tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19741362438434201562024-03-05T12:09:21.311+00:00Mick's MountainBig hill, small steps.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-64635494995360403772013-09-13T22:48:00.001+01:002013-09-13T22:50:20.749+01:00Lakeland 50 - half the length, twice the painHaving the UTMB lined up for the following month I decided to err on the side of caution and do the Lakeland 50 this year instead of the 100. Thinking I'd cracked the secret of pain free endurance running in the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge three weeks previously was I in for a shock.<br />
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As usual I went up on the Thursday night and stayed in a youth hostel so that I got a early start and good camping spot on Friday morning. I had booked a bed in the newly renovated Ambleside hostel but that was closed due to structural problems being found so they moved me to Coniston Coppermines hostel instead. I met Daniel Milton, a L100 competitor, there. Surprisingly there were no other competitors staying.<br />
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Friday morning saw us pitch our tents not too far from the school on the road side of the field. I'd decided not to bring the big tent but did bring the porch to erect over the back of the car so that I had a covered seating area, along with my North Face Westwind 2-man tent for sleeping in. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home</td></tr>
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Slowly but surely the field filled with cars, campers and tents. Old friends and acquaintances turned up. Originally we had quite a few Goyt Valley Striders signed up for both the 100 and the 50 but this dwindled down to just three of us on race day, for a variety of reasons. There was Paul Hunt and Peter Davis doing the 100 and me on the 50. Other local (to Whaley Bridge) runners included Simon Moorhouse, Nick Ham (both 100) and Colin Wilshaw (50). My ultra friend Jenn Gaskell was also competing but had to get her leg taped up due to a strain in her lower leg.<br />
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I had thought that watching the 100 start would be very strange having taken part in the previous 2 years but it felt like watching any other start. I kept myself busy taking photographs. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pensive Paul Hunt at the start</td></tr>
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This promised to be an interesting 100 race with previous winners Terry Conway and Stuart Mills present. I was also interested in what Charlie Sharpe would do. I first came across Charlie in last October's Dusk 'til Dawn 50 miler where he waltzed round in the dark in a mere 8 h 57m. Since then he'd been winning or getting podium places on a number of low profile (and some not so low) events, including beating teams as a solo runner, so it was going to be interesting to see what he'd do on this course.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Coway (Course record holder)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie Sharpe (New kid on the block)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Mills (Old man on the block (red bottles)) </td></tr>
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The story of these elite runners is interesting. Stuart employed his usual run like hell and hang on strategy. This worked as, apart from the first control at Seathwaite where he was second, he took first place and kept it to the finish in 22 h 17m. Terry went round in 3rd and 4th places but succumbed to illness and packed at Buttermere. Charlie employed a very different strategy to Stuart and started very conservatively with 27th place at Seathwaite and slowly moving up to 11th at Braithwaite. By Blencathra he was in the top ten and gradually moved from 6th to 3rd between there and Tilberthwaite. He picked off the 3rd runner on the run in to Coniston to gain an impressive 2nd place (he was a late entrant so hadn't recced as much as he might have) in 23h 02m. Next year will prove to be interesting if they all return.<br />
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Back to us mere mortals, the 300 or so runners set off at the usual suicidal dash through Coniston. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charge of the 100 Brigade</td></tr>
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I then did my own dash up to the start of Walna Scar Road to catch them coming down from the Coppermines valley. I managed to catch them all, except for Peter who slipped through without me spotting him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kdm6CIutQ0a4Tepy0Sj0a12A6M_QCbq4OC9w-5AnWA_9EPrd6W_EOmok_agnlhL34YDgWGn1C1GR8_CR_CTc50pZ3taM1weZ5bXXRjbdyqxUmahc910khf7KX-o3fvX6Qb3yvQj7c7ua/s1600/IMG_8308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kdm6CIutQ0a4Tepy0Sj0a12A6M_QCbq4OC9w-5AnWA_9EPrd6W_EOmok_agnlhL34YDgWGn1C1GR8_CR_CTc50pZ3taM1weZ5bXXRjbdyqxUmahc910khf7KX-o3fvX6Qb3yvQj7c7ua/s320/IMG_8308.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Ham</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Hunt (Hoka Shocka)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon Moorhouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenn Gaskell</td></tr>
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I then watched them disappear up Walna Scar Road before heading back to base and a good night's sleep. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlJdX9XfGAfnZcXqQCBpw9sDG29s65pHEbx42_q4GIEz9LStqMQcJ07AXrnHpYChP7huslXSbs2x3zPLfoCp1Uto2_x-7MpRm1GYXy3LcLINGSHjTdu6_kmKm5MkVT0Xwrc7XTk3LazTZ/s1600/IMG_8325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlJdX9XfGAfnZcXqQCBpw9sDG29s65pHEbx42_q4GIEz9LStqMQcJ07AXrnHpYChP7huslXSbs2x3zPLfoCp1Uto2_x-7MpRm1GYXy3LcLINGSHjTdu6_kmKm5MkVT0Xwrc7XTk3LazTZ/s320/IMG_8325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disappearing into the sunset</td></tr>
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Before getting some sleep I checked in on the progress of the 100 runners that I knew. I noticed Paul was way down at Seathwaite and immediately knew something was wrong. I texted him and received the reply that he'd gone over on his ankle at the top of Walna Scar Road and hobbled his way down to the checkpoint. Fortunately, another runner who dropped out at Seathwaite was a doctor and diagnosed Paul's ankle as having torn ligaments. It eventually swelled up to twice the normal size. Somehow, after getting a lift back to Coniston he drove home during the night. <br />
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Of the remaining 100 runners, Jenn retired at Buttermere not wanting to worsen the damaged leg any further with the UTMB only a month away, Peter retired at Dalemain, Daniel retired at Kentmere and Simon retired at Ambleside. Nick made it back to Coniston in 33:37. He also had the UTMB to tackle.<br />
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So, getting some sleep that Friday night, instead of tramping over Black Sail pass, didn't feel as strange as I thought it would and I managed to get a good night's sleep. The morning went quickly enough and we were soon on the fleet of buses to Dalemain. Colin and I managed to get an early bus so we had plenty of time to relax in the shade of a tree at Dalemain and cheer the 100 runners on their approach to the Dalemain checkpoint marquee. It's then time for us to perform. <br />
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The new start time of 11:30 arrived and we were off. The initial 4 mile loop around the Dalemain estate was new to me. It was also very hot. It consisted of a rolling trackless route through grassy fields which brought us out at Dacre castle then back along to Dalemain House along the 100 course. You would have thought that I'd learnt my lesson back in 2011 during the Ridgeway Challenge run when I set off far too fast feeling cocky after my L100 success. My legs were wrecked for the next 75 miles. Back on the L50 I now did exactly the same feeling cocky after my relatively painless Joss Naylor Challenge. (The fact that it was only three weeks previously wouldn't have helped either.) I stormed through the first leg to Howtown covering the 10.2 hilly miles in a little over a hour and a half, passing Nick on the way down. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XsLTkvRKf-d_NkZI52g0O2dYgEiQXhH6t_J7KkFE1e_tbZvt8ADW2GXZ6X-g8TgbaTIlWXGqFoHnT18EqchK0QKIEONwiW576zE4p15dGyU5Yy1EGR0TOWvMyqSLykJwvVn42nt7dmOJ/s1600/L50+Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XsLTkvRKf-d_NkZI52g0O2dYgEiQXhH6t_J7KkFE1e_tbZvt8ADW2GXZ6X-g8TgbaTIlWXGqFoHnT18EqchK0QKIEONwiW576zE4p15dGyU5Yy1EGR0TOWvMyqSLykJwvVn42nt7dmOJ/s320/L50+Medium.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the Cockpit Stone Circle</td></tr>
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I then paid the price for the next 40 miles. The cramps started on the way up Fusedale. Actually, to be accurate, they started the week before as I was getting calf cramps in bed most nights in the previous week so something was afoot. Once up onto the top I managed to shuffle between the Kops. Just before reaching the turning point where we dropped down to Haweswater I heard a runner coming up behind me. I could tell it was a woman from the breathing noises but these were combined with a healthy dose of spitting like a trooper. This turned out to be Rachel Ball from the ubiquitous Sunderland Strollers. She eventually finished in an excellent 2nd lady position. She passed me tootling along like a Duracell Bunny and went chasing a group of three runners in front. Problem was they'd missed the turning down to Haweswater. I initially thought they were being sticklers to the route and not chopping off the corner but they carried on heading off towards the Pennines. I called them back, much to their relief. <br />
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I don't remember much about the run alongside Haweswater apart form feeling sorry for the hikers trying to come in the opposite direction. One other memory was passing a young man who was wearing very minimal Inov8s who looked as if his feet were very sore (after less than 20 miles). I later found out who he was. He packed at Mardale. He later attempted the UTMB CCC in only slightly less minimal shoes and packed after 30 miles. I wonder if he's got the message yet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWUQfYZg_Pke0DM9vXY3_WQvxHfpqYexoRn2VTsoUJXWynryRag-8wAvuyxOKJudJ1N2tlkiuktweCqL2fWXSPaUjV2XAqUzt6UNudVnkExx2r73ouuFKG9WGkXOLxzukvbGZiJScd0sZ/s1600/Mardale+Amanda+Seims+FB+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWUQfYZg_Pke0DM9vXY3_WQvxHfpqYexoRn2VTsoUJXWynryRag-8wAvuyxOKJudJ1N2tlkiuktweCqL2fWXSPaUjV2XAqUzt6UNudVnkExx2r73ouuFKG9WGkXOLxzukvbGZiJScd0sZ/s400/Mardale+Amanda+Seims+FB+photo.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the Mardale Checkpoint - photo Amanda Seims</td></tr>
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The Delamere Spartans did a grand job of manning the checkpoint. The portaloos also came in handy but no repeat of last year's stomach problems thankfully. The climb up Gatesgarth went OK. I chose to leave the checkpoint with empty bottles and fill up at the stream near the top to save carrying it up the hill. The cramps really kicked in on the way down. I found that I could eventually get moving on the downhills and somehow break through the cramps. It was on the uphills and slow technical sections that the cramps literally crippled me.<br />
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For once I managed to leave Kentmere in a reasonable time, after sampling their lovely smoothies and pasta. Colin arrived as I left. I shuffled my cramped way up Garburn being passed all by a number of runners. Fortunately I managed to breakthrough the cramp and get a decent move on down into Troutbeck.</div>
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I was reduced to a walk over to Ambleside until the down hill when I got going again. It was like the Tour de France with the crowds leading into the new checkpoint (which I found cramped and hot so didn't hang around long). On leaving the checkpoint the heavens opened. I sheltered under a tree while I put my jacket on. The cramps were attacking me all along the next section. Every muscle below my knees was in spasm. </div>
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I managed a jog along the riverside to Elterwater where I suffered the ignominy of being passed up the hill to the quarry by a couple of 100 milers (who I'd just passed). I managed to run into the checkpoint with them, passing the cheering drinkers outside the Wainwrights Inn in Chapel Stile. This checkpoint keeps moving further along the route each year. At it's current rate it'll be in Consiston by 2019. I don't want to complain but I found the Heinz big soup a poor substitute for the lovely thick stews served up in 2011. </div>
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The cramps were now reducing me to a very painful walk. The rocky section after Blea Tarn proved very difficult. I couldn't control my feet as the cramps were making them point downwards and in random directions. Not ideal when careful foot placement is required. I do remember be able to run the road section into Tilberthwaite. I was quickly in and out of this checkpoint as I believed that a sub-12 hour time was still just about on the cards. </div>
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This was were my wheels well and truly came off. As I climbed out of Tilberthwaite I began to feel weaker and weaker. I somehow made it over the rocks and onto the flatter section where I had to stop and rest my head on my poles feeling extremely weak and sick. I came round a bit but the next couple of miles was pure misery. People came streaming past me (19 in all) as I trudged to the col above Coniston Coppermines. I felt a bit better by this point but then I tried to descend. </div>
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As I began to drop down towards Coniston the pain from the cramps brought me to a stop. I couldn't move forward. I tried walking backwards but the ground wasn't suitable for that. I'm not sure how I got down but I eventually made it to the more runnable ground and managed to get going again. I ran the rest of the way to the finish arriving at 3 minutes to midnight in a time of 12 hours 24 minutes 117th out of 583 starters and 482 finishers. At least I managed to finish in the same day that I set off. Colin turned up some 20 minutes later.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="data" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(51, 51, 51); color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; vertical-align: top;"><tbody>
<tr class="row"><th class="left" style="background-color: #333333; color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">Checkpoint</th><th class="center" style="background-color: #333333; color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Time of Day</th><th class="center" style="background-color: #333333; color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Elapsed</th><th class="center" style="background-color: #333333; color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Leg</th><th class="center" style="background-color: #333333; color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Position</th></tr>
<tr class="row"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">Pre Start Dalemain</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 11:26:37</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">-----</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">-----</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr class="rowalt" style="background-color: #e8e8e8;"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">Start</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 11:32:45</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">-----</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">-----</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr class="row"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">CP9 Howtown Bobbin Mill</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 13:11:15</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">01:38:30</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">01:38:30</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">53rd <span class="small_text">(583)</span></td></tr>
<tr class="rowalt" style="background-color: #e8e8e8;"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">CP10 Mardale Head</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 15:37:39</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">04:04:54</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">02:26:24</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">83rd <span class="small_text">(578)</span></td></tr>
<tr class="row"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">CP11 Kentmere Village Hall</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 17:24:22</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">05:51:37</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">01:46:43</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">96th <span class="small_text">(550)</span></td></tr>
<tr class="rowalt" style="background-color: #e8e8e8;"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">CP12 Ambleside</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 19:25:43</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">07:52:58</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">02:01:21</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">101st <span class="small_text">(530)</span></td></tr>
<tr class="row"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">CP13 Langdale</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 20:45:54</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">09:13:09</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">01:20:11</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">96th <span class="small_text">(495)</span></td></tr>
<tr class="rowalt" style="background-color: #e8e8e8;"><td class="label left" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">CP14 Tilberthwaite</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 22:37:19</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">11:04:34</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">01:51:25</td><td class="label center" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">98th <span class="small_text">(487)</span></td></tr>
<tr class="row"><td class="label left" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px;">Coniston Finish</td><td class="label center" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">Sat 23:57:26</td><td class="label center" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">12:24:41</td><td class="label center" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">01:20:07</td><td class="label center" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px; text-align: center;">117th <span class="small_text">(482)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Overall, in the circumstances I'm pretty pleased with that result. Still inside the upper quartile. It could have been a whole lot worse if I hadn't been able to get some decent downhill runs in. I learnt my lesson though. I would not be setting off quickly in the UTMB.<br />
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Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com1Coniston, Cumbria LA21, UK54.369071 -3.07587000000000954.350570999999995 -3.1162105000000091 54.387571 -3.0355295000000089tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-36842578379983589362013-07-21T18:47:00.000+01:002013-12-30T22:55:17.373+00:00A Grand Day Out - Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Long distance running is essentially a lonely sport, especially so when you live 160 miles from where your running club is based. This is its nature and is usually perfectly fine. Occasionally however you do need to rely on others to support you in a particularly challenging run. This was the case with my attempt at the <a href="http://www.gofar.org.uk/jossnaylorlc.html" target="_blank">Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge</a>. <br />
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To quote the website:<br />
"Increasingly regarded as an old man’s Bob Graham, this route has become the benchmark challenge for the mature runner. It was inaugurated by Joss Naylor in 1990 as a fund-raising challenge to the over 50’s. In addition to completing the route, successful contenders must raise at least £100 for a charity of their choice. Joss’s challenge involves climbing 30 tops, crossing some 48 miles of mountain terrain and ascending nearly 17000 feet. The route starts in Pooley Bridge, Ullswater and finishes at Greendale Bridge, Wasdale. Each age group has a specific time limit varying between 12 and 24 hours with different times for men and women. There is no emphasis on record times and pacers are mandatory for safety reasons."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwS982rJplayHkqOS5vJ4owVgUkqrcIvaoH25HEx5TCjANLvfc-Fb3lmhnfFSt8Z2GjhBd9KOGCh-0e9TU5B1obaepyRh7MikrHB68nXHs4a3Byktp7hiixMJkZDs49aFdfMHIjC4IAuP/s1600/wp847c68fb_06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwS982rJplayHkqOS5vJ4owVgUkqrcIvaoH25HEx5TCjANLvfc-Fb3lmhnfFSt8Z2GjhBd9KOGCh-0e9TU5B1obaepyRh7MikrHB68nXHs4a3Byktp7hiixMJkZDs49aFdfMHIjC4IAuP/s640/wp847c68fb_06.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'd agreed to have an attempt with my usual mountain marathon partner Dave Stephenson. My plan to do an ultra marathon a month leading up to the <a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page/35/Course.html" target="_blank">UTMB</a> meant that this should have been my June ultra but as fate would have it we couldn't find a mutually convenient date in June so settled on Saturday the 6th July. This was very fortunate as I had my 55th birthday on 28th June. This meant that I was in a higher age category for the event and was allowed an extra 3 hours to complete, giving me a total of 15 hours. Those 3 hours came in very handy.<br />
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So, with a date settled we could put out the word asking for support runners. Dave called on his club, <a href="http://www.bingleyharriers.org.uk/" target="_blank">Bingley Harriers</a> and I on mine <a href="http://www.goytvalleystriders.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Goyt Valley Striders</a> and soon had sufficient numbers to see us through the day. My band of happy GVS volunteers was Steve Hennesey, Al Fitzgerald, Mark Whelan and, after some last minute rearrangements, Paul Hunt. During the remaining weeks until J-Day various recces were made. Steve and Mark checked out leg 4, I went up to the Lakes for a few days but only managed to do the Rossett Pike to Bow Fell traverse and the descent off Great End due to having a lame dog to see to, and Steve went up again to check out leg 2. This last one was under the pretext of giving GVS ladies Phil Smith and Sarah Bull some navigation training and exposure to the Lakes prior to their Coast to Coast run. They were suitably impressed.<br />
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With 17,000 ft of ascent I knew this was really going to be a challenge for me. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JNLC Profile - all 17,000 feet of it</td></tr>
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As much as I love the hills they don't love me in so far as I'm hopeless at getting up them at any sort of speed. I can predict my rough position in a fell race by how much ascent there is in it. It's a power/weight ratio thing. I have been working on increasing one and reducing the other but there's still work to do. Just to set the expectations of my support runners I sent them an email outlining this. It left them wondering why I was even trying if I couldn't get up the hills! Good job I didn't tell them about my dodgy knee and high blood pressure.<br />
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So, it was soon time to drive up to the Lakes and set up camp on Friday 5th July. We'd decided to set up base camp in the Park Foot campsite. I arrived first and set up my big 8-person tent and was busy preparing my drinks for the next day when Aly Raw of Bingley Harriers (along with Stan the world's quietest dog) turned up in her campervan which she parked by the tent for the weekend. Dave and two more Bingley runners Phil Knight and Brendon Georgeson turned up later. Phil was being 'loaned' to me to support on Leg 1 as he had recce'd it with Dave.<br />
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Looking at various blogs and forums the general consensus about the first mile or so of the route seems to be that cutting up through Park Foot is the way to go. I'd originally decided, thinking that the start was in the middle of the village, that the better route would be to follow the Lakeland 100 route through Pooley Bridge then up the road out onto the moor. When I realised that the start was actually on the bridge it looked that the Park Foot route was slightly shorter so decided to take that. However, after checking out the route through and out of the campsite I reverted to my original plan. The road route maybe a hundred yards or so longer but it is far simpler with only one gate and a consistent and smooth gradient, much more suited to my running style.<br />
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<b>Leg 1 - Pooley Bridge to Kirkstone Pass (14 miles)</b><br />
My support on this leg was Phil and Paul. Waking up at 4:00 I took advantage of the camp showers, taped up my left hip which had been giving me some pain after a couple of hours on recent runs and dressed for the day. I wore a lightweight white t-shirt, Salomon twin-skin shorts, smartwool socks, calf compressions, Inov8 debris gaiters and my Salomon Speedcross 3 shoes.<br />
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Paul set off straight up towards Arthurs Pike as Phil and I trotted down to Pooley Bridge at 5:30. The weather was already warm and humid. Wisps of cloud were floating over Ullswater as we waited for 6:00 on the bridge. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling on Pooley Bridge bridge</td></tr>
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The time arrived and we set off up the road. This section before the moors is the only section which offers any shade but it was still worryingly warm and humid in the shade. We were soon out onto the moors above Park Foot and, after a brief interlude to make a deposit in the bracken, up onto Arthurs Pike in a steady 41 minutes. Up onto Loadpot Hill where we picked up Paul the running was much easier than when Dave and I were up here in April on the Nav4 Lakeland Mountain 40. Then it was covered in deep snow.<br />
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The rest of this ridge to High Street was fairly straight forward and there was also a very welcome cool breeze.The view from Kidsty Pike over to wards Mardale Head was brief but spectacular. I'd be down there in three weeks time on the Lakeland 50. Apart from a solitary hiker near High Street we had the fells to ourselves at this early hour.<br />
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Thornthwaite Beacon with it's massive stone tower was next. Through the gap in the wall Phil and I turned right to follow the wall rather than take the more obvious path down which Paul opted to go. This had been kindly recced the day before by Aly. The grassy descent by the wall was clearly faster as Paul was a few minutes behind us as we started the ascent up to Stoney Cove Pike. We followed the wall after the Stoney Cove Pike summit cairn but I was beginning to think it couldn't be the right way as there was no sign of a track when Paul arrived and called us back to the right wall. It was then a simple case of following it until I could see Pike Howe when I cut across. Coming down off Pike Howe there were three people waving at us. I first thought it was my team but soon recognised Andy Nicoll, Steve Fry and another Bingley supporter who I didn't know. It was Dave's team out looking for him. From here, rather than follow the path over St Raven's Edge we cut round the back of it and dropped diagonally down to a gate on the pass road where Mark and Al were waiting. Into the car park where Steve was waiting to take over on the next leg I was 15 minutes up on the 14:40 schedule. <br />
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<b>Leg 2 - Kirkstone Pass to Dunmail Raise (8 miles)</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So which direction is Mecca from Kirkstone Pass?</td></tr>
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After a quick Muller Rice and a mini pepparami (more on this later) Steve and I set off up Red Screes. This was new territory for me. The steep climb to the top went well and then headed for a wall which we couldn't see for the mist on the top. Once we reached the wall it was a nice grassy descent down to Scandale Pass with views down to Patterdale and Windermere. A steady climb up past Little Hart Crag and up onto Dove Crag (which I don't understand why it's not on the summit list as it's on route and is more of a summit than some of those on the High Street ridge).<br />
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We reached Hart Crag and had just come down off the cairn to log the time when a Bingley clad runner appeared. This was John Parkin, closely followed by Andy Nicoll. Dave then came straight over the cairn and onwards totally oblivious to my shouts of abuse about him catching me so soon. This was Dave in the zone. His world consists of the three yards in front of him. <br />
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Back in 2010 he did this on the 3 Peaks Race when he came alongside me going up Whernside. I had to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention on that occasion. (Five minutes after that I was laid out waiting for a rescue helicopter having tripped, while trying to chase down Dave, and smashed my face on a rock resulting in a triple fracture of my cheekbone.) <br />
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Back to the Joss. A hundred yards after Hart Crag we were following Dave and co up some rocks when he looked back and finally realised it was us. That was pretty much the last we saw of him apart from three dots groping their way up Seat Sandall as we were coming off Fairfield. He went on to finish in a brilliant 11:39, one minute inside his schedule.<br />
<br />
Fairfield was looking very different from my previous two visits which were both in howling storms at some ungodly hour in the morning supporting Bob Graham attempts. The summit cairn on those occasions was extremely difficult to find unlike now when it was surrounded by a ring of resting hikers in the bright sunshine. I kept going here while Steve jotted down the time, as I intuitively knew the way off but Steve called me back and got his compass out which duly pointed us about half a degree off my original direction. Better safe than sorry. The descent was also a pleasant surprise as I had vivid memories of sliding my way down this in my headtorch beam but now it was easy to choose the best route down. The Bingley boys up on Seat Sandall looked like they were hardly moving. <br />
<br />
This was the third time I'd been alongside Grisedale Tarn in less than three months. Dave and I had been past it both in the Lakeland Mountain 40 in April and the Old County Tops in May. It was looking glorious now. Seat Sandall was a steady steep drag but we were soon up on the top and heading down to Dunmail. I was still feeling good. Steve had been plying me with water and food along the way. <br />
<br />
About a week before the attempt I received a phone call from Monica Shone, the recently retired JNLC secretary. She was checking up on our details as she couldn't get hold of her replacement Ian Charters. After bring her up to date on our times she said she'd be at Dunmail Raise around 11:00 to see us through. At the time I was clearly deluded as I thought we might have gone through long before that. As it turned out it was gone 11:30 as we came off Seat Sandall. As promised Monica and her husband were there to greet us. Apparently while waiting she'd got the name, rank and serial number (so to speak) off all of the supporters, maybe looking for the next batch of JNLC attempters. She'd have to wait a while for some of them to reach 50.<br />
<br />
At Dunmail I changed into a clean shirt and had the strange experience of having two blokes (who shall remain nameless but it wasn't Steve or Paul) fighting over who was going to tape up my nipples as they had started bleeding. That's what I call service but they could have shaved the hair off first. <br />
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<b>Leg 3 - Dunmail Raise to Sty Head (11 miles)</b><br />
This leg is perhaps the hardest of the four with the steep ascent to Steel Fell then the long trudge to Rossett Pike via High Raise and the ascent up Bowfell and descent off Great End. Al was to support me on this leg and I did feel for him as he had all my kit and 3 litres of drink as well as his own stuff. He'd come out of semi-retirement from running as he is concentrating on swimming these days. Neither of us had recced this section up to High Raise so we relied on my GPS for this bit.<br />
<br />
So we set off up the very steep climb onto the Steel Fell ridge. I had hoped to do a diagonal ascent but that was impractical due to the bracken so it was straight up for us. This was hot but we kept a steady pace as Al informed me that he had arranged for four naked Swedish masseuse to be waiting at Sty Head as well as a keg of real ale. As I suspected they weren't there when I finally arrived so he owes me one, well at least a beer (compared to the several I owe him for his help). <br />
<br />
One of my most vivid memories of the whole day was the views from Steel Fell. Located as it is in the middle of the Lake District and with no other nearby hills to block the view there is a 360 degree feast of Lakeland panoramas, especially on a day like we had. Unfortunately we didn't have time to stop and take it all in but I'll be back. <br />
<br />
The next section to High Raise was a mixture of tracks and grassy meadow as we contoured round Calf Crag before taking the climb up Birks Gill. Al had made sure that I was fully hydrated by regularly handing me a bottle and refusing to take it back until I'd finished it. He also pointed out the spot where clubmate Mark Richards' stomach had rebelled on his successful 50 @ 50 attempt. Between the top of Birks Gill and the High Raise summit the terrain is a gentle slope but not runnable due to tussocks. In retrospect it might have been worth checking out the alternative and only slightly less direct route up Deep Slack. There seemed to be a decent path in that direction towards Sergeant Man. <br />
<br />
Over High Raise we ran down to and over the Stake Pass path picking up the path Dave and I had followed for a while in the Old County Tops towards Rossett Pike. My route took us over the rocky rise on Rossett Crag. With hindsight we should have contoured north of this before ascending Rosset Pike. From the Pike we had a cracking view of the route up Bow Fell, a double dogleg onto a rising terrace. <br />
<br />
I'd recced the rest of this leg with my dog (who then suffered from sore pads after all the rock work) a few weeks before. It had been low cloud then but we had full visibility now. It always amazes me how routes seem shorter when you're familiar with them. This was no exception as we made our way to the top and picked up the path three quarters of the way up. I really must follow that path back down sometime to see where it starts.<br />
<br />
Bow Fell summit was like Piccadilly Circus, covered in hikers. Some pre-teenage youths found my attire most amusing. "Do you think he a fell runner?" one of them asked. Bright lad. <br />
<br />
The rest of the ridge over Esk Pike and onto Great End went fairly well. I was amazed that I was still feeling fairly fresh considering what I'd just done. The anticipated bone tiredness and empty legs didn't appear. I even ran some of the path up Great End. I later learned from Dave that there is a nice grassy alternative to the left of the rocky path off Bow Fell.<br />
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The descent off the north side of Great End was as expected, rocky, screey, and steep. We even had to do some rock climbing (which thankfully I'd not had to do with the dog). Three quarters of the way down we found Paul who had come up to meet us. He guided us down the final section and we were soon at Sty Head where Mark and Steve (ready for his second leg) were waiting. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al approaching Sty Head (Paul and me in the background)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul and me at Sty Head (I'm still running!)</td></tr>
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Mark had laid out the contents of my Leg 4 goody bag along the top of the Sty Head stretcher box (behind which Dave and I had sheltered for some respite from the hurricane that was blowing in the infamous 2008 OMM) so I selected a couple of items to eat as I passed straight through and onto the climb up Great Gable. I was bang on schedule at this point.<br />
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<b>Leg 4 - Sty Head to Greendale Bridge ( 13 miles)</b><br />
The pattern for the rest of the run was set going up here. Steve would lead the way so I had someone to focus on and Mark would trail behind me giving me encouraging words (and food and drink) and letting me know how much ascent was left as we reached the tops.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of climb up Great Gable</td></tr>
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I had been dreading this climb up Great Gable, fearing I would be shattered by then and that it would be slippery and covered in scree. Neither of those happened. I still had energy in my legs and the path was paved in untypically even and correctly spaced steps. I got into a steady rhythm and made the top without too much effort. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SHkBilBWwVoYBDxRUjxYzz607ZBv1dmePMLmDAv4LoJUWahifHFFaXZMil8CE8PPTfc-hqF9kP2gTuZ4Lr_hpAKoYfcsCJiZCZIoc8Opdd7EVAu-J9qzV9ZNifsbRAb84W-CeuNrhzSM/s1600/DSC_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SHkBilBWwVoYBDxRUjxYzz607ZBv1dmePMLmDAv4LoJUWahifHFFaXZMil8CE8PPTfc-hqF9kP2gTuZ4Lr_hpAKoYfcsCJiZCZIoc8Opdd7EVAu-J9qzV9ZNifsbRAb84W-CeuNrhzSM/s400/DSC_0015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over the top of Great Gable looking down into Ennerdale and over to Crummock Water</td></tr>
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Steve and Mark then quickly found the right path down, unlike during their recce when they used a horrid route down the scree. Kirk Fell came and went (we didn't use the red gully) as did Pillar with me running a fair chunk of the less rocky sections. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwqqlTtT39RfGmdedClBpyxz2WsnZmkCoqAKEP6TJG1Se6FEobqY9syFs7RNm189h5oDGf7lUdzqcvb96seBbnP3FohV2VpILIZ0WDSJqo1XCl8eitdKWMoAODFDwKaX5l9P9XzfuGr73/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwqqlTtT39RfGmdedClBpyxz2WsnZmkCoqAKEP6TJG1Se6FEobqY9syFs7RNm189h5oDGf7lUdzqcvb96seBbnP3FohV2VpILIZ0WDSJqo1XCl8eitdKWMoAODFDwKaX5l9P9XzfuGr73/s400/DSC_0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to Kirk Fell over Kirk Fell Tarn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Pillar (Great Gable in the background)</td></tr>
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Mark very quickly sussed when I'd want my poles and had them ready for me right on cue on all the ascents. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve leading the way off Pillar to Wind Gap (Photo Mark Whelan)</td></tr>
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Up on Scoat Fell Steve waited while Mark and I nipped up and down Steeple. This was the only point throughout the day I could feel my energy levels start to dip so I took an energy drink and some food, including my second mini peparami (which actually tasted quite good) much to Steve and Mark's amusement (amazement?). Haycock was uneventful but I think I'd have preferred the grassy, but albeit longer, descent than the rocky one we took but the lads stuck to the route they knew which was wise in the circumstances. Time was getting tight.<br />
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As we came alongside the wonderfully named Pots of Ashness I looked at my watch then looked at the massive upturned boat that is Seatallan and, thought for the first time that I was going to run out of time. I had 1:05 to get inside 15 hours and, looking at the relentless slope up to the summit, thought it would take me half an hour to get up there. (It's actually just under 200 metres to the summit from the Pots but looks bigger at the end of a long day.) So I started plugging away at the grassy path up this beast staring at the next few steps seemingly in front of my face and occasionally looking up hoping in vain to see Steve disappear over the top. Mark was behind giving me the run down on how far the summit was. 100 metres became 70 and Steve finally disappeared, the top flattened out and I was up in a surprising 15 minutes. Hope came rushing back as Steve handed my a final bottle and a few jelly babies and I dashed off down the side towards Middle Fell, which looked a damn sight tamer than Seatallan had done. It was on the way down Seatallan that I realised that the bottle Steve had given me wasn't mine. He had donated his last bottle to me.<br />
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As we approached the summit Paul was there once again to meet us and guide us down. I had plenty of time but got frustrated with myself as I struggled to keep up with Paul and Steve when I'd normally be shooting down such a runnable slope. Joss' house, Low Greendale, came into view and we were soon approaching the bridge to be clapped in by Joss and Mary Naylor and their friend, mountain guide and JNLC dinner organiser, David Powell-Thompson, 14 hours and 49 minutes after setting off. (Thanks for waiting David, I know your wife had put your dinner in the dog due to my slow pace.) What a cracking day! What a team!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The icing on the cake, a handshake from the great man.</td></tr>
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<b>Planned and Actual Times</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhAXEzGk_6LYGFK_ONy2OobCJaCEIlhQkTZo6raaaXlc7wormYs5rMkRFFIPI1v5dQ0PcD2Al2zrf5xO5WDI-OUn-VgWwM4TTTqjYvoWwm84a4kVKXTKdUQ4CBV0rj3-80EXfJuoedif2/s1600/Schedule+and+Actuals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhAXEzGk_6LYGFK_ONy2OobCJaCEIlhQkTZo6raaaXlc7wormYs5rMkRFFIPI1v5dQ0PcD2Al2zrf5xO5WDI-OUn-VgWwM4TTTqjYvoWwm84a4kVKXTKdUQ4CBV0rj3-80EXfJuoedif2/s1600/Schedule+and+Actuals.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>Leg 5 Greendale Bridge to Pooley Bridge (by car).</b><br />
As some of you will know I already know Joss and Mary from selling copies of my painting of Joss for charity, with certificates of authenticity signed by Joss (see www.mickwren.com). Joss bought the original painting the last time I'd seen him so Mary kindly invited us in to see it on the wall. It was looking good up there (but I am biased).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Paul in the Naylor Art Gallery.</td></tr>
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It was now past 9 in the evening and we had to get back to Pooley Bridge so we made our leave and set off back, calling in to Keswick where Paul treated me to fish and chips. I don't normally eat these due to having high cholesterol but they went down very well. It was well past 10 by the time we got back to the campsite so we decided to put our celebrations on hold and the team quite rightly all went home to their beds which were only 2 hours away. I enjoyed a nice hot shower and met Dave and Aly walking Stan the dog as I returned to the tent. Dave, who finished 2 hours ahead of me, had been to the pub in Pooley Bridge with his team who also had decided to head home. <br />
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<b>Postscript - DOMS? What DOMS?</b><br />
So, despite my worries about not being able to manage the hills I'd managed them with surprising ease, if not speed. At 17,000ft of ascent over something like 46 miles the ascent/mile ratio is higher than the UTMB so I'm very happy with my performance. <br />
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After something like this I typically have a very bad case of DOMS (Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness) a day or two later. Going up or down stairs with DOMS is agony but apart from slightly sore muscles I had no problems at all. Instead of screaming in agony I was able to run up the stairs. Amazing. Apart from wearing a pair of full length compression stockings the first night I did nothing to try and alleviate the onset of DOMS. <br />
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The whole day was a revelation to me in terms of keeping energy levels high and later not suffering from DOMS. I put this down largely to the level of hydration I sustained. I have never taken on so much fluid, largely I think due to having to carry the weight, but it certainly appears to have made a great difference in minimising the muscle damage. I will be making major differences to my fluid intake on future events. I might give the peparamis a miss though as my support were so impressed with my managing to eat two that they now call me the Peparami Kid (but not for too long I hope).<br />
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One condition of this challenge is to raise £100 for your charity of your choice. I chose the North West Air Ambulance who'd rescued me from the 3 Peak Race. At the time of writing I've raised over £200 pounds (including Gift Aid). See http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MickWren. Thanks to all of my sponsors<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 12px;">.</span></span><br />
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Dave and I can now look forward to the JNLC Annual dinner in October to receive our tankards.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-43484688479751526382013-07-11T16:42:00.002+01:002013-07-11T16:42:34.888+01:00Nav4 Lakeland Mountain 40 - Snow, Sun and MountainsA few pictures of a grand day out on the inaugural Nav4 Lakeland Mountain 40 last April with Dave Stephenson. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdHz0xPQ94XvOvxrxQx5lnrkG0iVApgNgBPrTozsNICrtoROZ23UhdPpTlL-esRJ25X7hyphenhyphenGLBWbs3NHfnjmmM4_BK-IT8OAh28I6ybGlMiPW-PoPbS_EpJuWQy-uRHEgCTLeV0r4K6Nml/s1600/554123_10200933485928426_1771645636_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdHz0xPQ94XvOvxrxQx5lnrkG0iVApgNgBPrTozsNICrtoROZ23UhdPpTlL-esRJ25X7hyphenhyphenGLBWbs3NHfnjmmM4_BK-IT8OAh28I6ybGlMiPW-PoPbS_EpJuWQy-uRHEgCTLeV0r4K6Nml/s320/554123_10200933485928426_1771645636_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off my new Pogu spikes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading towards High Raise (the western one)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frozen Grisedale Tarn with Seat Sandall behind</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave acquiring a rather natty sun tan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trudging up Helvellyn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornice on Helvellyn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helvellyn checkpoint</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A warm climb up Place Fell</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place Fell checkpoint</td></tr>
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Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-26066403508621711262013-01-27T22:45:00.004+00:002013-02-19T09:53:26.364+00:00Dusk 'til Dawn Ultra 2012 or a Tale of Five Head TorchesFor some reason this mainly mad event had an appeal to the mainly mad members of Goyt Valley Striders. We entered this event in droves making the largest single group in the event by a long shot. The weather played its part resulting in competitors taking a variety of routes towards the end. To quote the event <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/">website</a>:<br />
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"The race began at 17:42 on 27th October. 51 people finished the course before severe weather caused the race to be abandoned at 07:15am on 28th October. All those removed from the course at mile 45 onwards were advised it was for their own safety. Beyond Marathon credit them with a Daylight Finish award. Alternate routes to were offered to some participants during the event. These are detailed in the <a href="http://www.beyondmarathon.com/results/DusktilDawnResults2012.xlsx">full results</a>."<br />
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The overall route is shown below. The event centre was Castleton Youth Hostel (the new one in Lose Hill Hall) and the start was a few hundred yards away half way up the lane from Castleton to Hollins Cross. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview of Route</td></tr>
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After a dash up Lose hill it goes down to Hope, along the river to Castleton and up through Cave Dale. The route then drops south to cross the A623 above Peak Forest then down the lane toward Millers Dale along the Bullock Smithy route (with Checkpoint 1 halfway along the lane). In Millers Dale it is straight across the river then up the steep south side of the dale to Priestcliffe then along the road to cross the A6 at the Waterloo pub (whose welcoming lights were to dutifully ignore). Along a track and a lane it picks up the Bullock Smithy route east of Chelmorton and follows this over the A515 to Earl Sterndale and Checkpoint 2. From Earl Sterndale it goes through someone's garden up onto the ridge above the quarries. A series of fields and lanes takes the route past the Buxton Raceway just beyond which it turns north across the firing range. A sharp left turn at Ladmanlow prevents the route from crashing into Buxton and take the runners over the A54 and eventually to the Cat & Fiddle (Checkpoint 3). It now enters true Goyt Valley Striders territory as it summits Shining Tor and drops down to Pym Chair, Windgather Rocks and Taxal Edge. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSto_knGjOtKgJP-dNji1cOQwS41XMhKypt4-p94O5ru2wsJdjh0zv8p3DP5CFkSR0PqDQNB3J5sPjP-uC3vpxXE325ckxAIFHMGouDf34xq7BJWI0y3L6NbY7gUOCwTPBlitxUd1MCejF/s1600/Windgather+Web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSto_knGjOtKgJP-dNji1cOQwS41XMhKypt4-p94O5ru2wsJdjh0zv8p3DP5CFkSR0PqDQNB3J5sPjP-uC3vpxXE325ckxAIFHMGouDf34xq7BJWI0y3L6NbY7gUOCwTPBlitxUd1MCejF/s320/Windgather+Web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Windgather Rocks (c) Mick Wren </span></span></td></tr>
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In Taxal it drops down to the river then up over the Whaley - Buxton road to Shallcross. Across the fields to come out just east of Tunstead Milton on the Whaley - Chapel road the route then takes Milton Lane up to Eccles Road where it turns right towards the pike. Just after the top of Eccles Pike the route leaves the road and drops down via the paths and road to Whitehough. From Whitehough it takes the road west of Chinley then towards Chinley up to the railway footbridge. From here it's over the railway then up the appropriately named Over Hill Road to the Chinley Churn path (and Checkpoint 4). Up Chinley Churn to the 'big rock' then it's a drop down to cross the Hayfield road at the Lamb Inn and up onto the southbound Pennine Bridleway to come out on the Rushup Edge road. It's then over Rushup Edge, Mam Tor to Hollins Cross and then dropping down into Castleton village and along the road to the youth hostel and finish.<br />
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So that's the route, here's the tale of my Dusk 'til Dawn adventure. It started in way which could only get better. I had to drive up 150 miles from the South. I guess I set off too late as I arrived late. I'd not had a very substantial lunch but brought a big tupperware full of tuna and pesto pasta for my tea. I managed to find a parking place at the youth hostel and arrive at the registration just as the race briefing started. Across the briefing room from the registration desk there was a large herd of Striders resplendent in their black Goyt Valley Stranglers skeleton t-shirts made by Caz and Tony W. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDag2Oax6ZBexM-h64v2-FRvdcdEMpcnmD1qGiaZSrJPGek9mRa-cxCp7Qmi1ZKSklW6KgNdbwjrl5PFHiGLVtz9bUHvkcTo1LWTtD9Usyj_ksL6BgM4hZ51I1NALuneVJk1oPmfA8PD12/s1600/Stranglers+t+shirt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDag2Oax6ZBexM-h64v2-FRvdcdEMpcnmD1qGiaZSrJPGek9mRa-cxCp7Qmi1ZKSklW6KgNdbwjrl5PFHiGLVtz9bUHvkcTo1LWTtD9Usyj_ksL6BgM4hZ51I1NALuneVJk1oPmfA8PD12/s320/Stranglers+t+shirt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stranglers t-shirt</span></span></td></tr>
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I had to miss the briefing (along with many route instructions and tips) as registration had decamped out into the corridor. I then went back to the car to get changed and eat but I was rapidly running out of time so didn't have much to eat. Not the best way to start an ultra. I caught the tail end of the competitors as they made their way to the start. Just as I got there I realised that I was still wearing my glasses so I ran back to the car to put in my contact lenses. I then ran back to the start and arrived with about 30 seconds to spare. Caz found me and gave me my Stranglers t-shirt which I then put on top of my other clothes. <br />
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The weather was very cool but dry (at the moment) and forecast to get much colder. The climb up Lose hill soon warmed me up. I could have done without that extra layer just then. I'd started at the back thanks to my rushing around and as I made my way through the bunch I started chatting to Karl only to realise it wasn't him! Embarrassing. I caught up with Paul H near the top and we dropped down into Hope together. On entering Hope we came across Phil just as she was sorting out a borrowed head torch after her's had failed to turn on. This was a theme to be repeated many times in the night. Although it was past sunset it was still just light enough to see at this point. I didn't turn on my head torch until approaching Castleton. Our supporters were out in Castleton with Tony in the square and Sarah B at the bottom of Cave Dale. <br />
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The next few miles we done in the company of Paul and Pete W (and his brother?). I pulled away on the decent into a dip just before the A623 and found myself on my own along the lane towards Millers Dale (apart from seeing Tony again and Checkpoint 1). We'd been provided with glow-sticks at registration. I found two en route along here so was well lit. As I approached Wheston I could see another runner in front. I immediately recognised the way the bumbag was swishing around. It was Phil. I think she was onto her third head torch by now. We ran together through Miller's Dale and over the A6. Paul and Pete had caught up by now and we were all together as we moved onto the limestone track past Chelmorton. <br />
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Somewhere near where the Bullock Smithy's Chelmorton checkpoint is sited I caught up with a runner and realised it was Dave B. He wasn't enjoying himself on the hard track. I eventually moved away and found myself alone again as I crossed the A515. Half a mile on down the track past the end of the quarries I was approaching another runner when I realised it was Peter D. He wasn't particularly chuffed with the run either. The weather had turned very cold by now. We ran together and were joined by Paul and Pete again as the route took to the fields towards Earl Sterndale. After a minor navigation error in the fields we found the road and trotted into Checkpoint 2 in the village school house where Mark W was waiting for us. <br />
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It was in Checkpoint 2 that I had my only complaint about what was a generally very well organised event, especially for the inaugural running. There was soup and tea on offer but we were pretty much left to it and things became very cramped and chaotic. I managed to lose my gloves and misplace my buff but fortunately found them again. This was probably made worse by the fact that I was freezing and tired. I put on a spare layer here (my fourth). As usual I took ages in here while Paul and the others, who arrived a couple of minutes after me, did their business and were off. <br />
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As I made my way onto the ridge above the village I was saved from a climb over the fence by Steve H who came up behind me and put me back on track to the stile. Somewhere along here we regrouped with Pete W. At least I think we did ( I was tired by then). Approaching the Buxton Raceway Steve and I took to the road rather than the parallel run through the fields. Steve received a few calls along here from Mark regarding more problems Phil was having with her head torch (her fourth of the night). She was just in front of us so we met her on the firing range. As we approached her I found her head torch in the grass. She'd accidently dropped it. Fortunately I was carrying a spare head torch so I gave her that. This one managed not to fail and the batteries just lasted until Phil finished. Ironically the head torch I was using (a Petzyl Myo) has since failed (but managed to survive this event). <br />
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I was very cold and weary by now and struggled up the climb to the Cat & Fiddle (Checkpoint 3) where I grabbed something to eat and Colin from Buxton who was out supporting us and the Buxton runners (Mark F and Simon M) kindly filled up my bottle. I didn't hang around here as it was in the open. <br />
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I'd joined up with Steve and Phil again as we set off again. Just as we took the track towards Shining Tor from the road there was a small white box in the middle of the track. A voice from the box said something (I don't remember what) as we approached. I assumed it was a walkie-talkie device and someone was in a car nearby watching us approach it but apparently it was a device, triggered by a proximity sensor, placed there by the race organisers as a little joke. There was another one in the woods after Windgather but we didn't see that one. <br />
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It was bitter as we ran over Shining Tor and down the track/paths to Windgather. After Windgather Steve and Phil decided to take an alternative route which the organiser had said was fine during a previous recce. Instead of dropping down through the woods and past the farm to Taxal, we went straight on over the field after Windgather and dropped down off Taxal Ridge past Terry's Tree to Taxal. <br />
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On the climb up the road from the river crossing my tank drained to empty. My lack of proper meals during the day finally caught up with me. Sarah and Mark were in the layby waiting for us. Paul turned up just behind us. I believe he was in front of us at the Cat & Fiddle so we must have passed him on our alternative route. Sarah had some hot Vimto which went down very well but did little to pick me up. I lost contact with Paul, Steve and Phil on the climb to Shallcross as I struggled along on my empty tank. If I was still staying in Whaley Bridge I'm not sure I would have continued at this point as I was bone tired and cold. A few of our clubmates did drop out at the Taxal crossing unable to resist the warm baths and beds just a few hundred yards away down the road. <br />
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At the bottom of the climb up to Eccles Pike I stopped and put on my final (and fifth) layer as I was getting even more cold due to going slower. I was passed by another runner as I was doing this. I then found him map reading at the top of the Eccles Pike road so we joined up and ended completing the run together. He went by the marvellous name of Madoc Batters. <br />
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For some reason I'd got it into my head that Steve B (Berry not Bull) would be at the top of the road complete with flask of hot drink. (Possibly because he said he would be?) I was really looking forward to that. Instead all I found was a navigationally challenged Madoc and a cold wet wind cutting through my five layers while Mr B was probably snoring under a nice cosy duvet. <br />
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When we reached the railway footbridge in Chinley, Madoc said he'd been told by the marshal at the Taxal crossing to take the bad weather route along the road. He then rang the organisers to double check and they confirmed this. So, instead of going up Chinley Churn we took to the road and dropped down to Wash then up the long drag to the Chestnut Wildlife Centre. We took the main road up to the marshal at the start of Rushup Edge. Looking at the map later, the bad weather route actually crosses the road at the Chestnut centre and takes the track parallel to the main road. <br />
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On reaching the marshal point we were greeted by Sarah and Karl (who had dropped out at Taxal) with more hot Vimto. The marshals also had samosas which went down very well. We reached this point before Paul, Steve and Phil (along with Julian B who they'd met up with at some point) who would have been out on the Pennine Bridleway. We were advise to stick to the road from here (but the other's ignored this and finished via the original route). Still feeling drained I wasn't going to argue with them so we walked and jogged along the road. I decided to take the old closed road past Blue John and Treak cliff caverns rather than the quad killing Winnats Pass down into Castleton. Madoc followed suit. In the dark and wet the shattered road was quite surreal, like a scene from a disaster movie. It took some finding in places as a section could be 20 feet above (or below) its neighbour. Eventually we reached the smoother tarmac and ran all the way into the youth hostel grounds. The slight incline up the hostel was too much for me so Madoc jogged off to finish 2 minutes in front of me. I finished in 11:12. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfJlqCQqn-IXj1IoniXiGSp0T_MX7dkMMjdV0gjCHa8JuF4EYrW_0pwySBDUSlY8IdYdPJ78OOlHTr1axvLQEsU_dQ3EE7R8xwssQCRhZaL5QwgsAA6n5x7x1mWw0oWrAbezQ1ad6cUFI/s1600/Mick-Wren+D2D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfJlqCQqn-IXj1IoniXiGSp0T_MX7dkMMjdV0gjCHa8JuF4EYrW_0pwySBDUSlY8IdYdPJ78OOlHTr1axvLQEsU_dQ3EE7R8xwssQCRhZaL5QwgsAA6n5x7x1mWw0oWrAbezQ1ad6cUFI/s400/Mick-Wren+D2D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A cold. wet and tired Mick</span></span></td></tr>
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The event centre was in a sort of lounge/dining/kitchen room in an annex to the main building. When I went in I was surprised that it was almost empty. There was the organiser (busily pouring tea and making jacket potatoes), our own Andy P (who'd come a marvellous 6th in 10:30), Charlie Sharpe (the winner in 8:57) and Madoc. I was amazed to learn that I was 8th finisher (albeit via the bad weather route). I'd assumed there were dozens in front of me. Julian and Paul came in (via the high route) at 11:56 closely followed by Phil and Steve.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys16nO86Sp3YNpgbNqCyGWr3R6L5qvScj4R_lZ6nyvnd6wY23zZnA8ZjpgUux7hAFEBJMYMyuMLuaZO3y1RF1XOuKLVfkIIuOknzToVfNh5yTu3ijBgUo9ajIZxnVLCtIrQWTAsEVrg0f/s1600/Philomena-Smith-Steve-Hennesey+D2D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys16nO86Sp3YNpgbNqCyGWr3R6L5qvScj4R_lZ6nyvnd6wY23zZnA8ZjpgUux7hAFEBJMYMyuMLuaZO3y1RF1XOuKLVfkIIuOknzToVfNh5yTu3ijBgUo9ajIZxnVLCtIrQWTAsEVrg0f/s320/Philomena-Smith-Steve-Hennesey+D2D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil and Steve (note the bare legs)</td></tr>
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Overall, because of the various routes taken, the results a little meaningless apart from the fact that we'd completed a tough course in gruelling circumstances. I'd been given a hard reminder lesson about the need to get nutrition right. While I'd been freezing in my five layers Paul sailed round in two layers (a Helly and a t-shirt!) and only put his jacket on at Cracken Edge and Phil went round in shorts!<br />
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You can find out what happened to various other club members on the club message board at: http://goyt.minuteboard.com/m/b/a/showtopic.html?topicid=62538&nr=29 <br />
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The general consensus seems to be that while it was a 'good' experience no-one is in a rush to do it again any time soon. But then we always say that after a tough event don't we?Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0Castleton, Derbyshire, UK53.351575982915776 -1.771523952484130953.350390982915776 -1.7740454524841309 53.352760982915775 -1.7690024524841308tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-34017559413857209772012-11-08T13:55:00.001+00:002013-02-19T19:08:35.400+00:00Sardona Ultra Trail - Inaugural Edition <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEe6_ggR9sWEYCf5HBhT_P2uldo5OM0BhB0ZwTVeI0meo8l8ul-8FWv22sCDuogxf1k99ZlHhys8dGHCHoHlQ_VXyDNyVRMbUByx3Kp0k7mJ0wp-VixN8tBtlPHE4WtGgkKtjRP2OwUEHE/s1600/sardona+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEe6_ggR9sWEYCf5HBhT_P2uldo5OM0BhB0ZwTVeI0meo8l8ul-8FWv22sCDuogxf1k99ZlHhys8dGHCHoHlQ_VXyDNyVRMbUByx3Kp0k7mJ0wp-VixN8tBtlPHE4WtGgkKtjRP2OwUEHE/s1600/sardona+logo.png" /></a></div>
Being a new event I think a bit of background to this is required. I first heard of it through my e-friend Umberto. We first made contact via my blog reports on the Jungfrau Marathon back in 2007 and 2008 and have been swapping messages and emails about our running activities ever since. A couple of years ago Umberto said that he had a project in mind. It was based around creating a running event with the primary focus being on enjoying the environment rather than it being a mass race. This eventually morphed into the Sardona Ultra Trail whose first running was last Saturday 15th (and 16th for some) September. Not content with organising the ultra Umberto also had a marathon and half-marathon race to deal with.<br />
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It is worth saying up front that this has been one man's dream (albeit fully supported by his family) and full credit needs to go to Umberto for pulling this off. The amount of work required to sign up sponsors, organise technical and safety committees, create a website, marketing, plan the route, man the route, get the runners to the start line etc has been tremendous. To top it all the weather threw a last minute spanner-in-the-works by blocking off two passes with snow, requiring an emergency re-routing of the ultra and marathon courses. I'd been out here in July to recce the whole route with Umberto but we were snowed off then as well so we did the first section up to the first high pass on the first day and went out to the Spitzmeillenhutte on the second day. This helped me decide to wear my Salomon Speedcross shoes for the race.<br />
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The original (official) ultra course is an 80km (50 mile) loop with over 6,000m (20,000 ft) of ascent (and descent). The revised bad weather course was an out and back route of some 60km and 4400m. A comparison of the two routes is shown below. The start and finish is in Furt on the extreme right hand side. The original route runs clockwise. Furt is 1520m above sea level.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Route (pink) v Revised Route (yellow)</td></tr>
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The original route as shown is in fact out of date. There are modifications to the route on the top right hand side but the important bit is the southern part of the route which contained the offending (snowed off ) passes. Instead of taking this high alpine route we went down into the Weisstannen valley and ran parallel to the original route. We then picked up the original route along the western edge and followed it up to the <a href="http://www.spitzmeilenhuette.ch/" target="_blank">Spitzmeilenhutte</a> in the north west corner of the route. From there we turned round and retraced our route back the way we came (always interesting as you see the front runners on their way back as you're still struggling out). The final few kilometres were different to the route out. <br />
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This give some idea of what we missed out on (route in red). Maybe next time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original route from Lavtinasattel pass</td></tr>
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The ultra started at 8:00 a.m. on a cool but dry day. Clouds were still clinging to the tops but there was a promise of a clear day in the rising sun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they're off.....a quick wave to Rosie (I'm in the middle, blue top,white hat)</td></tr>
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The race starts with a steady climb up the Garmil (2003m). I had intended to drop back and take it steady but found myself towards the front so I jogged along until the increasing incline reduced us all to a walk and I started getting passed as usual. Even at this stage I noticed lots of people taking photos and video footage. They were already in tourist mode. Can't say I blame them.<br />
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Over the Garmil there was a nice steady descent to the first water stop outside the Gaffia restaurant (1861m). I passed a couple of runners on this descent but I was surprised at how spread out the field already was. There weren't many other in sight to pass. From here we were to follow an out and back route. On the way back we dropped down the main track from Gaffia to Furt rather than go back over the Garmil.<br />
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After the Gaffia (on the way out) the route then kicked uphill again with a zig-zag up to the Baschalvasee (lake) at 2200m. There were patches of snow up here but nothing serious. After levelling out alongside the lake the route turned west and upward. This climb was much shorter on the revised route. We climbed up to the shoulder of the Baseggla at 2280m and then dropped down the other side (before reaching the dozens of stone columns on the original route).<br />
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The first part of this descent was over trackless tussocks. It was soon obvious that the 'local' (Swiss, German, Austrian) runners weren't familiar with this sort of terrain as they slowly picked their way over the tussocks, wary of twisting an ankle. Being a veteran of many KIMMs and OMMs this was very familiar territory so I mercilessly picked off several runners here. They probably thought I was mad risking an injury. The tussocks didn't last long though as we reached the stream and zig-zagged down through the gorge it had cut out of the mountainside. <br />
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This descent down into the Weisstannen valley was nearly 1300m in total (equivalent to Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain). It consisted of three different sections: the top section of tussocks and rough track through the gorge, a middle section of smooth looping farm track and a bottom section of muddy path through the trees. We'd meet this again later in the day on the way back.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Furt to Weisstannen</td></tr>
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I took full advantage of this and passed around ten runners, especially on the farm track where I had no fear of tripping and built up a full head of steam. I've noticed this reluctance to let rip downhill in the alpine runners in the past. I think there's a belief that it can ruin the knees. I loved storming down there. My choice of Speedcross shoes was spot on for the bottom section which was very steep and muddy.<br />
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In the valley bottom we crossed the road and went up the other side of the valley for a while before turning parallel to the road along the bottom. Prior to our start we'd been told that the start to the marathon distance race was to be delayed to allow for the Alpabfahrt in the Weisstannental. The Alpabfahrt is the bringing down of the cows from the alps into the valleys at the end of summer. In typical Swiss style this isn't a mundane agricultural task. It's a celebration and major tourist attraction. The cowherds and their families dress in traditional costume and the cows are decorated with flowers and extra large (and noisy) bells.<br />
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I didn't see any of this at this stage but as I was running along the valley side I heard this strange cacophony filling the whole valley. At first I thought it was a large factory or sawmill before I suddenly remembered the Alpabfahrt and sure enough it was just possible to make out individual cowbells. The noise must have been amplified by echoing between the valley sides. I'd heard nothing like it before. <br />
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The whole route was very well marked but along this section the markings failed. The track split into two equally likely looking paths. There were no markings visible beyond the split. I'd seen a runner in front take the upper path and, because I knew he was following another runner who seemed to know the locals at the road crossing, I assumed they had local knowledge. However, it didn't quite feel right so I went up 50 metres before getting the map out. As I was checking the map I saw most of the runners I'd passed on the descent run past and along the lower path. While putting away the map, the runner I'd followed came running back down. He'd seen no further markers and realised he'd taken the wrong path. This was Michael from Germany. We were to meet often during the rest of the the race. As we ran along the valley side we caught glimpses through the trees of the cows strolling along the valley bottom road. The route then dropped down to the road at Weisstannen village and the next checkpoint. <br />
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On approaching the village there was a table full of drink and food out on the right hand side of the road outside of the hotel but a guy was gesturing for us to go to the left hand side next to a hut. This was very confusing but the guy was pretty insistent (not that I could understand what he was saying). It turned out that the hotel table was refreshments for the cow people and the race checkpoint was indeed behind the hut. This was very well stocked with gels, cake, bananas and drink. I'd dropped Michael slightly on the descent down to the village so I left the checkpoint on my own. This section involved a kilometre (notice I've gone metric in this race) or so of road before taking to a riverside path for a five or six kilometres. While still on the road I encountered my first Alpabfahrters. The cow to people ratio seemed to be well inside 2:1 and there didn't seem to be more than half a dozen cows in each group. <br />
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I managed to run most of this section as it gradually wound up the valley along side the river. The sun was out but there was plenty of shade. I took a riverside path on the right hand side of the river but I think quite a few runners stayed on the road on the left.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weisstannen towards Vorsiez and Unter Saas</td></tr>
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The route crossed the river and then onto a path along the left hand side up to the collection of farms and a cafe (very tempting) at Vorsiez where it took to the farm track that gradually rose up and turned north.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLb7Zf7xJyG-saLxYdMvtJcJPU7Sz4JeF5-Ce-FOr9afsG3M0t4CdPe1XP9QNdO7M4kL8HniUPsngsrob1nk7ShzwlB3MS4kZpo5RRLUgTKktQHkQ3m0dkX6czWVIEPXHC524s-FXRC5G/s1600/route+2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLb7Zf7xJyG-saLxYdMvtJcJPU7Sz4JeF5-Ce-FOr9afsG3M0t4CdPe1XP9QNdO7M4kL8HniUPsngsrob1nk7ShzwlB3MS4kZpo5RRLUgTKktQHkQ3m0dkX6czWVIEPXHC524s-FXRC5G/s640/route+2012.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole bad weather route</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQT4N_bTbQSLjg1PYCuqcGU9VzgGst7R-YJRaTA_1xaydEipAiMmhZl8IGcxo01PZCDXwioIWzAEMySH7YdBKzVOuX8iqivuFcZ4V9RN7ZRri5_OoOMDln-iSfP-hp09kGfGd1Lhto1dP/s1600/Untersaas+to+Spitzmeillenhutte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQT4N_bTbQSLjg1PYCuqcGU9VzgGst7R-YJRaTA_1xaydEipAiMmhZl8IGcxo01PZCDXwioIWzAEMySH7YdBKzVOuX8iqivuFcZ4V9RN7ZRri5_OoOMDln-iSfP-hp09kGfGd1Lhto1dP/s640/Untersaas+to+Spitzmeillenhutte.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weistannental to Spitzmeillenhutte (and back)</td></tr>
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This was a long steady climb along a lovely wooded hillside overlooking the valley where the original route came down from the wonderfully named Foo to join us . <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNR5S18o3DWV1UetmKevAg1AP8PXLVjOVHie5fFoJ7qbn12bC0gF2jPrcjj1REv9QY08czGDhM874z6RuaoEkvp1Ml3I7HIIcid7Vuf1ofDPoFvaZSwTLsmJbQJhuYlmPUTtoa-oZRaWt/s1600/Vorseiz+to+Obersass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNR5S18o3DWV1UetmKevAg1AP8PXLVjOVHie5fFoJ7qbn12bC0gF2jPrcjj1REv9QY08czGDhM874z6RuaoEkvp1Ml3I7HIIcid7Vuf1ofDPoFvaZSwTLsmJbQJhuYlmPUTtoa-oZRaWt/s320/Vorseiz+to+Obersass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) Thomas Schmidtkonz</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Michael caught me up along here after I attended to a call of nature. Nowhere else but Switzerland would they bother to tunnel through a 100 metres of solid rock for a farm track. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkBt0BOjHgfNeO9CFwaTiPN1LcCu7FnrlVL-rfDjxZpcy6I9G0EAOnI4zofdX968A5-TZz6jZsrtx2uDz1S9PAr6GrenxpLZjJU4x7asPyUVrD6MUlpRXvtgpU0M78xuOatTBI6r2jIQZ/s1600/Tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkBt0BOjHgfNeO9CFwaTiPN1LcCu7FnrlVL-rfDjxZpcy6I9G0EAOnI4zofdX968A5-TZz6jZsrtx2uDz1S9PAr6GrenxpLZjJU4x7asPyUVrD6MUlpRXvtgpU0M78xuOatTBI6r2jIQZ/s320/Tunnel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(c) Thomas Schmidtkonz</td></tr>
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The track eventually levelled off and became runnable again. I dropped Michael here knowing he'd catch me when it went uphill again. I ran to the farm at Obersiezsass nestled in a broad high valley. The route reared up again, very steeply at first, for the long haul up towards Spitzmeilen. As predicted Michael soon caught me up on the steep section, just as the front runners came down on their way back ( I reckoned they were a good 2 hours in front of me). He dropped me on this stretch as I trudged up the hill feeling the effects of the warm day. I'd run out of drink by now so welcomed the mountain stream we had to cross on our way up. Eventually I reached the shallow Fansfurggla pass and should have been awarded with a view of the Spitzmeilen mountain. Unfortunately there was some mountain mist covering the peak. When you can see it (as I did in July) this mountain looks like it belongs amongst the buttes of Arizona rather than in the Alpine peaks. As it was we didn't get to see it during the run. At this point in the race my mind was on other things anyway. It was only another 4km to the <a href="http://www.spitzmeilenhuette.ch/huette" target="_blank">Spitzmeilenhutte</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYo2gdqacDSZayQSYYqTPws3-nnqt9NwnmhUXyAcNZWgv9L_rbxYvzNeCqEexnSsQR97xUr1_eQKhikcpPcSy1o97DR6hvJc94kjzcFSJw2laZyf1nepati9mBgdz8OSqlB8MZockbGNw/s1600/Spitzmeilen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYo2gdqacDSZayQSYYqTPws3-nnqt9NwnmhUXyAcNZWgv9L_rbxYvzNeCqEexnSsQR97xUr1_eQKhikcpPcSy1o97DR6hvJc94kjzcFSJw2laZyf1nepati9mBgdz8OSqlB8MZockbGNw/s320/Spitzmeilen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was just a gentle downward incline for a kilometre, contour round past those strange white rocks shown above, a slight rise over the shoulder to the right in the above photo then a drop down to the hut and the turn-around checkpoint. Throughout out this section runners were streaming past on their way back. I did a quick headcount and figured I was somewhere in the middle of the pack. This was fine by me as I knew that most of the climbing was out of the way and I had the lovely downhill section back down into the Weistannental valley to come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHortgC1MquuN9pIkhW8Hx065B55isR9rHWQ41ddcVDb8QahvPRmbX6-mOCBXP4zbWOl5KoA1Tp7OnZ-lsOZmFqm_vMG7X77xgYHPQbPdsnsElYdqkwsnT-9WUHqk8y5ptu9Shro3NZqX/s1600/Approaching+Spitzmeilenhutte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHortgC1MquuN9pIkhW8Hx065B55isR9rHWQ41ddcVDb8QahvPRmbX6-mOCBXP4zbWOl5KoA1Tp7OnZ-lsOZmFqm_vMG7X77xgYHPQbPdsnsElYdqkwsnT-9WUHqk8y5ptu9Shro3NZqX/s320/Approaching+Spitzmeilenhutte.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me approaching the Spitzmeilenhutte checkpoint</td></tr>
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I had a slight disappointment here as I'd expected the checkpoint to be actually inside the hut and was looking forward to a bowl of the lovely meat and vegetable soup that I'd had here in July. Instead, they'd erected a wigwam and the checkpoint was set up on tables outside that. (What is it with the Swiss and wigwams? There is a permanent wigwam in Kleine Sheidegg where the Jungfrau Marathon finishes). There was a first in race refreshments for me here: hot isotonic drink. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmFWvYAHJXmUKE6ClHOv1KGGP8_ROfSM7RpYdHSOXIL-a-7WiV4-nVIicBI11_bzTgpmTU0AXh9-cwwYH5G9VJrrNE8yOo0dJ2Hvyl7z7EiksLk2_4dZ0CmYsximZUH-U7j8e4uzdeTGX/s1600/Approaching+Spitzmeilenhutte+Close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmFWvYAHJXmUKE6ClHOv1KGGP8_ROfSM7RpYdHSOXIL-a-7WiV4-nVIicBI11_bzTgpmTU0AXh9-cwwYH5G9VJrrNE8yOo0dJ2Hvyl7z7EiksLk2_4dZ0CmYsximZUH-U7j8e4uzdeTGX/s320/Approaching+Spitzmeilenhutte+Close+up.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who is this old man?</td></tr>
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It has taken me seven hours to reach this checkpoint. I quickly calculated that I'd just finish as night descended, around 8 p.m.. This was quite good as I'd told Rosie to expect me nearer to midnight. <br />
<br />
Michael was still at the checkpoint but he set off soon after I arrived. I filled up my drink bladder, partook in the cake and bananas on offer and downed a glass of the very strange hot iso drink. Then I turned around and set off back the way I came.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRQ0s5xJxa3ShDannlW1QAY7dfyMOUa4bZISE4O5YZ8j2Ut7-SEeEtf-gUebUDEzi6xQpSjClkj3dewIA1mJIGnbH2QLwKZz2tx5u89T9m3cDZiPGAsxAlSdQnPo1qIwwiRPujB42N-3e/s1600/DSC_5732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRQ0s5xJxa3ShDannlW1QAY7dfyMOUa4bZISE4O5YZ8j2Ut7-SEeEtf-gUebUDEzi6xQpSjClkj3dewIA1mJIGnbH2QLwKZz2tx5u89T9m3cDZiPGAsxAlSdQnPo1qIwwiRPujB42N-3e/s320/DSC_5732.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading home...</td></tr>
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Retracing my steps back the mist had cleared by the time I reached Fansfurggla, having seen the back of the field still heading to Spitzmeilenhutte, and the sun came out again. It was well into it's descent now. As I descended down towards Obersiezsass I met a guy still ascending. He said something to me but I replied "Sorry, English" to which he responded "Big hill". This was the understatement of the day. I later learned that this was Thomas Schmidtkonz who was to become a Sardona Ultra legend at the first attempt. He basically spent the entire race documenting it with his camera. Apparently he unpacked his entire pack at the Wiesstannen checkpoint on the way out. I believe that the marshals returning from a checkpoint also found him standing around at the top of the last descent taking photographs in the dark. This man was not in a hurry but certainly knew how to enjoy a run. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA96-bV5tuqpfDipj_nnjxUtWNh3x57JDjxB-sfIAL0ZU5owVK8GWY7-VuMUSQA1PGIsEuKN3WQ3pP5T7N78rQM62eEKBnBIHDzVofenKfa7DkPUrHFryiT8z74czA-XFJEalbM4uPNYyo/s1600/Obersass+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA96-bV5tuqpfDipj_nnjxUtWNh3x57JDjxB-sfIAL0ZU5owVK8GWY7-VuMUSQA1PGIsEuKN3WQ3pP5T7N78rQM62eEKBnBIHDzVofenKfa7DkPUrHFryiT8z74czA-XFJEalbM4uPNYyo/s400/Obersass+Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down to the Obersiezsass hanging valley</td></tr>
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As I reached the farm track above Obersiezsass I packed away the poles and set off on the lovely long descent. I could see Michael in his yellow shirt about a mile down the track. The next few miles were a lovely runnable downhill. I ran this whole section at between 8-10 miles/hour. It was brilliant. I caught and passed Michael halfway down fully expecting to see him on the big climb out of the valley but didn't see him again. It took me an hour to walk up this section but only 15 minutes to get down.<br />
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The journey back down the Weisstannen valley was fairly uneventful. I was reduced to a run/walk by now. <br />
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It was then back up the 1400m climb out of the valley. The muddy section through the trees was tough. I was racing (in a slow trudging fashion) the sun as it set behind the hills on the northern side of the valley at my back. The shadows were chasing me up the hill but I managed to stay in sunlight until the top of the climb. <br />
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On the middle section up the farm track zig-zags I managed to get into a good rhythm and passed a few other competitors. One guy was sitting down in the middle of the track with his legs stretched out in front of him. He said he was OK so I left him to it. Towards the end of this section some people had driven up in a Land Rover and set up an impromptu aid station handing out gels. This was very welcome as I approached the last section though the gorge. This went slowly but surely and I eventually reached the farm buildings just before the last climb to the top. It was getting dark now and I found it difficult to find the track, although I knew where I was (I just didn't know where the track was). I didn't have my headtorch on at this point so the reflective route markers weren't easy to spot.<br />
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Just as I was approaching the top section with the tussocks (Alp Gamidauer) I saw the strangest sight I've ever seen on a mountain. I'm convinced that it was not an illusion.<br />
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There was another competitor about 50 metres ahead of me. I was concentrating on the ground in front of me and just as the incline levelled off I looked up. Between me and the other competitor there was a man. He was wearing a dark long coat or cloak and a wide brimmed hat and had long shaggy hair. He was carrying a pack of some description on top of which was a bedroll or tent. If he'd had a pointy hat and a staff he'd have looked for all the world like Gandalf. He was walking in the same direction as us but where our route turned right he went straight on. I've since checked the map and where he was heading was just rocks and cliffs. Very strange. <br />
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So, over the tussocks to the last checkpoint where I put on a spare top and my headtorch. It was largely down hill from here, past the Baschalvasee and down the zig-zags to the cafe at Gaffia. Here the route back diverged from the route out. Instead of going back over the Gamli we simply had to follow the wide track back down to Furt and the finish. I'd caught up another runner at this point and he tagged onto me as we started down the track. I'd been down this track on my July visit and knew it was fairly runnable (albeit in daylight) so I turned on the after burners for a last blast and dropped the hanger on to sprint into the finish for a time of 12 hours 22 minutes in 36/78 position. A grand day out.<br />
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The winner, Ueli Schneider, finished in an excellent 8:23, Michael in 12:35 and Thomas in a well photographed 18:53.<br />
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It was a mere 50 metres from the finish back to my hotel. I couldn't find Rosie so I had a shower and got changed then went down and found her in the corner of the restaurant. I was just in time for dinner so I wolfed that down. We then had a chat and a few drinks with a couple of other runners in the hotel reception/breakfast area. Being so close to the finish the hotel was the event centre so runners came in as they finished and, very reminiscent of the Lakeland 100 finish area, were clapped in. <br />
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For a first running of an event the whole thing went extremely well, especially so in the circumstances. Umberto and his team are to be congratulated. There were lots of very happy runners.<br />
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The next day was perfect weather so we went up the ski-lifts to the Pizolhutte where we had lunch then took a steady walk with Umberto and his family up to the Wildsee. <br />
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Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0Furt, Switzerland47.002441238909789 9.420690536499023446.997026738909788 9.4106055364990233 47.00785573890979 9.4307755364990236tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-36121762667438998872012-08-01T22:39:00.000+01:002012-08-13T16:18:29.773+01:00Lakeland 100 RevisitedWhen the Lakeland 100 course conspires with the weather it will find any chink in your armour and rip a dirty great big hole in it. <br />
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I thought my main chink was the sprained ankle that I suffered on the recce a month earlier which was still hanging around. It turned out to be the grumbly digestive system which I've had for a few weeks now. <br />
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After <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/mission-accomplished-lakeland-100-in.html" target="_blank">last year's delay at Kentmere</a> which I estimated cost me a couple of hours I fancied my chances of getting inside 32 hours at least. Once again my clubmates Paul H and Peter D were taking part as was Will M who upgraded from last year's Lakeland 50. Both Paul and Peter were hoping for a sub 30 finish time. Paul had a 32 hours under his belt from last year but Peter had DNF'd due to stomach problems. Also running were <a href="http://traildragon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tom H</a> and Brian L from Tring (where I live). Tom also had a score to settle having DNF'd last year. Another DNF returnee was Steve K who we'd met and ran with on most of last year's recces.<br />
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My training had gone really well up until spraining my ankle on the last recce weekend in June. This prevented me from topping off my training with some decent mileage. <br />
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The weather forecast for the event was cool temperatures (15-16 deg centigrade) and showers which looked like pretty good good running conditions but the Lake District weather is unpreditable if it's anything. <br />
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I drove up to Coniston on the Thursday and stayed at Coniston Holly How youth hostel. My room was full of others doing the race including the aforementioned Steve K and Brian L. On Friday morning it was down to the school to pitch the tent and register (plus a trip back to the youth hostel to get my food which I'd left in the self catering kitchen. Duh!). I weighed in at a couple of kilos less than last year and was given the race number 267. <br />
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There was no Joss Naylor this year to give us our pep speech which as a shame as I'd hope to have a word with him about doing some prints of a <a href="http://slappingoiloncanvas.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/painting-no-22-joss-naylor-wasdale.html" target="_blank">painting of him</a> which I've just finished, and selling them for charity. The idea being to get him to sign them. I'll have to contact him some other way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eoSyI8pM4Gne4XrLlLwN8BSKjx-XQtyu1dUX0vQkvDJvbPoNUHjxDerFV-aOZVikTDmbdr2npTQInnAhqAWY5O0ZJKSU7UM9CMuT57YDkTRp2GMQtgX4EqhNpcbp51llZEeh7dM_E3bd/s1600/Joss+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eoSyI8pM4Gne4XrLlLwN8BSKjx-XQtyu1dUX0vQkvDJvbPoNUHjxDerFV-aOZVikTDmbdr2npTQInnAhqAWY5O0ZJKSU7UM9CMuT57YDkTRp2GMQtgX4EqhNpcbp51llZEeh7dM_E3bd/s320/Joss+framed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joss Naylor, Wasdale, 1970s - Artist: Mick Wren</td></tr>
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Anyway, as the start time approached the weather improved (that is if you're a tourist and not about to run up Walna Scar Road!). It must have been over 20 degrees.<br />
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So, 5:30 arrived and off we went. Up front it was going to be very interesting as the winners from the previous two years (<a href="http://ultrastu.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stuart Mills</a> and <a href="http://terryconway.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Terry Conway</a> respectively) were there as was the highly placed <a href="http://overtrailsandhills.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Paul Tierney </a>and a few others I wasn't familiar with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGvMfa02FBwH3thfMG6Zp2BOcD8GrwnYGR9PQHx14JpF87JyibkSWKfy8lzvZiEAci72yHYIY1laKbIQnRHEAcn8hhQ2TxsIqMdg2_ucgb_drR61dbfCbdH60UHwtRRtiyGX3CpW_rvKY/s1600/Start+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGvMfa02FBwH3thfMG6Zp2BOcD8GrwnYGR9PQHx14JpF87JyibkSWKfy8lzvZiEAci72yHYIY1laKbIQnRHEAcn8hhQ2TxsIqMdg2_ucgb_drR61dbfCbdH60UHwtRRtiyGX3CpW_rvKY/s320/Start+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Susan Graham (Me in blue on left and Tom in blue on right)</td></tr>
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The usual dash ensued until we hit the Miners Track then it was out with the poles and walk up the hill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliVqRywPZnXyrzBpkewS4WDuEakI-fxeZunrItoyhXtF4ZGjO0LXwG4jkESl7zjMoOTDxms2-PnYY5lk6Loqrs11IqPZvr7kpr3-gLJrbWvptIvlIIitxFOZDKwxy6zZdKvz25hBTEvvq/s1600/miners+Track+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliVqRywPZnXyrzBpkewS4WDuEakI-fxeZunrItoyhXtF4ZGjO0LXwG4jkESl7zjMoOTDxms2-PnYY5lk6Loqrs11IqPZvr7kpr3-gLJrbWvptIvlIIitxFOZDKwxy6zZdKvz25hBTEvvq/s320/miners+Track+2012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my poles (Paul on right).</td></tr>
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The first leg went pretty much to plan. I passed loads on the downhill section to the bottom of Walna Scar Road. I managed to keep most of those behind me on the climb up (thanks to the poles) and passed a few more on the way down to checkpoint 1 at Seathwaite. It was here that I had make my first call to the loos. It was all downhill from then (so to speak). Leg 2 went well. After the usual trudge through the bogs round Harter Fell I comfortably ran the rest of the leg passing a few more runners on the way. However, I still lost some 30 places due to my pit-stop at Seathwaite. The Boot checkpoint was the same as last year. The helpers were inundated with a flood of runners in a rush to get on in this early stage. <br />
<br />
So, it was then the steady incline to Burnmoor Tarn and a drop down into Wasdale where I caught up Peter who was complaining of blisters on his heel bottoms. On the road stretch before Wasdale Head I was just thinking that we'd get into the checkpoint and Paul would do his usual trick of appearing, whizzing through the checkpoint and disappearing, when who should come up behind us but Paul. We jogged into the checkpoint where Paul whizzed through and disappeared (never to be seen again). He was a man on a mission. I donated my large Compeeds to Peter for his heels. Ironically this year I'd gone through my first aid kit and cut it down to size so I had no spares but hardly ever suffer from blisters so it wasn't a problem. Will also turned up at this point and took off after Paul but didn't manage to catch him. At this point I reckon I was about ten minutes up on last year's time but it was still time for the head torch (Petzl Myo RXP). I left Peter to put his shoes back on knowing he'd catch me on the up hills. A steady jog along Mosedale and up onto Black Sail pass followed, all the while looking for a reasonable hiding place for the loo (it's even harder to hide at night when everyone has a head torch and you're covered in reflective gear!). In the end I held out until Buttermere checkpoint. Having snapped my poles while descending Black Sail pass last year I made sure they were safely stashed away this year.<br />
<br />
I was glad to get the descent off Scarth Gap out of the way. The showers started on this stage some very heavy but not lasting too long so it was difficult to know whether to bother with the jacket. This was reflected in the variety of body cover in use at any point in time. There were people in shorts and t-shirts alongside people wearing full body waterproofs. That set the pattern for the rest of the event. I had to get the cag out on this stretch as the rain brought the temperature down. I also had one of several falls going down here. Running along a grassy trod on a bank parallel to the rocky path I tripped on a rock and went arse over tit down the bank. Thankfully I missed the rocks but did get cramp in both calfs which I soon stretched out.<br />
<br />
As it turned out Peter didn't catch me up on the hills but, looking at the results he passed through Buttermere as I was inspecting the state of their plumbing. I'd decided to walk the first part of this stage, to the top of Sail Pass anyway to give myself a rest. While doing this someone behind asked if I was Mick Wren (the race numbers had our first names printed on them). I'd apparently given him some advice on the Lakeland 100 facebook page regarding poles and he was very grateful for it. This was the first of many instances of people recognising me for one reason or another to the point where I began to feel a bit like a celebrity. Must practice my autograph. <br />
<br />
Going up the steep section to Sail Pass I had a very weird experience. On a previous recce in 2011 I'd sailed (forgive the pun) up here using my then new poles. However, on the actual 2011 event I really struggled which I'd put down to not have the use of my freshly snapped poles. This year I found it extremely hard even with poles. About three quarters of the way up I started to keep losing my balance and falling (fortunately to the left and not down the hill to my right). It was just like trying to stand up when totally pissed. This had me very worried. Eventually, as I approached the top of the pass my left ear popped and my balance improved (although I still felt drained). I can only assume that the air pressure in my ear was affecting the balance mechanism in that ear. <br />
<br />
I chucked down a small bag of oat and fruit biscuits at the top and proceeded to descend the very steep path towards Barrow Door. About 20 minutes before this my head torch had flashed telling me that the batteries were on their way out and now the light was really dimming so I waited for some other to catch me up so that I could piggyback their light. I had spares batteries but didn't particularly want to change them in the open. That was another attempted weight saving I'd made this year. I normally carry a spare head torch (a very small and light Petzl Zipka) as well as spare batteries but I put that in my drop bag this year. I'll not be doing that again as I felt very vulnerable without that spare. I only had to drop one of my spare batteries and I'd have been stuffed.<br />
<br />
Braithwaite checkpoint eventually arrived and I entered to find Peter in there (not thinking at the time that I hadn't seen him pass me). After another plumbing inspection and a change of batteries we left together. Two minutes later it was raining stair rods as we jogged along the road to Keswick. I paid my respects to my ancestors as we passed Crossthwaite graveyard then it was up onto Spooney Green Lane. <br />
<br />
Back in the checkpoint I'd put some boiling water into a chicken tikka freeze dried meal (from Expedition Foods) that I'd been carrying with me and left it to rehydrate in my rucksack planning to eat it going up the lane. I've used these food several times before on the overnight camps of mountain marathons and they've been great but there must be something about taste buds while on the move. The chicken tikka was far too spicey and the the texture felt wrong so I just couldn't eat it. This had happened previously when I tried the same thing during the Bullock Smithy challenge. So, I've given up on the idea of having a 'proper' meal while on the move.<br />
<br />
While travelling up the Glenderaterra valley I noticed it was getting light which shocked me as last year I was approaching Dockray at this time of day. Those toilet stops and the bad patch over Sail Pass had cost me dearly. We eventually found the new unmanned checkpoint (on the second sheepfold after searching for it on the first one) then walk/jogged to the Blencathra checkpoint but not before I had to make an emergency stop behind a wall to inspect the bracken. There were no free socks this year at Blencathra but at least it was indoors this time. <br />
<br />
By now we were well aware that any chance of a decent time had long gone so we mentally dropped into 'just finish' mode. It's interesting how this affects the performance. We walked where we probably would have run if going for a time and, being effectively a team of two, we ran at the speed of the slowest runner at the time. This had the cumulative effect of our time slipping more and more. We souped up at Dockray and plodded on to Dalemain arriving at 10:40 to find Will who had retired (along with some 30 others I believe).<br />
<br />
I claimed squatters rights in one of the portaloos while Peter had his feet strapped up by the medic. We then refueled on the wonderful soup/stew and cake and custard served by marvellous checkpoint staff, and had a change of clothing. The spare poles I'd brought along stayed in the drop bag. In the end we were there for at least an hour but eventually set off walking across the field. My plans to minimise checkpoint time had long since bitten the dust. <br />
<br />
After a jog along the river we entered Pooley Bridge where I popped into the public conveniences (convenient being a very apt word in my case) to see how their plumbing compared to elsewhere in the Lakes. I can report it was adequate. <br />
<br />
On the climb out of Pooley Bridge I received my second shock of the day. We were walking and this guy came sprinting past. "He's keen" I thought then another ran past then another. It dawned on me that they were the L50 lead runners. Last year I'd been at Sadgill when the first L50 came past. This was depressing. The fourth L50 runner was my mate Kieran Davis with whom I'd done the <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/old-county-tops-2012-slip-sliding-away.html" target="_blank">Old County Tops back in May</a>. Ian Corless (of <a href="http://www.marathontalk.com/archive/talk_ultra.php" target="_blank">Talk Ultra</a> fame) who I'd spent a few hours with on the last recce soon passed as well. It was then time for another photo-shoot.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice colour scheme (Peter in red)</td></tr>
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With hindsight I'm not sure that fluorescent yellow was the best choice of colour for my new role as chief bracken inspector. Marc (event organiser) had asked us during the pre-race briefing not to smile for the photographers as they wanted to show how hard and tough the event was but he shouldn't produce such a happy event so we ignored him.<br />
<br />
Peter had come up with a cunning plan at this point. We were going to let the first 20 L50 runners go then tag onto the back of the next one. Like most cunning plans this one melted in the heat of execution as we watched a good 50 runners go by. Eventually though I saw one I wanted to follow and tagged on in tow at what felt like a cracking pace (it was downhill). The fact that it was a very nice looking young woman in short lycra shorts was pure coincidence I can assure you. This very pleasurable stretch came to an end after about a quarter mile when I noticed that Peter hadn't followed. I guess my backside doesn't have the same motivating effect. So, normal service was resumed and we trotted down towards Howtown.<br />
<br />
On the last official recce weekend in June I'd met up with two guys in Windermere youth hostel who were also doing the recce, workmates Mikey and Dom. They were on the L50 and came past Peter and I just before Howtown. Dom was still suffering from an ankle sprain and was considering his options when they got to Howtown. As it turned out they both continued and when Mikey got to Ambleside he found out that Dom was still going and waited half and hour for him to make sure he finished. That just about sums up the spirit in this event.<br />
<br />
Last year the Howtown checkpoint was centred inside the building but this year they'd decided to put most of it outside (probably to cope better with the numbers) but after dibbing in I went inside and Peter lost track of me. He caught sight of someone leaving wearing a fluorescent yellow top and chased after them. While he was doing this I was came out to look for him and couldn't find him. He realised it wasn't me when he noticed the rucksack colour and came back. I would have popped into the loo here but there was a queue so off we went. <br />
<br />
I really suffered here <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/mission-accomplished-lakeland-100-in.html" target="_blank">last year</a> in the heat. This year the heat was much better but being amongst the L50 entrants I was forever acquiring a trail of people behind me. This pressurised me into going a little faster than I'd have liked to until I had to pull over and let them past. In the meantime Peter was obviously feeling stronger and took off for the top where he waited for me.<br />
<br />
Running as a pair is much slower than solo running. We each had sections where we felt better than the other and had to wait. Next time (if there is one) if there's chance of a good time then I'll have to run my own race.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we made our way across the Kops and down to Haweswater, hacking through the bracken at the bottom rather than climb down the rocks. Along the bottom track I had to find a water source as the drink in my bladder tasted very strange. I'm not sure what it was but I didn't trust it so had to refill my bottle. Having done so I then climbed up into the bracken for another 'inspection'. The noise from the stream hid any noises I might (did) have made. I then caught up Peter and chugged round to the Mardale checkpoint. It was getting colder, wetter and windier by now so we put an extra top layer on after a couple of welcome cups of tommy soup. Then it was up the Gatesgarth Pass path.<br />
<br />
This time it was my turn to get to the top first where I waited for Peter. The weather had set in now so it was cagoules and gloves on. Coming down the other side was it's usual steep and rocky self until we reached the point where the appropriately named Wren Gill meets the track. It was like a giant had scooped a three foot deep, two foot wide trench out of the middle of the track. The track was destroyed. That must have been quiet a sight when that happened. We were walking at this point and I started getting very cold so down in the bottom of the valley we resorted to wearing overtrousers. It shows how I was feeling the cold as I didn't resort to overtrousers in the 1998 'Howling Howgills' KIMM or in the 2008 Borrowdale OMM.<br />
<br />
It was around this point that I had another weird episode. I was walking alongside Peter when I suddenly realised I didn't know who it was next to me. I went through a whole list of people (runners and non-runners) in my head before getting back to Peter. This happened a couple of times. I didn't tell Peter about the episode but I suspected this was a sign of hypothermia. I spent a few minutes considering this and decided that it would be foolish to risk continuing. I did have another top and some leggings in my bag but if I put those on I'd have had no back-up clothing. With 20 dark, cold and wet miles to go it would have been<br />
dangerous. Having completed last year there was no pressure for me to prove anything so I had the luxury of being able to quit without feeling any loss or guilt. This was all ironic considering last year I was held up in Kentmere by the medics with suspected hyperthermia. <br />
<br />
So we arrived at the Kentmere checkpoint at around 9:00 p.m.(via the Sadgill track which was also torn up by the weather and was also a lot longer than I remembered) where I dibbed into the retiree dibber box being informed that the coach back to Coniston would leave around 10:30 p.m.. I made sure that Peter had anything he needed from me then dashed into the loos while he bravely set off into his second night to get his first completion.<br />
<br />
It was at this point that the wicked god of retirees took over. The first thing he did was to empty the header tanks for the loos in the checkpoint ten minutes after I arrived so they were closed. He then made sure that the bus back to Coniston didn't leave until 1:00 a.m. So there I was with a very dodgy stomach in a checkpoint with no loos for 4 hours. On arriving back in Coniston (after hallucinating a woman holding a bike outside the checkpoint) I was told we could have a t-shirt (which was fine as they aren't dated) but the wicked god had the last laugh as when I got home I found it was a L50 t-shirt! <br />
<br />
While waiting at Kentmere both Steve and Brian came through and both very determined to finish, as they indeed did.<br />
<br />
Back at the event centre I found that Paul had finished in 30:50. Not the sub 30 he wanted but a brilliant determined effort nonetheless. Ian had done a brilliant sub 10 and Kieran 10:39. Mikey and Dom finished as I was there in 14:01 and Peter, Steve and Brian were still out on the course. I'm afraid I couldn't stay awake long enough to see them in.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Paul Hunt. Peter at the finish</td></tr>
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The journey home provided more opportunities to inspect plumbing as I called into almost every service area down the length of the M6.<br />
<br />
In hindsight I'm very happy with the decision I took. Whilst I didn't actually feel too bad in myself during the event it was tiring feeling the need to go to the loo for 30 hours and it probably affected my digestion and energy intake. I was certainly feeling the cold a lot more than I should have done. Two days later and I'm already thinking about doing it again having said twice was enough. However, I should have a guaranteed place in the UTMB next year so I might do the 50 as a training run. We'll see.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com4Coniston, Cumbria LA21, UK54.369071 -3.0758754.3598205 -3.095611 54.3783215 -3.0561290000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-60536378655257691882012-05-26T11:45:00.000+01:002012-05-26T21:43:11.143+01:00Old County Tops 2012 - Slip Sliding AwayWell that was an unexpected pleasure. I hadn't planned to do <a href="http://www.achille-ratti-climbing-club.co.uk/fellrunning/oldcountytops/" target="_blank">this race</a> (a mere 37 miles up 10,000 foot worth of Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Coniston Old Man) but responded to a request on the Lakeland 100 Facebook page for a partner. This event is done in pairs (not sure why but I suppose it could turn a bit interesting if the weather came down). The request was from Kieran Davis an ex-roadrunner turned fell/trail runner from Derbyshire, nearly 25 years my junior.. Kieran has entered the Lakeland 50 this year and was looking for some longer distance experience. (His previous longest run was 21 miles.) He was running sub 6 minutes miles on the road so I knew he'd have to wait for me.<br />
<br />
I nearly didn't make it after having a massive headache on Thurday and finding my blood pressure to be 205/136. That's seriously high so I took myself off to the docs. It'd gone down a bit by the time I saw him but, having tried everything to avoid going on the pills for years I agreed to try some ACE inhibitors (but not until after the race).<br />
<br />
So, after a Friday night at Ambleside Youth Hostel and awaking to a very rainy grey morning I drove over to the New Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale and met Kieran, along with his wife Jo and their dog. Also there were <a href="http://www.goytvalleystriders.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Goyt Valley Strider</a> clubmates Claire and Caz and Paul and Will as well as <a href="http://ultraploddernick.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">ultraplodder Nick</a>. Other famous faces were Sarah Rowell and Yiannis Tridimas both presumably having a break from supporting Bob Graham attempts. <br />
<br />
I made a major mistake even before setting off from home. I've clearly got into a trail running mindset and chose to take my XA Pros (one new pair and an old pair). I didn't take my Speedcross as I'd not run more than 21 miles in them and didn't know how they'd work over this distance. I didn't take the Mudclaws as they'd skinned my heels in the past over a long run. So, the choice on Saturday morning was between a well worn pair of XA Pros or a new pair which I'd only worn twice. Normally the new pair wouldn't be a problem as I'd been using XA Pros for many years and even did the Bullock Smithy in a pair straight out of the box, but this new pair were an updated model and the fit wasn't identical so there was a risk involved. In the end I opted for the old pair and spent the rest of the day regretting it. Hindsight now tells me I should have worn the Speedcross. <br />
<br />
So, at 8:15 on a late start (due to dealing with EODs and partner swaps in the main registration queue) a record breaking 103 teams set off from the car park at New Dungeon Ghyll under a grey sky. It had stopped raining half an hour before the start so the jackets were still on. Down the old Langdale road (farm track) to Chapel Stile (to the clangs of a Swiss cow bells bringing back memories of the Jungfrau Marathon) then up and over the shoulder of Silver Howe heading for Grasmere. It was on the descent into Grasmere (where my ggg-grandfather was christened in 1805) that I received my first lesson in shoe choice. Slipping in the mud I came down coccyx first onto a rock, also damaging my right index finger in the process. No real damage done (although my finger was out of action for the rest of the day and is still painful a week later).<br />
<br />
On through a very quite Grasmere and up the A59 for half a mile (to come across the same cow bell) before turning right up towards the Great Tongue. The poles came out here (I'm not proud) and the jacket and gloves went on for the drag up to Grisedale Tarn and up into the clouds hugging the Helvelyn ridge. The race split here. Half went straight up the monstrous incline to Dollywaggon Pike. We, the rest, took a sloping line up the hill until we met the ridge path. Kieran had plenty of time for a break waiting for me to drag my carcass up the hill. The top was covered in frozen snow. A Bob Graham attempt by Aly Raw of Bingley Harriers had been through a hour of so before us and they were running through a snow storm. (She completed in under 23 hours for the record). We were soon at the X wall shelter where the cheery marshalls took our number. That's four times I've been on Helvellyn and I've yet to have a view of any description. <br />
<br />
Off we dropped down the side of Helvellyn on a SSW heading. Next time (Did I say that?) I'll drop a bit further West where the ground levels out more. On the top section the scree rocks were covered in a thin but very solid layer of ice. The combination of snow, ice and shoes fit for ten pin bowling made for the first of several interesting descents. We eventually picked our way down and dropped through the trees to Wythburn car park and checkpoint where we picked up some malt loaf and jam sandwiches. <br />
<br />
The Wythburn valley came next. Three quarters of the way up we came across a dead ewe with a live lamb snuggling into it. A hiker said he was going down to tell the farmer. Hope it made it. <br />
<br />
We took a line to the left of the stream cutting over the shoulder of High Raise, rather than contouring round like most did. I prefer our route choice. We dropped down onto Stake Pass then round the back of Rossett Crag to the time-out checkpoint at Angle Tarn with 15 minutes to spare. <br />
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Photos: Nick Lander</div>
<br />
Now we've got to get to Cockley Beck in time then we're safe. Just the little matter of Scafell Pike and the Great Moss to deal with first. <br />
<br />
With Angle Tarn looking spectacularly black and sinister behind us we headed off up to Esk Hause. We hadn't gone far when I recognised the pair in front of us. It was Paul and Will. We gradually hauled them in and I enquired as to where Paul's poles were to which he replied that they were for girls. He's obviously been listening to our clubmate Al. I'll remind him of that when we're heading up Garthsgate Pass on the Lakeland 100 in July. We went up and over Broad Crag and up Scafell Pike together. <br />
<br />
The race organisers had advised anyone who hadn't recce'd the southern drop off Scafell Pike to retrace their steps down to Little Narrowcove and drop down there. This was our plan until Will said he'd recce'd the route recently so we tagged on and set off down what I remember as being a vertical cliff looking from the bottom. We hadn't gone far before Will said that the route he'd recce'd was further to the right and he'd recce'd it uphill! However, he managed to find the way down but not without leaving me behind in my roller skate shoes. They took off over Great Moss while Kieran waited for me to slide my way down. <br />
<br />
I was a bit weary going over Great Moss which seemed to go on forever. Just before we reached Mosedale I downed 500ml of isotonic drink and that seemed to revive me no end. We tanked it down Mosedale, passing three of four teams and nipped past Paul and Will just before the Cockley Beck checkpoint 8 minutes inside the cut-off. The cakes, sandwiches and bananas we're just what the doctor ordered. After topping up the drink bladder we set off for the last hill. I was surprised to see Paul still in the checkpoint as he's normally in and out like a shot. They'd previously told me that Claire and Caz were behind them which meant I was first in our club. Not that that made the upcoming climb any easier. <br />
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The poles came out again as we set off up towards Swirl Howe, cutting off the corner of Grey Friars. After a steady 500m of ascent, during which we climbed alongside a pair of guys from the Pennine club, one of whom was revelling in being much higher than his Dutch countrymen. Kieran spent quite a while waiting for me going up here. We picked up the top path here and headed off in the direction of Coniston Old Man (COM). This part of the route was an out and back to the top of COM so we were now seeing pairs on their way back to the finish. <br />
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At Levers Hawse I had to succumb to the inevitable and squatted behind a rock only to realise everyone dropping down to the hawse could see my backside sticking out. That's twice things have gone wrong here. A few years ago I was just finishing day 2 of a Saunders Mountain Marathon and just had to drop down to Low Water for the last control when my partner took a bee line in the mist for what turned out to be Levers Water. We lost a good 90 minutes looking for a control that wasn't there. Never again did I trust someone else's navigation. <br />
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We were then up and over the upturned pudding bowl that is Brim Fell and up to the Old Man. Three down, none to go. A quick swig of water and we were off back down. Skirting round Swirl Howe we dropped down to Three Shire Stone and onto the road. This is where my shoes at last came into their own. We tonned it down the road pick up at least three teams in the process. At the wall corner we turned left and along the Lakeland 100/50 course (albeit in reverse) past Blea Tarn picking off another weary pair. The drop down into Langdale felt much shorter than it does going up it. It was then across to Side House Farm where I admit we cut that corner by going through the gate to the left of the farm. <br />
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At this point, with just a quarter of a mile left, I ran out of steam. I could feel the tank emptying with every step I took until I was reduce to a walk. Kieran waited for me on the bridge. I used the tiny drop off the bridge to get going again and managed to run the couple of hundred yards to the finish in a time of something like 10:45, well outside of the sub 10 we fancied at the start and over three hours behind the winners. Considering 20% of the field didn't finish and I was running in carpet slippers we can't complain though. A grand day out on the hills. (Oh, and did I mention, I was first in our club?)<br />
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After refuelling on the marvellous lentil soup and cakes I then tried to find a room at the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel but they were full so I set off to Bingley to deliver my <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/convergence.html" target="_blank">painting of Dave</a>. <br />
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During the event, as I was trudging through some of the boggier sections I remembered why I'd decided not to do OMMs anymore and to focus on trailrunning, but with hindsight I really enjoyed this event and will probably be back for more (with the right shoes of course).<br />
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<br />Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-3316030108903471482012-05-09T16:22:00.000+01:002012-05-09T22:16:10.936+01:00Stepping Up the MilesHaving not managed a long run in April (due to a variety of reasons) I desperately needed to get out for a few hours before the upcoming <a href="http://www.achille-ratti-climbing-club.co.uk/fellrunning/oldcountytops/" target="_blank">Old County Tops</a> (37 miles and 10,000 feet over Helvellyn, Scafell and Coniston Old Man) race on 19th May. So I planned a big loop from our house expecting it to be somewhere in the low 20s only to find out when I got home it was over 29 miles according to <a href="http://www.runkeeper.com/" target="_blank">Run Keeper</a>. <br />
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I can't get the map to embed so click here to see> <a href="http://runkeeper.com/user/mickwren/activity/86411523" target="_blank">last Sunday's run</a>. <br />
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It was cool and wet (and slippy underfoot, especially in the latter half) so I didn't need too much in the way of fluids (I drank a litre overall) but I felt very hungry for some reason (probably due to me cutting down on the carbs recently). Fortunately I'd taken a couple of bananas and bars but was still feeling empty over the last ten miles. I was ready for a cup of tea and a nice hot bath by the time I got home but overall fairly pleased as I found the first 20 miles nice and comfortable (and I got to see some Shetland pony foals which were extremely cute and not much bigger than our dog.)<br />
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<br />Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-59287229856296688752012-03-10T09:00:00.000+00:002012-05-09T22:24:51.786+01:00GG IIIHad a long day out yesterday. Unfortunately most of it was in the car. Set off at 6:30 to get to Grindleford in the Peak District at 9:00 for my third outing on the <a href="http://www.grindlefordgallop.co.uk/" target="_blank">Grindleford Gallop</a>. This is a course that suits me more than some others due to the long runnable sections with just three hills of any size. In the last two years I'd come <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010/03/grindleford-fruit-cake.html" target="_blank">3rd</a> and <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2011/03/grindleford-gallop-re-run.html" target="_blank">2nd</a> within the club which never happens in other, more hilly, races. <br />
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I didn't know how I'd get on as I'd not run more than 10 miles in one go (and then only a couple of times) since last August and hardly been out at all until after Christmas. However, I had managed to get out almost every day in February for 4-5 milers (mostly around the flat lands around Towcester where I work). This was unheard of as three times a week was normal for me. As usual I was carrying too much weight (fat) for my liking. I'd mysteriously put on half a stone (3 kg) very rapidly in February taking me over 13 stone for the first time in years. I've managed to get down to 12st 10lb but that's still a stone above racing weight.<br />
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Anyway, the weather was almost identical to the previous two years, a bit chilly but no real promise of rain and the risk of the sun coming out. There was a record attendence by our club (Goyt Valley Striders) with nearly 40 members entered. It was good to see the old faces again (and some new ones) as I'd not been out with the club for over a year. (A 350 mile round trip for a training run is a bit excessive). <br />
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After a quick warm up we were off. The usual dash for the narrow stiles was made and out onto the first hill we went. That soon brought me to a walk as usual. While strolling up, a new GVS face jogged past (this turned out to be Nick Jefferson who I'd never met before), closely followed by Peter Davis. They disappeared over the top but I managed to catch and pass Peter as we entered Eyam village. This set the pattern for the next few miles. Peter passed me on the drag over Longstone Moor and I caught him again as we entered Great Longstone (where Stuart took this picture).<br />
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A bit of mind reading had gone on on the run down into Great Longstone. Last year Peter had recommended using contact lenses. Advice which I'd taken. Along the stony track into GL I'd been thinking it was a good job I was wearing them instead of steamed up glasses when, on catching Peter he said "Bloody hell, I wish I hadn't told you about those lenses". </div>
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Peter then caught me up on the disused railway line heading towards Bakewell. I clung onto his shirt tails along the track only to see him disappear up the hill to Ballcross Farm. I didn't see him again until the finish. </div>
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The rest of the run was fairly uneventful. The cracking view down the Derwent valley from Calton Pastures. Drop down to Edensor, through Chatsworth Park to Baslow then another walk up onto Baslow Edge (where I met Sally Hunter, who forgot to take my picture). By this time the lack of long runs was showing in my weary legs as I plodded along the tops of the various edges (where, apparently, I passed Will Meredith, who forgot to take my picture). </div>
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That final drag along the top of Froggat Edge to the road felt longer than ever, followed by a weary descent into Grindleford to finish in 3:13, a minute down on last year. I thought I was 3rd in the club but Stephen Bull had somehow snuck in between me and Peter so I was 4th (7th overall in the M50 category and 68th/339 overall (still comfortably upper quartile)). </div>
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I then managed to drive home to finish a long, weary but enjoyable day. </div>
<br />Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com1Peak District National Park, 16 Main Rd, Grindleford, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 2JN, UK53.296824431252077 -1.634731292724609453.294451931252077 -1.6396667927246094 53.299196931252077 -1.6297957927246094tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-21077249966996607522012-01-30T22:14:00.000+00:002012-01-30T22:15:20.355+00:00Blog ConvergenceWell, it's finally happened. I've done my first running painting. That represents a convergence of my two blogs, this one and <a href="http://slappingoiloncanvas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SlappingOilOnCanvas</a>. I painted this recently as a present for my mate and mountain marathon (KIMM/OMM, Saunders etc) partner Dave on his 50th birthday.<br />
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This painting had an immovable deadline so that gave me the motivation to get my finger out and do it at last. (I nearly started it a year ago getting Dave's birth year a year early). I have an ambition to become a regular painter of mountain scenery, ideally with a race going on and this was my first attempt. Unfortunately there's are any mountains in view but I'm very pleased with the result. The race Dave was taking part in was the Really Wild Boar race up in the Pennines near Sedbergh.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-68485345361626125912012-01-30T21:57:00.000+00:002012-01-30T21:57:28.429+00:00Time for an UpdateSo it's a new year (already!) and the first month is nearly over. This post is a brief look at what I've got planned for the year and what's happened so far.<br />
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Top news is that I didn't get selected in the lottery for the <a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page/20/UTMB®.html" target="_blank">Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc (UTMB)</a> 2012 which is a shame, especially as my mate Dave is doing the impressive La Petite Trotte à Léon <a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page/23/PTL.html" target="_blank">(PTL)</a> and would have been over in Chamonix at the same time. Hopefully, this means that I'll get automatic entry for next year's event but with the massive oversubscription the race could be almost full with just the carry-overs from this year. It wouldn't surprise me if they changed the rules on automatic entries. <br />
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On a brighter note I got into this year's <a href="http://www.lakeland100.com/" target="_blank">Lakeland 100</a> so I've got that to look forward to. I'm also doing the Grindleford Gallop for the third consecutive year. I've done well in this so far, coming third and second in the club. Looking at the large number of club entries for this year I somehow don't think that this trend will continue to first place.<br />
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As consolation to the UTMB I will probably enter a new event in Switzerland the <a href="http://www.baechli-sardona-ultratrail.com/" target="_blank">Baechli Sardona Ultra Trail</a> being organised by my friend Umberto. I've also got the offer of going over in the spring to recce the course and hopefully help with planning if I can.<br />
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I might squeeze in the 56 mile <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010/09/two-and-bit-marathons.html" target="_blank">Bullock Smithy</a> in August. I've got a 12 hour target to beat there. Apart from that there's a weekend recce of the latter half of the Lakeland 100 in June but nothing else planned.<br />
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The first three months of this year is the 3Ss: Speed, Strength and Suppleness. Well that was the plan. I've had a couple of cold/flu spells and an aching flank (hopefully not my dead kidney playing up) that spoiled the first part of January. I'm getting back into the swing of things now by putting in 5 or 6 five milers per week in the last two weeks. I need to get into a more rigourous pattern of training though.<br />
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Well I've no doubt bored you enough now so, until the next time, get off your bum and go for a run.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-19344901960279795222011-09-04T11:32:00.000+01:002011-09-04T11:32:51.597+01:00Ridgeway Challenge PicciesThese marvellous (well they do feature me!) photos are taken from Ian J Berry's gallery at: <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108308823179714482058/TheRidgewayChallenge2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCIa2jJDfjrH8iQE&feat=email">https://picasaweb.google.com/108308823179714482058/TheRidgewayChallenge2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCIa2jJDfjrH8iQE&feat=email</a># I can't find out how to contact Ian so I hope he doesn't mind me using them. <br />
Checkpoint 1<br />
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Approaching Wendover Woods near Chivery farm<br />
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Approaching Chequers<br />
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At Cadsden (after the downpour)<br />
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The lady just behind me is Sandra Bowers (friend/partner? of Ian the photographer) who went on to win the Lady's race (becoming UK Trail Running Champion (Long Distance) in the process). The speed at which she passed me going up Whiteleaf Hill was very impressive. Here is her blog: <a href="http://sandrabowers.blogspot.com/">http://sandrabowers.blogspot.com/</a> I get an anonymous mention in her Ridgeway post as the local runner with walking sticks! <br />
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Somewhere on a road (near Princes Risborough?)<br />
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Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-21119492971427806222011-08-28T22:44:00.010+01:002011-08-29T18:10:04.996+01:00Man of BronzeThis post could have a number of titles after a very mixed day (or two) on the <a href="http://www.tra-uk.org/ridgeway_challenge.php">Ridgeway Challenge</a> 2011, which was also hosting the UK Trial Running Championship (Long Distance). Alternative titles include:<br />
<ul><li>Less Rush, More Haste</li>
<li>Pride Comes Before a Fall</li>
<li>Slip Sliding Away</li>
<li>A Race of Two Halves</li>
</ul>The Ridgeway Challenge is an 85 (some say 87) mile race along the <a href="http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Ridgeway/">Ridgeway</a> long distance footpath starting on the top of Ivinghoe Beacon, along the Chiltern Hills to the River Thames, across the river and Goring then along the Wessex Downs to Avebury.<br />
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<strong><u>Less Rush, More Haste</u></strong><br />
I had little time to get ready with not getting home from a business trip to Moscow unitl 9:00 p.m. on Friday night. In the end I forgot to apply sunscreen and to protect my nipples from friction burn.<br />
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<strong><u>Pride Comes Before a Fall</u></strong><br />
Having recently completed the <a href="http://www.lakeland100.com/">Lakeland 100</a> I decided to have a go at this race as it is local to me. I live a couple of miles from the start and I'd used the Eastern half of the route as a training run for the Lakeland so I knew it well. At 85 miles and 9000 feet of ascent (compared to the Lakeland's 105 miles and 24,000 feet) I thought it would be well within my means. I'd done little training in the month between the two events, having only got in 3 or 4 short runs. So, not giving it the respect it deserves, <br />
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At the due start time Anthony Taylor, the race organiser blew his whistle. I and a few other Ridgeway virgins thought he was attracting our attention for a pre-race brief but it actually the start whistle. I set off (No. 114) at a high pace (although not as high as the eventual winner who sprinted off into the distance).<br />
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I ran the hills, which I never normally do on a long run, and arrived at checkpoint 1 after ten miles in 5th or 6th place! This was enough to damage my calves and quads which ached badly for the rest of the event. Lesson learned.<br />
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<strong><u>Slip Sliding Away</u></strong><br />
The weather during daylight was very mixed and alternated massively. One minute it was a torrential downpour, the next it was hot sunshine. It was difficult to know what to wear. It had rained during the previous week and, being local, I knew the chalk paths would be greasy. I chose to wear my Salomon XA Pros which don't have the best grip but I didn't want to risk blisters by wearing my Salomon Speed Cross or Inov-8 Mudclaws on a 40 miles stretch. Our bags were being transported to the halfway checkpoint at Goring so we could have a kit change. The first few miles to Chinnor were better than I'd expected. It was easy to avoid any greasy areas on the path. The next five or more miles along the straight path past Lewknor and Watlington were a completely different matter. Imagine trying to run on a lumpy and rutted surface covered in axle grease and you have some idea of the soul (and leg) destroying experience we had on that section. On already achey legs it was utterly tiring and demoralising not being able to get a grip. That long, straight and flat section is not my favourite at the best of times but this was awful. It left me miserable and trying to think of reasons to pack but try as I might I couldn't. Aching legs don't count as an excuse.<br />
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The next section was back up the Chilterns escarpment and up and down a couple of roller coaster valleys past Swyncombe Church. This was followed by a run out of the Chilterns down to the Thames along a lovely path in the Grims Dyke. I found a second wind at this point and used the gentle downhill gradient to put my head down and cruise along the path. As the Thames was reached and the route turned south along the eastern bank of the river I passed eleven other runners in the space of five minutes. My plan was to keep going to Goring where there was hot food and a change of clothes waiting for me. Unfortunately I ran out of steam at North Stoke and had to walk/jog the rest of the way to the checkpoint to arrive at 8:23 p.m. just as it was getting dark.<br />
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<strong><u>A Race of Two Halves</u></strong><br />
Having had a hard and mixed first half and feeling very weary I was determined to make best use of my time at Goring to put myself back into some sort of shape to do another 42 plus miles. I first got washed (wet wipe) and changed. I decided that as I would probably be doing a significant amount of night walking that I would wear my new three quarter length Salomon leggings rather than shorts and a Helly Hansen long sleeved top rather than a t-shirt. We had a cool head wind all day (and night). I found a small blister on the side of my left middle toe but it wasn't bothering me so I left it alone. <br />
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One legacy of the Lakeland 100 was some foot damage. The tendon running under my right big toe was still sore and the front of the ball of my foot was sore to the touch but I couldn't feel it when walking or running. This area, on both feet, was now very sore at Goring and would prove to be my main area of concern in the second half. I knew that the paths on the western end of the Ridgeway were almost all wide smooth hard tracks so I opted to wear road shoes with trail socks, a combination I'd not tried before. <br />
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Feeling a bit better in my clean dry clothes I then set about refueling. I had 300ml of <a href="http://www.scienceinsport.com/public/shop_product_details.php?db_DisplayGroupID=11">SIS Rego</a> recovery drink, a cup of tea, a cup of Miso soup, a bowl of beef and veg stew with two slices of bread, a bowl of rice and fruit and a banana. The checkpoint staff generally were very good but at Goring they were excellent, running round getting the midway bags, drinks and food. I topped up my drinks bladder, filled my 500ml bottle with tea and set off at 9:17.<br />
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Out of the check point it was across the Thames into Streatly then up the gradual ascent back onto the top of the ridge. I tried running sections of this but kept feeling like I was going bring back all that food so I settled into a fast walk for the first hour. Along the top I was feeling fairly good so I broke into a jog and passed a few runners (walking). Coming down a slight incline I came across another competitor. As I was about to pass her she said something (can't remember what) so I stopped and we ended up joining up and doing most of the rest of the route together. This was Lindsey, a very experienced ultra runner. I did feel a bit guilty as I dropped into a fast speed walking pace, using my <a href="http://www.headtothehills.co.uk/outdoor-clothing-specialist/product.php/527/mountain-king-trail-blaze-trekking-poles---pair">new Mountain King Trail Blaze poles</a> (which replaced the Raidlight poles I'd snapped on the Lakeland 100), while Lindsey adopted her ultra jogging shuffle. It appeared to be relatively hard work. I was striding out, breathing nice and steadily while Lindsey was jogging alongside breathing heavily. However, she seemed happy enough, and I suspect that she'd done this for thousands of miles over the years, so this is how we progressed for the next thirty odd miles. I had to jog a bit to keep up with her on the downhills and she jogged along side me on the rest. A good combination. I think we kept each other's pace up much more than if we'd been alone. Leaving checkpoint 7 Lindsey was sick and told me to keep going, which I did, catching up with a couple of other guys. At checkpoint 8 Lindsey reappeared seven minutes behind us. I though she was still in the checkpoint when we left but we caught her up a mile down the road. It was then back up onto the top where the route turned southward to follow a loop round Ogbourne St George (where I pinched an apple from an overhanging tree (my need was greater than theirs)). The day dawned as we approached Ogbourne. The weather had been kind to us during the night. Apart from a couple of very light and quick showers around 10:00 p.m. the rain held off. The sun came out around six and started to warm us up.<br />
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From Ogbourne the route went up the final big climb, a long drag up onto <a href="http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=5063">Barbary Castle</a>. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From here there were 5 miles of undulating track along the top of the ridge until a right turn led a couple of miles down into Avebury and the finish. The road took us between the massive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avebury">Avebury</a> Stone Circle stones and into the village. A final 100 metre jog to the waiting crowd outside the checkpoint and we were there. A long hard slog made so much harder by my foolish start.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inside the checkpoint building (Avebury Social Centre) I received a pleasant surprise when race organiser Anthony Taylor awarded me with the bronze medal for the M50 category in the UK Trail Running Championship. I thought I'd blown my chances of getting anything considering I walked half of the route. A very nice end to the run. Provisional results are <a href="http://www.tra-uk.org/Ridgeway%20Challenge%202011.pdf">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, the route (and event) are well worth doing. A lot of the competitors I spoke to had done the 145 miles Grand Union Canal run. This would drive me mad with it's unending tow path running, tiny gradients at the locks and running through the backwaters of towns. The Ridgeway, with it's miles of chalk drovers paths, has just enough variety in its woods and valleys to keep my interest. Anything less and I would find it drudgery. I'll be sticking to mountain and hill running. Time will tell if I have another go at the Ridgeway.</div>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-42883017118299296122011-08-06T00:14:00.610+01:002011-09-04T14:16:55.953+01:00Mission Accomplished - Lakeland 100 in the BagA mere 105 miles on rough tracks over 24,000 feet of ascent in 34 hours 51 minutes. I was 69th overall (with only two people older than me in front of me, although one of those was 67!) out of 116 finishers from 224 starters. I got to bed at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday having last slept at 7:00 a.m. on Friday. Two hours later I had to drag my carcass out of the tent to go for a pee. <br />
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<strong><u>Preparation</u></strong><br />
I entered the Lakeland100 on New Years Day as a "sod it, what's the worst that can happen, I catch the bus of shame" new year's resolution. I spent the next three months getting up earlier than usual to do a core session on the Wii and an intervals session on the cross trainer. I also upped my weekly mileage from 10-20 miles to 40-60. I also tried to loose a stone and a half (I started at 13st which is too much for my skinny six foot frame). The weight was a struggle to get off but the fat came off OK. I can only assume the weight stayed due to increased muscle mass. In other words I changed shape without losing much weight. I did manage to shift half a stone in the end. My dodgy knee seemed to have given up the ghost after I'd ignored it for the last six months, which was a relief. Overall, I reckon I did as much as I could in preparation, including recceing the whole course (I had no intention of having to navigate) and was pretty satisfied with my condition as the weekend approached.<br />
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I think that I'd cracked the biggest problem that a lot of my fellow entrants seemed to be struggling with, many years ago back in my developing years. Mentally, the thought of running 100 miles has never been an issue for me. My dad was a cyclist and he got me and my brothers on bikes not long after we could walk. I did my first 'proper' bike ride when I was 5 years old (6 miles to the local power station and back). I youth hostelled my way from Doncaster to Scarborough and back when I was 9 and did my first 100 mile bike ride as an 11 year old. I've since done 240 mile 24 hour rides with very little training. I know in my bones that any distance is possible if you just keep going. However, the price I paid is that I'm a tourist and not a racer. I don't mind the distance as long as I can choose my own pace.<br />
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<strong><u>My Good Run</u></strong><br />
After the last recce we had a presentation from last year's L100 winner <a href="http://ultrastu.blogspot.com/">Stuart Mills</a>. He asked us to discuss what would make a good race for us. Stuart is a racer and not a tourist. He'd been racing since he was a kid. <br />
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I set out three objectives in the following order of priority: <br />
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<li>To finish;</li>
<li>To enjoy it;</li>
<li>To get somewhere near 30 hours.</li>
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<strong><u>Race Weekend</u></strong> <br />
I brought my family (minus daughter Lucy who's in the US) up to the Lakes with me to try and make a holiday of it. We managed to get a last minute <a href="http://www.lakedistrictcottages.co.uk/cottages/cottageswoodland.html">cottage</a> some 7-8 miles south of Coniston. I also put up a tent in the event campsite at Coniston High School as I was expecting to finish sometime after midnight on Sunday and wanted to crash out there.<br />
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Prior to the start I had to weigh in (so that they could detect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia">hyponatreamia</a> during the event) (at 88.1 kg) and register, collecting my race number (140) and Sports Ident dibber (for checking in at the 14 checkpoints on route) and having my kit checked. Here's a dibber: <br />
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We all attended the pre-race briefing to be given last minute route instructions and a pep talk by the one and only living legend <a href="http://www.rivergretawriter.co.uk/?c=books&a=joss">Joss Naylor</a>. He offered us advice on endurance running "keep the knees bent running downhill" and had a go at the 3-Peakers who clutter up Wasdale with their litter. Then we had a hour to relax before the start.</div>
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There were four of us from Goyt Valley Striders (Mark R, Paul H, Pete D and me) in the 100 and one, Will, in the 50. Others I knew were Colin W (Pennine), Simon M (Buxton), Steve F (Bingley) and Steve K(Manchester). We lined up at the start in the hot sunshine. The forecast had been for sunny intervals but this was no cool summer's day. It was probably in the low 20's centigrade but it feels a lot more when there's no breeze and you're heading over the hills. My two pre-race nightmares were hot weather and falling asleep on my feet. The first was already here. </div>
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<strong><u>Leg 1 - Coniston to Seathwaite (1h 27m)</u></strong> </div>
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Terry sounded the hooter and we were off. The first of around a quarter of a million steps!</div>
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Here's some early video of the first 40 miles from <a href="http://zacpoulton.blogspot.com/">http://zacpoulton.blogspot.com/</a> : <br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/27115306">Lakeland 100 UTLD 2011</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mountainzac">Mountain Zac</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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The usual rush over the first mile or so was soon over before settling down into the climb up into Coppermines valley. I used my poles, which I'd recently acquired, on this climb. They help enormously with my less than average hill climbing ability. At 135g each they are extremely light but do the job admirably as long as you don't put all your weight on them. I was so glad to have them for the climbs, especially those in the second half when I'd be knackered. Unfortunately, that was not to be. </div>
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We went round The Bell then back down to the start of Walna Scar Road where Stuart Mills was taking photos. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Me and my poles 2 miles in Picture - Stuart Mills</span></div>
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Pete D and I to and fro in the sweltering heat up to Walna Scar then drop over the other side together down to the Seathwaite checkpoint. I dib in, top up my water and grab some food before leaving. Pete had disappeared. I though he'd pulled a fast one and dibbed and gone (he hardly drinks anything). So I set off expecting to see him him just ahead.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 2 - Seathwaite to Boot (1h 32m)</u></strong></div>
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Across the valley then up to Glassguards where I had to stop the first of several groups on this leg going off route. Around the farm then up the valley to the boggy stuff through the forest below Harter Fell (we pass both Harter Fells on this route). I'd come down this boggy valley in much much worse conditions on the 2000 KIMM wading through knee deep slurry, so this felt quite luxurious in the dry conditions. They'd even repaired parts of the path even since the recce in January, making parts of it runnable. Then it was over the fence and down through the gap in the crags. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gap between the grags towards Boot Picture - Nick Ham</span></div>
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These valleys in the south western Lake District are some of my favourites. They are less visited than most yet are the most scenic. The Duddon valley in golden autumn sunshine is absolutely stunning. Along the wall then down past the farm (where an irate lady farmer was (quite rightly)ranting about gates being left open) then it was along the river and down a short lane to Boot. The two pubs in Boot were packed with evening drinkers who cheered and clapped us as we passed which was nice. Then it was onto the second checkpoint. There'd been no sign of Pete so I thought he'd scarpered off into the sunset. I obtained my first bottle of tea at Boot, having learned my lesson on the Bullock Smithy run last year when I lost loads of time trying to drink tea and move at the same time. This worked a treat. After letting it cool a bit I was able to drink it easily while on the move.<br />
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<strong><u>Leg 3 - Boot to Wasdale (1h 18m)</u></strong></div>
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My strategy included not running up any hills in order to minimise muscle damage (and also because uphills are not my strength. Neither are downhills since I broke my face on a rock but that's <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010/05/old-red-eye-is-back.html">another story</a>), but I found my self jogging up parts of the climb to Burnmoor Tarn. Having seen it on the recce I expected a few people to follow the track up the hill when it turned sharp left instead of going straight on. I didn't expect everyone to do it. It made me wonder if I was wrong but I stuck to my guns and went straight on. The hardly existent path become more defined and my confidence was justified as I pulled back loads of runners who'd gone up the hill to the back end of the tarn and did two sides of a triangle instead of sticking to the route. I allowed myself a little chuckle of smugness. </div>
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There had been more footpath repair on this section since the recce, particularly on the tarn outlet and the path down to Wasdale. I remember it being particularly rough going down into Wasdale but a lot of this had been smoothed out. The route had been changed to avoid the stream crossing and followed the route that we'd conveniently taken in the recce. It was starting to get dark as I approached Wasdale checkpoint. It was still warm so I didn't put on any more clothing at the checkpoint apart from putting my buff round my neck. The headtorch came out at this point but I didn't turn it on just yet. Still no sign of Pete.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 4 - Wasdale to Buttermere (2h 18m)</u></strong></div>
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I set off on my own and dropped into Mosedale. It was now dark enough to use the headtorch but I chose not to use it as I could make out the path OK. It was a shame there was no moon. It would have been amazing in this valley with a full moon shining. Even so I managed to get to the top of Black Sail Pass in the dark without the use of a head torch. I only turned it on when others joined me and my night vision was ruined. The trail of head torches bobbing up the path to the pass was an incredible sight. What a bunch of nutters we were. We seemed to group up going down the pass. There we two women in the group (one of whom I later learned was the winning lady <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshoeaholicsguidetorunning.blogspot.com%2F&h=dAQDe4LQsAQCAUexRHSLTAuvS3fAzQ-dt2hyyX9gdGm0b5A">Gaynor Prior</a>).</div>
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It was here that disaster struck. I had intended to use my poles only on the uphills put they seems to offer some stability going down in the dark. I planted both poles into the ground when suddenly my feet slipped out from underneath me. This was too much for my ultralight poles and they both snapped in the middle. My heart sank. I still had 85 miles to go! I could picture the climbs out of Buttermere, Keswick, Howtown, Mardale and Kentmere all waiting to destroy my calfs and quads. I spent the next 30 miles trying to think of a way to fix the poles. I even considered raiding the campsite at Braithwaite to nick a tent peg or two but chickened out in the end. The last thing I needed was being chased down the road by a furious semi-naked camper!</div>
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So, I packed my poles away and got on with the job in hand (on foot?). Half way down from Black Sail there's a craggy bit with a tree next to it. I managed to remember that this can be avoided by simply going left where there's an easy grass path to the bottom of the crag. </div>
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Going past Black Sail youth hostel one of the hostellers was sat outside watching us troop past. I wonder how long he sat out there. Must have been quite a sight with the head torches coming down the hill. I was too busy watching where I put my feet to look back. We then mounted Scarth Gap. I missed my poles already but was pleasantly surprised that I didn't get passed. The horrid boulder strewn path down to Buttermere was thankfully navigated safely and I managed to run the rest of the way to the checkpoint. I'd hoped for six hours to this point which was a little ambitious considering it took seven and a half on the recce in January (although I was a lot less fit back then). I dibbed in at 6:36. </div>
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<strong><u>Leg 5 - Buttermere to Braithwaite (1h 57m)</u></strong></div>
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Topped up the water and tea and grabbed an apple and a bag of jelly beans then I was off. Halfway through the trees I met up with the other of the two ladies of Black Sail (Gaynor had gone off ahead of her at Scarth Gap). She and another runner seemed to think I knew where I was going (which I did but don't things look different in the dark) and took my lead. Fortunately I chose the right paths and we headed off up towards Sail Pass. At the second stream before the proper climb started I came across another runner. He turned round and said "Hello Mick". It was Steve F of Bingley but how he recognised my with my headtorch shining in his face I don't know. It was weird as I'd just been thinking about him due to his warning me a couple of weeks previously (when we'd both been supporting a mutual friend Dave S on his successful Bob Graham Round) about a very deep puddle on this very path. We went up over Sail Pass (that path seemed ten times longer and harder than when I'd flown up it with my poles on the recce) and dropped down into Braithwaite together dibbing in at 2:00 a.m. I loaded up with pasta and rice pudding while Steve took off. The next time I saw him I didn't recognise him.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 6 - Braithwaite to Blencathra (2h 7m) </u></strong></div>
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Leaving Braithwaite checkpoint I didn't think that I'd be able to run another step. My legs were so stiff. I managed to start with a shuffle which turned into a jog and by the time I left the village I was cruising! I pulled back half a dozen runners and ran all the way up to Spooney Green Lane (can't help wanting to call it Spooky Green Lane), past a couple of sets of supporters cheering me on. One of these turned out to be friends of the aforementioned Simon M. </div>
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Between Braithwaite and Spooky Green Lane the route goes along a disused railway track. This passes the back of Crosthwaite Church graveyard. Several of my ancestors (the Borrowdale Wrens) from the 18th century are buried in there. I wondered what they'd make of their ggggggg-grandson running 100 miles for the sake of it.</div>
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I power marched up the SGL hill keeping my eyes peeled for a suitable stick to replace my poles. Didn't find one. I ran and walked the path from Latrigg up the wonderfully named Glenderaterra valley. As I approached the turn point at the end of the valley I could see a headtorch coming down from Skidday House (where I'd bunked in my youth when it was still a ruin). I found out later that this was Colin W (more of whom later). He'd overshot the turning. </div>
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It was getting light as I approach the Blencathra Centre. I managed to turn off my headtorch for a large part of the run/walk back down Glenderatta to the checkpoint where we were greeted by loads of balloons leading up to the checkpoint. At the check point they were handing out free socks. I certainly wasn't going to risk blisters by trying on untried socks so I didn't take them up on their very kind offer. Plenty of others did. As I was arriving Colin was leaving the checkpoint only to take another wrong turn and paying Threlkeld a visit before having to backtrack to the checkpoint.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 7 - Blencathra to Dockray (2h 6m)</u></strong></div>
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This leg proved to be my most weary. It should have been a good runnable section but I was going through a tired spell. I managed to run most of the railway line but trudged up to the coach road bemoaning the loss of my poles. The sun, a big round orange ball, groped its way into the sky as I shuffled along the coach road.</div>
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I could feel my water logged socks rubbing on the arches under my feet so at the checkpoint (which apparently had been organised with 4 days notice after the original group pulled out. Well done gents) I took off my socks, rang them out and applied liberal amounts of Vaseline to the soles of my feet. Maybe I should have tried the Blencathra socks after all. As I was getting ready to go Paul H turned up. I thought I'd see him at some point. He's not naturally as fast a runner as me but he's relentless and has perfected the art of passing through checkpoints without seeming to stop whereas I dawdle and pratt around wasting time. A real hare and tortoise pair we are (plus he'd managed not to break his poles. Not that I was jealous of course.) </div>
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I think it was here that Paul told me that Pete had retired with stomach problems. Apparently he'd not dashed off after Seathwaite but had gone to the toilet. No wonder I couldn't catch him up, he was behind me! </div>
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<strong><u>Leg 8 - Dockray to Dalemain (2h 39m)</u></strong></div>
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It was sunglasses back on now the sun was up. It promised to be a glorious day, unfortunately. </div>
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A painful jog down the road to Dockray proper then it was the track round and up onto Gowbarrow Fell. A group of five or six of us had formed going up the hill. I led the first half but felt I was holding them back so I let them go. They soon disappeared leaving my to my own thoughts. I just saw the last of them entering the lovely Swinburn Park woods as I started the descent. I love this path through the woods. It undulates through shaded areas broken up by the sun piercing its way through and lighting up small glades. I first came through these woods some 20 years ago when I walked with my eldest daughter (she's 26 now) from our campsite at Watermillock to Aria Force. The trees have grown a bit since then. </div>
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Out of the woods and along the path then the route left the fells and took to cultivated fields and roads to Dalemain. In the middle of the first field there's a small footbridge across a tiny stream. On the recce we had just crossed this when a cow, thinking we were a threat to its calf, took a lunge at Paul who jumped back and cracked his knee on a rock. The calfs had long gone this time. Three fields later and we were out onto the roads. I'd nearly caught up with the group that had dropped me by now. </div>
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I'm not sure how but I managed to run most of this road section to Dacre, past the still inhabited castle (windows need a wash) and along the farm track to Dalemain and past about eight other runners in the process. It was just after 9:00 a.m. Time for breakfast.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 9 - Dalemain to Howtown (2h 28m)</u></strong></div>
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Picture this, a sweating and haggard looking 53 year old bloke sat on camping chair in a field wearing just speedos and a pair of compression socks. Nice eh? That was me for a while at Dalemain. I had an almost complete change of clothes and shoes. The checkpoint crew were marvellous, providing a waited service for the drinks and grub. I washed myself down with wet-wipes and reapplied sunscreen and insect repellent before getting dressed into a much cooler white shirt. </div>
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Paul turned up 12 minutes behind me but was in and out in a flash but not before spotting our clubmate Mark R laying down at the back of the marquee. He told Paul that he'd retired. I didn't want to disturb him as he seemed to be sleeping but we found out later (and in <a href="http://shoeaholicsguidetorunning.blogspot.com/">Gaynor's blog</a> (where she calls him Marc)) that he'd been throwing up for miles. He is prone to this having done it in the middle of his successful 50 at 50 Bob Graham last year. We'd expected him to be miles ahead by now. He'd arrived at Dalemain three and a half hours ahead of us! I think I'd have been sick running at that pace.</div>
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After a good half hour or more of my pratting around I set off into the increasingly hot day for the second half. As at Braithwaite it was hard to get going again but the legs soon freed up enough to shuffle along the river to Pooley Bridge. This 2 mile stretch to Pooley Bridge from Dalemain was the only part of the route that I hadn't recced but it was hardly a navigational challenge. </div>
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I walked almost all of the section from Pooley Bridge to the top before the right turn. We'd spotted someone taking a short cut across that corner and we met him as he came off it (not much of a short cut then). I checked his number later and he retired at Howtown so maybe he'd already decided to pack it in. </div>
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The downhill into Howtown was nice with gorgeous views down Ullswater. This western view along Ullswater has to be one of the best in the Lakes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2wEV4qHBVFL3uYKgDM8d8IzmtccOIDGkIVCosjBb6-mPSVBlkIrNZO_ELelGHuoSdKNIFgSypaNDxsLy_CcixJTpryhbh7RPu5Nv1ygfzl-E3AkbF2i7G23nTi0bbq9JEjLfOCnCjuXn/s1600/Ullswater+Andreas+Mayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2wEV4qHBVFL3uYKgDM8d8IzmtccOIDGkIVCosjBb6-mPSVBlkIrNZO_ELelGHuoSdKNIFgSypaNDxsLy_CcixJTpryhbh7RPu5Nv1ygfzl-E3AkbF2i7G23nTi0bbq9JEjLfOCnCjuXn/s1600/Ullswater+Andreas+Mayer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down to Howtown Pic - Andreas Mayer</td></tr>
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A simple jog down into the checkpoint where I met Paul on his way out. Colin was in there having a few minutes rest. As I came out one of the checkpoint marshals was seeing to a guy laying on a bench and wrapped up in a blanket. I didn't know at the time but it turns out this was Steve F. He'd fainted from the heat and clearly had to pack. I didn't recognise him although I didn't look too close.<br />
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It was then out of the checkpoint and up Fusedale. I'd recced this stretch twice before so I knew what was coming next. </div>
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<strong><u>Leg 10 - Howtown to Mardale Head (3h 32m) </u></strong></div>
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I wasn't feeling too bad at this point. Some walkers asked what event we were doing. I explained, showing them the race number on my rucksac like a peacock showing his feathers. So suitably puffed up I trotted down the farm track to the bottom of the climb. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaK7rH9EMpYHtVzJSrGsKcrEumxbekB4dBiN5rcioIJ63J4DW1eCiQ8L-ZGniYZc9C1wNJ7MREqjWSsnUx7yOP9P2gKByrLB62Cgku019Wat38EoEGI6MdtCfwis0nbfi0TP9J00hzKpn/s1600/Fusedale+Bottom+Andress+Mayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaK7rH9EMpYHtVzJSrGsKcrEumxbekB4dBiN5rcioIJ63J4DW1eCiQ8L-ZGniYZc9C1wNJ7MREqjWSsnUx7yOP9P2gKByrLB62Cgku019Wat38EoEGI6MdtCfwis0nbfi0TP9J00hzKpn/s400/Fusedale+Bottom+Andress+Mayer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The climb out of Howtown Pic - Andreas Mayer</td></tr>
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I could see Paul about half a mile ahead plugging away on his poles (not that I was fixating on them). This is one of those climbs that just gets harder and harder as you ascend. Just before Groove Gill it gets really steep. This is where I had a unique experience (for me anyway). I got shin cramp. How do you get cramp in your shins? Don't know but I did and it was agony. I had to stop and turn round away from the slope. I was also in serious risk of heat stroke.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BwEh8QtZW8rbr9Td5FA7SrXnsBKE5Szce975nm2BIYmTNKImrvfg2tNNd3c_4R5d8y-Yczm1SHdI8IYTZlqRsjtRYr0WTHPKtyL8aC2wAa3i6SXRk1DkXqaLJVOHKx0w06wuchEfO6S2/s1600/Fusedale+Andreas+Mayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BwEh8QtZW8rbr9Td5FA7SrXnsBKE5Szce975nm2BIYmTNKImrvfg2tNNd3c_4R5d8y-Yczm1SHdI8IYTZlqRsjtRYr0WTHPKtyL8aC2wAa3i6SXRk1DkXqaLJVOHKx0w06wuchEfO6S2/s400/Fusedale+Andreas+Mayer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down from Groove Gill Pic - Andreas Mayer</td></tr>
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I made it to Groove Gill and promptly stuck my head into the clear cool water, taking several gulps as I did. That helped cool me down but there was still a way to go uphill. It eases off just after Groove Gill before rearing up again to meet the High Street path. I could hardly move up this section with my shin cramps and had to keep stopping. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top at last Pic- Andreas Mayer</td></tr>
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I finally got to the top and cross High Street at Wether Hill. From High Kop I could just see Paul at Low Kop well over a mile away. I managed a jog along here, found the right path down to Haweswater, unlike many others judging by the paths hacked through the bracken, and caught up with Paul part way along the track along the northern bank. It was here that I finally found a stick suitable for use as a pole. Gandalf would have been proud of it. I certainly was. I'd been 50 miles without the aid of my poles and there was no way I was going up Gatesgarth Pass without some sort of support, not after my experience on Wether Hill. <br />
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I ran out of drink alongside Haweswater and was beginning to overheat again. Having passed a couple of streams that might have been suitable for a dip I was determined not to miss out at Randale Beck so I stripped off down to my shorts and compression socks (a reoccurring theme starting here but if I took off my compression socks I was afraid of my calf muscles exploding) and got into a nice cool pool. I spent a lovely 5 minutes splashing around much to the amusement of a lady walker just downstream. I hope she wasn't disappointed to see I was wearing shorts when I got out (although I'm sure the compression socks were a major turn on). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my Gandalf staff at Mardale Head just after my dip</td></tr>
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A steady jog took me round to Mardale Head checkpoint to clock in at 2:54 p.m. (Just 34 minutes before Terry Conway finished over in Coniston! Mind you, he had been practising.)<br />
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<strong><u>Leg 11 - Mardale Head to Kentmere (2h 30m)</u></strong></div>
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I met up with Paul at the checkpoint (where one of the Army guys there had clearly neglected the sunscreen) and set off up to Gatesgarth Pass suitable armed with my staff. Partway up I decide to customise it and snapped off a foot or so to make it a more suitable length. Mentally and physically I found this a lot easier than the previous hill. Going down the other side into Longsleddale the conditions under foot were horrendous with crudely cobbled tracks and loose rocks. As we approached the turn at Sadgill the first of the 50 milers came speeding past. "Well done lads" he said as he disappeared up the track followed by a huge gap until his pursuers turned up. </div>
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Over the Sadgill track and onto the road we went to be confronted by a pair of fiendishly high stiles. They were 8 foot high drystone stepped monsters which were very painful to negotiate. It wouldn't have taken much effort to fall off one of those after 80 odd miles. As it was we made it over them and down the lane to the Kentmere checkpoint just inside 24 hours, and 85 miles.</div>
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I felt no worse, or better, than you'd expect in the circumstances but I was in for a bit of a surprise.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 12 - Kentmere to Ambleside (4h 8m)</u></strong></div>
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I decided that I was sick of drinking isotonic stuff and just use plain old water from here on. I downed a couple of glasses of water but couldn't face the food on offer: pasta and rice pudding, although I did drink one of their marvellous fruit smoothies. The marshals at the checkpoint were clearly on the lookout for signs of heatstroke, hypernutremia and dehydration (hyponutremia). Two of them didn't like the look of me and were clearly concerned. I'd stopped sweating (how long ago I don't know) and my resting pulse was 110 bpm when it should have been about 40. Paul said that the colour suddenly drained from my face and he thought I was about to have a heart attack. I didn't feel too bad in the circumstances but I'd decided myself that I wasn't going anywhere until I got some food inside me. So, they decided that I was dehydrated and insisted on me drinking more isotonic. One of them, Phil, said that I should have been doing this that and the other with my fluid intake, all of which I had been doing so I don't know where I'd gone wrong. I told Paul not to wait for me and he set off after five or ten minutes. Anyway to cut a long story short I sat around at Kentmere sipping my isotonic for about 40 minutes until I felt like eating. My appetite returned and I had two bowls of each. During this time Colin had turned up. He's a trained first aider so he kindly offered to watch me (make sure I drank and started sweating) over the next leg. I reciprocated by offering to guide Colin (his legs were giving him jip and I couldn't bear to let him go off course again). </div>
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By this time I'd realised my third objective (to finish somewhere near 30 hours) was long gone so I was determined to achieve the first two (to finish and enjoy it). I had loads of time on hand so was in no great rush to wear myself out.</div>
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So, we set off and strolled up the Garburn Pass. I thankfully started sweating again but Colin's legs were getting worse. Coming down the other side we were caught up by Will who was doing the 50. He stopped to take our picture then took off down the hill. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin and me after Garburn Pass Pic - Willis Meredith</td></tr>
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He then caught up with Paul and they finished together. Meanwhile Colin and I took our time down into Troutbeck. The 50s were coming by in a steady stream by now. One of them came past as I was strolling along and said to me "You're looking in good form" to which I replied "That's not what they said an hour ago!". Colin's injuries got progressively worse as we went. Coming down through the woods above Ambleside he was reduced to a very painful shuffle and decided that he would pack at Ambleside. I made sure that he was on the road into Ambleside then took my leave. I'd enjoyed the rest but was now itching to get going again, especially as my family were waiting down in Ambleside. I ran the mile or so to the checkpoint. The clapping and cheering along the high street was unexpected but very nice if not a little embarrassing. I ran the last couple of hundred yards with my youngest daughter Polly and our dog Phoebe. My eldest daughter Vicky was videoing my approach just as the battery ran out! </div>
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This checkpoint was in the Lakes Runner shop and it was roasting inside. I was certainly sweating now. </div>
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<strong><u>Leg 13 - Ambleside to Chapel Stile (2h 4m)</u></strong></div>
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It was head torch time again. Still no need for an extra top though. I left the checkpoint with my family who came as far as the cinema / last road crossing. Vicky took my picture. This is what you look like after 90 miles and being awake 40 hours.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look into my eyes"</td></tr>
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After leaving the park I joined up with <a href="http://ultraploddernick.blogspot.com/">Nick Ham</a> (the man in Union Jack shorts, who also went on to do the Long Tour of Bradwell the following week) for a while. As I passed Skelwith Bridge Hotel who should be stood outside with a pint in his hand but the elusive Pete. After blinding him and his lovely wife with my headtorch we had a chat for five minutes before I set off again along the river. It was along here that I experienced my only episode of sleepiness. For ten minutes or so I found myself dreaming of all sorts of weird stuff (none of which I remember but something about witches rings a bell). I came out of this at Elterwater and soon (30 hours in) found myself in at the Chapel Stile checkpoint where I got a seat right next to the chimnea. </div>
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<strong><u>Leg 14 - Chapel Stile to Tilberthwaite (3h 1m)</u></strong></div>
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I availed myself of two bowls of their wonderful stews, a coffee and a top up for my camelbak. I also swapped my t-shirt for a long sleeved top, largely because I knew I'd be freezing after sitting next to the fire. </div>
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I'd recced this section twice before but was glad that I could just follow someone up to the climb at least. I ended up in a group of 50 milers. I think it was a mixture of 3 teams. Blea Tarn came and went and we set off through the bracken. I knew something was wrong routewise when we started going downhill rather than contouring. I was committed by now so followed them to the road and sure enough they'd cut the corner. I told them but they ignored me and set of down the road. I went up the road to the corner where we should have come out (partly to ensure I'd done the whole route but also to make sure there wasn't a secret dibber there checking for cheats). I caught the naughty ones up on the hill. They'd taken a left on the Tilberthwaite track and were coming back as I passed the turning. </div>
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So, down into High Tilberthwaite and along the road to the penultimate checkpoint where on spotting I was a 100 miler they gave me special treatment with a seat away from the crowds and waiting on me with food and drink. Thank you Darwen Dashers.</div>
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<strong><u>Leg 15 - Tilberthwaite to Coniston (1h 42m)</u></strong> </div>
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The 50 milers I came down with had gone by the time I left Tilberthwaite. I went up the steps lit up with blue glow sticks (the steps not me) and up past the quarry. I got a phone call from Paul going up here. He'd finished and was going to wait for me. On putting my phone away I saw my first sleepmonster. There was a rock and I was sure that there were two sheep sheltering next to it but they kept changing. One minute they'd have two heads then they'd turn into dogs complete with spikey collars. Weird. I went on my way. The recces proved useful here. I managed to stay on the right path but was constantly plagued by more sleep monsters. The shadows and dark puddles turned into buildings. Near the waterfall and tree I looked across and was sure there was an entire derelict village across the stream. This stuff continued until I hit the coppermines track above Miners Bridge. The descent was rough but not as bad as I'd expected. I started running once onto the Miners Bridge track, ran by the 50 milers from earlier and kept running to the finish to be greeted by cheers and claps. It did occur to me then that I was glad I wasn't trying to sleep nearby. That thought soon disappeared as I dibbed in for the last time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Objectives 1 and 2 met! Pic - Harshan Gill</td></tr>
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<strong><u>Leg 16 - Coniston to Land of Nod (1h 15m)</u></strong></div>
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I'd lost a mere 3kg in weight, got no blisters or black nails and all things considered felt pretty good. Paul sorted me out with food and drink before I went for a shower then crawled into my tent. It was too warm for the sleeping bag so I just used my sleeping bag liner. Two and a half hours later and I was up and dressed as I was bursting for a pee. I stayed up, clapping in the tail enders, until my family turned up from the cottage. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul (still asleep) and me</td></tr>
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Would I do it again? Of course. Still got to meet objective 3.</div>
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Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-73435425818444364572011-07-22T19:48:00.003+01:002011-08-29T22:50:36.950+01:00Two Birds with One Stone (BGR and L100 Training)In an excellent piece of timing my mate Dave decided to join his clubmate Andy in his attempt at the Bob Graham Round (BGR) two weeks before the <a href="http://www.lakeland100.com/">Lakeland 100</a>. This was an ideal opportunity for me to support Dave and get some last minute training in across Lakes terrain at the same time. <br />
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I was working away from home in Liverpool so, rather than go home to work on Friday, I went straight up to the Lakes on the Thursday evening and camped at <a href="http://www.castlerigg.co.uk/">Castlerigg Hall campsite</a>. This was no random campsite choice. <a href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-72174-castlerigg-hall-farmhouse-st-johns-castle">Castlerigg Hall</a> is the ancestral home of the Wren family. My ancestors, who moved to Borrowdale in the 17th century came from here. <br />
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On Friday I worked from the campsite kitchen and dining room which was very conveniently equipped with free wi-fi. I had a view across Derwent Water to the Cats Bells ridge, a vast improvement on staring at a wall at home.<br />
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Dave and Andy's BGR attempt was to start at 7.00 p.m. on Friday at the usual start point, the Moot Hall in Keswick. Coincidentally, there was a special BGR attempt taking place a few hours later. Fred Rogerson, who founded and ran the <a href="http://www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk/index.php?page=home">Bob Graham 24 Hour Club</a> for many years had died recently. He never did the BGR himself but friends and family had arranged to take his ashes around the route in a relay to make him a special member. We jibed Dave and Andy to hurry up if they didn't want to beaten round by a dead man. I didn't know Fred but I'm sure he'd have laughed at that.<br />
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I'd agreed to do the pacing for Dave on <a href="http://www.bobgrahamclub.co.uk/bobgrahamround.co.uk/leg2.htm">leg 2</a> from Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise via Helvelyn. I'd done this before on another BGR attempt but it was in the dark and rain and it was an area I didn't know well (I'd last been on Helvelyn in daylight over 30 years ago) so I couldn't promise to help with the navigation. I then thought that I might continue for a couple more legs to make sure I'd got the whole night in. <br />
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The evening came around and it was time to go.<br />
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The weather was kind to them on leg 1 (Keswick to Threlkeld) with just a little mist on the top of Skiddaw. As we were waiting at Threlkeld wondering which of the sets of head torches we could see making various routes down of Blencathra was them they suddenly appeared out of nowhere and there was a mad rush to hand over pacers and to refuel Dave and Andy. <br />
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The rest of the leg was a case of deja vu for me as we zig-zagged across the Dodds and up over Helvelyn. By this time I was getting very cold and fearing hyperthermia. So, we had a short stop at the shelter on Helvelyn where I put on an extra top, my waterproofs and gloves. After Dollywagon Pike Andy took us a different way to where I'd been on my previous leg 2. We went round the eastern side of Grisedale Tarn then straight up the side of Fairfield over a large amount of scree which slowed me down (as well as the fact I was carrying mine and Dave's gear). I lost contact with them on the way up and Dave was waiting at the top. <br />
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I'd probably cost them a two or three minutes (which is a long time when you're standing around in a gale) but fortunately soon had chance to redeem myself at the top of Seat Sandall when they continued following the wall after the bend at the top. I knew the summit was straight on at the bend and brought them back.<br />
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It was then a quick drop down to Dunmail Raise and our 5 hour adventure on leg 2 was over. During the run along the tops I'd felt that I couldn't breath to bottom of my lungs. I assumed this was somthing to do with the strong winds literally taking my breath away but a couple of days later I developed a bad cold. Either way I knew I was in danger of holding them up so I didn't continue. <br />
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I got a lift back to the campsite from <a href="http://www.runfurther.com/team-runfurther/sarah-rowell-c-827_830.html">Sarah Rowell</a> who was driving round to Wasdale to support leg 4. After waking up Dave's son Jack at 4:00 a.m. as he had my car keys I grabbed a couple of hours sleep then got ready to go round to Honister to support Dave on leg 5 (assuming they hadn't packed in the night due to the continuing foul weather).<br />
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I went with Jack and his girlfriend up to the Honister slate mine where we parked in their car park. Dave and Andy were still going so as we waited we prepared various foodstuffs. They came charging down the hill and straight through the car park without stopping. I was chasing them with a panful of spaghetti hoops which I passed to a random stranger as I ran out of the car park.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leg 5 is perhaps the easiest of them all. Following a stiff climb up Dale Head it's an undulating ridge run via Hindscarth and Robinson before dropping down into the Newlands Valley (another Wren stronghold) and through Portinscale to Keswick. As we ran along the top we could see through gaps in the cloud down into Keswick where the sun was shining. Andy had gone ahead partway along the ridge. When we eventually reached the valley bottom the weather played its last trick on us by waiting for us to remove our wet weather gear before pouring stair rods on us. The sun then came out for the last couple of miles as we ran into Keswick and up the high street. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave reached the Moot Hall after 23 hours and 23 minutes, the latest member of the Bob Graham 24 Hour Club. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Post Script</em>: As we were sitting in the pub having a well earned pint later that evening the Fred Rogerson party turned up at the end of their BGR. Here's some video footage of their round. Dave appears right at the end (2m 54s) on the right hand side. </div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/56U3E_90Ahg?rel=0" width="853"></iframe><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-35305800908337079452011-07-09T22:22:00.000+01:002011-07-09T22:22:25.192+01:00Looming Large - Lakeland 100So, dear reader, the end is nigh. Just three weeks to the <a href="http://www.lakeland100.com/">Lakeland 100</a>. Am I ready? Well I've not quite finished my preparations but more of that in a mo. First a reminder of what I've got in store. The route: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcFUvk28axU9G5wtDhtNc3kGwfo6SfGB2G_qpN0eiHK8-U5afnY1KmUxq6Pi7ssVBn4Eu3cv9EDO8KqsLGbOaYPN3k9gExUSU4P6BiG6a0KUG4cJ5C_iZc2dvTbMApxZUoWcPvQQQxsg-/s1600/lakeland-100-ultra-marathon-route-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcFUvk28axU9G5wtDhtNc3kGwfo6SfGB2G_qpN0eiHK8-U5afnY1KmUxq6Pi7ssVBn4Eu3cv9EDO8KqsLGbOaYPN3k9gExUSU4P6BiG6a0KUG4cJ5C_iZc2dvTbMApxZUoWcPvQQQxsg-/s640/lakeland-100-ultra-marathon-route-map.jpg" width="617" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Map (c) <a href="http://www.cheaptents.com/">http://www.cheaptents.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My original plan was to get my weight below 12 stones (76 kg) and increase my power-to-weight ratio. My battle with the weight has been intersting. I noticed that if I lost weight after a few decent training sessions then I'd put it back on even faster. It was as if my body was a sponge which would over compensate for the enforced weight loss by sucking up everything it could. I started out at the beginning of the year at almost 13 stones. I've managed a gradual downward trend with a very fluctuating weight between 12 st 2 lb and 12 st 9 lb, with a norm of around 12st 5lb. However, this is not as bad as it first appears as I've definitely lost the excess fat around my waist. I think this weight loss has been countered by a weight gain in muscle mass on my legs. I'm definitely stronger on the hills than I used to be. My leg muscle definition is much more pronounced than it used to be. So, overall I feel and look to be in much better shape than I've ever been. This is backed up by my recent performance on the Lakeland recces and recent local runs. No complaints there.<br />
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Other changes I've made to help improve things is to get fitted with contact lenses. The glasses were a major hindrance in wet or humid weather (classic Lakeland conditions) with steaming up and being covered in droplets. I did consider getting laser treatment but that seemed a step too far. The run will take so long that daily lenses are good enough. I've had to resort to monthly lenses. I've also had a couple of wobbly moles removed from my back. They were getting sore from wearing a rucksac for several hours so my GP kindly whipped them off. They've just healed nicely.<br />
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I've also invested in some <a href="http://www.raidlight.com/boutique/178-foldable-trail-poles.html">lightweight poles</a>. They are amazing. As soon as I start using them it's as if the hill flattens out. I drop my friends and zoom off up the hill reaching the top feeling much fresher than without them. I'm going to be very grateful for them in the second half of the event. I'd recommend them to anyone, but if you do get some make sure you can store in an easily accessible place. My <a href="http://www.haglofs.com/en-us/products/backpacksbags/intense/unisex/ace_l_en-us.aspx">rucksac</a> is brillant for this. I can reach back into the side pocket to store or retrieve the poles without stopping.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipiJ5KveU91hg2vqYXNqEKgIcTCpQ56R7Ip86bbY3pm6x54Eg9R_r_MjgXf0A1eBlm0vgw2oNYcM9DwJaAzNHiiMb1K74UkQ0-VatuRhEMTVmPJiwWkF-WLOCppKfmy2BzjpHf14PgLNN/s1600/haglofs+ace+rucksac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipiJ5KveU91hg2vqYXNqEKgIcTCpQ56R7Ip86bbY3pm6x54Eg9R_r_MjgXf0A1eBlm0vgw2oNYcM9DwJaAzNHiiMb1K74UkQ0-VatuRhEMTVmPJiwWkF-WLOCppKfmy2BzjpHf14PgLNN/s320/haglofs+ace+rucksac.png" width="256" /></a></div><br />
I've also noticed some interesting phsycological changes. A 'short run' now is around 15 miles. A longer training session is of ultramarathon distance. I've probably done well over a dozen runs between 25 - 30 miles or more and thought nothing of it. I noticed this last year when I did the <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html">Bullock Smithy</a> run. With 13 miles still to go I felt that it was all but over. It's amazing how the mind works. <br />
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So, with three weeks to go maybe I should start tapering. Or maybe I should support my mate Dave on his <a href="http://www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk/index.php?page=intro">Bob Graham Round</a> attempt next weekend. Sound like a good idea to me. I can't resist the chance of a last minute trial (and trail) run so I've going to start with supporting him on Leg 2, (they're going clockwise so that's Threlkeld to Dunmail) at around 11:00 pm and then seeing how far I can get. I intend to go all the way to Keswick (target time of 17:30 p.m. the next day) but will happily drop out if I feel it's taking too much out of me. That will give me a good idea of how I cope with an overnight run and will allow me two weeks to taper/recover (and, if I'm honest, it gives me another excuse to get up into the lakes). My only real concern is getting some sort of injury but that's a risk I'll have to take. <br />
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Physically and mentally I feel that I'm in the best place I could hope to be. The recces have been invaluable. I reckon that I can get round without having to refer to the map or route guide. So, wish me luck, and I'll be reporting back on how I got on. <br />
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Watch this space. <br />
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P.S. If you haven't <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/100milesandwhynot">sponsored me</a> yet, now's your chance.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-79214026474130575512011-07-09T20:10:00.000+01:002011-07-09T20:10:33.334+01:00Are we born to run? Christopher McDougall on TED.com<a href="http://blog.ted.com/2011/02/03/are-we-born-to-run-christopher-mcdougall-on-ted-com/">Are we born to run? Christopher McDougall on TED.com</a>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-70484763870279561962011-06-06T20:53:00.000+01:002011-06-06T20:53:27.228+01:00Mick-ar of Dibley....or Mickey Mickey Bang Bang.<br />
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Did a mini tour ofthe Chilterns yesterday, taking in the village used in the Vicar of Dibley and the windmill used in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which are within a half mile of each other. <br />
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The village is called Turville and the Windmill is directly above it on top of the ridge. <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" id="mmf_blog_map" src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=797130670423176529&u=e&t=run" width="400"></iframe><br />
This route was further west than my local Chiltern runs but I fancied seeing somewhere new. I parked up near Princes Risborough and headed off up to Bledlow Ridge where I picked up the Chiltern Way. I followed this up and through Radnage to Stokenchurch (where every other building seemed to be a pub). Coming out of Stokenchurch the route took me under the M40 motorway.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Wgfd4uLtzDa1MOGmz08-WgIW9shT-fGHYdxrJ85a5Fe7N0jVXkYe8xmoMQ0NLXF02hbDA-VMv_Ebc4wjpmsR1Y3CnML0-3SnkWiVgkeAe-0MMlCWttH5K_GW7zBH_WsnOt-UAey2RAo4/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Wgfd4uLtzDa1MOGmz08-WgIW9shT-fGHYdxrJ85a5Fe7N0jVXkYe8xmoMQ0NLXF02hbDA-VMv_Ebc4wjpmsR1Y3CnML0-3SnkWiVgkeAe-0MMlCWttH5K_GW7zBH_WsnOt-UAey2RAo4/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> Coming out of the tunnel I found myself in <a href="http://www.redkites.net/">Red Kite</a> central. There were a dozen or more riding the wind that was blowing up the hill. I left the Chiltern Way here and dropped down a long winding path through woods in the bottom of a valley which brought me out below the windmill on the other side of the ridge to Turville. A quick walk up the hill, using my new <a href="http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/raidlight_batons_trail_pole.html">ultra lightweight poles</a> brought me out at the windmill. <br />
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A very steep drop down into Turville (past the vicars house from V of D) then straight out the other side only to turn right up to Turville Heath. I then turned north up to Ibstone from where I dropped down into the valley containing Worksley Park with its cricket ground in the middle of nowhere. Then picked up a lovely bridleway through the woods round the back of Christmas Common that brought me out next to a bridge over the M40. This bridge is at the top of the M40 cutting that's in the opening scenes of the Vicar of Dibley.<br />
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Over the bridge then down the escarpment to pick up the Ridgeway path at one of the few drinking water points in the Chilterns. I discovered this a couple of weeks ago when I ran the Western half of the Ridgeway. It was about 50 yards from where I'd stashed a water bottle for my Ridgeway run. Needn't have bothered if I'd known the tap was there. <br />
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I soon left the Ridgeway and head back up into the Chilterns. I picked up a long slightly downhill bridleway that brought me back to Radnage where I more or less followed my route out through some lovely spring flower filled fields. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlg2q5iYMWI_pzTQI3MHY1FTyqo_v1ANrYOyyELSuVt4a8YrD1pVxZr8gZiRDpT41Nt-g0Dj3mx1_E3Yy_qtws9GiK3430CC-5Qv0tJvQe6hUgz9o1zpEae7w1ItUCbCM1v3TbxA3Lhlt/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlg2q5iYMWI_pzTQI3MHY1FTyqo_v1ANrYOyyELSuVt4a8YrD1pVxZr8gZiRDpT41Nt-g0Dj3mx1_E3Yy_qtws9GiK3430CC-5Qv0tJvQe6hUgz9o1zpEae7w1ItUCbCM1v3TbxA3Lhlt/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all a very nice 25 miler. I must get into this part of the Chilterns more often.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-54249761043146038162011-03-23T23:24:00.002+00:002011-03-24T08:36:27.989+00:00Edale Skyline - Tourist Mode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spring has arrived! After a miserable February, March has more than made up for it. I managed to get a few days away up in Edale. My youngest daughter Polly has been doing some work experience at the <a href="http://www.chestnutcentre.co.uk/">Chestnut Centre</a> near Chapel en le Frith and staying at Edale Youth Hostel. So, having a few days off, I took the opportunity to go and see her and get some training in by running the route of the Edale Skyline race, which takes place this coming Sunday (27th March). This is about 21 miles (34km) long with 4,500 feet (1,500 m) of ascent. As its name suggests it follows the skyline of the Edale valley taking in moorland, ridges and bogs. I ran a slightly modified route by starting at the youth hostel and hacking my way through the heather up to the path along the edge of Kinder Scout, rather than starting at Edale. </div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Skyline from Kinder Scout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The weather was stunning. The few clouds around in the early morning soon burnt away leaving gorgeous blue skies for the whole day. Fortunately I had some sunscreen with me. I carried a whole two litres of water in my Camelbak bladder and also had a litre stashed halfway round at Mam Nick. I was going to need it. The temperature was only around 14 degrees centigrade but it felt much warmer after the freezing weather we had over winter. Shorts and tee shirt were the order of the day. It was too nice not to take lots of photos. The following photos are all taken on the route and face the direction of the runner. Most of the photos will enlarge if clicked on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above Crookstone barn. Win Hill in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope Cross looking towards Win Hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Win Hill summit looking toward Lose Hill and Mam Tor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJogUx7SEpE_I5a9Pqn6zY0e7wVDqw92deziteMTtSY2TjQ6Uh8G7GNjxtrD4FBGDekZ8gil8uEjCr3j9UhLdq79k7FAMUqr5ZX2ZBuI3iCzCjaAd8VafFfnO9YePDm35tU9DRxUm5AioS/s1600/22032011%2528016%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJogUx7SEpE_I5a9Pqn6zY0e7wVDqw92deziteMTtSY2TjQ6Uh8G7GNjxtrD4FBGDekZ8gil8uEjCr3j9UhLdq79k7FAMUqr5ZX2ZBuI3iCzCjaAd8VafFfnO9YePDm35tU9DRxUm5AioS/s320/22032011%2528016%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing Lose Hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0_L4TYB9nhbz9RUGSJCO9Ko0TBJDUdxRSF1-98kOA14qniKwjldvKGhUjW_o7Fjqn9_igxWgyHfeS2QWKkAqmFFY3USHp-hOQDyBW3bSTCSntgZRY0YLSPxRP1Vtzexy7mNK7VMD8Ezc/s1600/22032011%2528017%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0_L4TYB9nhbz9RUGSJCO9Ko0TBJDUdxRSF1-98kOA14qniKwjldvKGhUjW_o7Fjqn9_igxWgyHfeS2QWKkAqmFFY3USHp-hOQDyBW3bSTCSntgZRY0YLSPxRP1Vtzexy7mNK7VMD8Ezc/s320/22032011%2528017%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lose Hill summit looking towards Mam Tor and Lords Seat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-80qOGzr8Np91USiDbN24mkk1cwsEzgZlZQyBOf2hkCoDpwtBGx4rB6ED_IQ4yKLiAki74zhAXqJD2EusoS6bGJv24kayL07m-ZT_a9YsGXXhItuV3WrpzJPDNWgo-7WvDy0QT-IzehI5/s1600/22032011%2528022%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-80qOGzr8Np91USiDbN24mkk1cwsEzgZlZQyBOf2hkCoDpwtBGx4rB6ED_IQ4yKLiAki74zhAXqJD2EusoS6bGJv24kayL07m-ZT_a9YsGXXhItuV3WrpzJPDNWgo-7WvDy0QT-IzehI5/s320/22032011%2528022%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollins Cross looking towards Mam Tor<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTPLWoEaRr1KI82tD5bT6IhkMQjX5hiXrHOsZoBBtcJDrR3-Tl3J_LiXhrjEijt5jJSN8U0GEbL4z1Gpk2mQ-yfxjcSZIBSvTKrNjHey-doHBSlgocLSMWbnyO3dljxfK9roBr9H8ROuS/s1600/22032011%2528024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTPLWoEaRr1KI82tD5bT6IhkMQjX5hiXrHOsZoBBtcJDrR3-Tl3J_LiXhrjEijt5jJSN8U0GEbL4z1Gpk2mQ-yfxjcSZIBSvTKrNjHey-doHBSlgocLSMWbnyO3dljxfK9roBr9H8ROuS/s320/22032011%2528024%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mam Tor summit looking towards Lord's Seat on Rushup Edge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvhpYvyanW5KtQdVc1WuPy49y4sbkK0AyxXVsRa32ku_jKIMG6rsoHAl1BOht2N-DEpcX4rZ9Pdxeuym9mhLGrkZ6xnvV3skY0OMdAAeTJH23MTwrBGtuk8I-RhvqPQC0FYfyaw1t60V4/s1600/22032011%2528027%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvhpYvyanW5KtQdVc1WuPy49y4sbkK0AyxXVsRa32ku_jKIMG6rsoHAl1BOht2N-DEpcX4rZ9Pdxeuym9mhLGrkZ6xnvV3skY0OMdAAeTJH23MTwrBGtuk8I-RhvqPQC0FYfyaw1t60V4/s320/22032011%2528027%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crooked tree going up Rushup Edge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvViRecVjPoYDuLk758ZPqV9yCvdsUpssCy5FlOi5igH6i49gUYtrjH16f5dZDO3EiNIT4T8FpFScWZV6bpgul6RjSxxdTm7KbDlyRYpikrqdwWa8iBHe62iVP0s4IhEZ4FVmYgvjfbOG1/s1600/22032011%2528028%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvViRecVjPoYDuLk758ZPqV9yCvdsUpssCy5FlOi5igH6i49gUYtrjH16f5dZDO3EiNIT4T8FpFScWZV6bpgul6RjSxxdTm7KbDlyRYpikrqdwWa8iBHe62iVP0s4IhEZ4FVmYgvjfbOG1/s320/22032011%2528028%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn right here (to the left if you see what I mean)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVRjqIMbr1qJoTNSYJLaU2y8HaVBC9VjRJG2cAe0FdPvjSzvD9SvwC7Msbh2HIaFH5nNuEMHDpL5H4yCiB9WTxbGAJmN9zIlog4OjWUKCXKDyVmOT9RDfS7svq6BPeGepdhrv1mZq6vyB/s1600/22032011%2528029%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVRjqIMbr1qJoTNSYJLaU2y8HaVBC9VjRJG2cAe0FdPvjSzvD9SvwC7Msbh2HIaFH5nNuEMHDpL5H4yCiB9WTxbGAJmN9zIlog4OjWUKCXKDyVmOT9RDfS7svq6BPeGepdhrv1mZq6vyB/s320/22032011%2528029%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Knoll summit looking towards Kinder Scout</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBn5c6GAqhcr1TOjsUMzdEuxn2yJ05xO_Urp_y8pCUySvoE_9BlRy3J3OEjGy7bH81FoONmleqxD5pO0eqNeXBKdT3H4TH3cbqeIr7vZXfseXZHO3gYjCe-gLI7DGy3tbZlOCn4PGs2fS/s1600/22032011%2528033%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBn5c6GAqhcr1TOjsUMzdEuxn2yJ05xO_Urp_y8pCUySvoE_9BlRy3J3OEjGy7bH81FoONmleqxD5pO0eqNeXBKdT3H4TH3cbqeIr7vZXfseXZHO3gYjCe-gLI7DGy3tbZlOCn4PGs2fS/s320/22032011%2528033%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pym Chair</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vynXDvB0D8X9dzygOQr3AYachbUeYi7wX3nHJOy8TZzBkOY5PwNFkZ5iQFthrdpjxPwa46Ia7DkbWAg_PEVY9mlEIUsVgKe3HBG6dgEfu5C0GWIzDSVWGqMvKLikFGMD9ziylHo7UJ-b/s1600/22032011%2528035%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vynXDvB0D8X9dzygOQr3AYachbUeYi7wX3nHJOy8TZzBkOY5PwNFkZ5iQFthrdpjxPwa46Ia7DkbWAg_PEVY9mlEIUsVgKe3HBG6dgEfu5C0GWIzDSVWGqMvKLikFGMD9ziylHo7UJ-b/s320/22032011%2528035%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wool Packs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hxprfNeIC37p8KFTIYFlhR9mZNL1y7Mt57E1sOFXDW2jGQTN19ZFCvBc4VDu06N-JzDtabNPbxsolELYqnjOX5gVnVH30ME7Orevz_QOY5Q_p6gs6Tn0Mvv7T-awwDeJhXkTl7z-FFyg/s1600/22032011%2528037%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hxprfNeIC37p8KFTIYFlhR9mZNL1y7Mt57E1sOFXDW2jGQTN19ZFCvBc4VDu06N-JzDtabNPbxsolELYqnjOX5gVnVH30ME7Orevz_QOY5Q_p6gs6Tn0Mvv7T-awwDeJhXkTl7z-FFyg/s320/22032011%2528037%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Grindsbrook Clough looking South back to Grindslow Knoll</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then ran past Ringing Roger where the official race drops down to the finish and continued along the top then dropped down Rowland Cote Moor to the youth hostel some 5 hours after I started. A fine day out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. In case you're wondering, I'm not running the actual race as I'm doing a recce of the Ambleside to Coniston section of the Lakeland 100 on the same day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-41360485788483344402011-03-13T14:27:00.006+00:002011-03-19T08:03:14.248+00:00Grindleford Gallop (Re-run)Had another crack at the <a href="http://www.grindlefordgallop.co.uk/">GG</a> (21 miles, off-road, 3000+ feet ascent) yesterday. After <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010/03/grindleford-fruit-cake.html">last year's pleasing performance</a> I thought I'd be able to break that time, hopefully cracking the 3 hour barrier, but apparently it takes a little more than hope to pull that off.<br />
<br />
The weather was an exact repeat of last year where it was cold enough to think about putting on an extra or warmer layer but then turned out sunny. Fortunately, I guessed right as I went for the t-shirt under club vest instead of the Helly. I didn't go for the club coloured shorts which caused so much mirth last year. I was in stealth mode (all black) apart from the club vest.<br />
<br />
There was a good club turn out again of some 20 runners, with this being a club championship event. There were some notable exceptions though with Andy (last year's outright GG winner) having to work, Neil (last year's club champion) not able to make it and Julian (Duracell bunny) also not in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprt7HnVrGCtuksptMMQzs_9GcsLCxnZOl-MpEKCsr0OZ8GFEqvwLvwu78UyWP2x32UA1MloxJELc6ed90CJjpAxl7v8BjMYAQ7wTk6wnnBNkj_-IgLEDJ-yWNt8T3MFT1X7fiaOgEIpKj/s1600/GG+GVS+Group+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprt7HnVrGCtuksptMMQzs_9GcsLCxnZOl-MpEKCsr0OZ8GFEqvwLvwu78UyWP2x32UA1MloxJELc6ed90CJjpAxl7v8BjMYAQ7wTk6wnnBNkj_-IgLEDJ-yWNt8T3MFT1X7fiaOgEIpKj/s320/GG+GVS+Group+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(c)2011 Caz Whittle</span></div><br />
After getting held up in the bottlenecks near the start last year I made sure I was near the front this year. Even so, Al (running as a very poorly disguised Mat) took off like a bat out of hell (clearly too much London Marathon training under his belt). Pete D soon overhauled me after a mile and they soon disappeared over the first hill up to Eyam.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd be stronger on the hills this year but was soon reduced to a walk as the stronger runners over took me. As usual I retook some of them going down into Eyam but the old freewheeling downhill technique has well and truly deserted me after my <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010/05/old-red-eye-is-back.html">major face plant </a>last April.<br />
<br />
This year I used a different feeding strategy. I carried a 500ml bottle but instead of isotonic drink I started with 500ml of energy drink. I also decided not to stop and top up at the checkpoints. As with last year there were three drink stations, the latter two of which were also cake stations. I had half a plastic cup of orange juice at each of them and took a piece of cake from both cake stalls which I ate while walking up to Ball Cross and Baslow Edge respectively. I also popped the occasional glucose tablet. I'm not sure this was enough. Especially on the fluids.<br />
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Most of the walkers this year were very good, opening gates and waiting at stiles etc but I had a few cases of them blocking the route which brought out the trail rage in me. I admit to expressing a few expletives in their direction. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I think one or two bad words also slipped out as I slipped on one of the stiles and skinned my shin on the rock step on the way up to Longstone Moor.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Looking at last year's splits if I was to get anywhere near 3 hours I'd have to get to the third checkpoint (Longstone Moor) inside 1:05 and the sixth (Baslow) inside 2:10. I managed the first (just, at 1:04:46) but failed the second (2:17:42), largely due to having trouble on my downhills. I used to rely on them to make up ground but I really struggled this time with achey quads and a sore (only downhill) left knee. Instead of racing down the lovely grass slope to Edensore I tottered down like an old man (yes, I have looked in the mirror recently). </span></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, down through the lovely Edensore an</span>d into Chatsworth House grounds. I remember running out of steam on this section last year but I found I was OK this time. I could see the runners in front me and one o fthem was getting overhauled by the others. As I approached him I suddenly realised it was Pete. I wasn't expecting to see him again, although he had cycled from Whaley Bridge over to the start of the race so it was all beginning to tell in his legs. (He cycled back after the race as well.) I offered him a glucose tablet and we went through the spinning gate at Baslow together. That was the last I saw of him until the end but I was fully expecting him to pass me as I struggled over the last leg. </div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">The run along the edges was a little shorter than I remembered it but the run through the trees coming of Froggat Edge went on forever. Then it was down the rocky path through the trees where I lost a good minute or two. I nearly came a cropper on this path as I clipped a rock and tripped my self up (Pete saw a runner who did fall being seen to by some walkers and I saw him by the ambulance at the finish later.) Safely reached the bottom, past the car park, over the bridge then finished ( a good ten yards shorter than last year).</div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">My splits (below) show that I was up on last year (by a whole 19 seconds) at checkpoint 4 but gradually lost time over the next few sections ending up three and a half minutes slower. All in all not too disappointed considering that the evening before I thought I might have to pull out due to a severe pain in my right side (suspect it was my bad kidney) which didn't disappear until I started the race. I also think I allowed myself to become severely dehydrated which wouldn't have helped especially in those final sections. </div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">2010 Splits</div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="data" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><tbody>
<tr class="alt" style="background-color: #e8e8e8;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">46th</td><td class="centre" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">602</td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Mick Wren<br />
Goyt Valley Striders</td><td class="centre" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">M50</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">03:08:56</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">00:29:13<br />
00:29:13</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">00:52:58<br />
00:23:45</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">01:05:41<br />
00:12:43</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">01:26:34<br />
00:20:53</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">01:43:45<br />
00:17:11</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">02:14:58<br />
00:31:13</td><td class="right" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">03:08:56<br />
00:53:58</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
2011 Splits<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="data" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">61st</td><td class="centre" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">383</td><td style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Mick Wren </td><td class="centre" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">M50</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">03:12:24</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">00:28:03<br />
00:28:03</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">00:52:26<br />
00:24:23</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">01:04:46<br />
00:12:20</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">01:26:15<br />
00:21:29</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">01:44:14<br />
00:17:59</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">02:17:42<br />
00:33:28</td><td class="right" style="background-color: #d9d9d9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">03:12:24<br />
00:54:42</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div>In terms of preparation for the Lakeland 100 I'm quite pleased with my level of fitness considering that I've been concentrating on core and short sharp stuff so far. I was even able to go for a run over the Chilterns with the dog at 8 this morning. Need to get some more miles in though. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The rest of my clubmates put in some great performances with many breaking previous bests and others finishing their first attempts. Notable amongst these was an amazing 3:29 from Katy (last years Ladies club champion). There's been some serious training going on over in Whaley Bridge. </div><div></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-53503316525197972642011-03-07T16:22:00.001+00:002011-03-07T16:24:19.667+00:00High Peak MinithonHad a very interesting night on Friday. Instead of going to bed like any normal person I joined 100 or so similarly inclined runners in the <a href="http://highpeakclub.union.shef.ac.uk/hpm/">High Peak Marathon</a>. As mentioned in my <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2011/02/high-peak-marathon-recce.html">previous post on our recce</a> this is 42 mile run around the Peak District (a big loop encircling Kinder Scout and the Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs to be precise). Our team, the Goyt Valley Striders (one of the less imaginative and humourous team titles) consisted of Clare, Paul and Will as well as yours truly. The event used staggered starts with teams setting off every couple of minutes. Our start time was 11:15 (yes that's p.m.). I'd travelled up to Whaley Bridge that afternoon to Paul's house where our team was meeting up so I'd not had any sleep since getting up at 6:00 that morning. <br />
<br />
The night sky was clear and moonless as we arrived at the start HQ in <a href="http://www.edalevillagehall.org.uk/">Edale village hall</a>. The temperature was down to a sharp -2 degrees Centigrade so everyone was crowded into the HQ hall trying to keep warm before setting off. The lycra, goretex and pertex density in that room was pretty high. I decided to go for the layered approach to keeping warm with two thin Helly Hansen tops and the event t-shirt that I'd just bought, topped off with my Salomon gore-tex shell jacket. On my legs I was wearing my compression socks, Gore lycra shorts and Gore leggings. Shoewise I went for my <a href="http://micksmountain.blogspot.com/2010/02/salomon-speedcross-2-slippers-with.html">Salomon Speedcross 2</a>s. Paul and Clare were similarly attired but Will had gone for the braver cool summer's evening look with sleeves rolled up and no outer shell.<br />
<br />
Having hung around killing time for an hour our start time came up before I was ready so I was still putting my outer layer on as we set off into the cold dark night. Will, who had repeatedly asked that we start slowly set a stiff pace up to Hollin's Cross then up Lose Hill. I was hoping that this wasn't Will's idea of slow or else I was in trouble when he decided to speed up. At the Lose Hill checkpoint we came across the first of the fancy dress checkpoint marshals. There were two young lads (the event is organised and manned by Sheffield students) dressed in suits, ties and bowlers hats. They were also busy ironing (?). <br />
<br />
Will kept the pressure on down Lose Hill and on up Win Hill. Clare kept on his tail, both lit up with gender specific (blue for boys, pink for girls) fairy lights (kindly supplied by Clare), with Paul and me in their wake. The Win Hill checkpoint was manned by a six foot teddy bear. A bit early for sleepmonsters. <br />
<br />
Climbing Win Hill was a warm effort in my many layers so, on the way down, I unzipped my jacket and was immediately engulfed in my own personal steam cloud. Out of the wind it just hung around me and combined with my already steamed up glasses to make visibility a tad tricky especially trying to negotiate the very steep and root ridden Parkin Clough. It was here that I tempted fate and commented to Clare that "At least we don't have to come up this". More on that later.<br />
<br />
So, down into and out of Bamford it was up New Road heading in the direction of Stanage. This 2 mile road section is largely uphill. The steady stream of other teams overhauled us as the fast boys caught us up. Steve Watt's team came through at this point. Well at least three of them did. As they disappeared we were commenting on whether they'd been given permission for a team of three when a voice out the dark behind us said "No, I'm the fourth, huffing and puffing at the back". This turned out to be no less a legend as Mark Hartell, holder of the <a href="http://www.bobgrahamclub.co.uk/bobgrahamround.co.uk/record%20peaks.htm">record number of peaks</a> in the <a href="http://www.bobgrahamclub.co.uk/bobgrahamround.co.uk/homepage.htm">Bob Graham Round</a>. He similarly disappeared into the dark. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4wwoM8KDOApwSB3v4vNR6VtI4TV5380rjvZUHo83Hv6Phq7z2i7l3bETySVHSQN2TcDyxWNcD5pHBJHDvJPrzXpR3YWMpmH-C6PYDYvx7toDfyqXlRA8uGjjyoe3tc-1gZG0AlmlsUUx/s1600/IMG_4083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4wwoM8KDOApwSB3v4vNR6VtI4TV5380rjvZUHo83Hv6Phq7z2i7l3bETySVHSQN2TcDyxWNcD5pHBJHDvJPrzXpR3YWMpmH-C6PYDYvx7toDfyqXlRA8uGjjyoe3tc-1gZG0AlmlsUUx/s400/IMG_4083.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Our route came from the top right in the above photo, then to the right of the trees before coming up through the bracken where the figures (me and my wife) are. Remember it was pitch black.<br />
<br />
Onto the High Neb checkpoint (manned I believe by Spotty Dog and Lubby Lu) then a steady jog to the A57 road and Moscar checkpoint where we grabbed a quick cup of tea and couple of sandwiches. It was at this point that Will started to go downhill (metaphorically as well as literally speaking). His stomach got the better of him as he dashed into the bushes alongside the road. As we waited for him at Cutthroat Bridge I could feel the sweat around my backside start to freeze. Not the nicest feeling at 2:00 in the morning with 9 hours to go. You'll be relieved to hear it thawed out as we got moving again up onto Derwent Moor. On the moor top we set off in a steady jog. Past the Wheel Stones and on towards the Salt Cellar we stopped to check we were all together. Will was missing amongst the mass of lights from the teams on our tail. When he caught us up he looked liked someone had pulled out his plug, drained. Paul said what the rest of us were thinking. There was a long hard 6 hour stretch ahead of us where it would be difficult to drop out without a very long cold walk so it was time to make a decision: continue or pack. We all concluded that it would be dangerous at worst and very miserable at best if we continued so we packed. <br />
<br />
We backtracked down to the Cutthroat Bridge checkpoint where we deposited Will into the care of a pretty young lady who drove him back to Edale. (Someone has to do it Will). The rest of us then ran back to Edale via Win Hill (and up the afore mentioned Parkin Clough!), Hope Cross and Jaggers Clough (last visited by me with my dad (who, coincidently, died 33 years ago today. RIP Dad.)) The sleep monsters made an appearance on the track down to Jaggers Clough when a dark puddle lifted itself up and turned into a black panther. <br />
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<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/29255838">High Peak Minithon</a><br />
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It was then a couple of miles back along the road to the event HQ where we picked up our kitbags and back to Paul's and a very welcome hot shower. Bliss. The silver lining of finishing early (in addition to the early shower) for me was that I could get home early to celebrate my daughter's birthday. I'll also be a little less tired for next week's Grindleford Gallop.<br />
<br />
Overall, we ended up having a good, albeit shorter, run. It was good practice in night running for the Lakeland 100. It was a shame not to have finished but I was feeling good and am sure I'd have had no problems finishing the event. I'll not be doing it again though as I believe, from what I saw on our recce, that the terrain on Bleaklow is in a very fragile state and I don't want to contribute to it's destruction. It's over thirty years since I was last up there and it's going to be another thirty (i.e. never) before I go back again. <br />
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Well done to all those that finished though. It was a testing night in those temperatures.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-64781451874122804502011-02-27T11:49:00.000+00:002011-02-27T11:49:16.784+00:00On the Road AgainIntended to do the <a href="http://www.gadevalleyharriers.co.uk/1.7FLM_TrainingRuns_home.htm">London Marathon Training run</a> from Hemel today but left it too late so I went out and did this on my own (saving a few quid in the process): <br />
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<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/28846350">A run mapped on 27/02/2011</a><br/><br />
<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/?location=Tring, United Kingdom">Find more Runs in Tring, United Kingdom</a><br />
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Calf muscles were a bit tight towards the end. More miles required.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-77607811986529314552011-02-19T10:55:00.002+00:002011-02-19T10:55:32.139+00:00English Fell Running Championships 2010Just thought I'd share this excellent video. Enjoy.<br />
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JncsgnQ6pvY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-51874371715186983762011-02-18T23:33:00.003+00:002011-02-19T10:56:30.055+00:00High Peak Marathon RecceBeing a sucker for punishment I've somehow ended up entering the High Peak Marathon (42 miles of bogs, heather and rocks at night) as part of a four person team (with Clare, Paul and Will from <a href="http://www.goytvalleystriders.org.uk">Goyt Valley Striders</a>). So, in an attempt to get a feel for what we've let ourselves in for (well me anyway, the rest have done it previously) we decided to recce the more interesting middle section of the route. Will was supposed to be with us but he opted to go to California instead. Can't imagine why.<br />
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This is the route: <br />
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<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/28389392">A run mapped on 17/02/2011</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/?location=Derwent, United Kingdom">Find more Runs in Derwent, United Kingdom</a><br />
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This is the fly through: <br />
<br />
<iframe width="100%" height="350px" scrolling="no" src="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/render_route_video?route_key=356129794950447330&site=mapmyrun.com"><a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/28389392">A run mapped on 17/02/2011</a> and more runs in Derwent, United Kingdom on MapMyRUN. <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com">Find run</a></iframe><br />
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And this is the video:<br />
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A grand day out. Let's hope it'll be a grand night out.Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1974136243843420156.post-28716699083636259512011-01-12T13:01:00.001+00:002011-01-12T13:03:48.263+00:00The Race is On (so get your wallet out)As mentioned previously I'm going to raise some sponsorship for the North West Air Ambulance who were good enough to airlift me to hospital when I crashed out of the 3 Peaks Race last year. They saved 84 lives last year so please help them keep going. <br />
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I'll be attempting to run over 100 miles round the Lake District in one go in July. So please give me some encouragement. Thanks.<br />
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<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" height="230" width="150" align="middle" data="http://www.justgiving.com/widgets/jgwidget.swf" flashvars="EggId=2873878&IsMS=0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.justgiving.com/widgets/jgwidget.swf" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="EggId=2873878&IsMS=0" /></object>Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13346435407924117442noreply@blogger.com1