Training Log Archive: AliMas

Day 2

Dad said he'd never had cramp on day 2 before so we were both hoping that this would continue and fortunately it did. Better day today in general with us opting for all the ridge running routes and keeping a pretty good shuffle on all day. It was hot again but not as bad as the day before and I made sure to carry a lot of water with us on the ridges so no problem. Climb out of 5 was killer but knew it was just a loong ridge run then we'd be close enough to smell the finish. All went by pretty quickly actually. Good stuff, 2nd pair overall behind the Vokes boys (though the Patterson brothers would've easily beaten us if it weren't for a shoe breakdown on day 1) and 1st pair for day 2. Not too shabby given dad is almost 60 but I don't think he is keen to do it again next year.

The last time Dad and I did a mountain marathon together was the Saunders in 2015 where we did Bowfell course (the longest at the time) which went quite terribly both physically and nav-wise. I didn't want our MM's together to end on this sour note so wanted to make sure we got another Saunders in together and thankfully the timings worked quite nicely this year.

Day 1 in the Howgills - Scafell (current longest course)

This was a long day and quite hot too. For some reason the Vokes' were starting 3 minutes behind us so it was a little demoralising when they overtook us before we'd even left the start kite. They'd gone for the draw the course on the map whilst on the run approach, whereas we thought we'd just get it over and done with to avoid any mess ups. No dramas though and we started steadily, walking the ups and jogging the rest, just as we hoped to continue. We overshot a stream slightly at 5 which was a little frustrating then on the way to 6 I attempted a push dad up the hills technique but he said he didn't like his legs moving that fast so I didn't do it again. Dad had mentioned he was on the edge of cramping so we made sure to drink plenty of electrolytes but it wasn't too effective.

Once we crossed over the road at about 5 hours in everything became a massive slog and the sun was cooking us, at this point I had started to feel a little guilty about putting dad through this suffering. The other side of the road was a bleak, marshy, gradual hill, not a fan and not sure if anyone was. Just after a slow and long grind to the top, I turned around to witness dad jar his leg in a hole and then leap forward to the ground with spasms of cramp, it was a spectacular sight but it did not look pleasant. We spent a minute trying to rid the cramp, with dad lying on the floor and me stretching his calf. Some doubts about making it to the finish did cross my mind as we still had well over two hours to go but luckily there weren't anymore big climbs to come and dad is quite used to soldiering on. The running got a bit nicer briefly on the ridge to 9 and we picked up again. The rest was all still very sloggy but we kept moving other than for some brief cramp attacks and the nav was all good.

Dad not in a great way at the finish but a very solid day out on a brutal course, good going.

I did not feel like running today.

KF and bog with Bam and Sasha, still feeling weary.

The nice easy mileage on Braids with Tam n Dan, feeling a little pooped.

Tempo-ish effort round the AS Fresher's race route with Tam, tough going, good fun.

Lap of the Meadows with Timbo, both of ours legs still suffering.

Seat lap with Tim and Sasha, legs still suffering but potentially marginally less.