tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70907921057155901682024-03-05T12:57:01.718-08:00never-restWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-79858737886846942052012-10-21T03:31:00.002-07:002012-10-21T03:32:57.332-07:00Dawn 'til Dusk<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">On the 27th October at 17:42 (sunset), around 100 ultra runners will begin their 50 mile race around the Peak District against the sun, aiming to come in before dawn, some 14 hours and 6 minutes later. The event, <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/" target="_blank">Dusk 'til Dawn</a>, has been organised by <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Beyond Marathon</a> to raise money for<a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx" target="_blank"> Macmillan Cancer care</a>, and to raise awareness of the risks of sun damage. I have been helping with the organisation and have been involved in planning and recceing the course since February. Seeing it all come together, I began to get quite excited to run the 50, but as an organiser, I won't be running in the event it's self. It therefore became a very sensible plan to run another 50 mile route, just 12 days after the Long Mynd Hike. I thought it was a good opportunity to get a look at the course from the perspective of the participants and check out any issues with the route just before the race.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">I mentioned this plan to a few other people and before long there were 3.5 of us doing the route; myself, David, Jo, and the 0.5 being Gresh, who joined us at the halfway point. The others were all signed up to participate in the event. Rather than doing Dusk til Dawn, we thought it would be more useful recceing for the 2.5 who were doing the event, if we did this from Dawn until Dusk. This is why, on Thursday morning at 5am, you'd find three runners quietly kitting up in their running shoes and head torches in the very quiet back streets of Castleton, before heading out and up the first big climb of the route, Lose Hill.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Course - Route is marked in Green, CP's marked in red, main hills marked in blue (start is at Castleton, route is clockwise)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South of the Route - route marked in green, CP's in Red, main hills in blue (route is clockwise)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the darkness, the path up to Bak Tor (with it's one little tree) was not very distinct and we were locationally challenged, albeit temporarily. This will be ok for the event as the participants will have some light left to find the path. Finding a good wall to follow, we relocated and encouraged our still sleeping bodies to the top of the hill. This is a stiff start to a 50 miler, but David still managed to eat it for breakfast. Descending down into Hope and then along some fields into Castleton, we completed the first 5 mile 'loop' of the course and returned to the car, where we did some minor kit changes. We took the decision to keep head torches, just in case we finished in the dark. You'd be mad to descend Hollins Cross in the dark without a head torch.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Losehill (Taken from the descent route)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">We headed up the rocky path of Cave Dale and out onto the Limestone way, now in daylight. Looking around the weather looked a little ominous, but it did stay dry. It has been raining quite heavily the past few days and the conditions under foot were testament to this throughout, with Cave Dale being a small river. It was suggested at one point that the course director should take a hair dryer to the path prior to the event. Following the Limestone Way down into Peak Forest, we gathered a bit of speed after the initial hilly start. There then followed a road section, which we hoovered up, chasing down the location of Check Point 1 and the 10 mile marker. There are two options on the route, one taking us down Hay Dale and Peter Dale, but the other route will take the road if the Dales are too wet. We decided to take the road as none of those participating in the event had reccied the road. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">We were then on a well marked bridleway all the way into Miller's Dale. Here the path was very wet and possibly ankle deep, with some space to pick around the sides if you didn't fancy getting too wet. (Later that week, I returned and splashed straight through this with Clive - much fun).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">We ran on down into Miller's dale on a road which was a bit harsh on knees that have done 78 miles in the preceding 12 days, but on the event the participants should still be quite fresh at this point. Crossing the road, we headed up Priest Cliffe, which is a path skirting a quarry, a fairly steep climb, with a handrail for when you are a bit knackered. yes - a real handrail, not a navigational one. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view back to Monksdale farm from Priest Cliffe</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">The path was waymarked over a few fields, with yellow painted stones marking the stiles. This took us down to a short road section and we soon found ourselves passing the Waterloo Hotel at Taddington and the halfway mark felt within sight. We contacted Gresh with an ETA. Following the Limestone way first, and then the Midshires way, and down into the village of Earl Sterndale, this section of the run is really very runable and a good chance to make up time.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">The children were out for playtime at the School at Earl Sterndale which will be Checkpoint 2 on the event. They gave us all the loveliest cheer as we ran past (I suspect David had put them up to this). They said they would watch for us at the top of the hill. Bless. Running out of Earl Sterndale and joining the path up the hill always feels a bit odd, as the path goes through someone's neatly arranged rockery garden. It's an easy one to miss. This short sharp climb took us to a track above the quarry which is very deeply rutted and a bit slow going. I imagine this will be a bit picky in the dark. Pressing on, we skirted around Hind Low and descended to join a road that runs around the speedway. I found this bit quite hard going as it's before the halfway point and the road seems to go on for a while. But it's another opportunity for some fast miles on the event. Turning right off the road onto a field of horses, I knew we weren't far off the halfway marker and headed down and around the reservoir over the fields towards Grin Low. Solomon's Temple, dubbed 'the scooby-doo tower' looked as spooky as ever. I really wish I could find a way of getting a glow in the dark face on it for the race night :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solomon's (Scooby-Doo) Tower</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">Gresh was waiting for us at the junction, his car laden with delights. Snack bars, a very welcome hot drink, and a bit of shelter. Not wanting to get cold, Jo and I departed quickly and the boys caught us up. We were now on the way to the Cat & Fiddle Pub, Check Point 3, and mile 29. For once this was not shrouded in mist! The next climb was up Shining Tor, the highest point of the route, and a runable hill with a fast descent down to Windgather Rocks. Everyone I've been out with loves this stretch, you can really fly down it and the view (sorry for those on the event!!) is amazing :)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of Shining Tor- Gresh, Jo & David</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windgather Rocks</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">I was enjoying the view so much that I'd forgotten to eat and so grabbed a samosa and a packet of mini cheddars before we headed down into Goyt Forest. After this we headed to Taxal and were on familiar ground David. Taxal is where I will be road marshalling on the night. The navigation after Taxal is a bit tricky, one field in particular, so every one was concentrating on keeping the route in their head at this point… and I was concentrating on taking them the right way! We successfully emerged onto the road in Tunstead Milton and made our way up Eccles Pike, a cheeky climb, sometimes runable but not today. Emerging in Chinley, we were now also on familiar ground for Jo, and at Checkpoint 4, we were 39.6 miles in and well on the way to completing the 50. Cracken Edge is a good hill, most of the climb is done by the time you hit the stile onto the grassy verge, and the hill is also runable in sections although footing can be tricky in a couple of places where the path has eroded. The route does not follow the edge all the way, but turns off to the right just after a bench. Gresh earned many many points at this stage by producing a huge bag of mini veggie samosas from his pack. None of us were shy when they were offered around. I do hope he didn't go hungry as a result.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">The way down is then a fairly steep grassy bank, which would be lovely and fast, if it weren't for the Rabbit holes! This last section of the course from Chinley, is a bit of a roller coaster with 4 decent climbs. Cracken edge being the first, the second is Mount Famine, which is gained from the road by the Lamb Inn. The stile here could win prizes, seriously, it's more like a children's play castle. I find this second climb the hardest, but the reward is the Penine Bridleway, which is a motorway of a path off south head taking you to the foot of Rushup Edge. Just as we hit the Pennine Bridleway, it started raining. It wasn't too bad though. This path goes through Roych Clough, which is usually really pretty, but especially so today as the rain cleared and there was a beautiful rainbow sitting right in the little valley. It was just lovely. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennine Bridleway</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">The last two climbs are quite gentle in comparison to Mount Famine, although Rushup Edge is a lengthy ascent, it is runable in sections and leads to a lovely ridge line. We made good time at this section and then crossed the road to get to the steps up Mam Tor. Noticing the fading light, I used the walk up to organise myself and get my head torch out. Unfortunately Jo's batteries had gone and so we shared my torch on the paved descent off the summit. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mam Tor (taken from the Limestone way above Old Dam Lane)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">We could just about make out the toposcope at Hollin's Cross and headed to it. I'd like to say we descended quickly down Hollins cross, but that would be a big lie. I can never run down this quickly! We instead went carefully, Which was a sensible plan given that we wanted to be fit and injury free for the event the following week. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The end was definitely in sight as we hit our junction at the bottom of Losehill that we'd left at 5am that morning, we raced around the streets of Castleton to the car to finish.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">I really enjoyed running the route, after so many months of planning and running and recceing parts of it. It was great to see it all together and I think the participants are in for a cracking night next weekend. The others all found the run useful for recceing and none of us felt really stiff or tired as we'd taken a nice gentle pace to get us round (upon instruction from the Race Director!). I am so excited about the event now, I hope everyone enjoys running it as much as I did :)</span></div>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-26299958585353061422012-10-07T13:53:00.002-07:002012-10-08T02:04:49.439-07:00Longmynd Hike 2012<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Longmynd Hike is a 50 mile event taking in 9 of the finest Shropshire hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The elevation profile is not to be sniffed at, coming in around 9000ft. The route can be walked or run, and has a cut off of 24 hours. We start at 1pm from the centre of Church Stretton, so inevitably some of the route (we anticipated from around 27 miles in) would be in the dark. Once benighted, the hike rules state that participants must complete the course in groups of at least three. My friend David and I had reccied the course together and decided to stick together for the event. That meant that one more person would be joining us once night fell. Completing the Longmynd hike has been a few years coming. I didn't get a place last year and the two years previous I was trying to conserve my energies for the Original Mountain Marathon at the end of October… so this year was the year to do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David had borrowed a camper van, so we stayed over in Church Stretton the night before the race and spent the evening eating, and going over the route on the map. Having reccied it, we hoped to do the whole route without the map ideally. We didn't manage a very early night, but got about 8 hours sleep. In the morning, we had a breakfast early and headed over to check in and complete the kit check. The whole event is run with utmost efficiency and the volunteers we encountered were all really friendly and supportive, whatever the time of day, and however cold it was! At the School Hall, we checked in and then queued up to get our kit checked. Each item was checked off individually, and it was very thorough! I hadmanaged to get all of the kit and my food into the 5l Raidlight pack, which I was quite pleased about. The man at the kit check looked slightly suspicious on seeing the size of my pack, but it was all there! We then headed back to the camper van to eat our 'lunch' before the start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 12:00 a small car could be seen tearing up Church Stretton High st, with two very excited runners blasting out 'Run for the Hills' by Iron Maiden, as we made our way to the start. We even managed a few renditions of this as we made our way around the course, but there were a few comments made that we should stick to the running and not bother trying out for X Factor just yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12:40 came and tally cards were distributed. (These are the size of a saucer and take some managing if you are to get around without them poking you in the eye or strangling you). </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are nine big climbs on the route.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first big climb of the day was staring us in the face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1pm came, the horn blasted and we started out quite fast to get ahead of the potential bottle neck. There is no set course, but you must visit each checkpoint in order and get your card punched. We had a time of 12 hours in mind and we had worked out rough timings for each 10 mile section, and that we needed to be on around 4.1mph to complete the route in this time.</span></div>
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<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Checkpoint</span></th><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Location</span></th><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">N.G.R</span></th><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miles</span></th><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Km</span></th></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old Cardington Lane</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">463940</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caer Caradoc</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">478954</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lawley</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">495975</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High Park</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">449970</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pole Bank</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">415944</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bridges</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">393965</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stiperstones</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">367986</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earls Hill</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">409048</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bank Farm</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">389040</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">35</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shelve</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">333992</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">43</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corndon Hill</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">305969</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">48</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Woodgate Farm</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">311953</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">51</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11A</span></span></th><td><strong><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New checkpoint for 2010 onwards</span></span></strong></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">333959</span></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11B</span></span></th><td><strong><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New checkpoint for 2010 onwards</span></span></strong></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">347958</span></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 ##</span></span></th><td><strong><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Rhadley Hill</span></span></strong></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">343956</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">35</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">56</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stiperstones Car Park</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">369977</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">38</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">61</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14[R]</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pole Cottage</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">413938</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">42</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">67</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Minton</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">430908</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">46</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">74</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ragleth Hill</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">451917</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">48</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">77</span></td></tr>
<tr><th><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17[R] The End</span></th><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Church Stretton School</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">455944</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50</span></td><td><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">80</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We pretty much belted up Caradoc and the Lawley and I stopped to look at my watch around mile 5 and we were doing 5mph, which wasn't bad going to say we'd had two big climbs. We crossed the road and started towards Gog Batch. Knowing we were going a bit quicker than planned, I just decided to push on and give it a go. You don't know if you don't try. I figured we could always ease off, but I wanted to push myself if I could. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We thought we'd try and run Gog Batch but I felt like I was actually walking up it faster than I'd manage to run. So I maintained a fast walk and we quickly approached the CP at High Park, where we refilled our water bottles. Except mine did not need refilling as I'd forgotten to take a drink. I made a mental note to try harder with the hydration. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Descent off the Lawley</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I managed a run up to the top of Pole Bank, the ten mile point and the third climb of the route. We had aimed to get to Pole Bank in about 2 hours 20 mins, but actually managed a time of around 2 hours. We knew this was faster than planned but we felt good and the pace was sustainable, so we pushed on. It was then downhill all the way to Bridges before a big pull up to the top of the Stiperstones. This is my least favourite and very picky part of the route. The road leading up to it is also runnable in sections, but steeper in other places so it was hard to push for any speed. We usually run to the summit of the Stiperstones, but decided to take a fast walk instead and conserve a bit of energy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCfyGa8jr7ZQku790JltiLGkCuWuRz3EleHZEhrRU713X377kZJfGIAwtwIk13s5NMml3zqC3umKgatNpd5_i58ulQGvS7bzzbyQmwwbvG_NuIytxcZRzGupoqO8ThcSbuxC5MOgnZFk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-07+at+20.11.44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCfyGa8jr7ZQku790JltiLGkCuWuRz3EleHZEhrRU713X377kZJfGIAwtwIk13s5NMml3zqC3umKgatNpd5_i58ulQGvS7bzzbyQmwwbvG_NuIytxcZRzGupoqO8ThcSbuxC5MOgnZFk/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-10-07+at+20.11.44.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alastair managed to capture me smiling on the Stiperstones</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summit 4 firmly in the bag, we crossed the fields and farm land down to the village of Habberley where a warm welcome awaited us by the pub. A group had taken it upon themselves to station an intermediate checkpoint which had all sorts of lovely food, home baked cakes, water, squash and fruit. It was most welcome as I had nearly finished my water and it was another 5 miles or so to the next official refreshments. What fab people they are!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then pushed on for Earls Hill and summit number 5. The track leading up to Earls was just slick with mud and not very runnable. We tried to push up with a bit of pace but it was just impossible. Earls hill is so steep to start with, I nearly fell backwards. David stopped for a quick bit of food and I left him to catch me up as he is stronger on the hills. He caught up no problem and we descended back down into Habberley (via the home made flapjack) and up the road heading for Bank Farm. I am so pleased I have mastered the skill of eating flapjack whilst running :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Bank Farm we refilled with water and then ran down through the woods, keeping to the perimeter on the route we had reccied a few weeks previously. We found the path down to the road and then it was a case of heads down and press on along the road to Tankerville. The Stiperstones Pub did not let us down and were out in force with another intermediate aid station, filling our water bottles and offering support. Lovely people. We pressed on and as I glanced back at the pub, the hills looked absolutely amazing, all golden in colour lit up by the setting sun. It was a very impressive sight. And it was here that we met Rob. We got chatting and fell into a nice group and so agreed that we'd try and stick together until Shelve and form our group of 3 for the night section. We were all agreed on minimum checkpoint faff, run anything flat or downhill, and generally keep pushing on. We had a good sustainable pace and we were really happy with the grouping. I made a quick stop to change into a warmer top, and then ran quickly on to catch up to the boys. We charged into Shelve CP, quickly filled up with water, and were back out back on the course with our group tally card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next big hill on the menu was Corndon, this also marked the 6th hill and the 30 mile point and I just feel like it's plain sailing after this one. I don't actually think about Ragleth (the final hill)… head in sand strategy works well here :) We ran through the little forest and out onto the fields. I was in front and apparently set such a pace that David had to abandon hopes of scoffing down his biscuit that he's stashed from the CP and chuck it away. We cut the familiar line across the fields and then headed up to Corndon through the lanes. Just at the turn off, one of the houses had put out some home baked cakes and a tin of sweets for people doing the event. It really shows what a community event it is. Everyone was so supportive in the local villages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Night had well and truly fallen by the time we hit Corndon. It kind of helped to not see the top. I kept going up the hill as quickly as my legs would take me. It was getting hard though and I wasn't as quick as I wanted to be, David stormed up at a good pace. The CP at the top of the hill was so impressive. Somehow they had driven up there, and the volunteers were sat out on the cold windy hill in their duvet jackets - that is dedication! I got chatting to one of them back down at the breakfast - Neil - what an amazing job they do. Apparently there are about 150 volunteers all in all, and they were all so enthusiastic, helpful and genuinely seemed to be enjoying it as much as we were (if not more!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We came off Corndon and looked out for the route down the hill that we had reccied. I was a bit cautious on the descent as I was keen to spare my knees and ankles at this stage. The CP at Woodgate farm was glowing in the dark to welcome us in and we topped up with water, clipped in and headed out. We had a fourth member for about 100m, a guy who had dropped back after turning his ankle on Corndon. He tried running with us, but found it was too painful and headed back to retire at the CP. It must have been a hard decision for him. We ran round the lanes then up through a farm and onto, what we found to be the most navigationally challenging part of the course. Concentration was immense. We hit every stile spot on, and made our way through and out the other side to the road without a hitch.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The animal feeding trough/stile after Corndon (we did this in the dark)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next stop: Black Rhadley, hill 7. Once this section starts, I feel like we're on the home run. We've turned back towards Stiperstones and we've got 30 miles in the bag. Black Rhadley is a long grind up a road, with some short runnable sections. The road winds round a lovely pine forest which is very pretty in the day time, but hard to appreciate at night. Our teammate Rob is new to the area, and we tried to point out some of the landmarks, but it's a bit of a challenge in the dark. We finally made it up to the summit where a camper van sat waiting for us! It was quite nippy up there, so we made a hasty retreat back down to the road. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A quick time check told us that the sub 12 hour was possible if we kept up our pace and there were no big problems. We hit the road up to Nibstone rock and the Stiperstones CP. I felt quite good and ran on ahead, partly to keep warm and partly because I find running easier than a fast walk when it gets later in an event (although David thinks I make this up, it is true). The CP at Stiperstones was really welcoming, we topped up with water, and met up with some of the people we'd run with earlier that day who were having a quick break. We then started down the road, aware that this descent on the hard road was going to be murderous on the knees… and it did not disappoint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We wove back down to Bridges, retracing our steps from earlier that day. The moon was lit up in the sky and the night sky had cleared to give a beautiful view of the stars. We saw a light at the pub, and heard some cheering and then realised that the volunteer CP from Habberley had relocated (with more home made flap jack) at Bridges! Delighted with this surprise, we stocked up on supplies and welcomed their support with open arms! I found out I was about 7th or 8th female to go through, and this was great as I wanted to be in the top ten if I could. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next section is another hill back up to Pole Cottage via Medlicott. The path gradually grinds up the hill to Medlicott cottage. It seemed slow going and I was really puffing to get up there. I was determined not to drop the pace now and after this hill… only one more to go. On it went. It was at this point David asked how much someone would have to pay me to do it again straight away. I decided that there was not enough money in the world and we pressed on. We crested on the road at and took our pre-determined bearing that should take us to a small path through the heather. We needed to be accurate as the path is about 30cm wide and very easy to miss, but if we did miss it, we faced about 30 mins of heather bashing. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heather From Medlicott to Pole Cottage</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hit the path, spot on. Interestingly, we'd always noticed a blue jumper tied to the side of the path whenever we reccied it (this being bestowed the title of The Blue Jumper of Medlicott, and marked on our race maps), but tonight it had been removed, so we're guessing the other runners were also making a beeline for the path… Not sure who would wear a jumper that had been tied out on the top of the Mynd for over a month though? Where did the jumper go….? it is a mystery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally arriving at summit 8, we entered the checkpoint and sorted our water out with the usual efficiency. The CP staff were a bit surprised at how fast we were in and out, "leaving already?" they said, I hope we didn't offend them! It was nothing personal :) Just 8 miles to go and about 2 hours to do it in to make our 12 hour target. We trucked along the track at the top of the mynd and then down to Minton. At the end of the descent, I was really struggling with my head torch as the batteries had gone. I have now concluded that there must be something about my head that drains power from head torches and a scientific test is needed. My knee was also painful and I stopped to take some painkillers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went through the gate, ignoring the odd flashing red light, and ran through the farm down to the Minton CP… which was… NOT there in Minton where we though it should be. We ran round the triangle of grass at the road crossing and shone our torches in every direction looking for this CP. We were totally puzzled. Where was the brightly lit tent and big group of people to welcome us? I refused to move from Minton until we had clipped. I was not being disqualified now. After a few seconds of map consultation David suddenly said - "the red light, it's self clip!" It was only a short distance back, so we zoomed up, found the red light and clipped. Then continued down the lane as fast as our (now) wobbly legs would take us. I can't believe we missed it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running across the fields, the silhouette of the 9th and final summit of Ragleth loomed over us. I thought a snack would be prudent to fuel me up the hill and I had one of my <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/eat-run-book-review.html" target="_blank">Xocolatl energy balls</a> (they seemed to work quite well earlier in the run). There was no stopping us now. We had an hour to do 5 miles, up and over Ragleth. It was doable. I set a determined (and possibly unsustainable) pace up the Ragleth, at times using my hands on the hill to help me up it. I could hear the tape at the summit flicking in the wind, and it did not seem to be getting closer. It can't take more than ten minutes to get to the top, but it felt like forever. David steamed away and monstered up the hill, leaving Rob and I to our various grunts and groans. There was no conversation on this hill. Finally reaching the summit, I spotted the control tent and ran over the top down to it. Taking my eyes of the ground to offer my tally card to the volunteers, I accidentally turned my foot in a rabbit hole and the pain shot straight to my knee - funnily enough, the one that was not previously causing any problems. It was a sharp stabbing pain, but at least it took my mind off the other knee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We knew the way off Ragleth was by a rock (there aren't many up there… on Stiperstones, this would have been a fairly useless navigational aid). The rock was a long time coming though, and the run off the top took much longer than we remembered. After a couple of false alarms, we finally spotted it and started a very painful and awkward descent to the road. 1 mile to go and a chance at getting in under 11:50. We motored along the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just after turning onto the road, two ladies stopped to congratulate us and grabbed my arm to give me precise directions to the school. Small panic… 'don't stop me now', I thought… 'I need to get to the School and I've got 10 minutes'…. argh. Having just navigated 50 miles through the hills, some of this in the dark, it was funny that they were giving us directions along the road. To make matters worse, they then started arguing about which was the best way! They meant well, and I managed to tear myself away and zoom up the road (I say zoom. In my head, I was zooming. In reality stagger/shuffle is probably more accurate). We rounded the corner and the school was in sight. We clattered into the school and finished in 11:49. I was 6th female and we were 33rd overall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very welcome party awaited us, as with everyone else volunteering on the hike, the people at the finish were cheerful and supportive and congratulated us. We had a much needed cup of tea and downed a bowl of rice pudding, followed up by the the last of the samosas. We changed into our warm clothes, whereupon I discovered I had a passenger in the form of a worm in my hair. I set the worm free and returned to the school hall. We sat at the finish for about an hour, there was a great atmosphere and we chatted to the other people who we had been running with off and on throughout the event. It all went so well on the day, all three of us were exceptionally happy with the time and the event overall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many thanks to the <a href="http://www.longmyndhike.org.uk/" target="_blank">2nd Longmynd Scoutgroup</a>, the volunteers, to whoever fixed the weather for us, to Mike at <a href="http://1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/stokeontrent/" target="_blank">1st Contact Physiotherapy, Stoke on Trent</a> for fixing my ankle, and to <a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alastair Tye</a> and <a href="http://www.westmidlandsrunningscene.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brian Smith</a> for the photographs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's another challenge ticked off the list. What next?</span></div>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-2076018032459270472012-09-29T11:50:00.001-07:002012-09-30T00:46:59.308-07:00Repairing, Eating, Running, Recce'ing<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, no major events in the run up to the Longmynd hike, but plenty of preparation and training. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First up, the repairing. I turned my ankle back in August on the 100 miler and it was still very weak on the Longmynd recce, so I've been to see Mike at 1st contact <a href="http://1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/stokeontrent/" target="_blank">physiotherapy in Stoke on Trent</a> for some treatment and advice about strength training. Any opportunity I get, I am now stretching a large strip of theraband between my feet to try and get my ankle back into working order, and giving my hamstrings a good stretch. Mike reckoned there would be enough time to build up the strength if I am a good girl and stick to my homework exercises! I'll also pay Dominic at the <a href="http://tettenhallchiropractic.co.uk/" target="_blank">Chiropractic clinic</a> a visit before the event. My lower back is really tight and despite starting Yoga a month ago, I am not yet feeling stretchy again!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on the Longmynd Hike Recce</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other things I needed to sort out were my head torch…. and my eating. I had the opportunity to try out my new Lensar H7 head torch on a night recce that we organised for the <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn</a> participants. This is a night ultra marathon of 50 miles in the peak district, that my boyfriend has organised to raise money for <a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Macmillan</a>. As the race takes place entirely at night, my boyfriend has organised some runs on the course for the participants to do a recce, and opportunities to meet up with us and ask questions. It's been a great opportunity to meet some of the people who will be running in the event. I was excited to try out my new head torch and proudly got it out of my bag. I noted that one of the other girls, Caz, had the same torch and I felt my choice was validated. It was only when <a href="http://www.jokilkenny.com/" target="_blank">JoBot Kilkenny</a> pulled out her massive Lensar do-all-see all- lighthouse head torch that I felt sadly disappointed that once more, mine was a bit rubbish in comparison. And so my head torch envy/disappointment saga continues.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misty over Cracken Edge - part of the final 10 miles of Dusk til Dawn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eating… so I also went out on a day recce for the Dusk til Dawn event. The event has a (Grim) Sweeper, and this is actually a person but shhhhh don't tell the runners who have entered. The sweeper and I have been going out to check the route of the course over and ensure that our night navigation of the route will go smoothly. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Race Director putting out some tape for the night recce</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 19 mile route from Taddington, near Buxton in the Peak District, through to Taxal was an ideal distance to try out some new foods and I opted for plain and simple - boiled new potatoes, and some trail mix. I ran fine on this, and I wasn't hungry or ill. So that's what I'm taking from now on. The week previous, I headed out on a day recce of the Dusk til Dawn course to tape out the route in prep for a night recce. I didn't have time to get anything 'proper' to eat in between the two activities, so ended up calling in a curry house in Chinley for samosas and chips - which went down well and I ran really well on them! Honestly, I am doing everything I can to eat healthily whilst out running, but my body seems to be telling me something different! So on the Longmynd hike event, I'll be chomping down boiled potatoes and samosas. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then marvellous sun over the Pennine Bridleway just half an hour later!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the training side of things, I've done at least one hilly long run each week. These have been out on the Dusk til Dawn course mainly, doing recces and checking the route over. I've also done at least one session of hill reps (a 4 minute long hill x 5 reps) and some 400m speed work reps. I just wanted to feel fitter on the hills. I feel like the distance is there, but I wanted a bit more fitness.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David on Rushup Edge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view over Kinder from Rushup Edge (the participants in Dusk til Dawn might miss this in the dark!)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of the more studious preparations, I've been plotting the hill profile of the Longmynd hike, planning where I can run faster, and working out how much water to take at each checkpoint. The checkpoints are about every 3-4 miles, but I'm not sure if there's water at each. So this week, I'll be sorting out my kit for the compulsory kit list, and doing a steady run, and a hilly run. I'll get myself down to the chiropractors too and keep stretching my hamstrings and strengthening my ankle. This time next week I'll be halfway round with any luck :)</span><br />
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-76526878916597721342012-09-23T14:08:00.000-07:002012-09-30T00:42:47.678-07:00Long Mynd Hike Recce<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.longmyndhike.org.uk/" target="_blank">Longmynd hike</a> is the next event on the calendar. It's a 50 mile route and can be walked or run, with a time limit of 24 hours. It takes place in 'little Switzerland'- the Shropshire Hills, which were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958. The route takes in 9914ft of climbing and takes the participants over 8 peaks. The event starts at 1pm from the centre of Church Stretton, and so part of the route will be completed at night. For the runners, the night will usually fall at a section on the north of the course called Shelve, at around 27 miles in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is important to recce the route (well it gives an excuse for a run in the Shropshire hills anyway) as there are various different paths to take, and so this has led to a <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/long-mynd-hike-recce.html" target="_blank">couple of runs in the evenings</a> after work and a weekend of trying out some alternatives with fellow runner, David. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, it became obvious that the night sections really needed to be reccied in the dark if we were to be true to the event. Relishing the idea to run in the early hours of the morning with it's potential for hallucinations, speaking utter gibberish, and generally losing higher order cognitive functions we hatched the Sensible Plan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It so happened that our planned weekend co-incided with the local fell race- the Stretton Skyliner, which shares a portion of the route with the Longmynd Hike: this being the summits of Caradoc, Lawley, Ragleth, and the climb up Gog Batch. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The plan therefore was to run 30 miles overnight that we will be doing at night for the Longmynd Hike. Sleep briefly in tents, then run the 19 mile Stretton Skyliner Race to roughly comprise the remaining sections of the Longmynd Hike route.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">And so David and I found ourselves on a beautiful sunny day in Shropshire awaiting dusk to start our run. We decided to run the northern loop of the course starting at Pole Cottage and taking in the climbs up Stiperstones, Earls hill, Corndon, Black Rhadley and then back over Stiperstones, through Medlicott, and up to Pole Cottage. A total of 30 miles, from mile 10 to mile 42 of the course (red arrows in the picture below mark the section we did). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We set off around</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7090792105715590168">6pm</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and lost the light just after the Stiperstones. We managed to run most of the route without referring to the map and so our earlier recce's were well remembered. Going over the top of the stiperstones is my least favourite point of the route as its fairly picky. I'd rather be climbing up the hill than picking through the rocky ground, it soon opens up though. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKccm5atKkDzQJSQ7kSVH_CD1En-LeZjmo8D1WkcRFPG8G5oswQk7aLgxTrOCEgULtBxO8qWCLJKHjJQp6-1I0qSm3jtXW11QR4rDLv2WRoxDQJk9Tp6KZWHaD9EO7J5POGmresuiqOOc/s1600/P9080005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKccm5atKkDzQJSQ7kSVH_CD1En-LeZjmo8D1WkcRFPG8G5oswQk7aLgxTrOCEgULtBxO8qWCLJKHjJQp6-1I0qSm3jtXW11QR4rDLv2WRoxDQJk9Tp6KZWHaD9EO7J5POGmresuiqOOc/s320/P9080005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from the Stiperstones</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaONjMgSuCBMohsDJmAvskDQ6zlThPLEEkjpCU7-A1GYPB3F0q6zFZ_Mu315J5YOnRHQSgcFIcyIHzGeB9UGxHkcjqMR9bstqQeTSbIzPKniZCcQRQwkB2kH3l6h6fHe0hw7unnStiJrM/s320/P8030441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pic from an earlier day recce. 'picky' best defines the conditions underfoot on the Stiperstones" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic from an earlier day recce. 'picky' best defines the conditions underfoot on the Stiperstones</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaONjMgSuCBMohsDJmAvskDQ6zlThPLEEkjpCU7-A1GYPB3F0q6zFZ_Mu315J5YOnRHQSgcFIcyIHzGeB9UGxHkcjqMR9bstqQeTSbIzPKniZCcQRQwkB2kH3l6h6fHe0hw7unnStiJrM/s1600/P8030441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We had a new route through the woods to try out after the Bank Farm CP, and this went well. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS5s19YxDkInkrebPV6VV1ycWhAuv8HyfUPUrxorQGOMkxs-yI3jQrF4zZ8WWaiRXXDVfceKr_Se1uNiQVvI_1SfkKNVdOKi5pEBZ-9DVPrvt1dW6KRQ-7x25-59mf9rBwrlT6y8XS3I/s320/P8030445.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="An earlier 'daylight' recce. The sign warns of the effects of long distance running" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An earlier 'daylight' recce. The sign warns of the effects of long distance running</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS5s19YxDkInkrebPV6VV1ycWhAuv8HyfUPUrxorQGOMkxs-yI3jQrF4zZ8WWaiRXXDVfceKr_Se1uNiQVvI_1SfkKNVdOKi5pEBZ-9DVPrvt1dW6KRQ-7x25-59mf9rBwrlT6y8XS3I/s1600/P8030445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">After about 12 miles, we stopped at the Stiperstones pub to refill our water bottles. The landlord there is exceptionally hospitable and really interested in our run, we had no problem getting our bottles filled up. We trucked along the road to Tankerville, and were relieved that there was not much traffic on the roads. Going across the fields from Tankerville, it was pitch black and we will need a bearing on the night. Luckily, we homed in on the stiles quite nicely.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY7GCnZR2Y4rLBV13Aoa2FHhoLSxuO9Yl3QvRg5GS_N5ss3bWLjK2_W79lV1opo9K0KiOi-sJA95NDyWS9WgKT5nhqiAgxA3i3i7zG_MOFTD0_-8nk-YI6dcF6N6mktvnLEjXP-gf29A/s1600/P8030443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY7GCnZR2Y4rLBV13Aoa2FHhoLSxuO9Yl3QvRg5GS_N5ss3bWLjK2_W79lV1opo9K0KiOi-sJA95NDyWS9WgKT5nhqiAgxA3i3i7zG_MOFTD0_-8nk-YI6dcF6N6mktvnLEjXP-gf29A/s320/P8030443.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From a day recce. The view from the road leading to Tankerville</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">I remember the lovely views from various places along the route, and tried to conjour them up to keep me going in the dark. It wasn't until we hit the foot of Corndon that the light was just right for us to appreciate what a fantastic night it was for the stars! They were absolutely stunning. I haven't seen stars like that before in this country. Even in the Alps they weren't that good. Apparently, that area is well known for being a good location for star gazing.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Cw4CD-HoT8TedV9HlW7XujM0AUk2bD9vEhLvYXFWrOLuajXOFkuBG6L9iCdANTR0JsrQtJtVkc65bEiey40cZQaX7TFQ-gIgqlExCZNOAGT3333k3OlMLWteqM5sn6dKZh7RjtZGSE/s1600/Long+Mynd+Hike+&+Skyliner.docx+%5BCompatibility+Mode%5D-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Cw4CD-HoT8TedV9HlW7XujM0AUk2bD9vEhLvYXFWrOLuajXOFkuBG6L9iCdANTR0JsrQtJtVkc65bEiey40cZQaX7TFQ-gIgqlExCZNOAGT3333k3OlMLWteqM5sn6dKZh7RjtZGSE/s640/Long+Mynd+Hike+&+Skyliner.docx+%5BCompatibility+Mode%5D-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A section of the map showing the northern loop from Bridges</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Coming down off Corndon, we missed a trick and got a bit carried away running down a sheep trod, rather than an actual path, so a bearing will be good there too, especially in mist. From there to Black Rhadley went without a navigational hitch. We had a good run up until Medlicott cottage to Pole Cottage where the heather was about thigh high (on me - and I am a bit small), and so progress was very slow over this section. I urged David to run ahead and get the kettle on (we had stashed our stove at the car on Pole Cottage car park). Having longer legs, better balance, and generally being able to heather bash better than me, he stormed ahead and lit up the trees by the car to guide me in. I had a fabulous feast of cup a soup and half a pack of noodles, which I found out on the next day, was not really ample enough for a recovery meal after 30 miles, when one intends to get up and run again the next day… but that is another story... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBS1F0xJwQAq_UNrfpWDfQxuQ11Ork3jECxNX7K9GexSKWpUTpW_1II4x8QLVLMo8neyKx87xexldPadpoaMUOiG7icQwPWBqpEg7gEDeOmHu1l2o62PcRqU2hddYlhRh9y3lNcJ7jUg/s1600/P8030449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBS1F0xJwQAq_UNrfpWDfQxuQ11Ork3jECxNX7K9GexSKWpUTpW_1II4x8QLVLMo8neyKx87xexldPadpoaMUOiG7icQwPWBqpEg7gEDeOmHu1l2o62PcRqU2hddYlhRh9y3lNcJ7jUg/s320/P8030449.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />All in all, it was a great night out running, except for two small things, which I will need to fix. The first thing is my head torch. Those who have run with me, are probably getting very tired of my on going hatred of all head torches. Basically, unless I have the sun strapped to my forehead, I don't think any head torch will ever be good enough. I used the MYO RXP - highly rated and chosen for it's regulating feature, which means that the batteries just 'go' rather than fade gradually. Sadly, it has to be on 'setting 8' to enable this feature and short of shining the torch at a wall and counting from 1-10 with a bit of guess work, setting it on 8 was a bit tricky for me. Others have managed it, and this is no slight on the head torch - it's just too fussy for me. So head torch will be sorted and I choose the <a href="http://www.torchdirect.co.uk/head-torch-range/led-lenser-head-fire-revolution-focusing.html" target="_blank">Lenser H7</a> as my new object of derision and general dissatisfaction. It will be my fourth head torch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The second thing that needs sorting is my nutrition STILL. I guessed that the bread gave me heartburn on the Cotswold Way and the Coventry Way and so I am now avoiding bread. I tried having flat bread on this night run, and I still got ill, so it's a complete bread amnesty that is needed. But I like to take something that is 'real' food, not just snack bars and gels, so I am on the hunt for something savoury that can replace my bread and not make me ill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />So my preparation for the Stretton Skyliner was not textbook, by a long shot. We had run 30 miles the night previous, slept (poorly) for 3 hours, not really eaten a decent meal in 24 hours, and my ability to think straight was suspicious at best. The latter point was proven quite nicely, when I seriously dented my chances of having a good run that day by accidentally drinking de-icer instead of a bottle of water. I only had one gulp. In my sleep deprived state, I had grabbed the wrong bottle out of the boot of my car, and without looking, I had taken a long lengthy swig. I can still taste it now. It was revolting on a large scale. That was the only serious moment of the weekend. Should we ring NHS direct and ask what happens if someone drinks de-icer? Or should we casually pretend this never happened and go on to run our planned race? I think you know the answer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />We met up with Mike from <a href="http://1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/stokeontrent/" target="_blank">1st Contact Physiotherapy</a>, who was also doing the Skyliner, and a club mate, Stu Tromans. Both of whom were a little shocked by our preparation strategy. We aimed to finish it. The skyliner takes in 5 big climbs and tots up to 4765ft of elevation over 19 miles. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xEBGnZrVk_crNqVWBMuvU9Eo-fghLHwJTydsKRNrbwefg4MB2om33UHkA4mBW2eAraCSkE9zhb8oniyyUgPrZzAC0vFGUkI0hb0FDcVzGsi6XytzkXSn9BaIeSLAqIr4vYLcZ8PGyUA/s1600/Long+Mynd+Hike+&+Skyliner.docx+%5BCompatibility+Mode%5D-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xEBGnZrVk_crNqVWBMuvU9Eo-fghLHwJTydsKRNrbwefg4MB2om33UHkA4mBW2eAraCSkE9zhb8oniyyUgPrZzAC0vFGUkI0hb0FDcVzGsi6XytzkXSn9BaIeSLAqIr4vYLcZ8PGyUA/s640/Long+Mynd+Hike+&+Skyliner.docx+%5BCompatibility+Mode%5D-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stretton Skyliner Hill Profile</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Judging by the state of my legs, which were a little battered, and how tired I felt, it seemed like it was going to be a long 19 miles. This is what it's all about though. On a multi day event, we will be standing there thinking the same thing after 4 and 5 days of running, so it's all good training. The start came sooner than I'd expected and I hadn't taken my inhaler soon enough so I was puffing and panting all the way up Pole Bank, stopping occasionally to see if I was going to be sick. I had a few pains in my tummy and was trying very hard not to think about the de-icer that was working it's way through my system. Eugh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />We made it to the top of Pole Bank and we were already in last place. I just wanted to get round within the cut off, but we only had 40 minutes to make it to the summit of the next hill. It seemed impossible, I felt totally knackered, but it was such a lovely day, and the run down the valley is so pretty, that I just enjoyed it and ran as hard as I could. Amazingly, we just made the cut off and then we headed down off Ragleth to contend with the next two beasts - Caradoc, and the Lawley. We met a lovely man who was dishing out jelly sweets on the way up Caradoc, which was a nice surprise. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xqbdtmURU5eiGjbqC5BEzvAd2wjNC6GwEidBa55Uvxl9ugXtZKH1Rw_9fsHh3rvt_zXe9YlqwvXQzUUGlikmwKHTiWkX2ZtxxdDSLHrL7lAegu1UaYwf7d9_zd9whFFOo3lqtLEPv8U/s1600/Long+Mynd+Hike+&+Skyliner.docx+%5BCompatibility+Mode%5D-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xqbdtmURU5eiGjbqC5BEzvAd2wjNC6GwEidBa55Uvxl9ugXtZKH1Rw_9fsHh3rvt_zXe9YlqwvXQzUUGlikmwKHTiWkX2ZtxxdDSLHrL7lAegu1UaYwf7d9_zd9whFFOo3lqtLEPv8U/s400/Long+Mynd+Hike+&+Skyliner.docx+%5BCompatibility+Mode%5D-2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Route of the Stretton Skyliner</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was when we were on the Lawley that we realised there was only one more climb. For some reason, that seemed easy! The climb was however also a beast. Gog batch does not normally intimidate me, but we had a head wind, and I had a very empty stomach and was feeling very low. I had not taken enough food, and it was turning into a nightmare. Happily, the kind marshall on the last CP offered me a kit kat and this was the best thing ever. I quickly ate it and immediately felt 100 times better and belted down the valley to the finish line. David has suggested that he will now stash an emergency kit kat for such moments of desperation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">All of the marshals were great, so friendly and supportive and waited for us, despite the fact that we were last. </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">The finish was a lonely sight, we were last. It was quite disappointing, but what can we expect after </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">our preparation! We had done most of the Long Mynd Hike with a 3 hour kip in the middle. Satisfied that our recce'ing had been successful, the next time that we hit the Shropshire hills will be for the event it's self. Fingers crossed for decent weather!</span></span>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-8627527350130976352012-09-07T12:20:00.001-07:002012-09-07T12:28:16.313-07:00Eat & Run - Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/1559-1/%7B668335B0-39B8-4DF3-8944-3D2FAA5325F8%7DImg100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/1559-1/%7B668335B0-39B8-4DF3-8944-3D2FAA5325F8%7DImg100.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">It's an autobiography..... no, its a recipe book........ no, its a book of race reports . . . it seems that ultra running legend <a href="http://scottjurek.com/" target="_blank">Scott Jurek</a>'s book has multiple identities but the concept really works. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;">Scott Jurek is known for his <a href="http://scottjurek.com/bio/" target="_blank">ultra running accolades</a>, having won the iconic Western States 100 miler every year between 1999 and 2005, the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2005 and 2006, and the Spartathlon 2006-2008 to name but a few. Most people will have first heard of him from Chris McDougall's book, <a href="http://www.chrismcdougall.com/" target="_blank">Born to Run</a>, which spurned the trend towards barefoot running. However, his enthusiasm to promote nutritional awareness and a vegan diet is as well known as his running accomplishments. Scott Jurek's first publication combines his two loves; running and a commitment to a healthy vegan lifestyle. The book therefore contains some great vegan recipes alongside the story of his life and race reports of major events he has taken part in. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">The book takes us through Scott's formative years, showing the reader how his upbringing and early excellence in cross country skiing provide him with the necessary skills and mindset to prepare him to go on and run (and win) 100 milers. Alongside this, he explores how and when he made his decisions about nutrition and how he learned and integrated new foods into his diet to substitute meat and dairy. Interestingly, this starts with him noticing how foods effect health of people he is in contact with, especially those who are ill, and with noticing his own performance when he eats differently. From these casual observations, he became very interested in learning more about food. He is clearly very well read on the topic of nutrition, and has applied his knowledge with rigour to his diet. The early chapters take us through the hardship he went through early on in his career, where he was frequently in financial difficulty due to spending much of his money funding his strict vegan, and slightly experimental diet. His dedication to this cause is quite inspiring.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">The later chapters of the book have been criticised for being akin to a series of race reports, but this really works and he gives detail on his personal experience of participating, the highs, the lows and we find out about a few of the quirky things that Scott is known for, such as shaving his head, and his pre-race 'war cry'. Whilst performing at the top of his sport, Scott retains so much respect for all the runners, camping out at the finish line to see the last person in, and taking time to give advice and pace others. His compassionate nature really shines through. Whilst the book lacks some specifics, like his training programme and data like his VO2 max (which would be of interest to the keen ultra runner but probably a bit boring to anyone else!), there are quite a few hints and tips to be picked out. Having recently completed a 100 miler and having been ill afterwards, I read with interest the statistics on those who get a common cold after 100 milers and what steps Scott takes to boost his immune system. There is not much detail on his relationships and I guess some things need to stay personal and i am just being nosey! What is a bit disappointing is that the book seems to peter out a bit towards the end. As his life story seems to turn towards his search for himself, which remains unanswered, and paints a bit of a flat and unfinished ending. But it's real life and his honesty comes through.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Weeks after finishing the book, it's still hanging around the kitchen in its second identity as a recipe book. The recipes provide a selection of meals, desserts, food for running, recovery foods and drinks. Each recipe comes with suggestions for how it might facilitate training, when best to eat and the nutritional gains. Whilst some of the ingredients are hard to source (and us Brits have to overcome converting cups to grammes), the recipes we've tried are all worth the effort and not as complicated as some seem at first! I've cooked the <a href="http://scottjurek.com/eatandrun/recipes/" target="_blank">lentil burgers </a>for my whole family and they were very well liked from my two year old niece through to my mom! We've also made the granola, humous, salsa, chilli, and refried beans, and the chocolate balls (see below for picture). It requires a bit more time to start with, but the recipes can all be adapted to what you've got in, with a bit of imagination and google (i usually adapt everything to make it more healthy, but for once i don't need to). I used jumbo oats instead of oat groats to make the granola and this worked well. I have specialist ingredients in the post to try out a few other things! I'm just hoping the food processor holds out!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The book has made me think differently about food. Whilst I usually eat healthily, and I am a vegetarian, it has made me think more seriously about the nutrients I need as a runner that might not come from a vegetarian diet without making a bit of effort to a wide variety of foods. I have really enjoyed making the recipes and have been experimenting more with switching to a vegan diet where I can. I have been interested in the recent debates on talk ultra about the value of eating more fat, rather than carbs as a runner, and I have certainly made an effort to cut down on refined and fast sugars whilst running, and instead of taking sweets, biscuits and pop tarts, I have switched to 'real food' like nuts and seeds, bagels, and dried fruit. I have made the hummus from Scott's book and he takes this out in a wrap on a run, so I might try that this weekend along with a few other experimental new foods - watch this space! I've seen hummus made with beet root on a recent TV programme, so I might experiment with this, knowing that beet root has benefits for running! The jury is still out on the </span><a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/coventry-way-40-miles.html" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">spirulina</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> though.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Xocolatl Energy Balls</b> combine raw cacao nibs (raw form of chocolate), cashews, dates, chilli, and coconut oil. They taste a bit like a rum truffle! 65 calories per 'ball' and loaded with caffeine and good fats. Perfect during a run, or as a dessert when my boyfriend spotted them. They got the thumbs up!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">The book's third identity is as a series of race reports and it really reads like a catalogue of events that most ultra runners would aspire to participate in. It really is inspriational. He is honest about the hard times in his races, but still manages to make them sound so appealing! I know a lot of the American races are hard to get into, but the scene seems different to ultra running in the UK, with the added advantage that it doesn't usually rain. In fact, it will probably be too hot! So, in terms of running, the book has prompted me to look at some races in the states in the future.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"> It has also made me see that even someone who is performing at the top of the sport still has doubts about their capabilities and strives to look for the next thing. It's sad that towards the end of the book, Scott's story of his great achievements gets a bit lost and we are left with a man who is an icon, who has contributed to the shaping of ultrarunning, but who seems to be unable to see and enjoy these achievements for himself. He is a legend and I am really glad he brought the book out, it's just what the ultra running community needed.... and I always like a nice recipe to try out :)</span></span></div>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-15588472618338509322012-08-27T11:05:00.001-07:002012-08-30T02:13:19.096-07:00Dune<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We have come to the Aquataine region of France for a holiday. I've entered a multi-day race called the Trans Aq, which is in May 2013. The race runs local to where we were staying so the idea was for me to have a few days out running whilst we visited the area. This week is all about testing a few bits of kit out and learning how to run in heat and on the sand. The temperature during the week varied between 28-33 degrees, when normal tourists would be reclining on the beach or next to the pool or heading for the shade. No wonder I was a bit of a spectacle on my runs. I heard several expressions along the lines of 'crazy lady' or 'marathon de sables', and a few people asked to take my picture.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);">For my kit I wore salomon speedcross shoes which I had modified to attach <a href="http://www.likeys.com/acatalog/Desert_Gaiters.html" target="_blank">Raidlight sand gaiters</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtHwA58E9ghz6-uINlUeSVpm_qTjTMrvDc56FxEgA1oYHR_RVOHA4J02mN-IzxBkO5Nt0FJPISUZEL0CVqcUuE_a0Z3E3h7JS-8qeQGMkB0D5VPA0UjzbqUVmR0bR4mYAt28pwnifKOE/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtHwA58E9ghz6-uINlUeSVpm_qTjTMrvDc56FxEgA1oYHR_RVOHA4J02mN-IzxBkO5Nt0FJPISUZEL0CVqcUuE_a0Z3E3h7JS-8qeQGMkB0D5VPA0UjzbqUVmR0bR4mYAt28pwnifKOE/s320/IMG_1099.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got velcro glued and stitched onto my shoes at the cobblers - £30 - these shoes will now be 'kept' for running in sand. The raid light gaiters fix onto the velcro, and hug your ankles to stop sand getting inside your shoes and socks.</td></tr>
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I wore a single thin pair of socks, Salomon calf compressors, CW-X ventilator shorts, rail riders shirt, Category 4 sunglasses, and an OR sahara cap. I used a raid light olmo 5 pack for all my first aid stuff, food, water and suncream. I also used<a href="http://www.ultrasun.co.uk/" target="_blank"> ultra sun</a> factor 50 all day suncream. For electrolytes, I used elete water as this is lighter and more convenient than powders. It's also flavourless and has no calories so it's just pure electrolyte. For my snacks I took a GU gel, which is tried and tested, nature valley bars or a 9-bar (despite eating my way through so many of these on the <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/cotswold-way-100-mile-trail-blaze.html" target="_blank">Cotswold way</a> that I thought I'd never eat another for the rest of my life!). I used body glide to prevent my pack from chafing my back, having had limited success with the lanocane. I used my timex watch and gps transmitter to keep an eye on my speed and distance.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steps up the Dune Du Pilat for the tourists, but I went up the hard way!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I managed to pick up some 1:25000 maps of the region. Here's a <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/HLh1A" target="_blank">link</a> to my routes. The navigation was worrying me slightly as there weren't many landmarks to use, and for the most part, I was in dense woods. </span>For my first run I picked the route of the night stage of the trans aq, which took me along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dune_of_Pyla" target="_blank">Dune du Pilat</a>, being the largest sand dune in Europe at 117m high and 3 km in length, and then south through the forests and over dunes to bicarosse plage where my boyfriend and his son would be playing whilst they waited for me. This ended up being about 14 miles and I staggered in at a rather shameful pace of about 3.3 miles per hour. There was a good reason for this though - So here are the lessons learned.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view over the sea to Cap Ferret</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">1. In high wind stay on top of the dune. The wind on top of the dune was really high and it was hard to make forward progress. I was fighting to keep from being blown sideways and then fighting to move forwards in the fast moving sand that disappeared under every footstep. I thought that running just below the ridge on the leaside might protect me from the wind. This small deviation however led me right into the blast of sand coming off the ridge! I ended up with a fine coating of sand all over me and sand stuck to my lip balm like glitter on glue! I struggled back up to the ridge with my mouth and nose covered to stop the sand from going in and carried on along the ridge in the wind. Lesson learned! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back across the Dune</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPe05MU_14sGhX9xpjVkEQN3bJT4LgNxUywYXzDNeTp5T048dhq7jCwRspCbl0gW3nuCpZSTGFr4_l5IoOHdrLiQqYdEc4k_Qf4U2Rij3oBNF18i7T0DfXuaa-xEjcsscnGXC6GvPdLfI/s1600/P8160465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPe05MU_14sGhX9xpjVkEQN3bJT4LgNxUywYXzDNeTp5T048dhq7jCwRspCbl0gW3nuCpZSTGFr4_l5IoOHdrLiQqYdEc4k_Qf4U2Rij3oBNF18i7T0DfXuaa-xEjcsscnGXC6GvPdLfI/s320/P8160465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2. 1.5 litres of water is not enough for 12 miles. There was a slight miscommunication here. Rich asked how much water I was taking and I said I had my two bottles. Rich naturally assumed when I said two bottles, I meant 2x1.5 litre bottles not 2x750ml. I trusted his good judgement and excellent experience when he said that 2 bottles would be 'plenty' when in reality I had half the amount he thought. At 8 miles I was on empty and very very hot. I had to slow right down and take it easy. I started feeling a bit dodgy and texted Rich but unfortunately my text messages were not getting through. I switched over from the ever undulating and secluded fire road and headed down to the main and well used cycle trail. It was mainly hard packed earth or Tarmac, which wasn't the terrain I wanted to train on, but given I wasn't feeling good, it meant there were plenty of people around and more opportunity to get some water off someone I'd in needed to, I could also move a bit faster, although it was the hottest part of the day and without water, I struggled to maintain much of a pace. On finishing I called into a bar, where I was met with a look of something between surprise and sympathy when I explained my situation as I gulped down two cans of tropical juice. I headed down to th beach, made up some more electrolyte and carried on drinking. Rich was a bit surprised I'd ran out of water until he realised the misunderstanding. Oh dear.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire Roads... straight and sandy... and bumpy!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8If-cjdmtYur61FRKPyuKmv6bB-Q565HexcVp97uPXHW3OqMKNaE-Xao0vSNHyp6PHiENwdkc3Kb0-7sPbJeRXAJKMmf_nkgPKSKD3nt40Ag4RBMr4__ilQ-cBbYKCBn9AijMPjV5TOU/s1600/P8160469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8If-cjdmtYur61FRKPyuKmv6bB-Q565HexcVp97uPXHW3OqMKNaE-Xao0vSNHyp6PHiENwdkc3Kb0-7sPbJeRXAJKMmf_nkgPKSKD3nt40Ag4RBMr4__ilQ-cBbYKCBn9AijMPjV5TOU/s320/P8160469.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sand</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more hills woo hoo! It was like a roller coaster. I gave up counting after 12 of the beasts</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. The obligatory training- at some point on a multidayer it seems compulsory to sit in a hot, sweaty and dehydrated mess under a tree. Not wanting to mess up this important aspect of my training, I practiced it in full. At 7.5 miles just before running out of water I felt so hot that my body was in confusion and coming out in goosebumps. I was running too fast in the heat and realised that I needed to keep my speed down to keep my temperature more even. I sat under the in the shade until I felt a bit more stable and drank a lot of my water- nearly finishing it off. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Forestry tracks are never straight. Do not believe the map. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Rail riders shirt proved good so far. It kept the sun off and also my back did not chafe. The only problem is that it rides up a lot.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6. Suncream is essential underneath CW-x ventilators if you wish to avoid this inspired sunburn pattern. It seems the sun gets through the mesh panels! This lesson will be especially important next year when polka dots may no longer in fashion. Rich kindly pointed out that it looked like a frozen chicken. Nice.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delightful mesh patterned sunburn on leg</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">7. Only take flax 9 bars not the carob topped versions. The bar was practically a gel by the time I came to eat it!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ew lovely HOT and slimy 9 bar</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8. Gels worked ok but I needed a lot of water to get them down and they were a bit less tasty once hot!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnxGnrTYA81UhT8VLKk4LV4bA24FMB3O7cj29h35_Xqg59cDAg35DQSG4FB_4tUrbsICsjpU3wTQUhWT4zdGEzz3gYkqaizdsN2fU4DVp1Mo8vtczbyc0C42__fTk3Oxo-E3mFbByd3w/s1600/P8170618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnxGnrTYA81UhT8VLKk4LV4bA24FMB3O7cj29h35_Xqg59cDAg35DQSG4FB_4tUrbsICsjpU3wTQUhWT4zdGEzz3gYkqaizdsN2fU4DVp1Mo8vtczbyc0C42__fTk3Oxo-E3mFbByd3w/s320/P8170618.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a spot of cross training... table tennis between the runs</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The second run took us to Cap Ferret. Rich was to drive me to the north of the peninsula I was to run south along the forest and fire roads to finish the last few miles along the beach to the very tip. This was the end of the long stage on the Trans Aq, the year that Rich had completed it. I tried to put newly learned lessons into practice. This time I took 3 litres of water. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I tried out some different kit. I wore a light t-shirt and covered myself in ultra sun factor 50, which is supposed to be all day sun protection. I also tried out body glide to try and stop my sports bra from rubbing my back. The body glide worked well, as did the t- shirt but unfortunately after only 4 hours my arms were a bit pink, so it seems the ultra sun all-day cream was not totally effective. I wasn't very happy and I think multiple applications are needed in intense heat. I will email the company for some more advice, it may be that their sports-specific suncream would be more appropriate.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4QsQ4jnehyphenhyphen-tFQep0WonNmkHFyp2JXy4-xqsixoIgJc0x-EMi-sllVjRQGYYZClWjqryqOwjtJ6g76J6bUnkmyIxxdR-ePhYkQNHHANyOTRsI6HwRIzRbp41uMAEjSjoUlam1N8wa6M/s1600/P8200666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4QsQ4jnehyphenhyphen-tFQep0WonNmkHFyp2JXy4-xqsixoIgJc0x-EMi-sllVjRQGYYZClWjqryqOwjtJ6g76J6bUnkmyIxxdR-ePhYkQNHHANyOTRsI6HwRIzRbp41uMAEjSjoUlam1N8wa6M/s320/P8200666.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 & 3 Kit choice.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The navigation was fairly easy- head south! I learned on the first day to find some useful landmarks to chart progress through the unchanging forested terrain. </span>On the first run I aimed for some small cabins. My joy at discovering these precisely where I expected them was fairly short lived as I saw all the 'Private' signs, and various wood chopping tools, pick up trucks and other scary things lying around. I had visions of being shot for trespassing and ran through the little hamlet as fast as the sandy ground would allow.<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More forest...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDIFkI5XY01rixFOztpBNprldPP7B8I5B9oIR1cUTj1F3pVIkD4MKswj34oOlm07m3Qe9Uia_vojSj3Kfm4z9Zm2JO3Eu0UMXUcFltWolyE79lTp9MWHtkyJKLtIyBTyxDRJDTaX0yNg/s1600/P8180621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDIFkI5XY01rixFOztpBNprldPP7B8I5B9oIR1cUTj1F3pVIkD4MKswj34oOlm07m3Qe9Uia_vojSj3Kfm4z9Zm2JO3Eu0UMXUcFltWolyE79lTp9MWHtkyJKLtIyBTyxDRJDTaX0yNg/s320/P8180621.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Fire Roads</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7kXR1sXMakuf9YPV_DFIzxjc10Sy8PiZwMMyx1wrWe4omI8G90_W47Gdnd7mA0E5_2FeFRrhGlMsSanT8dUSG-hD1G9rmsNMuCQsmJUWlhPqGx1ORUClKq5P3iVUb6vCFT_NYEKCJRQ/s1600/P8180622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7kXR1sXMakuf9YPV_DFIzxjc10Sy8PiZwMMyx1wrWe4omI8G90_W47Gdnd7mA0E5_2FeFRrhGlMsSanT8dUSG-hD1G9rmsNMuCQsmJUWlhPqGx1ORUClKq5P3iVUb6vCFT_NYEKCJRQ/s320/P8180622.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sand !!!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the second day, I used the little reservoirs out in the forest as navigational aids. There was a very long stretch where I followed power lines and I remember Rich saying this was on the Trans Aq in the year that he did it. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It was good training, the route was undulating as the fire roads just cut across the landscape in a straight line regardless of contours. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Here's a short video I took to show you the scenery and the sounds of the forest. Funnily enough I estimate I'm halfway at 6 miles... it ended up being 18!</span><br />
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The sand was very soft and hard going. I was unsure precisely how far along the beach the boys were playing and so I opted to cut across to the harder running on the beach at an early point so as not to be easy on myself! Running on the beach was slow going and energy zapping in the extreme. Nowhere afforded easier running. The wet sand, whilst more stable, was on an ankle crushing camber. I laboured on. I had run out of water and even carrying the map was starting to annoy me, so I stuffed it into the waist belt of my pack (later discovering that this destroyed the map as it got soaked in sweat and disintegrated, creating a lovely big hole in Archachon!)</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The boys were about 2km beyond where I expected them to be. At 18 miles, I was quite shattered by this run along the beach. On the Trans Aq, the year that Rich did it, this beach came in around 30 miles into the last day, so this was good preparation if the same route is used next year! On this run, I kept up a reasonable pace, finishing around 3.9 miles per hour, which I was much happier with. I had a few admin stops to text Rich of my progress (using a new coded system to ensure no message was lost!), refill my water and take pictures. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention there was sand?</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I decided to take a third run to try out applying the suncream twice and bring together all the lessons learned. I was also hoping to move a bit more quickly and maybe get some more distance in. Not wanting to drag the boys out on another epic car journey, I plotted a circular route from our camp to the coast and back, taking in as much fire road and beach as possible. In places I had to get on the cycle trail, but I managed about 70% on sand - even choosing the sandy path that ran beside the nice smooth cycle trail wherever possible. I did about 20 miles and kept up about 4.3mph. The fire roads I picked we're quite good training ground again, fairly hilly and the run around the lake made for some very pretty views! The suncream worked when applied twice, though this isn't an ideal plan and so i need to go back to the drawing board on this one. I also came out in a heat rash on my ankles, probably because they end up with three layers on. I will have to think Of something to help with this too. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hilly, sandy, hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me trying to look like I am running up a hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never underestimate the power of the scooter as a cross training tool</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The only thing I hadn't experienced was the temperature early in the morning. I wasn't sure what to take as a warm layer for in the morning. Thankfully an early morning flight onwards meant that this question was answered along with some beautiful sneak previews of the sun rise we will enjoy on the event.</span><br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-53098734746272093782012-08-26T11:17:00.000-07:002012-08-28T00:15:54.470-07:00Cotswold Way 100 Mile Trail Blaze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of days before taking on the Cotswold Way challenge, someone asked me how you prepare for a 100 mile run. Well… you look at the map, plan the stops, plan food, buy food, pack food, pack a drop bag, think about how much water to take, leave in a bush somewhere, which bush to stash it in, what time to start, what time you want to be ‘benighted’, where you can buy food on route, what time is best to eat… then I might want to do a spot of running to keep up fitness. It turns out that fitness, whilst important, is not really as important as willpower! I am pretty sure the final 40 miles was all in my mind.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did the Cotswold Way as a <a href="http://www.trail-blaze.com/" target="_blank">Trail Blaze</a> challenge. These are national trails that can be run at any time. Trail Blaze send a dibber out and you dib in at designated checkpoints along the trail. Trail Blaze award different coloured 'bands' according to distance. The 'extreme' band is black and this is for any distance over 100km on this particular trail. No women have this band as yet... so I was excited to try to be the first one!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did the challenge self-supported. This means we had to take everything we need (or hide it en-route). When planning the run, it became clear that it would be good to park a car on the route to allow us to cook up some porridge and a hot drink in the morning. We didn’t plan to sleep at all, but it’s still nice to get a hot drink in the morning! So, on the morning of the challenge, we stationed our vehicles at the 60 mile point and another at the end of the trail, then set out on the train to the starting point in Bath. It took about 3 hours to get from the end point back to the start by taxi and two trains. It was quite sobering to think it took us 3 hours to do the distance in transport.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><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;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc9XWBR47gD-N1cfinGiqzS3v6KZEPGHOhAkvJCmXzMzExqxMR7TgFmoLnwIBVRWCdcIrCoiHgnZ8kBElCilC1p_NupTQiArQlXZ_93pTF3tdkmNVhqVUrqK_Rx3cb6xdfF8So52AbbE/s320/IMG_1043.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath Abbey</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc9XWBR47gD-N1cfinGiqzS3v6KZEPGHOhAkvJCmXzMzExqxMR7TgFmoLnwIBVRWCdcIrCoiHgnZ8kBElCilC1p_NupTQiArQlXZ_93pTF3tdkmNVhqVUrqK_Rx3cb6xdfF8So52AbbE/s1600/IMG_1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><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;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA3YF985Ug2uMDRhYdHuJpzH9p6qu5boS9P1jvk4HKt5-TZDZIY5V4NCR0a6fc3TSJg1ca7SOpAgOWRLjIXOsxOTY9LMN2ucJGQdzC4HI0AC92noLs0LG-rN-Tyfk0yRhO8zP1v0G634/s320/IMG_1044.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royal Crescent, Bath</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA3YF985Ug2uMDRhYdHuJpzH9p6qu5boS9P1jvk4HKt5-TZDZIY5V4NCR0a6fc3TSJg1ca7SOpAgOWRLjIXOsxOTY9LMN2ucJGQdzC4HI0AC92noLs0LG-rN-Tyfk0yRhO8zP1v0G634/s1600/IMG_1044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had split the distance down <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7090792105715590168"></a><a href="tel:32-28-20-20">32-28-20-20</a>. After 32, we were stopping for something hot to eat in Wootton. After 60 miles, we had our car stocked with porridge, tea, and importantly clean socks. After 80, there was the village of Winchcome where we planned to get a hot drink, and finally at 102, we had the car parked at the end.</span><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a fairly hot day, so we stopped to get a large bottle of water at a petrol station, and topped up again in a village, where a friendly lady at the local nursery refilled our water bottles with a bit of help from one of the children. It was very cute to see the little toddler come to the front door clutching a raid light water bottle! </span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met a few people along the way that were doing the trail in reverse and we made the most of their company by chatting to them all; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we were unlikely to come across anyone for quite some time after this section. It is not exactly typical to walk the cotswold way in the hours of darkness! A Canadian couple were most excited to find out we were running it in a single stage and even took our picture. We also met A couple from Germany who were interested in all out kit and how light weight It was. David was already suffering slightly with some chafing from his pack. We applied lanocane - a lubricant, to his back, and monitored it as we went on.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we ticked off miles 1-32 to Wootton fairly quickly and arrived at the pub for dinner feeling quite fresh (although unfortunately for our fellow diners we probably weren't smelling too fresh). we opted for a jacket potato followed by a brisk walk for a short while afterwards rather than running! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<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;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPxew9L9mvfk5p0dDVxH6tnVIjk5KVNPP89Jjxicj5mKMe-w4mwkJTB-98fgDfuZgYcZ78145ye_0mAN105_8QYc-uIH9pxfZpqCO_7gezlJSV9-SDq4xtBgGDbZC1PmiB5QV-ev7o-c/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a nice cup of tea (or two... or three)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPxew9L9mvfk5p0dDVxH6tnVIjk5KVNPP89Jjxicj5mKMe-w4mwkJTB-98fgDfuZgYcZ78145ye_0mAN105_8QYc-uIH9pxfZpqCO_7gezlJSV9-SDq4xtBgGDbZC1PmiB5QV-ev7o-c/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><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;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB9HEO3Bv6KRcwvUGHW3m80sL4mSYqlXvhutlJMRkRNqz8ic-4-0zX4SXAw8HhLHfk-Scd0bMVa3z2nih_8aCe83TCMQx31tNZLwa_9_9EWUGfyOg6I6IDDGeD3zRIMZHQVMpPAvskN0/s320/IMG_1055.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team GB flags were an essential part of the kit!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB9HEO3Bv6KRcwvUGHW3m80sL4mSYqlXvhutlJMRkRNqz8ic-4-0zX4SXAw8HhLHfk-Scd0bMVa3z2nih_8aCe83TCMQx31tNZLwa_9_9EWUGfyOg6I6IDDGeD3zRIMZHQVMpPAvskN0/s1600/IMG_1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way out of Wootton took us up a steep hill. It was dark when we left so we put our head torches on and a jacket. After a very brief time, we were overheating and took our coats off and the night continued to be so mild we didn't need them again. We ran up to Dursley and passed the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyndale_Monument" target="_blank"> Tyndale monument</a>, which is a tower on top of the hill. We were surprised to find that the monument was open, but it had a kind of scooby doo eerieness to it that made us think the door may well slam behind us! We passed a small fridge on the roadside which advertised water for Cotswold way walkers! If only we'd known! We had 4 litres stashed en route for the night stage. </span><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The woods were hard going as they were undulating and there were lots of tree roots which made it difficult to keep up any pace. We passed through a very muddy field which was populated by a heard of cows. Unfortunately they weren't too happy at being disturbed and I wasn't too happy about the prospect of being trampled! Unable to make any fast progress on the tricky muddy path we carefully weaves our way around the jumpy cattle. Other unwelcome encounters included a very yappy and free roaming dog, who really didnt want us on his farm! It was somewhere after <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7090792105715590168">3am</a> where we started hallucinating in the darkness. Mine being a rather menacing dog (which I suspect was inspired by the earlier encounter) and David's being a man leering towards us, which ended up being his shadow. The night stage was certainly hard work. I struggled to stay awake much later on in the run, but for David, the time <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7090792105715590168">around 3-4am</a> was hard going. The stars were amazing but we were still relieved when dawn came at Coopers hill. Shortly after this, I went over on my ankle. I thought it was going to be a showstopper but it wasnt too painful. </span><br />
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</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WdElduUGtzy5webA86WEXZW1-7TI1cg-aFb_r43Ga_veQywAiqYHCPGzgjr3Vho9nd6F_afAmUidNufxTIvDZCVjmxoWubAPcMFGDdC6_oUWS6nrw2GSOv3DH4FLnXrgV7J1ssHPQPc/s320/IMG_1060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after dawn at Cooper's Hill</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ran on and spotted where our car was. We decided to keep trucking on for the last 10 miles and wait to eat at the car. It was probably not a great decision! We arrived at the car at 60 miles and I wasn't sure how I was going to eek out the following 40.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div><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;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL6o8Ritziaq4IZaosZTFElkTBzk2SHduqpHCS3ts5D-K4aZ0gdH9PK4jgF9-QxSwTr393ORI7s1vqkjwJvG4aiHssiXii-QQcD_D3n5KxIIkoc1n16Y735UTLE4guaizK35T8v8DeqU/s320/IMG_1059.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David contemplating on Cooper's Hill</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car was a most welcome sight and we got the kettle on quick. I also wanted to change my socks and see what my feet looked like. I wished I hadn’t bothered! They were feeling a bit sore, but they looked shrivelled and my analysis was that they were probably dead. This photo should probably come with a disclaimer! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table 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;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAEiIqkat-u1SA3P2_NejtZau86mcaSP_9C5FtTsDtEEjnt-HLm22PqXseimtz_VStWMh1ywy9y0AThYwaSYi1BdrD2nbo4FLiffz3rhFlGHFc_Ou5POwjLb6_yiPvYG4KIwn-fSBqOQ/s320/IMG_1061.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My left foot at 60 miles. Not pretty.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I let them have a bit of air whilst I had my tea and porridge and then put some lubricant on them to keep them from rubbing. David’s shoe removal also held surprise, in the form of a small snail that had been living there. The snail was not in good shape. The first (and only) casualty of the Cotswold Way challenge.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ate and drank, re applied sun cream.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Re-packed our bags and set off for the checkpoint just down the road in Crinkley park.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A most welcome site, this checkpoint put us in the ‘black’ extreme category on the Trailblaze challenge and here I was presented with my black band by David :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wM2C1DtWYp782YYBUmr3EPYFxU55KsdalCFALnV7K5z-jA7oLUrxAxu_F6S7gX9aTd3RwwmBgm8ZCH8sdSRKWNFVOu3bvA2lwwc_VO2bd4kOjOecG9r1TVAWbc8_SDqAoS6KlPfhKas/s1600/IMG_1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wM2C1DtWYp782YYBUmr3EPYFxU55KsdalCFALnV7K5z-jA7oLUrxAxu_F6S7gX9aTd3RwwmBgm8ZCH8sdSRKWNFVOu3bvA2lwwc_VO2bd4kOjOecG9r1TVAWbc8_SDqAoS6KlPfhKas/s320/IMG_1062.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMV1D19E9gUOrlmW4mKeXJBYHXN62LpgVJbbSFU_Mv156myhW1nGvib8tHJi5LWaGewo0gc84Xy2drxOcX5Inv2LFPciUTCMKrwcQEzrmJmAG0c6ey_Gc-DzoDDdRRcn2Mv4XWq4BfswA/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bbsJ3TZqdk-jHw9b2F4R7lGkl_z4qFUW_fkPaWctRFLdOBq4dwU9xxTfGnm3a3Vq_UYDfZi2LaGIu8uifK04aY5_Ei2qQ0z1PmtojV1wwg2XNpRN_68Xq18ZZHmPsL4sH4QQkp3OHJo/s1600/IMG_1075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, this next section between miles 60-80 was the hardest. I had moments when I thought I couldn't complete the distance. I just felt totally wiped out. Keeping up a decent run and maintaining a form was difficult and walking was very tempting. It seemed to take forever to run these 20 miles. After about 2 miles, we passed a roadside van selling hot drinks but we thought it a little too soon to make a stop! Part of the path had been re-routed around Doudswell and this became tricky to navigate. We managed to muster up a few sections of running and located our water stashes. I was struggling to eat as I had quite bad heart burn but I managed to eat a bagel and a 9 bar. What I totally forgot to do, was add electrolyte to my water. It was turning into a very hot day and as we sat by one of our water stashes, we really felt the heat of the day. We ran on over the highest point of the run at Cleeve hill, with it's marvellous views over the route we'd covered so far. We turned onto the last page of the map (technically two small maps… but still the last <i><u>side</u>) </i>and at that point we knew the distance was in the bag. Not far to go. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TQSFn9LcIJ39kacOzwOA-r39d39ubuLwAcIxfNOJ9oPD7ciAO8luMKoVPL-_Ch1NSQxm9GunPap94Wrnqb-DLfO694IuEFKiMGSCEgwthUqtC-l7sC1hcWDJIcqBFf38ycm7MvEMhqQ/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TQSFn9LcIJ39kacOzwOA-r39d39ubuLwAcIxfNOJ9oPD7ciAO8luMKoVPL-_Ch1NSQxm9GunPap94Wrnqb-DLfO694IuEFKiMGSCEgwthUqtC-l7sC1hcWDJIcqBFf38ycm7MvEMhqQ/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wildly excited by the prospect of an ice cream in Winchcome, we ran along into the village. Only the village didn't come quite as quickly as expected and as I ran on, I started feeling quite tired and suddenly very weak and confused. The street around me started merging into a dream and suddenly I ran into a wall! I had actually fallen asleep whilst running! David scooped me up into the nearest tea shop where I added electrolyte to every beverage possible, having realised the huge mistake I'd made by forgetting to add it throughout the day so far.</span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also noticed all the other customers were dressed in shorts and vests and it hit us how very hot the day was. Having run through the night and dawn, we hadn't taken much notice of the weather really. I joked that we should have set off earlier to avoid the heat of the day! We went on to the nearest ice cream shop. A restorative cornetto was in order. The lady behind the counter politely enquirer if we'd finished our run for the day. We said we were heading (another 15 miles) to Chipping Campden. Surprised, she asked where we'd started. With a totally straight face, I replied 'Bath'. She was further surprised to say the least!</span></div><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/AVvXsEie1rroS-ijWTkca1vVEbwYsnpwcdWiiThkqsyxqLdps94koeCFQ5jHAHuFk_gs17ov9tJUioLpTyVDN87jH_H2y4NoVWEPV3g5CQFaxtRW-H5ufL78p2iZ58Pz23kWQBa9RvnVZiwMBgI/s1600/IMG_1066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1rroS-ijWTkca1vVEbwYsnpwcdWiiThkqsyxqLdps94koeCFQ5jHAHuFk_gs17ov9tJUioLpTyVDN87jH_H2y4NoVWEPV3g5CQFaxtRW-H5ufL78p2iZ58Pz23kWQBa9RvnVZiwMBgI/s320/IMG_1066.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleeve Hill</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By this stage my feet had started to gain a bit more notice, they were quite painful and I suspected that there were a couple of blisters. The blisters I could feel weren't in my usual blister spots either. Afterwards, I thought that this was probably because my gait changed after I turned my ankle and since the problems were all on the left foot, this seemed a likely explanation. I am happy with this explanation anyway, as it means that my speed cross shoes remain without criticism :) David was not without niggles either and had resorted to wearing his pack backwards by this stage to avoid chafing his back any further. The skin on my back wasn't in great shape, but my feet were gaining all of the attention! We considered a brisk walk to Chipping Campden, but I did the maths and said that I really didn't fancy another 5 hours, which is what it would take at around 3mph. We instead managed a steady jog/walk of around 4mph for the final section. I felt better during this section than from 60-80 miles, perhaps because the end was in sight. However, Fish Hill, right near the end, proved a challenge for my blistered toes and was very painful! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><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/AVvXsEji63vBPxxeEBwLcOudnn_OcL-pKaim9bEdxHewK6zLIJwMCgm2RXIffMa8H4UHBYgBfy0X4qS8Bq_rLQi_yw0WgIXoroQh7xtIMnLnOMXi4Weeu6Mj_lWc-6jQTlP9Xo-tMQUUQqWT8hc/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji63vBPxxeEBwLcOudnn_OcL-pKaim9bEdxHewK6zLIJwMCgm2RXIffMa8H4UHBYgBfy0X4qS8Bq_rLQi_yw0WgIXoroQh7xtIMnLnOMXi4Weeu6Mj_lWc-6jQTlP9Xo-tMQUUQqWT8hc/s320/photo.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadway Tower</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broadway Tower marked the summit and was a pretty sight in the fading daylight. Finally Chipping Campden was in sight, over some fields, we could see the town in the distance. We managed a steady jog alongside the fields. My feet were killing me, but nothing else was hurting, not my knees, hips, or even the ankle I turned, so I resolved that hurty feet really weren't worth getting upset about and just plodded on.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We reached Chipping Campden and wove our way between the houses to the final dibbling in point on the Trailblaze! With relief I dibbed in and laughed at the sign above that quite poignantly directed us to the nearest surgery! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not having the foresight to realise that after running 100 miles, I would be unlikely in a fit state to drive home, we urgently tried to find a B&B with the assistance of my sister (who is now getting used to strange requests via phone call whilst I'm out on a 'thing'... at least this one didn't involve trying to call Mountain Rescue, much to her relief). Despite our best efforts, we ended up sleeping in our cars at the Air Balloon pub. Not before we had a pub meal in Chipping Campden though. I had the dubious pleasure of walking / hobbling up the high street in an ensemble of odd clothing collected from the boot of my car (sparkly scarf & boyfriend's jumper included) as I was freezing cold, with my worldly possessions in a Tesco bag for life. David kindly remarked that I looked like a bag lady. I felt that crowned the achievement quite nicely.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less than 24 hours after the run, feet tended to, RICE, and lots of tea…. we decided that the next one should be the Cleveland Way. Clearly, the madness takes some time to wear off.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to all for their texts of support during the 100 miles - much appreciated! They really kept us going!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TQSFn9LcIJ39kacOzwOA-r39d39ubuLwAcIxfNOJ9oPD7ciAO8luMKoVPL-_Ch1NSQxm9GunPap94Wrnqb-DLfO694IuEFKiMGSCEgwthUqtC-l7sC1hcWDJIcqBFf38ycm7MvEMhqQ/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><br />
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-25689976470933104752012-07-13T03:55:00.002-07:002012-07-13T04:20:04.196-07:00Rescue on the Rhinogs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We woke to glorious sunshine, as forecast. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a cup of tea on the beach first thing in the morning. We packed our bags for the wild camp. I dispensed with anything 'spare' including a few items of food. As Sunday was planned to be a short day, I thought my breakfast plus one cereal bar would see me through nicely. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We parked at Penmanpool as planned and paid 20p each to cross the toll bridge to the foot of the Rhinogs. The man at the toll asked us if we knew where we were going. It always instills me with confidence to know that someone thinks we looked lost less than 50m from the car. We ran a little, but it took me a while to get used to the weight of the pack. We followed the river up and out of the town and soon found ourselves on our way up the first of the mountains for that day, Diffys West. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1(5343ft elevation) route in blue, day 2 (1951ft of elevation) route in red</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Having read Hermon's guide to the Rhinogs, we knew to expect nice grassy runable ground on the southern Rhinogs, with easy navigation, and later, to the north, rocky and heathery conditions underfoot, accompanied by more tricky route finding. The Rhinogs did not disappoint in this respect. Quickly ticking off Diffys, Y Lethra, and the ridge we enjoyed a nice stroll along this ridge and looked back to the Cadair range to see our route from the previous day. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It was such a beautiful sunny day, we were really happy with our decision to switch to camping on the Saturday night. The views were awesome. We could see for miles, across to Snowdon, the Lleyn peninsula and our route for the next day were all before us. It felt like we were up on a high wire across the middle of Wales, looking down on the other hills.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Coming down off Rhinog Fach, the words from the guidebook were ringing in our ears 'Wobetide those who lose the paths on the Rhinogs'. It is fair to say that it felt as though we had lost the path as we scrabbled, fell, and generally threw ourselves through the heather and rocks on the descent, but on reaching 'the path' and looking back, and on carefully inspecting the north face of Rhinog Fach for quite some time (there was plenty of opportunity later…) I could see no better way off this hill and concluded that there was no path! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We marched across the bog, heading for a 'rock' on which to sit and contemplate the equally indistinct route up the next mountain Rhinog Fawr. There was quite some elevation loss between each mountain in the north of the range. We plonked ourselves down on the rock to think about the route up. We could pick out a faint track in the scree, marked by being a slightly lighter colour. So we headed for that and figured we'd just keep going up! As luck would have it, we came across a little bit of a path and so we made some good progress up the mountain. I was starving and looking forward to cooking up our dinner when we reached the Llyn on the far side of this mountain. We also only had about 500ml of water between us, so we planned to fill up at the Llyn too. We just had to pop out over the top and down to the other side. We thought we'd be cooking up in about half an hour.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We stopped briefly to admire the view. Our route from the day stretched out in front of us. We really had been lucky with the weather and it had been an amazing day. There had been quite a lot of climbing and my legs were starting to feel it a bit, so the break was welcome. We turned to continue and spotted another person about 20 meters ahead. This was only the second person we'd seen all day, so I waved. As I got closer, David shouted down to ask me if we had a first aid kit, as the man on the path had hurt himself. It was only as I approached them that I saw the extent of his injuries. Considering our remote position, the injuries, and that the man was on his own, I was in no doubt that we needed to make an emergency call to Mountain Rescue. </span></div>
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Everything happened quite quickly. It's amazing how you can call on these skills that you never know are there until you need them. The man was happy to see us, and agreed that we'd better get help. Unfortunately we had no mobile reception and so we decided that David would try to get a signal somewhere and I'd stay to do some first aid and look after the man. <br />
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I did my best to dress all of his injuries and keep him warm. Fortunately the man was exceptionally well equipped for the hills as he was wild camping too, so I put him in his warm clothes and his sleeping bag, and just chatted to him, keeping him awake, warm and trying to keep him calm as he was understandably in shock. David was gone for about 40 minutes. It seemed such a long time to me. It was quite scary and I was seriously considering that we'd have to put our tent up and spend the night with our new companion to wait for help to arrive. At one point it threatened to rain and my heart just sunk as I knew how cold and desperate it would get if it started chucking it down with rain at that point.</div>
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David arrived back, but from his conversation with the emergency services we weren't sure if anyone was coming, how long they might be, and whether to expect a helicopter or a ground team. We decided to make a more comfortable camp and get the man into his bivvy bag and make some hot drinks before we made any further attempts to run for help. We knew the nearest place to get help was a camp site about 4-6 miles north of the summit. David could run there, but we needed to put the tent up together first, so that there was somewhere for us to shelter whilst we waited.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Just in case mountain rescue were on their way, we got all of our high-visability items out of our bags, and laid them out on the path, weighted down with stones. We made a hot drink and just chatted about anything really, just to keep everyone calm. The man was in a lot of discomfort and I guessed he'd broken a bone. His bleeding had stopped but he was obviously in a lot of pain. He was warm though and he knew we wouldn't leave him.</span></div>
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We'd guessed our co-ordinates and I got my phone out to check them as I remembered that i'd got an app on my iPhone. I noticed a text message had 'drifted' through from my sister, Amy and thought I might get a signal again so I urgently typed out our co-ordinates in a text and sent it to three people asking them to phone mountain rescue as we weren't sure our message had got through. The text just sat there for ages, I wasn't sure it had sent. But I kept trying.</div>
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We were just starting to make plans for the night time, when I thought I heard a helicopter. We looked up and saw the huge yellow sea king sweeping towards us. The thought that they might not see us was too much to bear and I leapt up, yelling at David to come and help me to wave the high viz survival bag in the air. It worked a treat, blowing up like a wind sock. The helicopter circled round, then hovered above us. I returned to the man, who was a bit shaky and I thought the gravity of the situation had probably hit him again.<br />
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The winch man was lowered down to our location. It was absolutely amazing to see. The man even asked me to take some pictures for him on his phone! We helped a little and gave all the information we had. We were invited to have a lift down to the valley in the helicopter, but we were ok really and so we politely declined, even though it would have been a very cool experience! The helicopter returned with four Mountain Rescue Volunteers. All amazing people who were giving up their free time on a Saturday night to come out and help with the rescue. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We still only had half a litre of water, and had to make our dinner. Quietly, in the back ground, David had gone about collecting any water he could from the volunteers, and from the casualty, who had said we could help ourselves to any of his water or food. Thankfully, we also took a couple of his cereal bars… which felt a bit naughty, but given the distance we had left to cover the following day, there's no way we had enough food to last us, and he said we could take a bit of food. We hope to get the man's address and furnish him with some replacement cereal bars! Once the man had been treated and he was secured to be airlifted, we said goodbye to everyone and made our way to the summit of Rhinog Fawr, some 3 or 4 hours later than we'd anticipated. The light was fading and we stood near the summit and watched the helicopter go into the distance. Scrambling down in the dusk, we quickly found a spot to camp, pitched the tent and cooked our dinner as we watched the sun set around 10:30pm. What a night. We couldn't believe how lucky he was that we saw him. It was so remote, we'd seen only one other person all day and it doesn't bear thinking about what might have happened. We reflected on our original plan, as we sat in our little tent to the north of Rhinog Fawr. "Whatever we do… we mustn't end up camping north of Rhinog Fawr". We checked the map, and thought that the next day was likely to take ever so slightly more than the 2 hours we'd got planned! Needless to say, we slept well!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We woke up fairly early on Sunday, as is traditional in a one-man tent. It was a little bit misty, but by the time we had taken down the tent, the mists had cleared and we had a beautiful view over the Lleyn peninsula. We had no water left, so we dropped down to the larger Llyn to get some water to make our breakfast. We spotted two more tents on the side of the Lleyn and found two dads with their young sons of about 7 or 8 years old who had seen the helicopter the night before and were intrigued by the story (inclusive of gruesome details). They invited us to use their 'cooking stone' and so we found ourselves enjoying our breakfast in their excited company. They then made their way to the summit, and we started south for the final and outlying mountain in the Rhinog range, Y Garn.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Y Garn was far away, there was no mistaking that, but we assessed the route on the map as fairly flat or downhill for a while and therefore runable and fast under foot. In this assumption, we were sadly mistaken. We had a lovely run through the forest and enjoyed some navigational geekyness as a back bearing from the summit of Rhinog Fawr was called for to get a fix on our location. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We then left the forest and came upon a lovely fast flowing stream where we stopped for a nice long drink of water. Looking up, I recognised the next stretch as my nemesis - tussocks. I tend to fall over every three steps, they come up to my thighs as I am so small, and they are exceptionally slow going. There was nothing else for it though, so it was heads down and just stomp through for about a mile to a nice track. On arrival at the track, we had to climb over a barbed wire fence. I lost count of how many walls and fences we climbed over on that day. No right of way seemed to have a stile or be clearly marked on the ground and it was all fairly slow going underfoot. Still, it was a nice day and the views were still there to be had.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We had planned on the map to hand rail up the side of a wall to the summit of Y Garn. This was better in theory than in practice. Again we were met with tussocks and found ourselves walking in a stream. It seemed that every big of tricky ground, prickly plant, or barbed wire was being put in our path! Not being deterred by this, we hitched up over the wall and made good progress up the other side to gain the summit of Y Garn. We then headed directly south and hand railed the side of the forest to get down to the 'path' (again indistinct) and on the road to the toll bridge. We quickly whipped past the booth (surely it was 20p return?) and arrived back at the car. It took much longer than we anticipated. By the time we got back to the car, we'd been out around 6 hours and so it was essential to head out for tea and cake to celebrate our adventures.</span></div>
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</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-83740007600703659612012-07-09T15:11:00.000-07:002012-07-11T15:16:44.274-07:00Cadair Capers<div style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Have you been swimming?" asked the cashier in the supermarket, as we purchased our evening meal. It was a decent guess and testament to the elements we had been running in for 18 or so miles. In parts, yes, our days activities were closer to swimming than to running! And yes, my hair was soaking wet and I was shivering. So swimming was a good guess, given that no sane person could possibly have been out running on such a wet day.</span></div>
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Both of us were stubbornly ignoring the weather on the drive over to Wales. It was going to be a fabulous weekend. Any weekend that starts with a most fantastic gift - a custom made map for a local race we are doing, is bound to be a good weekend. I was over the moon with my map of the Long Mynd Hike. </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The plan, carefully hatched as always, was to wild camp on Friday night, however, we made a slight alteration to The Grand Plan and decided that Saturday-Sunday looked a better option for a wild camp with respect to the weather forecast. </span>Having decided to do a one-dayer, we planned a nice little route over coffee and a muffin. We decided we shouldn't really go too far, or too high in the weather. So we settled for 18 miles, 4000ft of elevation, and not quite to the top of Cadair Idris. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We drove to Morfa Mawddach and parked up and started the run by heading south to see a lovely quarried pool called the Blue Lake. I imagine this is really busy for wild swimming on a sunny day, but we found ourselves alone there. It was a beautiful place. There were some remains from the days that the quarry was mined. It is always a bit eerie to see these, as if they just stopped work yesterday and left everything behind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing about running on such a rainy day was that the waterfalls were so impressive. We saw many throughout the day and they were really blasting down the hills. I've never seen anything like it! Within the first few miles we came across a stream crossing. We were a bit wary as it was very fast flowing. After a short discussion we resigned ourselves to crossing it (it was probably thigh deep, and very fast), and we started making a few plans for how best to cross safely, then my eyes fell upon a wooden sign with an arrow, saying 'path' and we revised our plans, taking the nice road over the top instead!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-oYwxDTGgGUJNbrQgcXxIpW0hE-42MgYuDNDONWGJN95mmbtf_92zsYxH6oKpHsIHjEKS3yIk8QYpjRtUqocDyPm8yaOFfDJPAM8SlSxQvwAzFjGzwxrmBrCPfvPl_qfKjln3c8nyzE/s1600/P7060481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-oYwxDTGgGUJNbrQgcXxIpW0hE-42MgYuDNDONWGJN95mmbtf_92zsYxH6oKpHsIHjEKS3yIk8QYpjRtUqocDyPm8yaOFfDJPAM8SlSxQvwAzFjGzwxrmBrCPfvPl_qfKjln3c8nyzE/s320/P7060481.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The route took in some standing stones and hut circles which we explored before heading into a forest and up Braich Ddu onto the ridge. The rain was fairly persistent and it was a bit blowy on the top. We took in Craig y llyn and Tyrrau Mawr then dropped down before the summit of Cadair Idris and followed the pony track to a salubrious venue (public toilet) to take a break and refuel.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Shortly after this, disaster struck for David as the (notoriously hard to mend) Salomon speed cross lace snapped in two. I said it would be fine. I just need a paper clip and I can mend it. We crossed our fingers that there was a paper clip somewhere in the 'van and carried on our route, sloshing through the puddle of path, past the beautiful Cregennan lakes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We hit another stream about 2 miles from the car. This time it was a little deeper and a bit faster, but we were absolutely soaked, so we just waded across without much debate. 20m down the path, laughing at how drenched we were, we spotted the foot bridge. When will we learn? </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't see any other way across...</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We ran down the stream from Arthog admiring the waterfalls along the way and emerged at the estuary where we did a quick and very sloshy lap around the edges to arrive back at the car. We only saw two other people on the whole route. They looked like they had been swimming too :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The speed cross lace was fixed with the help of a 1.5" nail that we found in the van (in lieu of a paper clip) and a figure of eight knot. It held for the remainder of the weekend. I'm not giving up the day job, but it was a pretty impressive make-do-and-mend. We plotted our route for Saturday and Sunday. The plan was fairly loose, but essentially park at Penmanpool, head up over the Rhinogs range - West Diffys, Diffys, Y Llethra, Rhinog Fach, Rhinog Fawr, cook our dinner around 6pm, then carry on running back south via a forest to find a wild camp spot somewhere near the foot of Y Garn, leaving about 2-3 hours running on Sunday to return to the car. Whatever happened, we decided we <i>definitely</i> had to camp quite far <u>south</u> of Rhinog Fawr, and <i>definitely</i> not to the <u>north</u> of it. Best laid plans….</span></div>
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<span id="goog_763127590"></span><span id="goog_763127591"></span>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-23122668825015136062012-07-02T04:09:00.000-07:002012-07-03T16:40:12.909-07:00Gower ShowersLast week was running at the weekend, next week is running at the weekend and so what I have got here, is a nice climbing sandwich! Last weekend took me off to the Gower for a weekend of climbing with West Brom mountaineering club. Chris organised the weekend and got us into a lovely bunk house, with a fabulous view.<br />
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After a mammoth drive down with Oliver - (many many thanks for driving) we had been in the car so long, we felt as though we had reached the end of the known world. I was excited to have my first climb on sea cliffs and got my guide book out. I knew the weather was 'changeable' and so had running in mind as a wet-weather plan. Yes, i know, monopoly may have been a more sensible option, but when did sensible get in the way of a good plan?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall Bay</td></tr>
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We headed off to Fall Bay, which is not exactly a great name for a climbing area. Whilst the others set up top ropes on the lower tier, we targeted a couple of climbs on the upper tier; free from the threat of the tide, but aware of the ever present threat of little presents from the seagulls. nice.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gstelli - the gulley in the centre</td></tr>
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We had a 'warm up' on <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=46550" target="_blank">Gstelli</a> (S), which I inaccurately assessed as looking like a bit of a scramble. I since learned that it was severe for a reason... this was at the overhang where all four limbs were attached to one hold. Olly led, and I was relieved to be seconding! It was at this crux that the heavens opened and treated us to our first short sharp shower. We set up an abseil and came back down the route, I successfully identified the point at which the climb was (S) and not (scramble) and we set our sights on the next climb along - Gethsemane.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gethsemene</td></tr>
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Gethsemane started by climbing across a little ridge then following a groove. Oliver led, there were some tricky sections, made more tricky by the conditions, but it was a long enjoyable climb. At one point, whilst belaying however, the second shower came down and I assumed a belay position that was more in line with Scottish Winter than summer coastal. It stayed dry whilst I seconded the route, but the conditions made it a bit slippery. After being caught in a third blast of rain, we decided to head back to the hut and revise afternoon plans!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheltering from the rain behind a rock</td></tr>
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We had a lovely run of around 7 miles up to the beacon and all around Worms head. Got caught in a load of rain again, but it's much more fun running in rain than climbing in the rain! To top the day off, tea in the pub and then beer (tea for me) around the fire on the evening. Lovely!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'worm'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wildlife</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the beacon</td></tr>
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On the second day, I identified a non-tidal crag on the north of the peninsula that I hoped would be (as it boasted) protected from the wind. Once we found the crag actually getting to it was no mean feat and involved head height nettles, gorse bushes and whacking down weeds with the rope bag. There was a path there somewhere... it was on the map.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groove (D)</td></tr>
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Crag found. We now had to identify a Y-shaped crack that every climb on the route was signposted from. This was not apparent, so Olly and I started from the edge and worked our way across, identifying climbs. The climbing there was very nice, although it was limestone, it was rough and very grippy. There were virtually no hand holds, so it was good for technique but also very little protection, not good for me learning to lead. Olly led all climbs. We set up an abseil and did three nice long routes of about 36m on the slab.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slab & Rib (VD)</td></tr>
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Heading home, we again realised that the Gower was far far away we faced at least 4 hours in the car, but it was worth it for a nice day out climbing!</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0Gower, Southgate, Swansea SA3, UK51.572185 -4.09815451.562315999999996 -4.117895 51.582054 -4.078413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-71430272609838549052012-06-28T23:00:00.000-07:002012-06-28T16:59:31.640-07:00Long Mynd Hike RecceHaving done the Trail Marathon, the next run on the cards for this year is the Long Mynd Hike. This is a 50 mile (ish) run over the Shropshire hills near Church Stretton. There isn't a set route as such, you just have to visit the checkpoints, and so there's opportunity to recce the course and try to find the best routes between the CP's. I have run the entire course with a friend who has done the event many times, this was back in January as training for Trans Grancanaria. For fun, we did the route overnight, starting at midnight. This was great, but unfortunately running the route in the dark didn't do a lot for me in terms of committing it all to memory. As the run will actually start around noon, some if it will be inevitably be in the dark... ironically however, this is the section I have done in the light... and so a couple of recce's are called for.<br />
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On such a lovely evening as this (following hail storms, thunder and torrential rain in the day), it didn't take much convincing to get fellow Trans Aq (and now Long Mynd Hike) competitor, David, to come out for a play in the Shropshire Hills. I planned a section that I was least sure of, and where there were a couple of options for us to explore.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Mytton Dingle</td></tr>
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We headed out to the Stiperstones pub and started the evening's running, still in fairly hot weather. The plan was to recce the route between about mile 15 and 26 (checkpoints 6-8). We first headed over Mytton Dingle (a short sharp climb to gain the ridge), then headed down on good tracks between a line of trees and downhill through fields towards the stream in the direction of Habberley. Here we thought there was an option to stay on the road, or go cross country. We opted for cross country and after a few navigational concerns, decided we'd picked the wrong path. I didn't recall any of it either, so that was a bit of a clue. Homework done and decision made, we went along the road to Habberley and started the climb up Earl's Hill. This is where I had been climbing earlier in the week, and there are some lovely views to be had, so we took a break to enjoy the lovely evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Earl's Hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David running to the top of Earl's Hill</td></tr>
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The top of Earl's marked our halfway point. We descended back into Habberley and then laboured over a surprise hill, that is one of those 'too steep to run, not steep enough to walk' type of hills. Arriving at the checkpoint location- Bank Farm, we briefly stopped to imagine eating some cake and drinking tea, and then turned 'sharp left' to go down into the woods. <br />
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Winding our way through the woods, the path gradually climbed up. We enjoyed this section, it was very pretty, the sunlight was coming through the trees and it was a nice runable trail. The woods opened up and we crossed a couple of fields before hitting the road and starting the run back to Snailbeach (wonderful place name, no idea where it came from, it is not a beach and there is not above average Snail count). Here we encountered a couple of cyclists who got rather more navigational aid than they'd bargained for when they asked us for directions back to their car (they set off with a precise bearing and were told they'd have to pace it out as they had no map). <br />
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We cut in slightly to avoid a kink in the path and discovered this....<br />
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So distracted were we by this historical feature, that we then headed right up an unnecessary hill. We both burst out 'who said it was only an extra 4 contours to come this way??!' (map geeks)... then worked out we'd come the wrong way, back tracked and continued on our way back to the road (via a rather bizarrely engineered gate) then on to Stiperstones pub. We finished up at the pub and stayed there for something to eat. What a great way to spend an evening!<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0Shropshire, UK52.5864845 -2.703750152.2777805 -3.3354641000000003 52.895188499999996 -2.0720361tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-36982246882728224812012-06-25T06:44:00.000-07:002012-06-28T06:57:40.780-07:00Trail Marathon Wales<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I entered Trail Marathon Wales the day after the Snowdonia Marathon last year. After running 26.2 miles in a total downpour, I remember reflecting on how lovely it would be to run a marathon in Wales in the glorious month of June. I wasn't dreaming of a heat wave… just a dry day. As the day approached however, this looked to be less and less likely. Friday night speculations of the weather forecast (triangulated across three different websites) looked fairly bleak. 25mph wind and rain from 9am -2pm. The total time I expected to be out. The coat/no coat debate rattled through my head for a few hours on the evening. In the end, I briefly considered a poncho, then thought there was no point, I'd be soaked after an hour anyway, and went with a t-shirt. I wore my salomon XR energy belt with 2x200ml bottles and took 2 power bars and a Gu gel. Fashion decisions made, my mind turned to food...</span><br />
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A number of my running club friends had entered the event, either the half or the full, and we were lucky enough to stay in a gorgeous accommodation, booked by Helen. We had a lovely pasta dinner together but jointly decided there was not enough room left for a custard pudding. However, Cindy's fruitcake went down very nicely with a cup of tea! It was a real treat, lovely company, very cosy living room, open fire, very clean and nicely decorated, comfy bed… pity I couldn't really take it in and relax as I was a bit nervous about the race. As usual, I had convinced myself that i had not trained at all. The 5 long runs over the last 6 weeks, the hill reps up Sedgley Beacon (to the amused looks of dog walkers), the speed work sessions with secret speed work club, park runs, and various other activities were wiped from my mind as I sat contemplating my race number feeling the most unfit I have ever felt in my life. As a psychologist, I should know better. Luckily the free pair of salomon socks in the goody bag cheered me up a bit!</div>
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The morning arrived, and I executed pre-race procedures with military precision. Eating what I eat, drinking what I usually drink, contact lenses in (success! A relief as I forgot the spare pair). Had my 'Beet it' shot, which is becoming more palatable these days, and checked and double checked everything was ready. Various people from the club were helping us out. Julie was our emergency person… she was going to have a busy morning if we all got ill!! Others had our bags and I felt well looked after! I drove up with fellow marathoner's (and survivors of the Arden Way accidental Ultra) Helen & Marie. We got a parking space and sat in the car pondering over when to eat our 'last little snack'. We managed to spot Dave and Andy from the club who'd travelled up that morning for the half. They hadn't located their race numbers yet, so we left them to it.</div>
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There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing from the car to the start, car to the loo, car and then back to the car as key was still in car. We managed to meet with the full DK contingent on these travels! Finally we were at the start. It was nice to see Mike from <a href="http://1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/stokeontrent/" target="_blank">1st Contact Physiotherapy </a>too. He was looking for a 4 hour finish. Looking at the elevation, I decided I'd be happy with 5.<br />
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There was a great atmosphere at the start, some apologies for the course collapsing and some re-routing taking place. I was grateful to hear that we weren't doing two laps of the half… which would have been considerably easier for the organisers to mark, but they had managed to get a new marathon route marked in time, so full credit to them for going ahead, despite the weather making things difficult! We were off and the first 6 miles ticked off quite quickly. There was a lot of descent and some beautiful waterfalls and scenery. It was a bit daunting as what goes down…. and so the uphill soon came. First a short sharp uphill on a technical section, then just over the half way point, a painful slog uphill over fields. It was good to see Andy Sprague pass me on the half marathon route, and it was just after that at about mile 14 that I felt a bit zapped. I managed the first half in 2:08 and was a bit worried I had gone out too fast. I was really feeling it and worried I'd hit some sort of wall early on. I wasn't expecting to feel rough, this early. Then I looked back and realised I'd been running up a gradual incline as we left the forest and had not really dropped pace. I slowed up a bit, had a bit of food, and then pushed on to the top of the hill, hoping that particular hill did not rear it's ugly head on the 'partial' loop that we were to do later on in the run.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monster hill- near the top!</td></tr>
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I still didn't feel marvellous. At one point I was convinced I was having some sort of medical emergency as my face was all tingly and I couldn't understand why. Then I realised I was running through swarms of midges. Eugh. It was the badge of honour of the event - we all had squished midges stuck to our faces at the end. I don't think it will catch on as a cosmetic product!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running through the trees- we did this section twice on the full marathon</td></tr>
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I had my gel at mile 17, happy to see Sandra from DK. We had a bit of a concertina going on. I couldn't go downhill too fast because I had stitch, and Sandra was impeded by cramp on the uphill sections. We met at several occasions. Conversation was sparse, but encouraging. </div>
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"still got stitch?"</div>
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"yeah, still got cramp?" </div>
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"Yeah." </div>
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"Well done, carry on"</div>
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I didn't have another "moment" and felt ok. I noticed my average time slipped drastically from 9:30 min miles to 10:30 between the halfway point and 18 miles. I guess there was a lot more ascent on the second half, but i could be wrong, and maybe just went out too fast. Mile 20 passed and it took us back on a path past a beautiful waterfall, and along a technical section, which took my mind off the distance to go.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking far too happy! It must have been early in the race ha ha</td></tr>
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At mile 25 (on my watch) however, i had a serious disliking for the course director as the course took a sudden sweep up a huge nose-to-ground hill. The top was not visible through the trees and so it was really hard to know just how much effort to put in, but I pushed on as hard as a could, stomping up the hill. Arriving at the top, I was a bit alarmed as I thought I'd come the wrong way. There was an abandoned checkpoint, and no sign of anyone. I pressed on following the red salomon ribbon, hoping I didn't just come up that big hill for nothing! The same thought occurred to Marie, a while later as she was up there on her own too. It was the only point where I felt a bit concerned that i'd gone wrong, the course marking was superb, it was just this empty table that knocked me a bit! </div>
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I thought it had to be all downhill to the finish now and less than half a mile. But I was slightly wrong, as the 25 mile marker appeared just as 25.8 miles was showing on my watch… and the path was still a bit undulating. Well on the bright side, the pounds per mile value of the race just increased. I took it on as a bonus challenge, dug in and was determined to come in at a decent pace. Having no idea where the finish was exactly, it was difficult to push, but I could hear the commentator at the finish line and knew I must be close. One last push and I saw Preston with his camera on the road side, he totally missed me, but it was good to see him and some other supporters cheering us in. Finally the finish was in sight and I heard the DK crowd cheering me in. It was a great feeling to get in 4:49! Sandra, still battling with cramp was just behind me, followed by Helen, Cath & Mick Quane, then Marie. We were all totally wiped out at the end!</div>
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It was a great day out for our club. We had 11 in the half marathon and 6 in the full, Andy Sprague from the club won his category in the half in an amazing time of 1:36:57 and took home a lovely Salomon pack as his prize. All the DK contingent completed and all were really taken with the event. it was hard, but a really fantastic experience. I didn't see Mike at the end, but he finished in 4:08, but given the bonus mile, we can probably call it a sub 4! All in all, the organisation of the event can't be faulted. It's been excellent from start to finish. I am hoping they put an ultra distance on too next year! I know Helen and Marie will be up for it ;)<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61336816@N02/" target="_blank">Cath and Mick Quane</a>, <a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alastair Tye</a> and <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101179749195971530754/TMWGraham2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCPnbvKmvnYe8iAE" target="_blank">Graham Spencer</a> for the Photos!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61336816@N02/sets/72157630294657326/" target="_blank">Some pictures from the DK website</a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-77562115169782837712012-05-21T11:11:00.000-07:002012-05-21T11:21:43.941-07:00Arden Way<br />
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The long run for this week was a carefully hatched plan (over a glass of wine) about a month back. Marie, Helen and I set off early in the morning for the quiet village of Henley in Arden, where, next to the grandeur of the TSB, our route for the day commenced. We were attempting the <a href="http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Arden+Way" target="_blank">Arden Way</a>, a 26 mile circular national trail that starts in Henley on Arden and then circles around to Alcester and back to Henley.<br />
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This run was being used by all 3 of us to try out strategies for the up coming trail marathon Wales. I was trying out some new anti-chafe cream to stop my pack from rubbing my back and a new recovery drink. I was also trying out some different food, as I have been researching which food is the best on a long run, and have decided to try and avoid sweet and sugary food, and go for the low GI food. As we won't be able to carry much food in Trans Aq, I want it all to count, and keep me going! Miles per gram might be the new rule of thumb! I left all jelly babies, sweets, and fast sugars at home and had nice wholemeal bagel and seedy bars with me. It was all very healthy really.</div>
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Although it was tipping it down with rain, we all stuck rigidly to the plan and set out to Henley, and when we arrived, the weather turned and we never saw another drop of rain all day. Bags packed and maps set, we headed out of the town and past the golf course to join the trail. The route passed many pretty little chapels, and onto the village of Ullenhall. It was at this early stage of the run that we had our first encounter with the killer cows and an ever inviting 'beware of the bull' sign. A small deviation was enforced upon us, but it took us into a lovely bluebell wood, so we didn't mind too much :) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They most certainly wanted it back</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcoming :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studley Castle Hotel</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">On past Studely castle hotel, the route eluded us for a short while as I couldn't quite orientate my way across a field, despite the fact that the route pretty much followed a river. I was so busy reading the map, I managed to fall over (embarrassment number 1). After turning back and re routing for about half a mile, I felt a bit of an idiot (embarrassment number 2), located the river and exited the field at the appropriate point. Disaster averted. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river I missed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coughton Court</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We ran on past National Trust property Coughton Court, through fields of rapeseed and on to Alcester where we stopped at Tesco to restock on water. We shared out the 2l bottle between us and headed out of town along a street lined with bunting! I don't think it was out for us, but I felt suitably under-dressed for the occasion.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running through the rapeseed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very patriotic!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We ran up past a wood and then down the road to rejoin the wood on the other side. or so I thought. The problem was that the wood was far behind us… and it was getting further behind, and it was not where it should be. I concluded we were on the wrong road, which was disappointing as we were about a mile along it. Turning round (and by now realising the 26 mile route was probably more like 29), we headed back to the proper path and continued around the wood, marking the journey northward back to Henley.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the wood and heading back north</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St John the Baptist Church</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We passed through a couple of lovely little blue bell woods, which made a slog up a few hilly fields worth while, but by mile 20, we were all feeling it a little bit. I had the little road book and noted that by the end of the penultimate page, 'they' said we'd be on mile 22. We were actually on mile 25, so my estimate of 3 miles extra was accurate and I heartily informed my companions that we'd be doing an ultra that day. Their enthusiasm was unwavering and we continued on our way. I had eaten all my food, I was starving and starting to feel a bit funny. I gave up on my well thought out sugar-free notions and succumbed to a couple of orange jelly babies, which did me the world of good. Stupid idea to give up sugary stuff anyway.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewpoint from Bannam's Wood</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNtpgeqlV47vUsRQTUTpQHWa6bKYcSdDZFv6oVo4yOkpE26MxlJJsQ4hUCCSIxPPn18YEz8nRkgtDLBdFEge1dEphYL_cCNJxCyrceOoOFiCbe_nnikZDM5PLYJdHcpD__IrdKjcShaM/s1600/P5170187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNtpgeqlV47vUsRQTUTpQHWa6bKYcSdDZFv6oVo4yOkpE26MxlJJsQ4hUCCSIxPPn18YEz8nRkgtDLBdFEge1dEphYL_cCNJxCyrceOoOFiCbe_nnikZDM5PLYJdHcpD__IrdKjcShaM/s320/P5170187.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It was with a small cheer that I turned the page and we were on the last page of the route and 4 miles to go. The final stage took us through a lovely bluebell wood called Bannam's Wood, where there was a view point. We then crossed countless fields and I had the embarrassment (number 3) of having to physically lift my leg up to get over stiles, whilst Marie, still spritely (reminding us that she is nearly 50) stepped over with ease. I knew it was about 1 mile to the end from the last road crossing and we agreed to stick together. Except for the fact that we were a little unsure about the direction across the field and it was a hill… so, not wanting to climb an unnecessary incline, the girls sent me ahead to scout it out. We left the fields and emerged into a housing estate, where we happily leapt up some steps to join the high street and the happy sight of the TSB, and our finishing point!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'cross' in the square that marked the end of our route in Henley in Arden</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInXjUmlk71syQNyuNO51ZeB-Ea3OJSC7zWCnNmccYqJo3u2N2I6rUKQGW-49TrjI1YouixYzhQIO93aatDavVXgiY57wna-MxM5ThUAgqsJVD0_5GGto-CBnVZDSmtZT4gn9P4DfvbTU/s1600/P5170190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInXjUmlk71syQNyuNO51ZeB-Ea3OJSC7zWCnNmccYqJo3u2N2I6rUKQGW-49TrjI1YouixYzhQIO93aatDavVXgiY57wna-MxM5ThUAgqsJVD0_5GGto-CBnVZDSmtZT4gn9P4DfvbTU/s320/P5170190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had a fabulous run and we were all happy. I was still starving and excited to try out my new recovery drink - feeling most virtuous and wholesome I happily drunk the lot and was promptly ill (embarrassment number 4). So much for experimentation. Luckily the anti-chafe cream worked, my back wasn't too bad. So 1 out of 3 experiments were ok. I am keeping the jelly babies.</div>
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There was a bit of banter in the car with Marie suggesting that my Long Distance Walk book might be used in place of her Andrex if I was to bring it out in public again. I don't really believe that. Anyway, we're going out for a drink soon, so I'll just get the plans sorted for the 50 miler that I've got lined up and wait til then to announce it ;)</div>
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Thanks for a great day girls :)</div>
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<br /></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-54445029182654539542012-05-08T17:58:00.000-07:002012-05-09T08:24:37.014-07:00May Day Multi-Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">"Oh, we're free on May day bank holiday", the conversation started. "We could go and run the <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn</a> route then?" I continued. "Yes but we won't need three days" said Rich, "we could run from the house up to the peak district to make it more interesting". "Ok, lets" And so the plan was hatched. The plan was to run for three days. The purpose was firstly to get away at the bank hol, to recce the race route and for me to try out running over a few days, in preparation for a couple of multi day events that I have planned. Day 1 was to take us 28 miles from Newcastle-under-Lyme up to Gradbach Youth Hostel by the Roaches, via Mow Cop, and the Cloud (i.e., the long way round). Day 2 was to take us on to Castleton, an estimated 26 miles, and on Day 3 we planned to run on to Buxton train station, around 15 miles.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the teeny tiny rucksack</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Before setting off however, I had to pack (again). Seeing that Rich was opting for a 5 litre pack, I looked sadly towards what I thought was an economically packed 20 litre pack and faced the reality that I had indeed failed to pack light (again). Even after repacking Rich still had a sad and somewhat disappointed expression on his face. I conceded and removed the deodorant, bandage, spare top (anything that starts with the phrase "spare" is obviously unnecessary) . In a last and desperate attempt to make the pack look a decent size he pulled in all the toggles to make it look smaller. Apparently soap is unnecessary too - that stayed - it weighs 5g for crying out loud. Final pack weight was 4.9kg with water.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mow Cop at the top of the killer mile in the distance</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The first day of our mini multi dayer was mercifully dry following disastrous weather over the past month. We started out late morning after a lie in and a breakfast and headed out to Mow Cop, via the canal at Butt lane, along to Church Lawton and then up the killer mile. Breaking every rule in the ultra running book*, we proceeded to run up the killer mile- a PB was unlikely. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">atop the killer mile!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyWVPPWwNIo9ikW6h1TpO8rFz2DH_FIoWeQWDXeYgWnXTu9WOQShVVHARHjxwrBWBdRX938Ilw1zHW2RJiQmUNyV1EqIk50nRjhglbLWdYbVpDJvt-ODFb_xWhov1ms-IswVS2l9Cj_I/s1600/P5050019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyWVPPWwNIo9ikW6h1TpO8rFz2DH_FIoWeQWDXeYgWnXTu9WOQShVVHARHjxwrBWBdRX938Ilw1zHW2RJiQmUNyV1EqIk50nRjhglbLWdYbVpDJvt-ODFb_xWhov1ms-IswVS2l9Cj_I/s200/P5050019.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gritstone Trail with 'The Cloud' in the distance</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We headed along Congleton Edge and took the Gritstone Trail up to the top of The Cloud where we could see right back to the start of our route and onwards to the end.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The transmitter in the distance marked our route</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to Mow Cop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes... we can see Marshall's hat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of 'the Cloud'</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We had half planned a stop at Rushton. I felt quite good but for some reason things changed at mile 16 and I felt a bit rough. We got to the pub and I announced my less than spritely condition and we decided to stop for a cup of tea. Rich was feeling great and had been eating well but agreed that a cup of tea would be nice, it was a holiday after all. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">As soon as we entered the pub a cup of tea escalated to a quick snack, which turned into a bowl of soup and a side order of chips. Rich opted for the slightly more ample meal of cottage pie, chips and peas followed by a paracetamol sandwich for dessert. Which, upon reflection later that day was evauated as 'tasty but like a big chunk of lead in my chest' </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlgzMo8RD8Lhni47HDtqxn-kJQL8BwnZMszIg5Ml0pKIPuxp6hNeEH82ETinYFKpqtpFVIlme2wM8ONTNScrJmnZzT2_q1Xf_HPigCivoYrntdsmV7qb0ptWgSDcjPCyNanm7x1ym3MY/s1600/P5050036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlgzMo8RD8Lhni47HDtqxn-kJQL8BwnZMszIg5Ml0pKIPuxp6hNeEH82ETinYFKpqtpFVIlme2wM8ONTNScrJmnZzT2_q1Xf_HPigCivoYrntdsmV7qb0ptWgSDcjPCyNanm7x1ym3MY/s320/P5050036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But they were in... and they had a kettle :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paracetamol sandwich. Food of champions.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">For Rich, this hearty platter conjoured up a mixture of undesirable bodily experiences usually not desirable on a long run, or ever for that matter . . . I noticed something was wrong about 10 mins after we left the pub; I was suspicious as Rich had not overtaken me on the descent, this has never been known before. His face had an unusual expression 'what's up with you?' I asked, 'Ive just been sick in my mouth' came the miserable response. And that kind of set the tone for the remaining 10 miles.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9fdMTi7pTLknBDVoDy_Mwlc7_zZI3GkQBZFS3xpHqKglQ9QqAz6qAdiJAIc5HJA3M7F9klWQeShYyzQq4fAQjI2R4bU4WmQoxw7nGDS0lRH-vniQ3lceI77zwVgosfROlT-boNnTCz0/s1600/P5050044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9fdMTi7pTLknBDVoDy_Mwlc7_zZI3GkQBZFS3xpHqKglQ9QqAz6qAdiJAIc5HJA3M7F9klWQeShYyzQq4fAQjI2R4bU4WmQoxw7nGDS0lRH-vniQ3lceI77zwVgosfROlT-boNnTCz0/s320/P5050044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roaches in the background</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The route took us over a somewhat blustery Wincle Min therefore we detoured down to Wincle and along the Dane valley to get out of the strong winds. We arrived at Gradbach YHA where we drank a copious amount of tea and I happily washed off the 26 miles of the day with my 5g of soap and changed into my lovely 'spare' clothes. mmmm toasty :) We had done 3720ft of elevation over the route, but I knew the next day was a bit more hilly.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back, 'The Cloud' had developed a cloud.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrudrLmcMdJZxPgQRldOawghn9GncukAx-zS4GyNTeuGak0z0euB6osdIHnY6avv_eNDbzmXs1gcez4KLQDHZPF1Kc2tCghrg9YJ5ItlEG6KzAjec1Q0qn8kQ49XD2SYk62M8nGMw8J8/s1600/P5050050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrudrLmcMdJZxPgQRldOawghn9GncukAx-zS4GyNTeuGak0z0euB6osdIHnY6avv_eNDbzmXs1gcez4KLQDHZPF1Kc2tCghrg9YJ5ItlEG6KzAjec1Q0qn8kQ49XD2SYk62M8nGMw8J8/s320/P5050050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dane Valley</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I discovered a nasty heat rash had developed on my back and my clothes were rubbing me. Bad news. It's much hotter and more humid where I'll be running in France next year and over a week, that could get nasty. I'll have to see what I can do to improve that.</span><br />
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We booked a meal at the YHA and it was really tasty. It did not sit like lead in our stomachs and we were not sick in our mouths. Success. Once all the crazy running down corridors and door slamming duties had been completed by our fellow residents, it was time for lights out. I wonder how heavy and inessential ear plugs are?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13B43EjhUogFuFCtVgRAFRJFout7beuk-ahBmvU-Sdh9S3aY5s_Clz8sw0_F4DJv9w9a8-nLdb8s3DdNNoctFootIkRRDxrUIKSFOXji4Bc3HkZ9B7SM1tlODK9pO_95LkqD8IPCWlqo/s1600/P5060057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13B43EjhUogFuFCtVgRAFRJFout7beuk-ahBmvU-Sdh9S3aY5s_Clz8sw0_F4DJv9w9a8-nLdb8s3DdNNoctFootIkRRDxrUIKSFOXji4Bc3HkZ9B7SM1tlODK9pO_95LkqD8IPCWlqo/s320/P5060057.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gradbach Mill YHA</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">On Sunday, we woke early. Earlier than we wanted to anyway. I was starving and the sun was shining so we decided to get up eat breakfast, and make the most of the day.They had kindly cooked me a vegetarian breakfast so it felt rude not to eat it, although I don't usually eat a cooked breakfast. This was a decision I came to regret as I spent the run up to the Cat and Fiddle battling with my digestive system which wanted the food out of my body ... and it wasn't fussy which end. Cue gastric issues and yes, I too had the delightful experience of being sick in my mouth. Mmmm … moving on. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby sheep!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cue Trans Aq' training for 20m - a sandy path</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Our route took us away from Gradbach and up to the bridge at Three Shires Head where Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire meet. We then continued on to join the Dusk til Dawn route (mile 29 for the race and CP 3) at the Cat and Fiddle pub. It was closed. Panic stricken and in need of their facilities it became necessary to seek out 'facilities' elsewhere. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aU3HZUG7t2Znnr852YrCRu4Rx4BAyqZeumVctBcsKg4BZLrR03F-KLlvofoBFXocphOQPCDi7Oztx00L-iQWvXFfU9CkWv-P-xsV2laD__ojY9EwKo7QyfMdEz91Ug3wSpD84HCP7yE/s1600/P5060064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aU3HZUG7t2Znnr852YrCRu4Rx4BAyqZeumVctBcsKg4BZLrR03F-KLlvofoBFXocphOQPCDi7Oztx00L-iQWvXFfU9CkWv-P-xsV2laD__ojY9EwKo7QyfMdEz91Ug3wSpD84HCP7yE/s320/P5060064.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Putting the gastric issues behind me and with more of a spring in my step, we continued on our run up to the top of Shining Tor. Significantly less shiny than advertised, but a pretty place that marked the top of our first big climb- there were many more to come. We could see our route from the previous day stretching out behind in the distance. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shining Tor</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Over Cats Tor we picked up speed and enjoyed a nice run over the paved path. It was a cold day but when in the sun it was just warm enough to go without a coat. It was here on this lovely path that I went flying and took a fall. Very disappointing and slightly painful. I had a bruise. Just after Windgather Rocks, we ducked down through Goyt forest and along the road by Eccles Pike. We went on through some fields and down a steep path where we passed some kids on scooters. Inspiration hit me- the British alternative to ski mountaineering: "Fell Scootering". Imagine running with a fold up scooter on your back then whipping it out to scooter down long descents. Must try it sometime. You heard it here first.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Goyt Forest and Windgather Rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iNRDqar4LR5PC5s1nSB8PzCoVo_2i0ALGPHZ1HxNiw9Owe9AyqEWo4akR2o6QHkhgb0N5ERhGae3lHlt3EB5rUgxXSLBnFV65h8gE6DtBrmIyJgo7_dcLFEXazFinERNkYAVUOvaSI/s1600/P5060074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iNRDqar4LR5PC5s1nSB8PzCoVo_2i0ALGPHZ1HxNiw9Owe9AyqEWo4akR2o6QHkhgb0N5ERhGae3lHlt3EB5rUgxXSLBnFV65h8gE6DtBrmIyJgo7_dcLFEXazFinERNkYAVUOvaSI/s320/P5060074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windgather Rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrIm9Fkp_J8l3g7SxvKEKJJcptrMHsQjRG_gzVD0IRYfn8bi2kbzeey4tTreHB1uFrsWFUPy8BbSAGiB_WjHTZsrmJ53YUciwT2heQsVSpxm1luEecI54a2reowjJPicLpMOYLqqH1C4/s1600/P5060079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrIm9Fkp_J8l3g7SxvKEKJJcptrMHsQjRG_gzVD0IRYfn8bi2kbzeey4tTreHB1uFrsWFUPy8BbSAGiB_WjHTZsrmJ53YUciwT2heQsVSpxm1luEecI54a2reowjJPicLpMOYLqqH1C4/s320/P5060079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running past Eccles pike, couldn't quite work out what this ridge line was?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking onwards to Cracken Edge</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We ran on to the main road and through some fields into Chinley where we stopped briefly for a bag of crisps and a drink. Emerging into civilisation when on these adventures, is always amusing, both for us and the community which we burst into. Clearly ordinary folk would not present themselves in this lycra clad, sweat encrusted way, with a slightly desperate glint their eyes as they flit over the snacks available. The slightly drunk man at the bar made his assessment and then greeted us with the words, "Jesus, you guys look pretty serious". Indeed. I was looking forward to a cup of tea however after a quick look around the barmaid discerned that there was no kettle. This took a moment to register with me. Not having the mental capacity to make a decision about an alternative beverage and not wanting to risk introducing an untested substance into my troubled digestive system, I had a rather less satisfying glass of water and we endured the questioning stares of the locals.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl4ZaA6KD6NEakgP-yXX4lJYuxEANWUu-QcxoJJpuEeV08BSNaBXJPJQnANpvjDxLcGNxJXatHVX7z1bWiQ9IJG_I4hLgK7J3_-g-oj0ElrLbHFQ6DVqqGRPd4uCWq9QFJtEeDXmXjPs/s1600/P5060081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl4ZaA6KD6NEakgP-yXX4lJYuxEANWUu-QcxoJJpuEeV08BSNaBXJPJQnANpvjDxLcGNxJXatHVX7z1bWiQ9IJG_I4hLgK7J3_-g-oj0ElrLbHFQ6DVqqGRPd4uCWq9QFJtEeDXmXjPs/s320/P5060081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Running out of the village, we went on to cross the train line and then picked up a path in the far corner of the field to cross the stream by a farm. The exit from the field to the stream crossing is a bit tricky to find, so we mentally noted that it's somewhere to put some reflective tape on the day of the event.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVOe6WejoNVMMIpRxWQdGXbkqvKjqKdJK2CbrTUy17orjpb9yZ_DmxuYDFLhwnt9mGpO16mJZoQ0BE8XAYShyphenhyphenDaZZazTf0hVqOBPz-1DaW4veUi83bRjAhfBV5YGcaD_G-G4tXUY9olk/s1600/P5060090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVOe6WejoNVMMIpRxWQdGXbkqvKjqKdJK2CbrTUy17orjpb9yZ_DmxuYDFLhwnt9mGpO16mJZoQ0BE8XAYShyphenhyphenDaZZazTf0hVqOBPz-1DaW4veUi83bRjAhfBV5YGcaD_G-G4tXUY9olk/s320/P5060090.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cagey manoeuvres on Cracken Edge</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We then walked / ran and generally threw ourselves up the second of several long climbs. The runners have a tough event ahead of them in October! We firstly climbed up Cracken Edge. I felt a bit tired and so started eating and drinking to see if that would sort me out. I think it did the trick as I was eager to run when we reached the top. We ran down from Cracken Edge along a little path that is a bit hidden. It's about 30m after a bench. There are a few rabbit holes towards the bottom, so I watched my step. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEo3Qr8vUqLwIwqQ5uLVsIK4yUKukbsUysggPtf3tx4Rw3OzNCjETh-1GL8bvd0rGvNOKHuJdHwKV3wo5ENw9sGb6gOK-tNWhElw-jf9EaOMYP-D6X1T6Ts_7fFPvqXzpvHb4K1-4zxm0/s1600/P5060091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEo3Qr8vUqLwIwqQ5uLVsIK4yUKukbsUysggPtf3tx4Rw3OzNCjETh-1GL8bvd0rGvNOKHuJdHwKV3wo5ENw9sGb6gOK-tNWhElw-jf9EaOMYP-D6X1T6Ts_7fFPvqXzpvHb4K1-4zxm0/s320/P5060091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bit of a helping hand for Dusk til Dawn Competitors... the path is *here* (where Rich is after the bench)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_IMEO3VjQaAJQs3KVnhPtTs4oJHV5eFeDg-py77z3Yop7Gv9KW-miUPKYl6OGP5NkGV7q1cn5lWtA2npFdCKjx1uDN23pL8P_Z7Z9XxHpTeqUi_w0AxhDu3FlOTeTjFBvNfmGlCRLxI/s1600/P5060092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_IMEO3VjQaAJQs3KVnhPtTs4oJHV5eFeDg-py77z3Yop7Gv9KW-miUPKYl6OGP5NkGV7q1cn5lWtA2npFdCKjx1uDN23pL8P_Z7Z9XxHpTeqUi_w0AxhDu3FlOTeTjFBvNfmGlCRLxI/s320/P5060092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The route descends through some fields and over a wall, it's a bit rutted in places and muddy. We then followed the footpath up to the Lamb Inn on the main road and then continued the long slog up through the sheep fields that would culminate on South Head just below Mount Famine. That was the hardest climb of the day- whatever the runners have left in them on the night of the event, they will be wiped out after that! Finally at the top, the path skirted around to join the Pennine Bridleway which we followed to the road before considering our penultimate climb of the day up Rushup Edge to Lords Seat. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMfesIbynj_oZkiwFZ0yZ7PcHqjgtdLAvq8Xg8ncACezFQeSgFFiRVYLkP5B5ToEQwqxF6wsmdzv187tJbNiRCdEz6GYK56PSHy-8jWhr0fqph2fy8AerOudQGY6Jg-nMtOfJT_pbKY4/s1600/P5060093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMfesIbynj_oZkiwFZ0yZ7PcHqjgtdLAvq8Xg8ncACezFQeSgFFiRVYLkP5B5ToEQwqxF6wsmdzv187tJbNiRCdEz6GYK56PSHy-8jWhr0fqph2fy8AerOudQGY6Jg-nMtOfJT_pbKY4/s320/P5060093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from South Head</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">There was no rushing up… but Rushup Edge was an easier climb than the previous one up to Mount Famine. A lovely view awaited us but it was slightly nippy at the top. </span><br />
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We ran on along the edge. It was lovely, very runable. Other than the place where someone had put a stone in my way, which I promptly fell over to add to my bruise toll for the day. Onwards up Mam Tor, the last climb of the day. We stopped briefly to consider the view and then enjoyed a lovely run down. I went so fast that my contact lens nearly flipped out! I had to close my eye quickly and trap it in there. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ocKnnvwMdWjSiaL_TPCk896aWsDdd4H3-cKahnK25dy6d0eC7r01Ae2zul4pTv-Q_-lKXKsNBGfTM-cTdPs9ft91cEjrY4jQkhlYqjCcWSINblSrA-LmT04a6LaMyQXgEBneh75ltGs/s1600/P5060106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ocKnnvwMdWjSiaL_TPCk896aWsDdd4H3-cKahnK25dy6d0eC7r01Ae2zul4pTv-Q_-lKXKsNBGfTM-cTdPs9ft91cEjrY4jQkhlYqjCcWSINblSrA-LmT04a6LaMyQXgEBneh75ltGs/s320/P5060106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mam Tor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bTdMGh4N7YsXLAO87smu8A9Sds0Qn31LGImfUDNrTHh-Etfm0Y-sTwC2Z0m_Oa1vb_LBMgHB5lUiHDt70kydERAhvl023IeqS0SnuEn_75buvrOROOlvWMfbyCePa0CQiNUhNOmnedE/s1600/P5060108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bTdMGh4N7YsXLAO87smu8A9Sds0Qn31LGImfUDNrTHh-Etfm0Y-sTwC2Z0m_Oa1vb_LBMgHB5lUiHDt70kydERAhvl023IeqS0SnuEn_75buvrOROOlvWMfbyCePa0CQiNUhNOmnedE/s320/P5060108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peveril Castle</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Down at Hollins cross and straight into Castleton, we located the track to Losehill Hall that had evaded me <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/easter-peaks.html" target="_blank">a couple of weeks back</a>. We ran along happily waiting to discover where the entrance to the YHA would appear…. It didn't. The thought of an extra mile loop around between me and a cup of tea was just too much and I suggested that we should try to squeeze ourselves between a small gap in between the fence and a tree. In doing this, there was a small moment of "I'm-stuck-here-forever" panic. On the other side stood the building that held tea making facilities beyond my wildest dreams. I was taken with the moment and in my flurry of happiness, I went berserk and hired a towel, purchased shampoo and made my plans to rejoin the clean smelling society.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ7rNEKxVlNK4obS3pKGL1JEM4aFnjdaejZXp2mSiAFKQ1wYcDDT0cOunujBqkp15LS9bjcVLMhiIBswGgSY4-mhk-ityExhwUbctoCzD2rzuJylxE6DEFPCkpEYenR-iuGTLnRbU9JU/s1600/P5060111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ7rNEKxVlNK4obS3pKGL1JEM4aFnjdaejZXp2mSiAFKQ1wYcDDT0cOunujBqkp15LS9bjcVLMhiIBswGgSY4-mhk-ityExhwUbctoCzD2rzuJylxE6DEFPCkpEYenR-iuGTLnRbU9JU/s320/P5060111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Empty Drying room on Bank Holiday - never before seen</td></tr>
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Good job really, as once we were in the kitchen drinking our tea, we realised how very unacceptable our appearance and odour was. This was made especially obvious by being in such a clean, shiny and pleasant building. For a bank holiday, everyone in the youth hostel seemed very well presented and there wasn't much muddiness and sweat going on - as evidenced by the blank drying room, which was so empty I couldn't quite believe it. We did around 26 miles again but this time with 5274ft of elevation.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2eFK4L1rA8wbIYdSOW-gAd5YCrxw-LWp68Fu8RUdszViaFbtGGowydC6G8ZwAIgHx9aeGAe3kgj1sC2rhGLxc7aaU0aG0zVFttNKIdzYi539FjkSs7YjIVnhzvQ8pnOhZWQ-IG5RQdE/s1600/P5070112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2eFK4L1rA8wbIYdSOW-gAd5YCrxw-LWp68Fu8RUdszViaFbtGGowydC6G8ZwAIgHx9aeGAe3kgj1sC2rhGLxc7aaU0aG0zVFttNKIdzYi539FjkSs7YjIVnhzvQ8pnOhZWQ-IG5RQdE/s320/P5070112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparison of 'toiletries' (mine are on the left)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Losehill hall really is a fabulous building and the staff are great. We are really looking forward to holding the event there in October. Again we had a marvellous feast- a meal so huge, we didn't know whether to eat it or climb it. After an hour of consideration however, we decided to share a dessert as well - which was also very tasty. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6kA4DBIOfbfT7-r9Lb7Gvq4aZUNUjpHWadoIn2DZ916bov7KtKI0JuUOl7_Dl9bBj6UEm6rjWPYKeMgoyeBelq6e1c88URH5-rkYN3dJuCko6Gv9XuZRNj7lS7FF8pHI3j9e72uIkUE/s1600/P5070118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6kA4DBIOfbfT7-r9Lb7Gvq4aZUNUjpHWadoIn2DZ916bov7KtKI0JuUOl7_Dl9bBj6UEm6rjWPYKeMgoyeBelq6e1c88URH5-rkYN3dJuCko6Gv9XuZRNj7lS7FF8pHI3j9e72uIkUE/s320/P5070118.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Losehill Hall</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The day was perfect, until we checked the weather for the following day. Which was predicted to be fairly rubbish. We checked every weather website going trying in earnest to disconfirm this fact. However, we were unsuccessful, and accepted our fate: A soggy train journey home awaited us.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We plotted a more direct 10 mile route into Buxton than intended, hoping to land there before being hit by the rain. We avoided going too high and had just 1310ft of elevation on the route. I checked the weather again first thing and the rain looked to be hitting us at 12. We ate breakfast, this time avoiding anything that may cause unwelcome side effects. I spent the entire time at breakfast watching the coffee pot, waiting for it to be refilled. I needed coffee, something that was apparently obvious from my twitchy demeanour. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8n2fpZWHC9CITvApB8eLdJ1mlcszjszukceHybH5GSYjculMviTQbrM0tcvOACJ9xX13EXiCS3BcIrhK4dVNkYWPxcjxIxUb_gqLBR9_fMs8AYyg2KS2tRRf4OLkK6z-TbXoI0IdQjM/s1600/P5070115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8n2fpZWHC9CITvApB8eLdJ1mlcszjszukceHybH5GSYjculMviTQbrM0tcvOACJ9xX13EXiCS3BcIrhK4dVNkYWPxcjxIxUb_gqLBR9_fMs8AYyg2KS2tRRf4OLkK6z-TbXoI0IdQjM/s320/P5070115.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out the 'finisher's' pictures for Dusk til Dawn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTGSDE_DFr7LcU7hA1wzT6o3Xt7EmGvYQV1V0YWi5y-gjmspHIi3xdzX2MaPq_8uihviZUNtW6gggj42KtlrjvD70yYBlBEpmRJckWJSuLx5Tp06dP4DmQUG5Kjnb-ZK6f6Lvz19RBbM/s1600/P5070122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTGSDE_DFr7LcU7hA1wzT6o3Xt7EmGvYQV1V0YWi5y-gjmspHIi3xdzX2MaPq_8uihviZUNtW6gggj42KtlrjvD70yYBlBEpmRJckWJSuLx5Tp06dP4DmQUG5Kjnb-ZK6f6Lvz19RBbM/s320/P5070122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusk til Dawn finishers will run along the drive (we may be kind and prop the little gate open!)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Fully coffee'd up we left the hostel and began our last leg to Buxton. We ran into the centre of Castleton past the old youth hostel and up the path that runs to the east of Cave Dale. We met with a group of four at that point, who were hoping to walk to Buxton that day. They thought it would take around 8 hours. That seemed quite a long time to walk 10 miles, we thought. They asked our help with directions and we walked up the first section of hill with them. We parted company with them and continued on up, glancing back occasionally, aware that they were following us, and possibly relying upon us to confirm their direction of travel. At the top, we could no longer see them. Spontaneously taking it upon ourselves to form a two-person splinter Mountain Rescue unit, we waited at the top to check they were ok, and to see they were on the right path. After 5 chilly minutes, they had not emerged. We conceded that their estimate of 8 hours to do 10 miles was likely to be accurate, abandoned our Mountain Rescue moment, and continued on our way. At the time of writing this (home, dry, bathed, fed etc), I think they still have around 2 hours of walking remaining.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gfvJugIOPNjxt9Iye_EFJFC_j-ov2FfsX3ss8xqGbZgzGzmSqiPjRl-2_EwzJ0kqA87b1O_lFAUBeAll9SOmJUrLlLwOCCAQgeIyv2MUibVQ34uO4HAEIP2BfAowN1KS6TkL9dA5AxU/s1600/P5070126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gfvJugIOPNjxt9Iye_EFJFC_j-ov2FfsX3ss8xqGbZgzGzmSqiPjRl-2_EwzJ0kqA87b1O_lFAUBeAll9SOmJUrLlLwOCCAQgeIyv2MUibVQ34uO4HAEIP2BfAowN1KS6TkL9dA5AxU/s320/P5070126.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Rescue Splinter Unit Lookout Point</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZNNUuZwGDfaZdxSV91xSRl0vKzIHOgOT7ABU7qXuhJUKkyCuV6b9BKUDLqMgMVdz-fGAEt0CWFygZg4X505fsoEZU4PnxM086rfb0SGws0Y3IUEB8I3KXtyrD0J0Uxzw3OTdSDiTyrg/s1600/P5070130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZNNUuZwGDfaZdxSV91xSRl0vKzIHOgOT7ABU7qXuhJUKkyCuV6b9BKUDLqMgMVdz-fGAEt0CWFygZg4X505fsoEZU4PnxM086rfb0SGws0Y3IUEB8I3KXtyrD0J0Uxzw3OTdSDiTyrg/s320/P5070130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It was extremely windy on top and I quickly got cold. We followed the Limestone Way and Dusk Til Dawn route as far as Old Dam Lane where we turned off and then cut across some fields to run the remaining half of today's distance on the road into Buxton. Easy, I thought. Oh no.... never before has such a teeny tiny hill felt so hard just 5 miles into a run. But it was the third day of running.... and many hills had come before this one :)</span><br />
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We turned onto the main road into Buxton to face the last 1.5 miles into a merciless head wind. Conversation turned to possible food options as we were both quite hungry but aware of our antisocial appearance and smell. We reached Buxton and I knew there was a pub on the corner so we ducked in there and negotiated where to sit to avoid offending /frightening people. Near to the men's toilets seemed the least occupied area, so that was our decision made. We ate ravenously (no idea why after only 10 miles?!) then headed up to get the train home.</div>
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A few lessons learned on this one. First up - glad I took the soap. Really, I am. The only things I didn't use were first aid things like tape, steri strips, foil blanket and antiseptic wipe. So pack weight, is not really going to change considerably… cue more looks of disappointment….</div>
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My knee hurts a bit. So probably need to strengthen up a bit to get used to the extra weight of the pack (or cut pack size down!). There also seemed to be something wrong with my eyelids on the train home too, they would not stay open. Funny that.</div>
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Otherwise, it was all good :) When are we going again?!</div>
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* I am not sure which 'book' this is in, but really when you are out for a long time, pacing yourself seems a good idea and so 'the book' says not to run any hard gradients, but to walk them briskly.</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-10007236627758573572012-05-04T12:58:00.000-07:002012-05-04T12:58:37.426-07:00Rainy days and holidays<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">A rainy start to the week scuppered plans for a Sunday long run. It was actually bordering on stupid to run in the torrential rain and the alternative plan that I hatched was just as daft; the idea was simply to get up at 5am on Monday, when it was forecast to be sunny, and to do the long run before work. I wanted to try and do 15 miles at a decent pace, close to the 8:30 min mile pace that I went for on my last marathon training. </span><br />
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I felt surprisingly motivated and alert when the alarm went off at 5am and so I seized the moment, sprung out of bed without incurring injury, and quickly dressed, inhaler -check, contact lenses - check, watch - check, drink - check, cereal bar - check. When it is early, it's easy to forget something, but so far, so good. My shiny new(ish) timex watch had been behaving very nicely so I took that out to measure the distance. It was 5 am - I wanted a no-brainer of a run, so I decided on an out and back on a local trail along a disused railway which is 3 miles down the hill from my house (and 3 seemingly longer miles back up the hill at the end). I wanted to do 15, so 6 miles out and back to the start of the trail meant a 9 mile run along the trail - For a no-brainer, there was a lot of maths going on at 5:30.<br />
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So I headed out. Splashing my way through many many puddles, jumping over about 3 or 4 trees that had fallen onto the paths in yesterdays storm, and feeling genuinely lucky with the whole non-raining situation. Birds were singing, bunnies were hopping along the path and it was all lovely. Apart from the fact that it was actually very hard and trying to maintain an 8:30 min mile pace was fairly knackering, and I remembered that this marathon training malarky was reasonably challenging. I was glad of my cereal bar and started eating around 7 miles in, just bits at a time. All was going well. </div>
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I got to the end of the railway line (it is disused, I hasten to add), but was only up to about 6 miles, so I just turned around and figured I'd do a bit of a loop when I got back to the road to make up the distance. Unfortunately, at some point my GPS lost signal. Thinking I was around 12 miles, I started back up the hill, but when the time of day registered in my head I began to panic slightly as it seemed to have taken me 2 hours to do 12 miles. Maths again - sub 9 min mile for 12 miles = 1 hour 48 mins. So I was a bit puzzled… oh and panicking slightly that I may be late for work. I finished the route in 2 hours 34 and felt disappointed with my pace. Plus I only had 20 mins to get in, reboot, and make myself presentable for work. I emerged back out of the house (checked no mud on legs) and shot up the road (this time in high heels) swigging a chocolate milkshake for some much needed sustenance.</div>
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Finally, at lunch time I managed to measure the route and worked out I had actually run an extra 3 miles that morning. It was a relief as my pace was slightly better, averaging at 8:40 and a bit closer to my goal of 8:30 than the watch had suggested. However, I now know the value of slightly more precise route planning and perhaps not relying on my watch so much!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Getting up early, and running slightly further than expected, plus this my first long distance run at some kind of pace, took a bit of a toll on my body, so I was happy to let it play catch up for a couple of days and I took some rest. I did a bit of orienteering on Tuesday night - ended up practically swimming it!</span></div>
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I marshalled at our running club's annual 10k, which was attended by 800 runners. A really top night, even if I did break all fashion rules with an oversized yellow marshall's tabard/pink coat combination. Some fab times from our club members, lots of PBs and a nice night overall.</div>
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I was happy to rest, as this weekend I should be putting a few miles in. The plans for the weekend (which hung in the balance due to the weather) are to do a 3 day run around the Peak District, staying in the YHA's there, and covering some of the <a href="http://www.beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn</a> route. I'd say it's self supported… but it's not really… we'll be buying our food and sleeping in a bed. But it is meant to be a holiday :) This will be my first training for the Trans Aq (another holiday) which I entered this week. Who can resist a race where maps are banned and the phrase 'beware of the wolves' is written in the rules?! </div>
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I did my speed work on Thursday morning. I upped it to 6x400m and 3x800m. Times were very inconsistent, but overall they were within the time bracket I wanted, with no improvement on last week really. </div>
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I spent Thursday night getting my gear together for the 3 day run. I'm not exceptionally well practiced at this. I've done mountain marathons, but I struggle with being properly stringent with my clothing considerations and end up with a bag that's too heavy. I've been looking at the pile today. Spare top went in… came out…etc I'll see how I get on. Looking forward to a nice big run. Fingers crossed for the sunshine now!</div>
</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-58555618362087050782012-04-28T13:08:00.001-07:002012-04-28T13:18:45.270-07:00Benchmarks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">First up, congratulations to all who completed the London Marathon on Sunday! Amazing efforts all round by <a href="http://marathonpixie.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Marathon Pixie</a> and all at my <a href="http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/9668765.Club_runners_celebrate_marathon_results/" target="_blank">running club</a>!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">and as everyone else is or has wound down, I am just starting to get going training for Trail Marathon Wales. This was my first 'proper' week of marathon training, and time to set a few benchmarks and goals for the coming month or so.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Benchmark 1: Long run 17 miles.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">This week, on Sunday I did my long run at the weekend with the running club. The plan was for 15, but we ended up doing 17 at about a 9-9:30 min mile pace over local trails. Whenever I do a long run on a morning, I find that the rest of the day becomes a blur and suddenly it's 5pm. I think I go into some kind of sleep deprived trance! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I had a rest from running on Monday but went shopping to get the ingredients for some granola that I made using <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/chia-seeds.html" target="_blank">Chia Seeds</a>. I'm always on the look out for stuff like this to try and anything to do with running and nutrition is of interest. I heard an interesting piece on nutrition on <a href="http://www.marathontalk.com/archive/talk_ultra.php" target="_blank">Talk Ultra</a> t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">his week, suggesting that carb loading isn't essential for long distance running. That habit will take some breaking!! I pre-ordered Scott Jurek's new book, out in June, called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Run-Ultramarathon-Greatness-ebook/dp/B005OCHOZS" target="_blank">Eat & Run</a>. Be assured that reading this will come with some pretty bizarre dietary experimentation!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Benchmark 2: Speedwork session</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Although breaking my (albeit very loose) training plan slightly, I did both speed work and a <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/wrekin-streak.html" target="_blank">short fell race</a> this week. I did the speed work mainly because I am also keen to start doing 800m reps in training for trail marathon wales and at the moment I've been doing 400m. So I took off to the trusty <a href="http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/calculator" target="_blank">Mcmillan running calculator</a> to see what time I could aim for with my speed sessions. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I used my best half marathon time to calculate my times for speed work. Based on this calculation, my 5 mile time last week was a bit slower than it should have been, I blame the rain ;) I try not to laugh too much at the proposed 400m performance time….yeah right, maybe in roller skates...</span><br />
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So I set off with my speed work targets of under 1:48 for the 400m reps and 3:41-3:51 for the 800m reps (I am classing myself as a Long Distance Runner!). I left my post it note and pencil in the notch on the bench as usual to record my times after each 400m rep … I think one day someone will just nick my notes for a laugh. Once someone wrote me a little note on the post-it. This week however, a very unexpected theif was trying to take off with this crucial bit of paper - I arrived at the bench to find a black bird, with my post it note in it's beak! Cheeky thing. I expect it wants to join the<a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/speedwork-club.html" target="_blank"> secret speed work club</a>. I'll get an application form for next week. I managed 7 400m reps within the target time and the 800m reps in 3:45 and 3:51.So, that's set a benchmark time for my 800's. I'll up it to 6 reps of 400 and 4 reps of 800m next week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thursday, I did a '7-mile-fast' run that I know well and usually do in around 1 hour 5 mins. I was very happy with a time of 1 hour and 5 seconds this time. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I rounded the week off with the Hanley Parkrun and managed to top my PB by 40s. That is a benchmark I may regret setting!! Maybe it's the magic of the chia seeds :)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's my first 'proper' week of marathon training done :)</span></div>
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-2397643834274466242012-04-26T17:30:00.000-07:002012-04-28T13:15:42.130-07:00Chia Seeds<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are something new I'm trying, and first caught my attention when I read about them in the book '<a href="http://www.chrismcdougall.com/" target="_blank">Born to Run' by Chris McDougall</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmxHzI30AJklJby6Fy3uWrQjf5c1oeGiMGm1XIaYPnSN29fTGsTqn380ouJb1iZJIPeSbbdnIAksJ87RYhcWg-5UkNx8R0uBFY9Q9fTJKEhwZWdJyLhmLI0WZl9OQcpc9W6wbz8NU4-E/s1600/IMG_0535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmxHzI30AJklJby6Fy3uWrQjf5c1oeGiMGm1XIaYPnSN29fTGsTqn380ouJb1iZJIPeSbbdnIAksJ87RYhcWg-5UkNx8R0uBFY9Q9fTJKEhwZWdJyLhmLI0WZl9OQcpc9W6wbz8NU4-E/s320/IMG_0535.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are supposed to be highly nutritious and a source of omega 3, protein, fiber, vitamins A, B3 and calcium and iron. Here's the basic nutrient content of 100g of Chia seeds (I reckon you can eat about 30g on cereal in a morning).</span><br />
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They also absorb ten times their weight in water, so are supposed to be a good way of staying hydrated during a run. If you add them to water they 'gel' - well this is how one website put it… a slightly more attractive than my description which is that they go a bit like frog spawn. Hence the reason why I'd much prefer to make some <a href="http://chiaseedshealthbenefits.com/chia-seed-recipes/" target="_blank">nice granola</a> to eat with yogurt in the morning… much more preferable to drinking frogspawn. I'll see if it makes me run faster for longer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I also tried a couple of recipes from this <a href="http://ultrarunning.co.nz/content/chia-seeds-running-food" target="_blank">website</a>. The marching crackers didn't exactly work out as I lost patience with them, they were baking for around 3 hours and still not solid! I also tried the porridge… it was interesting. But tastier than it looks!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chia Seed Porridge</span></td></tr>
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Chia seeds were recently in the news, you can read the article <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17476690" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-30700549848132251502012-04-26T13:17:00.000-07:002012-04-26T14:17:50.741-07:00Wrekin Streak<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i>To Streak</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">-according to the Oxford English Dictionary:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1. to move rapidly in a straight line</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2. <i>Informal</i> to run naked through a crowd of people in a public place in order to shock or amuse them</span></div>
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I guessed the streak was a reference to a <i>fast</i> run, rather than a <i>naked</i> one- it could have been embarrassing but I chose to run clothed and the gamble paid off. The Wrekin streak is a fast and frantic start to the <a href="http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/node/1940" target="_blank">summer fell running series </a>hosted by Mercia Fell runners. It is a short race, being only 4.5km and is a straightforward out and back. The out involves a 247m climb up to the monument at the top of the Wrekin from the main car park and the back involves the reverse, not surprisingly. This is the first time I have entered the fell series and I went with fellow DK runners, Rae and Andy who have done this one before and gave me a bit of an idea what I can expect on our drive over. I asked Rae where the halfway point was. "well, it's the top pet", she said, a bit bemused. "erm... I meant half way point going <i>up</i> the hill". Oh dear. It's nice to get out in the Shropshire hills after work and we're lucky to have them on our doorstep.</div>
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It was (again) a wet and soggy evening, which followed a wet and soggy day, which meant that we shared our path with a small stream. We had a quick warm up to get the lungs going. This involved running to the first turn on the hill. I was pretty breathless after that to be honest, so the thought of continuing on up it for about another 2km made me feel sick. The path is stony and rocky with some hard surface and some dirt sections, but no grass. It wasn't too slippery.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_724413396"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG_v02RQ_XLcZmBURV2nfqnFi2QO04FEetZUN7LxydsfwJ-N1Xc0VrGtAtMqA6094Zq6yE2eloyVmw5c2anBGCnh5VoH_2hh3K_UmaViH-3cJp3S5p2GzTBsN47hE39eGCrzmBw8Q8rg/s400/FRP_6329.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">DK ladies on the up! If you look closely, you can see we are all wearing our mascara</a></td></tr>
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With respect to fashion I opted for tights and vest after <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sex-arathon.html" target="_blank">last weeks disaster</a>- the pertex coat did not make another appearance; I figured it was less clothes to get wet. All the DK ladies went for the same fashion choice and we were all bloomin freezing on the start line (we probably would have been as warm had we gone with the other definition of streak). I am pleased to report we were all looking as glam as usual however, and had applied our waterproof mascara for the occasion. These details are important. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It was a really good turn out despite the weather. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">DK huddled together at the start line and waited for the 'go'. To help us on our way, it decided to start raining again at just that time. We all set out with varying strategies, some preferring a slow paced start and me (as usual, and probably wrongly) setting out all guns blazing- well it was meant to be a streak. A soggy streak, but a streak none the less. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rae smiling whilst running uphill...crazy lady.</a></td></tr>
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The climb starts quite steeply out of the car park and then levels off slightly as it turns a corner. There is another good climb before reaching 'halfway house' and then a long section of mixed runable incline with short steep sections, a long flatter (if you tilt your head to the side and squint) section then leads over a false summit then past the woods to the top. There are a few turns in the path... just to mess with your mind really, all part of the fun. I ran all the bits where I felt running was faster than walking, and otherwise I opted for a fast paced walk. I could see the DK vests bobbing about in front and as we all encouraged each other on as we saw each other on the climb. At about 14 minutes into the race, we started seeing the front runners on their descent, thundering down the hill. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I climbed on, It was a good challenge and I pushed myself to get up the hill, I was nearly sick at the top. I reached the summit, shortly behind team mate Helen Tromans who might have mentioned that there were other places she'd rather have been. I can't think what she meant. It was a beautiful cold, wet , windy, and claggy weather system that adorned the Wrekin that evening. The views beneath the summit spread for for ooooo erm… about 20 meters? I got to the top at around 17 minutes, shortly followed by fellow DK mates Rae and Andy.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_724413410"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGPTKK-rdqtwDtcetWxanvhcWpfC6wrRi2gC4N3PoFA45uZpBni-imA1XF9whJDcXaC_O9d2E2qr3o7w-17J1Je1UGh1fZ9aRZqHExWkIfcKRZFqlC2vaaS11Ln5Vv3mlaXDDvDmTMio/s640/Wrekin2" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at what you could've won- On a more sunny evening, we may have enjoyed this view :)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Running around the toposcope that marked the summit and turning point, the descent started. I felt significantly more streak like on the descent than the climb up the hill. There are about 3 decent sections of steep downhill and this is where I lost a bit of time, as I am not so confident with descents, and they gave me stitch :( I saw Helen disappear off into the distance to claim 2nd place for the ladies. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stu opted to hover down by the looks of this pic. Is that cheating?</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard running more conventionally with foot to ground contact<a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank"><br /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Helen belting down the hill for 2nd place</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Trust your feet, trust your feet, trust your feet….was running through my head. About half a mile from the end (and seriously, it seems to go downhill forever, every corner I turned I was wondering whether they'd moved the finish line!!) I was passed by fellow <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/speedwork-club.html" target="_blank">secret speed work</a> club-mates, it was good to see them and they helped me stomp out the last half a mile over the finish line.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_724413358"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzSFKnWSOmSEuJaRbx5LESBCCw-p6W9qKxS6rchfDGvf_hsq5jkpE8w_PzYC5GqZXDwgLqclVETuNq0yzgyDlqGU006c8c-uMPVAJGfq8fCIF2obJ3EM0mEHHS0jhr1YmaBzcdgsjkOA/s400/FRP_6825.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Andy loving the downhill</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The race was won by Steve Cale for Mercia in 18mins and for the ladies, Val Swingler took first place in 23:43. First back from DK was Stuart Tromans in 24:45 closely followed by Richard Froggatt. Rae and Andy Moorhouse came in together in 27:06 and I was just behind them. DK enjoyed a winning <i>streak</i> with two wins for our club from the ladies. Rae in second place in her category, and Helen in second place overall and first place in her category in a time of 25:56. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Helen - happy with first place AND red socks :)</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rae in second place with her Purple socks (it's all about colour co-ordination)</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">This was a really good night out, friendly bunch of people, really laid back and welcoming. We're looking forward to the rest of the series. Thanks to the organisers and marshals, especially the one marshall at the summit of the Wrekin - that had to be the short straw! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alastair Tye</a> for the photographs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-67563353809367391032012-04-21T03:40:00.000-07:002012-04-23T10:48:26.862-07:00Post-Ultra Planning<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Coventry Way Challenge went well and was a great day. I chatted to people about other events and things to do and have a whole load of events on my list now! I've collected them all up on <a href="http://pinterest.com/wendynicholls/events-i-d-like-to-enter/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. </span>I am going to enter the 3 day event by votwo - the Pembrokeshire Coastal Challenge. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.votwo.co.uk/events-1/pembrokeshire-coast-challenge-2012" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79kjH-0wexJ5c8SwZUSYTMWuMm09hvGcvOOlobDTyaE6ZWNI3LQW7xGPpsgpvA-PHLM-Mlvwh3lAgfSc03_yHLTLGVCFt4_atvU69LRHGnA-wQHm0Q3qmacZZY2Z6YkC07_b6-0aMh0o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-21+at+10.51.32.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My long term goal is to train for the <a href="http://www.4deserts.com/beyond/iceland/" target="_blank">multi-day event in Iceland</a> in August next year and so I am going to try and do some training that includes running long distances, the equivalent of the long day (50miles) and running marathon distances on consecutive days. The PCC is great for this, plus it has the added advantage of a warm bed and bath every night… I am easing myself in gently here! Although the Welsh coastline in November may have it's own treats in store with respect to the potential weather! </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In the mean time, I've got Trail Marathon Wales to begin training for. This is on the 23rd June. The <a href="http://tmwblog.com/2012/04/14/race-routes/" target="_blank">route</a> </span>was released last week and includes 4500ft of elevation, so it should be fun. I put together a bit of a weekly training plan for this. It's fairly unstructured and hardly a textbook training plan as I do a lot of events, races, and club runs, and climbing, but most weeks I will aim to cover</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. Cardio session - this is either a speed work session of sprints , 5k (park run), or a hilly run (maybe a short fell race).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. A 7-10 miler at pace (8-8:30 min mile)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Some stretches and strengthening exercises x 2 sessions of 30mins</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm taking part in some mid week races, so hopefully these will build into the marathon training and help with overall fitness. Plus they are a really good night out with the running club too. This week I did the first in the series - a 5 mile race at <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sex-arathon.html" target="_blank">Lilleshall</a> and on Saturday, I part in the <a href="http://never-rest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/park-life.html" target="_blank">Hanley Parkrun</a>, so a fairly light week after the Coventry Way Challenge. Both the runs this week were in torrential rain! The 5 miler was a PB and the Hanley Park run was within a couple of seconds of my PB, so not bad since I've had 3 weeks off from doing it. It took a lot of effort to prise myself from the toasty warm car into the soggy weather on Saturday morning at Hanley!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also went climbing at the indoor wall this week with the mountaineering club. I couldn't go for a while due to my operation and so I felt a bit unsteady when I went back the first time a couple of weeks back. Something clicked this week (not my back) and I was happy with the climbs I got in. I did a grade 5, which was what I used to be able to do before the operation. But it did feel a bit harder than usual, so either the grading is slightly out, or I am still a bit rusty! Either way, I got to the top! We're hoping to get outdoors now the light and (more crucially) warmer nights are on the way; I can't wait!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good luck to everyone taking part in the London Marathon this weekend- especially the <a href="http://marathonpixie.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Marathon Pixie</a> and all those from the <a href="http://www.dkrunningclub.co.uk/" target="_blank">DK running club</a>!</span></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-69436268002063633322012-04-18T12:21:00.002-07:002012-04-23T10:48:43.122-07:00SEX ... (arathon)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over the summer, I am taking part in the <a href="http://www.telfordathleticclub.co.uk/races/sexarathon" target="_blank">Sexarathon</a>, hosted by Telford Athletic Association. Yes- the name of the series is a much discussed topic... and yes we came to the conclusion that it is as much for comedic value as it is to describe the series of six running events. I'm also taking part in some <a href="http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/node/1940" target="_blank">mid-week fell races</a> hosted by Mercia Fell Runners. So, on most Wednesday nights all through May, June and July, these will keep me out of trouble and hopefully build into marathon training. This week was the first in the series, and the only 5 miler, the others being 4miles or 5k events. It was a very wet start, with several members of Dudley Kingswinford already soaked to the bone just from making their way from the carpark to the start line! I travelled over to the race with a couple of girls from our club and we were very optimistic that it would stop raining by the time the race started, we were proved wrong!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain inspired fashion choice - half a mile to go here!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I couldn't face taking my coat off as I was so cold, so opted for another trend-setting fashion choice worthy of Cosmo Magazine... I wore my coat underneath my club vest. It seemed to solve the problem. Rain always inspires my best fashion decisions.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last year's time was 42:34, so I was hoping to beat it this year. I was also hoping to get a decent time in my age category. Other than that, I didn't really have a plan! It was only after the first two sopping wet miles of the run (which are all downhill) that I noticed I had done them in 15 minutes, and I did the maths and realised I could possibly do a sub 40 min run, even though the last two miles are a steady little incline. I wished I had thought of this plan before the race, as I probably could have pushed a bit more on the downhill stretch at the start! I felt ok anyway, and pushed on trying to maintain a 7.8mph pace. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had accidentally left my watch on the wrong setting, as I prefer minute miles for shorter races, and so this mathematics gave me something to think about whilst I ran. The rain stopped around the halfway point apparently, but I didn't actually notice! About half a mile to go, I started for a sprint finish, probably a little early, but I had the sub 40 as my goal and I knew I was cutting it a bit fine. I passed a few of the boys from the club who had just finished a comfortable 35 min race, with their eyes firmly fixed on 'resting' in preparation for the London marathon at the weekend. They cheered me on and gave me the extra bit of energy I needed. As the clock came into view, it was on 39:50 and I really put the pace on to get through the finish line with 2 seconds to spare! It isn't a chipped event, and my watch time was 39:51, but what are a a few seconds between friends :) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The three of us girls were soaked to the bone and quickly got changed in my tiny car before driving home. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The winning male completed in 27 minutes for Wrekin Road runners and Clare Martin was the first lady back for Telford AC in 29:53. First back for our club was Andy Sprague in 28:11. Congratulations! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All the DK team did really well. There were definitely a few others with PBs and we're looking forward to the rest of the series.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie got her PB and beat her target by a massive 4 minutes!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next week, its the first in the fell series, over at the Wrekin. There is something special about entering a race with the tag line: <span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">No toilets. No safety pins.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to Brian at <a href="http://www.westmidlandsrunningscene.co.uk/" target="_blank">West Midlands Running Scene</a> for the photographs!</span></div>
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<br /></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-52259774311582571742012-04-16T05:45:00.035-07:002012-04-19T14:08:33.556-07:00A Coventry Way (40 Miles)<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByzWGovdrkIjaRWKp6LQPbtY-vvjVyM9n9LCjUK0HJagYGVmQezF3QyYySZRIsXEsnONEs3v_fgOfqjKA7sr93a45aBATVIi5VzvnyixaDYJzjBirRjodSD3sVfuJYpVQngfh4SiKpjc/s1600/P4150607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByzWGovdrkIjaRWKp6LQPbtY-vvjVyM9n9LCjUK0HJagYGVmQezF3QyYySZRIsXEsnONEs3v_fgOfqjKA7sr93a45aBATVIi5VzvnyixaDYJzjBirRjodSD3sVfuJYpVQngfh4SiKpjc/s320/P4150607.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I entered an LDWA event with my boyfriend- A <a href="http://www.acoventryway.org.uk/" target="_blank">Coventry Way,</a> which is a 40 mile event following the long distance path around the city of Coventry. It is not as hilly as the long distance events I usually do, which I thought would make a nice change. It definitely made the run different, but I think on reflection, I like the hills to break things up a bit. The event is well organised, with 7 checkpoints, all having food and drink on offer. Everyone who enters gets a green handbook with 18 well produced sketch maps and written route instructions for the entire loop. The majority of the route is way marked too, so there wasn't much navigation involved. The route can be downloaded from the <a href="http://www.beyondmarathon.com/ultramarathon_event.php?eventID=1437" target="_blank">Beyond Marathon</a> website.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> Some preparations for this event were made the day before. As usual, we ate a stupid amount of pasta, and drank a lot of tea and water. But to add to this preparation, we had Chia seeds on our breakfast cereal. These are a good source of fatty acids and can absorb loads of water so they are supposed to help the body to stay hydrated. You can read a bit about it <a href="http://runningtimes.com/Print.aspx?articleID=19368" target="_blank">here</a>. My boyfriend had also recently discovered Spirulina, courtesy of ultra-running legend <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/scottjurek/statuses/16246608093" target="_blank">Scott Jurek's</a> twitter feed, so we decided to give that a try too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">A derivative of algae that is supposed to be very protein dense, Spirulina is proposed to be the perfect pre-race drink. From a quick read of the literature, it seems Spirulina has a similar effect to that of <a href="http://goarticles.com/article/Run-for-the-Tea-Shop-Endurance-Benefits-of-Green-Tea/6181693/" target="_blank">green tea</a>, in that it helps the body to release fat stores to use as energy. Here's the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20010119" target="_blank">science</a> for those who are interested. They say that picture speaks a thousand words and so here, below, is my experience of trying spirulina (with thanks to <a href="http://www.desertrace.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rich</a> for managing to take these photos whilst laughing hysterically at the faces I was pulling)</span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We mixed a couple of desert spoons of the green powder with 250ml of cold water and whisked vinously. It goes kind of lumpy, which is not a quality usually associated with a refreshing beverage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"it smells like the shells collected from the beach and left in the bucket in the garage all winter"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes people - it was THAT nice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going in for a nice big swig</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSXBiogxaBqWHLnUE0siUKWJnOVNgJvmGC_jwe7FBAbB4P6QZhM_qIiaRMfZfc01HAX-uCyCBXUnAYeu5ZenAmcF1nSc9NoSDRzc0lfaD84De-M_5RovzbMthlqs_0qX_QH24_7gFVfA/s1600/IMG_2267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSXBiogxaBqWHLnUE0siUKWJnOVNgJvmGC_jwe7FBAbB4P6QZhM_qIiaRMfZfc01HAX-uCyCBXUnAYeu5ZenAmcF1nSc9NoSDRzc0lfaD84De-M_5RovzbMthlqs_0qX_QH24_7gFVfA/s200/IMG_2267.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did finish the glass eventually but I felt a bit sick for about an hour!</td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Arial;">mmmmmmmm tasty.</div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial;">Those preparations to one side, I got everything else sorted for the day. I was going to rely on checkpoint food, so I just took a lion bar (essential) and a rice crispy square for an emergency. I took my 5L Olmo pack, which I have customised by adding a small pouch on the waist belt to hold my camera, snacks and other bits that I can't be bothered to get out of my bag when I'm running!</div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><div>On the morning, I had some weetabix for breakfast and a shot of <a href="http://www.beet-it.com/" target="_blank">Beetroot Juice</a>. I opted for a t-shirt and some arm warmers rather than a long sleeved top, as it looked to be a nice day. It was however, quite a chilly start at 7am! We could start any time between 6am and 10am. We met our friend James who was also doing the event and set off at 7:20. We were aiming for about a 5.5mph pace, which would put us around an 8 hour finish, when allowing for stile crossing, and stopping at checkpoints.</div><div><br />
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</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I had my coat, gloves, and an extra buff on for the first leg up until CP1 at 8 miles, where I'd warmed up a bit and took the extra layers off. The start of the run was from Meriden to Kenilworth and took in a stretch of disused railway that I was familiar with from running in the area earlier this month. We still managed to get slightly lost, not sure how! At this point, we were averaging 5.5mph exactly, so we hadn't gone off too fast. We had a sandwich from the checkpoint and ran on whilst eating.</span></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial;">We continued to CP2 at 14 miles and were making a good pace. There were a couple of road sections and the run was going well. Apart from two things. I got heart burn, which lingered for the rest of the day. I can't say what caused it, but it would have been a more pleasant day without it! and the second thing was that my watch kept losing a signal. I like to know how far I've done and my average pace on a long event, so it was really bugging me. I wanted to change the battery so when we got out of checkpoint 2, we walked along eating (a nice piece of cake actually!) and I quickly changed the battery in my GPS receiver. It was whilst I was looking down at my watch to check it was working that my foot found a tree stump and I went flying across the ground. I scraped my knee and it felt pretty bruised… and ripped my tights. I was concerned, but after a few cautious steps (and once I stopped feeling like I was going to throw up), I got going again. Why do I always manage to fall over??! And incidentally, the watch did not get working again.</div><div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfMKV9-MdznrgfX8DpW9_NgpQhczqb3X5SIyrKz7_-c3yJ2qNVAisJjifQJ_RJKdAsuPJYqmDKbXrNnFG6zCkc4bD9kAsQMvBGEzQyCUc_oxl8l1CA1K02fkwHn_viU3yRdCfKCz2dmQ/s1600/P4150620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfMKV9-MdznrgfX8DpW9_NgpQhczqb3X5SIyrKz7_-c3yJ2qNVAisJjifQJ_RJKdAsuPJYqmDKbXrNnFG6zCkc4bD9kAsQMvBGEzQyCUc_oxl8l1CA1K02fkwHn_viU3yRdCfKCz2dmQ/s320/P4150620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">CP3 was just 4 miles away and at a leisure centre. It was a nice run along to it (despite the slight limp!) over some fields which were full of rape seed and very pretty. I picked up a biscuit or two to eat on the way to the next CP as I wasn't feeling very hungry. I still had heart burn and nothing was very tempting although I knew I should eat something. I thought ginger biscuits might do it good? I took advantage of the facilities there and washed all the dirt out of the cut on my knee, which was looking quite tasty.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial;">CP4 was located at 22 miles in the village of Brinklow. The route there took us along a section of Bridleway which was nice easy running, but somewhere along that way my boyfriend dropped back as he was feeling unwell. It was a shame as I was looking forward to running the event together, but he wanted me to continue on. I ran the rest of the race with James and some other friends we saw along the way. I had another biscuit at CP4 and was starting to worry that I hadn't eaten too much, but I just didn't feel like it really. It was 8 miles to the next CP and when I saw the route, I knew that 22-30 miles was going to feel like forever between those two checkpoints and I was not wrong! </div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</div><div><div style="font-family: Arial;">The route to CP 5 took us along the canal for a section, where we were very vigilant to get off at the correct place! The temperature dropped so I put my arm warmers back on. I tried to get away with a t-shirt, but it is too cold! I ate my rice crispy square at some point along this section. I was very glad to see CP 5 (in someone's front garden!) as I was flagging by this time and grateful for a small break. I was also very pleased to see mints at the CP… not the usual thing you'd want when out for a run, but I knew it would calm the heart burn down a bit, so I picked up a handful of mints and put them in my waist pack to suck for the next few miles. It worked in the short term and the heartburn didn't trouble me too much for the rest of the event. </div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial;">It was at this point that I learned some of the participants had been attacked by cows! I saw one guy running along with a massive tear in the back of his shorts, right from the waist band down to the hem! They were just flapping about in the breeze and apparently a cow had done it?! (he had tights on underneath, before anyone says anything!).</div></div><div><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_kc2-8KE4y5KzTta4RzDO3do7reVRPIPkJb2O1BikCJ98QQMhT5EYCbVyaaYMzdw0_BLOWeZIqRZx9WGhQC1o4asUXGhjrRJp_Kl1CeaEilJNufXxOCWbjgDpEihUVaeeqPptKGP-HQ/s1600/P4150625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_kc2-8KE4y5KzTta4RzDO3do7reVRPIPkJb2O1BikCJ98QQMhT5EYCbVyaaYMzdw0_BLOWeZIqRZx9WGhQC1o4asUXGhjrRJp_Kl1CeaEilJNufXxOCWbjgDpEihUVaeeqPptKGP-HQ/s320/P4150625.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">After a beautiful sunny day (if not a bit cold in the wind), we now experienced a brief spell of hail. Of course. What else would you expect in April? We navigated our way through a housing estate that had been built after the Long Distance Path had been established. I wonder what all the people in the houses thought of us all running past throughout the day! At the 30 mile point, we were averaging about 5.2mph according to James' watch. We were going ok, but I found miles 30-33 very hard going and this called for the lion bar! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">There were another two CP's in this ten mile stretch at 34.4 and 37.3 miles. We were clearly finding it hard when we defined a motorway bridge as an uphill section that should be walked! I did not help myself especially either by going over an unnecessary stile at around 38 miles, completely missing the wide open gate right next to it.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely bluebell woods took our minds off the tiredness around the 38 mile point</td></tr>
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We finally saw a sign to Meriden 3/4 of a mile to go! The last stretch was just along a country lane and back to the pub. But it wasn't way marked… which was a slight issue as I had realised that I had the course notes and my boyfriend only had a GPS with the route marked on it - I was wondering whether the battery had lasted him the duration of the event. I later discovered that it was this very brief unmarked 3/4 mile section at the very end, where the battery decided to die! He was in not long after us though, so it didn't cause too much bother.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3/4 of a mile to go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">James and I made the finish in about 8 hours 25. We were over our aim of 8 hours and did around 41.5 miles with our little diversions (we weren't lost, honest!), I was really happy with the day and short of faffing a bit less and not taking a couple of wrong turns, I doubt I could do a much better time.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pooly Knee!</td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left;">There was some nice food on offer at the finish, which was quite welcome as I was starving! I also had about 6 cups of tea and i felt good. The last 5 miles, I had felt quite good too, so I was happy. Maybe the spirulina had worked it's magic! I'll have to try it again... I've got used to the Beet it shots and drink them regularly now, so I guess I'll grin and bear it.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left;">However, when I stood up, I felt instantly sick and a bit disorientated which was scary. I have since been told that this is termed 'dumping' - a word that is befitting of how I felt! It is when all the blood runs to your legs and blood pressure to the brain decreases. I was fine within half an hour or so, but it was a bit of a scare.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left;">Thanks very much to the organisers for putting on such a great event. The founder of the Coventry way, <a href="http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2012/04/03/coventry-way-founder-and-hiker-cyril-bean-dies-aged-82-92746-30678916/" target="_blank">Cyril Bean</a> sadly passed away, only a couple of weeks before the event. It's nice to know he has left such a legacy. </div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com1Coventry, West Midlands, UK52.406822 -1.519692999999961152.361504 -1.6106599999999611 52.45214 -1.4287259999999611tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-80519752882838673142012-04-13T15:15:00.002-07:002012-04-18T08:55:32.381-07:00Easter Peaks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Although the Easter Bank holiday was spent touring the castles of the North East and hunting for chocolate eggs (eating pizza, chocolate and drinking red wine), running was not far from my mind. Having walked Hadrian's way over about a week in 2009, I have often thought of going back to run the length of the path in a single stage and being back in the area, and visiting some of the sites along the wall were stirring my enthusiasm to do this run. I believe numerous people have done this, and in some good times too, of around 23 hours. I dug out this old photo that I took of the signing in book from the pub in Bowness where everyone finishes…</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivP6djBjirZcb9nLVh_UmzmYnNWeyut_8qdtuXre6SA1SuxljOmMXaZbdlmL6O1bEBPNrDCLYabV5YbxrGlFPKCERXxDbjZa11kj4_Xj_HLgecOrPO6i6j0y4Dnj2qNk8rOgig1MvGB9I/s1600/07082009275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivP6djBjirZcb9nLVh_UmzmYnNWeyut_8qdtuXre6SA1SuxljOmMXaZbdlmL6O1bEBPNrDCLYabV5YbxrGlFPKCERXxDbjZa11kj4_Xj_HLgecOrPO6i6j0y4Dnj2qNk8rOgig1MvGB9I/s320/07082009275.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> There are a couple of organised events later this year, but I like the idea of doing it self supported -well, with the semi-support of tea rooms on the route ;) So hopefully, later this year, or sometime soon, I'll be off to try and run this one…I just need to find a free weekend!<br />
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</div><div>I took the rest of Easter week off and was determined to fill it up with running. I started off on Tuesday morning with my usual Tuesday speed work. Times were very disappointing. So disappointing that i lost the post it note with them on. All I remember is that only 3 of the intervals were within target. It could be a time of day thing? I'm not sure. I was disappointed to perform so poorly in comparison to the set of lovely times I got the week before. Later that day I headed off to a local campsite where I was involved in the Duke of Edinburgh expedition for a couple of days. We camped out, which was great fun, and I took the opportunity to try out some of the dehydrated foods that I had got stashed. One being dehydrated rice pudding, which I made up with powdered milk and boiling water and it was fab! I'll definitely have that again! The second day involved running around the routes the kids were on to check they were doing ok. This was great fun, and I reckon I got about 10 miles of off road running in, although my watch kept losing connection, so I'm not sure.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7W_wD10UdCbOO0egzz7ITc-GaknwkY2F-OqsqsNUyiZ14hAcKrGSBZYixfbZK0yKq3yc9cWcoS70cmuvj-Q8Rvdb09s6EszsgMsfwxRa7Coap7etb4COsBvvkamRPCT8SfR9jMMzquQ/s1600/P4120447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7W_wD10UdCbOO0egzz7ITc-GaknwkY2F-OqsqsNUyiZ14hAcKrGSBZYixfbZK0yKq3yc9cWcoS70cmuvj-Q8Rvdb09s6EszsgMsfwxRa7Coap7etb4COsBvvkamRPCT8SfR9jMMzquQ/s320/P4120447.JPG" width="320" /></a>Thursday I headed off early to Castleton in the Peak District with my friend Marie from the Dudley Kingswinford Running club. We were keen to do some hilly miles and generally have a couple of nice days out, no pressure for times or anything like that, just to enjoy the running. This also served the purpose of checking out the venue for the Dusk til Dawn Event later this year, as we stayed at Losehill Hall YHA, which will be the Event HQ and accommodation. It has only been open 6 weeks. It was a nice hostel, very clean and tidy, massive kitchen, and a decent drying room.</div><div></div><div><div>We parked up at the YHA and ran into Castleton, ok, only a mile, but we'd been up early and so we decided to stop for a quick coffee to get the run off to a good start. The rain also encouraged us to take a quick break. After the coffee it was still raining, but we headed out and up through Cave Dale and braved the weather conditions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vYF3WUbxVTcqIjW3KfXAusUHBU90rgCezDY4N4j2QQE2-QTbT9zBxeg_skIqT3NijwEHL7MKkxiidt4nUG1ydCMxViU4GN-1bJYQVB5mgSkdSWHQbi2wi_1i1cv9PyXEHJQLOJZZTTU/s1600/P4120450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vYF3WUbxVTcqIjW3KfXAusUHBU90rgCezDY4N4j2QQE2-QTbT9zBxeg_skIqT3NijwEHL7MKkxiidt4nUG1ydCMxViU4GN-1bJYQVB5mgSkdSWHQbi2wi_1i1cv9PyXEHJQLOJZZTTU/s320/P4120450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Once out at the top of Cave Dale, I had devised a route that followed the Limestone trail for a few miles until it joined the Pennine Bridleway. On this section, the weather brightened up a bit and we started to dry off. There was still snow on the ground in places from the previous week! </div><div><br />
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</div><div>Someone had left tulips there, perhaps in memory of someone. The colours were lovely. By now the sun was shining, which was lovely for this section of the run along the ridge line.</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the distance, we could see Win Hill peeping up, and the thought of lengthening the run came to our minds…. really… those who know me will probably think this was all my idea… but honestly, Marie wanted to lengthen the run too :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>We followed the path to Hollins cross, then to Losehill and descended down to Killhill bridge, where we made the decision to go up Win Hill. I love the view from the top of Win Hill. You can see all the route for the day, which is lovely, and there's a great view to Stanage Edge and to Ladybower Reservoir on the other side. It was well worth the climb. </div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were just making tracks to head down when we heard a slight rumble and it looked like the Weather was going to turn. We ran down into Hope and the last 2km of our run formed part of a recce of a section for the Dusk Til Dawn event.... whilst being chased by some angry looking thunder clouds!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFbbLJytFasoZPzrBzY_mi6-_OcUld9bWxDAO_o8Zh5FcrvilgnAkyvtQY4l_7aUkKEgwwPWkWBBE_kwNLjn2qrrtXP4e-cE_YFwPdTTFLCka0UUEcJvvPo798Oe8YSL_sug4AWwmXis/s1600/P4120546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFbbLJytFasoZPzrBzY_mi6-_OcUld9bWxDAO_o8Zh5FcrvilgnAkyvtQY4l_7aUkKEgwwPWkWBBE_kwNLjn2qrrtXP4e-cE_YFwPdTTFLCka0UUEcJvvPo798Oe8YSL_sug4AWwmXis/s400/P4120546.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We assessed the path as well kept and decent enough for the Dusk til Dawn event and we chased along it - looking forward to getting in and having a cup of tea as we were both getting a bit tired and I was very hungry! We got to the end of this path and only had the main drive of the YHA left to complete our days run; about a kilometre, if that… and at this point… it rained A LOT. We may as well have had a shower with all our clothes on, we got soaked through in the matter of minutes!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbscayIEJBZJy0nYiDRJQF8Rek84S61ckm5qfWjVQlp_49lYkwKyXGMyPctoQhHggH_IEjp-fDNH-42JKGICSfFbK6W9GoUi6h2Ap3SuTN9IG0PYzTz6QamgeoVx3q7Mvcac1fEBVvQGs/s1600/P4120551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbscayIEJBZJy0nYiDRJQF8Rek84S61ckm5qfWjVQlp_49lYkwKyXGMyPctoQhHggH_IEjp-fDNH-42JKGICSfFbK6W9GoUi6h2Ap3SuTN9IG0PYzTz6QamgeoVx3q7Mvcac1fEBVvQGs/s320/P4120551.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div>First port of call in the YHA was the drying room, then once we were dry we had a cup of tea and a packet of crisps. I was starving. I had taken quite a lot of food with me, but not enough evidently… I was hungry for about the last 4 miles! We weren't keen on going back out into the rain to find dinner, so we stopped at the YHA for dinner and had a great meal, followed by a glass of wine… at which point I asked Marie whether she'd like to do a similar run again sometime… these things are always a better idea when you are warm and dry with a glass of wine in your hand :) so Marie happily agreed and we started hatching our plans for later this year.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We had planned on doing a shorter run on Friday. This took us from Hathersage (always a good finish point as you can get a pint of coffee from the tea shop there!) over and around Higger Tor and then up on to Burbage Edge. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPXVBT8MotqxPNYU3P27GOUCz3xQVkXv1Ku9UMzfvSDSCE3Wd17JLvHqVuuFuoRDaHDBpAGxNmPgcPfEESctz5E3W1_qX-AWtp4LovORgXBmfKs02zArXX8Fkl0gWC9fWQlcbMFsyCUs/s1600/P4130561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPXVBT8MotqxPNYU3P27GOUCz3xQVkXv1Ku9UMzfvSDSCE3Wd17JLvHqVuuFuoRDaHDBpAGxNmPgcPfEESctz5E3W1_qX-AWtp4LovORgXBmfKs02zArXX8Fkl0gWC9fWQlcbMFsyCUs/s320/P4130561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>The ground around Higger Tor was awful, it was really water logged and we got extremely soggy. There was no discernible path, so I just took a bearing down to the gate south of Higger Tor. That meant we were just tramping through the marshy ground, and I felt a bit bad for dragging Marie over this awful ground! We then got on to Burbage edge, at which point, I thought it was ok to put the map away as it was easy to follow a ridge…. oh dear. famous last words. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8udQoOgBaLgzKTf6HXF_6s1Mi9-wNYeBMyIkgl2xlk_cuQPpxcbuxuI2e27GSfQnW8O5OBZ-zSev_yu1SA783qF0K5sRHykLH1ESE7XYsozhjEIsXdiqNCL_mhkB5Yiip9UDv-_ZHe4/s1600/P4130570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8udQoOgBaLgzKTf6HXF_6s1Mi9-wNYeBMyIkgl2xlk_cuQPpxcbuxuI2e27GSfQnW8O5OBZ-zSev_yu1SA783qF0K5sRHykLH1ESE7XYsozhjEIsXdiqNCL_mhkB5Yiip9UDv-_ZHe4/s320/P4130570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>Unfortunately, it started raining/hailing and I led us in a perfectly straight line into the moors at the back of the ridge… rather than leading us in a nice curved line that the ridge actually follows. I noticed this when I glanced at the compass and saw we were running east, rather than north. Alarm bells also started ringing when I could not see the road… and we came across a field boundary that should not have been there…. OH. DEAR. Thankfully, despite the fact that it was chucking it down (and why does it always rain when I am lost?) we didn't lose our sense of humour and given the two options - very practically outlined by Marie of 'wondering north into the wilderness hoping to see the road' verses, heading back to the potential location of the ridge, we opted for the latter and sure enough we saw where I had gone wrong, I started seeing familiar landmarks and we were saved. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>And then just like that… the rain stopped. Bloomin typical.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>We completed our run over Burbage and then up to the summit of Cowper stone, and by now it was lovely and sunny again. We ran part way along Stanage Edge and then dropped down to pick up the path that ran south via North Lees back down in to Hathersage, where a pint of coffee was waiting :)</div><div><br />
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</div><div>All in all, I think we did about 19 miles on Thursday and 10 on Friday, a fabulous couple of days on the hills :)</div></div><br />
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</div></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-4380406909670924452012-04-03T11:11:00.000-07:002012-04-03T11:11:41.763-07:00Speedwork clubThe unofficial speed work club has paid off - I've done 4 weeks and managed to get all 8x 400m reps under the target time for the first time tonight! Woo hoo!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvzXl-nciwdTAh0ufPlb5xWMYHIuKq3mUYpXUw1qw4asr6vVVZEE_ZTKA_hkXzkU7OgDbaUp-uElfNJkt3rjD4Bwihzaj5apkKBwk37NWwVT4ViM2fQkmyCpwhsZXjJsqLEy3R1joZsM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-03+at+19.04.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvzXl-nciwdTAh0ufPlb5xWMYHIuKq3mUYpXUw1qw4asr6vVVZEE_ZTKA_hkXzkU7OgDbaUp-uElfNJkt3rjD4Bwihzaj5apkKBwk37NWwVT4ViM2fQkmyCpwhsZXjJsqLEy3R1joZsM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-03+at+19.04.33.png" /></a></div><br />
Here's my times for the last four weeks - anything in red is outside the target time, the time at the bottom of each column is my average for that session (I like statistics... I would give the standard deviation too, but that would be going too far).<br />
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The other members of the secret speed work club and I have decided that the track is definitely not flat and is a slight gradient one way. Depending on how knackered we are... we discuss this (at some length) and analyse it after each rep. There's one bit that is definitely a 'bump' and this week we had to practically hurdle something a horse had left behind. It all adds interest. You definitely wouldn't get that if you do speed work on a proper track :) <br />
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Hoping to manage a bit of climbing later tonight at the local climbing wall. I've not been since my operation, and since the operation is under my arm, climbing is the last thing I can get back to post-op. Fingers crossed!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-14654671568545504292012-04-01T03:47:00.001-07:002012-04-18T08:56:07.062-07:00Three Shires (LDWA)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">At the start of the week I went out running in the countryside nearby Coventry whilst helping out on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">This also served the useful purpose of seeing a bit of the course for the Coventry Way 40 mile event that I’ve entered in April.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsQWugL2XmmSrs11HczgEjkpOCh9Xw9YrO-IHak5Xaz4mOQnfxzrzuTp1UCLj9iH2-azLBgdpK4tfSjHq5Oj-tCeqJoCabq3uOcTVeGiGrHw6Nh7q-WDjkpJwSCFRPy12vCEXXOjVXAs/s1600/IMG_1983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsQWugL2XmmSrs11HczgEjkpOCh9Xw9YrO-IHak5Xaz4mOQnfxzrzuTp1UCLj9iH2-azLBgdpK4tfSjHq5Oj-tCeqJoCabq3uOcTVeGiGrHw6Nh7q-WDjkpJwSCFRPy12vCEXXOjVXAs/s320/IMG_1983.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disused railway track that forms part of the Coventry Way</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUvODkYqtDuAellvo2W-3fgxZjbJawUcXyOWjkGZUbYEsFxdan1GrAQvhbN3hMRNIRwK-4AtrKplblaEljZCTqDNEcGJtw3-BkWzQAPwQw7ySUNKvM5OyNPAXKyDogWJbhvpBj5avXDI/s1600/IMG_1982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUvODkYqtDuAellvo2W-3fgxZjbJawUcXyOWjkGZUbYEsFxdan1GrAQvhbN3hMRNIRwK-4AtrKplblaEljZCTqDNEcGJtw3-BkWzQAPwQw7ySUNKvM5OyNPAXKyDogWJbhvpBj5avXDI/s320/IMG_1982.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty tree along the route and nice blue skies :)</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Overall I did about 14 miles of tracking groups of teenagers around the countryside, it was a great day out running and they were good fun. Plus I got my first night out camping of the year and woke up to ice on the outside of my new pink tent! brrrr.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-j-mIgcFSmhZxHVubweefmLgb-mJX2nISVhG6qumN-FNip4q7UTbPZSpWV8q1RocTVFi5JlzoyWvh6gxEOEofWi7tVvK8H7DLhNLkKqhWHOMCmDX47xXqlpF30eLGWBtkytFl6MzhEs/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-j-mIgcFSmhZxHVubweefmLgb-mJX2nISVhG6qumN-FNip4q7UTbPZSpWV8q1RocTVFi5JlzoyWvh6gxEOEofWi7tVvK8H7DLhNLkKqhWHOMCmDX47xXqlpF30eLGWBtkytFl6MzhEs/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Tent!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial;">Tuesday I did my speed work, which is improving and only 1 of the reps was over the target time. Seems it's improving, so I'm thinking of going up to 800m when I start my marathon training in a couple of week for Trail Marathon Wales. We went for a club run and made the most of the light night by doing a bit extra than we've managed in the Wintery dark night. We did about 7 and it was a nice night.</div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">On Saturday, I went along to do the LDWA event - 3 shires, which was organised and run by the Staffordshire LDWA. There are different distances on offer, we did 27 miles, there was an option to do 29, which took in Shuttlingsloe as well. The event does three loops - one in Staffordshire, one in Cheshire, and one in Derbyshire. We were a bit surprised by the rainy start as there wasn't any rain forecast, but it soon brightened up. The weather was ideal really. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD8t8bmieKgZdzYkWmH4rXO-Ho4TVve7WPX9KtX1Yi8apvABtygvUvhR4AjvAtnuVRByu7No0esbC5PAcaAvWUksNjE4n1EFVcb-V58n190uOSZE_q8Tv_rkkJ5B9bG2fg6bc4Qubnog/s1600/P3310001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD8t8bmieKgZdzYkWmH4rXO-Ho4TVve7WPX9KtX1Yi8apvABtygvUvhR4AjvAtnuVRByu7No0esbC5PAcaAvWUksNjE4n1EFVcb-V58n190uOSZE_q8Tv_rkkJ5B9bG2fg6bc4Qubnog/s320/P3310001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going uphill to the Roaches- the mists had cleared a bit</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The event started at Swythamley and then climbed Gun Hill - the first of many climbs. Overall there were 1524m of ascent on the event, but it didn't feel too bad. We then headed up over the Roaches and down to Roach end and then across to Gradbach. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards the reservoir</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDG12bd-xQR20V6qbTaZP4TvDGvEwyQLrdCNn7m94kfCdW1DPe-9fs2crh9ad4L-SbauKKXGB1MFa5Do3SvViPsr5FY_EvrXjoD1cIri36ALHhG4OzJnIwHalm8SM3ZujklXSzYylQiA/s1600/P3310004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDG12bd-xQR20V6qbTaZP4TvDGvEwyQLrdCNn7m94kfCdW1DPe-9fs2crh9ad4L-SbauKKXGB1MFa5Do3SvViPsr5FY_EvrXjoD1cIri36ALHhG4OzJnIwHalm8SM3ZujklXSzYylQiA/s320/P3310004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending down to Roach End</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The path headed up to the three shires head where Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire meet and then along to the checkpoint in Wildboarclough.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKRkAtz01Ci15QdOrPC16j23Md-WCRl2cQALDEz4LdoWhg0Z_rluyELyen3r7W_CYhXDdcWAr6fAKNKYDZgvPKQMU77dtMEU9gO4LCpwyjwb3F40YHQgtyum4jIY-k9NnZgpDDQ9ZVzg/s1600/P3310005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKRkAtz01Ci15QdOrPC16j23Md-WCRl2cQALDEz4LdoWhg0Z_rluyELyen3r7W_CYhXDdcWAr6fAKNKYDZgvPKQMU77dtMEU9gO4LCpwyjwb3F40YHQgtyum4jIY-k9NnZgpDDQ9ZVzg/s320/P3310005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the footbridge after 3 Shires Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It's the time of year when wardrobe choices can be tricky. I started in my waterproof coat as it was raining, but took my pertex just in case. Good job I did, my boyfriend got a bit cold and borrowed it. He ran most of the way up to the three shires wearing it. Unfortunately as it is an extra extra small, it was a teensy bit tight and impeded his ability to breath slightly- so he chose to run the next loop without it. At the checkpoint, we had done around 13 miles, and were about to embark on the Cheshire loop. We left the 20 mile route which our friend Mike was running and headed out to Cheshire.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91fMM5OyEdC8FZjNY-eg5Zd_sXATn83dKOgGMk-agPJ8XWF70l_wu1Cy-kKPGdEwxsnaC2nUzNKGDIxpUcOktDCF9a9rILP7VMG6dWiEoSQFzXgOhRjmZ9XagpeBfFAAfIdbyTv7Lajc/s1600/P3310008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91fMM5OyEdC8FZjNY-eg5Zd_sXATn83dKOgGMk-agPJ8XWF70l_wu1Cy-kKPGdEwxsnaC2nUzNKGDIxpUcOktDCF9a9rILP7VMG6dWiEoSQFzXgOhRjmZ9XagpeBfFAAfIdbyTv7Lajc/s320/P3310008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View back of Shuttlingsloe from Lower Nabb</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We ran along with some lovely views of Shuttlingsloe and weren't too disappointed that we had opted to exclude it from the route!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthugPgtmQG5DpMHazNW-tSibA1z1Nd7sl5wQhsJSY42jxmhDMITuPVIuS2HIr7-DSiaeXc33HK-vb8y0t9nLWWjyeFmJ2jrnv49CQDRH2lRilwkTzItWlifV0ccA16NT63629VVi2Zaw/s1600/P3310009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthugPgtmQG5DpMHazNW-tSibA1z1Nd7sl5wQhsJSY42jxmhDMITuPVIuS2HIr7-DSiaeXc33HK-vb8y0t9nLWWjyeFmJ2jrnv49CQDRH2lRilwkTzItWlifV0ccA16NT63629VVi2Zaw/s320/P3310009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheshire Loop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnN2yLyEbh6DG5yrBMvB8RdU_A303vfjHB1Bqc41aLKDo24Kim_xwwj45AoA37TBQB8Yko0lRS_aSeTwg3IL4phWWqpwpigGNzyyKXluqV4Bprt17Tp255T8JKNbD3MPvUiynCoskVlU/s1600/P3310010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnN2yLyEbh6DG5yrBMvB8RdU_A303vfjHB1Bqc41aLKDo24Kim_xwwj45AoA37TBQB8Yko0lRS_aSeTwg3IL4phWWqpwpigGNzyyKXluqV4Bprt17Tp255T8JKNbD3MPvUiynCoskVlU/s320/P3310010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildboarclough Checkpoint</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">On finishing the Cheshire loop, we arrived back at the Wildboarclough checkpoint, badly in need of something to eat and drink. I always find around 18-20 miles a struggle on events like this and I felt a bit tired. I grabbed some a hot cross bun and a flap jack - also on offer were the regional specialty, oatcakes - a traditional offering from the Staffs LDWA! The final loop took us around Danebridge and back to Swythamley. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woody Path Heading back through Dane Valley</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvy5OXb7lfBZppibO6bhjIFvMmvA5XrCu5Pw8TWXwRZ9mnQ_93ziYjol3obWaEHSY1ybTrniMmBnd59-bxBcvedMSrz5jfVB2dl96XHHjBKRSiulDlex6oNhDiXbHKOFufav9EZ4dYSs/s1600/P3310013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvy5OXb7lfBZppibO6bhjIFvMmvA5XrCu5Pw8TWXwRZ9mnQ_93ziYjol3obWaEHSY1ybTrniMmBnd59-bxBcvedMSrz5jfVB2dl96XHHjBKRSiulDlex6oNhDiXbHKOFufav9EZ4dYSs/s320/P3310013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We went past a field where some white stuff had been sprayed and it was clouding up into the air, making it look a bit stormy! I hope it wasn't anything too nasty as we were breathing it all in!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mysterious White Powder in the air</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0Z75VO_iEF7vY8yl87qZZSr87hXDOB2OvWfWRJF2R1pRbatJIYFWmqNpqlsUo1NrCbhNDo52mfp9HfSWmq2issMl_QomF4LMWXxYWhFFJN9WDL7S2APgJq9FvomBbr9SksIIt77GFDA/s1600/P3310015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0Z75VO_iEF7vY8yl87qZZSr87hXDOB2OvWfWRJF2R1pRbatJIYFWmqNpqlsUo1NrCbhNDo52mfp9HfSWmq2issMl_QomF4LMWXxYWhFFJN9WDL7S2APgJq9FvomBbr9SksIIt77GFDA/s320/P3310015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial;"><div>We finished in 5 hours 50, an average of 4.6mph, which I was quite pleased with given that I haven't done any distances like this for a while. The organisation of the event was great and the checkpoints were really well stocked with plenty of food and drinks - thanks :) I'll look forward to doing this event again.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We caught up with one of the women I would have been running with in the Transgrancanaria 75 mile event. She told us it was a really good event, but that it was very hilly and there was a lot of scrambing. The final 25 miles, billed as 'downhill' were apparently undulating, at best, and so the entire race was a hard slog. I got a bit of info about the organisation and the food, and so I'll bear it in mind for next year. She had a good race and finished well, so that was great to hear. Next up for me is the 40 mile Coventry Way in 2 weeks time.</div></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090792105715590168.post-84071699491711133662012-03-25T01:10:00.004-07:002012-04-21T03:45:05.397-07:00Speedwork & Reconnoitring<div class="MsoNormal">Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been back to running as normal. I’ve done the park run for three consecutive weeks and my 5k time on the (‘undulating’) Hanley Park course has come down from 25:26, to 24:59, to 24:18, so that looks like it’s going in the right direction. They are a friendly crowd and I am really enjoying participating in these events, it's a real confidence booster seeing my time improve and they are a very encouraging group.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve done some 400m reps in the week too. The aim is to try and improve my fitness and then build on this for a bit of marathon training in a couple of weeks time. I’ve used the Mcmillan running calculator to work out the target time to run these in, and based it on my best half marathon time. I should be aiming for under 1:51 for 400m. I do 8x400m reps and I am aiming to do 800m reps in a couple of weeks time, as these are supposed to be better if you are training for longer distances. I have measured a 400m distance on the local path, which is a disused railway so it is fairly even, reasonably soft ground, and only a very slight gradient. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I keep a record of my speedwork times to see how many sessions I get inside the target time. This picture shows my times from August -October last year when I was training for Snowdonia, and my two recent sessions – anything in red is too slow!! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E9Ff34W98a-du70GAQLdDl18MPjZhdodsEl1aHl6P4CKxO_T2Gk5sEDJh9TkPY6iUsLeLMf71JnbBE1BdhRAHtEM7tku1K_Jlk6w3193r09Ql1mAXFSthXKXVV3trUrmu7_EI64tPOU/s1600/Speedwork.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E9Ff34W98a-du70GAQLdDl18MPjZhdodsEl1aHl6P4CKxO_T2Gk5sEDJh9TkPY6iUsLeLMf71JnbBE1BdhRAHtEM7tku1K_Jlk6w3193r09Ql1mAXFSthXKXVV3trUrmu7_EI64tPOU/s400/Speedwork.png" width="400" /></a></div>My aim is to do all 8 at less than 1:51 each. I managed this last October after a few weeks, when I was training to do the Snowdonia Marathon. I keep a little post-it note and pencil on a bench by the path to make a note of my time. Last week, a passer by had even stopped to write a little note for me – how nice! I was happy on my first session this time, my average time was pretty much the same as my first session last year and three out of the 8 were in the target time. Last week, I saw some improvement, knocking just under 3s off my average time for the session and managing 4 within the target time. I’m putting this down to the influence of the ‘secret’ speedwork club that has sprung up as I’ve got a couple of friends from our club joining me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUfiyOgX7UWkJXHSgMxaq0DS2q5DIK1pEz1JhQD4-riT92uZ6qSGFfYRvPnPmc2OQWlJSp3ZsZ1oIJAkpWTAhb0y6ap4oXQ4dCxk_jvC5kn6tVkblMLQdpYOdMWYjgIOEcoDLrN91Bt4/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUfiyOgX7UWkJXHSgMxaq0DS2q5DIK1pEz1JhQD4-riT92uZ6qSGFfYRvPnPmc2OQWlJSp3ZsZ1oIJAkpWTAhb0y6ap4oXQ4dCxk_jvC5kn6tVkblMLQdpYOdMWYjgIOEcoDLrN91Bt4/s320/IMG_1879.JPG" width="320" /></a>Otherwise, I’ve been out on a few runs with the club of around 6 miles and I’ve been out planning the course for the up and coming Dusk Til Dawn race with my boyfriend. This has taken us on a 24 mile run around by the Cat and Fiddle and Earl Sterndale in the Peak District last week….<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83d3KdZ-RN5Mh9NFIJF-hbNL3ivqowfIhwWAcEqp2Gu47mthul0yvmVj72Lcqveh3DU6g0eyOyY4BFXk4-9LfC0Fbd2rUCKoh-VIitP7nxgytDPnN-Zn-ayt53MCosrLsHQENRe-8Y-U/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83d3KdZ-RN5Mh9NFIJF-hbNL3ivqowfIhwWAcEqp2Gu47mthul0yvmVj72Lcqveh3DU6g0eyOyY4BFXk4-9LfC0Fbd2rUCKoh-VIitP7nxgytDPnN-Zn-ayt53MCosrLsHQENRe-8Y-U/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woo Hoo The Highest Bookshop in the Country - love the fact that it quotes the altitude :)</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">… through Dales… and up hills for about 15 miles this week.</div><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/AVvXsEgBPgygdRvhSlFoK-H0vSKulqAW2AnvoFGg_7QkFbDAfTgoCAwkiTHE-qMGiBhWdATbugYyQFkftPAhkoi0uhzEzY7E7UNPPLRkHnXIes2lpm3wO14UKfulEiUV6XadjwyFgt4ADkKIWgU/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPgygdRvhSlFoK-H0vSKulqAW2AnvoFGg_7QkFbDAfTgoCAwkiTHE-qMGiBhWdATbugYyQFkftPAhkoi0uhzEzY7E7UNPPLRkHnXIes2lpm3wO14UKfulEiUV6XadjwyFgt4ADkKIWgU/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monk's Dale - NEVER AGAIN! Ankle turning hell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfUkoQaVaaBXKikz3verENVP0BdTwEpzQD3-zCx6SFm2wD7aTzNWIpOdXGfYSd0R8vVacKUFI7RmfHXaCwKntna5OjEvag8A91SlP223ecIGZsjkb6LTM_8nWht3cu35NtZ0VujQPrko/s1600/IMG_1930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfUkoQaVaaBXKikz3verENVP0BdTwEpzQD3-zCx6SFm2wD7aTzNWIpOdXGfYSd0R8vVacKUFI7RmfHXaCwKntna5OjEvag8A91SlP223ecIGZsjkb6LTM_8nWht3cu35NtZ0VujQPrko/s200/IMG_1930.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring is on the way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">We also did an interview for the local paper to raise awareness about melanoma and to tell them a bit about the race, you can read about it here <a href="http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Psychology-lecturer-cancer-research-impact/story-15610152-detail/story.html">http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Psychology-lecturer-cancer-research-impact/story-15610152-detail/story.html</a> It was well timed, given how sunny it was at the weekend!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNoolA6d_d7QaaIuqTszyZ4oOwz-hdJ4WHjAb9lz8omfYvEflb86UFTgWwa9Cl2V7ewrZiYNxwT6i0hE2dGWymooGo92wt98ZVuhO30hIPjW8m2Ck_fcNciisxzl_DZDLTePmF7FBkYg/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNoolA6d_d7QaaIuqTszyZ4oOwz-hdJ4WHjAb9lz8omfYvEflb86UFTgWwa9Cl2V7ewrZiYNxwT6i0hE2dGWymooGo92wt98ZVuhO30hIPjW8m2Ck_fcNciisxzl_DZDLTePmF7FBkYg/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thinking about the gear for the longer distance events, I’m experimenting with an old 20l Raidlight Evolution pack. I recently took it into a dress makers to have a new zip fitted and get a panel sewn in where the material had ripped. It was a very funny moment when the dressmaker saw the pack… picture the scene… shop full of pretty dresses, wedding gowns, neat and tidy material, and then a dusty sweaty old racing pack emerges from the plastic bag… they were a bit surprised. They did a great job of mending it though! It’s a great pack, so I really didn’t want to chuck it out. I’m really happy with it, so I think I’ll just see if I can stick with it for longer events. I just need to sort out how to get the water bottles onto the front and get them stable, like on the Olmo 5… I sense a project coming on!<o:p></o:p></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955433220844667920noreply@blogger.com0