This 2003 picture was taken by Jim Goodman at the top of Ingleborough using the disposable camera he bought in the shop in Ingleton after the race start. I have Jim to thank for persuading me to do it and for my original route notes, which worked amazingly well considering I was running without any prior experience of the area.
The Fellsman is one of the major events in the ultra-running year that demands great respect and whose prospect instills apprehension, even fear, in its participants (especially if the forecast is foul like this year). It's more extreme than most and it's been around for longer than most as well - nearly 50 years! Yours truly of invalidated status was registered but obviously won't be taking part, but I will be there to wave goodbye to the group I was to have accompanied, then help out behind the scenes as required by The Committee-ee-ee-ee-ee. I'm quite looking forward to it. I'll be taking the usual pictures, though by necessity they will be somewhat limited in scope. Watch this space.I received an email reminder today from the UTMB organisation that I have still not submitted my medical certificate, as if I didn't know :-( It has to be submitted before the end of this month. In any case the doctor would never sign me off. As I sit here resting my useless limb on my computer case for relief, it is dawning on me that this year really is going to be a write-off. Running remains a pipe dream when walking is still uncomfortable and cycling is downright painful. The chances of me getting repaired and having regained sufficient fitness to even walk the TDS are non-existent. I so hope I can be repaired eventually....
I finish with a glimpse of happier times, a picture taken by Karen McDonald of Runfurther at last year's Fellsman. (Karen = superwoman = my hero :-)
As excruciatingly difficult as this enforced break must be you are providing an invaluable service to the ultra community and I often think it's a thankless task yet probably the most important in race that has been organised for us folk.
ReplyDeleteKeep positive Nick! Hopefully I will get to meet you at a race in the future. As I am a newbie to ultras I certainly have found a lot of wisdom in your writings so take heart in the fact you are still achieving things without putting one foot in front of the other! I think your blog was one of the first I come across on the subject last year and since then have been rambling on my own.
With Lakeland 50 coming up in July I may need some sound advice on getting through that one!
cheers
Enjoy helping Nick. Hope the weather is kind (bit windy at the moment!) Look forward to seeing lots of photos.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun volunteering with you at the Fellsman, Nick! After the long hard hours of work all the volunteers put in, I think it might have been easier to run the race itself! Hopefully you'll be back out there racing soon, and I'll see you on the trail (probably I'll be trying to follow you so I don't get lost...)
ReplyDeleteThank you Richard S. Those are very encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteMadness, the weather and ground conditions were amazing. I was so envious of them.
Dawn, it was an absolute pleasure. I hope I may return to the normal side before I'm too much older.