1)Run 40ish miles per day,stay at the hostel and repeat for 2 weeks or (2)take a lightweight tarp and sleeping bag,run as long as possible each day and then just wild camp,get a few hours sleep and continue.I've pencilled the trip in for the start of March,and which ever option I decide,I'm sure it will be a spiritual voyage.

Adventure does not only mean going to far flung places-just putting yourself in situations outside the norm.This year,over the Christmas and New Year period,I have a months holiday.On the lookout for adventure I have come up with the following,more local options:

The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path.

This route begins in Knettishall Country Park and follows the Roman Road to Holme next the Sea on the North Norfolk Coast and then joins the Norfolk Coast path-as it runs from Hunstanton to Cromer.

Distance --93 miles/150km

The Lindsey Loop

This route is a figure of 8,which takes in six market towns-Market Rasen,Spilsby,Alford,Caistor,Horncastle and Louth.

Distance --95 miles/153 km

The Yorkshire Wolds Way/Cleveland Way

The Wolds Way runs 79 miles from Hessle ,near the Humber Bridge,across the Yorkshire Wolds to Filey.

This route can then be connected to The Cleveland Way ,which runs for a distance of 110 miles,from Filey,skirting the upland ridges on the edge of the North York National Park.

These routes will certainly provide me with several days of adventure soon.

On the more mondane front,things have progressed well over the last two weeks.Last Sunday marked the seasons first Cross Country -The Louth Open.The weather was brilliant country weather-raining and windy.I had a relatively good run,placing 11th-about 1mins 30secs faster than last years performance.
Today was the Ducks and Drakes 10 mile-off road at Lincoln.Again I had a relatively good run,placing second-time unknown ,so far-but it didn't seem too fast!

A Soulful Journey to the Depths of The Copper Canyons.

2010-10-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

It was a cold,dark morning in mid December.I was on the way to work 11 miles away,running with a head torch with a rapidly diminishing light ,left ankle hurting and I was-well-feeling miserable.I'd made a commitment to run The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon in the deep canyons of the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico,having sent my entry donation to race organiser,Micah True.Yes-the Micah True-the person I'd read so much about over the previous year and who was the star turn in the best selling book 'Born To Run'.I knew I had to go there-to take a voyage of discovery into the deep canyons-but the voices of sanity were chipping away that dark morning.

It was a relatively large financial outlay,mainly for the return flight from the UK to Mexico,and Christmas was rapidly approaching.Christmas marked a month long break from work,several weeks of which I would have to take unpaid to utilise the holidays available for Mexico.I'd been having problems with getting a visa for entry to the US-I'd assumed that I'd get a visa exemption,but on close inspection realised that,due to a stupid night of youthful exuberance years earlier,I'd have to attend an interview at the US embassy in London.More expense.Should I just fill in the exemption and take a chance?Would I get turned away at US customs?I just didn't know.

The voices continued.'Save your money-the money you spend will pay your caravan rent for a full season.Theres loads of great races in the UK etc,etc.'These doubts continued for a couple of weeks,until I voiced them to my brother on a snowy,country run during the Christmas vacation.I knew what his response would be.He had ran from John O'Groats to Lands End,ran the coast to coast route from St Bees Head to Robin Hoods Bay,been part of a run across Africa,had cycled across Australia.He began that the easy option is always to stay with what you know-but ,to live life you need to step out of your comfort zone.That I might go to Mexico and think it was a total waste of time and money-that the great things I had read about the people involved with the race,may be hype.However it could also be a life changing experience that I would remember for the rest of my life.If I didn't go.I'd never know'.

Two months later I was sat on a small bus,slowly weaving down the steep roads into the canyons.Darkness was drawing in-our original bus had broken down after miles of making very strange noises and we'd had to wait for a replacement.Rick,an American tourist returning to the canyons ,having visited several weeks earlier,but knowing he would soon to be witnessing something special soon,pointed out faint lights below.The lights of the small town of Urique. Driving down the main street an hour later in darkness ,all was quite.I was in the most remote area I had been in my life.My mobile phone was dead and my closest friends and family knew I was in the Copper Canyons in Mexico-but didn't have a clue,really,where it was.However I felt relaxed and at home.I'd landed in Mexico City,deciding to bypass the US altogether.I was nervous.The guide books advised of the dangers of unauthorised taxis at the airport-of people being robbed,even killed.At the Norte bus terminal I sat on my pack quietly,viewing everyone as a potential criminal.I was relieved to get on the overnight bus,for an 18 hour trip to Chihuahua.From Chihuahua,I caught the bus to Creel-again a town with a bad reputation for drug related violence and killing.But I was relaxing.The Mexican people were friendly,the foreign travellers had great tales to tell and I was starting to get excited about the race ahead.As I got off the bus and walked down the dark road to the campsite,Entre Amigo,I took in the quietness and serenity of the place and the realisation hit me that I had arrived at the place I had read so much about.

I awoke the next morning,made my way out of the tent and savoured the surrounding.The tent was surrounded by trees bearing oranges and grapefruit,but it was the view beyond the campsite that was jaw dropping.In front of the site was a river,which lazily wound its way through the town of Urique,about half a mile away.I gazed up.We were on the canyon floor-mountains rose high above on both sides,covered with lush greenery.This place truly was beautiful.I dressed quickly into t-shirt,shorts and sandals-desperate to get in my first run for several days.Although it was early,the sun was rising and the temperatures were getting higher.I filled two empty coke bottles in the restroom,dropped in a couple of purification tablets and made my way to the site entrance.There I stood,debating which way to run.To the right was Urique,to the left a dirt road heading to where?.I looked at my watch.I would run for 30 minutes,then come back-paying special attention at any points where I had a choice of routes,in order to not get lost.I set off on the road to the left.

The dirt road headed past several homesteads,keeping close to the river.A mile or two down,the road bent to the left and passed the entrance to a decidedly dodgy looking bridge,which crossed the river.I decided to carry on the dirt road,as it gradually climbed upwards.The light sand colour of the path and the canyon walls made me realise that this was the same road I had seen many times in magazines and the web over the last year-pictures depicting the tarahumara runners,complete in colourful shirts,wrap around skirts and homemade sandals,made from tyres-making their way up the hills,a steely look of determination in their eyes.I continued up that first hill,until the road straightened out and then stopped.I was spent.My head started to go light and I had to quickly crouch down,scared I was about to pass out.I turned round and jogged,gingerly,back down the road.I'd ran,probably 3 miles.In 4 days time I would be running 52 miles,with near on 10,000 ft of climb.This would be harder than I thought.

Over the next few days my confidence returned.I began to feel stronger,the effects of the long trip diminishing.The campsite gradually began to fill with like minded runners,as did Urique itself.Great days were had reecing the course with the rest of the international runners and several tarahumara.Runners,in particular long distance runners usually possess similar attributes.They are comfortable in their own space(the hours of training solo show this),usually modest and easy to get along with.It was great sharing stories about their places of origin and of races and runs they had achieved.The scenery was unbelievable(the single track up to Los Alios must take some beating as the most beautiful run in the world)and the days were rounded off with delicious meals at Grandma Titas,along with beers and more tall tales.

The race itself was as hard as expected,but the smiles from both the supporters on the roadside,the school children at the aid stations and ,more importantly fellow runners,regardless of where they were from,made the going alot easier.I crossed the line in around 8hrs 45mins,just sneaking into the top 30.However times and positions were irrelevant-the whole experience transcended statistics.

There are several things that stick in my mind.The kindness shown by everyone was immense.From the locals,right down to the runners.I remember being eternally grateful to Mike(also on the campsite),for offering me his stash of antibiotics,after an abscess flared up on my tooth 2 days before the race-of Wes offering me his huaraches after finding that the maker in Urique would not be able to make mine before I returned home.Laughing on the way back to the campsite with Rick after spending a night engrossed in Abi's stories of family and races.Seeing the locals darting off the path on the first part of the race,taking short cuts at every bend.The smiles and words off all the runners I past on route.High fiving Maria as I headed back from Los Alios and noticing her beaming smile,even though she had still far to go.The list could go on and on.

However one thing sticks in my mind more than any other.It was the morning after the race.Most of the runners had departed on the bus from the canyons,returning to normal life and the planning of more adventures.A few of us were hanging around for a few more days.I was in the kitchen,talking to Mike,when Micah entered.Everyone was making idle chit chat when Micah said, 'That sure was a beautiful race yesterday'.I suddenly thought that comment summed up the whole experience-beautiful people,beautiful places,a beautiful ethos to the race-everything was just plain beautiful.

Roll on -The Cross Country season is about to start!

2010-10-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

This sums up all that is great about club running in the UK.Nominal entry fee-just short of 3000 runners in the Senior Mens race -and 2009 at Englands Classic Cross Country course-Parliament Hill Fields,London.Starting at the bottom of the hill exemplifies what a tough course is to come!I was in there ---somewhere!!!

End of Summer/Start of Winter

2010-10-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

Reading Anton Krupicka's excellent blog 'Riding the Wind' this morning ,I was surprised ,yet heartened to here how his September went.Anton is renowned for running big miles-sometimes up to 200 miles a week-but this last few weeks has been running low miles-probably 4 miles a day.He attributes this to both physical and mental tiredness.It's nice to see normal human fragilities in your running heroes and makes you feel better when faced with times where motivation is sometimes lacking.

Since a month before Christmas I've probably averaged around 100 miles a week.There was always some race on the horizon-The CCUM,London Marathon,Boston 12 hr race.My big goal for the year was the Boston 12hr race at the end of August.Having completed that and achieving a result I was happy with,it has been nice to take things easy-have the occassional day off-go out for a 1 hr run ,instead of a 2-3 hour run after work-just enjoy running and not get too wrapped up in the statistics for the week.I have,even during this'down month',raced regularly.The week after the 12hr race was the Lincolnshire 10,000m county track championships.During the whole week I ran twice,due to the aches and pains caused by the longer race.However I ran 38.15(my years best being about 37.50 at Woodhall Spa 10k) and really enjoyed my first track 10k,and was really surprised my time was as quick.I have also completed a couple of road 10k's-Mablethorpe(8th-38.55ish)ans West Pinchbeck (22nd-38.39).

This weekend sees the start of our cross country season,with our traditional opener at the Louth Open.The weather this last few days has been terrible and the forecast for Sunday itself is not great,but ,hopefully,this will add to the race with some tough underfoot conditions.Through October,November and December I will be racing virtually every weekend-mainly over the country-and it is a time I relish.The atmosphere at these low key races is great-the same faces over and over-the entry fees are nominal and the pressure to achieve time targets are non existant.It is a period I am looking forward to immensely.

Thoughts also turn to goals and races for next year.My main interest is doing abit of something different.I'm going to try and get away to The Peak District at least one weekend a month and reece the area-with the intention of running a few races round there-The Long Tour of Bradwell and The High Peak 40 for starters,and probably a few lower key events.With the increased interest in trail running in the UK,there has been an increase in high participation trail runs,normally sponsored the big players in the footwear/outdoor wear industry.However they are not for me.Encouraging people to enjoy the countryside is certainly admirable,however 1000 people racing the trails over sensitive countryside is,in my opinion ,not a wise idea.I have entered the London Marathon(probably the biggest commercial race in the country),but apart from that will be targeting just low key races-local races-and small races further afield,which can be easily accessed by public transport and which are free from excessive commercial involvement.As Caballo Blanco(CCUM organiser and fierce advocate of keeping the North Face/Saloman et al out of the race)-'Running should be free,man'!

Deep Ecology

2010-09-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

The more I read about deep ecology,the more it strikes a chord with sentiments I already echo.Interesting stuff..

A life less ordinary

2010-09-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about this clip tonight.For the last few weeks I've been back on the bike-biking to work,biking to training at Boston,doing the shopping etc,etc.It's good to be back to a mode of transport that is both free and also is not damaging to the enviroment.This evening I finished work and found a puncture in the bikes back wheel.No problem-I had a spare,so changed the tube.A couple of miles into the 11 mile trip back I got another flat.I've got a feeling that theres a thorn or something in the tyre thats caused the problems,but couldn't find one and as it was getting dark decided to walk.Instead of being irritated with the situation,I thought - just enjoy walking!And I did.

Minimalist living has been on my mind constantly this past couple of weeks.I've gone through my ,already pretty minimalist,wardrobe and sorted out everything I don't wear regularly and put it in a charity bin.Same with trainers.I suppose the aim is to get down to the bare essentials.I have become inherently aware that,with the accumulation of goods,for me,there is also an accumulation of stress.In searching for minimalist modes of living I have stumbled on the bike camper,pictured above.It may be a romantic notion-but it is a romantic notion that I have been giving serious thought to-living full time in such a set up.The trailer would hold all my worldly possessions-and I would choose to wild camp,avoiding rents etc.A cheap way of life.I would be able to work Monday to Thursday-then take off for a few hours on the trails and tracks running-then tow the trailer to a secluded spot-preferrably under the shield of darkness-prepare a quick meal-pop up the shelter-then sleep.I will definately give it serious thought with the on coming of spring next year.

The last couple of weeks I have been really enjoying running.My summer obsession with miles is dissappearing.All I want to do is get out in the country,on the paths,finding my way or getting lost for a few hours at a time.The scenery around Spilsby really is beautiful.Life is pretty good!

Boston 12 hour race

2010-09-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Well I'd been doing alot of miles for this one-things went ok performance wise and some lessons were learnt.Last year I won the 12 hr with just under 72 miles.This year I wanted to get something approaching 80 miles.The day was good-not too hot,but with the wind forecast to pick up as the day progressed.

The race started at 7.30 and I felt good-going through the marathon in about 3.30 hrs and by half way was 2nd overall,including the 6 hr race.Last year I had a real bad spell about 6.30 hours,where continuing was questioned,but this year,although tired,those sort of conditions did not repeat themselves.After reading Stuart Mills blog and appropriating some his nutritional advice,things seemed to progress well.The preferred drink of choice,which after 40 miles,was consumed every 5 miles ,as a treat ,was a 50%coke/50%water mix.Every 10 miles was a cup of coffee,which was drank relatively quickly,sitting down resting on the kazi!

My legs started to ache about 5 hours in-and just got worse.Its hard to keep focused,but to cut a long story short,I finished with a distance just short of 78 miles.According to the german ultra statistical site that ranks me 3rd in the uk this year for a 12 hour race this year-so not too bad!!

The thing I realised,however,is that ultras of this sort,to me,are really boring.Ultras always have a large mental component to contend with-but more so ultras ran over short courses.I was planning to do a 24 hour next year-but don't now know if I will.Running has to be enjoyable to me-I like racing people-I like racing from place to place-I like changing scenery.We'll see what happens!

Its there and its free

2010-08-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

Had a good couple of days,after the relative rest of last week.Wednesday night was a 4 hour run from Spilsby to Skeg and then straight on to Chapel and back.I've stopped morning runs again-basically because I don't enjoy them.I also have a left ankle/achilles that aches alot when I first get up-and is pretty uncomfortable to run on first thing-however being on my feet all day seems to sort it out-and running after work is normally no problem.

The run Wednesday meant passing the cherry trees at Skeg-so with 1.30ish under my belt-and never running with any food or drink-I was getting abit peckish.Therefore a 10 minute stop to gorge myself on the free cherries was just the job-running and nature working in perfect harmony!Some people say the cherry carn't be eaten,however,this last few weeks I've eaten more cherries than in the rest of my life combined-all with no problems.I think its a case of people thinking that because these cherries are just growing normally,and not in some enclosed orchard,then they cannot be eaten.Well I hope they continue to think in that blinkered way--more cherries for me!

The run to Chapel takes you off the beaten track for a short while-and this is ideal.The blackberry season is just starting-another completely free and nutritious running food available!

Been abit of hype about a new book out called 'Bounce' by Matthew Syed,about the question of whether champions are born or made.He comes down heavily on the 'made' option,which should encourage everyone.In terms of ultradistance running there are no limits,potentially.If you can get out there and run long and very often you may not be the best in the world-but you will be good.alot of the time its about committment and time.Can anyone afford the 30/40 hrs a week that Krupicka puts in?-maybe not-but if they really want it,maybe they should.

Ups and Downs

2010-08-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Been abit of a crap week for training this week.The last few weeks have been biggish miles-between 120 and 140.But,ultimately,its left me really tired,feeling abit under the weather and ,generally, abit demotivated.Lessons to be learnt?Probably that I need an easy week now and again.This week has been around 75-80 -and i feel that I haven't done much really.But its left me hungry for a big week next week.Maybe I'll try something like 3 weeks around 130/140 and then a recovery week of about 80 throughout the winter.Not missed a day now for about a month now-so try and keep that going.

Had a training run at Boston this morning and decided to bike to Boston and back-must be a round trip of about 60 miles.I'm going to invest on a touring bike in the next few weeks-something like a Dawes Galaxy-or something similar.I'm trying to cut out the travel expenses that I'm accrueing at the minute,in order to make the switch to 3 days work more viable.If I can cut out the travel expenses to work and training it will save me about £30 a week-so will be worth the effort.I am currently looking forward to those dark,cold winter nights on the way back from Boston-should be good.

Decisions

2010-07-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

The decision of the moment is whether to opt for a three day week at the end of September,for the duration of the winter or not?At the minute I am seriously thinking about it,and,infact will sit down tonight and work out a few figures.I have a core feeling that I should do it.Life has moved in mysterious ways over these last couple of years,but I feel it has delivered me at a time and place which is near perfect to make a big decision.

Chris has been reading a book called'Once a Runner'-a seminal book written in the early 70's about a college athlete named Quenton Cassidy,a talented miler,who after getting booted out of college,retreats to a hut in the middle of the forest to train..and train..and train.Needless to say it is ultimately a success story-the character beating the world record holder at the mile and going on to win Olympic silver.I guess that most people who are pretty serious about sport,at any times in thier lives,have haboured such dreams-but the reality is that normal living needs money-and money normally comes from working.

I have arrived at a place and time which most people would be unhappy with.I am single-although am currently experiencing a great relationship with my estranged wife-after a lot of ups and downs-and don't feel the need to be in a relationship right now.Living in the Carabanger is cheap-probably averages at around £50 a week.I've got no council tax to pay,no water bills,no gas,no electric.I can live on less than £20 a week for food-and then the only other costs are the money I give/save for Reice each week,travel costs and then money for myself.I can live frugally,and going without luxuries such as new clothes,nights out,take aways no problem.So....what is stopping me?

Looking at things in a short term perspective is easier.Working three days a week does not mean I will have to do it all the time.I would have the option of increasing the hours once we get to peak season next March.Luxuries,such as foreign travel and a return to Mexico for next weeks CCUM would be out of the picture-but the thought of really throwing myself into hard running for the winter excites me-and it would be interesting to find out what I could do-if anything,in terms of ultra distance running.I feel it is an oppurtunity that I may not get again-and if I do not seize the day,I will regret it.

The plan for the winter is thus:After the 12 hrs at Boston at the end of August,I've got the Robin Hood Half or full Marathon-probably the half-then its Cross Country season again.I love that time of year.Theres races seemingly evey weekend until Christmas-so I will do as many of those as I can-working towards a goal race at the end of January.That will give me something to work towards through those dark winter months.Right -off to work out some figures-I'm getting excited thinking about it!

Lazy

2010-07-03T05:57:00.001-07:00

Had abit of a break from this blogging lark,but I,m now back!Training has been going well since the London-consistant weeks of between 80 and 110 miles-all run in my pretty steady pace.Theres been a couple of races of note-the Woodhall Spa 10k,followed by The Boston to Skegness Marathon a week later.Woodhall went ok and I lowered my pb once again to 37.55(ish-carn't remember exact time)-which I was happy with.My speed seems to be increasing in the shorter races,even though I'm doing absolutely no training at speed-no intervals,and virtually no running at less than 7min mile pace-apart from races.

The seabank was a week later.I had decided a few weeks earlier to miss this race this year.I had planned to go to the lake district to help reece a leg I was supposed to be doing to support my brother in his up and coming Bob Graham attempt.However plans changed and I would be in Skeg for that weekend after all.Last year I surprised myself by sneaking 3rd place in 3.21 in terrible weather conditions.But that run last year,plus running 2.56 at London,put some pressure on myself.My expectations had risen and so,in a way ,was reticent about racing this year in case I didn't preform as well as expected.However,these pressures were only put on me by myself,so the week before I decided to enter--if I ran well,I ran well-if I didn't,I didn't.I was also spurred on by comments made by my brother that week who labelled me a 'lazy runner'.This was a reference to my attitude to training.I do train hard,but do not like to follow strict schedules and have the week fully mapped out at the start of the week,preferring to just do what I feel like doing,depending on how I feel on the day.

The day of the race was nice weather-relatively still and warm-but not too warm.I felt ok.I had not done any sort of taper--ran 30 miles on the Thursday,13 on the Friday and about 10 on the Saturday-and warming up felt alittle tired-but nothing to get worried about.At the start I decided to stick with two experienced local runners-Mark Sands and Dave Tilley-both who had run the race several times and would be good judges of pace.David Oliver took the lead immediately.David has raced several ultras,such as The Jungle Marathon in Brazil,but speaking to him at the start I had found that he was going for roughly 3.30--so was not overly concerned about his lead.Another local runner ,Ben Evison,ran with Mark ,Dave and myself for the first 3/4 miles.He took us that he had ran 1.20 ish for the Friskney Half for the last 2 years,so he was certainly someone to keep an eye on.At the first water station around 3/4 miles,Ben took off and quickly caught David.Our chasing group was not overly concerned-we were trotting out sub 7 min miles,and ,if anything,thought we may be going too fast.We maintained a distance,with the leaders always within our sights.

We hit the actual seabank at around 11 miles.I was feeling easy and relaxed and exciting the check point at 11.75 miles ,took the lead position of our little group and thought I would push things on alittle.Mark and Dave quickly let me go and I began the chase for the lead two.I had plenty of time,so didn't need to do anything too dramatic-thought I would just reel them in slowly.On the approach to the 17.5 checkpoint I caught and passed David and so began the chase for Ben.The seabank is flat,so I was able to see Ben all the time,but ,although I felt good and felt that I was pushing on,I didn't seem to be catching him.I had almost settled for second place-still an improvement on the previous year-until we approached Gibraltor Point,when I seemed to make ground.As we excited the seabank and made our way along a field from the pumping station Ben was perhaps 50m ahead.Half way down the field the track split into two-both routes going the same way,I think,but Ben stopped,confused,turned to me and gestured at which track to take.I didn't know and shugged my shoulders,but knew now that the race was now mine for the taking.I passed Ben just before we reached the final road section,with,perhaps 3ish miles to go.I kept my pace up,vowed not to look back,and although Bens footsteps behind me seemed to take an eternity to dissappear,they eventually did.I hit the seacroft area of Skegness knowing the race was mine.I crossed the line in 2 hrs 52 mins-and was told it was the second fastest completion of the race in its 33 year history.Compared to the London-when the last few miles had been torture,with my legs and arms hurting,this time I felt fine.Ben finished a minute down-a great run for his first marathon-and David held on for 3rd place in a time alittle over 3 hours.

Simple

2010-04-27T12:03:00.001-07:00

On a beautiful night,like tonight,all is well with the world.It holds promise,adventure,opportunities,happiness.I'm sat outside the carabanger-the lightness is slowly starting to fade-but the temperature is mild-and I'm surrounded by a feeling of positivity and calmness.Its quiet here-made more so by my recent decision to turn off the tv.I've not watched anything for a couple of weeks now-and don't miss anything.Most of the time its just background noise.If its noise I'm after,I'll put the radio on-but I,ve recently been revelling in the joy of silence.Its the things that are always there which are always most pure,and the absence of noise is one pleasure people are gradually destroying.

I feel ,in some ways, vindicated that the course I have chosen is right.I have little stress,am more relaxed and can now see a life plan that is clearer-but involves doing things my way.I do not miss the extra money I was earning through more work.Indeed I enjoy trying to survive on less.Previously my ego was consumed with success-and that included work.I would have been embarrassed to admit to having a low end job,with low end money.Now I,m not bothered.I've got greater things I want to achieve than work.I still crave a certain amount of success--for example,I have got goals I want to achieve with running--but this may also be a weakness--another attempt by the ego to gain a modicum of control--but this is one I have not yet conquered.Maybe in the future.

I feel now I need little materially.I could quite happily get by with only few possessions.The propect of a real minimalist running adventure really appeals to me.To arrive in some far off place with just a pair of shorts,sandals,a couple of shirts and basic essentials would be good.I would have to find somewear to sleep-not too much of a problem ,if it was hot--and would have to get a daily food source sorted out,but this should not be too much of a problem.Just running from town to town/village to village/settlement to settlement would be a most excellent adventure.

Today is the second day I have not run.My legs have been so stiff after the marathon.It must be the faster pace,as after Mexico,with its 50 odd miles and 9000ft of ascent/descent,my legs feel fine.Not to worry--will see how they are tomorrow.

London Marathon 2010

2010-04-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

London was to be my first proper marathon.I had done a couple of trail type affairs over the last couple of years-but ,with those,accuracy is always questionable.We set off on the Saturday morning-Me,Jose,Geoff K,and Tony-all running-and David and Geoff J spectating.The weekend is always good-even if you are not running.A visit to the Excel to register,dinner on the grass at the side of the London airport,to the hotel -and the traditional fish and chips on Saturday night.

Saturday in the city was hot!The forecast for Sunday was better-cloudy,with a chance of showers,and getting warm later.Sunday morning-and the forecast was right!I wanted to run as close to 3 hours as possible.I knew the distance was not a problem-but maintaining sub 7 pace in the second half of the race was abit of a voyage into the unknown for me.The first few miles passed quickly and were slightly faster than predicted pace.At around 9 miles,the enormity of the task entered my head-could I keep this pace until the end?Me and Jose passed 10k in just on 41 mins-this time last year I was running 42+ for 10k races on their own-so must be getting fitter.Over Tower Bridge,I was still running with Jose-but half a mile down the road,we had split.I was entering the second half of the race and felt good.I passed half way in 1hr 27--1.5mins faster than my time in last years Friskney Half.

All was going well.At 20ish miles the tiredness hit me-but I knew that if I could maintain pace,I would be under 3hrs.My final time was 2hrs 56 mins--very happy with that.My legs today are aching!So day off today-then getting straight into training for the 12hr race-including my first 8hr day on Friday.I am energized after the performance-and ready to roll!

Peace,Love and Understanding.(The banyan tree revisited)

2010-04-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Tonights run was great.From work back to the carabanger,nice and slow,due to the race on Sunday.The weather was beautiful-nice and bright-hot,but not too hot.It was one of those runs which just feel so easy,that you feel you could carry on all day.It made me question the training post London,for the 12hr race.I've decided I'm going to do 3 hours a day,home from work-Monday to Thursday.Friday will be the big day of the week-and a good day to devote to running ,with people at work and Reice at school.This will be an 8hr day,consisting of 4 loops to chapel point and back.The benefits of this is that all the toilets are open on the seafront,so I have to carry no drinks,and I'II pass by the banger every couple of hours to get food.Running a 12 takes no speed at all-the only difficulty being to actually keep your legs moving.If I can get 14 8 hr runs in before the race it should hold me in good stead.Saturday and Sunday will be very easy runs of about 2 hrs.Overall that should give me 24 hrs for the week.
Came across an intersting conversation on facebook tonight,where two people,who know me well were discussing me.(nice to be the centre of attention!).One was commenting on my profile picture,days before the CCUM,and said on it I looked like I had AIDS.I guess that means I'm looking pretty skinny,so I'II take it as a compliment.Over the last 3 years I've gone from 14.5 st to just over 11st.With all the miles over the next I reckon that I should be able to drop to 10.5 st,which will be my lightest since being a teenager.

The Greatest Living Painter

2010-04-19T13:15:00.001-07:00

Tonight was a good run home.It was a proper run-a run of neccessity ,rather than pure enjoyment.I had to collect something from my mums house,so it made sense to devise a route home from work which involved passing hers.Altogether it took about 3hrs-just over-and I felt ok.The last few days I've had a slight calf strain,so have not been doing anything too intensive(do I ever!).Sunday is London Marathon day,It will be great to run it ,finally,and I would love to go under 3hrs.However this race is not the focus for the year-so if I do ,I do-if I don't,I don't.

The race thats the biggy is the Boston 12hr race in August.I am aiming to run long-hoping to run a distance that will place me at the top of the uk ranking for the distance this year.After London I should have about 14 weeks,before a 2 week easing off period before the race.Consistancy is the key and I am hoping to run a steady 20/25 hrs a week in all those 14 weeks.That should give me a fighting chance.

Honest

2010-04-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

The basic chain of thought for this post started with the sun shinning through the window of the carabanger,waking me up at about 8 a.m.It's so nice when you wake up and think about what you've got to do that day and the answers-nothing really.It afforded me with the pleasure of drifting off to sleep til about midday,drifting in and out of sleep ,sampling snippets of a parrot incessantly whistling in a van on one side,and the world according to Sheffield(bloke who gets in this car to drive 100 yards to the shower block-but makes for entertaining eaves dropping)on the other.When I eventually got up,I decided to check out some stuff I had briefly read before about 'The Slow Movement'.This all links up with my quest for simplicity and basically advocates that people are too obssessed with getting things done fast and having busy lifes.To be busy is looked upon as admirable,while having nothing to do is viewed as not.The benefits of having nothing to do are numerous,but,one great one ,is that then you can do choose to do something,but there are no constraints on time.It seems that peoples obssession with speed is similar to most peoples attitude to work.Why is doing something fast so important?Why is being viewed as a'good worker'looked upon as a positive personality trait?Don't ask me.

Basically I knew today would be a 'slow'day-take my time,enjoy the sun,have a mid afternoon kip if desired,and enjoy the day without any prearranged plans and no constraints on time.And so far its been nice.

I eventually got ready to run about 3ish.The past two days I had planned for 2 x 2 x 2,but due to my right calf playing up(had major problems last year) I decided to revise it to 1 x 2 x 2.On the 2 hour jaunt today(actually 1 hr 45-just felt like I wanted to go hard after 10 mins or so)I started thinking about honesty.Strange thing to think about for most folks,but not me.I had recently read interviews with John Grant,who used to front The Czars,and was impressed by his honesty-then listened to a song by The Beautiful South,where someone had commemted that on the particular album that this song was on ,Paul Heaton was too honest for his own good.It set me thinking'Can someone be too honest?'I like to believe that I'm pretty honest,but sometimes,for example,when people say'Why do I live in a caravan?',I'll explain its temporary,I've just split up from my wife'etc,etc,etc.I do that because I'm scared in a way of peoples reactions,like'Oh hes a failure' etc.But then I question why I,ve done that.I chose to live here and I chose it because I thought I would be happy here-and I am-its just somewhat out of kilter with what'normal' people aspire to.Anyway that got me thinking to other areas of my life where I had not been completely honest.

From as long as I can remember I've wanted to be the best at things.At primary school I wanted to get the best marks in class(nearly-always beaten by my twin brother) and the fastest(I was).That passed on to secondary school,where again I excelled at sports and ,through sheer hard work,was good on the academic side of things.I eventually went to university to study Sports Science,with the long term aim of becoming a PE teacher.However university changed my mind.I got to a place where I was distinctly average,mostly in terms of athletic ability(Birmingham University is one of the premier sporting universities in the uk)and that got me questioning myself.I had sacrificed so much,in terms of socialising etc,and for what?I was still no good.The seed was planted and the partying began.I found if I couldn,t be the best runner,I could become the best drunk-it was easy!Dead easy!At all the athletic club does I would put on my customary performance and people would love it.Life and soul of the party!I left university with zero plans to get a career(in hindsight,perhaps, an inspired move).The last year of university involves what is (or was!)known as 'The Milk Round'-where companies come round trying to attract graduates.I attended none.I was fed up with sport,running,everything to do with commitment-all I wanted to do was Mcjobs-earn abit of cash and travel.

I did travel-Indonesia,Thailand,Austrailia,America,Canada and enjoyed it-but still wanted more.When I returned to England in 1989 the rave scene waas just kicking off.It was exciting-a chance for me to fit in-and again this was done by excess.I floated around for a few years-still doing jobs with little responsibility and then ended up in Nottingham.I knew no-one in Nottingham,but through my sisters husband at the time,became friends with some of his friends who were at Trent University(still good friends to this day).This was great-late 20s,knocking about with students-cheap drinks,fun and laughter!By this time I had started working the markets,but could easily handle 3/4 nights a week-get in at 3 blasted-then work at 5.

Things changed forever(!) one night in Loughborough in 1996.I had burnt the candle at both ends for too long-I was living with my ex brother in law,having moved from notts,due to having my van broke into numerous times.This night we overdid it,and I went to bed feeling wierd.Not a new experience.The next day I woke up feeling wierd.This was a feeling that would stay with me for over two years.When it happened,I turned back to running.I remember running round a park in Loughborough and I couldn't think-there was too much going through my mind-as if every fact was competing for space.I moved back to Skegness.I needed some familiararity.Those things were scary.I,d try and tell close family and friends how I felt,but as I was telling them I'd think'You sound mad!'.Then I'd tell them and by the look in their eyes I knew they were freaked out.I wanted someone to say that they knew how I felt-but no-one did.

Things started to get better gradually.The day I was on eastgate and I looked at the volcanic eruption and actually thought it was real ,not an illusion,was a turning point-but I had been on the market 6 months before that point.Rather than slow-I needed things fast.I hated winters when I didn,t have to work-but loved summers-I was so busy-and felt great.Gradually,through abstinence,normality returned-running returned-life returned.Now I,ve felt great for about 6 years-its nice to run-nice to be able to relax-and nice to actually think that was a lesson learned.

(out and back x2) x2

2010-04-17T08:47:00.000-07:00

Had a relatively easy week this week,due to picking up a slight calf strain after the half on Sunday and also with lack of time to do too much running.Its been one of those weeks,where everything happens at once-club committee meetings etc,etc.So had a day off Monday,club session on tuesday-about 1hr,1hr 30 mins on Wednesday,1hr 15mins on Thursday and 2 hrs on friday.Due to the easy week I have decided to do a couple of 4hr days over the weekend-but split into 2 sessions,to safeguard the calf before next weeks London Marathon.I have just finished the first 2 hrs-Chapel and back and am having a couple of hours rest and then doing it again.Same for tommorrow.The weather is beautiful-hot with a slight cooling breeze.Happy Days.

Search for Soul

2010-04-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Running for me has to be soulful.I like to refer back to the soul surfers,where the key is the attitude,not the performance.The sheer act of running is essentially soulful-simple and spiritual.Keep it to the basics-don't overshadow the beauty with technology-just run-steady and long.

I returned to the carabanger pretty late tonight and fixed up a quick dinner-polenta and vegetable balti.I enjoyed the silence.The last few weeks,instead of turning the tv or radio on ,mainly cause of habit-I haven't bothered.The silence is sort of pure.With just a low light on,curtains closed,wind whistling outside,but inside warm-the banger felt so inviting and cozy-like a long term friend you know would never let me down.Its times like this I love the simplicity life has to offer.I feel like Dean Potter in his cabin in Yosemite or somewhere equally remote and its at times like this that I dream of drifting to the edges of society-a place where wealth and possessions have no meaning-a place where people are only judged by the colours of their heart, and running long,slow miles through beautiful countryside.

Friskney Half Marathon

2010-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Today was our clubs own Half Marathon ,held at Friskney.That race holds good memories,as running the event years ago,actually lead to us joining a running club for the first time.When me and my brother,Chris were in our early teens,the runners we followed and wanted to emulate were not so much the track stars of the day,but the road stars.The US edition of Runners World,complete with those classic Nike ads ,that adorned our bedroom walls,was our bible-where we would get inspiration by the leading US runners of the day-Alberto Salazar,Jon Sinclair,Bill Rodgers,Craig Virgin et al.We wanted to run marathons,but we were too young to do those,so decided on Half Marathons-which we were still too young to do!However,despite being 15 at the time,we just lied and said we were 17.Friskney was our 2nd or 3rd Half Marathon and again were just lied.With hindsight that was a stupid thing to do-the RD's daughter went to our school-knew how old we were-and eventually the RD would find out.A few weeks after the race we recieved a knock on the door.It was the RD.OH no-we've dropped our selves in it now.However he explained that he had found out our age after the race,noticed we ran as unattached,and asked if we would be interested in joining the club.That lead to a long association with Friskney Harriers,which then combined with Holbeach A.C,to become our present club-Boston and District A.C.

The weather yesterday was great-hot and still.With the London coming up in a couple of weeks,and wanting to keep up my mileage,I debated whether to run or rest for Friskney.In the end,after realising that my best performances never involved any sort of taper,I decided on a steady 2 hours,on top of a hard and fast 2 hours on the friday.The weather today was ok-not as hot as yesterday,and with a tricky wind,that would play its part on the flat and exposed countryside of the area.I was aiming for something around 1hr 25mins and so was very pleased with my final time of 1 hr 23 mins 20 secs.That was good enough for 12th place and also resulted in my being 3rd counter in the Boston winning team.Not a bad day overall!

Banyan Trees and the single track out of the canyons

2010-04-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I recieved a friend request on facebook from Robin Harford.I recognised the name-he ran a website called EatWeeds.co.uk,and also organised foraging courses near his home base in Devon.The ability to live off the land,and the sheer multitude of free food which is available and growing wild is vast.Living where I do the scope for foraging is doubled-woods etc and also the sea and beach.I must have left my name on one of Robins sites.While scanning through the information on Robin's profile ,I came across a character who has ,today,captivated me-a tall,striking man with wild locks by the name of Frank Cook.Unfortunately the information was a report of Franks death in August of last year from a tropical,parasitic infection.

Frank graduated university in 1985 ,with a degree in computing,but his primary passion was plantlife.Over the years he became of of the worlds leading authorities on wild plants,both for nutritional and medicinal purposes.He travelled the world,leading a simple life,seeking out plants he had not yet seen,in basic clothes and sandals,more than often walking everywhere-his few possessions in a rucksack.To fund his travels,he often taught on his field of expertise-plants-but ,rather than charging a fixed fee for this service,relied on donations-allowing people to pay whatever they could afford.He was a passionate advocate of a reconnection with nature-a path I am seeking to explore.Several people have questioned my acts over the past few years-a bemusement at wanting to escape the excess materialism and consumption of the traditional western world.They view my journey as a backward step.On the contrary,I view things in totally the opposite way.People like to believe that they are moving into the future with faster cars,more advanced televisions etc,etc.They seem to want to cocoon themselves from nature.However there is nothing more technologically advanced than nature-millions of years in the developement and every plant,organism and animal serving a self supporting purpose.If we want to move to the future-the move towards reconnection with nature is the way we should be heading.

The footage of Franks funeral is very moving-hundreds of poeple surrounding a large lake and all holding hands.According to people who meet Frank,he was a gentle,kind man,with a obvious passion for passing on knowledge and a good soul.Sounds like a good bloke.

Life seems to be going great at the minute.When Scott Jurek split from his wife a while back ,he compared life to running the trails.There were always beautiful mountain summits to make you feel great and deep canyons to have to run out off.Sometimes ,through the general twists of life,you may find yourself at the bottom of the canyons,trying desperately to find the single track ,which will give you the means to make an escape.The single track is always there,but sometimes may be obscured by trees or rocks-but if you keep looking you will find it.I'm just starting the long ascent-my legs feel great at the moment-and I'm enjoying it.

Running is going ok.Sometimes it seems that running is an afterthought to this blog.However thats how I wanted it.Although I love running,90% of running blogs out there are plain boring.I like to read facts on mileages etc,but love to get a glimspe into the mind of the runner-to see their fragilities ,as well as read off their triumphs.Its nice to get something personal from these runners-thats why I like to go on abit!The last couple of days I,ve been really tired-a combination of pretty big hours for the last two weeks and a few pretty late nights.I'II probably do the normal 2/3 hours tomorrow,and probably the 4/5 hours on Friday-but only slow!This Sunday is our half marathon at Friskney-a freshener for the London Marathon,2 weeks later.Will see how it goes!

Return to Nature

2010-04-05T03:51:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about running is the sheer rawness of the experience-to be out among whatever nature has to offer.I love the days in mid summer-hitting the beach at the top of the North Shore Golfcourse and just getting taken back by the views afforded.Those days when its hot,the sky is blue,the crowds are out by the pier,but the beach infront of you is deserted and the tide is in-the water still and so inviting.These things are free and the ability to absorb and truely appreciate these things give you a step up from normal people,obsessed with the latest four wheel drive or outfit for the night.But this step up is not limited to anyone-but is available to everyone.
It's like running.Essentially its an act of freedom.You only have to watch kids or dogs when they first hit the beach-the first thing they do is run-an uninhibited run and an expression of joy.It truely is a return to nature,yet so often people and runners try to place artificial barriers in the way.Yesterday ,in town,I was passed by some guy running.It wasn,t hot,but he carried 2 water bottles-I don't know how far he was going-but the previous day I ran 4 hours with no bottles-he had a gps watch on-no doubt logging the exact distance to be ran at a preset pace-shorts and knee lenght compression socks,and an ipod strapped to his arm.I thought to myself that it was all a barrier to the essential freedom of running-to run at a pace that may be too hard or too easy on the day(who knows how you feel day to day!)and place himself in an artificial world of music.I have never ran listening to anything.I love music,but for me,running and music don't mix.It is a beautiful experience to get out and actually hear nature and just everyday things-snippets of peoples conversations when you run pass them etc.It also allows for some valuable head time- chance to think and rationalise things,in a near meditative way.Many of my running inspirations behave the same way-Anton Krupicka sites his minimalist approach to running ,and indeed life ,to allowing a reconnection with nature and the similarly minimalistic approach of Caballo Blanco allows for the whole running experience to become a source of joy ,not pain.Anyway-each to their own,I suppose!

Running since my return from Mexico has been good.Sometimes when you focus on one thing for a while, you can get swept up in a wave of ,not exactly demotivation,but certainly not motivation.Running for the first week of return left me very tired,but a sense of hunger was still there.The London Marathon(3 weeks to go)was on the horizon-and although I have never placed the race as a priority-that goes to the longer races later in the year-it still gives you something to look forward to.The Sunday after returning,I competed in the Lincoln 10k and was pleased with my time of 38mins31 secs-must be a pb, I don't do many.It was certainly not fast,in traditional standards-but I was satisfied.After that training has been similar to pre mexico-one run a day,Monday to Thursday-normally between 2hrs 15 mins and 3hrs and then one or two runs a day ,on my three days off, of any thing between 2hrs and 5hrs-all run relatively easy-with no GPS or ipod!

Copper Canyon Ultra 2010

2010-04-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

Its took a while to actually get down to writing about The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon(CCUM)mainly because the experience was so immense that I doubt that these meandering would do it justice-but for a record of the basics,here goes.

The journey to Mexico City was good-a couple of half decent films(The Blind Side,Fame!) and the 10 hour flight was bearable.For the days leading up to the trip I was feeling abit of trepidation about arriving in Mexico City.I had read horror stories about poeple getting robbed in taxis etc and the fact that I was Arriving at night,when any new place can seem more threatening,combined with my very basic(Very!) grasp of Spanish was making me nervous.After disembarking from the plane and being surprised how easy it was to get through Customs(not that I had anything to hide!),I took care to get an authorised taxi to the Norte bus terminal.The bus/coach network in Mexico is superb.Arriving at the terminal about 9p.m,I booked a coach trip to Chihuahua for 10p.m.The journey to Chihuahua is about 20 hours,but due to travelling through the night(Mexican coaches are so comfy!)and being able to sleep for alot of the way the journey seemed pretty quick.My original plan was to get to Chihuahua and stay the night there,but arriving at the bus depot about 5p.m ,I noticed there was a bus to Creel-another 4 hours closer to the canyons and decided to take that.Creel was ok.Got in a nice run round a Tarahumara reserve close to town the next morning and decided to stay for the day.I had just got back to the lodging when it started snowing.This gave me the perfect excuse to go back to bed and fully recover from the journey so far.By the next morning I was alert once more.After a trip on the very scenic Copper Canyon Railway and then a decidedly dodgy bus trip from the train station to the bottom of the canyon,I finally hit race HQ,the town of Urique about 9 at night.

My time in Urique was stayed at the campsite,Entre Amigos,just out of town.The site was beautiful,with a great chilled vibe(just like the owner,Keith-top bloke)and cheap.There was a multitude of organic fruit and veg grow there,all of which the guests could help themselves for free to.The first morning I decided to get out running ,having not run for a few days due to travel.I set off on the road leading out of town-thinking I,d go for about 45 mins and then turn round.The scenery was awe inspiring.I soon reached the river and continued along the road.It was then the climbs started-and I realised that this 52 mile race would be no walk in the park.On the Wednesday before the race the majority of the 60 international runners had made it down to the canyons.Several were staying at the campsite and it was great to finally meet people you had talked to over the web on the build up to the race.

Thursday morning marked the first group hike,over the first 20 miles of the course.After breakfast at Mama Titos we set off on the slow hike.We hiked on roads till about the half way point,then took a beautiful single track up to El Naranjo.This section was new and steep-very steep!At El naranjo me and a couple of others had a gentle jog down back to urique.Friday was another hike,this time the other way fron Urique to Los Alios.The track was even more beautiful than the day before-each twist and turn off the track presenting new and wonderful views of the canyon.Saturday was rest day and then Sunday -race day.

The runners gathered in the main plaza of Urique ready for the 6.30 start.All the town was alive for the spectacle-the towns biggest day of the year.In all around 370 people started the race-about 60 international runners,40 mexican nationals and the remainder, tarahumara.I won,t delve into the ins and out of the race too much.The route was just short of 52 miles ,with 9300 ft of ascent,and corresponding descent.The tarahumara athletes gained 9 out of the top 10 places,with Arizona athlete ,Nick Coury finishing top international runner in 6 th.The prize fund for the top 10 was $14000 for the men and also the women and everybody won corn,which all the international runners donated back to the tarahumara community.I was pleased with by position of 30th in a time of 3hours 49 mins.

The thing about the trip was that the actual race was just a part of the overall experience-the experience of being in the presence of the best endurance athletes in the world,experiencing just alittle piece of their lives and being inspired by their humility.Caballo would say it was a beautiful race and he is right.Everybody exited the canyons with alittle something more in their hearts.The whole aura of positivity around the event was immense.From being greated with a cheery Good morning by the beautiful,smiling people of Urique to recieving a wave and a huge smile by the tarahumara frontrunners in the race,as we pasted on the trails in the race,the event proved to be so humbling.Meeting Caballo and witnessing the great love and respect he has for the tarahumara people was great.He has organised an event that transcends plain running.He has organised an event that inspires love and respect and when we ventured out of the canyons, just feeling this put anyones performance in the race as secondary.Thankyou Caballo,the tarahumara and all the people I meet in Mexico for providing me with an experience I will never forget!

The journey begins

2010-02-25T23:26:00.000-08:00

Flashback to August 2008.Been back running for about 6 months and was sidetracked with my first injury since returning.ITB band,down side of my right knee.I was on holiday in Spain ,with the family,in about a week,and was looking forward to those early morning runs down the deserted beaches.I tried different shoes-no good,bit of rest-no good,running on grass-no good.I was resigned to a non running holiday,when I noticed that when I was in the house,barefoot,my knee seemed ok.That night I when to the nearest field and ran for 30 mins.The knee still hurt,but was runnable,where it wasn't before.The next morning at work,thinking that allsorts of information is available,I typed in 'Barefoot running'.That was the start of this adventure.

First I came across Barefoot Ken Bob,which lead to Barefoot Ted,which lead to the Tarahumara indians and a shadowy,renegade U.S ultrarunner-El Caballo Blanco.With the arrival of the best selling book 'Born to Run',covering the race,organised by The White Horse,in Urique,deep in Mexicos Copper Canyons,my mind was set.I needed to go.

Last night was spent on the seats of Heathrows Terminal 4.Dispite the machine that seemed to be cleaning alnight and constantly beeping,I did manage some sleep.With my philosophy of working less,living more,I want to make this trip an experiment in cost cutting,opening up opportunities for extended stays in similar places,without having to work more.No hotel last night means a saving of about £70.Moving the carabanger off site for a couple of weeks means no rent while I'm away-saving £150.Currently still at Heathrow,awaiting a flight to Amsterdam,then connecting to Mexico City.The plan is to get a night bus on the 20hour trip to Chihuahua-another nights accomodation saved.Its a good job I can sleep anywhere.So far it's all gravy!

Surfs Up

2010-02-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

I spend half of my life in a parallel universe,dreaming of dreams and schemes-living under a bridge,becoming a yoga teacher(I've never done yoga)etc,etc.Mostly these ideas are never acted on,but rarely they are.At the moment I feel as though I am on the cusp of finally getting near to the life I have always longed for.A life of freedom,of no great responsibilities,of doing things I want to do because I enjoy them,not because I have to.I feel that I am in a good position at the moment-no emotional ties,apart from my great son,who I'll always be there for-but no love interests,no mortages,no great ties to work.For a 42 year old man,many people will look upon my circumstances as a great failure,but you carn't change who you are.On my very first date with my to be wife,we dined at a restaurant,opposite a garage.Parked in the garage was a large winnebago type van,and I remember remarking that I would love to live in something like that and just roam around.My base intincts never changed.My resistance to committments such as buying a house etc caused allsorts of problems,but such is life.
I have always admired the soul surfer types.Living close to the sea for a great proportion of my life,you develope an attraction to the water.I don't go in it regularly,but the calm of being in its proximity is powerful and something I miss when living inland.People such as Nat Young,Cheyne Horan and Rob Muchado inspire me,even though my surfing experience are minimal.
Yesterdays was sunny.As I walked into town,I started to think about the on coming summer.The area where I live is full of natural beauty-acres of green countryside and best of all miles,upon mlies of runnable beaches.The sun set me thinking.It would be great to get out on the deserted beaches-rig up a super basic camp-just a tarp and bivvy-sleep under the stars-get up early-sun rising-the sound of the waves lapping the shore-and just take off on epic long runs-just wearing shorts-barefoot-the sun tanning my body-hair flapping in the wind.That is a must do.
By comparison today I made the short trip to Boston.Leaving the carabanger about 6.30,the weather was frostly,as it has been every night recently.Half way on the hour long bus journey,I glanced out the window and the snow had started to fall.Then it just fell and fell!4 of the Boston crew were out for the challenge and the weather at the start of the run was rough-headwind and biting snow and cold.However the conditions calmed and a good run was had by all.For the post run nosh-up Jose took me to a Portugese/Brazilian place called Jo's Salsa bar and we had one of his favourite portugese dishes-sounds like a frenchman in Portugese-and very nice it was too.Cheers Jose!
Thursday sees the start of a trip with destiny.I will be setting off on the long journey to the Copper Canyons in Mexico,to run free with the tarahumara indians and El Caballo Blanco,of the best selling book'Born to Run'fame.Reports and pictures will follow!

Sunday-Lincs county cross country champs-4th vet
Monday-2hrs 30
Tuesday-1hr
Wed-2hrs 30
Thursday-2hrs 30
Friday-no running-cold
Sat-3hrs
Sun-2hrs 15

The B Choice.

2010-02-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

Its funny how things happen in your life,and at the time,especially if those things are bad,you cannot see that these things may have happened for a reason.At present I am sat here,feeling the most positive and driven I've felt for a long time,and thinking that the negative things that have happened in the last year or so,have actually shaped the mood of positivity I am feeling at present.

There is one person responsible for this new burst of optimism-Steph Davis,the world class climber.As previously noted I have a fascination with people who live on the extreme.Many of the people who I've read about recently with unorthodox lives are climbers.Why climbing attracts such devotion is strange,but surfing and probably skiing attracts the same commitment-people who live with their favourite activity as the main interest in life,with subsequent things like careers and material aspects of life taking a back seat.

Steph Davis took up climbing in her late teens,while studying at university.She gained her degree,then gained a masters degree,then entered law school.After a week at law school,she decided it wasn't for her and decided to adopt full-time the dirtbag climbing lifestyle,living typically on less that $6000 a year,waiting tables part-time for minimum wage and climbing.The next seven years,she lived in the back of her car-but this unorthodox life lead to her becoming one of the worlds best climbers.On one advert for some climbing company she was sponsored by,a question asked A or B.The A option involved the life she would have had if she became a lawyer-loads of money,nice house,car,clothes,etc,but long hours and no time to climb.The B option was the path she had chosen-minimum wage job,basic living conditions,no money,but freedom to climb.This struck a cord with me.For ages I've been trying to think of work I would actually enjoy,but I was hit by the revelation that I may have been looking at things the wrong way round.Instead of finding a job you like doing,just do less work full stop!

I am in the position for the first time in years where I don't actually need much money.With the simplification of my life,my expenses have dwindled.I have therefore decided to spend less time working and more time running.I've not got aspirations of being a world beater-I just want to give it my best shot and see what the result is.The targets for the year-12 hour race in August and a 24 hour race in October.See how it goes!

Sun 31 Jan a.m 1hr 30-flat p.m 1hr-flat
Mon 1 feb-no running
Tues 2 Feb a.m 1hr p.m 1hr 30
Wed 3 Feb a.m 1 hr 30 p.m 1hr 15
Thurs 4 Feb a.m 1hr 30
Fri 5 Feb p.m 2hrs
Sat 6 Feb p.m 2hrs
Sun 7 Feb Cleethorpes Beach Cross country race.8500 m--11th
Mon 8 Feb p.m 1hr 30/1hr rest/1hr
Tues 9 Feb no running
Wed 10 Feb p.m 2hrs 30
Thurs 11 Feb p.m 2hrs 30
Fri 12 Feb a.m 4hrs 30
Sat 13 Feb p.m 1hr 30

January

2010-01-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

,Nearly the end of the month,and in terms of running its been good.Not starting back at work until about the 11th gave some good days at the start of the month to get some miles in-usually one run a day,about 2hrs duration.With the commencement of work came the need for some structure,in terms of time to get up etc,which after 3 weeks on holiday can be testing.However the early start is worth it in terms of getting a run out of the way.It's a nice feeling to be at work,knowing you've got 1hr30/1hr 45 under your belt and if yu don't fancy it you don't have to do much else.Typically I've been running to work,setting off about 6a.m and getting to work about 7.30ish.After finishing work at 4.30p.m,I've been busing part of the way home and running the rest.It's alot easy for me to have a purpose for a run,and getting home is a good one.Arriving at home and then having to run,especially when cold and dark,is mentally hard work-all to easy to put off.

All this running is done at a relatively easy pace,with exact distance and times not known.Since my return to running my main aim is enjoyment.I don't want the pressure of having to run a session at a certain pace.If I want an easy session ,I'II go easy.If I feel good,I'II go abit faster.The main aim of things is getting out regularly.I like the fact that theres no real structure to the training,apart from ,perhaps,hours ran.No heartrates,no Vo2 maxes,no threshold runs,no intervals,no exact idea of pace-just hours on your feet,doing whatever pace you like.Is this approach correct-probably not,but it helps me maintain a good degree of consistancy.

Over the past few weeks I've been reading quite abit about multiday races-anything from 24hr races right through to 6day races and the Sri Chimnoy 3100mile race,ran around a block in Queens,New york city.The way that the endurance acts to simplify decisions fascinates me.After a certain time on your feet everything becomes irrelevant-the only thing that matters is your next step-problems,status and standings are not important.With this in mind I'm making my years two premier goals the Boston A.C 12hr race at the end of August and the Sri Chimnoy 24hr race at Tooting Bec later on in the year.It will be interesting to see how they map out.

The week just gone:
Saturday-Northern Cross Country Champs -Witton Park,Blackburn.362nd.12k.
Sunday-2hrs-flat course.
Monday-2hrs 30mins-hilly course.
Tuesday-2hrs 30mins-flat course.
Wednesday-1hr30mins-flat. p.m-1hr-flat
Thursday-5hrs-hilly course.
Friday-45mins-flat.

The Lexicon of Failure

2009-12-26T15:24:00.000-08:00

Everybody likes to hear about tales of success-miles ran,sessions completed,races .won-but more often than not life is shaped by failures,not successes.Yesterday was a case in point.Xmas day-spent at the estranged wifes for the sake of my son.The day started well-nice 2 hour run down gibraltor point-my favourite place in skegness.Easy run-thinking of homegrown stuff.The shoes I have been wearing in the snow phase have been Mountain Bear Gladiators.They bear the classic -Handmade in Lancashire,England on the tongue-love that.And also beautiful shoes.The run was great-Xmas day-nice and easy,thinking about Ian Holmes and his lack of road racing results.Great run-lots of people about for christmas day,but liked it.
Xmas day is a funny day.I was invited round by the ex missus.However ,due to an additional friend attending,the night took on a new concept.To cut a long story short(I lost my mind),I got drunk,got thrown out the house,let down my son and ruined
Xmas.Well done Loser
Any way,Life is about failures.We like to hear about failures-The Lexicon of Failures.Worlds collide etc ,etc,-but true friendship shines through.Thanks Dom and Jo

Snow

2009-12-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

We don't get alot out these ways,but this week we've had snow-quite alot and its been hanging around for days.The whole area grinds to a halt-people getting irate because they carn't do every thing at 100mph-carn't get the Xmas shopping done-blah,blah,blah.......Funny.
I've been out and about,enjoying it totally.Sunday was our clubs 1st Road Runners Club Christmas Session.The night had heavy snow fall,which severly affected numbers,but in the end 4 of us ade the journey into the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds.The course was a hilly 11 miles-half road,half tracks,the scenery amazing,the company great-one of those runs that will stick in the mind for years.That area has to become my new stomping ground-its so beautiful,and a welcome change to the vast areas of flatness normally encountered round here.
Training been going ok.I don't like to get bogged down with the details,but the miles have continued to be racked up.Bigger issues have been at the forefront of my mind the last few days-the collaspe of the Copenhagen Climate Talks,ways to make my own life more enviromentally friendly,both personally and in a business capacity(the example of the clothing company Patogonia being a massive inspiration),and developing a strong link between running (and particularly racing)and enviromentalism.
Overall this year has been ok-more later1

And now for my next trick......

2009-11-29T10:59:00.001-08:00

After yesterdays little sojourn,I was unsure how I would be feeling today.As things were,I felt fine-no aches and pains and no lethargy.I decided to do an easy ten miles-round Ingoldmells and back,with a social call to my mum at halfway for a quick cuppa and a few biscuits.It was an easy run,and I was feeling good and strong.
Thoughts on the route turned to my aims for the year.The main aim for the first half of the year is the CCUM in early March,and I've decided the Boston A.C. 12 hour race will be a later in the year target.This race takes place on Bank Holiday weekend in late August.Usually taking place on the local 400m track,the venue was changed last year to Witham Country Park in Boston.The surrounding are idealic and the course takes us round the park,on a concrete path-with each lap measuring exactly one mile.The last two years have seen the Rainbow brothers triumphing in the 12 hour race(a 6 hour race is also run at the same time).In 2008,on the track,my twin brother,Chris won with about 74 miles.Last year,with Chris out injured,I won with just under 72 miles.I was pleased with this preformance,especially as it was my first ultra and the fact that my training had not been based around running for such long periods of time.It would be nice for the event to attract a quality field and for next years winning distance to be big enough to bring the event to the attention of the countries ultra elite.To have a classic ultra,on home turf,organised by my club,would be a dream.Details of the 2010 race can be found on the Boston and District A.C. website.
There is a welcome break in the work schedule over the Christmas period.Having a break of 3 weeks from work,coupled with my decision to have a low key festive season,gives me a perfect opportunity to get some serious running done.I plan to take my mileage to levels I have not attempted before-somewhere between 150 and 200 miles a week.I have always read,in awe of various athletes doing mega mileage-people like David Bedford,Ron Hill,Martin Lel and Anton Krupicka and now it is my turn to attempt it.How I respond to it will be interesting,but,hopefully,my body will stand up to the punishment.I am looking forward to it.

Skegness to Mablethorpe and back.

2009-11-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

After the last few days feeling down,this morning I woke up feeling fine.The darkness of the previous few days had faded away-I'd had a couple of days off running,as I was hit by a distinct lack of motivation.The last few weeks had all been around 100 miles and combined with racing for the last 8 weekends,I was tired.One thing I have learnt is that not only have you to listen to your body ,but also your mind.If you don't want to run-don't.Running is supposed to be a pleasure,not a punishment.If you are not going to enjoy it-don't do it.
After a good evening at my club(Boston and District A.C),at which u.k. hammer throwing legend and "the voice of B.B.C. athletics',Mr Paul Dickinson was presenting awards,I returned home positive and ready for a challenge.With the CCUM in Mexico looming on the horizon,I decided I needed some time on my feet.I decided the next day to run from Skeg to Mablethorpe,a distance of between 35\40 miles.I fell asleep,the rain hitting the tin roof of the carabanger-the news channel still on the t.v about 1a.m.It was one of those nights where you constantly have dreams,based on whats on the tele.At 6a.m I turned the t.v off and awoke at 10a.m ready.
I set off from the caravan site and felt good,mentally prepared to last the distance.The weather was good-overcast,grey,cool-with a slight head wind on the outward leg.Being the weekend,all the toilets on the seafront were open,meaning free water all along the route.Having no food in,apart from a couple of slices of bread,which I had for breakfast,I was concerned about my energy levels.I had taken some money with me,inorder to get a drink and some food at the halfway point.
The first half was good.On reaching Mabo,I found a shop to stop and get some food and drink.Walking into a shop,mid run ,can be a strange experience.In blue woolly hat,black,red and yellow club waterproof,black tights,brown socks and grey opened toed sandals,my appearrance can be unconventional,but so be it.I purchased a bottle of lucozade and a cheese and pickalili sandwich-had a sit down for 10mins and set off again.
The thing with ultra running is that,areobically ,things are o.k-its just your legs get so tired its hard to keep them moving .I had to get back for a prearranged time as my estranged wife was making tea for me and my boy and I didn't wnt to be late.There was no need to panic as I touched down in Skegness with an hour to spare.(Tea was lovely-thanks kez!).
Nice way to finish the day.Tired,looking forward to running tommorrow,couple of glasses of vino and MOTD

Slacker

2009-11-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

Some mornings I wake up happy,most mornings I wake up not particularly happy or sad and some mornings I wake up troubled,with the black dog on my shoulder and at odds with the world.Yesterday morning was one of those mornings.
The word 'slacker' is a word I like.It has positive connotations for me-things like slacklining and Yogaslackers(a group of yoga enthusiasts,slackliners and adventure racers whose lifestyles I greatly admire).The Wiki definition mentions that 'slackers may be mentally stable,well adjusted people and may actually be productive to society,or they may have depressive conditions,resulting in lack of motivation'.Also-'a slacker is a term for an educated person who is viewed by society as an underachiever'.This is where my gripe begins.Underachiever in this context refers to work and indeed a further definition refers to a slacker as being 'workshy'.I am increasingly finding the attitude of most people to work increasingly hard to comprehend.
In Western society most peoples identities are defined by the work that they do.If people choose not to work,they are viewed in a derisory way by society.Children,nowadays,start formal education early and there is the constant pressure placed upon them to work hard,in order to secure a good job.I am not rallying against work-some jobs,including working in health care and education are extremely important and rewarding,however much industry is not.Many manufacturing business' produce items that we don't actually need,wasting vital natural resources and shops fall into the same catagory-selling items we are led to believe we need,but in reality don't.People are encouraged to work to earn money inorder to buy items they do not need.If thought was given to things that produce true happiness-time with family,friends ,rather than material goods,people would realise that the money they actually needed would decrease,resulting in the actual time needed to work decreasing.
I guess the ideal is to find work which you enjoy,which has a positive effect on society,rather than being a drain on natural earthly resources.Children have to be educated for educations sake-to be told that securing a highly paid job is not always the ideal.A life of seeking experiences and travel can also be of equal merit.
I have always been attracted to individuals living at the edges of society-living traditionally unconventional lifes.The person who is the latest to intrigue me is Charles Tucker III a.k.a.Chongo.Chongo is a legend among the climbing community and is also credited with being one of the innovators of the discipline of slacklining.Chongo is homeless in the traditional definition of the term(although he argues he is not,as wherever he sleeps the night is his home),and spent long periods of time sleeping outdoors in Yosemite national park,unlike forbidden to by court order.He currently lives homeless in Sacramento,California.The reason he fascinates me is that it seems he is homeless by choice.He has no evident problems with drugs or alcohol and is well educated-writing books on climbing and also quantum mechanics.I admire his decisions and ,in some ways,envy his lifestyle decisions.A one off and a true hero,in my eyes

Ode to Darkness

2009-11-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

One interesting item I read last year was about one person who was attempting a John O'Groats to Lands End bike ride.Whilst these attempts are not uncommon,the thing that stood out about this proposed attempt was that the rider wanted to do the magority of the journey in the dark.Most attempts at the ride take place in midsummer,taking advantage of the long daylight hours and the favourable weather conditions.This proposed attempt was to be the opposite,taking place in midwinter,but still hopefully missing out on extreme weather,especially in the Scottish Highlands.There were certain logistical problems to the ride-finding shops open for food breaks,and finding accomodation for a person who wanted to sleep all day,but not stay the night.When asked why he wanted to do this attempt,the rider simply replied 'I like riding in the dark'
At this time of year,with the ever shortening days,must running during the working week involves running in the dark.The past two days had involved getting up at 5.15a.m,in order to set off on the 12\13 mile run to work at 5.45a.m.Awaking in the dark with the wind and rain exaggarated by the the thin walls of the carabanger can be hard.But by ensuring that I have no loose change for the morning bus ride and not possessing a car,I narrow down my options-run or be late for work.Once out on the road,with the nights lethagy leaving your body,the run normally becomes very enjoyable.The cloak of darkness and the remoteness of the roads used for the run can easily give the impression that you alone are moving through the countryside,whilst everyone is sleeping.The sole beam of light from the headtouch allows you to almost hyptonise yourself,giving random thought streams ample time to germinate.As the destination nears the sky gradually starts to lighten,preparing you for the day ahead.

Autumn afternoons on the riverbank

2009-11-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

As I set off this afternoon at 2 conditions were perfect.The wild weather from the previous couple of days had been replaced by beautiful autumn conditions-bright,sunny,mild and still.Todays route would be about 12\13 miles,from Spilsby at work H.Q,back to the carabanger at Skegness.
The route is abit haphazard ,gleaned from the desire to run home from work without running on roads.Consulting the Ordinance Survey map for the area I was able to cobble together a route on the country paths,which allowed only about 2 miles on the road.Starting at Spilsby,the run headed for Halton Holgate,before going offroad behind the church.Over a few fields you are soon on the riverbank,which heads through Wainfleet on its way out into the Wash.
The riverbank is always deserted,save from a few cows or sheep.It is always a mystery to me why the countryside is not used by more people.People are quick to judge this whole area,but the way I see it we are blessed.From my base at the carabanger I have to travel about a mile to endless beaches,or a couple of hundred yards to country paths,which link together to form routes of several hundred miles,with very limited road use.Perfect!
The route heads along the bank for about 3 miles,until the route deviates under a railway bridge.This is a magical place-sheltered,remote,rural.I have joked that if I failed to find a home for the carabanger in the off season,I would have lved under that bridge.It would be a beautiful place to winter.
At this time of year the paths are in choas.As many paths cross farmed fields,many have recently been ploughed and the deep plough can be trying.Off the riverbank at Firsby,the route meanders through to Burgh,over the fields,and then down to Skegness.Nice run.

This weekend saw the 6th consecutive weekend of racing-mainly cross country races over about 6 miles.The club system in the U.K blesses us with the chance to compete in local leagues,with very minimal cost-keeping running cheap.Saturday was a North Midlands League race,where I scrapped into the top 100,placing 100th.Although these distances do not bear great relevance to ultra racing,they do provide the chance to intersperse long miles with a little speed.Ron Hill,the great english runner,advocates running long miles with very regular racing.Reading his autobiography 'The long hard road' it was not unusual for Ron to race every weekend-indeed on Bank Holiday weekends he was known for racing 3 times over 3 consecutive days.

My aims for the next year continue to be vague.I would like to try a big 100 miler,like the Lakeland 100 or a 24 hour race.March sees the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon in Mexicos deep Copper Canyons.Although I will be prepared for this 50 mile race,the whole trip will be a great exchange of cultures and knowledge.The race forms part of a sevaral day programme of treks and festivities,with ultra runners from all over the world and the legendary Tarahumara indians,famed for their endurance feats.The whole event has recently gained worldwide attention by the publication of the book'Born to Run'by Christopher McDougall-a best seller.The man behind the event is Micah True a.k.a. Caballo Blanco.Micah,a self confessed trail running bum,first went to the Copper Canyons in the mid 90's,after meeting several Tarahumara at the 1994 Leadville trail race and has remained there ever since.On the outside Micah has very little-no wealth and a small home,self built from rocks deep in the canyons,surviving on "Korima'-a circle of sharing favoured by the tarahumara,but by organising the race provides the tarahumara with corn and much needed monetary funds.By shunning traditional western materialism and living to run,the man has become an inspiration to many-myself included.I look forward to meeting him.
Training steps up tomorrow.Running to work and back-a round trip of 25 miles,from Monday to Thursday.This is proper running-using running as transport-getting from A to B.I look forward to it

Minimalist

2009-11-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

Why blog?Is it the need to tell people what you're up to,boosting,bigging yourself up?Maybe.The blog which inspired me to write was 'Riding the wind'by Anton Krupicka.Anyone who loves running should read this beautiful blog.His new posts inspire me,and thats the reason I'm writing this.
The change happened in 2007,when I turned 40.Midlife crisis?Maybe.At the time I was a market trader,driving 1000's of miles a year,but working part time in another business I co-owned.I was involved in a road accident in February 2007,in which my van was written off-but I was fine.After that I decided I didn't want another vehicle and stopped market trading.I started working full time at my other business-producing colouring boards for kids.I decided to start cycling to work 13 miles there,13 miles back.The time coincided with questioning the basic premises of life.
The writing had been on the wall for a while.In January 2009 my marriage of 10 years went into meltdown,and myself and my wife of 10years separated.I decided I wanted to live a basic life,a cheap life,a life which could free me from materialism,of needing to work so hard and so much.I was a runner when I was younger and I had rediscovered the love.This is my story.