#RMRChallenge Lakeland Trails Dirty Double 2019

More than 10 months after I signed up for the Lakeland Trails Dirty Double, as part of my RMR Challenge, it was finally race weekend! The forecast was dire for Saturday and we set off up towards the Kirkstone Pass with no views due to the clouds. Luckily when we reached Glenridding it was dry and just a bit grey:

Day 1: Helvellyn 5k/10k

We registered for our respective races (10k for me 5k for him) and then just had to try to keep warm until our starts:

My race set off at 11 AM and I tried to make sure I didn't get carried away by the fast start as we headed out through Glenridding. We passed the 5k turning point and headed up towards Helvellyn and the Youth Hostel:

Reasons to be Cheerful: Miles of smiles #R2BC

 
Welcome to reasons to be cheerful this week! It was very quiet on the linky last week so I hope more of the regulars are back this week... Reasons don't have to be massive to join in as its the little things that have made you smile that can shine out when the world seems a bad place. Any how here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:
1) Doggy haircut
Sherlock had his first trip to the dog groomers so we can see his lovely big eyes again:

2) Chilling in the garden

After a car boot sale and mowing the lawn I enjoyed sitting in the sun in the garden enjoying an ice cold G&T:

3) Balloon surprise

At athletics training we had a bonus of a very low flying hot air balloon as they made the most of a stunning evening to fly over Kendal and the surrounding area:

Reasons to be Cheerful: A spring in my step #R2BC

 
I enjoyed reading all your posts last week and the varied reasons to be cheerful. Its great to hear that this linky has a special place in your blogging week. My last week as host before handing back to Michelle for April. Here are some of my reasons to be cheerful this week:

1) Parkrun

I was so glad to get back to Fell Foot parkrun after too many weeks away. For most of the 4 laps I chatted to another mum and it got me up most of the hills! In fact I was my fastest on the route this year. My progress pic made me feel happy as well:

2) Spring is sprung

It felt so spring like at the start of the week and I've been enjoying my walks to and from work over the river:

At school we've enjoyed being outside and making the most of the sun whilst it lasts!

3) A long run in the country 

I made the most of a work free evening to lace up my trainers and join the sheep on the canal:

Turned into my fastest 10km for 2 years with 1 hour and 16 minutes despite doing 60:30 intervals:

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Amazing how much quicker I was by doing 60:30 intervals! #trailrunning #kendal

A post shared by Becky Willoughby (@lakessinglemum) on Mar 26, 2019 at 11:54am PDT

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Monday Motivation: Just smile!

I may not be the fastest runner in the world but I may get the prize for the person who looks happiest to be wading through a river after 5 miles of mud, rain, hills and water! ?This was taken by the lovely and talented James Kirby: 

 

If you check out the video I shared yesterday you will see the reverse angle on this shot! 

#RMRChallenge Lakeland Trails Cartmel 10 k with inov8

So yesterday the first of the Lakeland Trails races I have challenged myself to took place at Cartmel. Now training has gone really badly due to illness but it didn't stop me turning up! It was a horrible wet day on which several local parkruns were cancelled due to the conditions but my race only had minor diversions.

The whole race start area was very wet and covered in puddles! It was not surprising that the 18km race was reduced to 10km in the conditions. It was going to be an absolute mudfest. My friend and I took full advantage of inov8's offer of testing our their new Roclite 275 running shoes:

We all wrapped well and headed for the start line. Then it was off out around the race course and up onto the trails proper:

It was so wet and boggy and I was very glad of the extra grip from the graphene in my trainers:

Sizergh Castle 321 Trail Route

Last week I met up with some other local ladies to run the Run England 5 km route from Sizergh Castle. Its one I have done before but not for quite some time. The route starts at the end of the car park close to the bird hides:

It then heads off across the fields with a gentle slope to warm you up:

One of the nicest parts of the run is the path through the wood which at the moment smells of wild garlic and the bluebells are coming out:

#CountryKids A trail run to Easedale Tarn

As part of Great Landscapes Week The Friends of the Lake District have been laying on all sorts of free activities from basket weaving and bushcraft to yoga and trail running. When I saw that there was a taster trail run to Easedale Tarn that my son was allowed to take part in I quickly signed up! We met up in the centre of the village and met up with the trail leader, Wayne from Jogging Pals, to get a briefing and do a warm up. Then we headed out through the village and the grounds of Allan Bank:

There was very much an emphasis on the social aspect of the run as that is the main part of the ethos of Jogging Pals. The two 10 year olds led the way like a pair of mountain goats whilst the rest of us came along more steadily as we were chatting as we went. Every so often we would pause so that everyone had a chance to recover and regroup:

The boys were a lot more sure footed and fitter than the rest of us as we tackled the increasingly steep and rocky trail up the mountain side:

#CountryKids Kendal Winter League Fell Race at Scout Scar

On Sunday my son took part in his first fell race as part of the Kendal Winter League which takes place until Easter. He has only been training since November and has a lot to learn but it was a great experience. We got to the Old Racecourse outside Kendal just before 11 to make sure we had plenty of time to park and register. Then we walked up the route so that he knew where to go:

It was such a beautiful spot for a walk on a cold and frosty morning! I almost wished I had my running kit with me to do the adult 5 mile race (almost!):

#CountryKids Boxing Day Run on The Helm

Both my children got new sports kit for Christmas and were keen to try it out today! My son got on his running hat and trousers and my daughter her new cycling kit this morning to drag the adults outside:

He and I headed up the hill to The Helm which runs behind Oxenholme. It's quite a steep ascent at first and was very muddy:

 My son was far more sure footed than me and sped up to the top:

#Juneathon day 7 #GrasmereGallop

Today's big run 5.7km against the clock and 99 other entrants for the 2014 Grasmere Gallop fun run!

I will up date with proper finish times and photographs later as there isn't time today... My 7 year old running his first event longer than 1 mile so it will be interesting to see how it compares to the 41 minutes I did it in 2013 when it was my first ever serious race:

Back online with my results! It was wet, wet, wet and my son had to find some awesome reserves but we were faster!

Here are our official photos from 21C Photos:

And this is our after shot with my son completely exhausted:

I was the 8th adult female and he was the 15th child (and possibly beat all others his age!) so a good result. He has agreed to sign up again for next year - join us it can't be any where near as wet.... can it?

Grasmere Gallop Fun Run 2013

I foolishly said on Twitter a couple of months ago that I was looking for some more running challenges. It was suggested I try the Grasmere Gallop Fun Run at 5.7 km as an introduction to trail running. Once I'd signed up other people told me that the Fun bit of the race title didn't really exist... oh well too late to back out once I'd paid my entry fee...

The day came this Saturday when it was time to head up into the Lake District proper to register for the race. It was an absolutely glorious hot sunny day which was not ideal but it looked wonderful:

After signing in I discovered quite a few friends were also doing various lengths of race though as they were all a lot fitter than me they were doing either the 10k or 17k events.  There was also a Nordic walk of 10k which attracted plenty of entrants. We all mustered together and were then piped to the official start line in the village:

listen to ‘Piping in the start of the Grasmere Gallop today. A fantastic fell race through amazing scenery’ on Audioboo

It was an amazing experience lining up with over 500 other people for the big start. Then the hooter went and we all set off along the road out of the village. The first part was quite pleasant as it was fairly level then we climbed up towards Loughrigg and I was amongst those who chose speed walking instead of running! 

My race then was diverted down on to a path whilst the longer races carried on upwards. It was quite tricky running down the footpath over stones and roots but very much more pleasant under the trees. Our course took us back along the lake side and due to the heat I was alternating running and fast walking as I decided it was better to finish than collapse! We had a very steep path back up to the road and then a lovely descent back to the village.

Plenty of walkers and cyclists cheered us on which inspired me to try and run as much as possible even when it felt too hot. At one point I caught up with a student from my school and helped him pace himself as he was sprinting too fast then walking slow. Together we ran through the village and back to the sports field. At this point the first of the 10 k runners over took us on his way to take first place (so pleased it was a dad from my children's school!). It seemed a long way round to get to the finish but I managed to sprint down the last bit (seemed to impress my children!).

It was a nice feeling to cross the line and be awarded a medal and a tray bake plus squash:

When we saw the official results I was the 35th overall out of 56 and the 12th adult female out of 22 so I am pretty pleased with myself. My pace was about 11 minutes 39 seconds per mile which wasn't bad considering the heat. My daughter says she will beat me next year so we are up for a big challenge! At least I now have a target to beat:

Roll on the 5 k next weekend at the Race for Life in Preston!