It has been a while since I last updated the Runningman blog, since the Great North Run last September I have kept running, but no half marathons to talk about. I had planned to do the Brass Monkey Half in York in January but it was cancelled due to snow.
2 weeks ago I ran the Northumberland half marathon in Ponteland, a really enjoyable run through the Northumberland countryside, made slightly harder by snow and hailstones. Still management under 10 minute miles throughout to complete it in around 2:08.
Ponteland was a walk in the park compared to today's Cumbrian Commotion in Grizedale forest. According to Cumbria Police you shouldn't travel to the Lakes unless absolutely necessary, so ignoring this advice the Elddis Off Road Truckers, myself, Mark and Richard set off for an extreme triathlon. The weather was certainly challenging, even the trusty Land Rover got a modified wing when it went off the road in the ice trying to get to Grizedale start. For safety reasons the biking section was slightly reduced, but the race still involved a 1.5 mile run, mostly up hill and all on snow and ice, followed by 1 1/2 hours mountain bike through Grizedale, a 3 mile trail run over the mount to Coniston, a 3 man kayak around a course on Coniston water, a run back over the mountain back to Grizedale to finish with an assault course. Easy?
I stopped counting how many times I fell off the bike after I got to ten, I face planted in the snow running, slipped over in a river, waded in freezing water in Coniston, but the team still managed a respectable 3:22. Now enjoying several pints in my favourite pub in the Lakes to rehydrate...