Head still buzzing after last night’s lap of the Cavey...

Greetings Dudes

Head still buzzing after last night’s lap of the Cavey. Just Ralph+RG... no hiding place tonight RGs only hope was Ralph’s 5hr Adventure race last Sunday would slow him. Spirits were already high with the novelty of a daylight start... that wee pig of a starting hill gets no easier. A waft of aromatic esters through the trees. Traffic on the steps as two lads lurched towards Ralph reeking of evostick. Sad to see....and embarassing as they seemed to making better progress on the steep than RG.

Dry trails, good viz... no excuses. Made the grid in a single push...brief pause for Ralph then on towards the stile. High on something RG suggested the whole hog and head for McArts. Further stoning this time a trail upgrade. Past the track machine. The sight of temporary cliff top fence evoked RG lament 'hope they don't sanitize the place'.

Over the summit, heading down for the gorse cross track... was it the twilight, was it the surreal misty landscape, was it the dry trail, was it Andy's lunge + squats, was it the evostick... RG had an out of body experience leading Ralph down a descent.... Yes it was like being chased by a butchers dog... arms flailing for balance or was it to stop Ralph passing? Right turn Clyde and like oorgangutangs on speed, we hoofed back to the stile in record time.

Hungry for more and in a moment of inspiration / lunacy, Ralph called a further descent then up the black... yes up the black. On the steep to quote David Coleman 'Ralph opened his legs and showed his class' RG opened his bowels and showed his lunch. With a lung bust we made it back to McArts. RG's best sprint to the view point still had Ralph pulling away. 

Only one star tonight - Ralphus major...I am gutted he's not running MEM...'could of been a contender'. Head torches lit for the traditional red run home. Dry trails called for a return of our green shorted and crossmax partners. A brief nod of respect at the former gorse thicket scene of the big Garthy bulldozer debacle.

RG became Andrew as he tramped on... could he stay in touch? A classic fast feet flurry from Ralph over the rocky roots and RG was broken. 59mins  5miles...record descent...just the ticket after a stressful day at the orifice.

Hope A+G are recovered and back with us next time.

Kindest regards

RG

Last night’s session was more akin to bog snorkling...

Quack quack Amigos.

Last night’s session was more akin to bog snorkling. Andrew's timing was immaculate as the deluge overhead cleared. Less immaculate was the lycra. Boy Scout RG armed with a sac full of AAA batteries. BigG gambled on an intermediate compound with his salamon crossmax. R, A + RG played safe with mudclaws and talons. Off the grid is always high revs, slow speed and much wheeezing. R+A quickly dropped the old guard. With water running on every track it added another new challenge.
 

 

A rare early morning adventure on Cavehill when we can actually see where we’re going

Tito respect to R+A who keep the climb going to the stile... a new training high.
RG splashed out over the moor with a few wobbles. BigG cut a fine wake up from the gorse crosstrack. RG called a new route...loop round and come up the red.  
R pulled us all along to a ridiculous 8min mile split as we dropped down towards Hightown and juked across to the base of the red run.

We followed the Tigris to where it met the Euphrates...at which point the similarity with the Garden of Eden stalled. Willy Wonka’s chocolate waterfall almost required fixed ropes and crampons. R+A moved lightly leaving RG+G playing about like a couple of hippos. Totally waterlogged the high path became grand canal cavehill. The ascent was great training the descent was unnerving and entertaining... We returned to the Garden of Eden in time for....the fall of man...or should I say the many falls of Garth.

What a sketch...zero grip...careering out of control... head torch flashing everywhere...ten toes in the air...saved only by lodging himself in a thicket of briars. Confidence and legs in tatters G bravely finished the descent grandstanding with a triple toe loop and landed it ... in a hole on his hole.

The low road home was uneventful. 5.5miles 78mins....pretty quick for an individual medally. Best of luck getting that running kit cleaned G.   

Ralph and Andrew have booked facials and spray tan in prep for Sunday’s photo shoot. Fountain of youth required to even give RG a fighting chance... saving grace is he is standing beside an ugly edifice of Napoleon's nose correction... Robert's nose.

Once again thanks to all for another good night on the hill.

Kindest regards

RG

Great to be joined by big G on the Cavey last night....

Namaste All.

Great to be joined by big G on the Cavey last night....or was it Ralph after a visit to Lance Armstrong’s doctor?
 
Andrew's new job 'running Royal ICU' meant a kit change in the car park. Breaking news A's candle had been upgraded to Pretzl head torch...a further promotion to new Lenser H7R coupled with his dayglow Beanie he was... fully lit.

Is black the new green?... Andrew played a straight bat with his choice of running shorts but as RG + G know it is hard to'polish a turd'.

RG after all his 'big' lycra+stick chat also kicked for touch on the kit choice.

The nasty climb from the car park...never seems to get easier. Cracker night... cold, clear with trail crusty with few ice and snow pockets.

On the forest drag up... the feng shui was not right...RG had company as he and big G toiled up towards the caves.

As A rounded the headland... the sound of ships foghorns leaving Stranraer could be heard over the channel... or was that just RG and big G groaning up the hill?

Head torch #1 faded as we passed the prevailing tree on a 'proper trail' as G wheezed before dropping his foot into a permafrost puddle.

Up from the Gorse crosstrail to summit again A making 'light' of the conditions. A fast feet sprint onto McArts for astronomy blurb 2. Sirius the brightest star in our solar system... correction, now second brightest after Andrew’s head.

G was still moving and naively suggested was happy to do whatever. A last second change took RG down the black run. Tricky at best of time... but add frost, and head torch...A suggested 'positively alarming compared to last week’s stab in dark candlelit descent... ignorance is not all bad'.

A yomp up the deceptively long stretch from grid to McArts before starting the red run to home. G was down to 20watts...Head torch #2 was swapped with RG...nb after the tricky bit. Last half mile was more akin to G recent Gosford sprint.

Good training and fun. Thanks A+G and Lenser who made the evening possible.

Kindest regards

RG

Survived another lap of the Cavey...

Namaste All.
Survived another lap of the Cavey... perhaps RK coffee shop training is the way forward.

A delayed start gave Ralph and RG time to sort US gun laws, world debt, Ralph’s next motor and we’re just about to tackle the flegs when Andrew saved us. Head torches on and a candle strapped to Andrews beanie.

100yrds in and my heart rate was well in the red zone whilst the young guns were having a perfectly civilized chat. As usual R+A tramped out a steady pace stopping to check I hadn't actually wheezed up my right lung. A final push up to the stile... inappropriate word considering Andrews green shorts. Better viz tonight and the track was not covered in 18" of snow. Slithered past the prevailing tree, rounded the bush and made it safely to the gorse cross track. R+A again took 50yrds out of RG to the summit. Windy on top and out the back of Ralph.

Swapped Andrews candle for spare head torch before descending the black run past the caves...great call Ralph.

Another heanous climb back to McArts fort... RG was akin to Patrick Moore by the way he was moving and some blurb about the plough and the north star. Andrew was just pleased to be able to see beyond his big toe.

Butcher's dog Ralph led us down the red route including the near death compression. Tricky but exhilarating descent with RG in the bushes twice. No sign of Cavehills wild horses tonight... they have more sense. Good wee pace home with RG down to 20watts needing to keep Andrews pins in view.

A good recovery from R after a high tariff launch from side of the track. Good buzz. Enjoy the weekends skiing Ralph... ne pas dans le hopital en France sil vous plait.

Kindest regards

RG

Stand up for the Ultramen

It seemed like a good idea as we strategically booked our 2012 training events. Mourne Way marathon would give Ralph his first 26mile trail marathon (left).The seven7s is just a brute of a hill challenge. Finishing our year with the Causeway Coast Ultra.

Mourne Way Marathon highlights

A superb 4hr45min debut in the Mournes by Ralph was trumped by his wife Karen participation in the Guiness world record... longest game of tag rugby 31hrs !!

RG enjoyed / endured a communal post race ice bath / cold mucky trough with Dawson Stellfox...first Irishman to summit Everest

Seven7s

RG 6h29mins survives another year as Ralph got lost on Binian while contesting the race lead.

Richard Ross 6hr46mins Ralph+RG 6hr48mins

Causeway Ultra

Having trained up to 28miles the race held a lot of unknowns. A strong westerly breeze helped us to Carrick a rede rope bridge. Support from Karen and a few brufen got Ralph over a dodgy knee at 20miles.

Survived the half marathon stampede lead by Richard Ross and the Topping brothers...what are they thinking? A landslip at Dunseverick required a mucky detour adding 1.5miles to the route.

Much appreciated encouagement from the 10k starters including Auldnutter and local yeti Monty gave Ralph and RG the lift needed to finish in 7hr55mins (right).

Reward for joining the ultra club was a big hug from Hannah Shields NI first lady and dentist to summit Everest.

Andrew Topping joins the team Sept 12 (below)

Ralph unable to travel for the Everest Marathon...he's going to be a daddy...Karen due on raceday 29.05.13

If you'd like the full details of their challenge and how to support their project you can find it on the Stand by Me website. 

Meet the team...

 

We are a team of four ordinary guys with a trainer, who have decided to push ourselves with the challenge of the Highest Marathon in the World – The Mount Everest Marathon in May 2013, as the first ever Stand by Me Team Ireland to enter the race!. L-R Andrew Topping, Robert Kennedy, Richard McBride, Andy McMullan (trainer) and Ralph Mercer. We thought we’d share, in a lighthearted manner, the highs and lows of our preparation and training for this event. We’re taking this challenge on to raise funds for Stand by Me – a charity who rescues and cares for kids around the world – in this case kids in Hetauda, Nepal (www.standby.me).