I've had this virus since New Years eve and only started running 3 weeks ago. Originally I'd be aiming for a 1hr 45min time but with the lack of training it would be more realistic to look at simply completing the course. Liz had been hoping to break 2hrs but she's been going so well that a 1hr 50min looks a reasonable target so I'm facing the real prospect of getting spanked out of site by my wife - and not in a good way too!
Honestly though I don't know how anyone other than the unemployed manage to undertake any kind of regular training programme. I’ve been having to get up at ridiculous o’clock to fit an hours run in before jumping in the car and driving to work. This is not ideal and means I look like an arthritic octogenarian trying to get out of the car and walk into the office!
To break things up and help in our goal to climb Mt Blanc later this year we recently took a trip to Aviemore in Scotland for a weekend of winter climbing. I’ve been before so had some idea of what to expect but it was Liz’s first time so we hired a guide, Anna, who sorted the routes and organised all the extra gear we’d need like crampons and ice axes.
The first day was spent in Coire an t Sneachda climbing up some easy snow gullies and learning how to build snow bollards to provide secure protection for belaying down slopes when there’s nothing else available. We also dug out a couple of ice axe belays and platforms which were nice and solid but you’d end with piles if you spent too much time sat in them.
Unfortunately Liz got very cold which meant she didn’t have such a great time so that evening she headed off to some of the gear shops in Aviemore and treated herself to some shiny new clothing and was toasty warm the next day.
The second day we headed into the neighbouring Coire for some altogether more serious stuff. Armed with technical axes we headed up some steepish ice and rock and traversed several very steep and icy slopes which we both found quite unnerving as a fall hear meant that one or both of the other’s on the rope would have to hold the fall which would probably be ok if it was me but as Anna looked 7 stone wet through I didn’t fancy the chances of her managing to hold my near 14stones. As it turned out I did slip on one slope as I got sudden cramp in a hamstring and went down quicker than Desire Washington. Luckily I was on the only bit of flat rock at the time so disaster was avoided.
The final pitch turned into a bit of a nightmare as both Liz and I were exhausted, it’s particularly hard on the calf muscles and we were both shaking like a small, bald dog as we clung to the side of the mountain watching a storm come in and engulf our Guide as she headed out of sight up a steep chimney leading to the top out onto the Cairngorm plateau. Obviously we made it OK but the first thing I said to Liz was “let’s not do this again!”
Several days later we’re contemplating a return in October.
So we have a week to go to the race. We will be doing a 10 mile run tomorrow followed by a couple of gentler runs mid week – wish us luck and if you can pop over to the Just Giving page then that would be great.
Matt
