2023 loss of love

A tough year and not just physically. 

Started on New years day running a marathon on the SWCP with the boys. Beginning to be a yearly event.

Soon after in January we noticed some lumps on Lola. Just old age we thought and had them removed but also sent off for a diagnosis. 

Whilst waiting for the results, life does not stop and went for a winter bike packing trip where we all picked a random spot on a map and then just had to link them all up over a couple of days. It nearly worked and definitely one to try again.

Then it was over to the Alps for my first ski trip in 3 years. It was a good time and a nice distraction from the constant worry of what was happening to Lola. Unsure if it was Lola, the conditions or something else but sure didn't fall back in love with skiing. Maybe its a thing of the past now. 

Back home whilst we waited on Lolas results i got a scan on my dodgy hip and the results weren't that good for me. Plenty of degeneration and the only hope was that strengthening it will improve it. I am still strengthening it to this day with hope i can enjoy my running again one day.

The shit news just kept coming. 

Lola, my baby, my gorgeous girl was terminally ill with bone cancer. We spent what little time we had with her with love and going to all her favourite places. 

The day we had to say goodbye was peaceful, she was ready. I'm sure she dreamed of the 10000 walks we had with her, chasing through the woods, hiking the SWCP, scrambling up mountains, taking it easy down rivers, camping in all weathers. What a wonderful life she had and gave.

You were the best baby, i miss you and think of you every day x 18.2.23

Its hard to know what to do, where to go after such a loss. I certainly had too much time to grieve, gone were the wonderful everyday walks with her giving me such happiness each day. Sadness and emptiness were overwhelming.

I got back into running, a bit, doing the Clarendon Way, more of the Jurassic Coast - my favourite place to explore with Lola. Including running 43miles from Weymouth to Poole again with Dan. 

Did some weekends away, something not done in years and so caught up on some favourite bands like Kasabian, Ocean Colour Scene and Xavier Rudd. All great shows.

Then my one and only Ultra race for the year. Azores Ultra Trail.

Having more time on our hands rather than flying in, racing and coming home I extended it into a roadtrip. So we went out to Lisbon, Portugal for a long weekend. Great city. Then flew over to the Azores to run a 120km race around the Faial Island. Weather was not good so missed out on running the ridgeline of the volcano. Instead it was hanging on and not getting blown into the volcano instead. 

After the race, we relaxed with great food and Whale watching, seeing a few Sperm Whales and calf's plus loads of dolphins. A superb experience.

After the R&R it was back to Portugal for the road trip. Lisbon to Porto. Taking in lots of sites - Sintra, Obidas, Nazare, Busscaco. 

What a country. Obrigado Portugal.

Back home the Micro boys decided to do a remembrance walk for Lola. So we headed up to the Brecons for a hike and wild camp. She would of loved it.

As it was a bank holiday we also managed to get back home and enjoy a get together with the other halves. 

More quickfire turnaround and next was Switzerland with the Czech boys. The weather looked unpredictable and thunderstorms so the plan changed from A to D. Although it was not quite a fastpack adventure that we sought it was a great few days exploring the mountains around the Eiger. Amazing valleys and once a little way away from the tourist hotspots we could of been in any remote mountain region. 3 days running around the Jungfrau with a bonus days Via ferrata. Something i need to do more off.

With summer drifting along with bike rides, runs, walks and trips to friends to catch up. One day an emergency Greek foster dog came up and we said yes. 

Ronnie came into our lives. It was a shock first of, getting use to a puppy, he was 9months old, his nuances, which took a couple of weeks to get over. But then it clicked and he was a lovable character. But just had one or 2 traits that we did not want in our next dog and so after a couple of months looking after him he went to his forever home and we hear he is doing great.

Extremely sad to see Ronnie go, you made me smile again.

I feel you can always get by in life if you stay busy with the things you like and want to do. With losing 2 dogs now this year, emotions were a little rough. But i was always able to take myself away with running and more recently climbing. Now though with a bad hip and hammy my running was reduced significantly but i had climbing and then i blew that, more specifically a finger tendon. pop. The end of summer felt like the end of happiness for me. 

No climbing, for months. Lucky i had a couple of trips
coming up otherwise god knows where i'd be. The finger injury took months to heal and now at the end of the year i am back climbing 6c's and back into it. Just need my hip/hammy to feel better and that gets me back on the running path.

To take my mind away from the doom and gloom I headed of to the Lake District with Dan, he was running a 100miler. I just went up to explore the Lakes and did a load of Ghyll scrambling, again something else to do more of. 

Then the Rugby World Cup started and for us it was 3 years of waiting and planning. During lockdown a couple of us over a zoom call decided to get some RWC tickets. And now the day had arrived for us to head to France. RWC23 Roadtrip.

In Gregs campervan we headed of for 25days of travel and vanlife down and up the west coast of France. A great way to explore, with the right people.

 

We saw 4 great rugby games in the city of Nantes. The fans made it from all corners of the world. We sung with the Irish, drank beers with the Tongans, danced with the Argentinians, got our face painted with the Japanese, bantered with the Welsh, laughed the Chileans. All rugby fans drawn to enjoy sport and other cultures. Great times with lovely people over a endless indian summer.

But it wasn't just the rugby that made this trip memorable. We travelled, a lot. Nearly 2000miles down the Atlantic way stopping here and there and exploring, Ile de Re we biked the island. The Atlantic coastline we swam with the surfers. 

We hiked those majestic Pyrenees mountains. In Spain we city toured Pamplona and San Sebastian. 

Back into France we sought solace on the Camino Way and bike toured Bordeaux.

Then back north for more rugby and swimming, collecting Tony and exploring the NW part of france. Each area with its own wonderful distinct vibe.

A magnificent month and quite the come down on return to a gloomy England. But at least you go to taste this lifestyle and one which seems to suit me if i could ever find the money to buy a van and go exploring. Let us wait and see.

On return we finished of watching the rugby tournament. Great games and England could of/shoudl of been in a final. What might of been.

Afterwards the BBQs and beer were put away. Autumn or what felt like winter had arrived. I gave up booze for november a novel feeling but one i coped with with ease. 

Then into december i finally saw a dog i liked the look off. I have been looking and looking and looking and nothing. But this guy popped up and was already reserved but this fell through and after a few visits we had Stanley home with us. 

A happy content home again. Or was it. It soon became apparent that Stanley was more than we bargained for and after much discussions and heartache we returned him to be rescued by people more adept to handling a collie x needing a ton of training, agility, classes etc etc. 

I was very sad to see Stan go but he made me realise that the home needs a dog and so we start to look again for a dog. Fingers crossed.

Stats for 2024.

 I kept myself busy, infact over 80% of the time. Ticked over enough running miles and climbed a lot and enjoyed the swimming.

Downside is that micro adventures seem to have died a death so I'll have to get an outgoing dog quick so that we can get back out into nature and explore.

Be good to sort my hip/hammy out so that i can get out and enjoy my running again.

Climbing - back from injury and doing 6c's so here's to trying that first 7a?

Unsure on racing this year but will try and do some Via ferrata trips and other fast packing trips.

Big goals/Maybes - HRP, crossing the Pyrennes and maybe to start a long term goal in the End to End trail, crossing Britain from Lands End to John o Groats?

2023 Photos

2023 Videos

Solvitur ambulando. Here's to 2024. I hope for better.

Lola - you are always in my heart x

2022 gone already...

 Started the year with a cancelled ski trip due to rising covid numbers we finish the year like covid never existed but we have all had it, had enough of it and just waiting to catch the next bout of bugs that are endlessly working there way around all community's. And moving from one crisis to another whether it be war, cost of living, migration. 

The naysayers/media will keep the masses in a perpetual thought of never-ending doom. Switch off the news and just look after yourself and others.

The world will keep turning so reflecting on my short year...

January started with a bang.. A Jurassic Coast Ultra on the 1st. Too old to party so get out running!! More running more climbing and another Ultra mid month with the 30m Winters Tanner.  With a few nights out before a friend Lee headed back to Asia.

A first race in absolute ages and it did feel good to be with other people, other runners at an event. 

Then down to meet the old boys (Greg and Tony) in dartmoor for a cold outing..brrrr.. the old fellas nice and toasty in their campervans whilst i hunkered down in my car with only the dog to keep me warm.

Feb brought severe back to back storms but managed to  get out on a water micro down the River Wye.. fun times trying to find campspots, even funnier, for those that stayed dry was the other canoe taking a fast flowing corner and getting sucked under a fallen tree with Rob being jettisoned. While he pushed the canoe all we could hear was him shouting at Mike to PADDLE, Mike was calmly waving at us for a photo.. with worsening weather the next day the trip was curtailed. 

Tring to do an ultra a month I went and did the the 30m Punchbowl Ultra. 

March with spring in the air i headed to cornwall for back to back training plan. 2 Ultras (29m+32m) on the coastal path meeting up my crew (Greg and Tony) on the first night to camp out on the beach with beers, bbq and swim.. what a great plan/trip.

Then a solo micro to the Black Mountains with Lola. Shes getting older  so these trips are extra special being able to spend long days in the mountains with her. Perfect weather and managed 60km over the weekend. Only downside was getting the trots after a bad dry food meal..ps.. do this trip every year.

April the colours are out and I got a place in the Tor des Glacier (450km race in Sept) So the hard training starts and typically i get an injury with a bad hip!! which still lingers to this day.

The month started with a nice trip with Pa and Bro to see my Uncle on the IoW. Then straight into the south coast classic SWCP Weymouth to Poole (42m) with Dan on a glorious day.

Finished with another classic in the Dartmoor field for Hikes, runs and swims with the micro gang.

May, another well conceived plan. Have a holiday in Cornwall and sneak in back to back ultras. This worked a treat so enjoyed some chilled days walking the dog and then banged in a couple of Ultras on the SWCP. Now i am thinking of linking up the entire SWCP with running legs ( I have already walked it). 
We then did a local micro with a bikepacking trip around Hampshire including over to the IoW.
The end of the month I met up with my Czech friends (Jaro and Milan) and went on a self made fast packing trip circumnavigate the entire country of Liechenstien. Magical trip and the type i feel like doing more than actual races in the future.

June, ramping up the training and started out with a Dan insisting a nighttime training run was required and so we headed down to the best spot the very cliffy Coastal path at night.. was good fun.
It was then time to taper for my first big race of the year. 3 years waiting for this one due to covid but i finally managed to get out to Norway Xreied 130k. The race, people and the country did not disappoint. The race was tough as nails but made up by the wonderful people in an outstanding country. 

July, after a quick rest it was back on the training trails.. another fantastic loop around dartmoor with Tony and the dogs on a hot weekend - refreshed by plenty of dips in the rivers.

then onto another fastpack.. 100k around the Brecon Beacons with a pub to overnight in at halfway. A great outing linking in as many waterfalls as possible.. and when not with the dog this might be an ideal weekend get away.

August, final month to bag as much training as possible. Started out well with a trip with Dan to North Wales and explored some good loops in the mountains as well as an uneasy Crib Goch ridgeline for Dan.. Then showed our age by celebrating DTs 60th with a cracking golf day where i got 2nd place even though i felt rough as rats but scored well. 

Just about recovered i headed over to the Alps, and the Valais region in Switzerland for a wonderful few days exploring the mountains and to get some acclimatising done...perfect way to finish 6months of training.

September and its all about the Tor des Glaciers. Its finally here. Meeting up with Paul its starts of bad witht he tunnel shut so we stay in Chamonix. But then we are in Aosta, Italy. we chill for a few days then we race the 450km TDGlaciers. Excitement was feverpitch. I enjoyed most of the race, the highs were just being out and testing yourself in moving around such a vast mountain area. the lows was simply the DNFs. Paul went first, he struggled for a couple of nights and then after a quick nap was violently sicjk and his race was over. I carried on and had had a wasp sting early that day and then suddenly whilst up high on a mountain my thigh stopped working and was extremely painful. I tried resting, massage, strapping, sleeping, even walking backwards etc but all to no avail the pain and slowness was too much to carry on for 100miles and so i pulled out as well. Gutting as i so felt good. We go again maybe in 2024?

So what do you do after that. The rest of the month i did nothing. Then when i did get out for a Beer Train overnight micro (great fun with the boys). I caught covid (finally) so that laid me out for more time. When i finally felt better i just had a lovely weekend with my old girl Lola, hiking and camping on the on the Coast - perfect. 

Also got back into climbing and deciding at this moment in time i'm prefer the climbing to the running. So thinking of mixing it up in 2023.

Another holiday down to Devon - this time North near Bude for a nice chilled out stay with no training required it was just long dog walks, cafes and pubs...lovely.

I finally got around to buying a new bike, the old one was just to broken to keep going with it. And with some deja vu my new bike broke within 5 miles of its maiden journey (its all fixed and had its first bike packing adventure in jan23 with no hitches)

December. I finished the year with a race. wanting to explore the Lake District more I did the Tour of Helvellyn on a cold weekend. So cold that they shorten the cours
e due to iced paths. But the racing was good and my spare day I got out into the hills for my own loop with was a nice little adventure to finish of the year.

That was the year 2022. Lots of training and a lack of motivation. Hard to understand the lack of impetus, the hip injury through out the year, the years of covid, less people doing the outdoor micros,  age - i'm getting older and depressingly so is Lola. Or a combination of it all i'm reckoning. 

So next year could be less racing (i dont have the time in any case as wil be off to the Rugby WC for a month) and to try and pick a few great trips to do with friends, mainly a climbing or Via ferata one. That should get the juices flowing.

Stats for the year. 

Impressively i have run the most with around 1650miles...not expecting to beat that again.

Have now done a ton of indoor climbing and enjoying then progression. I can now climb 6c and will aim to see if i can get this to 7a this year...

Not much biking but with the new bike and an old dog plenty of bikepack trips i hope will be planned. One challenge will be the SDW in under 12hrs?

Hopefully more micros, most of the fellas now seem distant from it so time will tell if i can persuade them to pick up the rucksacks again for more enjoyable outings in the remote outdoors.

Swimming has taken a backseat with more climbing but it will be good if i can still find time to fit in a session here and there.

2022 Pictures...

2022 Videos...

Tor des Glaciers

 

Tor des Glaciers 2022

less is better.. take less food and cloths (especially gloves)

12l salomon plus a belt was plenty.

Tailwind worked well between huts.. compliment with a few gels, dried fruit/meat between Huts.

mainly walking so easy solid foods.. cereal bars dont do it.. 

At huts.. relax, let the volunteers help you.. get lots of food + coke, coffee, tea

At lifebase.. 10mins shut eye if needed.. shower (do not take all your stuff), change to clean cloths.. eat, repack and go.. 

Sleep max 2hrs overnight in huts.. then get a couple of 30mins on the trail while the sun is out.

Plan plan plan the timings.. this caused too much stress when we thought our race over as we would get timed out at donnas.. plan plan plan each section.

always wear 2 pairs of socks.. the one time i only had one on i got a blister.. just keep the old smelly one on.. (toe sock+drymax)

Run solo or teamed up?

2021 and all that..

What has been has gone. Most of us wanted 2020 to disappear as fast as possible, 2021 was going to bring a new dawn, fresh hopes, a worldwide collective will in combating climate and environmental issues and the ending of a pandemic ever lingering and affecting life.

At the end of the year, it's all hot air. Media ever portraying a doom and gloom divided society, no-one of influence putting themselves above the parapet to make much needed changes and instead we forever naively pick from low hanging fruit as the temperature outside hits 16'C in deep winter, heavy rains above 3000m in the Alps and forest fires in all arid areas of the world and any meaningful policy change we wont see for years to come, far far too late. But the political and media doomslayers will be happy as we clutch onto their decision making with fantastical hope. Oh and the pandemic is spreading as fast as it has ever been, thankfully not as deadly but enough to restrict us in what we want and love doing.

Enough ranting leave that to the ones that enjoy the ever hotter air. I'll stick to a brief recap of my own personal year (2021 Pictures)

A year ago it was a cold, frosty start both in weather terms and back into another national lockdown as the winter covid virus threatened high death rates. Very little to do except to enjoy the small things in life, dog walking and running by late January we had some snow to cheer up a slow month. 

February was a similar feeling. Stay indoors, stay away from people this virus is not going away quickly. We were mainly unaffected by the pandemic but this month one of our neighbours had caught it and both required hospital treatment, they recovered fine but while away we were able to look after their dog Charlie which was great fun walking 2 dogs and seeing how Lola was happy(ish) to share her home with another, even if it did steal her bed and food constantly.

   

A problem with my calf meant i couldn't run for a bit and so wheeled out the battered bike and enjoyed some longer muddy trails out. 

March was a stunning month of spring colours. Showing signs of winter coming to an end and best of all the end of the 3rd Lockdown.

To celebrate this and my calf feeling better and went for a superb 20mile run on the Jurassic Coast. Just what the doctored ordered in an area never to be bored off. 

With new found freedom in April the micro gang got together for a overnight bike trip to shake off the cobwebs.. great fun to be out again, camping and drinking and with other people. 

The pubs re-opened and we celebrated by booking tickets to the Rugby World Cup in France 2023. Certainly something to look forward to once we are passed this covid time.

The weather just kept on giving, so back to back trips first to the Isle of Wight and explored a beautiful 20mile loop around the western side. Relaxing after on Dave's boat with a few cold beers making it feel like a holiday.

Then down to Dartmoor to fully explore the River Dart and surrounding countryside. A top campsite found for Greg and Tonys campervans and my small tent. Interesting walks with lots of river crossings.

Spring sprung with all the flowers in colour, a fab april rolled into a chilled start to May with more pub visits, bbqs, playing golf and getting out on the bike and exploring the best woods for bluebells.

Towards the end we got ourselves finally upto Wales to attempt the Welsh 3000s in the opposite direction |(we had failed the previous occasion). Nearing the end and Crib Goch we had had enough and headed for the car park rather than Snowdon summit. But a cracking day all round.

Into June my planned race in Norway was going ahead but whether I was allowed to travel was another thing. So I had to keep the training up. More long miles in the Purbecks and a great days Charity golf in which we won a barrow full of wine. I still have some left. 

To finish of the training I headed to dartmoor for a long solo hike with Lola. I was so pleased to see the old girl still had it in her for long days out  - we hiked 27 and then 17 miles. not sure she was up for a 3rd day out so went down to Plymouth and chilled out with Greg, swimming, drinking and eating well. Lola sure had missed Greg.

I couldn't travel to Norway so with no races, instead I did my usual test piece and ran from Weymouth to Poole (40miles) on a hot day and welcomed a cool sea swim on the beach at the end.

All this training was in the middle of the Euros and England were actually winning games so was good to catch up and enjoy some matches. 

One of which was in the middle of a Bike micro tour doing the Devon Coast to Coast.

We had camped in dartmoor and then made it to a bunkhouse which, with luck, served great food, lovely beer and best of all had a big screen for just us to watch the footy and what a game it was, thrashing Ukraine 4 to 0.

Some of the boys left us in barnstaple (one sooner due to covid complications). But the hardy among us carried onto the coast to enjoy a late and early swim and a camp out on Morte Point.

Back at home we all watched as England capitulated in the Euro Final. So to get over the sporting blues I headed to Plymouth to dress flashy and watch the SailGB racing in the harbour. A scorcher of a weekend and a spectacle to watch. Fun times.

More disappointment was to follow. You wait 4 years for the best tournament to arrive and in the midst of the pandemic our hopes were high that the Lions would entertain and beat the Springboks. 

What we witnessed was the worst in viewing rugby and in sportmanship. A stain on rugby and one just to be forgotten about and thrown on the trash heap. What a waste.

Moving on swiftly I headed to North Wales and a plan hatched years ago in exploring the Rhinogs. Great fun in this remote area but boy it takes an age to move around as the terrain is ever so slow going.

On the way home i did a quick up and down Cadair Idris which involved more of the training i wanted in fast hiking up and faster descents down

At home I realized that a new, big climbing wall had opened just down the road and so after checking it out decided to take my brothers kids and to this day Tasha and i go weekly and we are slowly improving back to my old standards. Just maybe I will get back out climbing on rock one day.

With the training done and being allowed to travel I was finally off somewhere. Something that has been on the ticklist for an age and with not much racing happening I hooked up with my Dutch friends, Paul and Roy and we headed to Corsica to traverse the mountains on the GR20 route.

What an adventure. Over 7 days on the hardest trails in all changing weather and feeling the highs and the lows (being sick) . This was awesome and with age catching up on me something that appeals and an exiting prospect when the running legs give out.                      

With the season calming down we managed a family holiday - even getting my folks down for a few days - down to South Devon via dartmoor. Where the weather was poor so we just took our time walking the coastline (with more river crossings), finding pubs and chilling out by the fire.

Into the Autumn blues. 

Best to keep busy or life can get depressing as we gradually fade into winter darkness.

Out with dad, we finished off the Itchen Way. Superb going for an old fella of 82 managing 14miles and a couple of pints.

A solo overnight on the South Downs Way with a loop over to Arundel castle. 2 great days with a massive storm right in the middle to make the campsite interesting overnight in the forest but did give me a nice lie in.

Then a cheeky Bike micro with Rob in the Brown Forest with treats galore - top beer, a curry by a campfire, a full english and an ice-cream.

Although my bike certainly needs some TLC soon before anything else breaks.

Then lots of social runs, beers and tomahawks with some decent rugby to watch. 

Finishing off the year with a good family Christmas, a long run and a long hike back down on the Purbecks. 

STATs - lots of different activities, got back into mountain biking for a bit, started back up climbing and swam here and there a little. Managed over 210 sessions over the year resulting in a lowish running total of 1100miles, mainly due to no big races.

Highlight  - has to be GR20

Lowlight - still in a pandemic and omicron has delayed this further into 2022

Only injuries were my calfs in feb and may and shoulder from climbing in Nov.

Best of 2021 in Pictures

2022 Plans- 

Ski Chamonix - cancelled

Winters Tanner 30mile

Punchbowl 30mile

Ski Touring Norway

Run parts of the SWCP

Lakeland 3000ers

Pembrokeshire Coast path

Xreid 120k Norway

Brecon Travese

Snowdon Traverse

Via Ferattas?

Tor des Glaciers 450km