Viking Way

Had a bit of an adventure on Saturday morning – ran from home in Lincoln along the Viking Way just about all the way to Grantham and then got the bus home. The adventure bit was managing to get the timing just right to catch the 11:19 bus from the village of Barkston to Lincoln! Pleasant 27 mile run mainly into a headwind - nice!

You may ask why I would want to run to Grantham. Well….my next proper “adventure” is that I’ve managed to get a place in the first running of the Viking Way ultra on Easter Saturday.

“The Viking Way Ultra is a new extreme non-stop 147 mile ultra-marathon that starts in the shadow of the Humber Bridge. The route then winds its way through beautiful historic countryside across the Lincolnshire wolds and down towards the finish at Oakham near the banks of Rutland Water.
It is named the Viking Way because of the strong influence of Viking settlements and Viking trade routes in the east of England”. So there you go!

The route passes pretty close to home so I’m hoping a little local knowledge may prevent my usual trick of getting lost! I’m also planning on doing a couple more recce’s – particularly the section from Woodall Spa to Lincoln which I can do from work, and probably the section on from Saturday’s run, as these are likely to be at night.

I’ve withdrawn from the Barry 40. Due to competing in The Spine and a few calf issues, I’ve done minimal speed work this year. Since this race will be competitively fast, I just don’t feel I could it or myself justice. Plus, the thought of running round and round a track for 40 miles doesn’t particularly excite me! I started this ultra stuff as an adventure to compliment my love of the great outdoors and being in the countryside. Running round a track in Barry doesn’t really fulfill that! However, I have entered the Ultrarace Grantham event in 3 weeks time which is 29 miles on Saturday and 29 miles back on Sunday – good training miles!

I’m also planning to do the Dukeries ultra (40 miles) in May. This around Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire so again fairly local.

So my 2012 race calendar is finally taking shape. Happy days!

Jenny asked me a while back “How far is far enough?” I couldn’t provide an answer!

Frustration.......

After the double high of The Spine and then skiing, the last 2 weeks have brought nothing but frustration

1. Weather
I hate this grey, cold weather - it just makes me feel miserable and with Lincolnshire being so flat it's just not fun being out. Conditions at work have basically prevented any runs at lunchtime. I even had to resort to the treadmill this week.

2. Injured
Having come through The Spine relatively unscathed and then skied without serious mishap, my Achilles mysteriously started playing up. Two runs last week were OK, then I woke in the morning with an acute calf strain - no idea how that happened. Complete rest for 3 days last weekend (aided by snowfall!) seemed to help, solid 30min on the treadmill on Monday, then a completely leaden-legged 10km on Tuesday flared calf up again so no running since.

Particularly frustrated today as it's been lovely and sunny - woe is me! Although......I have actually listened to my body and NOT run which is a minor miracle for me!

Combined running last 2 weeks = 23 miles.

Rubbish.

Wanted to really kick on now after a really solid winter's training. Barry 40 in 3 weeks looking extremely doubtful as I only want to do this if I can perform well - not running round a track for 40miles just for fun!!

Frustrated from Lincoln.......

Skiing in Cervinia

Ok so this isn't about running!

Jenny and I have just spent a lovely week skiing in Cervinia. After The Spine I rested (!!!!) for the rest of the week, then on Sunday morning we set off for Cervinia.

As usual I skied every moment going - had a pass out one day and skied from Cervinia to the far corner of Zermatt and back covering 120km in total - including meeting Jenny for lunch at Plateau Rosa. Skiing beneath The Matterhorn on a daily basis was incredibly inspiring.

Great snow, great skiing, great food, beautiful wife.

My Jenny!

Me & alcohol!!