tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54626256403918281082024-03-13T14:38:38.431+00:00...and in my spare timeRunning, Climbing and more in and around Sheffield (mostly)Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-30376134740576734122018-10-27T20:58:00.000+01:002018-10-27T20:58:03.697+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2018 - Part 4It's October - nearly November - and I am still writing this up 2 months on. Truth be told I can't really remember the details any more so will have to cross reference photos, log books and other people's blogs to see what we got up to :)<br />
<br />
Day 6 saw us go to <a href="https://bleau.info/cul" target="_blank">Cul de Chien</a>, where we last went in 2016. It's a beautiful place, full of wide sandy clearings and interesting boulders with good landings. Rumour has it the clearings were created by the German Army looking for supplies dropped in the forest by the Allies for the French Resistance (if you read <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.com/2018/09/fontainebleau-diary-2018-part-3-tale-of.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> you'll know more about this).<br />
<br />
We had chosen Cul de Chien today as it dries quickly - the weather was looking a bit threatening - and no sooner had we arrived than we bumped in to Patrick out on another of his runs. He assured us it wasn;t going to rain, and then he was off again. Before I had really had a chance to warm up however it rained, and I must admit I found this rather frustrating as I was ready to get stuck in and didn't want to sit around waiting for the rain to pass.<br />
<br />
According to my log book I climbed a bunch of oranges, and then some 4 / 4+ problems from the Blue and Red circyuits, but I think I had a good day all in all. Later in the day <a href="http://www.rock-crawler.co.uk/2018/09/08/fontainebleau-2018-day-6/" target="_blank">Kelly</a> was trying <a href="https://bleau.info/cul/8846.html" target="_blank">Verglas Fréquent</a> in a full on session mode. I tried it a few times and then decided to go and look for something else, and around the back of the same boulder was the 6a <a href="https://bleau.info/cul/8847.html" target="_blank">Pince sans Rire</a> which looked tempting. I thought I got it after several attempts, but looking back at how I did it I think that I used holds which can't be in at that grade, and didn't follow the line of the problem properly. However, as I write this I realise that bleau.info has picked up my video of me climbing the problem so maybe I can count it :D<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/289704341" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
Day 7 then was our last day. We wanted to get up and out early to maximise the climbing and give us time to pack after and headed to <a href="https://bleau.info/guichot" target="_blank">Rocher Guichot</a> which has the advantage of being right next to the car park. Turn up, walk in, climb a few things, bump into Patrick.. We'd suspect him of stalking us, but he was as surprised as we were! I apparently climbed 3 things here before the rain came in, and while we were sheltering under an overhang I found a cave to explore behind it and camped out in there.<br />
<br />
Once the rain stopped we explored a little further, and discovered an area which makes you walk in circles; after Jim mocked me for reappearing after saying I was heading back he managed to do exactly the same thing! Sadly the rain returned even heavier, so we decided to go back to the gite and pack. While the sun dried up the rain I headed over to the Aire where Lolly and Jim were staying to look at her van which wouldn't start that morning, I didn't manage to solve it but the French breakdown guy had it running in 5 minutes - a good dose of brake cleaner into the intake manifold!<br />
<br />
It soon dried out again, and we decided to head to <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1">91.1</a> - another revisit, this time only from <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.com/2017/09/fontainebleau-diary-2017-day-6.html">last year</a>, also on our last day. Andy and I had a good day touring the area and trying various things, enjoying the last day of the holiday, while Jim was sessioning <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/301250.html">Le Flipper</a>. At the end of the day I found a really fun problem called <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/6004.html">Pégase</a> which was very satisfying to climb as working out the sequence was an exercise in technique. It was som much fun I think I made everyone have a go at it, and I was really pleased for Liz when she got it. What an end to the holiday!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7bZz8NB5pvJYB7Kss77YLr2mvQ7sg0kIkohjftlSftIb1RWu96XnefAEnxoTgSRdP6n2VkFLFdvRW16C1FYQzoVHVLwKesUYm90AU9-rXLrtJjQM-3dMwr1EZBJUZW9pqow6moCUdA1E/s1600/IMG_20180907_191109-ANIMATION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="972" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7bZz8NB5pvJYB7Kss77YLr2mvQ7sg0kIkohjftlSftIb1RWu96XnefAEnxoTgSRdP6n2VkFLFdvRW16C1FYQzoVHVLwKesUYm90AU9-rXLrtJjQM-3dMwr1EZBJUZW9pqow6moCUdA1E/s320/IMG_20180907_191109-ANIMATION.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
With that it was back to the gite to finish up the food and wine before the long long drive back to Sheffield - I was delighted when we got to Calais to hear them say "boarding in 10 minutes" as we had managed to catch the earlier ferry, and pretty much as soon as I was on board the ramp when up and the doors started closing - don't think that could have been much closer.<br />
<br />
One more thing of note though - driving back up the M1 and I was really hitting tired and hungry, when I get a message from Andy suggesting we stop at a pub he'd found near Newport Pagnell (<a href="http://www.the-chester-arms.co.uk/">The Chester Arms in Chicheley</a>). I pull up in the car park, and who do I see but Patrick! No, that didn't happen. But it was a very nice pub and the accommodated us in a mezzanine. After our meal we got chatting about how far we had driven and how far we had to go, and the waiter said "So are you guys on tour then?" and after being momentarily stumped I realised that yes, we probably do look like a band!Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-72623033265300047902018-09-24T19:49:00.003+01:002018-09-24T19:49:37.214+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2018 - Part 3: A Tale of 25 BossesSo, day 3. A rest day.<br />
<br />
"Rest".<br />
<br />
You may recall that l<a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.com/2017/09/fontainebleau-diary-2017-day-4.html" target="_blank">ast year</a> Kelly ran <a href="http://www.circuitdes25bosses.fr/" target="_blank">Le Circuit des 25 Bosses</a> <a href="http://www.rock-crawler.co.uk/2017/09/13/circuit-des-25-bosses-simultaneously-the-best-and-worst-long-training-run-of-my-life/" target="_blank">by himself in the pouring rain</a>, nearly resulting in us sending out a search party. Well Liz had mentioned the possibility of us doing it this year, but starting at the adjacent car park rather than running all the way there and back from our Gite (and we were staying much closer this year than last!) 15km is a distance I am comfortable with, and at the top end of Liz's distance plan for this year.<br />
<br />
I know I can do 15km in around 90 minutes, but considering the terrain I doubled that and set expectations to about 3 hours, and we decided to set off between 9 and 10 in the morning so we got most of the running out of the way before the heat of midday, and so we had the afternoon to do other things. Andy and Kelly decided to join us on the run, which was reassuring as Kelly had run the course before and both of them had watches where they could upload the route for that extra bit of navigation just in case it came to it - the circuit is marked with regular red indicators on rocks and trees, but it helps to be prepared.<br />
<br />
The morning broke and it was time for the pre-run rituals - coffee and a banana, pack my trail pack with nutrition, water, and a few extra layers just in case, and we head to the car park at Croix Saint Jerome. We set off in high spirits, and before too long we are running up and down rocky undulations and climbing the first proper hill, giving us a taste of what was to come. Breaking above the treeline for the first time treated us to an amazing view, although it was very hazy with lots of moisture hanging in the humid air so we weren't afforded the spectacular views which I'm told are possible on a clearer day. Before too long we found ourselves at <a href="http://milly91490.blogspot.com/2010/10/le-monument-de-la-resistance-noisy-sur.html" target="_blank">Le monument de la Résistance à Noisy sur Ecole</a> - a very large <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Lorraine" target="_blank">Cross of Lorraine</a> erected in 1946 to commemorate the efforts of the French Resistance during World War 2. A searchlight was located on this spot to direct an allied drop of supplies for the resistance which was parachuted into a sandy clearing and hidden away in the <a href="http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media5643-Plaque-de-la-grotte-du-parachutiste" target="_blank">Cave of Rochebelle</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkx-G6-BF_Bq7zpPKjNXZDaO6rUL9tb2Kc3NrvZiUONvz7fNvHzFVDvE1438M_G4MWPLRSauvDhG1_0JmMaUHqQmJYFaACTGTpoW6LnKY9BT5GvZ-tBG3hjn_HEYTbMxFnc6WBo6AuXSgP/s1600/IMG_20180905_104046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkx-G6-BF_Bq7zpPKjNXZDaO6rUL9tb2Kc3NrvZiUONvz7fNvHzFVDvE1438M_G4MWPLRSauvDhG1_0JmMaUHqQmJYFaACTGTpoW6LnKY9BT5GvZ-tBG3hjn_HEYTbMxFnc6WBo6AuXSgP/s320/IMG_20180905_104046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After posing for a few photos we were on our way again, climbing subsequent hills and sometimes getting sight of the monument as a great indicator of how far we had come. At one stage I was in the lead of the group and was picking my way down a rocky track when a French gentleman stops and speaks to us. Now I'll be the first to admit my french is not great, so just about managed to communicate that we were English and after a bit of mental effort on both sides we managed a conversation - "Are you sticking to the trails?" he asked, and I answer "oui" thinking he was making sure we didn't stray off the path. It turns out that he wanted to know if we were running the trail and when we said yes he started talking with enthusiasm about it at it transpired that he helps to maintain the circuit, was 70 years old, and runs in the forest every day and that running must be good for you because he was still here.<br />
<br />
We talk for a while longer about climbing (he is/was also a climber) and the history of the area, before he turns around and says come with me, I'll show you more. We set off and he is surprisingly nimble, keeping up with him is hard work at times - not due so much to his speed, but his sure-footedness on the terrain and his ability to read it, flowing effortlessly with nature (a lesson for all of us there I feel). As we run, walk and wait we establish that he is a part of <a href="http://www.aaff.fr/" target="_blank">Les Amis de la Forêt de Fontainebleau</a> and along with his retired friends maintains the red route markers as well as performing hard work to reduce the impact of people on the terrain, particularly erosion control.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJXbKdn8pFLRYWMb3np9uUGnReeCc1qXMnVw18-4-R_W1b-Pf2K7iq8SH9uXMf7wmGyEpof0JXzYvOOwZsLYX5GzStdUlretRJ2XHu3l4STGonQmT2GsRYMdYKB-atQso1_dqPfXnNWEk/s1600/IMG_20180905_133803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJXbKdn8pFLRYWMb3np9uUGnReeCc1qXMnVw18-4-R_W1b-Pf2K7iq8SH9uXMf7wmGyEpof0JXzYvOOwZsLYX5GzStdUlretRJ2XHu3l4STGonQmT2GsRYMdYKB-atQso1_dqPfXnNWEk/s320/IMG_20180905_133803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Along the way each time we crested a hill he would point out the hills and climbing areas visible from that hill, as well as stories of the history and geology of the area, and how it is quite unique in having been created from a relatively small sand bar under the sea many many years ago, which turned into stone at a very cold temperature which created the hard sandstone so typical of the region, and the reason we were there. This area feels very special, very unique, and very beautiful, and to have a local guide who was so knowledgeable give up his time to run with us was amazing.<br />
<br />
As we continued he showed us the many and varied <a href="http://fontainebleaupassion.blogspot.com/2015/01/le-bivouac-vert.html" target="_blank">bivouac</a> of the forest - some are dangerous due to cracks in the rock above and some are safe and you can go inside and see well crafted stone fireplaces, beds, shelves, and the like. Those that are dangerous are labelled with good reason, as along the way we also saw where a roof has very clearly fallen. Some of these bivouac, such as that at Rocher du Potala, are very well known and easy to see and others are hidden where you would only find these if you knew where to look, so we were very privileged to have been shown them, and to have had some of the rock engravings pointed out to us - some being a lot older than others.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRnV_Lr1usraVnU_dUxvy62r_xLUTXi4VE3uuXK8WzsITzrsC9a1UHO7boqVn8CZb59Cd5KNFUEbGY9VdgyaFd5zqOVJFsqWoD7uIFbxOSuFYo4tRHTETTNMYTEz4lKVbq8wGDUZ09hFf/s1600/IMG_20180905_131104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRnV_Lr1usraVnU_dUxvy62r_xLUTXi4VE3uuXK8WzsITzrsC9a1UHO7boqVn8CZb59Cd5KNFUEbGY9VdgyaFd5zqOVJFsqWoD7uIFbxOSuFYo4tRHTETTNMYTEz4lKVbq8wGDUZ09hFf/s320/IMG_20180905_131104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Eventually it was time for him to leave us - he had received a phone call a while back which appeared to go something along the lines of "Hello, I found some English people to run with. I'll be home soon" and we snuck a short break in. My watch had been beeping every kilometre as we travelled along, and every time he had said "time for tea?" - at first I thought he was under the impression it was an alarm, but as we continued I realised this was his sense of humour playing on English stereotypes and right now a cup of tea would have been, well, spiffing! I'd already shared out my emergency fun size packs of haribo, and eaten two energy bars, and I was flagging.<br />
<br />
Before too long my water ran out too, and I realised just how badly I had underestimated the challenge of this run. It had definitely moved from the territory of Type 1 Fun and into Type 2 Fun, and was in danger of becoming Type 3 Fun. I was determined to finish it though, and even to run where I could. I led a section for a bit again, and it really is a challenge following the tags to navigate your way through the forest; as soon as you catch sight of a marker you have to interpret it to understand the direction you should take and have your eyes up for the next one. It really is a breadcrumb trail and when trying to move at speed you have to be constantly scanning and thinking and your route takes you over, around and sometimes through rocks and trees - if you go very far at all without seeing one you NEED to backtrack if you don't want to end up very lost!<br />
<br />
The last few hills were particularly hard work, and with a mouthful of Kelly's water I had a caffeine mocha gel which gave me a brief burst of go - but the uphills were all definitely walking now as were most of the downhills due to technical terrain and some of the flats as it was just hard work. Such was my state by this point I was getting a little bit emotional, and I am grateful to Liz's hugs and motivation for keeping me going. At one point we had to mantle over a rock on the top of a hill, far more akin to bouldering than running, and it took me a while to psyche myself up to do it then I needed a lie down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vp5I9GeVOWq5if1HZw9nwv0gUStdDTFPrAg4nPEay7NTQgn66xYqChd_XCgHcIiiwzn13s6ZLi5cdz_YqLosBxKYLO5FdUaRvEaDjZsOdlHi2QlrUORsbjaVEEy1wy5lwz_uMjStm9rB/s1600/IMG_20180905_160652_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vp5I9GeVOWq5if1HZw9nwv0gUStdDTFPrAg4nPEay7NTQgn66xYqChd_XCgHcIiiwzn13s6ZLi5cdz_YqLosBxKYLO5FdUaRvEaDjZsOdlHi2QlrUORsbjaVEEy1wy5lwz_uMjStm9rB/s320/IMG_20180905_160652_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Eventually though we were on the sandy main path back to the car park and from somewhere my legs moved me faster, getting me to the gate in time to take a photo of the rest of the group finishing. Utterly exhausted but so so glad to have finished we made our way back to the gite where a much needed drink of water was consumed, with the second glass going straight over my head. What had been somewhat optimistically forecast as a 3 hour run had taken us 6 hours, albeit with diversions and a guided tour of the secrets of the forest thrown in for good measure.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/1821159468/embed/eaa1c93771bc2a4975a5d676591fc2a274262047" width="590"></iframe><br />
<br />
Would I do it again? Absolutely! Will I prepare better, take more food and more water next time? Definitely! Will I think I can do it in 3 hours> No way!<br />
<br />
That was a great rest day, even if not really a traditional definition of rest. It was nothing that some beer, bread and cheese, a hot shower, and wine and a barbecue couldn't shift. Coming up next: a return to climbing for the last two days.<br />
<br />
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Massif des Trois Pignons, 77123 Noisy-sur-École, France48.381922 2.534196899999983528.745684000000004 -38.774397100000016 68.01816 43.842790899999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-45294008927890545452018-09-17T08:00:00.000+01:002018-09-17T08:00:04.180+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2018 - Part 2Day 3 of the climbing holiday, and we decided to go to <a href="https://bleau.info/mee" target="_blank">Rocher du Potala</a> - Liz, Ceri and I went here <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.com/2017/09/fontainebleau-diary-2017-day-3.html" target="_blank">last year</a> and really enjoyed it, I got a few blues on that trip and was keen to try and get some harder stuff this year. I also decided to try out my new action camera, a <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waspcam-Sports-Waterproof-Time-lapse-Control/dp/B009L64B0Y" target="_blank">WaspCAM ROX 9942</a> which I managed to pick up cheap earlier in the year (half the price of that Amazon listing) to video a few climbs. I started out warming up on some Yellows and Oranges with Liz, Ceri, Sheila and Lolly which gave me a great opportunity to test the camera.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/289507937" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
After one yellow and two oranges it was time to get moving on the blue circuit and get a bit of good climbing under my belt. Unfortunately although the circuit had been updated in 2017 the topos on bleau.info are not using the new numbering, and only Andy's 2018 edition of <a href="http://www.jingowobbly.com/ROC7/ROC7-main.html" target="_blank">Fun Bloc</a> had this circuit in so mapping problems got a bit tricky and there are still two I haven't managed to marry up. After cribbing some beta off Andy and Kelly who had already done a few of these while I was warming up I got a number of problems under my belt, and after trying a traverse a few times with Andy and Kelly I decided I needed to go and climb something to keep my head in the game.<br />
<br />
I wandered a short distance away and found a nice little bit of rock in <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/6248.html" target="_blank">Astérix</a> and decided to set my camera up and give it a go. It was an interesting problem with a combination of slopey holds to palm down on and crimpy holds on a balancey concave slab. If felt very much like some of the shoulder heavy inside corner problems sometimes set at <a href="https://www.climbingworks.com/" target="_blank">The Climbing Works</a> which are great fun when you crack them. The practice must have paid off as I flashed it on sight, though I wasn't sure I was going to as at the point where Andy and Kelly wandered over I was precariously balanced and quite contorted - one of those moments where you have to be careful how you breath lest you topple over backwards off the rock! Once I'd got the foot up it was all over and I topped out before supporting Andy while he worked out how to approach it - a theme of the holiday was how differently all of us climb and where our strengths and weaknesses are. With a niggly should this wasn't an ideal problem for Andy, but he got it done.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/289112800" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
We carried on climbing long into the evening here as I think we were all in the zone and feeling quite psyched - Liz had an orange traverse she was projecting, Kelly was working on <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/23547.html" target="_blank">Acid</a>, and other people had their own favourite bit of rock to tickle. Andy and I found a nice big lump of rock with interesting problems on, though sadly quite a few of these don't match up with the bleau.info topo so I don't know much about them. A particular highlight for me here was <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/16012.html" target="_blank">La Farissure</a> - a 5+ wall climb with some nice cracks on it which again needed shoulders:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/289511489" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
The as yet un-named Blue 16 was not quite so straightfoward. The start was fine, but I seemingly struggled to work out how to get over the rounded top so resorted to stroking and fondling the rock until I found a way to handle it<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/289680870" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
We joined Liz looking at her Orange traverse for a bit, had a look around some other bits, before finding another fun problem - also a traverse - to play on. This was a really nice way to end the day.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/289699132" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
If anyone can tell me the name of this problem I would love to know, as Liz was doing really well on it - completing all the technical moves and just lacking the strength left in her arms to mantle the top out - and wants to put it on her "to do" list.<br />
<br />
Three days of climbing done. A "rest" day to follow. I'll let those quote marks pique your interest as to just how restful it was...Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-81708274198533049722018-09-16T16:28:00.000+01:002018-09-16T16:28:11.257+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2018 - Part 1I'm conscious of the fact I haven't updated this in quite some time; I started writing about running and climbing to give myself something to focus on and at the start of this year I made the decision to run for fun not for targets. Part of that fun was letting go of obsession with statistics, training plans and whatever else which led to a more relaxed view on documenting them too. I've run a few races this year and am keeping up with it, just not pushing speed, distance and training plans. Maybe there will be a retrospective of the year at some point.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this is a climbing update. September always marks the annual group trip to the iconic forest of Fontainebleau, the home of bouldering, to spend a week in the forest with bread, cheese and rocks. This year it was the earliest we have been for various logistical reasons, and on Friday 31st August we converged on <a href="http://www.thenorman-guesthouse.co.uk/">The Norman Guesthouse</a> in Dover for the 3rd year in a row, where Laz remembered us (if not our names) and we found a delightful micropub in <a href="http://www.micropubassociation.co.uk/micropubs/the-lanes/">The Lanes</a> to refresh ourselves before heading for a curry at <a href="http://virsatheheritage.com/">The Virsa</a>. Saturday morning saw Laz treat us to breakfast before it was time for the ferry and we were on our way.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25e3gT5pTArTPO9lCnaDk9_PQe1CZ_EG4SSYmv3QwexbGzqZjGqWDoYOiFXa2NHI8rfU1PuJL-wjYOmFO90RvZW3DRuiVXJZVqvXAKobEbziFQv_GMyYWZP3PjtJCq466ARKApcuFcl0f/s1600/IMG_20180901_091732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25e3gT5pTArTPO9lCnaDk9_PQe1CZ_EG4SSYmv3QwexbGzqZjGqWDoYOiFXa2NHI8rfU1PuJL-wjYOmFO90RvZW3DRuiVXJZVqvXAKobEbziFQv_GMyYWZP3PjtJCq466ARKApcuFcl0f/s320/IMG_20180901_091732.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After a long and rather warm drive south through France we arrived at <a href="http://gites91.wixsite.com/larochetine" target="_blank">Gîte La Rochetine</a> on the outskirts of Noisy-sur-École - ideally located for the Trois Pignon area. Once settled in went for a 6km run in the forest to stretch our legs after the drive before settling down to a dinner of pasta and a glass of wine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, Sunday and time to climb. We decided to go for an area we had not tried before in <a href="https://bleau.info/segognole" target="_blank">La Ségognole</a> where we met up with two of Kelly's climbing partners of old, Jim and Lolly, who had made the trip down from Bristol a few days before us and were staying in their vans. Historically the first day has been a day of getting carried away and climbing a whole load of problems at a relatively easy grade, but this year I decided I wanted to try a little bit harder and set my eyes on problems in the Red Circuits and/or Font 5 difficulty. I ended up getting 13 Yellow and 13 Orange problems - yellows being mostly Font 2 or 3 and Oranges Font 3 or 4 - but I was also really happy to pick off <a href="https://bleau.info/segognole/10583.html" target="_blank">Calvaire</a> from the Red circuit, a crimpy arete climb coming in at Font 5; what a great start to the day! I also decided that this was the perfect place to do a bit of lunchtime yoga, with a Tree in the Forest</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7UAM9ZlRRlY7noSuoA0tMrrOzOrQesZzmvgah_HphSYNoEUffSVbRVbhZ4ZcPVWsc-wieDtdbX73wampnYLDlh2CmYdJ3kNYAbRggVCcPcx5zsBwTbDg-AV_BmI06DfFDxSa5RKixeNI/s1600/IMG_20180902_203309_403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7UAM9ZlRRlY7noSuoA0tMrrOzOrQesZzmvgah_HphSYNoEUffSVbRVbhZ4ZcPVWsc-wieDtdbX73wampnYLDlh2CmYdJ3kNYAbRggVCcPcx5zsBwTbDg-AV_BmI06DfFDxSa5RKixeNI/s320/IMG_20180902_203309_403.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second day of climbing saw us return to <a href="https://bleau.info/canche" target="_blank">Canche aux Merciers</a>, a location we last went in 2015 which was my first trip to Font. That year I climbed Yellows and Oranges, and one Blue (the Blue circuit at Canche is mostly 4s and 5s). This year I got 11 yellows and then knocked out 8 blues - definitely demonstrating my climbing progress in 3 years. 3 of these were rated 5-, but enough time has passed that I can't remember any specifics. So that's two days down, and doing really well on my target of pushing myself to climb things which stretch me a bit. Oh, and two days of lazing in the sun eating lunch too :D</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXd2fHYGu3T9tD13PUR7152jvq1UyH8Tqmbr-j6UgrT1fUPmQ7TIiJMwsPuziU3Z1I4hK-pIspvLT4nlwrxF0gtKtA7PbYPGo6UXUAbuBOqGduFVCNQoadCSuigNz2XbrhETGg7odkjsZ/s1600/IMG_20180903_161524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXd2fHYGu3T9tD13PUR7152jvq1UyH8Tqmbr-j6UgrT1fUPmQ7TIiJMwsPuziU3Z1I4hK-pIspvLT4nlwrxF0gtKtA7PbYPGo6UXUAbuBOqGduFVCNQoadCSuigNz2XbrhETGg7odkjsZ/s320/IMG_20180903_161524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com077123 Noisy-sur-École, France48.373156 2.496132999999986248.288773500000005 2.3347714999999862 48.4575385 2.6574944999999861tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-6564927489820339982017-12-22T21:21:00.001+00:002017-12-22T21:26:31.459+00:002017 Percy PudApparently it's nearly 3 weeks since I ran the <a href="http://www.steelcitystriders.co.uk/percy-pud-10k/" target="_blank">Percy Pud</a> - how time flies! I've been busy, and I've not always been in the right head space to write a review. In a lull amid the pre-Christmas frantic rush though I have found time to put my thoughts on the race into words.<br />
<br />
I've been aware of the Percy Pud for a while, being a long standing fixture in Sheffield organised the the <a href="http://www.steelcitystriders.co.uk/" target="_blank">Steel City Striders</a> - in fact this year was the 25th anniversary of the first running of the event. Last year the event was on the first weekend after I had moved back to Sheffield, and starting as it does in Loxley it's practically on my doorstep, just over 2km away. I ran <a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/hillsborough/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=200" target="_blank">my first parkrun</a> that weekend but already had a desire to run the Percy Pud, so you could say this marked the culmination of an amazing first year in running.<br />
<br />
I'd run the return leg along Loxley Road a few times, as I would often go out along Loxley Valley Trail and back on the road after the slog up Stacey Bank, but one Thursday lunchtime decided to recce the whole route, so ran from my house to the start, did the full course, and then ran all the way back, making it a nice 14km run. Obviously the roads were open so I was only on the pavement, and there was a lot of wet leaf fall, but it was good to get a feel for the route. I found the outbound Loxely Road stint really hard work as it's uphill and undulating, but then I really enjoyed the road around the back of the reservoir out to The Plough and back despite quite a headwind, and Loxley Road return was the old familiar route.<br />
<br />
When I entered I decided I was going to aim for sub 50 minutes, having run 50:01 at <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/2017-neurocare-head-start-10k-at-rother.html" target="_blank">my first 10k</a> in May, so submitted an estimated finish time of 49:49. Come the day of the race I met up with Andy, Liz and Kelly G and we made our way to the start area. It dawned on me I had to walk a long way down and was surprisingly near the front, positioning myself between the 50 minute and 45 minute pacers. After the usual standing around for a bit a horn sounded and we were off. I started my watch as we headed under the arch and ran with the pack, jostling for space a little but nowhere near as bad as <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/2017-amsterdam-half-marathon.html" target="_blank">Amsterdam</a>.<br />
<br />
The start was fast, I was happy. I was passing people, I was keeping up with the 45 minute pacer. This was good, I was really enjoying myself! But still, this first bit was my least favourite and there are 10 of these kilometre things to do so don't get carried away. I'd been working on my cadence and technique, so I was trying to bear that in mind keeping my pace high while ensuring that I felt my heart rate and breathing were under control and not at the ragged edge. The first KM went quickly in 4:24, the second even faster in 4:16, and I was at the dam wall - the bad bit was done!<br />
<br />
I'd noticed on the first leg that not everyone was using the hills - this is Sheffield, surely everyone has had plenty of practice - but this meant that I was overtaking all over the place on the short sharp downhill segments and still absolutely loving it. OK, settle in for the mid section. Eyes on the prize, don't blow it all early, keep that breathing in check. We were being encouraged over to the left hand side of the road by now to make space for the returning runners, and the KMs kept falling - 4:24, 4:46, still amazingly good times for me and still WELL on target. Just after the 4km mark I saw the pace car, followed shortly by a few lone runners before the pack came past. Tricky hairpin turnaround at the 5km mark, take a gel on board before the water stop, and it's homeward bound.<br />
<br />
Not long after turning I heard Andy shouting encouragement as he headed towards the turnaround, and shortly after I spotted Kelly G and Liz, returning the encouragement to them. Everyone was looking good. My legs were not tiring and the pace was holding high, before I knew it I was at the dam wall and knew that once I had the small climb out the way I could push for the finish. 2km to go and I was beginning to feel it, but I could see the 45 minute pacer in the distance and slowly but surely I was gaining on him.<br />
<br />
Drive up the hills, use the downhills for speed, inching ever closer. With the finish almost in sight I passed him just as he was telling those around him they were well on course to hit 45 minutes, and then the finish line appeared and I could see the clock - gun time was on 44:50 and that was it, I started sprinting for the line. I crossed on a gun time of around 45:03 so was confident I had smashed my target and finished under 45:00. I felt weirdly emotional at this point - happy and yet really close to tears.<br/>
<br />
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='https://www.strava.com/activities/1300100972/embed/55fce31719e421f96549dc78eafc696c3052adf6'></iframe>
<br />
I collected my t-shirt and Christmas Pudding, got a drink of water, and headed up to see the others finish. Andy had already crossed the line by the time I got there, and I saw Kelly G and Liz finish. My Chip Time in the <a href="http://results.sporthive.com/events/6343045210129834496/races/427305/bib/783" target="_blank">official results</a> came through as 44:31, utterly blown away with that. Turns out we all had a really good race:<br />
<ul>
<li>Me: 44:31</li>
<li>Andy: 47:17</li>
<li>Kelly G: 49:43</li>
<li>Liz: 55:21</li>
</ul>
<div>
And we weren't the only ones - <a href="https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/athletics/video-gallery-thousands-hit-the-road-for-record-breaking-percy-pud-10k-in-sheffield-1-8890876" target="_blank">the male and female course records both fell</a> (there was a £1000 prize for each of these) with the Male winner being Andy Heyes in 29:42 and the overall second place finisher was Scottish Olympian Eillish McColgan in 32:23 - breaking her own record from last year and setting the second fastest 10k in the country this year. The first quickest? Her performance at Leeds Abbey Dash. Hmm, seems a fast race... maybe next year?</div>
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Loxley, Sheffield S6, UK53.4056839 -1.534972799999991453.3867524 -1.5753132999999915 53.4246154 -1.4946322999999913tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-4288730974869853742017-12-08T16:24:00.000+00:002017-12-08T16:24:19.148+00:00Guest Blog: Run with KickNo, not a guest author here but rather a guest post be me elsewhere. I've been a part of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/runwithkick" target="_blank">Kick Community</a> for a while now, and have run several races proudly wearing my <a href="https://kick.run/" target="_blank">Kick.run</a> <a href="https://kick.run/collections/distance-series/products/half-marathon-by-kick-technical-m?variant=46539337098" target="_blank">Distance series Half Marathon technical tee</a>, unlocked over the summer when I extended a <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1097506476" target="_blank">Tramlines Recovery Run</a> to 21km to ensure I was ready for Amsterdam.<br />
<br />
A while back <a href="https://twitter.com/jonathan5mith" target="_blank">Jon from Kick</a> was asking for community contributions to a new blog he was planning to launch as part of the site, and I expressed an interest. Once I got back from Amsterdam I decided that I would write a story of my journey to becoming a runner, and happily Jon was pleased with it and decided to publish it. Read more over on the <a href="https://kick.run/blogs/run-with-kick/how-i-became-runner" target="_blank">Kick.run blog</a>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://kick.run/blogs/run-with-kick/how-i-became-runner" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="937" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4kQRfJs2JYL_oefJia2sJbYKwdQMe4rdtfCm7h_I7tHJfAbO8O5V129lhyphenhyphenQczww4116z_2iQiXeYGq-hazCcTSPHRSYEKp8_ZRxxFDefRlkZKnVulpEHOgvT7UhWg6Ry-EHsKHoxyGp3/s320/kick.run.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-10071885697609415252017-10-16T17:29:00.002+01:002017-10-18T13:39:51.106+01:002017 Amsterdam Half MarathonI've just run my first Half Marathon. 12 months ago I couldn't even run 5k reliably, it's been quite a journey. This particular event happened because back in April <a href="http://www.rock-crawler.co.uk/" target="_blank">Kelly D</a> signed up for the full <a href="http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/42-2/" target="_blank">Amsterdam Marathon</a> and when I commented on how much I love The Netherlands he replied with a link to the Half Marathon. Oh. With Liz and Andy on board as well for the half we booked flights and hotels, the commenced our training plans. My training plan went well, I didn't always have time to follow it, but I got some decent distances in and Endomondo was telling me that based on my Cooper Tests I should be able to do it in under 2 hours, then 1:50, then 1:45 - needless to say I was terrified!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbAQptLAZVbfztMvnzKXkD2SjcquL-N9eA9bnGOJGwSnahmvo3ieUS_pGPCpYluSgRmDiaRsba__Mgn2ihRqQe6iUy2g8aEBLbP_Lm0gDaQccEqh5N6v0bX6Hu9N54BNnurM78M_ptLJB/s1600/IMG_20171012_192829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbAQptLAZVbfztMvnzKXkD2SjcquL-N9eA9bnGOJGwSnahmvo3ieUS_pGPCpYluSgRmDiaRsba__Mgn2ihRqQe6iUy2g8aEBLbP_Lm0gDaQccEqh5N6v0bX6Hu9N54BNnurM78M_ptLJB/s320/IMG_20171012_192829.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
After my last training I run I decided that my goal was simply going to be under 2 hours, and on a good day if I could handle a pace of 5:25-5:30 min/km I Should be able to nip comfortably underneath that. Before I knew it race weekend was upon us, and we flew out to Schiphol on Friday. After checking in at our hotel we took a quick tram trip into the middle of Amsterdam and had a mooch around while looking for some food. Somehow we managed to avoid all the roads full of restaurants but we eventually tucked in to an Italian then had a couple of beers before returning to the hotel for some much needed sleep.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8L7YNaeJnOmVCNnqXvvNOy2z-r4qnfYG1Sl6X1_hMiXh4fv5jdtSuv2dqGKUzkz7gCwuF9KY6DC9LbhZK32TefAmtImosJuw6NiF04G0WkFm0JE8ReVDPLbHDexKV4GNHQZjOnhTeb2I/s1600/IMG_20171013_185311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8L7YNaeJnOmVCNnqXvvNOy2z-r4qnfYG1Sl6X1_hMiXh4fv5jdtSuv2dqGKUzkz7gCwuF9KY6DC9LbhZK32TefAmtImosJuw6NiF04G0WkFm0JE8ReVDPLbHDexKV4GNHQZjOnhTeb2I/s320/IMG_20171013_185311.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A slow start to Saturday and we went to the race expo, collected our numbers and event t-shirts and countless flyers for other European marathons, and went to hunt pancakes. Or attempted to - getting a tram was hard enough with them being full to capacity, and then the one we did manage to catch broke down half way to the centre, so lunch was instead in a very nice cafe before catching a different tram to the centre where Liz and Kelly went to the Body Worlds exhibition while Andy and I chilled out on the harbour where we were treated to the sight of the <a href="https://www.stadamsterdam.com/" target="_blank">Stad Amsterdam</a> sailing past. we headed back in to the centre searching for poffertjes but were again defeated and after trying and failing to meet up with Liz and Kelly we went to the tram stop, only to see them glide by on the tram when the driver didn't bother letting us on. Cue a long wait while the next one was overloaded and no more came for an age, but we eventually made it back to the hotel for dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkyl-zsI4wQXVBTTioa0nwXyaDmdUa2pyFNMLkvKNJQcX-UTsiA3O2dv0d9QQ9MQ_Gp6GLypVTWnf_g44byEIP0g9LdsegEBl_25d7BRq4Cw8blSNfnANQlWZXIupKZRovu4gKt3DauPb/s1600/IMG_20171014_161039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkyl-zsI4wQXVBTTioa0nwXyaDmdUa2pyFNMLkvKNJQcX-UTsiA3O2dv0d9QQ9MQ_Gp6GLypVTWnf_g44byEIP0g9LdsegEBl_25d7BRq4Cw8blSNfnANQlWZXIupKZRovu4gKt3DauPb/s320/IMG_20171014_161039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And then it was race day. Kelly was up and off early to do the full marathon while the rest of us had breakfast in the hotel, avidly refreshing the live timing, pleased to see Kelly making really good progress in the marathon. Final preparations were made while watching footage of the elite runners on TV, then we made our way to the stadium for the start. This was my first experience of a mass start event on such a scale, but I'd followed my hydration strategy, got my gels in my running belt, and hat against the sun. Ah yes, the sun. I'd been looking forward to an autumnal race, possibly even with some light drizzle, but as the race day got closer the forecast had been getting warmer and warmer and by this point there were official temperature warnings from the event organisers as it was over 20 degrees in full sun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtox-TbuFMEvLI0iC4thION8wLR-Mbi_iVWpk9XBr_G3oNORbvTqV_q4QtJ_L_67Dp3_pwcpak9Xn6Yei4WjVi8Gchf7Ndz_ItPQB2IO-olZ5rJOon7zNqcBWofbkMuDGzPwcF4EpgWT2L/s1600/IMG_20171015_092251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtox-TbuFMEvLI0iC4thION8wLR-Mbi_iVWpk9XBr_G3oNORbvTqV_q4QtJ_L_67Dp3_pwcpak9Xn6Yei4WjVi8Gchf7Ndz_ItPQB2IO-olZ5rJOon7zNqcBWofbkMuDGzPwcF4EpgWT2L/s320/IMG_20171015_092251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We saw crowds beginning to move so headed to the starting pens, found pour spaces, then stood and waited. And waited. There were at least three full pens in front of us, and with over 15,000 runners it took quite some time before we could even see the start line, never mind cross it, but eventually the moment came. I had done as best a recce of the route as I could on Google Maps in advance, but with so many people that didn't help for most of the course, though there were major landmarks I had memorised. The first 5km or so went in a blur as I found space to run in and soaked up the atmosphere - live DJs, samba and drum bands, great signs such as "I'm Very Impressed" and a man singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" in an operatic style from the top floor of his house. The first major landmark on my mental list was at the end of this section where you run up the start of the A2 motorway before turning off immediately on the first exit, heading into an industrial area where the first refreshment station was located. I grabbed an Isostar drink without stopping, and after throwing half of it on my face I mastered the art of drinking while running.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6vElobTWrDsH1edKY5-0AfUOXFwzaxtt3fuzbNBx4BSRxOkxpJwfObffhW74vXoVeHx2EfOpUM-bH-aqoeK3AaR0XNgbnfTI_lo_Bqb7AU91GuQEH_4fHKvsrFXkaOcYqrM0qhaLp67o/s1600/received_10154730549642330.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6vElobTWrDsH1edKY5-0AfUOXFwzaxtt3fuzbNBx4BSRxOkxpJwfObffhW74vXoVeHx2EfOpUM-bH-aqoeK3AaR0XNgbnfTI_lo_Bqb7AU91GuQEH_4fHKvsrFXkaOcYqrM0qhaLp67o/s320/received_10154730549642330.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My pace up to the end of k6 was good, sometimes hitting as fast as 5:09/km but never feeling too fast and I thought I was in for a really good chance of smashing my goal. On the hot back straights of the industrial area I was trying to maintain around 5:25/km, building a cushion to my goal time and always keeping an eye on the overall average pace - knowing I needed to keep this under 5:40/km. I could feel the neat getting to me at this point though, so decided to relax a little until the next water station where I would take a gel and cool down, my pace dropping into the 5:30s - still the right side of goal though. Don't overcook it, you've got to finish the race and you are not even half way yet. At the 10km water stop I realised I had not disabled auto pause on my watch - damn, I no longer have my easy ready reckoner so I need to account for that. Added mental load I really didn't need. At this stop I accidentally washed my gel down with Isostar not water, so was still feeling rather thirsty - I took several sponges and soaked myself to try and help with cooling. All this meant that I had a rather slow KM here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z-2i3dyLLA0fez5Q_B4s0aDJlIosw4ef5JeejCicuoil9wYPvoEF_XwlyL-lpuviTl8NRO114SBL7dPXwzFxCU_uUWJaVfOM0pUw7RkjXfp5VZ8E8mG55BNRIFfpRFGHTBx0zZrqwvlJ/s1600/22499104_10154733033332330_5244172697955927801_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z-2i3dyLLA0fez5Q_B4s0aDJlIosw4ef5JeejCicuoil9wYPvoEF_XwlyL-lpuviTl8NRO114SBL7dPXwzFxCU_uUWJaVfOM0pUw7RkjXfp5VZ8E8mG55BNRIFfpRFGHTBx0zZrqwvlJ/s320/22499104_10154733033332330_5244172697955927801_o.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
From this point it just felt really hard. The field was getting more bunched and not less bunched, I was finding it hard to get the space I wanted to run at a comfortable pace, and ended up having to run at someone else's pace and I think this took more energy than running at the pace I wanted to. I kept looking for space and using it, but constant changing speed and direction was really wearing. The course felt narrow, and elbows were jostling - other runners were clearly feeling this too as I heard a lot of frustration around me. I was still carving through the field, but it felt like I was overtaking people who were clearly aiming for a slower pace than me which didn't make sense given the starting pen system. Splits were 5:38, 5:45, 5:52, 6:16 - it was getting away from me. In this time I had re-hydrated, getting the hang of water stops better now, and had stuffed a sponge under my running hat - which really helped with the cooling.<br />
<br />
Out the corner of my eye I caught sight of a windmill and I knew where I was again - running along the canal I was basically on the home straight with just over 7 km to go. Another gel on board, washed down with water this time, and the course opened up a little. The crowds were also filling out a bit now and bizarrely I got a massive boost from river traffic encouraging us with their boat horns. I gave a person dressed as a lion a massive flying high five, looked at my watch, and saw I was still within pace - I'd mentally adjusted my target to 5:37 to offset auto pause and I was on a course average of 5:36 at this pace. I couldn't get my pace to stick for the next couple of kilometers, I was still failing to hit target. For the 17th kilometre I forced myself to pick up the pace and keep it high for the full km, and I think this tactic saved my race. Soon we were in the Vondelpark and I knew I just had to keep going. 5:37 race average on the watch, if that dropped to 5:38 I was going to have to throw everything at it and damn the consequences.<br />
<br />
In the park I spotted a collapsed runner receiving treatment from medics and signalled those behind me to move over, and made it out of the park on the run towards the stadium, constantly checking my watch. Suddenly I could hear sirens behind me, it sounded like the were on the course, and soon the police outriders came through. Everyone was great, moving to the sides and shouting ahead to warn fellow runners, but suddenly a marshal was stopping all runners on the right hand side to allow the ambulance to turn off the course - obviously not what anyone wanted, but the health of people who are suffering is much more important. As soon as the ambulance had cleared the junction I sprinted to catch the crowd I was running with, catching the marshal by surprise and he had to jump out of my way. OK, I recovered that hurdle, and I can almost smell the stadium.<br />
<br />
That's the 20 km arch! 1.1 km to go. Come on Martin, pick up the pace, you can do this.<br />
<br />
YOU. CAN. DO. THIS.<br />
<br />
For the first time in over 10 km I was back under (revised) target pace, running at 5:30/km. The finish is rather special, taking in 200 metres of the track inside the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(Amsterdam)" target="_blank">1928 Amsterdam Olympic Stadium</a> - running on the soft track felt so good on the feet after 13 miles of pavement pounding and although I had no sprint left in me I upped the pace as best I could, dropping to 5:12/km. Finally over the line as fast as I could (there was quite a traffic jam ahead of me) and I stopped my watch showing less than 2 hours, letting out a guttural roar of "yeeeaahhhhss!". Keeping walking, breathing, I nearly stopped on the grass but I knew all water was outside the stadium so I went through medal collection, and feeling rather spent in the hot queue was desperate to get out, but I was doing OK.. I got my phone out and already had a text message confirming my time - 1:59:49 - that 17th kilometre decision had made the race for me!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNQFfLEznOriAFiZU7YG1I5kgADFrnrcMVmtPFcJ88Tk1UKX82eatYcR9c2P4hVS5BCTdrxLzoSWo5coTyTuwvdX8SeiDdSG3hTPo5kUSC0qvG_x9Z1PHOblDQVpKPrcYr6mnWCB9Ew7P/s1600/22426366_10154920010148309_4457957709753555681_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1080" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNQFfLEznOriAFiZU7YG1I5kgADFrnrcMVmtPFcJ88Tk1UKX82eatYcR9c2P4hVS5BCTdrxLzoSWo5coTyTuwvdX8SeiDdSG3hTPo5kUSC0qvG_x9Z1PHOblDQVpKPrcYr6mnWCB9Ew7P/s320/22426366_10154920010148309_4457957709753555681_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I got out the stadium and consumed half a banana, a bottle of energy drink, and a cup of water, then went to get my medal engraved - despite fears this may be a time consuming experience which risked delaying our flight it was a model of efficiency, and I was soon heading back in to the stands to join Kelly who had been watching us finish. I chatted for a while as I recovered, then went to reclaim my bag - on the way out I met Andy up to join Kelly after he had finished not far behind me, and in a fit of good timing as I returned with my bag I saw Liz walking towards the stadium exit. While she queued to get out I had a quick wash down (I was organised and had a damp flannel in my bag) and switched running shirt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAXcgSKt6_JuwD-y_FXTEXzkRqaxmzACBOdIGlE0EPQbPMFD3Sxpiw-vFlbKmyiXPriuQYrgg6Gu7-p5FnxNaKMDuIFh00yfT3tQCkaz_wnWKRyX7owxagmDFNQvGKEuoWRfAEj95jUzy/s1600/IMG_20171015_161012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAXcgSKt6_JuwD-y_FXTEXzkRqaxmzACBOdIGlE0EPQbPMFD3Sxpiw-vFlbKmyiXPriuQYrgg6Gu7-p5FnxNaKMDuIFh00yfT3tQCkaz_wnWKRyX7owxagmDFNQvGKEuoWRfAEj95jUzy/s320/IMG_20171015_161012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We met up with Liz at medal engraving and after a bit more resting on the banks of another canal we headed to the metro to get back to the hotel, change into something more suitable, and head to the airport. We had yet another pancake related failure as the pancake oven was broken in the cafe we headed to but thankfully on the way back down to the station for a rather dreary sounding Burger King we saw another place, grabbed a table, and tucked in to some much needed refreshment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGC-TOjx6MebV-I8b2sM6uKrRHNxjVWgLoa780jlXTSa-8SN2WukI2I958Qysx0rsglfddEyIRmIe-VrL8yt-bGg051IIlflWIBu4eeFOdxHZxrmwa6unwuhdGyCxt1i9-6BYjfWnube_/s1600/IMG_20171015_192922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGC-TOjx6MebV-I8b2sM6uKrRHNxjVWgLoa780jlXTSa-8SN2WukI2I958Qysx0rsglfddEyIRmIe-VrL8yt-bGg051IIlflWIBu4eeFOdxHZxrmwa6unwuhdGyCxt1i9-6BYjfWnube_/s320/IMG_20171015_192922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Boarding the plane the cabin crew congratulated us (yes, we were still wearing event t shirts and medals) and it was a stress free trip back to Manchester (where everything was closed, turned off, or broken) and a train back to Sheffield, finally getting to bed around 1am.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/1231887362/embed/69892ef0c8b35490b8ed0f0a686983684b2fdcf2" width="590"></iframe>
Scores on the doors - well done everyone! :<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://results.sporthive.com/events/6324258980229775616/races/422801/bib/5923" target="_blank">Kelly</a> (Full Marathon): 3:23:50</li>
<li><a href="https://results.sporthive.com/events/6324258980229775616/races/422802/bib/34701" target="_blank">Me</a> (Half Marathon): 1:59:49</li>
<li><a href="https://results.sporthive.com/events/6324258980229775616/races/422802/bib/34660" target="_blank">Andy</a> (Half Marathon): 2:12:10</li>
<li><a href="https://results.sporthive.com/events/6324258980229775616/races/422802/bib/41713" target="_blank">Liz</a> (Half Marathon): 2:29:18</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
[<a href="https://results.sporthive.com/events/6324258980229775616" target="_blank">Full Results</a>]<br />
<br />
So what next? I was thinking about whether a marathon would be achievable next, but after Sunday I am not so sure; that was really hard work and I don't know if I am up to doubling the distance yet. My plan would have been to enter York next year which gives me nearly 12 months to train, but right now I am thinking about being more conservative and in all likelyhood the Sheffield Half will be the next road race for me apart from the <a href="http://www.steelcitystriders.co.uk/percy-pud-10k/" target="_blank">Percy Pud</a>, after a bit of a trail running fix of course. Mind you, it's possible all this will change if Kelly decides to enter a race in another country I want to visit (<a href="https://www.stockholmmarathon.se/en/enter/" target="_blank">*ahem*</a> - although it's a pricey one)<br />
<br />
<video controls="" height="360" width="480">
<source src="https://video.relive.cc/2637881321_strava_1508190102069.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source>
</video>
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com1Olympisch Stadion 2, 1076 DE Amsterdam, Netherlands52.3434197 4.8541296999999332.706504699999996 -36.454464300000069 71.9803347 46.16272369999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-18893520373436949672017-09-17T22:06:00.001+01:002017-09-18T12:45:33.840+01:00On Why I Run<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While running a <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1188430209" target="_blank">pretty tough but rewarding 15km loop</a> recently I got thinking about why I run. I was never a sporty type at school, and would more than often be found in the last group to be picked for football teams, staying in front of the ball in Rugby to avoid having to take part, and falling in ditches in an ultimately failed attempt to get out of cross country. When we got to sixth form and could do off site sports I chose Golf in the summer and Squash in the winter, mainly because they were a fair distance away and we went via McDonalds.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9cd13f5a-919d-3c1f-40c9-21e8a0eaf3f4" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking back on it if we had some coaching in P.E. I may have gotten into it better, but no one told me how to run. That may seem a stupid statement to someone to whom running comes naturally, but there was absolute zero guidance on body position, stride length, cadence, or any of the other things runners obsess over. It was simply a case of those who had natural talent joined the teams, those who were of a driven personality type pushed themselves, those who enjoyed sport had fun, and the rest of us resented both the unguided physical exertion and the mocking and humiliation we attracted.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, that was then and this is now. The first run of my adult life was on January 1st, 2014 as a result of seeing <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/2467287" target="_blank">Kelly D</a> try and get as many people out for a New Year run as possible. I had recently separated from my wife and was trying to work out who I was again - nothing was off the cards. I was reconnecting with people I knew 10 years previous, this was happening, so I gave it a go.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ran <a href="https://www.endomondo.com/users/13716581/workouts/281542523" target="_blank">2.19km in 16:07, with an average pace of 7:21/km</a>. It was awful - the ground underfoot was slippery mud and I was totally unprepared for it, walking in places because when I tried to run my feet went from under me. I ran three more times that month, getting up to 6:52/km average pace, and then stopped. I can’t recall why, but apparently I restarted in June 2015 with a 4.68km run in 29:18 and managed to run once or twice a month with an aim to get a 5km in under 30 minutes which I achieved in October. Through 2016 I was very lax again and it wasn’t until I moved back to Sheffield in December 2016 that I got into it properly with <a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/hillsborough/" target="_blank">Hillsborough parkrun</a> just down the road and the encouragement of <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/12969562" target="_blank">Liz</a>. The rest is history, and you can read more about it right here.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back to the original question: Why do I run?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It goes without saying that exercise is good for you, and I knew I needed to do more of it. Over the years my weight had crept up to over 13st and my waist to 34”, I remembered having a 30” waist and losing weight had the added benefit of making climbing (which I had also got back in to) easier. Exercise was only part of the game, I also had to adjust what I ate. The weight slowly came off and I got to 11 stone and a 30” waist (weight has crept up a bit since but waist hasn’t so I assume it’s gobe to muscle somewhere). My general fitness and stamina are also much higher which I’m really happy with, and has had additional benefits for swimming as well as the aforementioned climbing.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this isn’t the only reason. Running is physically hard, and walking could have delivered similar benefits with less wear on the body, though it would have required more time. Running also gave me something to measure myself against, especially with <a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/" target="_blank">parkrun</a>. I’m not an ambitious type when it comes to comparing myself to other people, but I do like to track my own progress and see improvements. Seeing my times come down quickly at parkrun was a real boost, and the community of <a href="https://www.strava.com/" target="_blank">Strava</a> made it easy to track how I was doing when I went on runs by myself, and soon I was adding in more runs whenever I could - including the <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/city-centre-running.html" target="_blank">work running club</a>. I still surprise myself with things like signing up to the <a href="http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/mizuno-halve-marathon-2/" target="_blank">Amsterdam Half Marathon</a> though.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running is also a brilliant way to get out in to the countryside, or the urban landscape you otherwise wouldn’t explore. I’ve run many KMs along the rivers and canals around Sheffield, I’ve entered races which have taken me up dramatic hills in the Peak District, and I am lucky enough to live near some beautiful spots like Rivelin Valley, Loxley Valley, Upper Don Valley and with a bit of effort the Peak District itself. The run which inspired this post had a fairly tough climb taking up most of the first half, but it rewards you with stunning views in every direction across the peaks, even when you turn back and face the city it doesn’t dominate the landscape, instead nestling in the hills for which Sheffield is famous. I was taken with just how lucky I am to live near here and was very grateful for it.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But (and well done if you are still with me, I know I am quite a verbose writer - largely because this is as much for me as it is for you. Hopefully this section will help make this clear) there is more to it than that. Something much more important.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, running is good for the head. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, for my head anyway - I know everyone is different.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I said earlier that I was trying to work out who I was again, and one of the things I have discovered is I am a lot less mentally resilient than I thought I was. The precise details are for another discussion, but I am prone to prolonged periods of introspection and self doubt which manifest in anxiety and despair, and I needed to get a grip on this as it was leading to destructive behaviours. I was drinking too much, and I wasn’t looking after myself.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running at parkrun gave me a regular commitment which meant I was more likely to do it rather than find reasons not to. I’ve discovered that I am far more likely to do something if I have told other people I am going to do it as I’m far more inclined to let myself down than I am others, and running as a social activity meant I also got the support and encouragement of my friends - people who are massively important to me and to whom I owe a lot of gratitude. Being able to return that by running with people and offering then encouragement and support is equally as rewarding.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It turns out it goes further than this though, and that’s why the run which inspired this post was entitled ‘Resetting mind and body’. Getting out on to the roads and trails turns out to have a really valuable benefit which I had not foreseen. It takes a while to get there, but after several kilometres you hit ‘the zone’ where the running has become second nature, you are moving easily and efficiently without having to think too much about form, function or the effort of making your body move; all of these things are occupying your brain to some extent but not fully, and I reach a state where I am able to attain clarity of thought. Maybe it is the fact that your heart rate is already elevated and your breathing intense, but things which maybe cause anxiety and confusion when sat on the sofa become easy to think about logically and analytically with objective analysis. When I find myself on the sofa fretting and sinking into a spiral of negative thoughts, getting out on a run will at the very least distract me, and hopefully allow me to figure out what is causing these thoughts in the first place and how to address them. I can only assume this state is not dissimilar to the state people seek to acheive through meditation, maybe one day I shall try and find out.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So yeah. I run because it makes me feel good, and feeling good is important.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-57860560727285021852017-09-15T18:03:00.000+01:002017-09-15T18:03:05.026+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2017 - Day 6 The last day of our holiday was forecast to be an utter washout, to the point we had started thinking about tourist destinations, indoor climbing walls, and other things to stop us getting cabin fever. As mentioned yesterday the forecast climbed up towards the evening and when we woke up to blue skies we did indeed invoke our backup plan of <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1" target="_blank">91.1</a> with my plan being warming up on the orange circuit and then pushing myself a little on the red circuit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinredUsch0un8x6vTQN0edYaJJJzmeYStWHvSFOeeJ5eeciLtPydcg-hzAKbYFx6f5X2cVD0U0B8uCB_LzKBog5vt_DZcGTv1yKF0CQI5Uqro78zKsoL1r3F-qqeUvAXg8Hxj-fYCxiWNp/s1600/IMG_20170915_161218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinredUsch0un8x6vTQN0edYaJJJzmeYStWHvSFOeeJ5eeciLtPydcg-hzAKbYFx6f5X2cVD0U0B8uCB_LzKBog5vt_DZcGTv1yKF0CQI5Uqro78zKsoL1r3F-qqeUvAXg8Hxj-fYCxiWNp/s320/IMG_20170915_161218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Things started off pretty much to plan; we warmed up on a few low level yellows and then started on a taller route which may have been called Les Fuilles Mortes on a boulder known as Casque which was a nice 6 metre climb, but at the top there was a great big hornet sat atop to the ridge I wanted to put my hand on to get to the downclimb. Instead I had to traverse a 45 degree slab while constantly watching it in case it took affront to me being on it's rock. Thankfully it never moved and I got down without incident :)<br />
<br />
After this I felt it was time to look at harder things so Andy and I went to Flip Flop to try a couple of crimpy slabby problems on the red circuit - <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/5975.html" target="_blank">Le Savon</a> and the harder <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/148405.html" target="_blank">La Savonette</a>. I decided to try straight off on the harder 6a problem but I just couldn't get off the ground, and as it turned out I couldn't start the easier problem either.<br />
<br />
From here we moved on to <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/5972.html" target="_blank">Ingratitude</a> which I was struggling with as I couldn't trust the first foot. Kelly got it sent without much fuss and then Andy managed to get it done too. I worked this one for quite a while and eventually managed to find a starting foot which worked for me and get stood up, and then in a few more attempts I had the rest sorted and was over the top. Totally stoked to get a 5b+ in Font, definitely the hardest thing I have climbed in the forest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sMhl52bhqlSSpqiJXk50Lrdgu_e5Oo3Z_CII8bASWWrHFvAP7M3N5XvntmuOULbW9laHO34Ih-9chSJ7amVXckjeTLzXc2X7sbUi5T_xCW0sBACL7LvjPHHFdIUEgUhtUO7ltrfoJU0X/s1600/IMG_20170915_134453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sMhl52bhqlSSpqiJXk50Lrdgu_e5Oo3Z_CII8bASWWrHFvAP7M3N5XvntmuOULbW9laHO34Ih-9chSJ7amVXckjeTLzXc2X7sbUi5T_xCW0sBACL7LvjPHHFdIUEgUhtUO7ltrfoJU0X/s320/IMG_20170915_134453.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I moved on to try <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/5973.html" target="_blank">La Gratitude</a> after, but this one was a 5c+ and my energy levels were waning, after a valiant effort where I got half way up and couldn't stick it I was rather shattered so went for a rest and to see what Liz and Ceri were working on for a bit, then to see how Ed was getting on with <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1/5971.html" target="_blank">Le Flipper</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXppdRhb8WbnSn4o8AHUt4baHIGjREJoJQvA0mK_GEE3UBfWQrmRXbL5eZghtXMP0YFaTXmIXqxMTO50EfP_ZjGa_2SFm4JdKcC5-jgHvx80Mh-tQE_Z7ewmWGWe1WWeVo14hushCqQ9D5/s1600/IMG_20170915_142613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXppdRhb8WbnSn4o8AHUt4baHIGjREJoJQvA0mK_GEE3UBfWQrmRXbL5eZghtXMP0YFaTXmIXqxMTO50EfP_ZjGa_2SFm4JdKcC5-jgHvx80Mh-tQE_Z7ewmWGWe1WWeVo14hushCqQ9D5/s320/IMG_20170915_142613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Just as I was thinking of giving it another go there was a brief rain shower so we stopped for lunch, only to have to scatter all directions for shelter when the rain got heavier, hastily stuffing half made sandwiches in any safe location we could find and then hiding under rocks until it started to dry out. With lunch finally done I was enjoying some digesting time then gently getting my head back in to it on a traverse when the rain came back even heavier, so it was back to our caves.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpL1EOoJJ_z6aiSYR113s0U9-isBtUTD8LOr8IM5IpRAkhIQX2tXBJLb8Xs6GUbcxq9iGzUIpnCd9OAaLz3gmGy5sebgqg2_a_7ULQbb5iQEws9Ijy9_mFFL6Z4xmoA-NQlO7fejZShrY/s1600/IMG_20170915_163232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpL1EOoJJ_z6aiSYR113s0U9-isBtUTD8LOr8IM5IpRAkhIQX2tXBJLb8Xs6GUbcxq9iGzUIpnCd9OAaLz3gmGy5sebgqg2_a_7ULQbb5iQEws9Ijy9_mFFL6Z4xmoA-NQlO7fejZShrY/s320/IMG_20170915_163232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When we emerged after the worst of the rain had eased off all the rocks were soaked and there was no chance of further climbing, so we packed up and headed home to finish off the last of the beer and wine and to treat ourselves to pizza from <a href="https://www.climb-fontainebleau.com/notre-carte-restaurant" target="_blank">Croq Forêt</a> before the long drive home.<br />
<br />
In the words of Lars Ulrich, Same time next year?<br />
<br />
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Les Trois Pignons, 77123 Noisy-sur-École, France48.3848569 2.520858999999973126.716454900000002 -38.787735000000026 70.0532589 43.829452999999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-75055937481200948702017-09-14T18:23:00.001+01:002017-09-14T18:23:29.402+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2017 - Day 5After the torrential rain of our rest day we woke up to a chilly morning with very wet ground, but a mostly blue sky with warming sunshine. This meant we put in to play our plan to see if there was parking at <a href="https://bleau.info/chats" target="_blank">Gorge aux Chats</a> with a backup of <a href="https://bleau.info/91.1" target="_blank">91.1</a> if it was busy. As it happened there were only 2 other cars in the small layby at the side of the road (And they too were British). We made the very short walk in and started to warm up on the new yellow circuit which isn't listed on <a href="http://bleau.info/">Bleau.info</a> yet as they have not graded them. After a while I started to add in blue problems as this year I have been trying not to go for volume on the easy problems but instead climb withing my grade on blues and try to push myself on to reds. The first to go was <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9071.html" target="_blank">Rohald Dalle</a> which was a classic crimpy slab Font problem; as I was figuring it out the first of what transpired to be several rain showers came in giving me time to examine the feet while it dried, and I was stoked to get it sent.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNRcnEbXhfTTKc-Ricm4hDcuyHTOl0QO2FJ2ngQvcROVPb2I3gS4tQ5yplfNdKO_nKUVVKHM80esT4FABcg3hp04uyDYml0Eso-IYohiMnaKLQa9FxNBHxQaPmu4xfkuQ4Njuam3zqlyI/s1600/IMG_20170914_122630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNRcnEbXhfTTKc-Ricm4hDcuyHTOl0QO2FJ2ngQvcROVPb2I3gS4tQ5yplfNdKO_nKUVVKHM80esT4FABcg3hp04uyDYml0Eso-IYohiMnaKLQa9FxNBHxQaPmu4xfkuQ4Njuam3zqlyI/s320/IMG_20170914_122630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After this Andy and I decided to try <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9049.html" target="_blank">Dallain</a> from the red circuit (font 6a), we were both getting up to the good right and side pull, and bailing out. We both decided it was a dyno to the top as although I could see a static route it wasn't going to go for me. Andy managed to catch the top and found an awesome ledge but came down, so we popped around the corner and went up the blue to check the top out. This gave Andy the confidence to try it again and he got it done, I climbed back up to where I had got to before but utterly bottled it, I rarely have the balls for a dyno when I'm inside so this would really have needed me to commit to it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwa8xjFjGMUIaI6kbd-nEHmaadtN-JO50s2nbwlpx3kCNIKo01pwyGiEyOUkKq2L_sLekUcjajz20n2xNIXrFPvKulO0U90KoTdndUmd2cfZS6wf0hDr4dgdMGe_boL6WacPeDzfXywgd/s1600/IMG_20170914_124927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwa8xjFjGMUIaI6kbd-nEHmaadtN-JO50s2nbwlpx3kCNIKo01pwyGiEyOUkKq2L_sLekUcjajz20n2xNIXrFPvKulO0U90KoTdndUmd2cfZS6wf0hDr4dgdMGe_boL6WacPeDzfXywgd/s320/IMG_20170914_124927.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
After this the rain came back briefly so we sheltered under some roofs while eating lunch and commenting on how similar to The Roaches this weather was (in joke reference to an ill fated trip across the Peak District last year which means I am no longer allowed to proffer an opinion on the weather forecast when we are trying to go climbing.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWYPNbNAjKtyFfuQblGUmUo1QP3eG3y81L_Ud390Fo5gpHTv1tzrbJosCINVfRGhG3zxk4dY-cnnEFMEuxOV3w608yqlukdgtwXHXwOIrYOSHM-iuPgeudV0uPy5aucUx2reHYufgpzcj/s1600/IMG_20170914_132020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWYPNbNAjKtyFfuQblGUmUo1QP3eG3y81L_Ud390Fo5gpHTv1tzrbJosCINVfRGhG3zxk4dY-cnnEFMEuxOV3w608yqlukdgtwXHXwOIrYOSHM-iuPgeudV0uPy5aucUx2reHYufgpzcj/s320/IMG_20170914_132020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After lunch all my motivation had evaporated so I tried to get my head back in to it on some yellows, before getting <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9093.html" target="_blank">La Bascule</a> done - the very problem you can see us sheltering under above. It was then back to lovely quartzy crimpy slabs with <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9097.html" target="_blank">La Minou</a> and <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9096.html" target="_blank">L'Arbre à Pain</a> which I was really pleased to get.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU0K0fb6ZVlEJ6mzFQYVM1TVVw_sB-vNF1Vz2nO8HT4Ij080GMaNOSfenfMvz7fZ8fjXgppjLbeZizU6SDCTKVM1ubpTB8slQlTHxdvYMPSwjnRQ6RlRuj2RwxhVc7b7Sd1rEz-Ss1TZS/s1600/IMG_20170914_144719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU0K0fb6ZVlEJ6mzFQYVM1TVVw_sB-vNF1Vz2nO8HT4Ij080GMaNOSfenfMvz7fZ8fjXgppjLbeZizU6SDCTKVM1ubpTB8slQlTHxdvYMPSwjnRQ6RlRuj2RwxhVc7b7Sd1rEz-Ss1TZS/s320/IMG_20170914_144719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We then headed up to some classic steep roofy problems which Ed, Kelly and Andy were trying, Liz, Kelly and I wandered down to try some easier things and were just getting started on <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9079.html" target="_blank">La Boule</a> and the neighbouring Petanque before another and unfortunately heavier rain came in which knocked us out for longer, eventually the sun came out again and we tried <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9080.html" target="_blank">Pomme</a> and Le Terrorist but the top was too damp and I lacked balls (again) to finish it. Instead I got another crimpy slab in <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9081.html" target="_blank">La Dalle Bleue</a> and then we finished up with <a href="https://bleau.info/chats/9102.html" target="_blank">La Traversée des Fougères</a> before returning to base for beer and chilli. Tomorrows forecast has appeared to clear up, so we may yet get to 91.1 - watch this space.<br />
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Gorge aux Chats, 77123 Noisy-sur-École, France48.396779 2.526300999999989522.874744500000002 -38.78229300000001 73.9188135 43.834894999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-14577481390526149252017-09-13T14:49:00.002+01:002017-09-13T14:49:36.034+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2017 - Day 4Today is a rest day, so I wasn't planning on have anything much to write about as I wasn't planning on doing very much. When I got up I found Kelly D preparing for a 32km run taking in <a href="http://www.circuitdes25bosses.fr/" target="_blank">Le Circuit des 25 bosses</a> which cut through a number of areas we have climbed in. Liz emerged soon after and we agreed to go on a 5km run, so plotted a route and set off after we had finished our drinks.<br />
<br />
We started out ok, but the second crossroads appeared several hundred meters sooner than expected and rather than do the sensible thing and turn left there anyway I decided to carry on. We soon went past the point where the crossroads should have been, so decided to take a trail on our left. Before too long this started to go up and get quite rocky, and before we knew it we were on top of a rocky ridge and stumbled across what appeared to be a folly<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqU1BABTRcsg13EhZjfR1uGmvoAASnOKINP8oJM8XbhUdejiMiHNz7_AvAY4Z61J1GJ6XkWbEU_Aoo5L2U_PLV2Ek81tkxk20Gu8PFc2pUS9mXm_On7Q-PAYc69bEeLkE-eU4mscnF8q_/s1600/IMG_20170913_103544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqU1BABTRcsg13EhZjfR1uGmvoAASnOKINP8oJM8XbhUdejiMiHNz7_AvAY4Z61J1GJ6XkWbEU_Aoo5L2U_PLV2Ek81tkxk20Gu8PFc2pUS9mXm_On7Q-PAYc69bEeLkE-eU4mscnF8q_/s320/IMG_20170913_103544.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_2DZZXTgmCxm5e5cRra3gl-T1tlGyEfQAT2KgG3cxVvhdsCojEkS4oUCatH0tuXs-6dP-YvTup8sminGe9S95t600bfa8Ti8tfRVPgfZ1e06qHIESS34LDLZvlHbyHUM4OKVafuPSZlg/s1600/IMG_20170913_103605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_2DZZXTgmCxm5e5cRra3gl-T1tlGyEfQAT2KgG3cxVvhdsCojEkS4oUCatH0tuXs-6dP-YvTup8sminGe9S95t600bfa8Ti8tfRVPgfZ1e06qHIESS34LDLZvlHbyHUM4OKVafuPSZlg/s320/IMG_20170913_103605.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This was all very scenic, and apparently on a good day you can see the Eiffel Tower from up here (it wasn't that clear) but slightly more alarmingly there was a shallow pit with the scorched carcass of a wild boar in it. A sacrifice? Someone trying to roast a boar and discovering it was much harder than expected? Who knows, but it was a little spooky.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxlzKDXIZZ4EGn0OMG67wKVqYZMDoYdW75nJh0eLyLRCcq8Ck9S5OxM8owLp5f2EGB8_WN7U6qy7_dKI8mixAHplwTKN-fYv00dJz34FP4OciWo1xWGRBVf3fFKYQzWktQtZ4ft8lFkHy/s1600/IMG_20170913_103644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxlzKDXIZZ4EGn0OMG67wKVqYZMDoYdW75nJh0eLyLRCcq8Ck9S5OxM8owLp5f2EGB8_WN7U6qy7_dKI8mixAHplwTKN-fYv00dJz34FP4OciWo1xWGRBVf3fFKYQzWktQtZ4ft8lFkHy/s320/IMG_20170913_103644.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We continued along the ridge path, knowing that on either side of us there was a good trail we could pick up and in front of us there was a path too, so we were on the look out for a way down. Eventually it felt like we had hit the end of the outcrop and with no obvious way down we were picking our way down freshly turned earth where boar had obviously been foraging for truffles, and ducking and diving between rocks and trees before we eventually found a track we knew and headed back to the gite. When we got home Ceri had cooked pancakes which were much appreciated.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRydrU8bjY2fNBWXFJBRp73PrJ6TZ8VAy7z5w5m68Umstas9Kmw4T9Rz6oP4vBun05SpqMTn0UXHGTf5UOLXm8c-BAER3aSWP0kMfDfE-jUIOhHOK1zVHHBZA3yf06lW8o0ssXgbzthHu/s1600/IMG_20170913_113248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRydrU8bjY2fNBWXFJBRp73PrJ6TZ8VAy7z5w5m68Umstas9Kmw4T9Rz6oP4vBun05SpqMTn0UXHGTf5UOLXm8c-BAER3aSWP0kMfDfE-jUIOhHOK1zVHHBZA3yf06lW8o0ssXgbzthHu/s320/IMG_20170913_113248.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Over breakfast I researched our journey and discovered that we had stumbled across <a href="https://www.alouit-multimedia.com/arbonne-la-foret/tour-de-la-vierge-arbonne-77/" target="_blank">La Tour de la Vierge à Arbonne-la-Forêt</a> (<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/dxTksmKnTNG2" target="_blank">Google Maps location</a>) which was apparently built in 1862, but does not mention sacrifices of boar... <a href="http://www.petit-patrimoine.com/fiche-petit-patrimoine.php?id_pp=77006_1" target="_blank">Further reading</a> suggests it is a religious shrine considered to be the site of the conversion of a poet.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/1181733390/embed/83ad780b53ccd74f319282650d1198948279c584" width="590"></iframe><br />
<br />
The rest of the day involved much relaxation, Andy and Kelly G both went for runs and came back decidedly damper than we did as the rain is really coming down now - it's a good job this is a rest day. Really hoping it blows over and we can get another day outside tomorrow, otherwise I may have to bite the bullet and go for a long run. There was almost an interruption to the relaxation when Kelly D didn't return from his <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IKTh4O9CoPs-dKhV-SOWO1gZ3Fk&usp=sharing" target="_blank">epic run</a> when expected but just as we were convening the search party and pulling together a plan to cover his route he appeared around the corner and we could stand down, instead plying him with coffee and cake.Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Chemin de la Plaine de Chanfroy, 77630 Arbonne-la-Forêt, France48.3998366 2.577535799999964226.7314201 -38.731058200000035 70.068253099999993 43.886129799999964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-59938752196437621222017-09-12T19:41:00.001+01:002017-09-12T19:41:42.471+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2017 - Day 3For our third day in Fontainebleau we split in to two groups; Ed, Kelly, Andy and Kelly went to <a href="https://bleau.info/cuvier" target="_blank">Bas Cuvier</a> to session the classic problems <a href="https://bleau.info/cuvier" target="_blank">La Marie-Rose</a> and <a href="https://bleau.info/cuvierest/1535.html" target="_blank">Duroxmanie</a> while I went to <a href="https://bleau.info/mee" target="_blank">Rocher du Potala</a> with Liz and Ceri. Our aim was to get lots of the <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/circuit258.html" target="_blank">Yellow</a> and <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/circuit115.html" target="_blank">Orange</a> circuits plus anything else which took my fancy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadwVKbM9PUcz0DMgIQVG4Vxo_stHER-TJq_gFz2NZJ_2UcVcpUM4caGhOkIQH45nu7GjxylDNzXxO9Tsav0Xfz5TUm8550G63Vksz_T8A52E2_DsF3bzryCTGaYBoPtA1rXSJnyr3KBeU/s1600/IMG_20170912_121327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadwVKbM9PUcz0DMgIQVG4Vxo_stHER-TJq_gFz2NZJ_2UcVcpUM4caGhOkIQH45nu7GjxylDNzXxO9Tsav0Xfz5TUm8550G63Vksz_T8A52E2_DsF3bzryCTGaYBoPtA1rXSJnyr3KBeU/s320/IMG_20170912_121327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The first problems on the orange and yellow circuits were on a fairly tall slab, but the climbing was good and I got up both of them. We meandered around the circuit trying various things along the way, in total I got 7 oranges and 9 yellows.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjX3ymfcu7JG-Dbb3_aZPoUOyJSbIuqHG1ALBFsB7fhrqXnUA7NWj5Wxm37LJCgBxYUOfCFFMsQUYeQMtOaGgOGKev9QD2afh1HAjLn_Q0QzR0x0in_ukSN4G1cCSMys5Dqp8cNT_aC0j/s1600/IMG_20170912_123721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjX3ymfcu7JG-Dbb3_aZPoUOyJSbIuqHG1ALBFsB7fhrqXnUA7NWj5Wxm37LJCgBxYUOfCFFMsQUYeQMtOaGgOGKev9QD2afh1HAjLn_Q0QzR0x0in_ukSN4G1cCSMys5Dqp8cNT_aC0j/s320/IMG_20170912_123721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Depart Yellow and Orange</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There were a couple of tasty blue problems which I attempted as well, <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/6236.html" target="_blank">Scorpion</a> was a lovely traverse under a roof and then over the roof from a ledge, I was really pleased to flash it on sight and it felt really good.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtQocBdyv0rIDFYL_FKGeYMkL_4BG6TyWWRLm0csM8t5UbiO_5_6FLeZEMwGeMqpaVFwSryDm_zN2kY0-9C0uR74ODrL237Oj4_-5zBsHt3oHIgyMKC6zlVth-lh6ardHCJA2NAcO_WuQ/s1600/IMG_20170912_141820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtQocBdyv0rIDFYL_FKGeYMkL_4BG6TyWWRLm0csM8t5UbiO_5_6FLeZEMwGeMqpaVFwSryDm_zN2kY0-9C0uR74ODrL237Oj4_-5zBsHt3oHIgyMKC6zlVth-lh6ardHCJA2NAcO_WuQ/s320/IMG_20170912_141820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Scorpion</i> </div>
<br />
Having noted what I climbed from the book I got thoroughly confused looking at <a href="http://bleau.info/">Bleau.info</a> as nothing matched up, I think the others I managed to climb were <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/6257.html" target="_blank">La Parfumerie</a> and <a href="https://bleau.info/mee/8570.html" target="_blank">La Douce</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkyGoLKzPfSOy_s_UrFze9I9Gv3Av5ACL8i7CKB5oH6o9-MfX09CTapkwo8-ImDir6EpbjLDYNGf1bEhpNZOqjwCX38z3MfM0jqKFWd3ELmakmUyCn4DriWoR1-9nW4NuEuIC9RUC2FpD/s1600/IMG_20170912_142525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkyGoLKzPfSOy_s_UrFze9I9Gv3Av5ACL8i7CKB5oH6o9-MfX09CTapkwo8-ImDir6EpbjLDYNGf1bEhpNZOqjwCX38z3MfM0jqKFWd3ELmakmUyCn4DriWoR1-9nW4NuEuIC9RUC2FpD/s320/IMG_20170912_142525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a good day at a gentle pace, and once again the rain threatened us but then went away before it could do any damage. Tomorrow is a rest day, and we will see what the rest of the week brings.Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Rocher du Potala, 77123 Le Vaudoué, France48.367242 2.534128000000009722.845207499999997 -38.77446599999999 73.8892765 43.842722000000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-10073518863986115642017-09-12T08:36:00.000+01:002017-09-12T08:36:01.199+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2017 - Day 2Day 2 saw us head to <a href="https://bleau.info/apremont" target="_blank">Apremont</a>, targeting the area known to <a href="http://www.jingowobbly.com/" target="_blank">Jingo Wobbly</a> as Apremont Chaos but in Bleau.info it is listed as <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest" target="_blank">Apremont Est</a>. Chaos is an appropriate name, as we ended up parking at the wrong car park and taking a while to find the boulders we were looking for - but at least we didn't have the problem which we hit last year and again little bit last year where the circuits have been renumbered since our guide books were written.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqYsbfRJIdA6KQuNyLBGpzN3HGeybypovOZPStczMMGnjdXko-Caz-JhyphenhyphennTDvzOZpNF8Xu0dkNpHAi2-DXRv0Po91FacBXYwtKYrbwkrOrC0RyG8khyphenhyphenwUNIxYHvRM9IrQ3yrQ-rdOzq1p/s1600/IMG_20170911_115426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqYsbfRJIdA6KQuNyLBGpzN3HGeybypovOZPStczMMGnjdXko-Caz-JhyphenhyphennTDvzOZpNF8Xu0dkNpHAi2-DXRv0Po91FacBXYwtKYrbwkrOrC0RyG8khyphenhyphenwUNIxYHvRM9IrQ3yrQ-rdOzq1p/s320/IMG_20170911_115426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We started out on the <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest/circuit14.html" target="_blank">Green Circuit</a> which dates back to 1952 and is an alpine circuit, designed so you can climb the problems in order and link them all together without touching the ground. Nowadays this is a relatively unusual approach (though still found around Fontainebleau) but it has it's roots in the history of bouldering as a training exercise for mountain climbers, hence the term alpine circuit. After the first few problems though this was not doing it for me, I suspect that it is wisest to follow such a circuit in a smaller group so there is less queuing. I took the opportunity instead to doze on a rock in the sun for a bit while the others followed it further.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZopH9mW-p_izG4ZmD8f7YSkI5VNfjKldZZozjDMVhLUOq2vqWx-JafJCUlK2SL5esu5DW5eLO9gi8dOHmb2cKunZK8KwQfJmS2kWT01oymYM8hO7c_01sBD5z9cx7CtS-IPxt0xIAWvrk/s1600/IMG_20170911_140424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZopH9mW-p_izG4ZmD8f7YSkI5VNfjKldZZozjDMVhLUOq2vqWx-JafJCUlK2SL5esu5DW5eLO9gi8dOHmb2cKunZK8KwQfJmS2kWT01oymYM8hO7c_01sBD5z9cx7CtS-IPxt0xIAWvrk/s320/IMG_20170911_140424.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Depart of the white circuit. Elsewhere painting on rocks would be frowned upon, but it's part of the history and tradition of Fontainebleau and most routes and problems are numbered.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before long we found a small sandy clearing and began working <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest/4693.html" target="_blank">La Bosse</a> which took a few attempts but soon went with a bit of beta from Ed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhHT8hE2gqhzSoREB3xT0uw6_MuxXAehFu5276TlRXJiXhMAPhts5JPPX3av2obMd_Ndp1ttjZmlXbuiuhrkI2R-y4erVL1j1nMkfzzYy6EXxoqArierIOf5sw5cPGJkjT877n1nlvJ9Q/s1600/IMG_20170911_140206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhHT8hE2gqhzSoREB3xT0uw6_MuxXAehFu5276TlRXJiXhMAPhts5JPPX3av2obMd_Ndp1ttjZmlXbuiuhrkI2R-y4erVL1j1nMkfzzYy6EXxoqArierIOf5sw5cPGJkjT877n1nlvJ9Q/s320/IMG_20170911_140206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>La Bosse</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd already scoped out <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest/2450.html" target="_blank">another problem</a> from the <a href="https://bleau.info/apremont/circuit19.html" target="_blank">Salmon Circuit</a> which I wanted to try, however I was beginning to bottle it. After a few other people tried it I got it on the second attempt and it felt really good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bIQofAd1Dg6mmBlFlsqny8UD_nQebOrLo_7HydgFYphLl9GaZUlMCIfAdLTS6JQxMyMrieWyCjZWCtWGxqIiGeiR3E50ahwkZjJsmBzwn9oUujQap-adrrDvBvwASNUN0Eq0MKoX5Sqf/s1600/IMG_20170911_143902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bIQofAd1Dg6mmBlFlsqny8UD_nQebOrLo_7HydgFYphLl9GaZUlMCIfAdLTS6JQxMyMrieWyCjZWCtWGxqIiGeiR3E50ahwkZjJsmBzwn9oUujQap-adrrDvBvwASNUN0Eq0MKoX5Sqf/s320/IMG_20170911_143902.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
By now Ed, Kelly, Kelly and Andy were trying <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest/37.html" target="_blank">Hyper Plomb</a>, I didn't even bother as it appeared to be somewhat beyond me. Instead I wandered around the nearby boulders and found <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest/2451.html" target="_blank">Le Couteau</a> which looked tasty, and with Liz to spot me I really surprised myself by flashing it onsight in a calm and controlled static fashion.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtwh1WZD8YthNPab_3slmOy1gF2avURh3rVxp4clmQK7LNvX2Ub5OG0qSbcmdiv35nujfmSV9EqlSjnHaQ8rtLTnA55QhwGo5RTZBBkbDZpLq34j1nlZ_uUKpdQJmk2G-guLDKuQoNEew/s1600/IMG_20170911_150844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtwh1WZD8YthNPab_3slmOy1gF2avURh3rVxp4clmQK7LNvX2Ub5OG0qSbcmdiv35nujfmSV9EqlSjnHaQ8rtLTnA55QhwGo5RTZBBkbDZpLq34j1nlZ_uUKpdQJmk2G-guLDKuQoNEew/s320/IMG_20170911_150844.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With that it was time for lunch, afterwards we were heading for the classic problem of <a href="https://bleau.info/apremontest/2688.html" target="_blank">La John Gill</a> which involved a fair amount of getting lost and squeezing through boulders, at one point ending up on top of a rocky plateau at the summit which was rather stunning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylze2rKsCGxwzUhqki6LQOgwVanoI2ccXDyKYXhmEyG5JXv-ZzoUn_T4raXqoOQc9jSnGO534guvoU9Uy1ylvau6YiCCF4TjTSJGxoR7xsxQfi5MaSUU4EcZI_bikiYyqhTkX7MZS7PRl/s1600/IMG_20170911_161243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylze2rKsCGxwzUhqki6LQOgwVanoI2ccXDyKYXhmEyG5JXv-ZzoUn_T4raXqoOQc9jSnGO534guvoU9Uy1ylvau6YiCCF4TjTSJGxoR7xsxQfi5MaSUU4EcZI_bikiYyqhTkX7MZS7PRl/s320/IMG_20170911_161243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There were some concerted efforts on this problem from others in the group, I wasn't feeling it (common theme) so went to find some other things to try - there was a nice blue which I got most of the way up but the top was so dirty I couldn't finish it, so sat around watching others instead. Then it was back to gite for wine and Jambalaya. Tomorrow I believe the plan is to split in to two groups with one going to <a href="https://bleau.info/cuvier" target="_blank">Bas Cuvier</a> for classic problems like <a href="https://bleau.info/cuvier/2128.html" target="_blank">La Marie-Rose</a> and another heading to <a href="https://bleau.info/mee" target="_blank">Rocher du Potala</a> to get a number of lower grades problems in; I am planning on being in the latter group as I haven't got the head for sessioning right now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Fgdv1qChp_iLEGuAA0PMfqrvlRS0E8ayX6egQOOVtAPIw1SN1Nokz7w9dUL4pJu9prYu5RsTznTlhADnPYLNVwYn_LBBwdrzZGnlsXlrKu0bZRqr_Jii0J-N1qDVKSKxlPz0nzC_noom/s1600/IMG_20170911_171656-ANIMATION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="972" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Fgdv1qChp_iLEGuAA0PMfqrvlRS0E8ayX6egQOOVtAPIw1SN1Nokz7w9dUL4pJu9prYu5RsTznTlhADnPYLNVwYn_LBBwdrzZGnlsXlrKu0bZRqr_Jii0J-N1qDVKSKxlPz0nzC_noom/s320/IMG_20170911_171656-ANIMATION.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Ed attempting La John Gill</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com077300 Fontainebleau, France48.404675999999988 2.701620000000048148.236077999999985 2.3788965000000482 48.573273999999991 3.024343500000048tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-60018546450617002262017-09-10T21:18:00.000+01:002017-09-10T21:18:10.070+01:00Fontainebleau Diary 2017 - Day 1After a late night drive to Dover on Friday night followed by a hasty pint in the first acceptable pub we found it was to the B&B for (attempted) sleep. Saturday morning saw an early ferry to Calais and a long drive across France through some rather damp weather before we arrived at <a href="http://www.gitefranchard.com/le-grand-gite-franchard/" target="_blank">Le Grand Gîte Franchard</a> ion the late afternoon. Unpacking and a quick shop done, we proceeded to drink all the wine we had bought and satiate appetites with copious quantities of pasta. Plans were made and in light of the weather we decided to have a relaxed start and head to <a href="https://bleau.info/fin" target="_blank">Rocher Fin</a> as it dries quickly after rain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAeeMS76qTYOl3GaLezW9ZH2QyFBcsY8tY3FnFYwGREewge43ZeBWsh3XQVsHr-fziTrSqmqcVgvgIlm4QWUytAFxVfaWXYREqJbb1jGAyTNrgkSKU6-AYi8i-5FQsYF-gTfJJXOo3FR9/s1600/IMG_20170909_185311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAeeMS76qTYOl3GaLezW9ZH2QyFBcsY8tY3FnFYwGREewge43ZeBWsh3XQVsHr-fziTrSqmqcVgvgIlm4QWUytAFxVfaWXYREqJbb1jGAyTNrgkSKU6-AYi8i-5FQsYF-gTfJJXOo3FR9/s320/IMG_20170909_185311.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We awoke to a grey and damp sky, but no rain was falling. Slowly people surfaced, and we ate the traditional breakfast of coffee, grapefruit, and fried eggs on toast before loading up with climbing gear and a lunch of more coffee, fruit, baguettes, and various meats and cheeses before loading up the cars with mats and people and making the short drive out and rather longer walk in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZlHTbv4dChpgHOmxKZ70wlfdldCQPEoZP0AyfjgpD7xaqGks75osEgg5g9bdOMR2OJeq-bPSAehP4IotMIMWi5CzYCQri1M10utKwlTd14gYjo_7B-ULl95g-GuDB1fc9cY0Z38Jfeg6/s1600/IMG_20170910_113901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZlHTbv4dChpgHOmxKZ70wlfdldCQPEoZP0AyfjgpD7xaqGks75osEgg5g9bdOMR2OJeq-bPSAehP4IotMIMWi5CzYCQri1M10utKwlTd14gYjo_7B-ULl95g-GuDB1fc9cY0Z38Jfeg6/s320/IMG_20170910_113901.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ed and Kelly were planning on doing the full <a href="https://bleau.info/fin/circuit119.html" target="_blank">Orange Circuit</a>, whereas I was planning on not going quite as over the top as I did last year when Andy and I climbed everything in sight. I decided to warm up on a few yellows then try oranges as I went around and any interesting harder problems I spotted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzFvjoehf_tMmeOYb-XI5UUH0g0qbYmLkj09DnADHpw0lt303IkXdj8vGSiGLJeccKdMDcbUNv_WkleCyh6NKAH7NT9SY3kQucJTEOP4lRmtaBK9_AoexggxQf8PRmLzYlbkoOLWO3Ib7/s1600/IMG_20170910_120143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzFvjoehf_tMmeOYb-XI5UUH0g0qbYmLkj09DnADHpw0lt303IkXdj8vGSiGLJeccKdMDcbUNv_WkleCyh6NKAH7NT9SY3kQucJTEOP4lRmtaBK9_AoexggxQf8PRmLzYlbkoOLWO3Ib7/s320/IMG_20170910_120143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Touring around the problems went much to plan, occasional orange problems needed a bit of thought and got the heart going but for the most part they were doable, and I wasn't worried about skipping ones which weren't doing it for me. It didn't take too long before I started adding in climbs from the <a href="https://bleau.info/fin/circuit120.html" target="_blank">Blue Circuit</a> and they were enjoyable, which bodes well for the rest of the holiday. I was really pleased to get <a href="https://bleau.info/fin/6415.html" target="_blank">La Fissure Rouge</a> as it felt like it rewarded the effort I put in.<br />
<br />
After a break for lunch it took a while to get my energy levels up again and get my head in to climbing, there were a few things I just couldn't comprehend even on the easier circuits, but then it turned out that the Orange was a 5a- which is well out of the usual grades for Orange. I soon found a blue crack climb which looked interesting and gave it a go, bailing out at the top out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4My_M91Es1hl-aqIPA5q0_4bEpZXujnH_4do4sW60yI24XRD86009Ra2SI_kJZzRtKQ14pZKy5RFL3SbtwBwMNgbJHO4lh-P4qzIUvLE9nkI62NAnZ6r3Cv3t0hZ6shpupr0bCp1ofN6F/s1600/IMG_20170910_170649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4My_M91Es1hl-aqIPA5q0_4bEpZXujnH_4do4sW60yI24XRD86009Ra2SI_kJZzRtKQ14pZKy5RFL3SbtwBwMNgbJHO4lh-P4qzIUvLE9nkI62NAnZ6r3Cv3t0hZ6shpupr0bCp1ofN6F/s320/IMG_20170910_170649.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Later Andy and Kelly came over and both got up it in very different ways, after a rest I tried again and combined bits of both of their beta to come up with a third different approach, successfully sending it. After this I was pretty much spent and couldn't climb yellows any more, so I resorted to ferrying kit and watching people try and finish the orange circuit - 4 problems from the end and nearing 6pm Ed, Kelly, Andy and Kelly were finishing up on The Cube and we decided it was time for home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_z9UtQbjAG6S5l9w0CQ2rmmGfBLwj833muIj8npOafRqXsrG_3ORVjkspsmZp5Py2WKn9xKnjLfoLLRoohQDbLOS4qH5_ejbdRMYN3UTGGUwKzo_sniJnPAJ-Relxib42UdEvHnpeKylT/s1600/IMG_20170910_175322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_z9UtQbjAG6S5l9w0CQ2rmmGfBLwj833muIj8npOafRqXsrG_3ORVjkspsmZp5Py2WKn9xKnjLfoLLRoohQDbLOS4qH5_ejbdRMYN3UTGGUwKzo_sniJnPAJ-Relxib42UdEvHnpeKylT/s320/IMG_20170910_175322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When we got back to the Gite we went out for an evening Run, with Kelly, Kelly and Andy going for 12km while Liz and I did <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1178064462" target="_blank">a gentle 5km</a> through muddy puddles in the forest before it was time for beer and dinner. Assuming the weather holds up tomorrow we will be heading for <a href="https://bleau.info/apremont" target="_blank">Apremont</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/e.php?d=20170910&u=197614" target="_blank">UKC Logbook for 10th September 2017</a><br />
<a href="https://bleau.info/profiles/martin.gleadow" target="_blank">Bleau.info Profile</a><br />
<br />
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Rocher Fin, 77123 Noisy-sur-École, France48.378259 2.536896000000069822.8562245 -38.77169799999993 73.9002935 43.845490000000069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-90671616736595418532017-08-28T20:49:00.000+01:002017-08-28T20:49:03.557+01:00Froggatt Edge - Hairpin and Pinnacle BouldersTwo days in a row climbing in the peaks? It must be summer! Amazingly we had a bank holiday weekend with fine weather every day so despite the cocktails last night we decided to go climbing again - Andy and Ceri couldn't make it yesterday so wanted to get out and it didn't take Liz and Kelly much convincing to join us. QWe were looking for somewhere for Ceri to get back in to climbing after injury, so it was a toss up between Stanage Plantation and Pinnacle Boulders at Froggatt and Pinnacle won - mainly because of the fear of Stanage midges.<br />
<br />
Once parked up we started the walk in, and decided to warm up on Hairpin Boulder as it is so close to the parking. As usually happens when we get to this block I mange to climb the easy problems - Hairpin Scoop, Hairpin Arete and Flake Problem - before trying and failing on something harder. This time it was Crash Test, not much harder but a sit start and I just could not make it work. Still, I wasn't going to beat myself up over it as there was plenty more to climb, and we walked on to the Pinnacle Boulders proper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yeNBYVCc6hEPofDMmQg0jFNOBmuk7redkgrTMv_nYmU1Oq8-Sa2iKlZ6qqOrcye8w06bScgVkztjueP51sD4PB11XCm1GubnVWRrXgWkR62bDleYuHX60hhvXBuNJT923e6Mk2vio5ap/s1600/IMG_20170828_153745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yeNBYVCc6hEPofDMmQg0jFNOBmuk7redkgrTMv_nYmU1Oq8-Sa2iKlZ6qqOrcye8w06bScgVkztjueP51sD4PB11XCm1GubnVWRrXgWkR62bDleYuHX60hhvXBuNJT923e6Mk2vio5ap/s320/IMG_20170828_153745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Plenty of fun here - some nice warm up material on Pooh Bear and Teddy, then the significantly harder Teddy with a sit start which took me a while as sit starts really are not my thing (I know, I need to work on them) and then a nicer climb on Pick Pocket. I tried and failed to start on (Ahem) Starter Motor so went on to try Areet - I got to the top and then bailed, realising when I got down that for the easier grade I should have broken left to finish, but also I had missed the sit start. I couldn't face trying it again...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhGK4zsVIuq-Df27p5I_LDHqBKckeAGpWZAIkZoJKtMZpweZtMLaIPa4G16BwpWHqXR-ak0KmU1Ub_Wm07EaywxWpFDM7_dSVRqb7s6A6BdLNrO24pBSjjnyKsNrZvL2u8YkXdnb3-Jm4/s1600/IMG_20170828_153541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhGK4zsVIuq-Df27p5I_LDHqBKckeAGpWZAIkZoJKtMZpweZtMLaIPa4G16BwpWHqXR-ak0KmU1Ub_Wm07EaywxWpFDM7_dSVRqb7s6A6BdLNrO24pBSjjnyKsNrZvL2u8YkXdnb3-Jm4/s320/IMG_20170828_153541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I went back to join Liz round the back for some light relief on Bear Pooh, Rupert Bear and Bare Rupert, then news came back that Andy and Kelly had cracked Starter Motor so I went to steal beta and watch them trying Areet. While they tried I practised my sit starts on Baby Bear which is a great little problem for precisely this purpose, and Liz successfully topped it too. Back on to Starter Motor and it all clicked, I was up. Andy and Kelly were trying Northerner now and I spent a while working it with them, I got as close as any of us did - reaching a ledge we think you need to mantle, but on my best attempt I bailed right and finished on Teddy, so I'm calling this climb "Northern Bear". None of us finished it, but on a cooler day it might go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOb8KCQr0bbmkfrD0SejCgS21b3-gPG8oYiguTgeX0iyD0QhoQFiPLNAacvGJbmYc_WKr7g9smiKSnie6f9wDJ0JQdOiZ3rA-O4WPOvD9t2FahcpzK_f0ZzlaUVenN4FKcWJOxRm_UjlP/s1600/IMG_20170828_155439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOb8KCQr0bbmkfrD0SejCgS21b3-gPG8oYiguTgeX0iyD0QhoQFiPLNAacvGJbmYc_WKr7g9smiKSnie6f9wDJ0JQdOiZ3rA-O4WPOvD9t2FahcpzK_f0ZzlaUVenN4FKcWJOxRm_UjlP/s320/IMG_20170828_155439.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
From here we moved up a few boulders, Flatulence refusing to go for me (!!!) and Air Bear was it's typical inelegant self. I did the not particularly tricky Mini Mantel before stopping for a rest and really failing to get going again, I looked at some of the other problems on Air Bear but couldn't bring myself to try them so napped in the sun with Liz and Ceri while Andy and Kelly finished up some more climbs. Soon it was time to head to the pub for a couple of pints and then home after another successful day out. The next time we climb outdoors may well be in France, it's not long now!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/e.php?d=20170828&u=197614" target="_blank">Today's Logbook</a>Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Froggatt Edge, A625, Calver, Hope Valley S32 3ZJ, UK53.2815174 -1.631395800000063927.7594829 -42.939989800000063 78.8035519 39.677198199999935tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-82140038521501570452017-08-27T17:30:00.003+01:002017-08-27T17:30:36.795+01:00Robin Hood's StrideIt was a bank holiday weekend, there were no plans, and the weather was fine. We'd been talking idly for a while about trying some crags away from our usual stomping ground, and Cratcliffe was one we'd highlighted as it is a bit of a different setting, with jumbles of boulders in amongst trees - almost reminiscent of Fontainebleau. With others in our group having things on it ended up being Liz, Kelly and I making the 1hr journey down past Bakewell, and parking up for a short walk in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMYodA-x7OwEiGD5iZYW5R73pfdtYBI6KLUmMI-RrEzDe6I54GNvS1f2XNHYzOIscTf_wd3ZAgWycobF7JhVcXjjZrK7RTfAou-Tev-rshCnRF2cKUK-c7J4HKqIw8PVR8_hfRs-vIj9u/s1600/IMG_20170827_113523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMYodA-x7OwEiGD5iZYW5R73pfdtYBI6KLUmMI-RrEzDe6I54GNvS1f2XNHYzOIscTf_wd3ZAgWycobF7JhVcXjjZrK7RTfAou-Tev-rshCnRF2cKUK-c7J4HKqIw8PVR8_hfRs-vIj9u/s320/IMG_20170827_113523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We followed the Limestone Way until we could see Dorsal Fin, and walked over to Green Boulder before dropping down to The Lower Boulders. Joy of Ledge and Joy of Noledge went quickly, but Flake Slab and Flake Slab Arete seemingly had no joy in them and as we were warming up still we moved on and tackled The Arch, T Slab and T Slab Arete - a few non commital attempts at Arch Direct and we decided that the description of "A desperate static move" was not very enticing, so wandered back up to Green Boulder and paused for a bit of lunch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdilfJbv68ZtpPAqpiPLZVe4yOp9iXmG3m1gtyjRi05PHqAmElAXZ2TX_SExDW18KYxB4L2HZNzkB1h8pJck7Lrz4TcxDlkR07hFKEvocf53V5DZyFehaNQ5MQ7TCx10XmuSifWDuN7eM/s1600/IMG_20170827_114958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdilfJbv68ZtpPAqpiPLZVe4yOp9iXmG3m1gtyjRi05PHqAmElAXZ2TX_SExDW18KYxB4L2HZNzkB1h8pJck7Lrz4TcxDlkR07hFKEvocf53V5DZyFehaNQ5MQ7TCx10XmuSifWDuN7eM/s320/IMG_20170827_114958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Kelly and I decided to take on Short Arete, and after a bit of cleaning and a bit of effort Kelly got up it, but I just could not get comfortable enough on my feet to enjoy it. I am currently climbing in either a pair of Evolv Shaman II which need resoling but it'll have to wait until after Font now, or an utterly destroyed pair of Five Ten Anasazi's - the Shamans are miles better where I need good feet but I am saving them for Font in a few weeks at the moment - currently on the lookout for another pair of Anasazis to tide me over as I'm all too aware I could destroy the Shamens if I am not careful.<br />
<br />
From here we moved on to Dorsal Fin which was a really nice bit of rock, we soon sent Dorsal Arete, JT and JT Crack and then Vandals went soon after - so named I assumed after <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item/67831/major_rock_chipping_on_peak_gritstone" target="_blank">some fairly terrible behaviour several years ago</a>. Potty Time really wasn't worth the effort required to send it (but we did anyway) and Flipper / Flipper arete were frankly terrifying. I'd have tried harder on Flipper Arete were it not for the fact the landing was terrible - a huge lump of rock behind you just where you would fall.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1fCg5pNPCdILlj4luK_VM8uA4m7gP3r8XF13poNfwt8yt84PlZ5diwUxahCHnQlpgqNgz9NZZvXE77U623fuKPc8XhxC7ff4AmQ12w9qMxEygNSO2xwvQ8cNsKzZcmhOyyjlEy78cgzE/s1600/IMG_20170827_132317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1fCg5pNPCdILlj4luK_VM8uA4m7gP3r8XF13poNfwt8yt84PlZ5diwUxahCHnQlpgqNgz9NZZvXE77U623fuKPc8XhxC7ff4AmQ12w9qMxEygNSO2xwvQ8cNsKzZcmhOyyjlEy78cgzE/s320/IMG_20170827_132317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After this we headed to the Main Edge and Muscle Slab. Kelly got up it with it's interesting mix of slab and overhang, but I again suffered a lack of foot confidence and bottled it despite having cracked the first big move eventually. From here we headed to The Square Block and some nice slab/mantle practice, finishing up on Angle Arete before it was time to head home for a barbecue. We will be back to Cratcliffe, plenty to explore on the main crag which we never even got near. For now though it's time to wash the sunscreen off and fins some meat to grill :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/e.php?d=20170827&u=197614" target="_blank">Logbook for the day</a>Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Robin Hoods Stride53.1569568 -1.665982900000017327.634922300000003 -42.974576900000017 78.6789913 39.642611099999982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-1263911395930078052017-07-25T21:43:00.000+01:002017-07-25T21:43:07.672+01:00City Centre RunningOver a Full English Breakfast in the work kitchen one day we were musing what would happen to us if we kept eating this way - my workplace is not averse to the odd cake and even features a donut based scheme to incentivise good information security practice - and a passing comment was made to starting a work running club. Given I have discovered running in a big way over the last 8 months I thought this was a great idea and seized the opportunity, and before anyone could wonder what was happening 12:00 on a Tuesday was a fixture in the company calendar.<br />
<br />
I wanted this to be accessible to people, and to fit in 1 hour while giving people time to wash, cool down and eat. Working on the basis of around 30 minutes moving time I decided to look at some 5km routes starting and finishing at our City Centre office. Inspired by the <a href="http://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/the-outdoor-city-run-routes/" target="_blank">Outdoor City Run Routes</a> I tried to add some interest to each route taking in the urban green spaces Sheffield is so loved for.<br />
<br />
<b>Route 1 - Sheffield Canal and the River Don</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://www.doogal.co.uk/StravaRoute.php?id=9186489&embed=true&segments=false&streetView=false" width="600"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<br />My first route is inspired by my good friend Andy, from whom I lay have also borrowed the idea of a work running club. The combination of the <a href="https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network/sheffield-and-tinsley-canal" target="_blank">Sheffield and Tinsley Canal</a> and the <a href="http://www.fiveweirs.co.uk/" target="_blank">Five Weirs Walk</a> along the River Don is a real bonus for urban running in Sheffield, running as they both do from Sheffield City Centre to Meadowhall (and beyond) with never too much distance between them, and I have used them in runs ranging from 5k to 21k of mostly traffic free running.<br />
<br />
For our work runs we start at the top of Fargate, running down the side of Town Hall and across Arundel Gate to the station via Howard Street before turning right, and a short climb up to the tram tracks. From here it's a blast along to Park Square, and if you get lucky you can race the tram. From the roundabout you drop down into Victoria Quays, one of the hidden gems of Sheffield and a beautiful place to dream of the relaxed pace of life of a narrowboat. Along the canal to Cadman Street bridge where a bit more road takes you to the Five Weirs Walk - well in reality a quick blast along Effingham Street before crossing the delightful <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobweb_Bridge" target="_blank">Cobweb Bridge</a> and dropping past the ever evolving <a href="https://steelcitystatic.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/dan-on-the-don/" target="_blank">River Don sculptures by 'Dan'</a> before returning to the city centre and a punishing blast up from West Bar to Church Street - I vary this section depending on how cruel I am feeling on the day, it certainly gets noticed by people lulled into a false sense of security by the prolonged flat section :)<br /><br />
<b>Route 2 - Norfolk Park</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://www.doogal.co.uk/StravaRoute.php?id=9215605&embed=true&segments=false&streetView=false" width="600"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>This route is directly inspired by the <a href="http://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/traffic-free-trails/" target="_blank">City Centre Traffic Free Trails</a> but tweaked to suit an office start/finish. Following the tram tracks we again cross Park Square, this time in a different direction, before climbing past <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Hill,_Sheffield" target="_blank">Park Hill flats</a> through <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-14950920" target="_blank">South Street Park</a> up to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholera_Monument_Grounds_and_Clay_Wood" target="_blank">Cholera Monument</a> and Clay Wood before crossing into <a href="http://www.norfolk-park.com/" target="_blank">Norfolk Heritage Park</a>. The relentless climb from Park Square continues all the way up to the top of the park before finally turning the corner and heading downhill to Sheffield College, back along to the station, and then a final kicker of a hill back up Howard Street back to the office - a great place to stretch out the pace...<b><br /></b>
<b>Route 3 - The Botanical Gardens</b><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://www.doogal.co.uk/StravaRoute.php?id=9326645&embed=true&segments=false&streetView=false" width="600"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>This was always designed to be a fast one as it's fairly flat, though it does involve crossing a great many roads so you have to get lucky with traffic. Up along West Street dodging the lunchtime crowds and crossing over the ring road below the University to continue along Glossop Road, the crowds die out as you hit Brocco Bank and eventually drop into the utterly wonderful <a href="http://www.sbg.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sheffield Botanical Gardens</a> where I like to pick a route at random to make the most of the space before dropping down on to Ecclesall Road and fast back in to town - watch out for the building work at the site of the old Grosvenor Hotel though or (like us) you might find you need to double back on yourself...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Route 4 - Upper Don and the Ponderosa</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://www.doogal.co.uk/StravaRoute.php?id=9327331&embed=true&segments=false&streetView=false" width="600"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<br />Picking up the Don where we left it on Route 1 we follow the Upper Don trail to the industrial heritage (and the birthplace of the Sheffield Real Ale revival) of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelham_Island_Quarter" target="_blank">Kelham Island</a> before heading up to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_(Sheffield)" target="_blank">Ponderosa</a> which on the time of our first run was still in full cleanup mode from the weekends <a href="http://www.tramlines.org.uk/" target="_blank">Tramlines</a>. This was a hard climb, possibly because only a few days before I had run 21km from Hillsborough to Attercliffe and back via Don and Canal, before finally reaching Crookes Valley Road and a much needed descent. Crossing the road we pass the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_Tower" target="_blank">Arts Tower</a> and enter the pedestrianised space of Sheffield University Students' Union before passing the Hicks Building and the famous <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johns.van" target="_blank">Johns Van</a> and crossing past the old <a href="http://hendersonsrelish.com/" target="_blank">Henderson's Relish</a> factory and heading back to West Street, through Leopold Square, and back to the office.<br /><br /><br />
We've now run each of these routes at least once, with 2 or three people each week so far generally running at something between 5 and 6 minutes per kilometre - the Botanical Gardens was a fast one as we managed to get our Commercial Director on board, who is a regular runner with eyes on a sub 3 hour marathon. I'm really happy with how it is gone and am always looking to get more people joining in so will be keeping the pace accessible, faster runs can always happen another time - There are plenty more lunchtimes in a week! Coming up next I am going to try reversing the routes and see how they fare, then I may have to think of some new twists.Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Sheffield, UK53.381128999999987 -1.4700850000000453.078144999999985 -2.11553200000004 53.684112999999989 -0.82463800000004006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-13331698878684303692017-07-17T22:47:00.002+01:002017-07-17T22:47:27.539+01:00Stanage Far Right, againStanage Far Right is fast becoming a favourite area. Easily accessible from Sheffield after work, and the walk in is fairly short and easy - even if we stay until sundown it's not hard to get back to the parking. It's also really nice rock. After our recent trip to <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/bouldering-at-henge-stanage-far-right.html" target="_blank">The Henge</a> we already had desire to try the Huge Slab area so as soon as the forecast was good plans were made.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr5ly4CfUeE3gE_4J9Dhd3OzHomrxgYl93fFrUl2iQwL9e5Q9bSJy2UczQUgkUUBVyJA_hjAfuQ3pgcQIbWtIkgmBHIXdE7rrNe2qoie7FMaeG0nH7VDF88LK6C6tBtRB-1gcOJ35tQr3/s1600/IMG_20170717_182450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJr5ly4CfUeE3gE_4J9Dhd3OzHomrxgYl93fFrUl2iQwL9e5Q9bSJy2UczQUgkUUBVyJA_hjAfuQ3pgcQIbWtIkgmBHIXdE7rrNe2qoie7FMaeG0nH7VDF88LK6C6tBtRB-1gcOJ35tQr3/s320/IMG_20170717_182450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Huge Slab is easy to spot and we walked in, landing next to The Cube. A little bit of Head Scratching on Cube Left made me decide to warm up elsewhere, and I soon bagged the straightfoward Upper Cube Traverse before going back round and working at Cube Arete and Cube Left, comfortably getting them done. At this point Liz was attacking Lower Cube Traverse so in her rest breaks I was trying Slots but just couldn't get it to work for me. After a brief look at some of the problems on Huge Slab itself and deciding they weren't for me we moved on to Gripple.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zpjMDSu8fu3jGgkjGxIgWQYTxa9MqegVZBIYUeAy8aMRu5bgfNrp3i7Aqn6aWr9MG705_qw3Ij-qKgYd0Km4MTOP_oq1k7-Gs19krPadNkDmbBJoz1EQzicMqz4RXrsJGKY1DgGuItM1/s1600/IMG_20170717_192421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zpjMDSu8fu3jGgkjGxIgWQYTxa9MqegVZBIYUeAy8aMRu5bgfNrp3i7Aqn6aWr9MG705_qw3Ij-qKgYd0Km4MTOP_oq1k7-Gs19krPadNkDmbBJoz1EQzicMqz4RXrsJGKY1DgGuItM1/s320/IMG_20170717_192421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Landings are pretty sketchy with a jumble of rocks at the base of the rock, and it's quite high, but Gripple One was dispatched On-Sight with only a few sketchy moments. Gripple Two needed more work being higher with worse holds and there was a moment when topping out when I thought I was going to topple backwards, but it all came good. Gripple Three looked too green, too high and too poor over a bad landing to even warrant an attempt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeecKCp1X2KY55OzLNI-JV_QVEC5MhkvVcFzpSCucCqIRp4yz8vRdTSZqdsJm8C8jiCcwXNGZOrv-Q413Ux1Hq8CKXTb9qtH5kOAUPMDebOCrmMagVFIdFJodNyaDxEcqrmqeEncsG-Pb3/s1600/IMG_20170717_202707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeecKCp1X2KY55OzLNI-JV_QVEC5MhkvVcFzpSCucCqIRp4yz8vRdTSZqdsJm8C8jiCcwXNGZOrv-Q413Ux1Hq8CKXTb9qtH5kOAUPMDebOCrmMagVFIdFJodNyaDxEcqrmqeEncsG-Pb3/s320/IMG_20170717_202707.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Around the corner Ed, Kelly, Andy and Kelly were already on Gripple Nipple so I went and joined them, but was struggling to link it all up. The start was fine, thanks largely to some significant reach, but going up from the slot to the top was not working - I was repeatedly chickening out of throwing for it and making neither one thing nor the other moves which weren't going anywhere. I carried on working it while Ed was grappling with Gripple Graunch, and it was getting rather frustrating. I switched from trying Kelly's beta from matched on the slot to Andy's beta of pressing down on the left hand in the slot and going for the top with the right. Eventually my right hand stuck - just - and I matched the top and hauled myself up the wall with more than a bit of noise. For something I worked so hard I was expecting more than a 5b out of it, but I'll take what I can.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8dyb11dSW9-uNO_UhOCB7nKYrGfGSERe72zrleLIi5HpqPwC52IwRZ1afiiW1EVPzafOeLjedUqiDE2OFASqVnPkiRjbsw9HyFPTuWHKnSAmXHTI0kpuqEbmlKmrH1OQfALMBfe46fEI/s1600/IMG_20170717_205127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8dyb11dSW9-uNO_UhOCB7nKYrGfGSERe72zrleLIi5HpqPwC52IwRZ1afiiW1EVPzafOeLjedUqiDE2OFASqVnPkiRjbsw9HyFPTuWHKnSAmXHTI0kpuqEbmlKmrH1OQfALMBfe46fEI/s320/IMG_20170717_205127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After catching my breath again I joined Liz, Andy and Kelly on the Pert Block, going straight up Pert Wall then making a meal out of Pert Bloke by trying to climb it on the steep overhanging side rather than the slabby side. With this pointed out I got up it and then ticked off Pert Block Arete too before we called it a day as the sun was setting. All in all a good session, and just what I needed to clear the head after an indulgent weekend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRIeXRsDT4QrrESG1YHhchkJLsjn2hUHvx3AtbEA4xjSwcql7muNhLs4TmWPGcVc2Cbej2Lad9J4zTgtFfRMg-jrS9Bf4Tua4j2jDOa1CWB7g6KwKpmZ84vNnimTmAzaVhq2BmXpiilIv/s1600/IMG_20170717_211241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRIeXRsDT4QrrESG1YHhchkJLsjn2hUHvx3AtbEA4xjSwcql7muNhLs4TmWPGcVc2Cbej2Lad9J4zTgtFfRMg-jrS9Bf4Tua4j2jDOa1CWB7g6KwKpmZ84vNnimTmAzaVhq2BmXpiilIv/s320/IMG_20170717_211241.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com4Stanage Edge, Hope Valley S32, UK53.347292 -1.633260999999947727.825257500000003 -42.941854999999947 78.8693265 39.675333000000052tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-66764888946994915152017-07-15T13:51:00.000+01:002017-07-22T11:41:44.114+01:00Greno Chase 2017A while back one of our circle of running friends pointed out the <a href="http://www.greno-chase.co.uk/" target="_blank">Greno Chase</a> - a 5k road race just up the road from us on a Friday evening? Sounds ideal! This year it also didn't clash with <a href="http://www.tramlines.org.uk/" target="_blank">Tramlines</a> so it was easier to get people to sign up, even if some were reluctant... We ended up with 4 of us in Team Monkey Business - Me, Andy, Kelly and Liz. <br />
<br />
As the event drew closer the thought of doing a 5k race after a hard week of work seemed much less sensible, especially as 3 of us had found this to be the week where Half Marathon training plans had us doing Cooper Tests which are never pleasant, and there had also been the regular climbing sessions in the evenings including a trip outdoors. Some last minute frantic planning on Thursday evening saw the important parts arranged - the logistics of how to get beer and meat to Andy's for a post run barbecue. Come Friday and we headed up to Andy's got changed, and walked up to the start. There were many complaints about sore legs, and much discussion of how slow we were all expecting to go, but registration was swift and soon we were avoiding the communal warm up - I never saw it actually happen, so maybe everyone had the same idea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1JuiRDnofAnpzawHNTjwxA4n9cVPNB01cgz4aj3aaYuvjvs5FmcCNAQ4nj93qofimJDIyAICI44irtHKqESpE_qp4Qy71isxqvQboGVfCUejOBUxAck7kh3gswSsvYiHO6rYzIi4dpHJ/s1600/FB_IMG_1500061200143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1132" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1JuiRDnofAnpzawHNTjwxA4n9cVPNB01cgz4aj3aaYuvjvs5FmcCNAQ4nj93qofimJDIyAICI44irtHKqESpE_qp4Qy71isxqvQboGVfCUejOBUxAck7kh3gswSsvYiHO6rYzIi4dpHJ/s320/FB_IMG_1500061200143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The course is a relatively simple one, being a triangular circuit, 2 laps starting and finishing midway up one of the straights. From my brief attempt to study the course it looked like 2 sides were uphill, and one downhill, so my aim was to take it steady on the hills and belt it down the last side, though I was also hoping to get an average pace of between 4:30/km and 4:45/km.<br />
<br />
Soon it was in to the pen ready for the start and after a few announcements we had a 10 second countdown and we were off. Now my experience of mass start events has been Hillsborough Parkrun, so I was expecting a bit of a shuffle until people spread out and then having to pick up the pace to make up for it. This didn't happen, the start was ultra fast and I got swept up in it, my last comment to Liz before leaving her to run her own race was along the lines of "B****y Hell, that was a fast start!".<br />
<br />
Uphill out of the park and we turn right along Main Street, the crowds were out in force and it was a fantastic feeling to be running on a closed road with people on all sides cheering us on. A sharp left on to Stephen Lane at one of the many pubs on the route saw us hit with a bit more of a climb, and I was continuing to overtake people here and worrying that I was overcooking it as there was a fair way to go before the downhill. I'd caught Andy up by this point, and we kept trading positions for most of the race - he was gaining on me uphill, I was pelting past him on the downhills initially then he caught me, and then I'd pull away again.<br />
<br />
As we climbed out of Greno, I saw the downhill start much earlier than I expected and I picked up pace towards the corner and took it fast before belting down the hill and taking kilometre 2 in 4 minutes dead - fastest ever km for me. Dropping back in to Grenoside we pass the Cow and Calf, loads of kids were lining the route holding hands pout for a high five so of course I indulged, indeed I tried to get everyone I could on the race - absolutely loved the community support. Onto what in my head was the Main Straight the uphill started again, very gently at first but slowly increasing. The crowds were growing again, loads of cheering, and passing the start/finish there was water on hand but I didn't feel I needed it at that point, and I was running too hard to take it on board again. <br />
<br />
Lap two went much like lap one, though a little slower due to tiredness. Special recognition to the kids on the corner of Stephen Lane and Graven Close who were giving out drinks, I didn't need one but I thanked them anyway. I fought up the hill knowing where the downhill was again, and caught Andy up who was suffering a little, encouraging him on as the crest of the hill was in sight but I'm not sure he had anything left to reply with. I took the downhill as fast as I dared, conscious of the fact I still had to drag myself up Main Street to get to the finish. I found myself being chased up the road by a double decker bus which had decided it was time to move regardless of the fact the race was still underway but I wasn't going to get out of it's way. Before I knew it I was turning in to the park, Kelly already finished cheering me on. I had nothing left to go any faster so when someone came storming past me all I could do was congratulate them and cheer them over as I followed them home.<br />
<br />
Over the line, stop the watch, grab a medal, look at my time. Watch says 21:15 at 4:38/km average pace - fantastic! That would have been a 5k PB if it had been 500 metres longer. As I grabbed a bottle of water and walked to meet Kelly I saw Andy running home not 30 seconds behind me and so shouted him home, then it was a sit down and short wait for Liz to come through, entering the finish straight at speed and soon over the line. Official results are not yet in, but looking at a handy <a href="https://www.strava.com/segments/5294447" target="_blank">Strava Segment</a> results for us are as follows:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Kelly - 17:56</li>
<li>Me - 20:33</li>
<li>Andy - 21:03</li>
<li>Liz - 25:25</li>
</ol>
<div>
Fantastic times for all of us given it was a Friday evening and we were all grumbling beforehand. I really enjoyed my first road race on closed roads with big crowds, and will be looking for more of them as the energy of the crowd was a great motivator.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/1083384964/embed/c8db955fdf3e0208ccae0f67118a8bd25ff944a1" width="590"></iframe>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once we had all cooled down a touch it was time for the walk back down the hill to Andy's for beer and bbq. Half way down the hill we were all getting chilly, so by the time we were changed and sat outside many blankets were required, some rain turned up too but we persisted and had a very enjoyable evening before heading inside to catch up on the Tour de France. Next running event? Looks like being a 15k run to the pub in August for Kelly's birthday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YDpYB2SI8Vz92Uel4LB_4pwfTZXT_cjachGbfMz0bTdCY6uHildRMRKZPBH2hbbF1BYvi94Z1oOpu9tlihOnAMYgihcahaB2vlqmnihV8O8m8uI5NkHl1IGlwuaEvjHnB8lt6w4XrkST/s1600/20106333_10154493681287330_8254831047512964342_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YDpYB2SI8Vz92Uel4LB_4pwfTZXT_cjachGbfMz0bTdCY6uHildRMRKZPBH2hbbF1BYvi94Z1oOpu9tlihOnAMYgihcahaB2vlqmnihV8O8m8uI5NkHl1IGlwuaEvjHnB8lt6w4XrkST/s320/20106333_10154493681287330_8254831047512964342_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
EDIT: <a href="http://www.greno-chase.co.uk/node/71" target="_blank">Results</a> are no up, 40th out of 129 for me which I am really pleased with. Kudos to Kelly for his 9th place finish!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Kelly: 9th place (18:32)</li>
<li>Me: 40th place (21:10)</li>
<li>Andy: 50th place (21:40)</li>
<li>Liz: 94th place (26:19)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Good work Team Monkey Business!Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Grenoside, Sheffield, UK53.439279 -1.496972000000027953.401448 -1.5776530000000279 53.477109999999996 -1.4162910000000279tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-49383038002037719412017-07-13T20:22:00.001+01:002017-07-13T20:22:40.359+01:00Witness the Gritness!It was another fine evening yesterday, so we headed to the Peaks again. With a flourish of last minute planning we decided to go to Higgar Tor as Ed felt the need to push his climbing into Font 7 territory, and I was looking to try and push myself a little (although not that much!) too. After work I drove out and wandered over the top of Higgar Tor past a plethora of youth groups out enjoying the weather, and dropped down to the Big Slab area where Ed and Kelly were warming up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oXDCQf7Rcnrtn3TBvHN0ZF2X1CG3dVpwOOzgW2gLu9sTlCkriWPBExZMIzdXw4ZagT4UqOgiMSqZbYoQZJgHQ-yBf4eKPYsyUZNOHWCNCmOKfORTAboy3WKeeM0zHlMaaWGRYS6GrgeT/s1600/IMG_20170712_183724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oXDCQf7Rcnrtn3TBvHN0ZF2X1CG3dVpwOOzgW2gLu9sTlCkriWPBExZMIzdXw4ZagT4UqOgiMSqZbYoQZJgHQ-yBf4eKPYsyUZNOHWCNCmOKfORTAboy3WKeeM0zHlMaaWGRYS6GrgeT/s320/IMG_20170712_183724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
(An aside while I think of it: In my book it is Higgar Tor, whereas the location I ended up tagging things with on Instagram and Facebook was Higger Tor. Turns out both are acceptable, but I am sticking with Higgar Tor as that's what my book knows it as).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkMEC8Vd4nUJcbjTd1KzChcKdMk6au1s0feRy3WW03PcKXU_iA2ivBl2lnrlwqWeo0frpOq4sglBVfA9iCmvLA1q2qbyo4FYn-dyIRXPHQaMW_hJFLixZW6aCW_4YMVK8Afe6C5dV5vSx/s1600/IMG_20170712_183718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkMEC8Vd4nUJcbjTd1KzChcKdMk6au1s0feRy3WW03PcKXU_iA2ivBl2lnrlwqWeo0frpOq4sglBVfA9iCmvLA1q2qbyo4FYn-dyIRXPHQaMW_hJFLixZW6aCW_4YMVK8Afe6C5dV5vSx/s320/IMG_20170712_183718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After warming up on Broken Arete and quickly getting my head back in to climbing I flashed Pocket Wall which was satisfying, as I was quickly getting on to harder stuff and sending it. We then moved on, initially looking to head towards Like Pommel but ending up at Harvester. Here Andy joined us, complete with bike, having ridden out from Sheffield. Harvest Grove went after a failed attempt where I didn't feel comfortable, then when I got to the top the second time I noticed that I was oozing blood from my little finger - this rock is sharp! Soon taped up and it was time to try Harvest Arete.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87XJLr38TVDrSn8fPJNlNDqAQGQXCXnRbX35pEPKb1TRhx92TCkJtdnJDbP4YCnARsxiMPMGKgDzxAHxOx0La3tZevvuA7FcsRzs86klCQkc0GBNbXHP75YchCw0XGPKd9ZzzOqzspqr9/s1600/IMG_20170712_194436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87XJLr38TVDrSn8fPJNlNDqAQGQXCXnRbX35pEPKb1TRhx92TCkJtdnJDbP4YCnARsxiMPMGKgDzxAHxOx0La3tZevvuA7FcsRzs86klCQkc0GBNbXHP75YchCw0XGPKd9ZzzOqzspqr9/s320/IMG_20170712_194436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Ed got up this quickly, throwing a heel up to a nice ledge and rocking over it, but neither Kelly or I could make this work. I eventually cracked it by using a pebble for my left foot and getting my right onto a small lip around the arete, allowing me to stand up for the top at which point it was pretty much over save for watching your head when topping out. We then worked at Combine Harvester, Ed again sending it without too much bother while the rest of us suffered the sharp rock again and again. I was getting the traverse start in fine, but failing to get to a position where I could then finish it using the same beta I used on the arete. Eventually multiple repeats saw my technique going backwards so I called it a day on this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaamkarYnR_clOJYulpF7V6OJD778yYW7vX5sk5TAdrgTtB8_IAWZryHPConUWybDPQxGOz2mJQG7bgxYQLmCvjhNYYvUXDsEdtnbRpiLbyqkXEiblUyrTEZLwlVfwOunTRRkhjuL2ox4m/s1600/IMG_20170712_194355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaamkarYnR_clOJYulpF7V6OJD778yYW7vX5sk5TAdrgTtB8_IAWZryHPConUWybDPQxGOz2mJQG7bgxYQLmCvjhNYYvUXDsEdtnbRpiLbyqkXEiblUyrTEZLwlVfwOunTRRkhjuL2ox4m/s320/IMG_20170712_194355.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We then headed over to Leaning Block, the reason we came here as Ed wanted to try the 7A Witness the Gritness. This is an imposing block, and has quite a few trad routes going up it. Witness is on the lower side of it, meaning you are faced with the might of the boulder and even though you are not going all the way up it, it's quite intimidating.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ28U5jw0WEq5OS-09cghDcLw_AxUOqz8gzU83QhoJ3BnOf4EecspOvYAymRInBzwCxCAYrDfvTQV684oYBHLHK5yhmrDBiemZP0bhGlE55NoHId5ZBMpG9ndOW2JEFkzLpZicG1WRDPv6/s1600/IMG_20170712_202751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ28U5jw0WEq5OS-09cghDcLw_AxUOqz8gzU83QhoJ3BnOf4EecspOvYAymRInBzwCxCAYrDfvTQV684oYBHLHK5yhmrDBiemZP0bhGlE55NoHId5ZBMpG9ndOW2JEFkzLpZicG1WRDPv6/s320/IMG_20170712_202751.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Definitely not staged to make it look like we were going to solo it. Nope.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was quite tired from trying Combine Harvester by this point so mostly spotted and watched while Ed, Kelly and Andy gave it repeated attempts. I gave it several good goes, eventually managing to pull on and get off the ground but unable to go anywhere right or left. Ed was managing to get an awesome knee bar in, but even once I had switched from shorts to trousers for protection from yet more shard rock neither Andy or I could make it work. The rock was quite warm and only got warmer as we held it, but the start holds were also suffering from excessive chalk - a bugbear of mine when climbing inside, never mind outside. You really don't need that much - you are only trying to dry your hands - and especially when outside you really should clean it off afterwards. It's not that hard to show some respect for the rock and your fellow climbers.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8jjaO6KCTRowRLhu0JAdbcNHaJVE-vRiXT4WJTyL_aBur3PuAY9_unOYVQKxIhchQReuTW7P10pzje0laWjIKNPLAs5FGKM0axcXu81csZzQhgMAAPRX2-hZsGBC2P8Wv3uYwa-alMXa/s1600/IMG_20170712_203457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8jjaO6KCTRowRLhu0JAdbcNHaJVE-vRiXT4WJTyL_aBur3PuAY9_unOYVQKxIhchQReuTW7P10pzje0laWjIKNPLAs5FGKM0axcXu81csZzQhgMAAPRX2-hZsGBC2P8Wv3uYwa-alMXa/s320/IMG_20170712_203457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway, rant over. While we were attempting it a group of Scouts came through who were weaselling up a fault in the block, quite a few of them expressed a desire to climb what we were climbing but I think maybe our lack of progress put them off :). Ed was getting further up than any of us, and at one point borrowed a stick from one of the scouts so he could tape a brush to it and clean a higher hold. Eventually as the light failed and we had all had enough of this, I took my shoes off at this point and kinda wish I hadn't as everyone else tackled the start of a trad route which looked easy but high - topping out at the same place Witness tops out.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMlxrhLOmuCmlUa0o6R634Fkuh3kq7G-InxqnjjTIW3qhS0N7riGAZcqNQ6Z-JbfuasSW4ePLMAd5DobQjTe8u3rBxO4St8jBzdUd9qIZavGsA4gZSD823Gu2JT-B_rvPn1JSDYEZW3AY/s1600/IMG_20170712_210923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMlxrhLOmuCmlUa0o6R634Fkuh3kq7G-InxqnjjTIW3qhS0N7riGAZcqNQ6Z-JbfuasSW4ePLMAd5DobQjTe8u3rBxO4St8jBzdUd9qIZavGsA4gZSD823Gu2JT-B_rvPn1JSDYEZW3AY/s320/IMG_20170712_210923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And with that it was time to leave the peaks again in the light of a beautiful setting sun. Hopefully it won't be long before I am back.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB-UL43S6htlPGfO_r1w5ibXLzL0H-8WyxszPgo8RM-wwgQUL1MaTR_qHuLxtn2Wfa_ucEkh5iesS3WH-P1IrFMnoJ3MKN1rgnYdKmhSu31zvyl6vVfoOR0JGsEWdi4Dp6l3r4qj76FHV/s1600/IMG_20170712_211552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB-UL43S6htlPGfO_r1w5ibXLzL0H-8WyxszPgo8RM-wwgQUL1MaTR_qHuLxtn2Wfa_ucEkh5iesS3WH-P1IrFMnoJ3MKN1rgnYdKmhSu31zvyl6vVfoOR0JGsEWdi4Dp6l3r4qj76FHV/s320/IMG_20170712_211552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeyv5sAk4WY8eX-7_V3hlweEc8lKhOUs9w-FxrK-8A0bIBFWY-q0uzzjG9F9I0IoMYYtaXtsbAXIF4zTMrwZVDzNmE3awFU03ss8hDRhNwraLNyKnAo-72pbH6GBUoXG1WuEWFAhyphenhyphenc395/s1600/IMG_20170712_211918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeyv5sAk4WY8eX-7_V3hlweEc8lKhOUs9w-FxrK-8A0bIBFWY-q0uzzjG9F9I0IoMYYtaXtsbAXIF4zTMrwZVDzNmE3awFU03ss8hDRhNwraLNyKnAo-72pbH6GBUoXG1WuEWFAhyphenhyphenc395/s320/IMG_20170712_211918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6bgi8s1Pd07qfsOYgBZ-r6erLmWvXhvLxv_86T3cb-Jc7zJiNFucs9_Op2OfEhkPO2-Lom-xLM50MIm7H5Q8xNdkGegpi_36WPC9mJk8xbPEJ2E8clg7XdkW1d-tVfxCtvkixVWQ-EQJ/s1600/IMG_20170712_212008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6bgi8s1Pd07qfsOYgBZ-r6erLmWvXhvLxv_86T3cb-Jc7zJiNFucs9_Op2OfEhkPO2-Lom-xLM50MIm7H5Q8xNdkGegpi_36WPC9mJk8xbPEJ2E8clg7XdkW1d-tVfxCtvkixVWQ-EQJ/s320/IMG_20170712_212008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAYYKO3pa6xIBmCcGELk4fz9txWpf3FGVJI14du9JNCUEciM09OvbpSHhQxrfyaU5A2zkCDCQuHGC_NBTnTDlySBDwrAFMTH8XtIS5XJAVc2Yfng_xqONKMOpzZV2rRm7g93xW191FzY_/s1600/IMG_20170712_212024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAYYKO3pa6xIBmCcGELk4fz9txWpf3FGVJI14du9JNCUEciM09OvbpSHhQxrfyaU5A2zkCDCQuHGC_NBTnTDlySBDwrAFMTH8XtIS5XJAVc2Yfng_xqONKMOpzZV2rRm7g93xW191FzY_/s320/IMG_20170712_212024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJBKKUEIJPnlPnmpwa1vutkVVEVI_2mjPJ4VAZLW5wgIXCnJOelBqjtfeBgxqETpV1LIJHeYdW4stdzJFh7mCxwJe7Pv2b83CsoQrL2sWEcSaR_s7WBNkAIuj1Hpx4WmXsqz7ANzwCSiX/s1600/IMG_20170712_211909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJBKKUEIJPnlPnmpwa1vutkVVEVI_2mjPJ4VAZLW5wgIXCnJOelBqjtfeBgxqETpV1LIJHeYdW4stdzJFh7mCxwJe7Pv2b83CsoQrL2sWEcSaR_s7WBNkAIuj1Hpx4WmXsqz7ANzwCSiX/s320/IMG_20170712_211909.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Higger Tor, Sheffield, Hope Valley S32, UK53.3341261 -1.617219200000022333.6971781 -42.925813200000022 72.9710741 39.691374799999977tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-63601964121091943842017-07-04T22:17:00.004+01:002017-07-04T22:19:07.080+01:00Bouldering at The Henge, Stanage Far RightThe weather was looking good - not too hot but dry, and plans were made to head outside. Plans were made over coffee at <a href="https://www.climbingworks.com/" target="_blank">The Climbing Works</a> on Sunday and we drew up a shortlist, which resulted in a decision over curry later to go for Stanage Far Right (often classified as part of <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=104" target="_blank">Stanage Popular</a> from a Trad Climbing point of view but worthy of it's own area when bouldering) and look at Easy Jamming (though that might be high and scary), Huge Slab, Henge, Snout and Rim. I picked Liz, Kelly and Kelly up after work on Monday and we drove out to meet Ed, arriving to a beautiful moody peak sky - and a fair breeze, so I was glad to have packed long trousers and a hoody.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9mFTqe1iv-OQKsQBf3iJoq1Bab2HZfCrTZMVnatdQy3C_LWjKKMolkeX9a8Yy1k602VELc7dwpzo9l56dSjLrgEPxL4eprRUw60ns-aWp7IsoabuqLMazeTgCr9Wl6NW1apXC3uV-oEu/s1600/IMG_20170703_181907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9mFTqe1iv-OQKsQBf3iJoq1Bab2HZfCrTZMVnatdQy3C_LWjKKMolkeX9a8Yy1k602VELc7dwpzo9l56dSjLrgEPxL4eprRUw60ns-aWp7IsoabuqLMazeTgCr9Wl6NW1apXC3uV-oEu/s320/IMG_20170703_181907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We walked in and decided to start at The Henge as it was Liz's most favoured area, and we could always try more on the way back. The walk in wasn't too bad and the weather was lovely for climbing, not as hot as on recent trips so the rock had a lot more friction to it. We started out with Tweedle Dee, Steps and Tweedle Dum which were beautiful to climb if a little high for a first climb of the day biut landings were good and the rock was full of solid holds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nq-ZjDLYEtVuBz3BIn43ikIxlyI5RJcoyFdcB2K2YqkZpLDUSmDn5r05wkfbVbnCS6wwUceeQyMo-wNBgglJapbBK6vf8ndRpBHCkspdnF1V3RaJXmdhprezhDwXxihpv_uBAA9vLJQm/s1600/IMG_20170703_192727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nq-ZjDLYEtVuBz3BIn43ikIxlyI5RJcoyFdcB2K2YqkZpLDUSmDn5r05wkfbVbnCS6wwUceeQyMo-wNBgglJapbBK6vf8ndRpBHCkspdnF1V3RaJXmdhprezhDwXxihpv_uBAA9vLJQm/s320/IMG_20170703_192727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Moving on from here it was more of the same with Hook, Line and Sinker then on Slotted Wall it was starting to get a little more technical - nothing too taxing but on my first go I decided I had broken too far left to count it (verging on to Slotted Arete) so repeated it being careful to stay centre, then quickly knocked off Right Hook and Slotted Arete.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUctqOgqt-vYkmLkjWaT1U8su1TP7Bg__LKmxnEeOqfzdHm9gda5b_DpPsfQsw486z_y3sAsxXsCak_V6A-J_Cx4JaTlDoKtD8MveDINRJeXo2DpdYA0BPdjn7eR7f0OwyyZD7IVWdN6D/s1600/IMG_20170703_195334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUctqOgqt-vYkmLkjWaT1U8su1TP7Bg__LKmxnEeOqfzdHm9gda5b_DpPsfQsw486z_y3sAsxXsCak_V6A-J_Cx4JaTlDoKtD8MveDINRJeXo2DpdYA0BPdjn7eR7f0OwyyZD7IVWdN6D/s320/IMG_20170703_195334.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We then headed further along at took a look at the Quick Wall area. I bottled it before even pulling on several times and we got confused by the topo, in Peak Bouldering it appears to stop before the top so we decided it was a matched top hold rather than over the top climb, and eventually I built up the courage and flashed it, but I think that was far too easy to be a 6A+ so I am guessing it must go further than we took it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDMshxtJqNL4te571zLwTVeMGRHBhIr3tsC5jPEnirIDOh4SjlN6ClhCOpevZimpn9F4s_GHEDZCJxXHhv5-_SYBEqN8R7L7r0hTV5m9gWTWxKgyssz2Hflup4Q3P_PEkIMNv4PcVfafu/s1600/IMG_20170703_203904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDMshxtJqNL4te571zLwTVeMGRHBhIr3tsC5jPEnirIDOh4SjlN6ClhCOpevZimpn9F4s_GHEDZCJxXHhv5-_SYBEqN8R7L7r0hTV5m9gWTWxKgyssz2Hflup4Q3P_PEkIMNv4PcVfafu/s320/IMG_20170703_203904.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I then took on the sit start on Staircase Flake and then Front Flake before looking at The Henge itself - this has lovely looking breaks but is rather high so I let others go up it first before getting on. As it happens this was a really nice climb and at no point did I feel uncertain but when I got to the top my heart was racing and I realised I was breathing fast - I think I forgot to breath all the while I was climbing it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbfbiWcs2lVxYZ2zjhBv1IYyWpbmtSi1RR5lubdxvv4urezkwyvT_iy42UYO8JwO3uhsFkapqVzF73eQ-3GAuG-U_lntFNkpipTrjXZW38GYhcDyMSFswjm1rhbxhM0P6ZULv9XBljjy4/s1600/IMG_20170703_204648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbfbiWcs2lVxYZ2zjhBv1IYyWpbmtSi1RR5lubdxvv4urezkwyvT_iy42UYO8JwO3uhsFkapqVzF73eQ-3GAuG-U_lntFNkpipTrjXZW38GYhcDyMSFswjm1rhbxhM0P6ZULv9XBljjy4/s320/IMG_20170703_204648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally it was time for a very rapid ascent of Sparky Slab, if nothing else because the previous area was very sheltered and we were getting bitten a lot, getting around the corner meant a bit more breeze to keep the midges down. I was really enjoying myself, the rock here was lovely, but the light was beginning to fail and we needed to head home. I'm already itching to get back outside again, I have got my head properly into it again and I need to start pushing my grades. Hopefully it won't be too long, but this weekend sees <a href="http://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/cliffhanger/" target="_blank">Cliffhanger</a> and having failed to make it along in previous years I have this firmly in my calendar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjq-hpLSWD8nIusnyjZkQAM3RX3OPeL-61GlLjUySbQY8qvhtft-hoLWvJS9fDZdnb0AxRzCQByC9Sy1lrB9x6i8SmbSjggdafFvhqqnzVMqFtQfy-bRUUqARo9x66L2AdJszObGmHav6/s1600/IMG_20170703_204740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjq-hpLSWD8nIusnyjZkQAM3RX3OPeL-61GlLjUySbQY8qvhtft-hoLWvJS9fDZdnb0AxRzCQByC9Sy1lrB9x6i8SmbSjggdafFvhqqnzVMqFtQfy-bRUUqARo9x66L2AdJszObGmHav6/s320/IMG_20170703_204740.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Stanage Edge, Hope Valley S32 1BR, UK53.347292 -1.633260999999947727.825257500000003 -42.941854999999947 78.8693265 39.675333000000052tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-3903855229615642732017-06-22T21:38:00.002+01:002017-06-22T21:38:36.599+01:00Quick Climbing Update - Cioch Top and yet another visit to BurbageIn amongst the recent <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/2017-dark-peak-trail-run-short-course.html" target="_blank">running</a> it has been far too hot to climb indoors, so we have headed outside instead. On Saturday Andy took Liz, Kelly and me out to Burbage to meet Ed and Kelly and their friend Alex, where the plan was to head to some of the boulders we didn't get to <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/burbage-birthday-boulder.html" target="_blank">last time</a> although we ended up revisiting Cobra, Pock, Lamb and Sheep before then moving on to Armoured Car and Tank. It was quite hot, and I was running the next day, so I was fairly gentle about the whole thing and there wasn't really anything to write home about.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Nw1Rr-X3bEiafqQklNb3x9mQIEwi_w1pgvnJM3lDnOykNM0cAxfI_VsmJQegebbr5JgHHxA_HSIXgbXgDUM_7zCRqrf-27AQHsm42PvwPz9ZOoZRWaAxPMuO6fGhpxs_Mq9BQmofCPoS/s1600/IMG_20170617_140312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Nw1Rr-X3bEiafqQklNb3x9mQIEwi_w1pgvnJM3lDnOykNM0cAxfI_VsmJQegebbr5JgHHxA_HSIXgbXgDUM_7zCRqrf-27AQHsm42PvwPz9ZOoZRWaAxPMuO6fGhpxs_Mq9BQmofCPoS/s320/IMG_20170617_140312.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADCRWga-T8sc3Q2oEk26ku6FwaCLYJcOHkW4tjztxu_yo6V9gu1VjJqjJT6gbd_60OjszHkivew0bdwtxEJvrg75x4Q2sXTl7g3HUl4r6NnkfCWuKuKOja8oZI18d0MyiA_dE_oVRXhi7/s1600/IMG_20170617_161018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADCRWga-T8sc3Q2oEk26ku6FwaCLYJcOHkW4tjztxu_yo6V9gu1VjJqjJT6gbd_60OjszHkivew0bdwtxEJvrg75x4Q2sXTl7g3HUl4r6NnkfCWuKuKOja8oZI18d0MyiA_dE_oVRXhi7/s320/IMG_20170617_161018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After work on Monday we decided to head to the Peaks again, making it three days in a row I had been in the Peak District. We wanted to head somewhere we had not seen before, and aimed for <a href="https://www.rockfax.com/databases/results_buttress.html?id=4500" target="_blank">Cioch Top Boulders</a> at Curbar Edge. When we got there we had a long walk in including a bit of scrabbling, and then searching for the rocks - turns out the picture in the book is deceptive and what looks like one rock is actually two, with an awkward boulder in front of the one we were aiming to climb, and with worse than expected landings with the drop off not far away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz96SsrhFsER3I3HSJgnkIDXsFTNsBHepwFhCUfeM-TwHuuZcLPuwmOz0nvROnxn7gLWnIUaL-H8Nx6732Vah7sHL77lxKXjsJkpUJDrToc_tp2My_7OyhGTfc8jpdx52qZ7aLFdC25sM8/s1600/IMG_20170619_191456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz96SsrhFsER3I3HSJgnkIDXsFTNsBHepwFhCUfeM-TwHuuZcLPuwmOz0nvROnxn7gLWnIUaL-H8Nx6732Vah7sHL77lxKXjsJkpUJDrToc_tp2My_7OyhGTfc8jpdx52qZ7aLFdC25sM8/s320/IMG_20170619_191456.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh, and it was a lot steeper than it appeared in the book which made it look far more slabby... Left Arete was an easy climb but with a quite high and balancey top out, where you get over and realise it's not much better than the face you just came up. Crispy Roof was a really nice climb, and for the first time this year I felt I was pushing into the space I should be climbing outside in rather than coasting and taking it easy. I didn't like the look of Crispy Noodling or Crispy Rib though, and this particular boulder felt quite loose and fragile. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiirQBLsYck5w1Y4MLzYicJuM09S_-orSij5ie_F7CcmI-MKTRcuDdCP3tbg_Jjcv3UwXCQC0aC4UGAYtSU9kQji6sKHuxLvcXHr60fvud2iW-5sDv37_3bEHk__fJlC1nzu3FLNxPJ1WV/s1600/IMG_20170619_200329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiirQBLsYck5w1Y4MLzYicJuM09S_-orSij5ie_F7CcmI-MKTRcuDdCP3tbg_Jjcv3UwXCQC0aC4UGAYtSU9kQji6sKHuxLvcXHr60fvud2iW-5sDv37_3bEHk__fJlC1nzu3FLNxPJ1WV/s320/IMG_20170619_200329.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The area is clearly a lot less climbed than some of the peak crags, the rock having a lot of loose sand and grit all over it making for some careful climbing. Chekov, Scotty and Bones were all simple enough, moving on to Mister Spock and Uhuru was a bit more intimidating as the top was quite a bit higher. Despite being the lowest grade on this face no one fancied Sulu, but we worked Uhuru for quite a while to no avail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKHeTejcFKA5VuYBsXQmurBXUROKLtYcbxdtkfvfV2kgfEbmHaO3vZL5FZkuBchYinC4K-giNcNvFk9989Rp9xGkCJyRJsuEnI7iyzYmOXPYwBz_E_3o9JfPB49Ev191JcI7NC1i02pSn/s1600/IMG_20170619_200405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKHeTejcFKA5VuYBsXQmurBXUROKLtYcbxdtkfvfV2kgfEbmHaO3vZL5FZkuBchYinC4K-giNcNvFk9989Rp9xGkCJyRJsuEnI7iyzYmOXPYwBz_E_3o9JfPB49Ev191JcI7NC1i02pSn/s320/IMG_20170619_200405.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Kelly attempting to find anything on Uhuru</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBjA8yOMJmeszkgO0sTW3l-4ck9tQJlOwyXsG2xFCYbKKbiiDhnINZgKzYSGrxpQmol_qGuo21bwg5bHmUsNyZ_ZkpYedE_s6Ya5mYEaseRLCFP-xvr7LjoHR6PkVZ61nFoRBgPipaq3y/s1600/19420745_10154420118112330_394954310234443954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBjA8yOMJmeszkgO0sTW3l-4ck9tQJlOwyXsG2xFCYbKKbiiDhnINZgKzYSGrxpQmol_qGuo21bwg5bHmUsNyZ_ZkpYedE_s6Ya5mYEaseRLCFP-xvr7LjoHR6PkVZ61nFoRBgPipaq3y/s320/19420745_10154420118112330_394954310234443954_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Picture by Liz</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Having exhausted the area we moved back to Moon Buttress, initially looking at Dog Leg Crack before deciding that crack jamming was a silly idea and dropping around in to The Trench where the landings were good and the tops not too high. A nice easy Left Arete (common name...) and then it was time to work at Trench Hole where there are a few good hands and then a lot of slopers, which eventually went. The neighbouring Ringworm was less pleasant, some nice undercuts and ledges low down and then a barren sloper that I just couldn't stick to right where you really wanted a tiny pebble or sharp crimp just so you had something to work with! Others got it, but I just could not make it work however I tried it, but I gave it a really good go.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPKLlyDxC5dllCG9fskk01SD9qPxgrbDcMkxEbe2gfXT0iHr3FHTLqQxdyGxJp4_5CzrhuFhMhPCxS1jSMR0YDRyF-XQskrNIlrYQ4jlQXiVAuQW57g6eju-xYQ49PfeDf2952GS9PTc3/s1600/IMG_20170619_211252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPKLlyDxC5dllCG9fskk01SD9qPxgrbDcMkxEbe2gfXT0iHr3FHTLqQxdyGxJp4_5CzrhuFhMhPCxS1jSMR0YDRyF-XQskrNIlrYQ4jlQXiVAuQW57g6eju-xYQ49PfeDf2952GS9PTc3/s320/IMG_20170619_211252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
With daylight fading it was time to head home, and we were treated to a really great peak district sunset. There were plans to head out again on Wednesday but we were tired and the weather was threatening rain so I went for a swim then hosted a solstice barbecue instead, with only a few periods of hiding from rain :)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_8gvfRshUTU61PdFqMrM0zFT7JSsg8lm0i9g9fCUTPS9TmyCJU-LYWQ732qqwJJXu2WWrxPNws9VAhO2sTnvLvufIZMeXeqmS2HVa5AkTWaDOavyuzp8srRn7LdzAcrSJGkcWMytKQrB/s1600/IMG_20170619_211409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_8gvfRshUTU61PdFqMrM0zFT7JSsg8lm0i9g9fCUTPS9TmyCJU-LYWQ732qqwJJXu2WWrxPNws9VAhO2sTnvLvufIZMeXeqmS2HVa5AkTWaDOavyuzp8srRn7LdzAcrSJGkcWMytKQrB/s320/IMG_20170619_211409.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Curbar Edge53.2704355 -1.611286800000016253.268061499999995 -1.6163293000000163 53.2728095 -1.6062443000000162tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-4669428193164727972017-06-20T22:35:00.000+01:002017-06-20T22:35:08.972+01:002017 Dark Peak Trail Run - Short Course (12km)So, having done the <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/2017-white-peak-trail-run-short-course.html">White Peak Trail</a> last month it was only rational to enter the Dark Peak Trail too. Described on the <a href="https://trailrunningpeaks.co.uk/dark-peak-trail-run/">event info page</a> as "A longer trail running event on the footpaths, tracks and trails within the ‘grittier/higher level’ surroundings of the Northern/Dark Peak District" it sounded interesting, and I signed up the day after the White Peak Run in a bout of post race enthusiasm. As the race got closer I studied the race profile more, and realised it was 2km of relatively flat trail, 6km of relentless climbing to gain 261m, then 2km steep downhill and back on the same 2km trail as we set off on. Target time for a Silver band finish was 1h05m - 1h20m which means a pace of 6:40min/km to 5:45min/km, looking at that hill I figured a gold was not going to be achievable but a silver should be comfortable.<br />
<br />
Race week approached and I had not got a decent run in for a while but managed to stretch my legs on a <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1038266554" target="_blank">10k hitting a pace of 5:49min/km</a> (on the flat) which gave me confidence for the race. Also in this week I received a message from <a href="http://www.rock-crawler.co.uk/">Kelly D</a> asking if I had space in the van for the trip over to Hayfield. I assumed he had a friend looking for a lift over but no, he had decided this event would make a perfect taper run for him in advance of the <a hre="http://www.roundsheffieldrun.com/" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Round Sheffield Run</a>. Kelly is quite a bit faster than me but as he was tapering opted to run with me, so we discussed strategy and went for a fairly simple one - try and run the flat bit on the start at around 5:30min/km then see what the hell brings - slow up, fast down - then once back on the trail give it all you've got left. The other thing the week before the race brought us was hot weather, and I was praying for it to break at the weekend, I would even have welcomed rain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp6Q_Pcvc7hrXGN1zb0UFDAF8tSxmBdHjpbj-n7dRL-Xau52jG9aaEdTf1UKp6fTHo7OGzeCHPLNzDtBEFhL6vU9JI8zhIAC3XFSMitIkV0E2JqlVgQOQ7UuzZizBr5qhpjZOlZf1v4RB/s1600/IMG_20170618_084950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp6Q_Pcvc7hrXGN1zb0UFDAF8tSxmBdHjpbj-n7dRL-Xau52jG9aaEdTf1UKp6fTHo7OGzeCHPLNzDtBEFhL6vU9JI8zhIAC3XFSMitIkV0E2JqlVgQOQ7UuzZizBr5qhpjZOlZf1v4RB/s320/IMG_20170618_084950.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That didn't happen. We left Sheffield bright and early on Sunday morning and you could already feel the heat in the sun. By the time we got to Hayfield at 8:30 it was already scorching. We got registered and sorted race numbers etc, then watched the long course starters depart and listened to their briefings - extra water stations had been added, conditions were dry and dusty. As expected kit rules were restricted, this time I did opt to leave my waterproofs behind but still took my pack for water supplies, having been cunning and frozen the bladder before setting off. Waiting for the start it was beautifully cold against my park, I shall be repeating that idea.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeh4PlnGPw8k_D38W_5b_-UQ6DX7Xb2DIxRQSKhfL45BV-5N5UQ4IPXCsgtQMYAyTqysK8kN6zcSGQhUI0RTn-IuyxXLFmf9yIyuvz8EAz7UCcJJj8GGhk8VQesdjnE2r28eUPC9JYEMF/s1600/IMG_20170618_090336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeh4PlnGPw8k_D38W_5b_-UQ6DX7Xb2DIxRQSKhfL45BV-5N5UQ4IPXCsgtQMYAyTqysK8kN6zcSGQhUI0RTn-IuyxXLFmf9yIyuvz8EAz7UCcJJj8GGhk8VQesdjnE2r28eUPC9JYEMF/s320/IMG_20170618_090336.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<br />
Time for the off! As it is a dibber timed race there is no mass start, people instead starting on an individual time. Previously I have ended up right at the start of my wave as other racers seemed to be reticent, but on this occasion there were many eager racers jostling to start and we ended up several people back. The first 200m were quite narrow and twisty, dropping down steps and over a single file bridge before going up the steps on the other side, through a housing estate, and then on to the trail proper. This meant that pace was very low and as I run to an average pace for the current km I was trying to get back in to the target zone when Kelly pointed out we were going much faster than planned (his Fenix 5 is better at instantaneous pace than my Forerunner 405) and we were running under 5:00min/km. It felt good, so we agreed to try and stay just above 5 minutes. The trail was wide, smooth and flat and well shaded by mature trees - this was feeling OK! Kilometre 1 went in 5:26, k2 in 4:57.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBaflI3f_0XaMhNL6Qo4gvJKEvrAchiiSm9397qwJzZ31lfKtND07z9lIy2FIE49MVgI-rwYbbJIIPUoQQ_rBxpzPHt4-eSdLQP9navuBD1VJkd6JUlpjAotuXUDOhZToOxZkGTBnn_k5/s1600/142A4556-%2528ZF-3207-85330-1-001%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBaflI3f_0XaMhNL6Qo4gvJKEvrAchiiSm9397qwJzZ31lfKtND07z9lIy2FIE49MVgI-rwYbbJIIPUoQQ_rBxpzPHt4-eSdLQP9navuBD1VJkd6JUlpjAotuXUDOhZToOxZkGTBnn_k5/s320/142A4556-%2528ZF-3207-85330-1-001%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Across a road at the split point we had been well briefed on, then we take a sharp left and start the climb. A brief flat road section at the top and we reached a switchback where we also had to stop at the checkpoint to dib in, sapping all momentum. This was the start of the hill proper as we took on Over Hill Road. We soon climbed out of the trees and into searing heat, slogging up the road. There were many many false summits, and it seemed to go on forever. It was feeling OK though and and we were actually maintaining a decent pace, between 6 and 7 minutes per km. I was taking on water in small sips all the way up, and at some point I decided to take on a <a href="http://www.wiggle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Wiggle</a> <a href="http://www.wiggle.co.uk/wiggle-nutrition-energy-gels-with-caffeine-20-x-38g/" target="_blank">Mocha caffeine gel</a> but the running was so hard I couldn't stomach eating anything. Eventually I managed to find a bit flat enough that I could take it on and wash it down, and on we went. After the face I discovered that at some point on this climb my heart rate hit 198bpm which is the highest I have ever pushed it in a race.<br />
<br />
As we got higher we were treated to beautiful views over towards Manchester, and after about 25 minutes of hill we passed the drinks station, neglecting to stop as we both had ample water with us. Just up the road from here we turned hard left off the road and onto a trail. The gradient here ramped up significantly, hitting 20% at one point then settling back down to around 10%. At this point I was wiped out and had to resort to walking for a bit while my heart rate recovered, my breathing calmed down, and I lowered my body temperature. I was determined to start running again before we ticked over the 7km mark, and thankfully the gradient had calmed down by here. In the final push up the hill I decided that I wanted a Tour de France style summit marker at the top as a reward, and then over the crest of the hill appeared... a summit marker! I let out a laugh and relief flooded my body as we started on the downhill stretch. The terrain was still quite technical, far more reminiscent of the <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/peakrunners-langsett-10k-trail-run.html" target="_blank">Langsett 10k</a> than the White Peak Trail Run from last month, but we got some decent speed up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3qTZ0ZC3bAzgT6cs55VBHN2LJSWytLuGKcTjlLAQMOe3MMKP11jD1sAbPo7zI52_DybxSWvsPGwTBoFJpuylQyK0xuUyIfdj6LrRVqmYa2BbfVeWyi5dI4px3p152ZpLP2yJjfr0aL3E/s1600/142A4639-%2528ZF-3207-85330-1-002%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3qTZ0ZC3bAzgT6cs55VBHN2LJSWytLuGKcTjlLAQMOe3MMKP11jD1sAbPo7zI52_DybxSWvsPGwTBoFJpuylQyK0xuUyIfdj6LrRVqmYa2BbfVeWyi5dI4px3p152ZpLP2yJjfr0aL3E/s320/142A4639-%2528ZF-3207-85330-1-002%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
With 2.5km left to go the trail joined a road again which made speed easier, and then it was down a narrow wooded track back into the blissful shade of the Sett Valley Trail. We tried to keep the pace high, accelerating past the 1km to go marker, and soon we could see trees and cars - the end was in sight. Spurred on by this we hopped back across the bridge and into the field, running fast for the line, stopping the clock at 1h13m - Silver it was! At this point I had nothing else on my mind than sitting in the shade and pulling my shoes off. The remaining water from my pack went over my head - ok it was warm from being against my back but that was lovely.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/1042222599/embed/f1c3b767b1002e45a899171f4ea4c57d0d155a6d" width="590"></iframe>
<br />
Duly cooled down we harvested the buffet, got our official results, and faffed around with the standard tasks of notifying friends we had finished safely and with a decent time, downloading and uploading GPS traces, and catching up on the activities of others as well as applauding racers over the line. We'd started in the first wave of the race but there were not many people back when we crossed the line, and few if any people overtook us once we hit the hill - surprisingly no-one overtook us while we were walking though maybe people had availed themselves of the drinks station. Eventually all runners were home, and we looked at the results. And then looked again. We'd finished 13th and 14th out of 83 runners, which was 4th and 5th in class (Male 17-39). I'm still blown away by this, it's my best race finish and I'm not sure how I did it but the <a href="https://trailrunningpeaks.co.uk/results/results-dark-peak-trail-run-2017/" target="_blank">official results</a> confirm that I did.<br />
<video controls="" height="360" width="480">
<source src="https://video.relive.cc/strava_1042222599_1497789056753.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source>
</video>
<br />
<br />
We drove back to Sheffield for a delicious breakfast of bacon and eggs courtesy of Liz, and reflected on a brutally hard race on a scorching day - temperatures of over 30 degrees centigrade were recorded. So, what's next? An easier one this time, the <a href="http://www.greno-chase.co.uk/" target="_blank">Greno Chase</a> but I do keep looking at the <a href="http://www.gritstoneseries.co.uk/" target="_blank">Accelerate Gritstone Series</a> and especially the <a href="http://www.steelcitystriders.co.uk/salt-cellar-fell-race/" target="_blank">Salt Cellar Fell Race</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2d1ygpHcBauD1w6jb176sQrQRrvmr16tcfBuPlEshu9fQdPLQ2bRdNZvAHWGedE7TAG_6_fTCm3l5yFiUPDr0KNssiiuh8dtCxOuNPBoGrc-9jN8rMCNtW2A9XrnH-KpO2yTnbFE-r4F/s1600/IMG_20170618_110926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2d1ygpHcBauD1w6jb176sQrQRrvmr16tcfBuPlEshu9fQdPLQ2bRdNZvAHWGedE7TAG_6_fTCm3l5yFiUPDr0KNssiiuh8dtCxOuNPBoGrc-9jN8rMCNtW2A9XrnH-KpO2yTnbFE-r4F/s320/IMG_20170618_110926.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Hayfield, High Peak SK22, UK53.3785775 -1.946338900000000653.3596335 -1.9866794000000008 53.397521499999996 -1.9059984000000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-55524332022830711472017-06-11T23:17:00.001+01:002017-06-11T23:17:13.505+01:00More New Shoes! New Balance Vazee Rush v2I've been on the lookout for a pair of fast road shoes since I signed up for the <a href="http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/mizuno-halve-marathon-2/" target="_blank">Amsterdam Half Marathon</a> and following the <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/saucony-stride-lab-accelerate.html" target="_blank">Saucony Stride Lab</a> last month I know what I am looking for - neutral, light, flexible, fairly minimal. The <a href="http://www.saucony.com/UK/en_GB/kinvara-8/27451M.html?#q=kinvara+8&ref=kinvara%208&dwvar_27451M_color=S20356-2&start=1&sma=sm.0000e0t0tlzzke4wzwq1xw80o07b4" target="_blank">Kinvara 8</a>s I tried on at <a href="http://www.accelerateuk.com/" target="_blank">Accelerate</a> felt nice, but I wasn't sure if they were £120 nice.<br />
<br />
Last night while browsing the <a href="https://www.decathlon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Decathlon</a> website for a few basics I need to pick up I had a browse of their sale section when I spotted they had <a href="http://www.newbalance.com/pd/vazee-rush-v2/MRUSH-V2.html#color=Black_with_Hi-Lite" target="_blank">New Balance Vazeee Rush v2</a> down from £65 to £50. I've looked at the range of shoes available in Decathlon before, and everything I looked at for pure road running was high drop - 9mm or even 12mm, and felt wrong on my feet when I tried them on. These were 6mm though which is the same as my <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/new-shoes-kalenji-elio-feel-trail.html" target="_blank">trail shoes</a>, and they look to be similar weight (and even the colours match!) and the Sheffield store had some stock in, so I read some reviews and decided to give them a go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvF3846mmRhubOOac_26oEpJzGv805XFid_9Z0FcriAg_PN8YksW3MSdd_D1qD68JqS5ffLUGTBof6_dkF6js8LeBsgrcxwskBRtbVuTEZJQ8kACX_CYUHioHBEo7bmBrpe8N5nSCUKTI/s1600/IMG_20170611_152942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvF3846mmRhubOOac_26oEpJzGv805XFid_9Z0FcriAg_PN8YksW3MSdd_D1qD68JqS5ffLUGTBof6_dkF6js8LeBsgrcxwskBRtbVuTEZJQ8kACX_CYUHioHBEo7bmBrpe8N5nSCUKTI/s320/IMG_20170611_152942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After a short period of confusion where I thought the fit was awful because I was looking at the US size and not the UK size I popped a pair on and had a quick jog up and down the aisle. They felt natural, with a good fit round the heel yet a roomy toe box, so in the basket they went. I've only managed a quick 1km loop around the block in them but it was a fast km - new PB for 1km at 4:03 and I am now 6th of 223 on <a href="https://www.strava.com/segments/14212005?filter=overall" target="_blank">my local Strava segment</a> - this might have to be something I work on chipping away at :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxyKbLq3g4d_nymuWlthmFHyLzZynGF85foCuk-809y1E1MFZShRgcR4kUAw6RYHSYdSFT6ibAVIb6n6grpuSE_gYl6-CqBy3mhyphenhyphenyY1DOGLJZuyOw1CUBQOR2tzV2wIoTLvRu6ds2iBra/s1600/IMG_20170611_153501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxyKbLq3g4d_nymuWlthmFHyLzZynGF85foCuk-809y1E1MFZShRgcR4kUAw6RYHSYdSFT6ibAVIb6n6grpuSE_gYl6-CqBy3mhyphenhyphenyY1DOGLJZuyOw1CUBQOR2tzV2wIoTLvRu6ds2iBra/s320/IMG_20170611_153501.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've already got my sub <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1018567646" target="_blank">25 minute parkrun</a>, but I shall be looking to get some decent road distance under these as part of my half marathon training plan and seeing how much they help my speed.Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Sheffield, UK53.381128999999987 -1.4700850000000453.078144999999985 -2.11553200000004 53.684112999999989 -0.82463800000004006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462625640391828108.post-8807642118162922282017-05-28T21:08:00.002+01:002017-05-28T21:08:13.066+01:00Burbage Birthday BoulderIt's my Birthday today, and in the run up I was wondering what to do for it. In the end I decided that I would really like to be out in the Peaks enjoying the fact I live in <a href="http://theoutdoorcity.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Outdoor City</a>. I'd also been planing to take my son out climbing again as he enjoyed himself at <a href="https://runclimbandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/the-three-ships-at-birchen-edge.html" target="_blank">The Three Ships</a> last month even if some of it was a little challenging for him. After we got in last time we looked in Peak Bouldering and spotted that above Burbage South Quarries is an area named "The Kindergarten" with two described problems in a large baby boulderfield great for getting kids started, so I decided to head out here with a view to dropping down in to the valley later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8YqduEvbLaUlU8Z2_Syu431IMfbJIOdFllUibn3YyEP0X24VEmiKUyxHsRSeHBwhWz6tDyKIXaab_QSKM_VHquBlsHEx1WBoBVjEKbDNp86wADqh1iPDNDMB65k4XIw_mwkLwPaNp4iH/s1600/IMG_20170528_130858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8YqduEvbLaUlU8Z2_Syu431IMfbJIOdFllUibn3YyEP0X24VEmiKUyxHsRSeHBwhWz6tDyKIXaab_QSKM_VHquBlsHEx1WBoBVjEKbDNp86wADqh1iPDNDMB65k4XIw_mwkLwPaNp4iH/s320/IMG_20170528_130858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As well as the usual Liz, Kelly and Andy we also had my friend Becky and her partner with their young kid, who I was passing on a pair of my boys outgrown climbing shoes to. We all played around in the Kindergarten for a bit and the kids got up plenty of things easily before exploring the area for a bit, and then we headed down on to the valley floor. This area is one I always have fond memories of as it was my first experience of outdoors bouldering; many years back now we headed here after work one evening and after finding Pock Block a little intimidating I got my first problem sent on Fat Cobra, so that's where we started.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xUj-iRIIx8SY6Nc3JhIpycwyW40GHLYd6ctC_l3wiBykJ3rzwoj7TTEGyXoms4mml68mtPHe33Cid3G39cFIyd1fee_CO_XLfjTM31uaNy036od8Jy-l0AgaNYAYmCIyBj3DgSwCMlIL/s1600/IMG_20170528_133044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xUj-iRIIx8SY6Nc3JhIpycwyW40GHLYd6ctC_l3wiBykJ3rzwoj7TTEGyXoms4mml68mtPHe33Cid3G39cFIyd1fee_CO_XLfjTM31uaNy036od8Jy-l0AgaNYAYmCIyBj3DgSwCMlIL/s320/IMG_20170528_133044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Several problems fell easily here, and Becky got to pop her outdoor bouldering cherry. We attempted Cobra Mantel but it was just too intimidating with the mass of Pock Block right where you are likely to smash yourself , so it was time for a little play on some of the easier problems on the aforementioned block such as Pick and Wall Past Slot, then we decided to move on again. Lamb and Sheep have some nice gentle aretes which are a great introduction to Peak Grit, so we headed thataway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhypheni7dgVuy5Lp3Q89P7__UGA1rB5RoyAPc32qcbbvmNZzgZXUkUhwUibNjLEzMjEz1F95OewcxMWZ0zFRaUfE0wzsEyFJLVrGl9rW4cD-2OjBHzaoI2f_ul-TessjsLSvUWLJ2ws1G7Fkd/s1600/IMG_20170528_142515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhypheni7dgVuy5Lp3Q89P7__UGA1rB5RoyAPc32qcbbvmNZzgZXUkUhwUibNjLEzMjEz1F95OewcxMWZ0zFRaUfE0wzsEyFJLVrGl9rW4cD-2OjBHzaoI2f_ul-TessjsLSvUWLJ2ws1G7Fkd/s320/IMG_20170528_142515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We climbed Lamb Slab and Sheep Slab on many different routes, F really impressing with his commitment and footwork - those new shoes are really paying off as they have been described as "more comfy than his trainers" and he was smearing fantastically, walking up some slabs with no hands. At the top of Sheep Slab we found a big hairy caterpillar which appeared to be trying to build a cocoon out of grit, which attracted quite a bit of attention.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmqsseD1_Bmv6AZM0-jAJeoUbtq3gRe6bvslyn5DLQIb4q_DruRnfFvsnV5NeHENwMKvckGQ71h0Hb9s0m0tWvR9Y1uhLXouKC6vaGJj5iQ5wCNz4GRE7qepU6IPYV3NmYm9I9Ft5GV7Z/s1600/IMG_20170528_153555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmqsseD1_Bmv6AZM0-jAJeoUbtq3gRe6bvslyn5DLQIb4q_DruRnfFvsnV5NeHENwMKvckGQ71h0Hb9s0m0tWvR9Y1uhLXouKC6vaGJj5iQ5wCNz4GRE7qepU6IPYV3NmYm9I9Ft5GV7Z/s320/IMG_20170528_153555.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKl1JaaGxTge6YHguQKlfxz4ghOb8u8hoDou6LdwJXDL_Ti2FHpQaN5AiQTNS8rkMI5l60EHS_b_SHYuA7noPXBCk-uIXOyoKYp82mmmXtUfGaA2oaq5s4LNIZyDEjYO22MsQYb2FsDvn/s1600/IMG_20170528_152714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKl1JaaGxTge6YHguQKlfxz4ghOb8u8hoDou6LdwJXDL_Ti2FHpQaN5AiQTNS8rkMI5l60EHS_b_SHYuA7noPXBCk-uIXOyoKYp82mmmXtUfGaA2oaq5s4LNIZyDEjYO22MsQYb2FsDvn/s320/IMG_20170528_152714.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wmaIxJN51L6RM7c47-S8UUxDPZ7n2R2WR2IyPAu9UlsBSgbdgjGrZ7fUeB5Ad41HNXFqqdl_I5J1WYjHqxGr0L8x802WjOmrxVDDMeRBtnUPWtx_1l_-avmD81cxUZ9omGHeX8H41ov0/s1600/IMG_20170528_152707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wmaIxJN51L6RM7c47-S8UUxDPZ7n2R2WR2IyPAu9UlsBSgbdgjGrZ7fUeB5Ad41HNXFqqdl_I5J1WYjHqxGr0L8x802WjOmrxVDDMeRBtnUPWtx_1l_-avmD81cxUZ9omGHeX8H41ov0/s320/IMG_20170528_152707.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0lh01IGgKXUHUoUqz9QxS9o8ucokqrSWHWZQVHNhl29ylSfmSyFtLeHJRCLGQTTywMCZwvwKL0KjOV443cj7Pr_LVmX35wPf9CYrRpDwRaWY8QSR1GomPpVpNe4-rvUVTaYjWCp6z3dI/s1600/IMG_20170528_152532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0lh01IGgKXUHUoUqz9QxS9o8ucokqrSWHWZQVHNhl29ylSfmSyFtLeHJRCLGQTTywMCZwvwKL0KjOV443cj7Pr_LVmX35wPf9CYrRpDwRaWY8QSR1GomPpVpNe4-rvUVTaYjWCp6z3dI/s320/IMG_20170528_152532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also managed to get a few more here - The Sheep's Backside, Sheep Easy, The Crook and The Crook Traverse - before making a weak attempt at The Shearing while others tried much harder at it. Finally it was time to head to The Brick where many easy climbs went up Briquette and the the Short Arete went on Brick itself before decamping to Fox House for a pint and tea. It was a great birthday, nothing too hard but a lot of fun and even a touch of sun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-jTN1uHRNLOEX-rv4HsXW5q0raxMZustUAStMICVuE-w5MkFRVY9ulphOufi9abY7SFwM0f1w1-YOb82s5DaVPpU2tUqgDvG-4ZxvfBguUZuKJtCWXt7S2QBatmxgdazB5fIaHqprtng/s1600/IMG_20170528_142416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-jTN1uHRNLOEX-rv4HsXW5q0raxMZustUAStMICVuE-w5MkFRVY9ulphOufi9abY7SFwM0f1w1-YOb82s5DaVPpU2tUqgDvG-4ZxvfBguUZuKJtCWXt7S2QBatmxgdazB5fIaHqprtng/s320/IMG_20170528_142416.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Martin Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828816203235508742noreply@blogger.com0Burbage Boulders, Sheffield, UK53.32677218677901 -1.59988403320312553.322030686779009 -1.6099690332031249 53.331513686779012 -1.5897990332031251