Round Robin - 2008.
This year has been one where Karen and I set ourselves some challenges. Karen’s were the Saunders Lakeland Marathon and the Helvellyn Triathlon and my challenge was to attempt the Bob Graham Round. Consequently we have spent a large proportion of the year dressed in lycra running, and in Karen’s case cycling around the fells with the odd dip in the lake for some swimming practice. More about these escapades later.
In February we drove down to the Alps for a weeks skiing based in Les Deux Alpes. Although the apartment was a little cramped the snow was good. Rufus and I had been practicing snowboarding on the dry slope in Kendal and this was our first season boarding. Dressed in baggy pants we both had a fantastic time and both agreed we would need some convincing to go back on skies. Karen and Olivia, on the last day decided to have a crack at it also. On the last afternoon unfortunately Olivia broke her wrist and had to be ambulanced off the mountain. 600 Euros later she was suitably plastered for the trip home. The trip back through France was uneventful, but true to form we got stuck in traffic at 2am in the morning on the M1! Shortly after this winter excursion I joined up with Ian and Harvey for a Ski tour in Norway. You can read more about this by clicking here.
In the summer we spent a fantastic week on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The weather was good, compared with the rest of the UK, and we managed a few days on the beach surfing. We also squeezed in a couple of runs and lots of fishing. Rufus proved to be the top angler with a grand total of seven fish! Livi also caught a strange looking thing from the pier!
Olivia completed her first year at QES and has loved it, even with one eye on the TV she seems to get her homework done, and won two awards at the school prize-giving, so despite my misgivings about TV and homework it seems to work for her! Along with school work Olivia has also taken some music exams which she passed. Her instrument is the drums and despite very little practice at home her teacher thinks she has got some talent! On the sporting front Olivia is not so enthused although she has recently intimated that she may come to running club to see what it’s all about. We live in hope!
Rufus has also made the move to QES and has settled in well. A big step from Junior School, and you have to wear a tie! Out of school Rufus has taken to standing on anything that rolls, this included mountain boards, skateboards and roller blades! We have even built a mini ramp in the basement which turned into a marathon construction, but now it’s finished it is truly a work of art! You can see some of Rufus’s tricks on these contraptions and his ramp at his You Tube site by clicking here. Rufus has also taken up running with Dallam and trains with them on Mondays. He can fly up the hills. Like Livi, Rufus is also a keen musician and crashes out “Rock Anthems” on his electric guitar.
Jess has stopped chasing sheep but is not averse to rounding up the odd fell walker! She is also not to keen on other dogs and tries to bully them with hackles raised and teeth, in some cases, bared! We are working on this and do not miss an episode of the “Dog Whisperer” in our quest. Apart from this she is the perfect pet!
As I mentioned earlier, my challenge this year was to complete the “Bob Graham Round”. This involves scaling 42 of the Lakeland peaks over 2000 feet in 24 hours. The course is approximately 67 miles and involves 29000 feet of accent. This took place on 29/30 August and with the help of our local running club I completed the round in 23 hours and 15 minutes. You can read more about this by clicking here. The build up to the run took up most of my weekends and I think that I have not really recovered yet. Still, next year a group of us are planning to take part in “The Scottish Islands Peaks Race” which involves sailing and fell running. Should be fun!
On the work front mpirical continues to perform well, with us all travelling all over the world to deliver training and provide consultancy. Due to the issues with global warming and the economic downturn, we have invested heavily in online based training and hope that this will be the way forward for this type of training in the future.
Karen: What can I add?! Just to say that Marcus has started complaining about the lack of housework being done as I train for my various events! The Helvellyn Triathlon was a big highlight this year, as previously I had only completed a couple of sprint distance Tri’s. This involved a 30 minute swim in Ulswater in sub-zero temperatures (I couldn’t feel my feet afterwards!) a 38 mile bike ride, including the aptly named “The Struggle”, followed by a run up Helvellyn…sadly shortened to a 7 mile fell run to Red Tarn due to inclement weather conditions! All in all pretty knackering but good fun…great atmosphere and good support from friends from our running club. I also managed to complete The Saunders Mountain Marathon with my friend Grace. It was quite a revelation a) not to get lost! …and b) to realize that these events can be enjoyable if not completed with a highly competitive husband!!
The new thing in my life (sadly still sport related!) is snowboarding lessons, which are great fun and very exhilarating. I realize as I write this that I need to balance my life more…help…I feel a new years resolution coming on!!
As ever if you fancy a weekend in the lakes, but the credit crunch means a stay in a hotel is making you think twice, why not come and stay with us? You will be very welcome and the rates are very reasonable…if you can handle a bit of dust and a manic collie!
Finally have a fantastic festive holiday and healthy and prosperous New Year!
