Cappadocia ultra

Less than three weeks until we go: I'm not sure that I have been this excited about a race before.
Roll on running and exploring Turkey

Ladybower 50- running happy

Ladybower 50 2018

So, yesterday I had the pleasure of running this race.
Picture the scenario : you have a place where you love to train, when you get chance. Then you find that someone has organised a race there. Almost as if it's for you. Perfect. So happy.

The weather was dry and sunny, defying all predictions. The routes were 20/35/50m : 1.5/2.5/3.5 laps of the reservoirs accordingly.
Its advertised as undulating, which I think is fair - some sections you wanted to walk for a rest. Friendly, very very beautiful. The checkpoints only offered water or juice basically, you certainly needed your own food. No need for navigation, follow the reservoirs and you can't go wrong. Opportunity to run fast if you had the energy, the route is mostly track / tarmac, rather than technical paths. To be fair, it would have been difficult to concentrate on stumbly paths with such magnificent views.

Lovely, lovely running.

Ladybower 50

Ran the Ladybower 50 today, a 50 miler around the Derwent Valley in the Peak District. Had an absolute buzz, and an unexpected pb for me of 9.29. I'm sure it was probably because there was no coffee at the checkpoints... Either way, I'm not complaining!

Never Give Up!

The organisers of the Ultra Trail World Tour have posted this in honour of the UTMB races this week. Oh wow. Go, all runners in Chamonix right now!

Plodding

The wind down towards the end of the school holidays has prompted a kick start to long runs, in anticipation of the next few running months. A slow, steady, staggered 17 m today, some of them absolutely glorious. With a refuelling break at a coffee shop too - I couldn't ask for better in life.

Relief

Relief and delight to find that the trails have reopened in a favourite local training area. The whole expanse had been closed during ongoing moorland fires related to the recent heatwave. Some greenery is coming through the charred and devastated land. Pleased to be out running there again, as I'm sure many other trail runners are.