5th Jan - Mountaineering

Went up to Coire nan Lochan, site of my first proper full-on ice-climb in 2002. Less of a walk-in than the previous day, we got up to the Coire in about 1h 30. Climbed SC Gully (150m, III***) - spectacular route with 4 pitches, cited in the guidebook as one of the Scottish Classic climbs.

Crazy-horse led the first pitch, a 20m steep series of exposed ice walls. I then led the 2nd pitch up another ice wall onto a flatter snow gully. I led the third pitch which included an airy traverse round a rocky rib onto a steep ice wall and then a long run-out snowy gully with little protection which was pretty exciting. Crazy-horse then led the top 30m pitch to the summit cornice, in style. We topped out as it was getting dark and then descended in the dark to the valley.

Great day-out.

4th Jan - Mountaineering in Glencoe

Day of trip to Glencoe with Crazy-horse. Conditions were clear, ice great and snow in good condition.

We went up to the Lost Valley buttress (2hr walk-in) and did Right-hand Gully (150m, II). This was a long-walk in, then steep snowy scramble before one roped pitch at the top and over the cornice. Great views from the top on the south-side. Great to be back on the ice. The total ascent was just over 1,000m - great day.

30th Dec - Orienteering

Went to Whinlatter Forest Park to do the mountain biking but the snow was too deep - over a foot and a half in places, so we did the orienteering course instead. We did all of the mapped controls in about 55 mins. Really good fun.

29th Dec - Fell Run

Did the Tour of Crummock Water run (16.05km, 700m ascent) with Champ. Deep snow on the top of Mellbreak, pretty breezy on the tops too. Good run.

Route: Lanthwaite Wood, Mellbreak, Buttermere village, Rannerdale Knotts, Lanthwaite Wood

25th Dec - Mountaineering

Climbed Lorton Gully (Couloir de Grasmoor) on Grasmoor with Maurice.

Ice was v.thin, and the gully was mostly just built up by snow. The day looked good for paragliding so I climbed with the wing, but by the time that we got to the summit, the clouds had come in and the wind increased. Loads of snow on the decent down to the col at the top of Gasgale Gill. Would be great for skiing sometime...

24th Dec - Fell run

Walked up from Whinfell to Swinside intending to fly the NE facing slope but the wind was too gusty - NE 11/12mph, gusting 16mph. Ditched flying and ran home. Round-trip circa 10km, 400m ascent with paraglider bag.

21st Dec - Paragliding

Found a good SW take-off ramp on Whin Ben (halfway up Whiteside). Flew for 30 mins into 15mph SSW wind, over Whiteside and landed on South-facing lower slopes of Dodd.

Great flight in the sunset above the snowy Lorton Valley/Loweswater. Stunning!

16th Dec - Swim

London Fields Lido (wetsuit swim)

500m warm-up then 10 x 100m off 1:55

Set felt v.easy at the start, arrived at the wall on the first rep with 20 secs spare. After a few, reps settled down on about 7-8 seconds.

11th Dec - Run

Oil of Dags, Tower Hamlets

Interval session

4 x (10 mins medium/fast pace, then 10 mins slow) + marginal to half-marathon at medium/fast pace

Total session - 21.3km - 1h 33:12

Feeling ok. Good recovery during slow reps.

Hour split - 13.8km
Half-marathon split - 1h 31:50

10th Dec - Paragliding

Did a couple of hours of ground-handling. Wind was pretty strong so took off several times. Can't wait to get back in the air properly.

4th Dec - Squash

Played Hinksy at squash. He won 4-2. Good to give him a bit of encouragement, he needs it the poor boy!

3rd Dec - Run

Ran from Base Camp to Beaney's flat

16.12k - 1h 19:12

Slow pace, ran with rucksack. Loads of rush hour traffic, v. stop-start. Reasonable leg-stretch though.

3rd Dec - Swim

London Fields Lido

500m warm-up then 10 x 100m off 2:00

More of an honest session than yesterday. Was consistently coming in off each rep at 1:50, but felt like I needed the 10 second recovery.

2nd Dec - Swim

London Fields Lido

500m warm-up then 10 x 100m off 2:10

Felt ok, had loads of time after each rep. Should probably aim for off 2:00 next time.

21st Nov - Swim

London Fields Lido with VB

2 X 400m warm-up

5 X 100m off 2:10
5 X 100m off 2:00

2 X (50m easy, 50m medium, 50m hard)

Good session, felt hard at start

7th Nov - Run

First proper run session in fooking ages. I've been ill recently so haven't been doing anything.

Hackney/Tower Hamlets circuit

1hr Steady - 12.83km (averaging 4:40/km)

No surprises really. Unfit and lungs recovering after cold.