Friendships and fells – bring it on….

Hi there, I am Phil the brother of this blog master Dave, who asked me to put up a post to tell you how my preparation has been and generally drool about Sunday. This picture was taken this morning in my garden in Devon, with my 3 year old helper Helen. This year it has gone well for me, for two reasons – having good training friends and being located closer to the fells. I started earlier this year on the heavy roads of Devon with my friend Roger Ebner (ex Swiss world team cyclist – turned swiss banker and fellow busy Dad of three!) preparing for the Dartmoor Classic 100 miler – a bit like the Fred Whitton of the South West. Long term friend Richard Hannaford also joined us on a hot but tough on the day out. More recently. I have been able to spend more time in fells of the North West – on the ‘Peaks themselves. My family is in the process of relocating as I have started a new job at Lancaster University. I recall a sunny June evening out with Dave and Richard Bardgett on the roads around the Forest of Bowland. I have been temporarily staying with Trevor Page and Leanne Thompson, friends from Lune Valley CC. Apart from hours ‘living the bike life’, my fellow co-3 peaks ‘obsessives’ and I have been able to spend recent evenings exploring Whernside and Ingleborough (on foot), working on the ‘visualisition’, especially on the mental effort to conquer the steep climbs. Training has been fun for a change. The result is that I feel positive and this is the first time I have felt this in the 14 years since I first started this compulsive and addictive event. My weight is not as low as I would like it, but otherwise I feel it is going to go well for me this year. In fact, I am so confident about that I am telling you all now… I am a going to better my 1999 personal best of 4.25.45 it is time for some optimistic thinking for a change! Friendships and fells – bring it on……