2017 Year of...

Plans are all in place for 2018 but nostalgia beckons and a 2017 recap is required.
The Year started well with training going well in those winter months. We headed down to Cornwall and did the Lands End peninsula (SWCP#7) in storms and sun to finally start heading eastwards home.
Got my running boots on in february and comfortable managed the Devils Punchbowl 30miler which was pleasing. 

A quick turnaround and the Micro gang headed somewhere new to the Cambrian Mountains for a weekends bothying.. beautifully remote but i was glad i took my tent as the snorers were in good voice in the cramp huts.
A last minute injury to someone gave me a slot with a team running the High Peaks Marathon. I jumped at the chance, another tester to see how my fitness was. This was not a marathon but 42miles around the Peak District starting at midnight. 15 hours later we trudged in completely satisfied. What a race, didn't get in for 2018 - bugger.

To rest up I went skiing in the Vanoise, France. It was warm and not a great deal of snow. We did manage a days touring and had the longest night freezing in our summer bags at 3000m. Never again. The skiing was fun and have converted to big fat skis - the bigger the better.
I picked up my running in April culminating in the Oxon 40 miler, a lovely run amongst the bluebells. A micro in Dartmoor in the best of weathers really made it a glorious month. Spring is the best time.

A relaxed May. Another section of the SW Coast Path (SWCP#8) around the Penzance penisula. Lola got to meet Tonys dogs for the first time. Didn't go down too well with them constantly trying to steal her food.
To make it up we all took a holiday back down to Cornwall staying at Gwithian. Perfect beaches, strolls and days to de-stress the girls.

June brought my first big race of the year the Krako100k. This was in Czech. I meet up with the Ultra gang in Prague (they are Czech) so plans were easy to get to the mountains and start the race. Apart from taking a couple of wrong turns (losing a couple of hours) and the wind on the tops it was a good race. Easy to get to , cheap once we were here and a couple of days to relax in Prague. Not bad but, I need to keep the boys away from garlic.

With never too much on in the summer it was time to make up my own training plans to keep the mileage high and fitness there. An enjoyable 30 mile run from Littlehampton to Shoreham via the South Downs. A quick trip to North Wales for some mountain training. Back south in the Purbecks to do my classic Jurassic Coast and 37miles this time. 

I now felt ready for my big race of the year - The Ridgeway86 miler. Due to not getting into the ballot of 3 races I focused on just a 'nice easy' local race. It didn't disappoint, a superb race, great people and fantastic volunteers. 

With the race out of the way and my ankles not the best I toned down the training and enjoyed the remaining few months. A nice paddle down the Wye and a holiday to Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. We have done all the Islands now and so have to figure out where to take the dog next year!!
Getting back from Cornwall I turned around and headed right back to do some more Coastal Path (SWCP#9) and finally hitting the halfway point. Over 20days and 300miles, each mile and day an amazing experience with great friends and scenery.
For some reason I decided to do another run, a LDWA event in the Surrey Hills, a good run in a beautiful place.
I also got into swimming and now have grand plans to push myself in this sport and am looking at SwimRun and open water events to do. Shame it is another sport that starts cheap and then becomes expensive.
Before the year ran out we managed to sneak in another trip down to Cornwall (SWCP#10). Now in double figures for trips down here!! How many more.? And we finally left Cornwall and are now in Devon. The drive down is getting slightly less thankfully.

Over Christmas I ran with some Local runners who are interested in trail running and a few beers so I hope to have a few more sociable runs in 2018.

So what for 2018.. already doing the Maderia, Lakeland and UTMB Ultras. These are my main ones so plenty of training inbetween and I may try and do some open water swimming if I can decide on a wetsuit and get down to Devon for more Coastal Path and Micro adventures.

Shame these all come around too quick and go by too fast - memories are everything.

2017 Best Pictures