Friday 21 October 2011

Second Attempt - The Helsby 3 Peaks


Second Attempt - The Helsby Three Peaks
A cloudy day over Helsby's War Memorial
So no excuses today, no tumbling tummy, no beer festival blues, no feeling of ‘what the hell am I doing here’, today I’m totally prepared and have come for glory, I just wish someone had told my calfs that!
I'd decided from previous experience that I shouldn't just rock up to the start and run like hell till’ it’s all over, no today I’m going to warm up properly (apart from stretching, it’s not that serious) by jogging a little loop and shaking out whilst I mentally psyche my self up. So far so good and no chatty people!
It’s 8.30ish, it’s overcast, it’s cool conditions, it’s almost perfect, it’s time to go and I’m off...
I’m starting on the same route as last time but I’ve reccied a ‘parachute route’, if I don't go ‘arse over tit’ it will save me at least 20-30 seconds, not a lot but it could be the difference between success and failure. I take it easy on the big up to Helsby Trig but my calfs are getting tighter by the stride, so much for logic!
Helsby Trig 21:55, better than last time but I’m still not certain whether I should carry on with my tight calfs or just ease off and have a steady run back. Obviously I banish the thought of dropping and put my head down and stride it out. As much as I like Harmers (pool, farm, woods) I decide to take a different route today. My only worry now was the rush hour traffic around Helsby at this time of the day, luckily the six cars, two tractors and one horse passed without notable incident and I’m safely into the woods. It’s a bit muddier today and a few more acres of trees have been massacred but I make it to the top of Old Pale 1:07:00.  No time to take in the view and I’m off retracing my footsteps (yes, this is allowed) for a short period heading back to the monument with the promise (again) of the luxuries of Forest Hills.
I’m feeling at my best now, just legging it through the forest, I’m in a race, but there’s no one else to race except myself so I just carry on as fast as my legs will take me. I’m getting close to the finish and I haven't looked at my watch since Old Pale, but I know I’m motoring! It’s not often than I can get myself into such a state running alone but when it happens, it’s great.
The last stretch of road towards the hotel and my legs stick the ‘Vs’ up to me (not literally!) and say ‘that’s it mate, we’re done’, I squeezed the last bit of juice out of them by promising a weeks long rest in Cyprus, it worked and I crashed into the Monument gates in 1:49:38, YES almost 6 minutes faster than last time and 3 minutes off the (known) record! Todays route was 14.96 miles, a wee bit less than last time.
I will have my five minutes of glory (Sandstone Trail like) until it’s beaten which I’m sure it will be very soon. Remember though, by beating my record you will only make me stronger!
Happy running all, I’m off to Cyprus
Wallman

Tuesday 11 October 2011

First Attempt - The Helsby Three Peaks


The Helsby Three Peaks


So here’s my account of my first bash at ‘The Helsby Three Peaks’ 
Belgium Beer Festival
Monday 10th October, I couldn't of felt much worse, the last 72 hours were a blur of coaches, chips, frikandels (bad Belgium sausage), beer and mohicans, that was the Belgium Beer Festival 2011!
I’m stood at the gate in the railings by the Frodsham War Memorial about to set off, trying to convince my body and mind that this is a great way to detox after the weekends antics when a gentleman appears giving me that smile and nod that can be taken as a ‘Oh, hello, I know you’ so after a nice 10 minute chat (brrrrrrrr) I was off....
I knew Chris (Helsby Runners) had clocked a time of 1 hour 52 minutes last week which was a tremendous effort. I also know that he did Frodsham to Helsby in under 20 minutes, another commendable accomplishment. I wasn't out to for the crown today but I did want to stretch my legs and suffer a bit (how else do you get better?).
I made it over familiar ground to the Helsby Trig in just over 22 minutes. I don’t think there’s a more direct way than what I took unless them Helsby boys have a secret network in those woods?
As the crow flies, The Helsby Three Peaks
Now it was a battle not to take the obvious road choice from the top so off over to Harmers I headed, gates, styles, mud and leaves for a bit then onto the road for a spell and into Delamere. The weather was threatening big rain and every now and again a small shower would cool me down but not quite bring on the down-pour I expected. Even though I was pushing it I seemed to be struggling. Mind games had to win over the tired legs and tumbling tummy. Now I know Delamere like the back of my hand but I still managed to add a small loop on that I could of missed out, lost brian cells perhaps?
Onto Pale Heights now and I can see the territory I’ve travelled and the territory that needs  to be overcome to get back. I’ve got 1 hour 11 minutes on my Garmin which sort of said to me ‘not bad, but I could get 2 hours if I don’t die any more’. I put my head down (to avoid any other chance encounters with talkative strangers) and set off back to Frodsham. I’d packed my towel and trunks (in the car) for a promised dip in the Forest Hills pool on my return, so with this in mind I strode forward and headed NNW back to the gate. 5 minutes from the finish the heavens opened and I got my welcomed cool down but no time to slip my waterproof on when so close to the finish.
After near impalement on the railings in my attempt to sprint finish and stop my watch at the same time I was back in 1 hour 55 minutes 33 seconds Distance 15.21 miles.

Good run, yes. Had it de-toxed me, no. Did I feel better for doing it, hell yes. Can I do better, watch this space!
Pool, sauna, jacuzzi here I come!

Wallman