Topic: That was 2014 (Read 5198 times)

whoRya · « **on:** January 23, 2015 »

It's always interesting to hear what everyone else got up to. Perhaps it will provide the inspiration to try something new or just get off the sofa and do something, anything!

So how was your outdoorsy 2014? Did you pack much in? Take up a new hobby or interest? Paddle the Bann? Set a PB in the MMM? Achieve your ML? Etc. Etc.

I had quite a good year:

- 14 nights out camping - 12 of which were wild camps/bivvys
- Walked the Antrim Hills Way
- Various day walks that included several new summits for me

Mourneman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2015 »

I had quite a good year,camping,hiking with the lads
- hard to put a number on the wild camps but around 14 as well
- walked the newcastle challenge trail,Sperrin way,ring of Gullion way
- average of twice weekly hikes in lots of new places

LandyLiam · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2015 »

As usual I thought I didn't get a lot done this year but when I check my photos I see I've done quite a bit

Far & Away:
Week in Cairngorms on winter training course
Weekend walking in Connemara hills (did 6 of the 12 bens & Diamond Hill)
Weekend rigging course on the cliffs at Doolin
Croagh patrick on Reek Sunday
Sugarlof Mtn in Wicklow

Closer to home:
Mourne Mountain Marathon
2 hilly half marathons (came last in one of them

)
6 Hill & Dale races
Slieve Donard race - this was a big goal of mine
The Fallows race (Kilbroney)
Turkey Trot race (Bearnagh)
about 15 walks in the Mournes (seem to have done more running this year) and very few (if any) new summits there
only 5 camps though

and outdoor climbing just once

Quite a bit of nice new gear this year too
Rucksack - Lowe Alpine Airzone pro 45/55
Boots - Salomon Quest
Boots - Salomon Cosmic
Berghaus paclite goretex coat and trousers
Extremities goretex gloves
Crampons - yet to test them, maybe today!
(and I didn't spend a fortune, all were presents or ebay bargains

)

So what's the plan for 2015?
Bit more camping (hopefully a summit snow camp) & rock climbing.
Get all the geocaches in the Mournes (have about 90% so far)
Do my first marathon (this means i'll get even less hiking done due to marathon training).

edit: after reading Claire's I realised I had a few more goals to add
Do the Mourne Wall walk (maybe over 2 days)
Do the MTR Skyline run
& finally complete the 77s

clairebear · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2015 »

Had to look through my strava to remember what i did in 14.

The mourne wall anti clockwise, binnian ate me up and spat me back out on this.
Mourne way marathon. Good but not one i'd do again as it's a boring route (no peaks).
Divis 10km race, not to self, red wine is bad.
Sea to sky 10km, good wee race this.
Waggy races 5km with dexter the german shepherd.
MMM2 day (C class) with big Paddy. Great debut with him, done well and will hopefully team again this year.
Mourne skyline MTR race. Flipping awesome cannot wait to do this year.
Waggy races 5km with Cash. Came third.
Turkey trot race. Great way to burn off the turkey, came second.

I also done 7 park runs. Most with cash.

Been trying to explore Belfast more, doing different park runs and getting up and about divis and cavehill more as its closer to home.

Got about 7\8 camps in, need to get more in this year and incorporate with training for the MMM.

Now go with less is more on the running kit and camping. Really scale it back and makes it much easier so not much stuff bought really.

Roll on 2015 for more pain.

Rusty Madra · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2015 »

Wow: some of you guys have done a fair whack!

I did Paris Marathon in a respectable 3hrs 29min. Also did the Belfast to Dublin Maracycle which was great craic.

Got in maybe two or 3 camps during the year. Not a big amount but I enjoyed them.

Oisin and myself entered the class C in the MMM and it was brilliant. Will make a return this coming year too.

Got my Black Belt in Krav Maga in 2014 and it was pretty exciting.

Also discovered wild swimming in Donegal quite a bit. A dip in the Atalantic is very good for whatever ales ye!

Despite this apparently high octane 2014 I kinda look back on the sporting year as a whole with a bit of a malaise. It's kind of like it all went grey... Nothing really stands out that got the adrenaline going and the levels of achievement sky high.
Gonna have to find some new high octane stuff for 2015.....

Where do you go from that level though?

Joyriding? Some stunt work perhaps?

I'm up for suggestions :-/

RedLeader · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2015 »

Flip, you're all making us look bad

I had a terribly slow year. Hardly any day hikes and only a couple of summit camps.

3/10, must try harder in 2015

clairebear · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2015 »

Liam the 7/7s is also on my radar and getting in some of the NIMRA races as they are weekends. The Donard one appeals but need to practice going up a different route.

I get a buzz out of running in the mountains with excess pain, never thought I'd take to running but it just happened.

Poor cash. He puts a paw over his face when I pack my bag but loves it once he's up.

Track racing on two wheels rusty. That sounds like fun.

seanbranagh · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2015 »

2014 was a fantastic year!

I took on the Mourne 7/7s twice through the summer by myself for the craic but not actually on the official event day in August.
I took a few new routes through the Mournes I had never been before, probably visiting most of the 500's at some point throughout the year.
I was at the summit of Donard most weeks at least once, usually twice in the summer months.
And of course, the summit of Kilimanjaro in October.
There was some valuable experience and also new gear gained in 2014, mainly for the Kilimanjaro trip but it will always come in useful.

As for 2015, I am signed up for a 3 week trek / climb in the Himalayas in October. Island Peak (20,305 Ft) via Everest Base Camp.
It will be my first time with an ice axe, ropes and crampons so I am excited but also nervous. Especially now that I know what to expect with the altitude.
Thankfully, the guy I am going with has climbed most of the major peaks on the planet including Everest itself so I have full confidence in his experience!

whoRya · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2015 »

You're living the dream Sean! I had to convert feet to metres, so for anyone like me, it's 6189m. Pretty impressive, tricky to train for in the Mournes.

seanbranagh · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2015 »

Yeah, I wanted to get over the 20,000 ft and 6000 metre mark after doing Kilimanjaro last year which is just below that.

The Mournes are fine for maintaining the physical strength in my legs etc. As for the altitude, it's not something you can train for.
It is just a matter of ascending slowly and allowing time for your body to acclimatize. On the trip we will be at altitude in the for a full 2 weeks on the way to Everest Base camp, before the actual ascent on Island Peak so hopefully we should be well acclimatized by that point.
I certainly felt the altitude on Kilimanjaro but the ascent was much faster than I will be doing this year in the Himalayas.

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whoRya

That was 2014

Mourneman

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LandyLiam

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clairebear

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Rusty Madra

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RedLeader

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clairebear

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seanbranagh

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whoRya

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seanbranagh

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