Jog on..

I was hoping to write up day three of the West Highland Way this weekend, but I've been pretty busy (good excuse), so instead I'll tell you about the monstrous run I did today (Sunday) instead!

So far my running has all been fairly short distance, my longest run being a 5 miler which saw me out of running for two weeks with knee pains,. Before this weekend I was wondering just how was I going to be able to do the half marathon in May if a run not even half the distance crippled me. Luckily, I found some hope after a run this weekend.

Saturday was a bit of a waste of a day in all honesty, got up late, didn't exercise and spent the day and night eating junk food while looking after my baby brother. Sunday however was a whole different story. My sister and myself decided to go on a long run, and by long I mean half marathon long. We ended up running about 11 miles, and with relative ease.

I'm not sure how but I've gone from running an average of about 2 miles a time, to an 11 miler with no fitness problems and no muscular aches or pains (although my groin is a bit tender). This has, of course, given me great confidence for the half marathon and I think I'm going to run the actual course a few times before the event, sneaky eh?

In other news I've a long week ahead writing up reviews of approach shoes in Adventure Travel magazine (www.adventuretravelmagazine.co.uk), and then on Saturday I have my first proper motorcycle lesson! I'm hoping to have my full bike license by mid May, so bring it on!

I'm a lazy blogger

I'm not going to lie, my attempt at blogging has come to a halt as of late. I've been finding it hard to set some time aside to update it with meaningful posts, and rather than update it with rubbish I've left it to fester. I will start updating more in the next few days, I promise! I should have a day free this weekend, so expect an update then.

For now though, just a little update on my fitness. I'm still hoping to run the Stratford upon Avon half marathon on May 8th, I'm running for the British Heart Foundation and you can sponsor me here: www.original.justgiving.com/brynatmag Please donate, any amount is amazing! I've been running about three times a week, but I still haven't completed a substantial run since my 5 miler about a month ago. That said, I'm finding my usual circuit getting much easier, so much so that today I didn't even break a sweat.

West Highland Way Day 2 - Conic Hill to Rowardennan (approx 11 miles)

I awoke surprised to find that the rain had stopped hammering on our tent and that the wind had died down enough to stop me thinking that we were going to be blown into Loch Lomond.

I rolled over to see James, still asleep, lay halfway down the tent, apparently we'd pitched over a tree stump and there was a huge lump on his side of the tent; looks like he pulled the short straw.

There's a great thing about pitching your tent in the pitch black. When you wake up in the morning the view is always a surprise, and as I poked my head outside I was hit with one of the nicest surprises of all. Straight ahead of me the moors dropped off and about half a mile down rolling hills lay Loch Lomond. I often hear of stories of monsters living in Scottish lochs, and the view I was looking at now made me think that these could be true.

A fine mist hovered above the surface of the giant lake, engulfing anything that lay on its still waters. Occasionally tree studded islands punctured through the shroud, giving the appearance of high mountaintops poking through a cover of clouds. To the left was Garadhban forest looking rather mysterious and to my right stood our next obstacle, Conic hill.

A short while later we'd packed up the tent and donned our still-damp over clothes, we snacked on a few breakfast bars and then we hauled our rucksacks onto our backs. Had someone put bricks in mine?! It was feeling mighty heavy today.

We started the day moving swiftly through the fields at the foot of Conic hill, crossing over swollen burns and passing happy hill-walkers on their Saturday strolls, everyone giving us a nod and mentioning how they'd walked the WHW in August last year.

(It's strange, August 2010 must have been a VERY busy year on the WHW. Just about every Scottish person we met (and we met a lot of Scottish people) mentioned that they walked the trail, in August. I'm glad we came in February and avoided the masses!)

We then started our ascent of the 360m high hill. The trail started off climbing a set of steep stone stairs before gradually easing off and following a well walked path up its slopes. Although the hill is 'the first significant uphill' encountered on the WHW, it was surprisingly easy going and within 30 minutes we found ourselves descending the other side and dropping into Balmaha. It must be said though that the view from Conic hill is exceptional. From the path you can see the noticeable division of Lowland and Highland Scotland and Loch Lomond stretches as far as the eye can see with snow capped mountains towering above it to either side.

After a fairly straightforward descent and a short amble through woodland we reached Balmaha, a quaint hamlet on the shores of the loch. It was getting quite late now (we'd started walking at 12 as we thought we deserved a lie in) and we decided we could do with some food so we stopped for a bite to eat in the Oak Tree Inn. It perhaps wasn't the best idea as after we'd dined we emerged onto the trail again just in time to see the sun disappearing behind the horizon.

Even so we were gifted enough sunlight to capture some beautiful sights from the shores before we had to don our head torches. The next seven and a half miles can be some of the most spectacular on the trail, however when they're walked under illumination of head-torches they're pretty nondescript, and for this reason I'll save you a pretty boring read.

The weather had been forgiving today, it was chilly but the sun made a few guest appearances, so it was only fair that it started raining towards the end of the night, soaking us just before we trudged into Rowardennan hotel at about 10pm. You'd think that hotel owners wouldn't take too kindly to two walkers smelling of sweat and damp demanding a room and drinks, but they were happy to oblige. The hotel was fully booked but fortunately for us a couple had failed to turn up so we had first dibbs on their warm, dry room, and in the morning a full Scottish breakfast would be waiting.

West Highland Way Day 1 - Milngavie to Conic Hill (approx 19 miles)

Starting in Milngavie, near Glasgow, the West Highland Way runs 96 miles north and navigates through the alluring and often magical scenery of the Scottish Highlands. Those who walk it experience the true beauty of Loch Lomond as they scramble along its banks and later the belittling vast openness of Rannoch Moor, before finally coming to a spectacular end in the magnificent snow capped mountains that surround Fort William.

As I've mentioned in my last few posts, I walked the West Highland Way last week with a friend of mine. We started in Milngavie (pronounced Mull-guy) on Friday 11th February, and six days later we found ourselves stumbling into Fort William. What follows is the story of how we managed to walk the whole 96 miles, with no previous training and in winter.

The idea had only come to fruition a few days prior, and without thinking much my friend James and I had booked tickets on a train up to Milngavie. With four hours to spare on the journey we decided to take a look in the guidebook, and the supposed preparation and guidelines for walking the West Highland Way. They included:

• “It would be foolish to even think about setting off if you have not done any previous rough walking or had to carry heavy packs”
• “Vitally important that you avoid wearing new boots and clothing that has not had chance to lose its newness”
• “best enjoyed in summer months”

Now, considering we hadn't walked a long distance trail before, and we hadn't had time to train for the trip it seems that we were classed as foolish, and the fact that we were both wearing new boots added to that label. Couple that with us waking the way in winter, and you've got one of two things: Seriously hardcore hikers, or Seriously stupid guys – we liked to think we were the first of the two.

Nonetheless, we started out from Milngavie not really knowing what to expect from the road ahead and within a few minutes the small town had disappeared and we got a sense that we were really heading off into the wild. The trail snaked on through Mugdock wood building up anticipation for what lay before us and despite the wet weather we were already planning on walking through the night.

We followed the purpose built trail for a few miles before stumbling upon some wooden holiday homes, apparently built in the times of WWII. They looked eerily like a set from a horror movie, and as we walked towards the hut's access road we noticed a Spiderman doll tied to a tree – spooky. Before long we came across a brief section of road walking before we hopped off and followed the path up a hill and through a field.

It was at the top of this hill, just south of Duntreath Castle that we entered a land completely different from the one we were walking in two minutes ago. Mist hung above the rugged moorland, and through a rare break in the clouds we could see the peak of an unknown mountain towering above us. Finding a vantage point we looked out across the lands, finding the West Highland Way to be almost identical to how I imagined.

We continued on through our first 'wild' landscape and traversed a train line for a few miles. Easy walking ensued and the scenery, although still beautiful, eased off a bit and it did so until darkness crept in.

As the sun retreated behind the horizon we found ourselves heading into the dark unknown of Garadhban Forest. The trail runs about three miles through the thick canopy before popping out at the other side within view of the West Highland Way's first real ascent, Conic Hill.

Despite the darkness, and the usual spookiness associated with forests at night, I felt completely at ease in Garadhban Forest. The eyes of animals floated in the woodland as they glinted in our head torch light but we moved deeper in. It wasn't long before we came across a diversion for the West Highland Way, the forest was being thinned and it was supposedly hazardous to walk along the trail, instead we were to follow white tape around the forest until it brought us back to the WHW about two miles away.

For what seemed like hours we walked along the muddy paths, occasionally coming across a fir tree that had decided to lie across the trail. These were no small trees either and each one provided a new challenge about how to best get over or around it. We negotiated our way through the treacherous diversion before arriving at a t-junction in the trail. The diversion had come to an end, but the West Highland Way forked off in two directions, one of them would be back the way we came.

Inevitably we decided to go the wrong way, and an hour later we arrived in a very familiar place. The relief of finally getting out of the woods subsided rather quickly as we realised we had just walked a six mile circle. The weather was getting worse now, the rain was belting through the trees and the temperatures were getting colder, couple that with the annoyance of walking back on ourselves, we were unhappy ramblers.

We readjusted the route and decided to follow the WHW rather than the temporary diversion and an hour later we were out the other side of Garadhban forest. We now stood on a wide open moor, away from the shelter of the trees, the wind was picking up and the heavy rain had now turned to sleet. We needed a rest, but to sit for even a minute exposed to the chilling winds left us shivering.

From here the only way to civilisation was a few miles over Conic Hill or back through the forest, and we weren't going that way. We could barely see the trail in front of us now so, after some thought, we decided the safest thing to do would be to retreat into our storm shelter and wait for the weather to get a little more forgiving.

For an hour and a half we waited with the tiny sheet of material over us, rain drumming on the top and snow gathering on the bottom until I decided it was time to find a place to set up the tent. With some difficulty we managed to get the shelter erected and when it was up it was like heaven. No wind, no rain, and a warm, comfortable sleeping bag waiting for me.

The start of the West Highland Way had been more than enjoyable, the walking was good and the sights were already amazing, and they were only going to get better. We'd started in civilisation, and here, although technically close, we felt miles away from anyone.

The West Highland Way, one of the UK's finest treks

Well I did it! I hiked the West Highland Way, all 96 miles (plus some more for getting lost), in six days and in winter! There were times when I wanted to give up, there were times when I wanted to walk to the next train station and hop on the next train to Birmingham, but I didn't. I ended up walking through heavy rain, brief sunshine, light rain, winds, heavy snow, mist and just about every other weather imaginable short of tropical cyclone!

It was tough all right, my feet felt like they wanted to fall off and my back was aching under the heavy load, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. Despite the uncomfortableness of achy limbs the scenery was too good not to enjoy and be part of and the West Highland Way has got to be one of the UK's finest long distance trails.

I'll be updating this blog in a diary format for the next few days giving a run through of my hike, so keep your eyes on here for my next update: Day 1 – Milngavie to Conic Hill which involves getting lost in a forest at night and retreating to our storm shelter.

Let's get trekking - The West Highland Way

"I know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head." - Christopher McCandless, (Into the Wild)

Now, call me dramatic, opening this post with a quote like that, but I think it sums up well what I've decided to do next week. On Tuesday I'll be walking the West Highland Way, starting in Glasgow and walking 96 miles north to Fort William.

I know there's countless people that have walked this popular route, but it's usually hiked in the more favourable conditions of summer. A quick check on the weather forecast shows that there's heavy snow and gale-force winds of up to 80mph in the area where the trek is (west Scotland).

Now I might be making this sound a bit apocalyptic, but I'm really excited about getting to walk one of Britains finest long distance trails, and I'll be getting to do it in some 'extreme' conditions, hopefully. The thought of camping in deep snows and braving freezing temperatures might seem like hell for some people, but to me, it's a way of testing myself. Proving that I have the mental and physical strength to do it, and like the quote above says 'to measure myself'.

That said, the weather might be beautiful next week, who knows! Anyway, it'll be my first long distance trail and I'll be walking it with a mate of mine I've known since high school.

I won't be able to update my blog as I go along the trail as we'll be wild camping with no access to internet, and I'm not going to lug my laptop around with me anyway. But, I will be keeping a diary of each day and when I'm back I'll post them up daily.

For more info on the West Highland Way check out this website that's dedicated to the long distance path, there's some great info on there: http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/

Or if you have any questions on the trail leave a comment below and I'll find the answer for you!

Or or, if you've walked the WHW, or are going to be walking the WHW let me know!

Longest run yet!

Sorry that this update's a little late in coming, I was going to write it last night but I ended up falling asleep a lot sooner than I'd hoped! Running really takes it out of you.

So, anyway, yesterday I went on my longest run yet. I mentioned in my last update that I'd be trying for 10 miles, but it's not really surprising that I didn't end up going that far. My longest run before yesterday was just short of three miles, so perhaps it was a bit silly to be aiming for 10 so soon. But, as they say, aim for the moon and if you fail you'll land amongst the stars, aim for the tree tops and you'll land in the gutter. Or something along those lines.

My sister and myself ended up running five miles in just under an hour yesterday, with an average pace of 11 minutes per mile. While it wasn't the 10 I'd initially set out to do, I was surprisingly pleased with what we'd done. I was feeling good after the exercise and I could have gone on for longer but I was hurting in a few places.

I should have listened to one of the comments in my previous post which mentioned injuries from over training. About half way through yesterdays run I tweaked my ankle and felt a sharp pain whenever I put pressure on it. I decided to walk for a few minutes to see if it would go, but it wouldn't so I decided to run through the pain, probably the worst thing I could have done. This morning I couldn't put pressure on the foot because it hurt too much, so I've decided to give it a rest until there's no more pain, too many times have I rushed into training after not being fully recovered.

With that said though, I'll still be doing weights in the gym, I need to keep 'in the zone'. Falling out of it's easy, getting back into it's the hard part.

My stats for yesterday:
Miles: 5
Time: 54 minutes
Average pace: 11 minutes per mile
Calories: 468

How did I get those stats? I use a free app on my phone called RunKeeper. I'll be writing a review of it soon, but for the moment I'll just say it's a great app that tracks your miles, time, average speed, calories, and plots your route out on a map.

I'll just drop this in there again, I'm running the Shakespeare half marathon for the British Heart Foundation after I had open heart surgery back in 2009, you can sponsor me here http://original.justgiving.com/brynatmag. I'm currently on £98 and my targets £1000, so come on! Get sponsoring :)!

Already hit a bump!

Well, the week has nearly gone and I've not run anywhere near as much as I would have wanted. I did two short runs on Monday and Wednesday, but for the rest of the time I've felt completely exhausted. These dark mornings are so off putting! Anyway, there's no point dwelling on what I haven't done, I should be looking forward to what I will be doing, and tomorrow I'm going to try a 10 mile run up the local greenway.

I might be jumping into the deep end a bit, but you've got to push yourself if you want to improve, right? My sister has decided to sign up for the full marathon this year (she did the half last year) so we're going to start running together, I've heard that having running partners will help keep you motivated so I'm looking forward to it.

There's not much to update you on today though, unless you'd like to hear about what I had for dinner yesterday? Nahh, didn't think so! I'll leave it until tomorrow, then I'll post an update on my first big run! Wish me luck!

Oh, until then you can check out my sponsorship page at: http://original.justgiving.com/brynatmag.

It's got my full story there, and I'm looking to raise £1000 for the BHF for all the wonderful work they're doing, so show some support and sponsor me, it doesn't matter if it's for the minimum sponsorship amount, as ASDA would say, every little helps! Or was that Tesco?

Welcome! An introduction to my blog.

Hi there and welcome to my blog. Before I make any proper posts, I think it's only right that I give you an introduction on who I am, and what I'm doing. If you're still interested after that, then I promise I'll make this blog worth following, and any comments or support you may have will be welcome.

Basically my name's Bryn Davies, I'm a 19 year old guy from Stratford upon Avon, and I work as the gear editor at Adventure Travel magazine and Adventure Bike Rider magazine. I've always been into outdoor pursuits, and I climbed my first mountain when I was five (it was Snowdon in case you're wondering), 10 years later and I had scaled the Eiger (in doing so possibly becoming the youngest person to summit the mountain), and the year after that, Mont Blanc.

In my spare time I loved playing rugby, going to the gym, mountain biking, climbing, skiing, and doing just about anything outdoorsy. That was until 2009, when I found out that I had heart disease. My aortic valve was leaking and regurgitating blood back into the heart, making it work extra hard to get blood and oxygen around my body (I knew there was a reason why I couldn't even stand up on the summit of Mont Blanc!).

Anyway, I'm sure you can imagine the effect this would have on a teenage lad who loved being active. I was told to stop lifting weights in the gym, and to stop playing rugby, basically I had to stop doing everything that I loved, and then in the summer of 09, just before my final A level exams, I found out that my heart would need to be operated on.

Three months later and I was lying in the intensive care unit of the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham. I could barely move and I had a 7-8 inch scar down my chest. I had just undergone open heart surgery and my aortic valve had been replaced with a Bovine tissue valve (yep, I have a bit of cow heart in me), but nonetheless I made a speedy recovery and I was out of hospital after just six days.

I decided that I would try to regain my fitness almost immediately, and I went on short walks, first to the end of my drive, and then longer walks until eventually I was able to walk around the block with the help of my mom and girlfriend.

I thought I was making good progression, but then I was called back in to hospital in October. A month after my heart surgery, it was discovered that I had a false aneurysm in my groin (basically, my artery had a hole in it). The angiogram I had in June had gone wrong and my femoral artery was leaking blood into a pocket in my groin, and it needed to be operated on, sharpish.

A week after the artery repair surgery I was back home again, and raring to go more than ever! Just a month after and I was trying to get back into the gym and lifting weights. This was, rather obviously, a bad move and by January (just four months after my heart surgery), I found myself lying in a hospital bed for the third time after being sent in by my doctor after I had complained of chest pains.

So, we'll skip forward a few months, to August 2010. Despite being told I probably shouldn't be doing this, I somehow managed to cycle 700 miles around Europe in three weeks. This was the start of my comeback!

Now my sights are set on another goal for me. In May 2011, I'm going to be running the Stratford upon Avon half marathon. It may sound like a small thing to most of you readers, but this is a big, big thing to me, and the start of even bigger things!

There was something I noticed as I was lying in my hospital bed after the surgery. Every single patient in there must have been 60 years older than me. People my age shouldn't have to go through these things, hell, nobody should have to go through these things, but they do. When I run the half marathon in May, I'm going to be running it for the British Heart Foundation. They provide help and support for so many people and families in the UK who are suffering from, or are being affected by heart disease, and the least I can do is help them back.

So, there's a brief introduction to me. I'll be updating this blog as often as possible with any thoughts, tips, ideas etc. I have on running, heart disease, or just about anything really. I'd appreciate all the help and support you can throw at me, and please, if you'd like to, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

Cheers
Bryn