Long Tour of Bradwell

well that was the hardest thing I've ever done
got about half way round feeling pretty good, and on course for slightly over 8hrs
but got a bit of cramp climbing up out of Bamford, which got gradually worse
much worse
I was basically reduced to power-walking the last 5 hours, as any attempt to speed up triggered horrific cramps in muscles I didn't even know I had!
I think this prob was due to the warm/humid/still conditions - I drank about 5.5litres of liquids, ate all the food I was carrying, and still lost 8 lbs http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/...sed_smiley.gif
it was still a lovely day/route and I tried to enjoy the scenery as much as possible
there's supposed to be a 10hr cut-off, but the organiser very kindly kept the finish open so that I could clock 10:05

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Originally Posted by Tussockface

Some good photos there, FB. Looking forward to seeing the rest. Thanks for not taking pictures in the later stages.

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T'were the lad, not me. He was trying out a new camera - first time he's taken pics of a race. Got some video in Pindale and Cavedale which he may post later.

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That was a really tough day out. Thought I'd started out nice and slow so could go faster in the middle section, but that left me absolutely wrecked at the end. Next time I'll hopefully have energy left to figure out who all the forum people are.

Drunkeneuphoria: you're welcome for the grough route. I should have posted here that I'd done it, but it was only on the thursday so thought it might be too late to be useful, and I wasn't sure if anyone used grough anyway. I think the cart track from CPs 12 to 13 was easier than the route I marked. Sorry if the map dragged you the wrong way there.

Glad to see the other comments, I thought it was just me, I was Ok until Bamford, then my knee started to feel pain, lack of water at CPT 9 was poor. I found it hard to believe the milage from Bamford to Burbage, it seems must further and seemed to walk most of the way. My mind seemed to think run but body was not...finnish in 9:16. I was glad i bought the map, when checking in, far easier than using the 2 * OS maps or photo copies. A very sceanic route and the last six miles through the woods were a good, just a pity my mind was on other things..Just a case of waiting for my legs to recover now

FB, those are some good pictures from t'lad. I look forward to seeing the others from Pindale and Cavedale.

The conditions were cooler than last year and the coach track from CP12 was much easier than the valley route. Even though the route was a mile or more longer, some times were faster. I managed to knock 35 minutes off.

That's bad news about water running out at CP9 and CP12. To fail to provide enough is not on. It's not as though it was a scorcher. I feel sorry for those of you who were deprived.

Nick S, you should definitely enter the Round Rotherham. It's nothing like this for ascent toughness.

Fly, glad I helped to pull you along for a while. I just wish I could put a face to the name now.

DazTheSlug, well done for slugging it out the the finish. It was good to officially meet you at last. Good luck with the shoes.

BritNick - Well Done! you must be well pleased with going sub-7:30 :thumbup:

One advantage of being so slow is that they had replenished the water supplies at CP9/12 by the time I got there!
the lass at CP12 said they'd originally taken up 60 litres, which would've been enough for 0.5 litres each, but I was taking 1.0 litres at every opportunity by then!
I think the conditions, although not scorchingly hot/sunny, were deceptively humid/still
I've certainly never been so sodden with sweat in my whole life :w00t:

Britnick - Changed my avatar to one from t'lads collection, might jog your memory although it seems because of your blog everyone knows you so you could be forgiven for not remembering everybody.
I just finished 10 minutes behind you in 7:40 which I was amazed at because I felt awful for the last 10-12 miles, so I am reasonably pleased with that but a bit peed off to have not taken some salty snacks, sure it would have helped.

Looks like I got to checkpoint 9 just in time. There was one water dispensor nearly empty and the guy on his mobile calling for backup saying that everyone was taking 2 bottles worth. Too bloody right. I probably necked 300-400ml on the spot then filled up my 500ml bottle for the journey. Did this at each water stop.

Not sure how hot it was, maybe 20 degrees but the humidity and stillness made me sweat profusely and it wasn't working so the body just sweated some more.

I too took the east path from Burbage Bridge and thought it was probably the right choice. The Higger Tor path looked like there was quite a bit more climb in it.

See you all at HP40 if your doing it.

Heh, the CP9 guy told us to restrict how much water we could take as he was almost empty, and suggested we knock on doors! Luckily we had some money so stopped at Bamford shop to buy some (and a Calippo, which was heaven). Really glad we did as the next one was dry too! Liked the much better flagging of the route this year though.

Got you Fly. It's always good to put a face to a name. I caught you in many of the pictures I took, linked from the report. You did well to finish as fast as you did, considering.
I seem to drink less than most others. I probably averaged only 250 - 300ml per water stop. I made up for it afterwards with a couple of pints (of tea).
Thanks Daz. I like your style, going slowly enough to catch the replenished water supplies. I can't say I sweated that much, especially once I'd slowed down after the exuberance of the first 2 hours or so.

T'lad's posted the climb up through Pindale on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMQUAn7FvQs

(he's also 'swapped' the current audio - me guffawing occasionally - with some music or other but it's not kicked in yet...)

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