1,000 beer free hours - greater love hath no man...

Could readers manage 1,000 hours without their favourite refreshment? Possibly no tea, coffee, or (heaven forbid) beer? Readers who blanche at the thought should consult John Telfer who has just emerged from 1,000 hours of self-imposed alcoholic abstention. The task was made even harder as he turned his ankle when out walking and so has been unable to enjoy his fellrunning. Here he is celebrating the passing of the thousanth hour with - you guessed it - a well deserved beer.

Grisedale Horseshoe

YC ran the Grisedale Horseshoe fell race today. This 10 miler vies for the honour of being the toughest medium race in the calendar - especially when the organisers added in an extra mile due to a problem with access through a gate. The race is held in Glenridding (Ullswater, Lake District) and takes in Catstye Cam, Helvellyn, St Sunday Crag, and a final heart-break climb back into Glenridding. All in all there's 5,000 ft of climbing. Conditions were pretty good with high cloud, a breeze on top, dry underfoot, and just a bit too warm in the valley. YC made it round in 2 hrs 37 mins, finishing circa 40th out of over a 100 runners. YC felt pretty good until some heel blisters (plus old age/lack of fitness etc) prevented a flat out descent at the end. However it's an excellent way to work up the raging fellrunner's thirst before duly slaking it with beer (John Telfer - NFR's man in temporary self-imposed beer exile - please note).

Sailing on The Suffolk Broads

YC spent the August Bank Holiday sailing on the Broads. Readers should note that although they are usually referred to as the Norfolk Broads, YC actually spent all of his time in Suffolk - the northerly wind and uptides meant that the River Waveney and Beccles were visited twice. This had its compensations - the Adnams at The Swan House in Beccles and the Dukes Head in Somerleyton was VG. YC was sailing on the fine craft Stella Genesta in company with the equally fine craft Mimosa.

Mimosa at Burgh St Peter

left - the crew of Mimosa up Beccles Church Tower

right - Lois points out the nearest place for a refreshing Adnams

Matthew's in town

Matthew is in town this week. When he is not looking at the ships through the telescope with Grandpa, he is playing cricket and football with Granny Pat. He is also developing a fine line in jokes:
Qu: What's got 4 wheels and flies?
Ans: A dustbin lorry.

Not to be outdone, Lois Gordon e-mails this contribution from her birthday night out:
Qu: How many Spanish men does it take to change a light bulb?
Ans: Juan.

YC can supply iron-sided corsets for any reader whose sides are in danger of splitting.

Weasdale Horseshoe

YC ran the Weasdale Horseshoe today. For readers not overly familiar with this race, it is an 8 miler in the Howgills (the hills you see on the left as you head down the M6 beyond Penrith). The race was part of the Ravenstonedale Show and took in a circuit around Hooksey, Randy Gill Top, and Green Bell. YC had run it once before in 2006. As proof that the years do not weary him, YC finished in exactly the same time as 4 years ago (73 mins in 22nd place). However his satisfaction at beating the Dallam runner who pushed him all the way was tempered by the fact that the said Dallam runner turned out to be a V60.

Geoff & Susan Davis from NFR were also there. Geoff pushed on well to finish in 75 mins while Susan was happy "just to get round". YC suspects this was code for "I'm sure I can beat YC next time..."

On returning to Tynemouth, YC felt the need to slake the raging fellrunner's thirst. Fortunately he is not in the same boat as a keen BN reader and fellrunner who is currently undertaking 1,000 hours without beer (greater love hath no man...). So he is pleased to report that the Black Sheep Bitter went down a treat. Roll on the next race.

the view from the show field
Green Bell on the left; Hooksey on the right

Lakeland Country Fair Fell Race

After running the Wasdale and Borrowdale races in the mist and rain, it made a pleasant change to experience warm sunshine and perfect visibility at the Lakeland Country Fair yesterday. This show is organised by the Lunsdale Foxhounds, so YC enjoyed watching the foxhounds and beagles - the Black Combe and Bleasdale - in the show ring. The fell race was an out and back blast up Coniston Old Man. This 6.5 mile race with 2,350 feet of climbing took YC just over 70 minutes. As it was a particularly hot day, YC might just have a half of shandy tonight to aid the rehydration process.

left - steep climb up Coniston
right - NFR at the start, Coniston Old Man on the right in the distance

Borrowdale Fell Race 2010

YC got his fellrunning shoes back on yesterday at the Borrowdale Fell Race. This 17 miler starts and finishes at Rosthwaite in the Lake District, and takes in Scafell Pike, Great Gable, and Dale Head in its 6,500 ft of ascent. Low cloud and early drizzle meant that underfoot conditions were greasy and accurate navigation was at a premium. YC had a solid run until the never-ending climb up Dale Head took its toll. But an emergency Mars Bar got him to the top and he was pleased to finish in 4 hours 6 minutes.

One of his felling running pals has set himself the task of 1,000 hours without beer. YC is pleased to report that he is eschewing such penance, and will be slaking the raging fell runner's thirst at The Tynemouth Lodge tonight.

left - NFR at the start
right - at the finish; Paul Hainsworth shows a leg and his encounter with the Scafell Pike scree
below - the finishing field