Andrew R.
Dad of 3, husband and Founder of TimeOutdoors, in my 50's and trying to stay fit enough to enjoy doing ultras.
I'm interested in doing this event. 🤔 Full details are on the link below - if you fancy joining me, just click Join below to let me know. If not, give me a cheer if you think I should sign up 👏 and share any tips in the comments. 💬
DetailsI was planning to do this last year but life got in the way. I've signed up for 2024 and I'm doing it this time. 111km with 4,700M of climbing and finishing at the Cote d'Azur, this looks like a great weekend away!
With a month to go before UTMB Roubion to Nice it was time to up my training this weekend so headed over to How Stean Gorge and then down to finish at Cocoa Joe's in Pateley Bridge. Great to see cyclists on the inaugural Yorkshire LCW battling their way up Trapping Hill but dismayed to see km's of the Nidderdale Way between Lofthouse and Scar House freshly tarmacked!
Cracking ride heading out from Scarborough into the beautiful North York Moors and back along the cinder track. Lovely tailwind coming back, horrible headwind going out!
Details
Relaxed, well organised event with well-stocked food stations with plenty of real food and tea. Really well signed - didn't really need to look at the route. Free beer at the end was a bonus.
Campsite with fresh milk shakes and clean loos, walking along the Esk Valley watching out for the steam train heading to Whitby, fish and chips at Sandsend and getting rained off the beach - a perfect bank holiday in a beautiful part of Yorkshire with some amazing cloud formations included.
Had a fascinating taster visit to Outward Bound Ullswater at the end of last week. Rowing, walking and cake eating followed by an early morning run and dip in the lake - a great way to start any day off! It also gave me an idea - watch this space.
Cracking run through the mud into Ripon on Saturday with my son followed by social MTB ride into Nidderdale on Sunday. That's what weekends are for.
I'm going to give this challenge a go - low intensity workouts to help build a more efficient foundation for some of the longer runs I'll be taking on later in the year.
Leaderboard
After a very gentle year of running after UTMR in 2021, I'm planning to take on 3 of the UTMB World Series events in Wales, the Spanish Pyrenees and South of France this year.
111km with 5,000M of climbing and finishing at the Cote d'Azur, this looks like a great weekend escape without the kids!
1 person cheering on
110km with 6,400M of climbing, I might need to take a day off work for this one but it'll be worth it!
1 person cheering on
Another village trip, this time to the Peaks - back to Edale where we used to live. Looking forward to the trails and finishing off in the Cheshire Cheese in Hope.
I've just read my post from January - 'nice gentle way back into ultras'... yeh right. And getting back for dancing at Glampfest, what was I on! Up Snowdon twice then over to Mynydd Mawr before finishing on Moel Eilio and heading back down into Llanberis. A brutal 13-hour mix of running, walking and scrambling with dehydration, sun burn and exhaustion - but with amazing views. Big lesson on turning up poorly prepared and that shorter doesn't always mean easier!
A superb event with amazing scenery, generally organised very well. Only reason for 4 stars is the lack of water on what was an exceptionally hot day.
55km and 3,300m of climbing covering the trails around the Snowdon massif. Starting on Saturday morning at 8 with a 14 hour cut off. Nice gentle way back into ultras after too much time off. If I crack on I might even get back home in time for Glampfest. 🕺
What an amazing few days cycling topped off by conquering Sa Calobra, a 10km climb from the beach to Coll del Reis at 682m. The best roads you'll ever ride, great food and wine and cracking company. Also shed a few pounds ready for UTMB Snowdonia.
With a month to go before cycling in Majorca and 2 months before my first ultra of 2023, it's time to get back to under 80kg as I don't fancy hauling this belly around Snowdonia! Simple plan is to cut down carbs, drink more water and increase the running miles.
Looking forward to my first village cycling trip for some well-needed Vitamin D, cracking roads and great food/drink. And great company of course! Should be good training for Wales.
After warranty claims on my last two pairs of On shoes and a price tag of £150+ thought it was time to look at other options. So today was my first run out in some La Sportiva Mutants - a steady 15km on mixed terrain. They fit like a glove with a clever lacing and tongue system and managed the mud in Hackfall Woods no bother. For under £100 I'm impressed. Goes to show you don't always get what you pay for. ;-)
Great family off-road ride today up over Sandy Hill and down Trapping Hill for the first time en route to How Stean cafe for a great bacon and egg buttie. Leg burner route back over Hambleton Hill and Tom's Corner. 35km with 2,000 ft of climbing.
Cracking run this morning down into the mud bath that is Hackfall Woods followed by amazing selection of cake including my favourite Chocolate & Guinness.
It was all going so well until the 100km point which I reached within 24 hours - then pulled my right quad. Managed to struggle on after getting it bandaged but came very close to pulling out. Got to the last checkpoint with 2 mins to spare and crossed the finish line after 57 hours on my feet, with just under 3 hours of sleep! Thanks to John and Lionel for sticking together for the last leg.
What a spectacular route. 50 miles with 4000M of climbing from Caldbeck to Cartmel through the stunning and slightly hilly Lakes!
Details
Stunning but brutal route. Weather was amazing, it would be a very different event in the rain!
Happy memories of my first ever ultra! It's a great route and as it's local I still use it for training. Especially love the Hackfall section.
DetailsGreat course with fantastic checkpoints and meal at the finish line. Managed to get round in 6:42 - 41st out of 126.
I've signed up. 💪🥇👏