Exploring Corsica
Monday, 5 October 2015
Thursday, 17 September 2015
Friday, 17 July 2015
Exmoor Micro Adventure
Exmoor Micro with Greg and Steve.. Ran 22 miles and wild camped at Heddons Mouth then hiked 8miles back to the car.
Exmoor Micro from Andy Humphrey on Vimeo.
Exmoor Micro from Andy Humphrey on Vimeo.
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Dartmoor Perambulation
A 53 mile, 4 day trek and wild camp around Dartmoor's Ancient Boundary
Dartmoor Perambulation from Andy Humphrey on Vimeo.
Dartmoor Perambulation from Andy Humphrey on Vimeo.
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Ultra Mallorca 2015
Trail running in Mallorca... 112km nearly 5000m+ in over 20hrs
Ultra Malllorca from Andy Humphrey on Vimeo.
A great race, a wonderful island..
I suffered with the midnight start. Big queues when the front runners got lost and turned around and then a few more overnight on the small ladders to pass over walls and fences. Suffered between 4 and 6 within tiredness but the sun soon awakened me and the queues diminished.
Long uphills led to an amazing ridge overseeing the whole of Mallorca and then 4 volunteers dressed in orange cheered us down the best of technical descents.
From here it warmed up and we were in the sun. I struggled with the heat and any uphills my energy levels just went and I had nothing but the slowest of pace to get up. I even at one point had to sit and take a breath whilst contemplating what I was doing.
The next up was tough climb through an enchanting canyon. I loved the terrain in the race from coast line to trees to rock and sand, rivers and reservoirs, it was unrelenting to the feet and any miscalculation would do much harm to any runner, which I both saw and felt with a tumble on the last section of downhill, typical. But only a grazed arm.
The final never-ending descent, although enjoyable with crys of 'animal' from those I passed was a relief when over.
Coming out of the final CP I hoped it was only 12km but to my dismay was told it was 17km and 5mins out I realised for the third time I had left my poles back at the CP, bugger.
I dragged my way through the final clicks my main motivation was to finish before it got dark. Which I achieved and was a motivating finish running through the narrow streets of Pollenca to the cheering crowds.
Once finish I looked forward to a cold beer with my fellow runners who finished before me. Only to find that they had only come in less than 10minutes previous and thought we would be hours and so headed home for a shower. Thanks Milan, Orla. So I took in the atmosphere, wondered around and got a burger. Jaro soon finished and I met up and we waited for the guys to come pick us up and we were all beat by then and decided to do our drinking back at the villa.
Post race info.
CP's were good, well supported and stocked but could of done with better foods ie pasta was cold and cheap and bread was not inviting just a smear of jam or chocolate.. just needed it to be a little more appealing when you are struggling to have an appetite.
I again carried too much in a too heavy pack. When will I learn, invest in a lighter pack and carry less. Water system (2 x 1 litre soft bottles) were a failure, a pain to swap over and drink and fill up and so try and stick to a 2lt bladder or 2 accessible bottles.
Ultra Malllorca from Andy Humphrey on Vimeo.
A great race, a wonderful island..
I suffered with the midnight start. Big queues when the front runners got lost and turned around and then a few more overnight on the small ladders to pass over walls and fences. Suffered between 4 and 6 within tiredness but the sun soon awakened me and the queues diminished.
Long uphills led to an amazing ridge overseeing the whole of Mallorca and then 4 volunteers dressed in orange cheered us down the best of technical descents.
From here it warmed up and we were in the sun. I struggled with the heat and any uphills my energy levels just went and I had nothing but the slowest of pace to get up. I even at one point had to sit and take a breath whilst contemplating what I was doing.
The next up was tough climb through an enchanting canyon. I loved the terrain in the race from coast line to trees to rock and sand, rivers and reservoirs, it was unrelenting to the feet and any miscalculation would do much harm to any runner, which I both saw and felt with a tumble on the last section of downhill, typical. But only a grazed arm.
The final never-ending descent, although enjoyable with crys of 'animal' from those I passed was a relief when over.
Coming out of the final CP I hoped it was only 12km but to my dismay was told it was 17km and 5mins out I realised for the third time I had left my poles back at the CP, bugger.
I dragged my way through the final clicks my main motivation was to finish before it got dark. Which I achieved and was a motivating finish running through the narrow streets of Pollenca to the cheering crowds.
Once finish I looked forward to a cold beer with my fellow runners who finished before me. Only to find that they had only come in less than 10minutes previous and thought we would be hours and so headed home for a shower. Thanks Milan, Orla. So I took in the atmosphere, wondered around and got a burger. Jaro soon finished and I met up and we waited for the guys to come pick us up and we were all beat by then and decided to do our drinking back at the villa.
Post race info.
CP's were good, well supported and stocked but could of done with better foods ie pasta was cold and cheap and bread was not inviting just a smear of jam or chocolate.. just needed it to be a little more appealing when you are struggling to have an appetite.
I again carried too much in a too heavy pack. When will I learn, invest in a lighter pack and carry less. Water system (2 x 1 litre soft bottles) were a failure, a pain to swap over and drink and fill up and so try and stick to a 2lt bladder or 2 accessible bottles.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Friday, 2 January 2015
2014 Review
A differing year in that I achieved more than I hoped with the running but running took second stage to dog walking. I ran less than 900 miles but walked more than 1250 miles with Lola. With the least mileage since I started running I achieved the most, something I need to be wary of but something that gives me hope that I can enjoy the walking without it hindering my running too much.
2014 started off with wet weather and storms. I struggled managing to run and walk the dog up to 3 times a day. But with it being winter and having a new dog, the enjoyment lay with walking - who would of thought that a couple of years back.
After a magical ski tour trip in march the mileage started to pick up and I even managed two ultra training runs in one week. This got me race ready for May in which I had 2 races in successive weeks, The Apocalypse, a 50 mile circuit in the Longmynd in Shropshire, a hot day, a tough course and new friends made. The next weekend saw me tackle the Weald 50km challenge. I had wanted to stay with 2 friends in their first ultra but lost them and the course route when a few of us took the wrong signs. Additional miles in your training runs are all bonus's we told ourselves.
I managed just the 3 runs in June. One of these was my first 100 mile Ultra over the entire South Downs Way. An amazing experience and event. An immense satisfaction that can only be felt once you have achieved something that only a short while back you were incapable off.
July bought fabulous weather and a break from running. We nicely timed a 3 day kayak down the river Wye with dog in tow and a new adventure - fast packing with my dog. 3 days in north Wales, including a 2 day 30mile circuit of snowdonia, a very special weekend for me.
More magical months, August took me overseas to take on an Ultra. The UTMB CCC 100km race around Mt Blanc. Initially I wasn't impressed with all the crowds, the razzmatazz. Once finished though, it felt wonderful and it felt good to get caught up in the atmosphere and all the fanfair. I look forward to more overseas Ultra fests but, I will enjoy the solitude of quieter races as well.
Since that run I have not even run 100kms to this date, the mileage has disappeared, first through an extended rest, a first family holiday to cornwall, enjoying some micro adventures and getting back into mountain biking and here. Then there was injuries, a bad back, setting up my boxing bag!! took me out for november and my achilles and PF sore and so rest was foremost before any junk miles. But we did manage one last trip up to North Wales where we hiked new places and Lola played in her first snows.
But now it's 2015 and time to look forward with planning. First up is a 100km overseas race in Majorca around the corner in April. I didn't get into Western States and I hold my breath into getting into the UTMB. Waiting for entry into these brings it's own set of problems in that most Ultras nowadays seem to get filled very fast and so hoping to work back from one of these 'A' races and take in some local ultras I now feel that I may miss out. Something I will need to look further into as I did love completing the Ultra races this year, they are filled with inspiring people both supporting and racing. But if I do miss out then I am ready to take on my own challenges, plenty of micros in the pipeline, more Mtn biking including a Cambrian traverse and more great days out fast packing with the dog.
It's gonna be another busy year.
Stats:
Running : 893miles, 190hrs in 80 runs.
(Ran 6 Ultras with a total of 309miles)
Dog Walking : 1250miles, 700hrs.
Bike : 136 miles - very poor.
Other training/sports ie. climbing, skiing etc - 90hours
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