1. Helly Hansen, Beauty and the Beast, Trail Marathon

    Did the Helly Hansen, Beauty and the Beast Trail Marathon today.

    http://hellyhansenbeautyandthebeast.co.uk/

    I was pretty nervous at the start, as I couldn’t help but notice I was still limping pretty badly on my right leg walking up the hill to get to the start line from an injury I’ve had over the last few weeks - not a good sign! It’s been getting better, but I haven’t done much training for the last 3 weeks.

    So I started pretty stiff but after 5-10km warmed up fine, but then took a tumble over a tree root on lap 2 (of 6) - that smashed my left knee which nicely balanced my useless right calf!…

    I ended up hobbling around the remaining laps a bit with a walk/run strategy!! Finished in a time of 5hr33(grrrr!), but there was 1780m of climb according to my Garmin. Great event, great atmosphere, great organisation… and nice and local. Definitely one to do again

  2. Purple Patch “Down Tow, Up Flow” Half Marathon

    http://www.purplepatchrunning.com/races/down-tow-up-flow-half-marathon

    Did the Purple Patch “Down Tow, Up Flow” Half Marathon today. Great event.

    The mixed terrain (roads, steps, tow-path, grass..) plus the heat today took their toll a bit, and I would have liked to have gone a bit faster, but enjoyed it nonetheless :-)

  3. Trail Marathon Wales 2012

    Just did the first ever Trail Marathon Wales. An awesome event, great organisation, a brilliant route, 26.2 miles and a leg destroying 1,850m of climb…. higher than Ben Nevis (only 1,344m high!).

    Video review at:

    http://youtu.be/Dx4LpX-X9JY

  4. The London to Brighton Cycle Ride

    Some work colleagues and I cycled the London to Brighton cycle ride last week (Sun 17th June) to raise money for the Cardiomyopathy Association and in memory of Tyrone Caddle a great work mate of ours who sadly and very unexpectedly died last year aged only 42. He is still greatly missed by us all.

    http://www.justgiving.com/Tyrone-Caddle

    www.bhf.org.uk/l2b

  5. Otmoor Challenge (Half Marathon)

    Did the Otmoor Challenge today:

    http://www.otmoorchallenge.co.uk/

    The Ot Moor Challenge is, as the name implies – a challenge. 
    The half–marathon route consists of 6 miles of country roads and just over 7 miles of off road sections comprising stiles, ploughed fields, footpaths, bridleways and one demanding hill at Beckley, and circumnavigates Ot Moor, a large RSPB conservation area via 7 villages.

  6. Hawridge International Duathlon

    A great event organised by Chiltern Tri club (http://www.chilterntri.co.uk/)

    The course was described as:

    A challenging, multi-terrain course of 2.5 mile run, undulating 11 mile on-road cycle, 2.5 mile run

    It rained pretty hard before and during the event, which just made it more fun as far as I am concerned.

  7. More Fan Dance photos…

  8. XNRG - Fan Dance

    Run (well mainly walking and staggering) up Pen-Y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons. Was about 28km and about 1.8km of ascent!

    http://www.xnrg.co.uk/fandance2012.htm

    From the website:

    Extreme Energy are delighted to introduce the 2012 “Fan Dance” the ultimate test of mental and physical endurance running / walking or crawling up the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons.  The Brecon Beacon National Park is one of the most beautiful areas in the country with stunning views from every angle.

    Competitors will climb to the top of Pen-y-fan, down to 2 different checkpoints in the fastest time they can achieve.

    This route and the peak of Pen-y-fan are very familiar to the British Army as this event is very similar to one of the main tests that our special forces have to pass.

    Running to the peak of Pen-y-fan in running clothing carrying minimal safety kit is tough and the hardest challenge that most competitors will face. 

  9. The White Horse Half Marathon

    I couldn’t get into this half marathon - run from the village I grew up in, so I decided to give something back to the running community and marshall at this one.

    http://www.whitehorseharriers.org/halfmarathon.html

    Great fun, fantastic weather for running and marshalling, and had a great time.

    Got given a race mug, which I dropped and broke almost immediately on getting home (Grr!).

    Hope I will be able to actually run this one next year. :-)

  10. Wiggle “No Excuses” Sportive 2012

    http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-no-excuses-sportive-2012/

    Sam and I completed the Wiggle Sportive event on Sunday. Great fun, and great organisation. At least 1500 on a largely traffic free route.