Wallowing Elephant Seals and the Bus of Shame

It's been a while since I wrote anything on the old bloggo. Not least because apart from dropping out of the High Peak Marathon in spectacularly languid form - I haven't been up to much other than a fantastic holiday in California where the running rather petered out and took back seat to gorging oneself on all manner of exciting mexican grub whilst staring in awe at the mountain passes that were blocked and preventing us reaching Yosemite (drat the lack of foresight on my part). Oh, and looking at Elephant Seals (there was a colony of around 1000 along the Californian shoreline at Cambria). We also spent a couple of days in Las Vegas but George Clooney and Matt Damon had already cleared out all the one armed bandits. In Ceasars Palace a woman was sick in a bin (Angelina?). We headed for Yosemite.

 

 We (Sarah and I) did manage a snowshoe walk and also got around to checking out one of the most famous bouldering spots in the States: Bishop, home of the Buttermilks and the Happy and Sad boulders (including Grandma and Grandpa Peabody - what d'you mean 'who?'!).

After returning to Blighty with a bump - the High Peak Marathon was soon looming. I was looking forward to it and was extra pleased to be having a run out with my muckers Clare, Paul, and Mick from Goyt Valley. Unfortunately I started off too quick and began to feel more and more unwell untill by the time we'd reached Derwent edge at about 3am the colour had drained from my face and I was struggling even to keep moving let alone keep up with the others who seemed on fine form. I felt completely drained and knew it was due to being unwell rather than a simple case of low blood sugar -  I could tell that slowing down and eating wasn't going to help either and that I was only going to get slower and slower. The others suggested I pull out and I agreed immediately. A kindly student from Shffield Uni supplied the Bus of Shame that ferried me back to edale and I knocked Sarah up at her brothers house in Hope at around 5am and got some much needed kip. The others decided to run back to Edale rather than carry on whilst disqualified since I dropped out. I felt awful for letting the side down but would've felt worse if I'd subjected them all to walking another 6 freezing hours till we got to the Snake Rd checkpoint only to drop out there instead of Cutthroat Bridge. Very sorry teammates.

I was glad to hear that Tea and Cake had a good run out amongst others and there were many friends from Macc Harriers there - the HPM is a great event, but in retrospect I'm glad I dropped out rather that slogging away at a walk whilst feeling ill. Thats the second trip on the bus of shame in the last 6 months as I bungled the High Peak 40 last Sept too. Annoying.

Still on a more positive note, I've recently entered the Welsh 1000m Peaks race and the Lakeland based 10 Peaks Challenge. The 10 Peaks is asking all participants to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and I'd really appreciate any donations. Apparently they're expecting people to donate on the basis of attempting it alone since no one finished last year. Anyone wishing to lend a hand can donate via my justgiving page. Watch this space for more 10 peaks info - I think this will become a very popular event (not dissimilar to the BG route). 

NEWSFLASH! Just heard from Terry Gilpin that I'm 18th on the waiting list out of 240 for the Lakeland 100 - so it looks like I'm doing that again too. Errk! Last time I stupidly did the 43ml Devil O' the Highlands the week after, and 5 toenails fell off... (never again).

Sarah trail running in Cambria, So Cal.

Run away! Run AWAY! THE BUS of SHAME!!!