In his build up to the iconic Dragon’s Back Race Matthew Davis is contending with a stream of with guests, hitting the Yorkshire Dales and eating baby food...
Posted: 15 August 2012
by Matt Davis
What a great week to get back into training. It finally felt like summer had arrived with a string of decent days. I didn’t plan to go over board with things, the rough plan to add 30mins each time I went out which would lead to a longer run by the end of the week. We also had two sets of last minute visitors staying with us, no sooner had one set gone the others arrived. Sometimes it’s like a B&B at our house but without the payment. I guess it’s the draw of where we live in the Scottish borders. We don’t complain though as its always nice to see people but it’s then a juggling act so we can do what we’d normally planned without appearing to be too anti-social. Everyone knows what I get up to so they understand when I disappear for a while.
Still Recovering
I ended up fitting in my long run to coincide with a trip down home-home toYorkshirefor an arranged “tour de everywhere” to catch up with family. So having left my wife with the mother in-law I scooted off up to Horton for a run on the three peaks. Given its prime tourist & charity season I was surprised to get the hills to myself. I wasn’t over greedy and settled for Pen Y Ghent and Ingleborough using the little used ridge route over South House Moor the latter nearly abandoned after a coughing fit had me retching. Now I know how my cat feels when he’s trying to bring up a fur ball!
So my chest isn’t completely cured yet, but its getting there and my legs got a good work out after the inactivity.
Food experimentation
Also been experimenting with food again. In my search for interesting and real things to eat when I’m out. I spotted some kids food in the baby isle which is not normally somewhere you’ll see me shopping. However, they peeked my interest so I bought a couple of the ones that had basically just fruit as its ingredients. Reasoning that they won’t put any dodgy things in as its kids & worst case if it tastes crap I’d just spit it out. Low & behold they turned out to be really good and really refreshing on the taste buds. For the calorie counters out there they weigh in something around that of a gel but without quite as many carbs. Now my plan is to get myself one of these “real life” dolls to keep in the boot for when I go shopping so I can get the vouchers they hand out. No one will ever know.
So last weeks been a bit of a blur, really must start thinking about what I’m going to pack as I only have this and next week As the week before the race I’m away trekking in France and I’ve that to sort out too.
Click here for part one
