Saturday 3 March 2012

Next challenge?

Nearly two years have gone by. I've put the weight back on but although far from being overweight by BMI standards, I no longer have the fitness or speed I achieved during the summer of 2010. I need to have a focus.
As my plan to become a full-time maths teacher didn't come to fruition I am at a bit of limbo as far as future employment. I'm not quite ready to retire but I don't really need to work full time. Working in education would have been a good compromise - you work hard during term time, 10 hour days being accepted as the norm once you include all the preparation but you do get the long summer holiday, ideal for a four or five week trek.
So, until I know what my regular working schedule is, whether that is in some form of eduction e.g. learning mentor or TA, or back in the IT industry, or even something else (I have to be open to options), it's difficult to plan.
I would like to do some of the GR5 - the complete length is out of the question so maybe from Strasbourg to Lake Geneva or from there to Nice. What is the complete length anyway? From Dunkerque or from Strasbourg?
Next Saturday is the Haworth Hobble, 32 miles and near 5000 feet (1500m) of climb in the central Pennines. Although completing it many times, I wasn't sure whether I was fit enough to run it but a clubmate has persuaded me to run with her and if necessary walk some of it. My slowest time ever for the event was 8hrs 5 minutes, 20 years ago when the weather was atrocious. Hopefully we can beat that. The last time we paired up, also in the 90s, we finished in 5:42, my fastest time - no chance of beating that!
Cross country this afternoon so I'll see how I go after completing 10 miles with 2300ft ascent on Winter Hill at 12 minutes per mile pace on Thursday.
Below is a photo from the 92 Hobble with a pair of my training partners Ed and John (JtE) in front of the water rising over the reservoir wall.