Still around, still running just never seem to have time to post! Murph went on his first camping adventure this week, we went up with his therapy dog to Snowdonia to climb Cadair Idris. He did so well too! He’s so nervous around people I wasn’t sure how he would settle but he did start to get used to it after a while and even slept right through the second night. I invested in a tent with blackout tech so it was cooler, darker and he could use it as a refuge when he was a bit overwhelmed and it worked great. We had an awesome few days climbing mountains and exploring. Even tired him out!
Murph Emerging from his caveYes he wore a cape at the beachYes Tilly had a cape too – This is the two superheroues digging a holeForests to play inAnd a river right by the tentsEarly morning recce of the route up Cadair Idris – Its up there somewhere – was a little concerned about the visibility and weather but who wants easy adventures right?The mountain at dawn – The clouds roll in and out so fast you’ve just got to roll with itOn our way upHalfway – mountains everywhereMurph looking enigmatic on a mountainViews for daysLook at the bloody camera Murph while we can see anything at allAt the peak, hanging on tight to the lead as its a long way down off this one. Vertigo kicking in tooOn the way up or down – I dont rememberChrist we almost look normalTimer photo actually worked!After all the exercise sometimes you just need a friend to sleep on
First off a happy birthday to my dad – Hope you’re having a good one (assuming you still read the blog that is)
Seven miles on Sunday thats disappointingly left me with a sore (more than usual) ankle – whats with this? I drop the mileage and things get worse?
Anyway I’m kinda used to it by now but as long as I can keep walking Murph too all is good, at least I’m bound to be keeping some level of fitness walking 4 or 5 miles a day even if I’m not running right?
Rock dogJust mooching – nice place to mooch mind youHaha you stinky little shit – bathtime – He wasnt so impressed with this bit
You cant teach an old dog new tricks? I dont believe in that or I wouldnt be running ultras right now and you can certainly teach a young dog lots of tricks. What I am learning is that I don’t really need to batter my body to pieces in order to keep at a good level of fitness, my running milage is lower but the quality is higher and I am guessing my overall milage if you include walking has risen thanks to Murph.
I could be running more but it seems less important than just spending time on my feet and making Murph happy, dont get me wrong he loves running too but sometimes its just nice to chill and enjoy watching him play especially when its hot. I can judge how im feeling and turn up and down the intesity but Murph doesnt have that option, he’s flat out no matter how hot it is and its the responsible thing to do not to push him. Its a nice balance im finding at the moment. Plus I’m suffering less pain in the ankle and toe and figure it cant be a bad thing to let things heal a little, it was a long hard training block up to Preseli and although its hard to switch off from that mentally its the right thing to do.
So I havent run all week but have been to the beach a dozen times and only this morning we ran and it was a nice change and was nice to run pain free, only 3 miles but enough
As for young dogs learning new tricks – This week we nailed sit!
Sit!See those teeth – do not stick your hand in his mouth even if its only playing – Im learning 😉Happy runningPosing again
Murph and I ran another 6 miles yesterday – He loves it, puts me to shame, when im flagging and he gambols off into the distance its a good feeling though as I know he’s not even really putting any effort into it and clearly enjoys the whole thing. Today we just walked 4 as the ankle still plays up a bit. Its good to be able to do either as I feel. So yeah … lifes good!
Taking a breakChecking out the way aheadNew rockfall – right where I warned the “geologist” to get from under the cliffs a few months ago. Would take a bit of digging to get him out from under thereChilling in the fields
I’m running but completely failing to post about it! Perhaps it’s because I’m not really measuring what I’m doing but in the last week or so we’ve done a few 7 milers to witches including today and a few shorter ones.
Everything’s feeling remarkably good considering what I did to it a few weeks ago, even the ankle isn’t protesting too much. I’ll continue in this new relaxed manner while I work out what murph can and can’t do. Well actually he’s a flying machine but I’m just erring on the cautious side especially in the heat. And now some photos!
Derp dog at WitchesMurph and Tilly at sunsetMore murph n tillyHappy to be out on the runExtra dog – this is Jake, He doesn’t get to join in as much as he’s 18 but we took him out one cool morning and he joined in the stream funChilling in a friends gardenNon dog photo of sunset at monknash
A week afetr running the ultrabeast in Preseli I went back with Claire and the dogs to walk in the hills. To be honest I dont think i’d get bored of that place. Was strange in a way to walk the paths I’d run the week before and a damn sight easier. We actually ended up doing the Beast Bach 11 mile route with a bit tacked on so we could reach a rocky outcrop so a 12 mile walk in the hills on a sunny day – cant fault it. The dogs had a whale of a time plus (and this was intended) we didnt have to endure a single second of anything royal wedding related – Win Win!
I also realised yesterday Im doubly blessed – I loved running the ultra (Yes once again a week later I’m no longer saying never again and I’ve forgotten all the pain) and I loved walking up there with the dogs. I can do either happily and not miss the other. Thats lucky
Today I felt like running again, the legs have been a bit wrecked this week – monday was horrendous/hilarious depending on whether you were me or watching me. But today although they are still a little tired I could feel the spring is back and I can drive again rather than shuffle. Murph loves running – well he trots at a gentle pace, I think he’ll make a pretty good training partner.
Tilly loves water – Murph aint so sureSee? Thats the water rat fetching a stick and my rat being a wuss and only putting his paws inReckon he’s happy – soft sod will let her do anything to himIf dogs could talk – So you ran over that over there mountain right? Idiot ….Awesome photo nose cut-off skillsTill posing on a cairn as perAlertback of the van is now a dog chill out zone – Fully padded out with pillows, dog beds and sleeping bags – They slept the whole way homeHandsome beasts … well one of us
2 weeks out from the first ultra of the year, 6 months of solid training and I go and (probably) break my toe on a baby gate I installed to keep Murph from troubles food ….
Spot the fucked one – Icing it in the Bristol channel at 6 this morning – now THAT is cold. Plus I have weird feet – No wonder im always injuredWhere are you? Murph likes to jump this stile first then pops his head back over to check im comingAt the beach earlier a big lab just appeared from nowhere (my neighbour was also walking her dogs as it turned out) My first reaction was oh god here we go dogfight. But instant friendship and this is them leaping all over each other and playing. I have to remember Murph is not Soak who would have probably attacked first and asked questions later.Similarity to Soak is uncanny thoughSee what I mean?
