For infomation click hereWednesday, 10 December 2008
Friday, 7 November 2008
Hell runner up north
On the 2nd of November I "had a date with hell" as the organisers put it. So I headed off to the Delamere Forest in Cheshire for what was likely to be one of the hardest physical challenges of my life.
13.8 miles of mud, swamp, rivers and very rough terrain lay waiting for the 1870 people entered. So at 10.50 am we were herded into the starting area and given a count down. This being my first ever running event and first race on dry land since the age of 13, I was looking around and focusing on the people looking more nervous than myself.
BANG, we were off. The only advice I had received was to get ahead of the masses before the first swamp as this was a massive bottle neck in the race and would only get worse as people squelched through. So I went out at a brisk pace and pushed my way to the leading pack.
Once there I decided to try and match pace with a gent that looked very relaxed and settle into his stride. This was a mistake, after about 3 miles I was forced to slow to my own pace and the gent wearing no:1 left me for dead (not surprising as it turned out he was last years winner).
I plodded on at my own pace through waist depth stagnant water and freezing mud which engulfed my lower limbs.
After about 8 miles I noticed my left foot was starting to swell and my shoe had become very tight. No time to stop as I was now into the stumbling stage of tiredness, I knew I was over half way. So with my foot swelling and calfs burning I dropped into the last major bog section about 200m long, chest deep and full of thing placed to trip you face first into the black water. The last mile was the longest, being in sight of the finish but being guided over every hill on the way.
The finish was a massive relief staggering over the finish in 1hr 50 mins; a time I was very proud of having never raced before and not putting a massive amount of training in.
324th overall not bad but could be better (just like the school reports)
The swollen foot turned out to be 4 stress fracture which made me even more pleased with my time as I many people dropped out of the race with such injuries.
13.8 miles of mud, swamp, rivers and very rough terrain lay waiting for the 1870 people entered. So at 10.50 am we were herded into the starting area and given a count down. This being my first ever running event and first race on dry land since the age of 13, I was looking around and focusing on the people looking more nervous than myself.
BANG, we were off. The only advice I had received was to get ahead of the masses before the first swamp as this was a massive bottle neck in the race and would only get worse as people squelched through. So I went out at a brisk pace and pushed my way to the leading pack.
Once there I decided to try and match pace with a gent that looked very relaxed and settle into his stride. This was a mistake, after about 3 miles I was forced to slow to my own pace and the gent wearing no:1 left me for dead (not surprising as it turned out he was last years winner).
I plodded on at my own pace through waist depth stagnant water and freezing mud which engulfed my lower limbs.
After about 8 miles I noticed my left foot was starting to swell and my shoe had become very tight. No time to stop as I was now into the stumbling stage of tiredness, I knew I was over half way. So with my foot swelling and calfs burning I dropped into the last major bog section about 200m long, chest deep and full of thing placed to trip you face first into the black water. The last mile was the longest, being in sight of the finish but being guided over every hill on the way.
The finish was a massive relief staggering over the finish in 1hr 50 mins; a time I was very proud of having never raced before and not putting a massive amount of training in.
324th overall not bad but could be better (just like the school reports)
The swollen foot turned out to be 4 stress fracture which made me even more pleased with my time as I many people dropped out of the race with such injuries.
Monday, 27 October 2008
A long time without an update
Well allot has happened and I am not going to try to cover it all so here is my latest bit of fun-
For more infomation about what I am up to check out- http://www.flowfree.co.uk/ff-blog/
Friday, 23 May 2008
Where am I now????
I am down in the Verdon region just doing so pre alps boating and spending something getting to know Stuart Woodward, Will King, Becca Hernadez and Nick Pearce. Paddling some late season beautiful class 3 runs.
Hopefully heading up to the Canoe Control base on Saturday to set up the site and get settled in before the clients arrive.
Hopefully see you all soon.
Hopefully heading up to the Canoe Control base on Saturday to set up the site and get settled in before the clients arrive.
Hopefully see you all soon.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Gorges de la Borne
High up in the Ardeche mountains just off the D19 there is a wonderful little river more commonly known to the canyoning community called the Gorges de la Borne or Borne Canyon. With it being early session and hoping for some water Myself, Steve Davies, Chris Gibbens and Alex Kerr made a very slow and twisty drive up to the put on at around 1300M altitude.
And this is what we found.............................
There will be more to come on the Bourne canyon as it was truly superb and with a little more water could be even better. (Ignoring the 350m very steep climb out)
Catch you on the water
Saturday, 10 May 2008
The drive down
I have arrived in france after stopping at the Square rock mansion (big thanks to Aaron and Rhona for everything thing). All is well as the sun has come out to play and the Central Massif is running well.
Massive snowpack in the Alps so it is looking good for the season to come.
Catch you on the water.
Massive snowpack in the Alps so it is looking good for the season to come.
Catch you on the water.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Cwm Llan.......... Again
The top drop that is usually walked 
Awesome place to chill out
Launching for some air time
Launching once more
Not that way........
O dear....................
This is gonna start hurting really soon.............................
Uh?!?! It didn't. I still work..............
Wow that was amazing.....................
Lets go again.
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