6 May 2012

Going off-piste...

Not written much about running recently.

Or indeed run as much as I'd have liked.

Partly because I've had lots of work on. Partly a lack of time.

But mostly I've been feeling the need for inspiration, a change, something different.

The good news is that I think I've found it.

Last week I was inspired by this tweet that came out of The Do Lectures

"The definition of an adventure = when you're in the middle of it, you wish you were safely back home" Richard Askwith

Which I read at the same time as the opening of the ballot for the London Marathon next year

So I signed up, remembering with some pain, the torturous last 6 miles of my only marathon to date.

When I really did wish I was back at home...

With the race taking place virtually on my doorstep, and having pulled out at the last minute with illness at previous attempt, this is the one itch I just want to scratch.

Reading "Feet in the Clouds. A story of fell-running and obsession" then fired me up further.

It made me think that pounding the roads is all well and good as part of the training to run long.

But the stories of fell running and mountain adventures stirred something much deeper in me.

A feeling that running to the hills is the way to go to really harden up for longer distances.

Which is why I'm now planning to have a go at The Original Mountain Marathon in the Autumn

It's a bit like this...

Which means I need to learn 2 new things

1. how to move a bit faster over the hills - fell-running

We went to Coniston last year on a trip to the lakes and did this amazing day walk.

It was 9 miles and took about 6 hours.

The winner of this did it in just over an hour....

2. how to get very sharp at navigation on the go...orienteering

I've done quite a bit of navigation before, but not recently. So need to get out and get practising.

A bit like this..

It looks so easy on these nicely shot films.

The reality is going to be much tougher.

I'll be keeping some sort of record/diary about it all on here. So watch this space.

And wish me luck!

 

20 Dec 2011

Ace -> "Anti-car" love Irish stylee (called Horse Outside by Rubberbandits) - thanks @tomrlondon

16 Aug 2011

Thought for the day....

I wish we didn't live in a world where buying and selling things seems to have become almost more important than either producing or using them. 

- C. S. Lewis -

15 Jul 2011

Friday feeling....(@searsio)

Inspired by @searsio, I too am having a mid-life ex-raver crisis.

But watch this, and tell me you wouldn't have wanted to be there hearing this for the first time!

A Friday feeling if ever there was one!

9 Jun 2011

Respect to the tree.....as big as a football pitch #treelovers

Media_httpnewsbbcimgc_vjbyl

Corsham Court Oriental plane 'most spreading tree in UK', near Chippenham in Wilts. I reckon I could spend at least a day climbing this one....

16 Apr 2011

Be a fruit loop in a world full of cheerios

Media_httpd30opm7hsgi_awwtf

Why not?

20 Jan 2011

I'd rather be here....Cornwall, wind, waves, adrenalin


More Windsurfing Videos

A mission before I'm too old is to get good enough to sail waves......this looks awesome

11 Jan 2011

Nokia x Burton: Push Snowboarding - R+D Episode 1: Speed

This is going to turn into something cool.....

7 Jan 2011

Debtris - this just puts it all in context really.

More geekery but amazing work from Information is Beautiful. More £ to Africa and Climate Change please. Less to bankers. Obviously.

25 Dec 2010

Happy Christmas 2010: a tale and trail of toys and noise.......

A familiar sight anyone?

tomfarrand's Space

Tales of friends, family, adventures and stuff.

Currently juggling lots of balls including starting up a niche social innovation and venturing group called The Pipeline Project and our social mission Good for Nothing, being a husband, dad to 3 young kids including twins, Saints fan, slow runner and adrenalin sports junkie

Contributors

Tom Farrand