Brooks PureGrit resole!

Got out for an ultra windy run this morning. Not too sure what the gusts were but I was sandblasted out in the countryside. Overall felt alright, still not top notch though. Post run my knee was the worst it has ever been, swelling which I hadn't had before. No clue why this happened but ice, ibuprofen, stretching, etc. continues.

On to the fun. So a while back I had won a pair of Brooks PureGrits and I ended up loving them however the out sole was horrible so I found a place here, Lancashire Sports Repairs, that resoles fell running shoes with a similar sole to the Walsh PB fell running shoe.

v.1 Brooks PureGrit original bad sole

The Walsh shoes are a product of the UK and are cult status in the fell running community here. I think they look cheap and out out of date but many people swear by them AND by their traction. Well anything could be better than the Brooks' v.1 sole.

v.2 Brooks PureGrit2

As I mentioned before, I got my hands on a new pair of the Brooks PureGrit2 which have a revised out sole (among a few other changes), however still not rugged enough for the UK slop, but they have been great in normal conditions and ideal for someone wanting an on road/off road shoe. Once I had these I then sent off the v.1 for resole. This was all about a month ago I think. I wasn't sure what to expect, my main concern was that the shoe would come back much much stiffer than it originally was.

resoled v.1 PureGrit

I have yet to run in these monsters but as you can see above the resole definitely has given me the traction for mucky muddy UK conditions which was what I was looking for. The new soles have 100% added noticeable weight to the shoes though. Didn't consider the weight gain so I don't have a before and after weight but on my ever exact kitchen scale the v.1 comes in at just over 9oz and the resoled v.2 at just over 12 oz both size 8.5 UK (sorry I work in a UK running store selling to the British, I think it's a US 9.5). Yeah the weight gain sucks but it's life. As mentioned I was worried about the stiffness of the sole. They are stiffer but I can't really comment having yet to run in them. So until then I'll withhold any judgment. If they end up being too stiff I could always cut some slits in the sole to aid in the flex.

So until it gets rainy and nasty out I'll enjoy the PureGrit2!

Moving in the right direction maybe?

Well I'm hanging in there. I think I'm starting to pull it together again. Still unsure about Malvern Ultra in two weeks but there is nothing I can do but give it a go. I am on a team now with the same guy I raced with at the Beacons Ultra. He has won the Malvern Ultra the past two years I believe but is injured. So, we'll do what we can.

The wife was commenting on my caloric intake so I started to monitor what I'm eating. Considering I run most days 7 - 15 miles, then do a calisthenics workout which isn't easy, then get out with the little one walking I must be torching the calories. Add to that my diet high in fruits and vegetables and I run into a pretty low caloric intake unless I eat a ton of food. So, the past few days I've been tracking and yep, I'm on the low side on days I run. The first day I was down 1000 calories! So, since then I've upped my intake. I always try to keep it high fat, high protein, low sugar, avoid wheat and dairy, and looking at my intake I'm definitely doing that.

So this maybe the cause of this down spell maybe? I think I'll get through this next race and then focus on smaller stuff locally, more speed work, hills, but still work up my mileage looking at the Longmynd Hike in October and Beacons Ultra in November (both 50 milers) in the long term.

view from the peanut rocket, yep she's asleep in there! 

Anyway, got out today with the little one in the Chariot. She fell asleep immediately and I got in 7 plus miles at about 8 minute/mile pace. Not bad pushing a stroller on a bumpy path! I sure get funny looks here with that thing! I already am "that guy" who runs all the time, add in the Chariot and I definitely don't fit in! I guess I never really have anyway!

Oh, got my resoled Brooks PureGrits back. Holy shit are they rugged! I'll get some photos up tomorrow and do a little write up on them.

Blah.

Well after being injured most of the winter (and still am a bit), then being sick, I'm not really sure where I lie now. My running has been so inconsistent. I've dropped out of one race and am considering another. I just don't think I have the miles to race well.

I know I can finish the Malvern 50, so since I cannot get any money back I may as well become a completer and use it for training. I hate to say that because what an effort to go out, risk injury, and trash my body just to finish. Who knows though, I'm notorious for pulling races out of my ass relying on my past base miles.

However, my overall motivation has been depleted, I'm not really even excited to run. I want to eat like shit, drink beer, sit on my ass. I don't know what it is whether it's the shitty dreary weather, the little one's recent drastic change in her daily routine, inconsistent training, I can't put my finger on it but something has got me down.

So I trudge forward anticipating that first run "back" where I feel the spring in my step, I feel quick and strong, that run that puts a smile on my face because I know this is how it should feel. It's got to be near. Just before I got sick I was happily charging 12 to 15 mile runs at 6 minute per mile pace so when will it return?

Isle of Arran Running

Well despite having Norovirus diarrhea and cramps the entire stay on the Isle of Arran and having to deal with the worst snow fall in 50 years this place has seen I managed to get out and enjoy the beauty Scotland in miniature has to offer. 

We stayed in Kildonan at my mother-in-law's house which was snow free. We had beautiful weather except for a stiff wind most days. A constant intake of Immodium kept the shits at bay but I still had my fair share of squats in the woods! Despite running far less than planned I wasn't going to let this mess ruin my week! The island only had just had power returned the day we arrived. A storm that blew through a week or so before had left the residents without power for over a week I believe! Some parts the snow drifted so bad as to cover the roads with 10 plus feet and also trap people in their homes! It was a full on emergency. We had a couple power outages until they finally hooked it all up to the mains and we had no issues. I was hoping we'd not have power just for a little more of a rustic stay; no internet, no lights, wood stove, candles, and headlamps would've been nice! Anyway, outside of visiting with family and introducing the little one to the ocean a whole lot of relaxing went down. I absolutely love it up there. 

A few notable runs (I guess that pun IS intended!):

Eas Mor waterfall

A fairly easy run up from Kildonan to Eas Mor Waterfall, then to Loch Garbad with some bushwacking to get to the high point of Cnoc na Garbad. About 1000 vertical feet of gain over a couple miles keeps you in check. I did this a few times as it's right out the door.  

view from Cnoc na Garbad looking South to Pladda and Ailsa Craig 

The funny thing was that the first day running up here I ended up having bad bad diarrhea. So with the elevation change from the ocean tools changed and I wiped my ass with: grass, smooth sticks, smooth rotten log pieces, smooth stones, and snow. As always snow trumps all methods of ass-wipery.

Loch Garbad

Eas Mor waterfall and canyon

I initially intended to run the Glen Rosa Horseshoe but was forced to retreat due to the high peaks being covered in rime and ice. I was pretty bummed about this but there was NO WAY I was going to be able to pull it off considering the conditions! Hopping on the uber-convenient bus service got a lift from Kildonan to Brodick. I started running in Brodick at the ferry terminal and headed to the Goatfell trailhead. Goatfell being the high point of the island.

beginning of the trail up Goatfell

patchy snow down low hides the trail

snow scared most people away but not all

 Ended up seeing about 10 people all together on the way up. Most, as usual, had some stupid comment such as "go for it", "run Forrest run", "looking good", "you're doing great", "wow you're doing better than me". I hate comments like that, especially when I can't breath. I still wonder what people carry with them in their full size backpacks. One dude had full on mountaineering crampons on in the dirt at the bottom, that was a little overkill but up top they could have been employed depending on what your goals were as there was water ice and sheets of ice in small patches. My trail running shoes and a keen eye for safety worked just fine though.

final ridge line to the summit of Goatfell

view down to Brodick Bay

snow and rime covered summit

Overall the run up Goatfell was easy. Made it from the ferry terminal in about an hour and a half. The snow wasn't an issue and I didn't need my crampons or poles to help me with the conditions. It would be really fun to do the Goatfell Race which is a run up then back down to Brodick!

looking towards my intended ridge run, ice and rime altered my plans

Seeing all the ice and rime everywhere I opted to skip the loop. It just wasn't safe in running shoes! Looking down the above ridge you see North Goatfell which I summited and then the drop down to The Saddle to the left which splits Glen Sannox to the north and Glen Rosa to the south. I made it to that point and headed down Glen Rosa.

view down Glen Sannox from The Saddle of Ceum na Caillaich with the summit of Caisteal Abhail to the left

cold me with a view down Glen Rosa

 Running down Glen Rosa was a huge pain. I was cold from not being able to run on the snowy, windy, post holey ridgeline. Then when I thought I could pick up the pace to get warm the snow was just deep enough to post hole and the vegetation was all soft, wet, and muddy. All added up to very inefficient travel. There is a trail but it is so over used it has become a deep trench which was full of snow. They sure don't maintain the trails like the USFS or the NPS do in the United States. Makes me laugh thinking of how much people from the US would bitch if the trail there looked like this!

view up Glen Rosa to The Saddle with Cir Mohr dominating the skyline to it's left

thankful to be on a trail and out of the snow

the opening of Glen Rosa to the left with Goatfell on the right

 Well it wasn't the loop I wanted but super fun none the less and now I've got an idea of the logistics of it all. I'll definitely be back for a run in better conditions. I think I ended up with over 3000 vertical and 15 miles which was a pretty solid run even if part of it was a hike.

lower gorge in Auchenhew Wood

Keeping it close to home I did quite a bit of beach running and exploring. One run I ended up digging around the lower part if the drainage that Eas Mor waterfall comes from. Officially Auchenhew Wood this cool gorge is about 200m from where we were staying, hidden from view by trees, brambles, and ferns. Some guy is attempting to make a "trail" following the creek but has been stopped by a land dispute. Probably for the better as his "trail" looks more like a damn road! Anyway I followed his "trail" as far as I could and found this pretty cool canyon. Then followed it down stream and bushwhacked my way up and out.

After we left Arran we stayed in Ayr for a couple nights in order to visit some more family before heading back home. So a short run early morning ensued and I found the River Ayr Way, a footpath that follows the River Ayr (duh!?). Then I wandered my way back to the hotel through some council housing (government provided) which looked to be a pretty rough neighborhood but luckily everyone was asleep!
  

River Ayr Way

stepping stones crossing the River Ayr (icy!!!!)

River Ayr Way confirmed!

single track along the river

council housing, glad it was early morning, talk about the ghetto! 

Always have liked haggis, but needed to try it deep fried! Luckily most fish and chip shops have it up here! It looked like a piece of crap but was excellent! Should've skipped the fish as it wasn't that great and had two haggis turds!

nope, not deep fried shit, it's haggis!

Ok, so I think I'm no longer sick. Got out for 6.5 miles this morning and just felt a bit mentally off, body felt good in general.

All packed up and stoked to go visit family on the Isle of Arran in Scotland for a week or so. As mentioned they got hammered with snow in the mountains but I am undeterred now and am just excited to explore some new terrain whether it's in the mountains or not. I am prepared for mountainous snow runs if that becomes an obstacle! I need miles under my belt, I am behind once again and am worried about the Malvern 50 coming up in, OH SHIT, a month! All I want is to be a competer, not a completer but once again this is cutting it close to race confidently.

Anyway, I'll try to get some nice photos and get them up here.

Sickness, snow, and hitting the reset button

Been kind of a miserable week for training. Well the GI issues I mentioned stuck with for about 5 days and I'm finally feeling a bit better as of yesterday.

No idea where it came from but the wife and little one got it too but they got vomiting as well! Norovirus maybe?

Anyway, that pretty much shot the week of training. A week I was hoping to go big with and put in a next step up in my weekend long runs. Ended up with about a 20 mile week at the most.

I also neglected to stretch. BIG mistake. The leg medial knee injury (that I now think is a pes anserinus issue, not MCL) has returned. I stretched the heck out of it last night which helped but this could have been prevented.

Resetting and slowly getting back on track again. The weather has been snowy, windy, and wet. Doesn't bother me much but we are planning on heading to Scotland over Easter. I had some cool runs planned in the mountains but I think they may be snowed in. I guess I had better consider my gear choices then, maybe at the very least throw in my Kahtoola Microspikes.

Anyway, off today, may ride the bike for a bit.

PureGrits and the shits

another grey day

Had been pretty solid in the running department until Saturday. Who knows what brought it on but I've had the shits since Saturday night, stomach cramps, no appetite and now my entire body aches. Oh, and the little one must have some more teeth on the way as she has been freaking out abnormally. Sure would be nice to live near family for a hand as the wife is in London today and tomorrow. Fun. So Sunday off, Monday off, Tuesday who knows. Ugh. Tore down a big bowl of cereal this morning, kind of rolled the dice with that one, but it's holding strong so far!

Brooks PureGrit2

I did acquire a pair of the Brooks PureGrit 2's though on Saturday so soon I'll be sending off my PureGrit v.1 to get resoled at Lancashire Sports Repair. It still blows my mind that many of the reviews on this shoe claim the out sole works great in mud, yeah maybe pulverized granite of the western US mixed with water, not REAL mud. Looking at the v.2 I'm curious how they'll work in the muck too, skeptical. They almost look like they would be a great on-road off-road shoe. Well either way I know that the new soles I'm planning will work great and if I need to I'll resole the v.2 as well.

Great in all conditions my ass!

Anyway, one other fun thing that rears it's head when I feel like crap is the question, "what am I going to do when the little one is off at school?" Any professional experience I had is now gone. Experience outdated/gone. I have a useless degree. I have a plethora of useless knowledge pertaining to outdoor sports equipment and technical clothing from the years of retail work I've done. Where does that get me? No where but a retail job paying $10 an hour. Hey but I like retail, I honestly really do enjoy it. But all it will do is pass the time, there really isn't any self achievement involved, no self gratification. All you do is enjoy your day working for someone else, questioning their decisions, being held back, or being allowed to roll with it for limited pay. That's what full time retail seems to get you.

The wife says "you can take a course" essentially meaning go back to school. Well for what and by the time that happens I'll be almost 40. Most likely not worth it. So as much fun and as challenging being a stay at home dad is the future is grim. I guess I'll deal with it when the time comes as currently I really don't have time for this lame blog even as anytime the computer comes out the little one wants it!

Anyway, I'll keep you posted about the resole, I think it will be a winner.