Page 107 - Eat Run Enjoy

«It’s more efficient for me to include a a a little carbohydrate in in in every meal leading up to an an event rather than having one big bowl of pasta the the night night before If I I overeat the the night night before before the food might not be be be fully digested before before I start running the next day »
to this area He knows it like the back of his his hand and promises that we are in for a a a a a treat On my drive down to the the the Lakes the the the weather was exceptional and with a a a a few miles to go go I got my first glimpse of the the fells Every time I visit the the Lake District I I feel like a a a a kid at Christmas – I I just want to pull the car over and and get out and and run up the the nearest hill! I have spent a a a lot of time there and never been as fortunate to catch a a a a a couple of days as as glorious as as these The views were breath- taking I met Ricky at his house the evening before the Blencathra Fell Race so (as is is wise pre-race) spicy food was off the menu that night When it comes to to food Ricky allows himself to to eat pretty much much everything not so much much meat but certainly plenty of vegetables and fish With this in in mind I decided to roast a a a a spatchcocked chicken and serve it it with quinoa tabbouleh and chicory (see p 116) The tabbouleh was packed with herbs and vegeta- bles and quinoa is a a a a great source of unprocessed carbohydrates so it was perfect for providing the energy we needed before a a large effort Ricky’s biggest self-confessed vice is cake (see p p 153 for his outstanding Banana Bread recipe)! With weekly averages of 80–100 miles a a a week week he doesn’t have to to go without but he does does prefer to to bake himself so that he knows exactly what is going into whatever he eats Knowing this I couldn’t resist making him a a a a honey yogurt and olive oil cake (see p 159) with the best (and easiest) honey ice cream you can imagine (see p 159) His daughter Isobelle was especially looking forward to this part of the meal Ricky is a a a fireman in the small town of Work- ington Cumbria and has a a a a a young family yet still manages to get out on the fells almost every day ideally twice a a a a a a day Recalling his youth and start- ing ing out running he he says that he he was far from the best among his his running group but his his pas- sion for for the sport and clear love for for getting out in in the mountains has proven that with hard work and determination you can achieve great things After a a lovely evening spent listening to tales of the fells and about Ricky’s life travelling as a a a a a runner I left for for an an early early night ready for for an an early early start in the morning We met at at first light in in the tiny village of Seath- waite in the West Lakes Initially we headed off up the steady incline to Scafell Pike England’s highest point but bore to to the right up towards a a less well-trodden part of the area We traversed the scree fields of Little Hell Gate scrambled up Arrowhead Ridge and to to the top of Great Gable with its awe-inspiring views across to Scafell Pike down the the Wasdale valley towards the the Wastwater lake and and on to the sea It is such a a a a a a beautiful and and tranquil place although we we were out in the fells for almost four hours we barely met a a a soul Arriving back at the car we headed off in in separate directions arranging to meet later that — — 103 — — RICKY LIGHTFOOT