Its the final countdown, da da derrr duh, da da derr da da - 38 days

Since struggling on legs 4 & 5 a week last Saturday I have come to realise that I am fit enough to complete the BG, but at my own pace with plenty of carbs & fluid.

Last week I did a couple of easyish runs to recover from the Saturday then last Tues, did Halls Fell,  3 times off the belt. Went up Arthurs Pike on the Wednesday. Nothing Thursday.

Friday I finally tackled broadstand. Having read "Feet in the clouds", Broadstand has become legendary. People fear it? I was glad to final face & climb up that bit of rock. To be honest its a little overhyped. I would feel comfortable soloing it but I am not sure how I would feel with 16hrs or so in my legs. I went up with Bernie with full climbing kit in the bag to protect the climb. It was good to get my hands on the climbing kit & rock again. It was a good reminder that there are other things to do in the Lakes other than run up and down hills.

I couldn't train Saturday or Sunday due to taking my son to a mini rugby tournament on both days.

Yesterday I had only enough spare time to run up & down Halls Fell once.
Today I decided to repeat Halls Fell 3 times again. I was really chuffed with first effort. I got to summit in under 37 mins and down in 16 mins. The second 2 reps (if you can call them that) were slightly slower. Having been up & down 7/8 times in the last 7 days I have begun to get a really good intimate knowledge of the best way down. I can keep mainly to grass & runnable track so hopefully can find my way on the night of the 28th.

I have entered the Annie Waltz this week which I am really up for. My intention last week was to just plod round comfortably. However, after feeling strong today I have decided to go out all guns blazing and go for a good position/time. Will have to see how I feel on Sat morning mind.

Unfortunatley Dave Jacks has had to pull out of his attempt at the BG on 7th May due to his broken arm. I was down to Nav leg 2 for him and then tag along for 3 & 4 to get a really long day out on the fell. Think I am going to still go out and do the 3 legs on the 7th so may need to organise a bit of help and sort out the logistics.

Still feeling confident. Just know I need to keep going and going and going and goi..............................

Leg 4 & 5 Superfast Headgame

Its been a while since I wrote anything mainly due to the bug thing which returned but now seems to have gone. I have been working away so the training has suffered a little, that coupled with the tiring 1:40 - 2  hour eachway drive and 5am get ups everyday has made taining les enjoyable.

I ran Askham last weekend and was pleased with 15th in a much faster time than last year.

Today I have just  been round legs 4 & 5 from Seathwaite at what felt like breakneck speed. I went with Kim Collison, Stu Stoddart & Clare McKeown. (who sawpped with Anja Phoenix at Honister). We got to Wasdale in just over an hour from Seathwaite and set off on Leg 4 in glorious morning sunshine. Reaching Yewbarrow in 35 mins I realised I might aswell scrap the 23 hour schedule that was in my pocket. However I continued to record the summit times on the paper for nostalgia. We carried on round leg 4 at a good pace arriving at Honister in 4 Hrs. Bloomin quick.

After a quick pitstop we set off up the climb to Dale Head. The pace seemed to have quickened and now with fresh legged Anja joining us, I was now the back marker. Determined not to drop away I dug deep on the climb to reach the summit in 27 minutes. I think this was the start of of the suffering. Up until then I had felt quite good but now I was starting to struggle.

We continued on finally reaching tarmac and putting on road shoes. I cramped up a little when putting on the trainers so I knew the final run-in was going to be difficult.

This is where the head games began. I was determined to keep going & pushing myself to the finish. The guys kindly waited for me at Portinscale and we ran into Keswick together dodging the market stalls & tourists. We finally finished leg 5 in 2 hours 18 mins. Again bloomin quick.

I am really chuffed to have got round that quick and persevered through the pain. For me it was too quick but I kept at it without giving in so I am happy to have ticked that box.

Post run we picked up some food & drinks from Greggs  and I really struggled to eat, finally heaving on my last mouthful of sausage & bean (but not quite being sick). I guess this is how some people fail by getting that feeling and not being able to eat.

I am 100% confident of success but I do realise that this is based on luck with weather etc but also that at a slower pace I will be able to eat OK.

Thanks guys for the workout.