Moving on ... 2009 looming large

This is the time of year when I often think there is a long winter ahead before ‘next season’ … which in reality is simply not just the case. I’m at my most unfit and least healthy part of the year, having had a heavy cold for a few weeks. And there appears little reason to motivate myself. However, I’m not one to complain, nor push through illness or injury as that is simply foolhardy and did make me seriously ill many years ago.

Looking head to 2009 there is so much to do, both from a racing point of view and in terms of stuff to organize. On the race front my biggest news is that I have taken on the role of Race Director for The Hebridean Challenge, which is both scary and an honour at the same time. I’ve raced it a few times as a pair, solo and team and it is simply the best AR race in the UK. Working with Steph as organizer, and Gavin as route planner, it’s going to be an adventure of it’s own making. 'The Heb' race is highly to be recommended for many reasons; the scenery is stunning, the race atmosphere very friendly and the ethos of the event refreshingly simple and pure. There is no better way to have an adventurous holiday with your mates. It's also a good stepping stone for less experienced racers to sample longer, or Expedition type racing. Getting a team togther can be trying but it is well worthwhile. The 2009 race will see a few minor tweaks which will have quite an impact so I urge you all to get signed up in due course. I acknowledge that the web site is currently not quite upto date, but look out for a few ‘developments’ in the near future. I will also appreciate any feedback from participants as to what things you like, and dislike, as I aim to represent the racers opinion amongst the organising team, in order to help Steph and Gavin continue their excellent work. So if you have any comments or questions for me please get in touch. faulknerjoe@hotmail.com

Closer to home I’m busy plotting our own GL3Day event and busy with bookings for our next NAV4 training course in March. www.joefaulkner.com The full details are available on the website - remenber places are limited and will fill quickly after the New Year. The course is applicable to all mountain marathoners, adventure racers and off-road runners of all ability and experience. We deliver excellent instruction and coaching to tutor groups of no more than four people, during the Saturday, and then enable you apply your self to a mock training event on Sunday, but with support and feedback to help you progress. The evening indoor session and optional night nav later in the evening completes the programme.

On the racing front, the Open5 Series is in full swing although I dipped out of the Staveley event due to high levels of snot and snow! (Urgh) It was just too icy for me but t'was good to meet a few new faces, as well as the old ones and offer advice at the 'NAV4 Help Desk'. Team NAV4 were a bit short on numbers due mainly to the weather. Certainly, Wilko was iced up deep in Keilder Forest and was told not to travel; she does still head the overall leaderboard for Open5 points.

Stokesley is the next event in the series although I’m likely to miss that due to a combination of wedding anniversary, my wife’s birthday and an increasingly pressing need to get up north in prep for The Heb. However, Team NAV4 will be there in force. John Allen will be fronting up the Help Desk - his experience and skills are legendary!!!

Have fun over Chrimbo ... remember ... 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing (and sometimes the wrong choice of activity)'

Joe

Cyclewise Whinlatter - MTB Skills for AR

This was actually the second MTB skills course that I have undertaken within the year, the previous one being a Day at Glentress with David Webster and is also highly recommended.

What did I learn? Well, Firstly – I’m still a crap mountain biker, and secondly; it is important to identify and practice your weaker disciplines for successful improvement across AR. Just like triathletes needing to training at their weaker discipline in order to gain maximum improvement overall, most of us favour doing what we like best, and not what we like least. Therefore, we go out and train at our favoured sport and neglect skill development.

So, how was Whinlatter? Embarrassingly, I had done very little technical riding over the summer and arrived clutching my ‘trails’ bike which is a smart and relatively unmarked Orange P7, bought about a year ago with the sole aim of improving my technical riding. Even more annoyingly I had done no ‘prep’ for the course and hadn't managed to ride my bike or practice at all. I always ride my other bike, my ‘race’ bike in ARaces; I’m used to it, it has a map board, cross roads tyres and bar ends all set up for efficiency in longer events and it seems to go faster. Consequently, at the recent Open5 in Blanchand on a wet and muddy day, I shied away from spending too much time mud plugging on the bike and allowed more time to ‘clear’ all the run controls. Was this right? Had I under achieved on the bike?

The answer is ‘Yes’ possibly, I had under achieved on the bike section, but I had played to my strengths so that my overall strategy was right for me in those conditions. Setting that aside, in order to move up the finishing order I need to improve my ‘efficiency’ on the bike, and whilst there is nothing wrong with my navigation and route choice is usually very good, I need to ride faster on more technical terrain. But this would only pay off in an Open5 if I can spend, say, the half an hour I spent clearing low value run controls, and replace them with better value MTB controls. Such is the dilemma of Open5 … of course.

I can highly recommend undertaking any sort of coaching to improve your performance and simply your enjoyment of your sport. All too often we reach a plateau in our activity and it is very difficult to move on without some form of external feedback. Sports psychology is a fascinating subject and by ‘getting inside your head’ a good coach will be able to allow yourself to identify what is holding you back. It may be possible to do this yourself, but is easier with an external feedback.

This past weekend I have been working with some Mountain Leader candidates assessing their skills and performance. Over three glorious weather days I thought a lot about learning styles and performance under stress. During the MTB courses I found it very difficult to perform ‘to order’ as the group circled in a regular formation, and had better success when away from any peer group spotlight. Of course this is quite normal for everyone and Rich and Neil, and also David Webster are excellent and breaking down those barriers and providing coaching tricks. Recently I decided that I must swim regularly over the winter months to strength my swimming ability. Living a mile form Ullswater I prefer to swim in the lake. I like swimming but hate swimming pools but whilst ploughing up and down one night I thought this through. I concluded that it actually originated from the childhood stress of swimming pools and actually the changing room part of a swimming session; I was the fat kid uncomfortable in the changing room! Well now that I’m 46 it made me smile but that actual realization was a powerful one.

Whether swimming or biking what is necessary is practice …. practice …. ractice … but based on feedback and with great awareness of your weaknesses and inhibitors.

Go on a Cyclewise course – you won’t regret it.

Moving On...

Much has happen since a week last Monday and it now feels like an awfully long time.

The ‘Open5’ at Blanchland was a great day out in a beautiful undiscovered part of the Northern Pennines, and was well worth the effort to get there. James and Lisa, ably assisted by Jim, Andy, Ian et al do a great job of providing a quality event accessible to a wide range of abilities.
James and Lisa’s events are both ‘beginner friendly’ and yet provide a tough day out for the elite, with fierce competition at ‘the sharp end’. If you haven’t sampled one of their events then do so. http://www.openadventure.com/ Don’t be intimidated by the five hour time limit, it soon rushes by when you break it down in to a couple of hours each of MTB and ‘run’ (top tip – just walk quickly and navigate effectively!) Prep and transition time eats into the five hours too.

‘Wilko’ Wilkinson competed solo and raced to second place with a very proficient performance. This proves that she is a strong and very competitive athlete who can navigate and doesn’t need John Allen or myself to lead the way. It was the first event in a series of five so I wonder how it will pan out for all of us.

Last night I took part in a local MTB Night-O, another excellently staged event by a group of hard working volunteers with minimal support. I don’t actually remember doing a pure MTB Night-O ever before, consequently, the frantic 1:45 hr event had me hurtling about feeling a bit if a Numpty as I overcame ‘big event’ complacency, and the various associated night time factors.

An early ride front wheel slide shook my pride somewhat, but eventually I ‘got my ar*e in gear’ to quote one old colleague, and a new ‘sexy’ Petzl Ultra was very useful, too. I just need to take the racing slicks off my bike wheels now. People often ask me what items of gear I would recommend and I’m often hesitant as I don’t wish to pander to commercialism, and belive you have to experiemnt for yourself especially with clothing, but the new Ultra is well worth the money if you are into multi-sport adventure racing.

What these both events had in common is that neither attracted media attention despite us buzzing around either side of the A591 and across bridleways via farmsteads in the dark, or on the prime shooting ground of the Blanchland Estates. These ‘stakeholders’ wanted us there, unlike some involved in the OMM farce. Both the Sun Inn at Bassenthwaite and the people of Blanchland were very accommodating. If you fancy a quiet, or indeed romantic weekend away try The Lord Crewe Arms at Blanchland – a bit quirky, perhaps, but great. Ironically, neither The Lord Crewe or The Sun Inn don’t spring up with websites via search engines.

The media storm that was the OMM has gone, but what is happening is a new wave of investigative journalism – those who want to know why the panic buttons were pushed and by whom, and also why people want to do such events in the first place. There could be interesting articles and TV to be seen, soon, and there is no such thing as bad publicity, apparently.

Finally, looking ahead, the Open5 series will keep me busy for the winter racing season, especially if I do 'get my ar*e in gear' and do some training! My recent revelation is that I’ve got in the habit of swimming indoors – bit of a first for me…. only used to a Lake called Ullswater.

Keep safe - have fun

Ps – Scoob is to be repaired ….

Original Mountain Marathon

Now that the waters are receding, metaphorically speaking, I have time to write my blog.
Firstly, many thanks for all the kinds words and thanks, and for your concerns over the weekend. Secondly thank you to those who have been awaiting my blog with interest, wanting to know what myself and ‘Team NAV4’ have to say of it.

By now you will have all realised that the media hyped up he whole episode. You will also know that phone communications are non existent in the Borrowdale valley, and that it is only now that I have to time to ‘blog’ and I only like to do so when I have something to say in a composed manner.

The facts;
Wilko and myself participated in the Long Score class arriving Friday evening and sleeping in my VW van. On Saturday we started early and completed Day One without trouble; fell top conditions were bad with very gusty winds, so low level route choices were key. Descending into the overnight camp in Buttermere from Haystacks it was apparent that the overnight camp was probably going to be a very tedious and soggy affair. (And I’d made my decision that we were heading for home, rather than spend a long night in a tent, although I had yet to share the thought with Wilko!) Spending an hour to do just 1km crossing the valley bottom with numerous stream and river crossings confirmed to me that once ‘dibbed out’ at the Day One finish, we’d be walking back over Honsiter Pass and back to the Event Centre at Seathwaite.

On arrival at the finish we were informed that the event was cancelled, i.e. abandoned, and that we should all walk back over Honister. I guess the time at this point was around 3pm. The mood amongst everybody was a mixture of big disappointment and yet some relief, and we all geared up and fed ourselves, briefly, in the big barn prior to an exhilarating walk up Honister Pass. I saw no-one in trouble from hyperthermia, etc, there was no panic or sense of drama, and it was great fun.

At the top of the Pass we were met by Mark Weir, the owner of Honsiter Slate Mine, who told us that Borrowdale was severely flooded and we should go back down to Buttermere. He further said that he was going ‘to arrange for buses to take us out to Cockermouth or somewhere’ and that he was ‘going to speak to Police’. Mark Weir asked for volunteers to help him sort this out, so I stepped forward, raised my hand and said, ‘Yes, I’ll help but you need to tell me more about Borrowdale.’ He said,’ Borrowdale is under water... cars are floating’ I asked, ‘Where are cars floating?’ to which he said ‘The Borrowdale Road is closed’. I tried to discuss further but conditions prevented further discussion.

Some people were sheltering in the visitor centre and some started to get on the bus. Wilko and I actually got on the bus briefly but my gut feeling was that we should be heading for Seathwaite. Whilst middle to lower Borrowdale may be flooded and impassable, our cars at Seathwaite were a safe haven and needed to be reached. Wilko and I got off the bus and talked to some other runners. We agreed that it was illogical to go back down the Buttermere side and we should continue to Borrowdale and Seathwaite, and the Event Centre. I knew communications would be difficult and that we needed to try even if it meant coming back up. We jogged down the road and turned left up the Seathwaite road, walking through flooded parts up to our knees. My van was parked about 800m from the road end at Seathwaite and it was a little disappointing to see it two feet deep in water. I estimate the time to be around 5pm. The van is a VW transporter Kombi/MPV/camper. There was a few inches of water inside the back of the van, but we got inside, got a brew on, and generally changed some of our damp gear. The water continued to rise about another four inches and we sat eating and pondering our next move. I did not feel in danger, just a bit frustrated. There was a steady stream of people walking (wading) up passed us and Landrover and Transit type vehicles driving both ways. By this time it was dark and difficult to gauge what exactly was going on outside of our steamed up windows and rather dank environment. The water started to recede about 7pm and by 8pm we could don willies and walk up to Seathwaite and The Event Centre itself.

Within 100metres of leaving the van, the floods had gone and although the road was awash there was plenty of relatively dry ground and space surrounding all The Event Centre. There were many people sat in cars in the parking fields, and some people were camping. It’s difficult to say how many people were in Seathwaite, but there was a feeling of disappointment amongst the people chatting in the barn which was Race HQ. We talked for some while before going over to Wilfs catering tent to see how they were; as regular customers Charlotte, Wilf, Ruth, Jane and Pippa have become friends and we wanted to help if we could. Wilfs had been flooded a little during the afternoon but they were all in fine spirits, although a little bored and frustrated. We pieced together as much information as we could (communications had always been difficult due to no phone coverage) and concluded there was nothing we could do until the morning. Wilko and I returned to the van around 11pm (which became 10pm) and bedded down for the night.

At first light, around 6:30, I woke to hear cars driving away from Seathwaite. Wilko and I went up to Seathwaite, initially to phone for breakdown recovery and to see what was going on. It became apparent that a fair proportion of people had been and gone home already and things were generally back to normal with Wilf’s feeding people, people reporting to the finish and generally talking of the wonderful, but frustrating adventure they had experienced.

We returned to the vicinity of the van and basically spent the next seven or eight hours directing traffic, pushing cars out of muddy fields and helping people get away. All morning a steady stream of people started walking up the road. Consequently, we spent a lot of time talking to dozens of people and finding out where they had been. Two good friends had been accommodated overnight just down the road at The Glaramara Centre. Other people had stayed at Gatesgarth Farm, either in their tents or in the barn. Some local friends had gone home for the night, one friend had ended up in a travel lodge near Penrith. Others, had eventually been bussed back from Cockermouth, although they had to walk the last two km from Seatoller.

The parking fields cleared really quickly, especially with the help of three tractors, but many drove off without much trouble only needing the usual amount of pushing from runners. My van was clearly in the worst possible place, along with fellow NAV4 tutors, Pete and Stuart. For a section of around 200metres the road had been flooded to a depth of two-three feet with approximate two dozen cars taking the brunt of this. Many of those drove away eventually, once dried out, and I estimate that 6 or 7 recovery trucks came to collect flooded cars, with only three or four remaining once I’d gone. Pete had abandoned his earlier that day as he had a lift to get home from a friend. TV crews continued to arrive during the afternoon looking for a story, when there really was nothing to see.

Wilko got a lift out of the valley around 4pm, Stu drove out at about 5pm and I got recovered eventually around 6pm, to arrive home about 8:30pm. Suffice to say that we were some of the last to leave the valley.

Since Monday I’ve been monitoring the forums and media generally ever since, and dealing with my own correspondence and sorting out my van and insurance claim. At the moment the van is awaiting an insurance assessor to see if it is repairable or to be written off.
What is apparent, now that the media hype has gone away, is that there was never really an emergency. The local press could make interesting reading this weekend as many of us want to know who took the decision to mount a full scale emergency incident, and why? It is very evident that the media over reacted to something on a ‘slow news day’, but I think the police need to explain why the whole drama got out of hand.

The key issues/points that remain for me are:
1) That people were wrongly informed/advised that they should return to Gatesgarth and Buttermere.
2) Walking back to The Event Centre, by road, in order to effect the cancellation of the event, and evacuation of the overnight campsite, was the best thing to do. That is where each and every one of us had our additional spare clothing and food, and where the facilities were in place to look after us.
3) Point 2. was blindingly obvious to any competitor but totally misunderstood by some ‘external bodies’. It was, however, the strategy that the organisers wished to happen and have relied upon for forty years. This is also what every competitor was expecting to do, and wanted to do.
4) At some point, someone took away the self-reliance and responsibility that would have led competitors to return to the event centre and started bussing people needlessly away from the event and so created a drama and crisis out of nothing. How did this happen?
5) I assume that, ultimately, the decision to mount a ‘rescue plan’ or manage a major incident is the responsibility of the police, but how they gathered their information in order to instigate this ‘rescue plan’ seems unexplained.

I look forward to what may happen next.

NAV4 Symposium

NAV4 Symposium

'The term Symposium originally referred to a drinking party (the Greek verb sympotein means "to drink together") but has since come to refer to any academic conference or a style of university class characterized by an openly discursive rather than lecture and question–answer format.'

Over the past few years we have enjoyed a NAV+art ‘Winter Warmer’ where members of the tutor team, previous clients and associates have enjoyed a sociable, yet active training weekend. Taking that idea a step forward I am proposing the first ‘NAV4 Symposium’ to be held early next year.

There will be something for everyone … friends old and new. Tell me what you want and I’ll do my best to arrange it! The idea is to base ourselves at a Lake District hostel, where people can come along and either just do there own thing, such as bike, mtb, run, (or a even paddle?) or ‘buy into’ a workshop focusing on a specific skills.

Join up with like minded individuals and meet friends old and new. Half day sessions might be all you need to brush up on your navigation technique, or master some expect of fine micro navigation. Alternatively a guided MTB ride focusing on MTB ‘O’ navigation and route planning, as typical of Trailquest or Open5 events will be very useful for some. Other ideas are possible. An early evening discussion could focus on ‘gear’ – clothing, food and nutrition equipment, or anything else appropriate. Then we’ll go to the pub!

It is primarily going to be a social occasion, for NAV4 and of course NAV+art clients to get together and enjoy both a training day or weekend and a social occasion. However, if you and your buddies want an ‘Intro Nav’ session, or anything else we can offer, now is the time to start planning it and submit your requests.

I’m currently looking at a venue in the Ambleside / Consiton area and a date in mid February. We aim to keep the cost as low as possible, with people booking direct with the hostel for accommodation and only paying for participation in a work shop of half day training session if they choice one.

Please get back to me with your ideas and requests … it all helps!

Ps - Oh .. just been talking to James @ Open Adventure - Johny5 isn’t planning the Blanchland Open5 as I thought … it was just a rumour, so it’s no wonder he hasn’t told us much about it!

Have fun at The OMM

NAV+art Spring 2009 - 28/29th March

Well the last posting didn't crash so I'm happy to see it for all to see.

Our next NAV+art course will be at Borrowdale YHA on 28/29th March. This is a return to our traditional Spring venue, with half board accomodation in nice comfy beds rather than the self catering / camping programme at Bampton, which has a pre-OMM agenda.

March's course is applicable and appropriate to any Adventure Racer, Mountain Marathon Runner or Off-road runner who wants to improve their navigation and all-round performance.
The programme works at different levels, as we have a maximum client-tutor ratio of 4:1, and group people according to experience and ability.

No doubt you'll have heard of The Six 'P's - 'Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance,' I know from the various forums that some are panicing about the OMM, and some will regret not preparing better ... as I did at The Big Bad Ben Tri! Consequently, I strongly recommend that anyone interested in a NAV+art course, comes to our Spring course early in the year, especially if they want to enter The OMM, so that they have the whole summer to train and apply the learning gained at NAV+art.

'Where are the booking forms, then?' you may ask. Well, the website is due an overhaul and whilst details will be there soon you can email me directly now, faulknerjoe@hotmail.com for advanced info and a 2008 discount off next Spring's course.

Good luck with the OMM and your winter events.

Another busy period

Hello,

Another busy period has flown by, including The Longmynd Hike referred to in my last posting and, of course, our recent NAV+art weekend.

In a first for ten years, I missed to attend a NAV+art course leaving it in the very capable hands of Stuart Smith and the excellent team of tutors. The reason for this was I needed to be away for a weeks holiday and The Applecross Duathlon and Big Ben Nevis Tri lured me to Scotland. I have some old running mates living (retired! lucky people) in Applecross so with a clash of dates it was the obvious choice to combine a week away with two great events. A chance email from Gerry The Chief Marshall at The Heb brought the event to my attention as he happens to live there and founded the event, I think, a few years ago.

The Applecross Duathlon is a great little event with a brilliant 9mile trail run through a remote glen followed by a 15mile road cycle around the northern coast. The ride is great, and not too hilly at all as the road is relatively very new, and hence not as twisty or undulating as some coastal roads. Fortunately the wind was favourable too, unlike last year, apparently.

The following day I cycled The Applecross Circular including the infamous Bealach na Ba Pass; c.5mile climb with 2000' and the longest/highest 'pass' in the UK. Really, it's not so bad and there is probably just as much ascent on the northern coast of the pennisula as on the climb itself. I was a great ride, great scenery and weather.

After a few days in Torridon and Strathcarron, I met Linz off the train at Spean Bridge and went out to Arisiag for a few days rest up before The Big Bad Ben Tri. Last year I finished in 9:53 and so this year I ambitiously entered as 'NAV+art Sub 9' as I hadn't been particulary fit last year, and felt that I could take 53 minutes off that time with a solid season's training.

How wrong could I be! I'd done even less swimming this year and Frazer had extended the swim as it may have been a bit short previously. Also, the sea wasn't flat calm, but choppy and windy with a tide that seem to have a wicked sense of humour. After 400metres I thought I'd have to wave the white flag, but finally settled into a rhythym, I think when the 'Half Ben' racers joined us on the second lap.

Glad to be out of the water, I was a little dismayed, and yet relieved to hear it had been a 47minute swim, and not the 30+ minutes of last year, but a poor start to any PB and certainly 'sub9'.

'Not like this on the telly', I said as I staggered around 'in transition' trying to put on four layers off clothing, a buff and two pairs of shorts/legs and socks (yes, I'm a wimp!). At least I thought I'd start warm and then strip a layer off on each lap of the MTB ride, if neccessary.

Well, I wobbled my way out onto the MTB course, spinning up the Old Faithful Cowhill and settled into my race. The weather continued miserably all day with drizzle and a steady head wind on much of the big climb. I never did strip any layers off and was amazed when the leader lapped me wearing only a tri-suit ... not even track mitts nor socks!?

I slowly started to pass a few riders by lap three and looked forward to The Run as it should be my stronger discipline, but any hope of breaking 9hours seemed very slim indeed. Once I started 'running' I felt better and enjoyed the climb and descent of The Ben despite the poor conditions. The support from Lochaber AC is tremendous on the upper slopes of the mountain and the summit team had some amazing food; nearly as grand as the fresh strawberries half way down. So good they were that I went back up The Ben for several metres to get a few more. A pleasingly strong and comfortable finish took me back to Fort Bill and a warm greeting from Frazer on the finish line. 'Joe Faulkner 9hrs 52' annouced the PA as I thanked Frazer for another great day out. Oh well, at least I'm getting a bit faster...!

The Big Bad Ben is a tough event. You need to enjoy tough MTB riding, not necessarily too technical, but be strong at climbing as it does clock up a far amount of ascent, and be very comfortable 'running' on Scotlands Biggest Mountain. I've witnessed one or two very competent triathletes struggle on the Off-road terrain, both MTB and run. But if you like a multi-sport challenge give it a go. www.nofussevents.co.uk will tell you more info.

The NAV+art training weekend went very well, judging by the feedback from those who attended. I've been busy trying to tie down dates for 2009, and have just finally confirmed that our Spring course will be on 28/29th March at Borrowdale YHA. Details will be update soon on the website. If you can't wait for that please email me for info and a booking form.

More very soon ... this looks like it may crash!!!