BGR - deferred

Well, it's not often I get injured and even less often that it would make me change my plans.

Two wks ago at about 2am descending from Seal Stones on the Kinder Killer with Graham, I went over on my left ankle. Initial feelings were bad and in the proceeding days I had moments where I've thought " yep, its definitely better" notably after physio appointments.

Sadly,  late last week it took a turn for the worse. So much so that when I woke up last Sat morning walking round the house was tricky at best, geriatric at worst.  It was that bad, that my 'banker race' the Derwent River Relays hosted by Belper Harriers (20 mins tops) was completely beyond the realms of possibility. Teresa kindly stepped in for me...

To be honest, having to defer the BGR attempt has had me in complete shock - it's took me about 3-4 days to accept that I've gotta just reschedule it.

Mid September then now it seems, so after 1-2 months wind down of distance running, I've gotta get something back in my legs ! Going out for 15-30 mins tomorrow, then Sunday too if tomorrow OK. Final physio next Monday.

Midnight Kinder Killer Attempt

Kinder Killer Route Profile

The Full Kinder Killer Route, we started bottom right ACW

Graham fancied a midsummer midnight run and I'd always fancied the Kinder Killer and fancied one last 8hr+ run before the Bob Graham mid July. Sorted!

Well, cutting a long story short Graham and me were having a great time - setting off from Edale YHA at midnight and heading anticlockwise up Jaggers Clough. It was classic stuff - very hard underfoot and lots of water around mostly staying dry though. A few meanders on the route off Crookstone picking up a new section (to me) to Upper Ashop. We were not really on a path for the next bit to Blackden but it felt great as it was very hard, tussocky and rain in our faces! The climb up Blackden Clough was again a new climb (we'd crossed it many times but never gone actually up it) and seemed beautiful with lots of waterfalls and some occasional scrambling. On the top again then just before Seal Stones we headed down and very soon I went over on the left ankle.

As a fell runner, going over on the ankle is about as regular as a puncture on a bike. Within 5 seconds though I knew this was more than a normal sprain. After 5 minutes I could still barely walk which didn't look good.

Thoughts went immediately to my Bob Graham attempt and I felt worried. As the walk down to the River Ashop went on, things didn't get any better and I now knew that my Bob Graham was in jeopardy.

Writing this now the day after my ankle is massive. My legs huge and my foot is too with the foot and ankle being red.  I like to be realistic about things and realistically it will take a miracle for me to be doing the BGR in 2 weeks now. It looks impossible. Just gotta speak to my pacers now....