Off to get some treatment...

on my knee. Karen is the physio who helped me walk, run and climb again after smashing my left heel into oblivion in Pembroke all those years ago....hopefully she can finally diagnose what is wrong with my knee this time to enable me to get running again.

Left Cumbria and Gill for a few days on the road yesterday - most of the snow has gone now and it was pouring down in Newcastle yesterday evening. Am heading off to Edinburgh tomorrow; hoping to get a run in on the Pentland Hills one day before heading back down to do lots of walking and cycling in the next few days.

Easter Hols are here...

and to mark that fact it has rained most of the day in Cumbria!!!

Marvin is also back in the shop having his rear brake fixed before I head out on the road up to Newcastle and Edinburgh, I fancy having a go at some of the 7stanes areas, possibly Ae and will take the helmet cam with me so might get some good images too....

Looks like spring is here...

driving back from Gill's this morning and the snow on Blencathra is receding fast....looks like its going to be rock at the weekend (weather permitting of course and so far it looks good)...will probably start on something pretty easy though - although I do feel quite strong after my sessions on the climbing wall on Wednesday afternoons.

A day without pictures...High Street

Another glorious day on the hills as we finally managed to ascend High Street; 14 months or so after our first attempt.

Even yesterdays climb was less than straightforward with the traversing section from the top of Kidsty Pike to the main ridge being snow-covered; slippery and with a howling cross wind. Descent was down the Nan Bield past a very frozen Smallwater and a time of 5 hours was more than respectable given deep snow on the descent over Mardale Ill Bell and down to the pass.

Eagle-eyed readers will note the lack of pics - muggins forgot to take his camera as well as sunglasses; both omissions being somewhat idiotic. What was encouraging was the amount of neve still in the north facing gullies....will make climbing this saturday a decision as to whether to go to rock or snow...might well depend on the temperature I guess...

A day without picture..

A day without picture..

Haweswater Half marathon.

not a great day...

on a day of gorgeous weather it was a disappointing run..I felt very strong for the first few miles and managed to keep a sensible pace as well; aiming to be slightly slower than last year to take into account the lack of running that I had done.

My right knee, which had felt fine during the last two training runs then decided to really seize up, especially on the long (mile or so) downhill to Mardale Head where we turned round...reducing me to a near walk on the uphill section.

This put even more strain on the left knee which then seized up as well....leaving me to hitch a lift back for the last 3 1/2 miles from a helpful van.....and being nearly unable to walk down the stairs at Gill's last night...mildly amusing to Linda and Richard who popped in on the way down to their house on the way back from Aberdeen.

Knee felt pretty grotty this morning but has improved a bit as the day has gone on....also have an appointment with Karen the physio during the first week of the Easter holidays...should still give me time to get up to Scotland for a couple of days skiing....

The Mac is back...

after a full restore from Luke and lots of fun from me installing the right programs at my end - I actually have iwork 09 NOT 08...oops...

Haweswater Half this weekend...can't say I am looking forward to it much; felt like wading through treacle today at work with all the issues around the school at the moment...ho hum need a good run to clear the head methinks.

Mac ill...

my Mac took a bit of a turn on Thursday and has gone to Dr. Luke to try and get a diagnosis for him.....

this is written on the work pc so will not post too much..