Back On Track

Over the last few weeks it has been a combination of rest, massage, ice then the gentle introduction of easy training to get things back on track from my recent calf injury. Training has mainly been cycling and easy running followed by plenty of flexibility exercises and fingers crossed this seems to be working. Since the injury i have bought a pair of Skins calf compression socks and a new pair of Soloman Speed Cross running shoes to try and prevent the injury reoccurring with the socks giving my calf some support and the shoes giving me some cushioning. With things going ok i was able to help pace Martin Spooner on leg 5 of his Bob Graham on Sunday, i was initially down to pace legs 2&3 but felt that i could not risk letting Martin down so opted out of the back to back legs. It was an early start on Sunday which saw me setting of from home at 5.15 am and travelling up to Wasdale to help out on leg 3&4 change over by taking two of the leg 3 pacers back to Dunmail Raise. When Martin arrived at Wasdale he was finding things tough with his knee giving him some problems but a good rest, painkillers, ice, and bacon butties he was soon ready to start leg 4 of the challenge. On this part of the route Martin seemed to turn things around and began to feel a lot stronger so when we met up with him again at the end of leg 4 at Honister he was in a lot better shape and state of mind being 11 minutes up for the leg. After a 5 minute break at Honister he was off on his final leg of the BG challenge taking in Dale Head, Hindscarth & Robinson and was soon down onto the road at Little Town, a quick stop to change into road running shoes for the final run in to Keswick along the road saw Martin pick up the pace so much that when he arrived at the bottom of the main street he was able to even put in a sprint finish to Moot Hall and clock a time of 22hrs 41minutes for the Bob Graham Round. This was a absolutely fantastic effort by Martin who in the last few weeks before his BG attempt had picked up a few injuries and at one point was thinking of delaying his attempt. Martin was also raising money for the North West Air Ambulance. http://www.justgiving.com/Martin-Spooner