the beginning and la fin… Written on November 14, 2011, by andys.
Au revoir UK Salomon team The 2011 running season started and ended in a weekend for me. After a year of ITB niggles I finally managed a good race at the Templiers, becoming the first Brit to take the win in the event’s history. But after one warm up race (Husky), followed by an incompleted [...]
Cavalls, it ain’t easy Written on October 3, 2011, by andys.
Well, I promised a post-race report, so here it is: 45k, 3700m, six hours in, I called it a day. Legs just couldn’t hack it, due to a lack of energy feeding through. I suspect this was in part down to the lack of time I’ve had to get the volume required for 50-mile [...]
Horses of the wind Written on September 25, 2011, by andys.
After a seriously lengthy break from the mountain trails, it’s time to return… A year ago I had a shot at my first Ultra race, Cavalls del Vent. It nearly killed me. So, after 2 months of running (my knee’s been fine since mid-July) I thought the (un)sensible thing to do would be to return [...]
Où suis-je (and a guide to coping with long-term injury) Written on August 12, 2011, by andys.
Nine months is a long time. It’s the magical period of time it takes to “create” a human being. Now, for a pregnant lady, that’s a long time to abstain from alcohol, steer clear of the best blue cheeses, go easy on the cappuccinos and yet at the same time, to gradually increase in size [...]
Mt Keen to get running again… Written on January 8, 2011, by andys.
After two and a half months of almost no running*, it’s great to be out again and what a cracking run this one turned out to be, my first hill run in what feels like a very long time. 3 hours on Scotland’s most easterly Munro, Mt Keen, with my brother Joe. *unfortunately I’ve been [...]
Scotland is white Written on December 11, 2010, by andys.
It’s incredible how a few feet of snow can bring a country to a standstill. How dependent on cars and a general ability to travel large distances on a daily basis (or have basic items like milk and bread transported large distances to us) have we become? (A: very). The idea of scaling the same mountains we [...]
spot the difference Written on December 5, 2010, by andys.
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The OMM Written on November 1, 2010, by andys.
To be honest the OMM is a race I’ve wanted to win for a wee while now. Having succeeded with the more mountainous Scottish “version” of the event, the LAMM, in 2009 (with Jethro, this year’s main OMM rival!) and again in 2010 with my brother Joe, the OMM was the obvious next big MM [...]
what’s left of 2010 Written on October 25, 2010, by andys.
Three weeks and eight toenails (new “body clock”) later – after the 85km Cavalls del Vent mega-run, the legs are feeling good again and I’ve even managed a touch of training this week. My local hills the Ochils experienced their first dusting of snow on Friday night, so the obvious thing to do on Saturday [...]
Self destruction (a few lessons in) Written on October 16, 2010, by andys.
I run because I enjoy it. I also run because it’s easy. Contrary to the popular belief that running is synonymous with suffering, if you’re fit enough it’s actually incredibly easy – a form of yoga even. Not a lot will beat the feeling of floating effortlessly across the tops of mountains and even legging [...]