Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷

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www.maptap.gg October 27 90👑 85😁 100🎯 89🎉 98🔥 Final score: 936

Holiday so far is great. Lovely little villa with pool & bbq. Meal in Port de Soller last night for daughter’s 13th bday 🥰 Run on the #eltresmils route today to Fornalutx - our villa is literally on the course. This section is a bit rocky but generally very runnable. #trailrunning

A lot more snow today, down to 1,600m probably. And cold. 10km easy with a couple of hills, just trying to keep everything ticking over. No hero runs, just want to get to the start line im good shape! #trailrunning

Computer shut down until Nov 2nd 🙌 Off on hols to Majorca 🇪🇸 with the family 🥰 tomorrow; 7 days of chilling in the sun ☀️ (🤞🏼) with a cheeky 55km mountain ⛰️ trail race on the 31st 😆 Bring it on! Happy weekend everyone! 😃

Garmin’s VO2 max algorithm is a joke. I spent the last 6 months busting my chops doing hard workouts on steep mountain trails with it bouncing around from 53-55. 5 days in 🇬🇧 with a couple of quicker flat runs and it’s immediately up to 57. #trailrunning #garmin

A week back running on steep trails after the parks & roads of London. I mean seriously, wtf Garmin?!

Bittersweet day; first snowfalls last night at 1,800m+, the high trails will be largely off limits for runners / hikers now until late spring 😭 Uphill tempo run; 4 x 5’ at RPE 6 with 2’ easy downhill between sets #trailrunning

So disappointed with @andyburnham.bsky.social & @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social for approving Jacdaw. Few jobs created, very small economic benefit, no impact on 🇬🇧 gas prices yet enormous damage to the environment. Bowing to the right wing press & fossil fuel lobby against common sense.

11 days until #eltresmils & trying to strike the balance between keeping sharp & not overdoing it. Haven’t done much vert in the last couple of weeks so something a bit steeper today. Keep on keeping on. #trailrunning

A damp & dreamy 20km on the petits balcons. Feeling good again after getting sick after a very hectic 🇬🇧 trip. Must get my Covid & ‘flu jabs 💉 next week. Less than a week until holiday 🇪🇸 & 2 weeks until #eltresmils race! #trailrunning

Running shoe longevity post! I’ve been searching for the best shoes for a mix of performance on different trail conditions & distances plus longevity. Here’s my current rotation (I retired some La Sportiva Akasha’s which only managed about 900kms) @thegreenrunners.bsky.social #trailrunning

I also got some Nnormal Cadis for the TDS. I thought the wider fit would be good for longer races, but in fact I had a few foot problems with them probably because of the extra room. They’re in disgrace at the moment but could be good for a change in a long race when the feet are have swollen a bit

Would be great to hear any recommendations or good / bad experiences with different brands. With advancements in shoe tech I’m thinking 2,000km+ should be an achievable goal for a pair moving forward.

I got a 2nd pair of original Kjerag’s on sale after they bought the new model out. Just as good as the first pair, they’ve done nearly 700km and have loads of life in them. My go to training shoe for any runs <2 hours

Saving best til last, the Kjerag 2s. Amazing shoe; very light but with 2mm extra foam vs the 1s. Good for 50km+ on any terrain. I use these for races & longer runs. No inner sole = 👌🏽 ground contact & no blisters. Will buy another pair when the time comes but still loads of life after 500km+

First the original pair of Nnormal Kjerag. It says 1,240km but these are now my dog walking shoes as they’re a bit worn for running. They have done 1,500km+ including walks & are still comfortable & good for casual hikes. Amazing shoe for <30km runs, light & fast, good ground feel. Really impressed.

The La Sportiva Prodigio Pros are 18 months old & have done nearly 1,000kms. Uppers & sole still in good shape. Not my favourite running shoe - the stack is a bit high for me - but great for recovery runs or if feet are sore. Very impressed with how they are wearing, should be good for 1,500km+

M|A|R|R|S ‘Pump up the Volume’ (1987)

Mark Thompson@markreckons.bsky.social

First single you bought with your own money. No lying! Mine: "Red Box - Lean on Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)", 1985. Still know every word.

There’s a murmuration at the Gare Routière in Geneva 🐦

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Couple of hard ones www.maptap.gg October 15 98🔥 82🌟 99🔥 98🔥 77🤗 Final score: 903

Very tough watch for #dcfcfans at QPR tonight. Made even worse by being in with the home fans. Truly woeful, I can’t think of a single positive. No goal threat & the defence is so fragile. After a good game at the weekend, Ozoh was anonymous. Second best in every department ☹️

Being a tourist on my morning run in Hyde Park

Spotted on my run earlier. I thought tomorrow was meant to be hump day? 🤣

Serious question: how to you tell an elderly relative that they are unfit to drive & very likely to cause a serious accident in the near future? Not unrelated aside - I will never again be getting in a car driven by my dad. He honestly nearly just killed us all driving home from dinner at the pub.

Update: had a chat with dad, he was surprisingly open to it & had got a bit of a shock himself. Have shared some thoughts about things he should & shouldn’t do going forward to be safe, including getting a different car. Mum & bro also onside & going to help him out. Thanks for all advice.

Quick follow up - I did a bit of research and there was a government consultation on mandatory eyesight / other tests for elderly drivers between Feb-May this year. I’ve asked when the findings & outcomes will be published. And thanks for everyone’s advice & support. It’s clearly a common issue.

And ⚽️ yesterday; great to see old friends but so disappointing for the 🐏 to concede an equaliser in the 88th minute 😩 The curry house we went to at 8pm still hadn’t served food my 10pm so we staged a walkout & got a McTurks kebab instead which was absolutely lush 😋 #dcfc #derbycounty

Peak District; Bakewell - Whatstandwell run this morning. Got very lucky with the weather. No big navigational hiccups. Chippy stop in Cromford then had enough time to do 5km on the canal to Whatstandwell before the train came. #trailrunning

Visiting the parents for the weekend, after cups of tea & hellos had a run around some old haunts. Now off to ‘the best fish & chips in 🇬🇧’ for dinner (will report back) then pub. Off with friends to see Derby 🐏 play tomorrow, followed by a curry 🤤 Sunday = Peak District for long run

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Stressful 😰 ⚡ MapTap: The Gauntlet — 24 locations in 120s maptap.gg/adventures?g... 87😁 39🥶 94🏆 98🔥 92👑 99🔥 69🙂 89🎓 92👑 68🙃 83🌟 94🏆 92👑 67🙃 85🌟 81✨ 97🏅 90🎉 97🏅 82✨ 78🌞 89🎓 93👑 97🏅 Score: 855 in 115.1s (4.9s to spare!)

maptap.ggMapTap AdventuresPlay MapTap Adventures - explore all world capitals on a 3D globe with interactive geography gameplay.

Oh no, a new Maptap game 😱 ⚡ MapTap: The Gauntlet — 22 locations in 110s maptap.gg/adventures?g... 84🌟 100🎯 87😁 76🤗 98🔥 90🎉 76🤗 100🎯 90🎉 96🏅 80👏 98🔥 91🎉 91🎉 88🎓 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Score: 611 in 110.0s (TIME UP!)

www.maptap.gg October 8 100🎯 94🏅 99🔥 90👑 94🏅 Final score: 944

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Session today sounded benign: 3 x 20’ uphill weighted hike (90s rest between sets) & run down. But, it was a beast. Probably cos I decided to hike up a 22% incline ⛰️. The hour up with 5kg pack was hard, but the run down was even harder. Cooked by the end and 15 mins late to ⚽️ pickup #trailrunning

Just another glorious autumn 🍂 day for a run #trailrunning

maptap.gg🎯MapTap Daily Geography GamePlay MapTap - the daily geography game! Find 5 world locations on a 3D globe with historical stories. Free browser-based daily game for geography lovers.

Why does Peru always surprise me…? www.maptap.gg October 6 94🏅 96🔥 93🏆 96🔥 80👏 Final score: 904

Really happy with this photo from yesterday. Lovely soft autumn colours, and Freddie looks poised for action.

maptap.gg🎯MapTap Daily Geography GamePlay MapTap - the daily geography game! Find 5 world locations on a 3D globe with historical stories. Free browser-based daily game for geography lovers.

Solid (lucky on Africa) www.maptap.gg October 5 98🔥 99🔥 99🔥 97🔥 93🏆 Final score: 965

For today’s long run, I decided to drive to Le Buet & do a loop of Barrage d’Emosson & Refuge de Loriaz. Freddie hates the car, but trying to get him used to it. I also haven’t been up there this year & not sure when the snow will make it impassable. First pic view to Vallorcine & 🇨🇭

Levels out towards Loriaz refuge. Nice views of the Cheval Blanc & down valley 😍

Last section was descending from Loriaz and a mini-extension to take in Cascade de la Berard & Refuge de la Berard

The approach to Emosson climb & the climb itself. Took some photos as this is on the route of the 90km marathon & im normally throwing up at this point 🤮. Still my least favourite climb in the valley; 630m D+ in 2.5kms

At the dam, cut left towards Loriaz. Only done the path one before (5 years ago) and in the opposite direction. It’s very technical - lots of chains and some climbing. Fun but slow going. Pics looking back to the dam & some of the rocky stuff

Goats. Freddie was uncertain what to do with them.

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www.maptap.gg October 3 99🔥 91👑 97🔥 99🔥 97🔥 Final score: 972

Hoping for treats at dinner - he already had two mozzarellas that were past their best

I know I’m VERY late to this, but have been binge-watching The Handmaid’s Tale for the last few weeks. At the end of S3. Good, innit? Someone should have told JD Vance, Miller, Hesgeth et al it’s a work of fiction, not a handbook.

Rehabilitation continues with a slightly faster run on flatter / non-technical terrain. Went pretty well, knee was creaking a bit by the end so time to rest up. Beautiful autumn day with the colours starting to pop. Saw a parapenter who’d had a bad landing 😬 #trailrunning

alpinemag.frJuliette Willmann meurt dans une avalanche en Patagonie argentineAlpine Mag | montagne et aventure

Another tragedy. She lived in Chamonix and was in the ski & VTT clubs as well as being a coach for kids VTT. Just got married last year 😢. Her husband - a guide - survived the avalanche @hairybadgeridfk.bsky.social @ange1874.bsky.social alpinemag.fr/juliette-wil...

The final Big Mountain Trail Club run of the year! Nice chance to catch up with some familiar faces over a run & a free beer. I even won a hat in the raffle! Love talking to Chamonix trail friends - always doing the craziest & most inspiring adventures. And the knee felt good 🤞🏼 #trailrunning