iROC : The Fell Race

The baptism of a novice

As Churchill said it'll be long and it'll be hard but of this I can assure you there will be no withdrawal, too bloody right. It was long, 15km. It was hard, 900m. It was bloody hard, according to my team member '..it's the hardest thing I've done to my body ever..' and he plays rugby regularly. There wasn't any withdrawal either, I did complete the course dispite my ankle. The last leg included a fording of the river, so cold it anethetised my ankle sufficently to allow me to run the last mile properly.

I wasn't last but was well down the field finishing in just over two hours, 2:03 to be more precise. Mark did much better, 1:40, well done him but we're both outside of the top 100 entrants. The winner's time by the way was 1:03!

There is a iROC Race Report over on SleepMonster's website and some photos too. More photos on my flickr photostream and Paul's Facebook

It was a learning experience that's for sure. Will I do another? Probably the bug has bitten, the endorphines addictive and the rationalism ...

Immediate plans are now focusing on the Lakes 3000's trip though, that's all the 3000ft peaks in 24 hours in the Lake District, 46 miles and 11,000ft of actual ascent. Target dates are early June.

Today : Tomorrow

iROCket Science

Food and liquids all day, steady as they go. Two helpings of Robert's Famous Beef Curry and brown rice for tea.

Tomorrow up and about by seven; on the way to the event by eight thirty; start time is 11:00. Hoping that the ankle will hold together with 8m of zinc tape. Please don't let me be last!

Training : The run out

The final run out before iROC

View Hexham V in a larger map

Arrgh... ankle, tweaked, you know the rest. So no more work this week, just carb loading.

Rugby Training : Mark My Words

Youth and rugby training 5 nights a week

View Hexham IV in a larger map

Mark a collegue from work and the other deranged person in the Off Exploring iROC team came and ran along with the Tuesday Night group I've been training with. Well I say along with, what I actually mean is 'ran far ahead of' as he was always way out front. It's youth of course, he's half the average age of the group, and the 5 nights rugby training for Ponteland Rugby Football Club that does it.

Unfortunately my GPS packed up halfway through the run so I had to guess at the actual route we took. It was all new territory as far as I was concerned anyway.

Performance this week, not great struggled most of the way around and damaged my left ankle again. I really will have to rest it over the next few days. Looks like boring cycle training for a while.

iROC is just over a week away now and while I'm not quite in a state of panic it is begining to come to the forefront of my mind. One thing I have learnt over the past few weeks is the state of one's mental fitness is just as important as the body. Any tips on how to stay focussed and positive would be helpful as would words of encouragement; like those from Bryan over at Tyne Dock Green.