For Chariddy mate

             Lakes sky Ultra for Just For Dogs

10 years ago Nerina and I adopted a very ' special boy' from Just For Dogs Brailsford Derbyshire.

To celebrate Billy's 10th year with us, Just For Dogs 20th year and my 50th. I have entered the Lakes Sky Ultra (LSU). 

The LSU is an ultra distance Skyrace. Big distance, ridge running and scrambling.. 'Rock and Run!'.

Training weekend, with http://www.mountainrun.co.uk/

I have set this challenge, in the hope that through the generosity of family, friends, bloggers and blog readers, we can raise as much awareness and money, for  Just For Dogs as possible.

2017 is the centre's 20th anniversary and they are in the process of building a new rescue complex with spacious kennels, all with underfloor heating, an annex, for long term dogs, nursing and isolation facilities and more. This adventurous project, may well wipe out all the charities funds, leaving them with a five stare centre but no funds to run  it. 

Any donations, will make a difference in creating a safe haven for many thousands of homeless dogs. who in the future, like Billy did, find themselves abandoned, lost and alone.....

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Stephen-Burt2

Thank you x

Kitlist

Stolen from Katherine Hayman @  https://instagram.com/robinventures/

Happy happy joy joy!

 

Brilliant news Arthur, the adventure racing dog has finally gone home . If you haven't heard about Arthur, where have you been?  Here is the full story of Arthur and Team Peak Performance.

Happy happy joy!

                                                             

The Yin and Yang of Christmas

If you have a very good imagination and squint a bit, it could possibly look a bit like, the Daoist  symbol of complimentary opposites which sums up the first few of days of my Xmas break.

Xmas eve. A lovely evening with friends family and neighbours.

Woke up Xmas day with manflu

Fab  Xmas day with family and Friends.

Too poorly/lazy to do Disewoth boxing day fun run.

It snowed and I went for a run in my new Xmas shorts.

I hope you had a fab Christmas and wish you all the very best for new year

Parental advice, it's a bit sweary. 

And again

Cader Idris with N&B

After 20+ years I finally got Mrs sbrt to come up a mountain with me. Not just up any mountain but up Cader Idris and to one of my favourite places Llyn Cau.

Damp as an Otter's Pocket

Flood planes of the River Derwent doing their thing

I had not done this 'from the door' route since the monsoon season started. Part of the run is alongside the Derwent and most years it floods. Unsurprisingly, this year it is full on, otter's pocket.

 Time to get wet.

Up to the mut's armpits = just below my knees.

Billys tribute to; Black Bag, the Faithful Border Bin Liner.

Quickly lad. The footpath is flooded and that stick is in trouble.

Phew that was close! Well done lad the stick is saved. 

Rab up warm dear

A Rab Photon belay jacket lives by our back door. Two in fact, Mrs sbrt also has one.  To use the current marketing w*nk word, its my 'go to jacket'.

Rab are based just up the road from me and although they manufacture abroad, they still fill  the down  kit,  in house. In my mind this makes them, sort of local. All of their kit that I have used, has been well designed and more than fit for purpose. I have had a couple of  minor quality control issues but as I said, I like their stuff and would recommend it. On top of that they sponsor the Rab Mountain Marathon. Tks fellas.

What's worrying me is the spread of Rabys. No, not hydrophobia. Its worse than that, far worse. Respected hardcore outdoor brands are becoming mainstream. Chavs, middle-aged shoppers, newsreaders and Countryfile presenters, can be seen wearing R Carringtons finest.

Rab Photon hoody being used for what was designed for.
Skimming stones.

It may already be too late for; Boghause, North farce, Lard Rover and  Mange Rover. Lets do what we can, to save Rab from this sad demise. Join Colonel mintcake and myself, in the campaign to get gear dirty. Its our only hope of keeping our outdoorsy cred.

Whatever next? Wet suits for swimming with dogs

Well it was October

Mawl

Billy checks out his new xmas lightsabre. He has not been quite the same since we bought him a red collar and he watched the Phantom Menace. 

In a far away universe a long time ago (1977), queuing up, to see the first Star wars film. It blew my 10 year old mind. A swashbuckling adventure with added spaceships and stormtroopers. Wow! Skywalker was a bit wet but Vader, he was a supercool sheriff of Nottingham x10. 

Fast forward to the phantom menace. Rose tinted glasses had made me forget these are cheesy kids films. I was disappointed. It was worth the trip to the pictures though, Ray Parks was stunning as Darth Mawl, truly menacing with some top wushu moves. This guy knows his Chinese martial arts. 

420 + 2

The dizzying heights of Bunkers Hill

422 Feet above sea level 

(Plus another four if we are counting paws). 

Saturday morning, supping the first cuppa of the day. There is mist and a good frost outside. Time for a run with the hound.

The B-listers, out in the jungles of Oz, may have to contend with some serious creepy crawlies but that is nowt, compared to frozen cobwebs. I am not a celebrity and I quite like it here.

I am hoping for views of the Derwent valley, with sunshine slowly burning off the mist that fills the bottom of the valley.....

Not today. Today stays a mist and frost morning, which has a charm all of its own.

PB vs Billy B

Also available in blue

Walsh PB Elite Trainer vs Black bog dog

A gear test in the same style as Mudclaw vs muddy paw. The same in that it is completely unscientific, random and probably of very little use to anyone wanting to know about fell running shoes.

I have never run in Walshes. For some reason or other I have never got round to owning a pair of these iconic, fell running classics so I was looking forward to trying a  pair of Bolton's finest.

 First thoughts were that they look old fashioned,.If that sounds too harsh, consider them a pair of retro style trainers(still 'on trend' I believe).
Putting them on was a revelation. Slippers with studs is pretty much it. No whistles and bows, just a simple upper with a very grippy sole. Again bang up to date with  minimalist/barefoot thinking. Nice one Norman!

some rain

A look out the window and it is perfect weather for trying out my new fell shoes. Billy and I head out for a splash round our usual from the door run. 8K and 100metres of ascent, mostly grass, woodland and mud.

The result, in spite of Billy slipping over two times to my once (not from lack of grip I put my foot down a hole). The mut easily takes the win, he can still run quicker than me and is much faster drying than a pair of Walshes

What a stud

Thawsday

Then after the thaw comes   ........MUD

A lady from Connecticut U.S.A. once told me that in the New England area of America they have five seasons. Spring, summer, autumn, winter and  the 'mud season'. 

I am not sure if she likes mud but Billy and I enjoy going out to run/play in it. What is not to like? It is an excuse to put fell running shoes on, even for our from the door runs. Mud is softer to run on, it doesn't rattle my knackered joints as much and Billy gets to play the Hippo game.

We used to have a black dog

Parklife

Control 15, edge of vegetation. Dog in background, climbing vegetation. He is a special boy.

This control is part of a permanent orienteering course  on Allestree park. I have been mucking about on this park since I was a kid, it is also part of many of  mine and Billy's regular runs. So armed with local knowledge and nav skills honed on a recent mountain marathon, finding this control should be easy.

Wrong. It took lots of milling about and wandering around the woods until we finally found it.

Saddle up

Blencathra, Bannerdale Crags & Sharp edge

Sharp Edge

Mrs sbrt and I had planned on getting away for a camping trip. Unfortunately most of the UK was wetter than an otters pocket. Discretion being the better part of valour, we bottled it and after a brief panic, managed to book a cracking  little cottage.

We were based just outside of Mungrisdale, ideally placed for a run up Blencathra and a scramble on Sharp Edge.

Mini waterfall. Falling from Bannerdale beck

Thats better. A Herdwick, the right sheep.

the wrong sheep

Eeck!

Also known as Saddleback. The wonderful Cumbric name, Blencathra probably means 'seat at the head of the valley'. The word 'cathra' meaning chair, as in the Welsh Gader Idris. 

The short scramble up Sharp Edge wasn't as scary as it looked from below. It turned out to be good fun, requiring  hands to be used and a little care to be taken. The reward, was a cereal bar breakfast, on the summit  and wonderful views of  clouds swirling round the fells.

Fool in the clouds

Billy had a great time too. Taking his frisbee to various lakes, meres and waters. He also made a new friend, Tia the cottage owners dog.

The hand of Dog

The funniest thing I have ever seen

Recycled and Shining Cliff Fell Race

Thorpe Cloud and the Stepping Stones

Four years ago, on the 23rd of April we picked  up a 10 month old, black and white whirlwind, from Just For Dogs . With him being an unwanted stray we decided to call the 'whirlwind' Billy, as in Billy no mates.

To celebrate his Billy-day all three of us headed up to Dovedale.

Bloody graffiti artists. Is nowhere safe from their etchings and lithographs? 

It turned out to be an open air art exhibition with pictures placed in the landscape that inspired them. 

Unimpressed by his brush with culture, Billy enjoyed himself all the same. A river and a stick, who needs art.



Sunday I managed to squeeze in a local race. The Shining Cliff Woods Fell Race. Organised by David Denton, this six and a half mile(10k) two lap race is unusual  in that it heads off downhill first.

The Bear Inn & Hotel(space for compass bearing/bear inn pun..........) at Alderwasley, kindly allowed us scruffy fell runners to use it as race HQ. A field to park in and a pub that serves good food and real ale, cool! I didn't have time for a pint but have eaten there before and can recommend the food and drink.

After a separate shorter race for the kids, we  headed off down the side of the Derwent Valley. All went well until near the finish. Three of us Bill, Steve and myself  were trotting along together when someone said "shall we make it a race? "The mad dash for 71st place was on.

If you have ever seen the film Chariots of Fire the one with slo mo shots and jangly, atmospheric Vangelis soundtrack. Well!.... it was nothing at all like that.  I made I right fool of myself with comedy running, gurning, and wheezing, I finally got to the finish,  started dry retching and almost hurled.

 Not the done thing when the winner Joshua Bull, had already finished 20 minutes earlier. Good fun though ;)

Many thanks to David Denton and all those who helped out.