Andy Humphrey's Blog: January 2021

Reflection on a year gone by. Hard to know what to make of it. The world, or how the news portray the world, is pretty downbeat with Covid19 still striking hard in our communities, Brexit around the corner and the divides of peoples opinions on all manner of subjects further apart than ever. For me the world keeps turning so protect that you love, be grateful and stay positive.

Back to 2020 and there was no time to get over the new year blues. We got of to a snorter. A ski trip over to the French Alps with Dave and his boys. A Fun trip just focusing on skiing and not trying to wedge in a climb, a tour... some other activity. We skied, we ate, we laughed and we drank (finding that all important new drink in Genepe a perfect mountain drink to warm the soul).

Back at home there was no time to sit back. The dog wanted walking and i only had a 100 mile race to run at the end of the month!! So i went to my tried and tested run to prepare me and ran Weymouth to Poole, 42milers over 10hrs. I picked a gorgeous day running the sea cliffs although it being winter it was very windy and muddy underfoot. But running the endless sandy beaches at nighttime was a highlight. The lowlight being I just missed the ferry over to Poole, so had a cold wait. Then i just missed the train so another cold wait ensued.

But I felt ready. Resting the body we ticked off another part of the SWCP in reverse from Plymouth to Par. Great fun and shorts weather taboo. Then back down to Cornwall for a relaxing weeks holiday at Gwithian with a cheeky 100mile race thrown in. The week didn't start well with having to take Lola to the vet as she must of caught a virus and didnt look so good (poor thing had only been hit by a car the month before) and now the vet told us as well as being sick she had a heart murmur!!

The Arc of Attrition runs 100miles along the South West coast line either side of Lands End. It started out bleak with rain and wind but after the first gruelling night we had a beauty to finish. Nice meeting up with old running friends Tony and Darren and meeting new ones in Dave.

February brought nothing but dark misery. Storms battered the country and i caught a nasty cold so it was good to get that month out of the way and fly into March or more appropriately Canada for our Ski Tour trip. This was up there with the best. Our roadtrip found amazing new places in Emerald lake, awesome resorts in Revelstoke and best of all a touring mecca in Rogers Pass with thigh deep powder. We only managed the one day skiing here but it has made such an impression on us that we hope to return many many times over. The only lowlight was in a haze of happiness on coming back to Rogers Pass for another days powder skiing Daves ski binding snapped before we had got far and so with no options just had to call it a day. It did give us some days XC skiing and a day on fat bikes in the snow which were good experiences.

What was to come was an indication of the year to come. We had heard murmurings of a virus spreading across the world and country's taking precautions. At the airport their precaution was only to ask if we had been to China then it was ok to board the plane. On arriving home a couple of days later i was bedridden for a week with a bad virus! I may never know if it was Covid or something else but it was one of the worst illnessess I have ever had and on getting better was introduced to the the new world with Covid amongst us all. I got to work for one day and then we went into Lockdown.

Lockdown was a mix of emotions, it still is. As it has not affected me too much but I know that all around it is affecting people with the worst. So you just do what you can as thats mainly not to become a hindrance to anyone or any service. The weather was good and at the start we all logged into Zoom and with a few drinks kept in touch with far afield friends. Slowly, slowly things opened up, got to play golf, go for longer runs, even managing a 100mile week and then go back to work part time. Then we could stay away overnight so I ran up the Itchen and hooked up with Rob who had biked from his for a cheeky overnight camp in the woods, we may have celebrated our freedom a little too much. Running back the 25miles the next day in the blistering heat was a tough one, thankfully i had the river to endlessly jump into to cool off and wash away any lingering headaches.

July we could travel so i made my way down to Dartmoor and met up with Greg and Tony for a few days remote hiking. Things were easing and the weather remained unabated. I ran long for the first time since the Arc around the Purbecks reinvigorating my running mojo. Then back down to South Devon to tick off another part of the SWCP. In more stunning weather we hiked, waded rivers, swam, camped and drank to more truly wonderful experiences and memories.

For August we gave ourselves a challenge as there were no races. I needed to get fit as had a race, maybe, in september to get ready for. We (Dave and I) headed to North Wales to give the Paddy Buckley a go. This is a 62mile loop around the mountains we decided to have a go over 2 days. We managed to find a campsite, the whole area was mobbed with people which was a little disconcerting but overall we were away from the crowds.

This was one tough outing over treacherous terrain but with scintillating scenery. Covering 28miles on day1 we had to cut out the last section due to time. Again on D2 we had to cut out the last section on timing. It was just taking an age to get through all the boggy parts. But we managed a 50 mile loop around the welsh mountains and loved it all. Can't wait for another crack.

Not home for long I headed back down to Cornwall for another part of the SWCP. Unfortunately overnight Greg was ill and decided to cut short his trip. After dropping him off we went to Dartmoor for a couple of scorching days around Haytor. To finish of my training i managed another long loop around the Jurassic Coastline on a hot and humid day. But now i felt ready for my big race.

Days before heading out to Switzerland new travel measures were put in place in that you'd have to isolate yourself on arriving back in the UK. After a days deliberation I decided to go, too much invested to just sit at home not doing much. Arriving in Switzerland I hooked up with some Dutch friends whom i'd met at the Tor last year (Paul and Roy). Roy was down in his motorhome to crew Paul on his 300+km race. I'd tag along and help out. We ran, we climbed and we crewed Paul for a few days and then I raced the Swiss Peaks 100 mile race.

Felt like i got the best of both worlds in doing it this way.

It was one seriously tough race taking nearly 47hrs and some major hallucinations out on that 2nd night. But what a course and the Valais valley certainly does not disappoint. Being able to relax at the finish on Lake Geneva with friends, also met up with the Czech boys Milan and Jaro, was a welcome world away from rules and regulations back at home. I then went home for 2 weeks of quarantine. Worth it.

Before my base training disappeared we took a quick trip up to wales to try the Welsh 3000s. Dave was eager to try this again and try and get under 10hrs so with daylight at a premium we got ourselves up there and set of in the darkness and typical welsh weather. We hoped, as it was forecast, the weather would ease but it seemed to do the opposite and within a few hours on the Carnedds knew that proceeding was pointless and so in crazy high winds and rain we called it and finished at ogwen and went to the cafe and a dog walk instead. Typical Wales the next day we went to Barmouth beach in the blazing sun!

With no time I switched from running to biking as a few of us (Rob, Steve M, Steve B) had learnt about a new 350km route on our doorstep conceived by CyclingUK, The King Alfreds Way. It was mid october by now but we lucked out with the weather, but thats where my luck ran out and after a few hours managed to snap my bike in half (remnant damage from crashing on a metal post a year ago!!). Rob right away sprung into action and a plan hatched. His wife came and collected me, took me back to theirs and i made his shopping bike ready for the remaining 300km trip...hmmm.. it did work but I also managed to break the derailer, a jockey wheel and the brakes en route. But we got round. Well nearly, we finished up in Reading, 50km short but headed back out 2 weeks later to finish of the entire loop. Superb adventure just on our doorstep.

November and we were all back in lockdown to try and curb this virus. So time was spent walking and running locally. Once out of lockdown winter was upon us and it felt better to stay safe than to go out and about. I did managed to build a new bike for myself with Rob, so look forward to more bike trips when allowed. And also got out with the running club a few times which was good to mix with fellow runners culminating in a superb outing in the forest filth run in the mud and wading rivers. Great fun.

Even looking back I feel that I have achieved a reasonable amount this year but like many feel like it has also not delivered. With the year ending in storms, amassing quagmire of mud, further restrictions on our lifes and a brexit deal no-one quite understands we hope that in the not to distant future we can all get out and pick up on our lives.

Stats - got out over 180 times, ran over 1400 miles. Ran a monthly all time best of over 250miles in May. Smashed a toe, ankle still fukked and was ill twice.

Highlights - knowing good people. Dave cheering me up when i felt shite on the Arc. Epic skiing in Rogers Pass. Beers and river crossings in South Devon. Completing the Swiss Peaks 100miler.

Lowlights - Covid.

Best of 2020 in Pictures

Here's to a belter of a year in 2021