nice wun Stolly...that route would mek a good night run...could avoid all the tarmac by cuttin across the fields...farmers can't see thi at night;)
Printable View
nice wun Stolly...that route would mek a good night run...could avoid all the tarmac by cuttin across the fields...farmers can't see thi at night;)
Race #13
5th October 2008 - Bronte Way Fell Race - 8.5 miles and absolutely no idea how much ascent - 1200 ft at a guess
And I was really glad I turned up to this - a lovely race, really well organised with no stupid hills (but lots of undulations), mud up to the gunwhales and a complimentary bottle of Landlord at the finish. Logistically though it was a bit of a nightmare with me having to drive to Haworth, find somewhere to park, select and put on everything for the race and then track down the "luxury" coaches laid on to take us all to the start in Wycoller Country Park. I managed okay only forgetting one (crucial) thing - to apply some vaseline to my delicate and sensitive nipples! I'm not 100% as to the actual route we followed but this is my best guess.
Because of the ferrying of runners to the start, we all got there with over an hour to spare so I was able have a little to chat with Derby Tup, Disco Stan, Justin from Skipton AC, Mudlugger and Tussockface before the off. Tussockface had a vague stab at guessing his finishing time, coming up with 77 minutes and 23 seconds, but I didn't see him at the end to see just how accurate that prediction turned out to be. Mudlugger managed to pb by 3 seconds last year and was hoping for another 3 seconds this year but, again, I have no idea how well he did either.
Once we got started I was relieved that I felt relatively comfortable whizzing down the Bronte Way and holding my position not too badly in the herd. Unfortunately, after a stubbon and gutsy struggle, I was unable to keep up with the pony tailed blond in the short sleeved Helly Hanson and had to instead put up with Justin in a Skipton AC vest instead (who'd popped over from Hull for the race). As it was he'd annoyed me by overtaking early doors but I soon began to reign him in (helped by the many stiles that the route crosses in the first three or four miles) and finally got past him just past the first resevoir. After that I didn't change position much for the rest of the race although I was fortunate for another lady runner to mistake me for someone else and give me an almost carressing pinch in the small of the back to get a move on. She too overtook me though and hurried away.... as fast as she could!
And before I knew it I was dropping down into Haworth for the final little climb up the cobbled street to the finish. I didn't set my watch properly but my unofficial time was something like 1 hour 14. Some pictures selected from the race:
Stan streaking ahead for his 62 minute finish:
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2005/stanek6.jpg
Me passing the same spot some time later:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2...ontewayrc6.jpg
Derby Tup not far behind:
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6898/derbytupyn6.jpg
A helicopter ferrying out a chap with a suspected broken leg (possibly over kill you have to say given that there was a road nearby and there seems to be a 100 air ambulance chaps in attendance):
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3...pcopterqg3.jpg
A fabulous race though and a great way to spend a couple of spare hours on a Sunday morning. Only my sore nipples would disagree given a somewhat painful shower when I got home!
11th October 2008 - the 3 Peaks - 24.8 miles and 5200 ft of Climb
OS Explore Route
Continuing my masochistic whipping myself back into shape fitness regime, this weekend, rather than run something solo on Saturday followed by a fell race on Sunday, I decided to knock my plans to run Windgather on the head and “blitz” the 3 peaks instead. I’d run a couple of 5 milers in the week, had been suffering from a sore toe, had a small hangover from Friday night and it felt like I’d put one of my contact lenses in back to front…… but apart from that I felt fine and dandy and ready to go.
Getting to the top of Pen y Ghent felt was a doddle with me reaching the trig after 38 minutes and the descent to Hull Pot was, as usual, brilliant. Lots of water and mud mind but it wouldn’t be Pen y Ghent without them. Hull Pot beck was in full flow:
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5934/pa110392uu8.jpg
Then I followed the bog fest that is the Miner’s Path to Long Mires where I picked up the main 3 peakers track going towards High Birkwith from where the terrain becomes fields rather than bogs. Park Fell on the horizon with er…. some mud in the foreground:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2463/pa110393tn1.jpg
Another extremely dangerous wildlife encounter for the intrepid stolly – this time black, furry teddy bear cows!
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/8184/pa110394yg1.jpg
I now started to catch up with some 3P walkers and some bright spark had planted an empty lucozade bottle in a fresh cowpat, which, despite the dripping cow shit, I of course picked up to carry with me. I ran past a few walkers with my pooey bottle in hand (but just 'glared' rather than made accusations) only to then see yet another empty bottle planted similarly in another cowpat! I picked that up too and, now kind of angry, turned into the duel wielding pooey plastic bottle litter avenger – the next group of walkers got what for (four lads as it happens) although, when I say what for, I just pointed the bottles in the face of the nearest chap and asked him in a wild fashion whether he’d dropped them. Before he could answer I was off, running, bottles in hand, like some scary eco-friendly lone ranger, here one moment and off the next. When I got to Ingman Lodge I deposited them in a bin and returned, like the hulk when he’s calmed down, to 'normality' again!
Then it was the road for a mile to Ribblehead, just in time to catch a train going over the viaduct, with a cloudy Whernside behind.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1074/pa110396an2.jpg
Going up Whernside I followed the runnable all the way walkers route to the top, still feeling in good shape and hit the trig after 2 hours and 46 minutes. The low cloud was now lifting but, unfortunately, not quite quick enough for me to be able to see much from on the top ridge.
End of part one!
Part Deux
I then whizzed off of Whernside heading towards Chapel le Dale in the valley and Ingleborough beyond, as seen here on my way down (just before the fast runner’s trod goes off to the right avoiding all the rocks and boulders on the main path).
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1381/pa110397az6.jpg
I was still running comfortably and managed to run most of the way up the slabbed bog crossing before getting to the steep wall climb up Ingleborough. It was here that my dodgy contact lens decided to flick out in the wind but, miraculously, I managed to a) keep hold of it and b) insert it back into my eye and restore normal vision. Just as well too as it was my bad eye!
I than clambered all the way to the top, hitting the summit after 3 hours and 50 minutes. A couple of 3P walkers asked me how long it had taken me to get here and I think they disbelieved me when I said 3:50; they’d walked up from Horton and had taken 2 hours to get to the summit of Ingleborough and were weighing up whether to just do Whernside next and blow out the rest – they’d started too late really and I suspect they may have blown out Whernside too!
Still in fine fettle I then commenced my descent towards Horton, taking care over the rock strewn path. Another wild life encounter ensued……… this time with hairy big horns!
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2421/pa110399cn2.jpg
Now it was all a matter of trudging to the finish but I was feeling okay, not running ‘too’ slowly and almost enjoyed it. Pen y Ghent looming across the valley with Horton (in the valley) hidden from view:
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5044/pa110402rx8.jpg
Would you believe it but on the limestony bit, just before you drop down into the fields around Horton, my friggin contact lens popped out again…. and I caught it again and managed to put it back in place again – how skilful is that?
I finished after 4 hours 45 minutes and 59 seconds (4:45 then) but, to be fair, I did stop the clock when taking pictures and dealing with contact lenses. The fourth time I’ve run around the 3 peaks this year and quite possibly the most enjoyable. A self portrait of me at the end with somewhat ‘taught’ thighs and calves!
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6351/stollyij5.jpg
WOW - well done Stolly, fab piccies LOVE the one of the waterfall.
sorry you won't be at Wingathererer I'll try to keep the piccie taking flag flying for you :D
84 seconds out, most disappointing. I must have underestimated the wet conditions...Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
Stolly I was up round the back of PYG on saturday with the wife, kid and my mum. went to a Littondale, I remembered it from when i used to go there in my younger days. It was absolutly breathtaking, Hoping to stay there for Christmas so watch out you may get a call nearer the day ;)
Also planning to take the bike round from Malham oooo does any one fancy a a forum meet to do this?
Seems like u ad a brush wi' the phantom lucozade bottle dropper o' t'Dales:rolleyes:...Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
I've never managed to spy it yet but I've seen its leftovers scattered 'round t'Dales:mad:...especially on Settle Tops which I try 'n keep clean 'n tidy:D
Tuesday 14th October 2008 - Pen y Ghent, Plover Hill, Foxup, Beckermonds and back to Horton - about 16.5 miles and 3,250 ft of ascent
OS Explore Route and Ady's Map
Route profle:
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/2...profilerd2.png]
Well a fabulous run with Ady today, following a route that he’d dreamt up out of Horton, over Pen y Ghent and Plover Hill, down into Foxup at the top of Littondale before hacking over the next ridge (Eller Carr?) northwards into Langstrothdale and following the lane and then track through a huge conifer forest and eventually hitting the Pennine Way back into Ribblesdale and Horton.
I immediately struggled climbing Pen y Ghent, what with having run the 3 peaks on Saturday, but apart from that slight hickup at the start the whole run was really enjoyable, albeit run more at my steady trot rather than Ady’s natural pace.
Once on top of PyG, the path across to Plover Hill was its usual mud up to the gun ‘oles self but then things became easier going, dropping off the far side of Plover into Foxup Moor........... where Ady had to forget getting a sun tan and put his top on to keep the rain off:
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/896/pa140406rr6.jpg
We then ran down into the small hamlet of Foxup itself with Ady's suggested route now taking us up on a diagonal ‘short cut’ to the top of the next ridge, the climb all steepish and off path, and finally, after many false dawns, we crested at the stile on the top with Langstrothsdale and the conifer forest before us. Ady and me as seen through a mud splattered camera:
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2320/pa140408vc7.jpg
This descent into Beckermonds, like Foxup another very isolated one horse hamlet, was terrific and we were soon down, had waded the stream at the bottom and were following the track that strikes straight through the middle of a narrow band of fields, themselves surrounded by the conifer plantations. This was now easy going although you wouldn’t have necessarily known it from my ‘speed’. The lane here eventually became a wooded track and, once the woods ended, it was the Pennine Way all the way back and Robert’s your father’s brother we were back in Horton. Stolly with the final cart track descent down into Horton behind:
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/281/pa140410wt8.jpg
A great run Ady and thanks very much for your patience in waiting for me to catch up from time to time! Approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes start to finish. Next time Ady try and stay on your feet FFS – you had three solid crashes today!
19th October 2008 - Pen y Ghent and Plover Hill from Horton - 8.5 miles and 1800 ft of climb
OS Explore Route
For all sorts of really naff reasons I didn't have enough time to join in Emmilou's Tour of Pendle recce this morning. I did want to still have a run though so, despite a serious danger of some trouble and strife on my return, I decided to zip up to Horton for (hopefully) a speedy whiz round this now regularly run route.
I felt that I shold now easily beat my best post knee injury time of 1 hour and 33.22 minutes for this run, what with my ever improving fitness and whatnot. And at the start I went up PyG pretty well all things considered. After that though I got extremely 'bogged down' in the never ending morass of mud that is the ridge line from the PyG trig to the top of Plover and I hit the stile there probably a minute behind the split needed to match my previous pb :eek:
Mind you the mud up there has to be seen to be believed - this is me in the fairly non-muddy bit (honestly) soon after dropping off the PyG trig with all the serious gunge yet to come!
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4776/pa190414qv3.jpg
I dropped down to Foxup Moor from Plover pretty swiftly though and then turned back along the base of the ridge back in the direction of Hull Pot and Horton beyond. Here though, for the best part of 4 miles at a guess, I was running straight into a relatively strong head wind and, despite my best efforts, I couldn't pb, finishing in 1:33:38 :(.
All the same the conditions made it a fabulous run with the ground being supremely wet and muddy for at least 50% of the time. Fantastic... but disappointing at the same time.