Training
I remember my first fell race, the Chevy Chase on the first Saturday of July 2017. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, harder than the road marathons I’d been doing around the time, and for about three days afterwards I’d have to steady myself on things while my quads twitched and groaned at random. For the years after that progress was fairly linear, each year I chose bigger challenges and got generally fitter. Lockdown was an opportunity to push hard and while I couldn’t get into the hills, I got quicker on the flat and ran higher volumes. At the back of my mind was a little voice that said I had to maintain my fitness and keep building until I’d ticked everything off the list; I knew how hard it was to get there, I didn’t want to face doing it again. And that held up until... View Article
December 31, 2023,
by Pete
The descent through the forest was wild. I’ve never experienced anything like it, and I’m not sure I ever want to again. It was the dead of night and we were following each other’s head-torches through the trees. Flattish sections gave way to sudden steep drops that could only be managed by clinging onto tree trunks while the trail disintegrated beneath your feet. Emerging from the tree line a reflective arrow glinted in the head torches and pointed us left onto a road. A full moon hung in the sky ahead of us, illuminating the ribbon of asphalt as it carved its way through the alps. I increased my stride length a little to put some space between me and the guys I was near and turned off my head-torch to run by moonlight. It was as close to perfect as a running moment can be. The night was calm... View Article
It all started with an invite to Jane’s birthday party. She moved to Switzerland, seemingly 50% for the skiing and 50% so she could send photos of mountains home to taunt the rest of us. So her party happens to be in the shadow of Mont Blanc: bit of a long way if we’re honest but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for friendship. I’m benevolent like that. I start to look at flights and wonder if it wouldn’t be best to combine the trip with a little running. One thing leads to another, It’s UTMB week after the party and Chamonix starts to whisper my name. Could I really fly home only to sit in front of my laptop dot watching races and wishing I was there? In spite of my conflicting feelings about their influence in the sport, every year it feels like everyone is at UTMB.... View Article
For a below average gardener, I’m quite obsessed with my clematis. I bought it the year I moved in and every winter it dies back so thoroughly that I assume it is finished. Surely nothing good can come back from the spindly dry sticks I’m left with? And every spring, around about Easter, it surprises me with a resurrection. It’s in raging bloom at the moment, assaulting the dullness of the shed with bright purple flowers. What I love about it is that it doesn’t bloom based on just one season. It’s established itself in the soil. It’s grown a big root network. So every year is more than just a bit of sunshine and water, its the cumulative affect of years of growth. And this gives me hope. Specifically, this gives me hope for the Bob Graham Round. I’ve had one of those seasons where things don’t necessarily go... View Article
There’s a saying, often attributed to Disraeli, that there’s three types of lies; lies, damned lies, and statistics. I can’t tell you if Disraeli ever said such a thing, but I can tell you it’s been true in my running. After being frustrated on my Bob Graham attempt in May, I wasted no time getting running again. I was back out within a couple of days. That next weekend I set a target to take a Strava crown on a four mile segment I’d been eyeing up and did so comfortably. The weekend after that was the Trail Pursuit half marathon, which last minute route changes had turned into a 15 mile technical fell run. Bad news for people who paid in good faith for an accessible trail, good news for gluttons for punishment like myself. All seemed to be going to plan until a frustrating outing at Blencathra Fell... View Article
February 8, 2022,
by Pete
When I was very young, just an infant really, my mother dipped me in the shuddering waters of the River Styx. Holding me by my heels she submerged me in the inky flow to ensure I was invulnerable. And — in fairness to her — it almost worked. Almost. But those heels, the only area not to be dipped, would inevitably become my weakness. Okay. Not quite. I may have appropriated Achilles’ story a little. But I have a surprising degree of empathy for the lad at the moment. We both found ourselves engaged in quests of epic proportions. He took his ships to Troy, I took my S/Labs to Troutbeck. And both of us were let down by our weak spot. All of this to say, I hurt my heels. “Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier;I have seen worse sights than this.” -Homer, The Illiad One... View Article
I can’t remember when I first heard of the Bob Graham round, but I can remember thinking how utterly absurd it was and that I’d never be able to take on a challenge like that. 42 fells, 106km, roughly the height of Everest (from sea level) in ascent. And 24 hours to get round. Truth be told, I still think it’s a bit bonkers and am not entirely convinced I’ll ever be able to take on a challenge like that. And that’s why I’m writing about it really. Because over the course of the last year that dream has become both more tangible and more impossible. I’ve got a bit more experience, done a couple of longer distance runs, and a few days of back to back Munros. Got some elevation in my legs. Last summer I became fitter than I’d ever been. I did the Abraham’s Tea Round and... View Article
“The earth teaches us more about ourselves than all the books in the world, because it is resistant to us. Self-discovery comes when man measures himself against an obstacle.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry One of the things I love most about fell and trail running is the fact that we’re running against challenges bigger than ourselves. On the road there’s a constant drive to make every second count, to push the pace and compare against past efforts and goals. In the hills, you never run the same run twice. Terrain changes with the seasons, weather can be a benevolent ally or a hostile adversary, and an easy ascent on fresh legs can be an Everest on tired ones. A couple of weeks ago I had a wonderful first day back in the hills since lockdown. Twenty miles, pinging along the border ridge from Cheviot to Windy Gyle, back over Auchope Cairn... View Article
Sometimes, when I tell someone I’m worried about my fitness, they get this look as though I’m being sarcastic. There’s a pregnant pause while they wait for me to either take it back or deliver a punchline. It can be hard to understand that someone can be doing long runs every week and also feel like they’re ready for the knacker’s yard. There’s a thought that because you’re a runner you must feel fit, whatever that means, or an implication that it’s humble bragging if you have a complaint about fitness. But here’s the thing. For all of us fitness is relative to where we are and how we’re performing. Our assessment of ourself may be exaggerated in one way or the other, like with anything in life, but that doesn’t mean our frustrations or concerns aren’t genuine. As a classic introvert, I sometimes seize on small things and dwell on them... View Article
September 19, 2019,
by Pete
Every few weekends in summer, I’m left with a mix of awe and envy as my social timelines fill up with my favourite athletes on their way to the Golden Trail Series races. Six epic races around the world in incredible locations with stunning scenery. I spend the days before and after each race living vicariously through the lives of the athletes and the Salomon media team. Except, that is, for this weekend. Because this weekend I’m here. In person. Ready to give one of a handful of races that are on my bucket list the best shot I can. There’s a real buzz at the event village, even before the bulk of people arrive. With seven races spread across three days, it’s the biggest mountain running event in the UK. There are talks from people like Holly Page, Paul Tierney and Charlie Ramsay. Yes. That Charlie Ramsay. Many of the best mountain runners... View Article
