Paul - excellent stuff, its great to know you're improving by keeping check son times like that.

petie - are you doing Ben Nevis this year? I'm not but the bloke is. I'm tempted for next year but will observe pained expressions and buckling legs at close hand first. That last stretch on the road must be horrific...

No races for me this weekend. Thurs night was fine for me. Out up the local hill Sat for a short one. There was a local hill race (Lomonds of Fife) on but we didn't really register it until Sat night. Bloke decided to do it but since I'd raced Thurs (he hadn't) and my legs were rather stiff from digging our garden most of the day on Sat I went for a couple of hours myself while he ran the race. On cue the heavens opened just before the start of the race. This race has the steepest descent I've experienced in a race, most folks do come down on their bums but this is a dangerous and painful tactic a) 'cos it's so steep it's easy to get out of control (arms have been dislocated on this descent!) and b) there are thistles, lots of them. Some folks were tights or ronhills in the race just because of the potential skin removal! It was worse yesterday as the rain had ensured it was extremely slippy so unless you walked it was hard to stay on your feet. Anyway, lots of sharp intakes of breath on entering the bath last night!

Anita

no I've never done Ben Nevis, its one thats quite high on my to do list, but I know its difficult to get an entry.

Did a great race at the weekend, Brecon Beacons, 19 miler but only 4500ft ascent, fast runnable trails, came 4th, but the weather was attrocious, I ran all the second half with a map and compass running on bearings even along paths as it was so easy to take the wrong ridge. Good points for the Wlesh CHamps anyway, now have a good chance of finishing 3rd.

One week until the UTMB. Opted not to do Cnicht (I think..) at the weekend, but it's one of the best short fell races in Snowdonia, if not the best. But with that SUnday, UTMB starting friday I don't have much recovery. 

103 miles, 29,000ft of ascent, the aim is simply to finish and enjoy it.

Got Ochils 2000 race this weekend. 28km 1500m ascent. Weather doesn't look great and it's mainly over grassy rounded, all looks the same, hills. Could be interesting if the clouds down!

We're supposed to be going climbing in Pembroke.  But just found out that all (yes, all) the campsites are closed due to waterlogged ground!

So might end up doing part of the White Rose (Eborienteers weekend event) instead...

Have fun all you fit (and otherwise) runners this weekend. None for me as I am now crocked from a stupid fall working in a woodland. No real damage - just everything hurts - so glad I had my hard hat on. Did enjoy being a marshal last night for the Round Latrigg fell race - standing in glorious sunshine, loads of happy runners zipping by and Avon SSS to keep the midges at bay.

Iain sounds as if you're actually going to rest up before the tour! 

Wot! No reports from the weekend?

I hobbled round some of the footpath network around Crook, picking blackberries and thinking - blackberries in August? Surely we haven't lost summer already? So I had to console myself with a feast in Wilfs and watch the river flow by...... now I just feel guilty for all those extra calories and no real exercise!

No race. Had quite an active weekend but all at a comfortable pace. Nice cycle over to watch the Cnicht race presentation and then back home via a cafe.

Just off tommorrow to Chamonix..

Brackens browning off here, trees turning yellow, feels very autumnul. Lit the wood stove this weekend for the first time in about 4 months.

I raced! It was long.... a hill too long for me

I normally love descents but the descent off dumyat after doing the 10 2000ft Ochils prior to it was just a bit too much. I shuffled down. Ach well. I need to do a bit more longer stuff I reckon. Finished in 4.48 which is fine. Winners time was 2.47 (colin donnely) bu anglea mudge finished in 2.51 (5th overall!!!!!!). Frankly that's incredible!

I dug the garden on Sunday...

We climbed all weekend so no running for me.  Unless you count running down Ingleby Incline at full pelt with a rucksack full of climbing kit - my thighs still hurt

Good luck Iain, hope it goes well.

You are mad.....

Didn't go well, report and pics on my wifes blog:

http://sarzmountainrun.blogspot.com/

Basically overheated after the first 50 miles and dropped out at 70.

Anyway the Ben Race this weekend, not sure it's wise to race so soon but wan to hget back on the horse so to speak, asap.

Sounded pretty harsh. But also sounds like you made the right decision. You can get seriously ill. My blokes doing the Ben race as well (I didn't fancy it this year, but probaly will next). Looks like N and W Scotland will just miss the really bad weather, though might be a bit windy.

Good luck, get the descending legs in gear!