Thanks................... you're not being sarcastic are you? ;) :DQuote:
Originally Posted by So Wood
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Thanks................... you're not being sarcastic are you? ;) :DQuote:
Originally Posted by So Wood
25. Old Cote Moor Top, Buckden and Buckden Pike loop from Kettlewell
Date: 14th April 2009
Distance: As near as damn it 13 miles
Ascent/descent: 3,050 ft
Route
Time: 2 hours and 35 mins
And what a brilliant route! With two pretty tough climbs too. I started off by the bridge over the river Wharfe in Kettlewell and hacked up the path that heads steeply up and over the ridge towards Arncliffe but, instead of going over the top, once I hit the wall that runs along the ridge I followed a clear trod there along the top heading north, eventually to the trig at Old Cote Moor Top. Looking back at Kettlewell shortly after setting off:
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1107/p4140453u.jpg
Through some trick of the angle it might seem that I was running 'free' and without bottoms from this picture but, rest assured, I was wearing my running shorts!
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2491/p4140456.jpg
I reached the trig after about 45 minutes and then set about whizzing down a glorious descent all the way to Buckden. Taken from the start of my climb up the opposite ridge to Buckden Pike, this picture shows my route down off of Old Cote Moor, starting on the horizon very top left, skirting straight right behind the tree line before dropping down a long grassy bank to Wharfe level:
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7180/p4140459.jpg
I'd never been up Buckden Pike before and both paths out of Buckden itself shown on my map seemed to take huge loops around the houses getting there, one going way to my left and the other way right before cutting back. Rather than fanny about with that, I decided to hack straight up the ridge line to the right of a mini gorge (down through which flows Buckden Beck), climbing a couple of walls before hitting the right hand path as it looped back and headed more directly, first for Buckden Lead Mine and then on and up to the top of Buckden Pike itself. My line wasn't too bad all things considered but I might have done just as well following Buckden Beck itself to the mine.
I got to the trig after about 1 hour and 45 minutes and I was feeling totally shagged out; I'd started late morning and not brought any snacks with me, originally thinking of doing a shorter, less gruelling run. Not to worry though in that I was on top of the second (of two) ridges and all I needed to do was follow the ridgeline all the way back to Kettlewell. How difficult could it be?
Unfortunately, very. This ridgeline suddenly turned into the peak district at its boggiest best with all sorts meres, mires, bogs and crap to run through. To make matters worst I turned my right ankle again, giving me one of those full body electric shocks as the pain shot through me. It did force me to limp for a moment or two but, hey presto, after that I was okay to bash on, albeit slightly more warily when planting my right foot.
With Great Wharfedale staring at me to my left, daring me to add that on as an added 4 mile, 1500 feet extra, I finally started to run down towards Kettlewell following what looked to be some sort of drover's path of yore. The view here of Kettlewell and my starting path, the green line to the right, up the opposite ridge.
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6919/p4140466.jpg
A brilliant route, never done before, with an obvious Great Whernside extension just waiting to be done next time. Now that will be a humdinger.
Sounds like a 'must try' route.:)
You should have gone for the Gt. Whernside extra. Assuming you're following the Fellsman route, the climb from Park Rash to top of Gt. Whernside isn't bad... and the run down to Kettlewell is GREAT!!:D
26. Pen y Ghent from Langclffe, via Stainforth Scar (and the back of beyond) going up and Stainforth Force and the Ribble coming back
Date: 21st April 2009
Distance: 13.75 miles
Ascent/descent: 1,750 ft
Route
Time: 2 hours and 33 mins
I was talking to Goldie from the forum at the Anniversary Waltz, who also lives in Settle, and he mentioned that he often ran up and back to Pen y Ghent as a training run from home. He would follow the Ribble out to Stainforth and then hack up the ridge all the way, before returning the same way. This sounded a great run as I hadn't been along this ridge before but, rather than do a there and back again run, I decided to plot a circular route. Although I could have run starting from Settle, I didn't really have enough time yesterday and I was also a little bit wary of over cooking things, what with the 3 peaks this Saturday and all.
So starting from the car park in Langcliffe I hacked north and, first off, up the side of Stainforth Scar:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3476/p4210036.jpg
The weather, which had been lovely earlier, started clouding over as I left home but, by the time I'd run above the scar, the cloud was down with a soggy drizzle falling and visibility fast closing in. Certainly I could no longer see hide nor hair of Pen y Ghent ahead of me and it would normally stand out like a sore thumb.
My original planned route took me to the Henside Road, looking to then follow a farm track via a farm called Rough Close on the map, before looping north and north west and eventually plonking me where the Silverdale road meets the pennine way up Pen y Ghent proper. Unfortunately when I got to Henside Road, the track I wanted to use was closed to public access with obvious signs saying so, that I couldn't realistically pretend not to have seen. This presented me with a bit of a dilemma as I hadn't bothered taking my map with me, couldn't see Pen y Ghent in the gloom for a directional rudder and I didn't particularly want to follow the road if I could help it. In the end I just followed the Henside road for a couple of hundred yards to my left to a (locked) gate and then hacked off over open fellside pointing myself in the best guess direction of Pen y Ghent and my farm track, but obviously skirting the farm itself.
Somewhere out there is a 2,300 foot mountain!
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8995/p4210038.jpg
This plan worked like a dream and, after a fair stretch of rough running, I hopped over a wall and onto my track. This track did go on (and on) though but eventually I hit the Silverdale road and hacked all the way up to the trig on Pen y Ghent, getting there after about 1 hour and a half of running. Visibility was crap up here and continued to be poor for much of my run back along the ridge line towards Stainforth but after a while I popped out, with Stainforth and the green Ribble valley before me:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9030/p4210043.jpg
Having dropped down into Stainforth and crossed the main road, I then went down to Stainforth Force on the river for the final scenic run in back to Langcliffe:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2149/p4210045.jpg
A good un then! Ironically the skies cleared and the sun came out almost seconds after I had finished.
Seems like your 3p prep has gone well. I'll be somewhere up the the stony track out of Horton with mi camera. 3:59 or less should be on the cards......have a good one.
The same view taken on a beautifully sunny walk, while my sister was up visiting on Saturday, just above the waterfall at Catrigg, compared to the same, but miserable, view as the clouds started to come down yesterday :D
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2851/p4190042.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8580/p4210037.jpg
Pen y Ghent is the blob top left in the first picture with Fountains Fell to the right.
How will we reconise you?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ady In Accy
I plan on a really slow start so I will be well back on the track.
I will have a blue cycle helmet on and there will be a CX bike somewhere near me (I hope!!)Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
'ows the bike?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ady In Accy
27. The Three Peaks Fell Race
Date: 25th April 2009
Distance: 23.5 miles
Ascent/descent: 5,200ft
Route map
Time: Did not finish :(
So yesterday morning, the hills looks fantastic, the weather was ideal, I was feeling fit and raring to go. I had a pretty good game plan, hoping to take it easy up Pen y Ghent, and pick up time after that, especially in the last half of the race. And I went up Pen y Ghent quite well, turning at the checkpoint after 41 minutes and then blitzing my way down, overtaking loads of more 'prudent' runners.
Unfortunately, just at the corner of the 45 degree path off of the side of Pen y Ghent, I turned my right ankle on a tussock and boy did it hurt. I originally did this ankle in at the Edale Skyline, not enough to stop me running, but enough to have four or five episodes of it giving way since, none of which were bad but all painfully reminding me of the ankle's unreliability. I knew straight away that yesterday's injury was worse though and, despite trying to carry on running, my pace was shot, every time I planted my right foot I could feel it and I was really worried about it going again and turning it into a major injury. All the 'prudent' runners from before now whizzed past me so I jogged down to Whitber Hill and called it a day.
I've been keeping my foot up since....
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8010/p4260040.jpg
... but things are really touch and go for the Fellsman now :mad:
Good luck with your ankle mate. Get two weeks rest and I'll see you in Ingleton ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
Tough luck Stolly. rest it properly and no heroics for the Fellsman.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Just to echo what these gents say, rest up Stolly, hope the ankle's right for the Fellsman:)Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Aww i am sure Pussycat is happy to help you heal!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by merrylegs
Lots of ice and keep your foot high, take care of yourself, shame about the race but there will be others.
Have a beer you deserved it!:p
Firstly apologies, more pictures of my ankle of doom I'm afraid!
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9310/p4280035h.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7403/p4280036g.jpg
So then, what are my chances of being able to run run/trot/yomp round the 60 miles of the fellsman the weekend after next? It may not be that obvious but there's yellowish bruising all around the top of my ankle and darker, almost purple bruises below. The ankle is still swollen too.
I went for a small trot with my daughter last night and my ankle felt stable and fairly okay but I did feel it once or twice, especially on an up slope, mainly because of the extra pressure from the swelling I guess. It also aches a bit this morning.
Obviously as turned ankles go its not that serious (I've torn both sets of ankle ligaments 'properly' in my footballing years, yonks ago, so know what that's like) and my ankles from all the off road running are pretty tough and durable I think. Also, like most people who've torn ligaments in the past, I have the inbuilt reflex that allows me to quickly take the weight off an ankle should I start to be going over on it.
I'm planning to try and run a couple of 8 to 10 milers this weekend so I suspect they will make my mind up for me but, having dnf'd the 3 peaks whilst at pretty much the fittest I've ever been, it would be a bastard to miss out on the fellsman too.
Why not start it and see how it goes? You always have the option of dropping out.
He'll be there! ;):DQuote:
Originally Posted by Pilgrim
Are you in Pilgrim?
bag o'frozen peas...ice the bugga then ice it again 'n again.
Not this year. Only thing I've got planned is the Old Crown Round in July.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Ouch...and what the hell is going on with your toe next to the big toe....its bent!
Stolly, I prefer the nice pictures of hill and dale:rolleyes:
PS Get better soon, if in doubt, run, it will only hurt:D
Stolly I had an injury very similar to yours recently and was lucky enough to get physio on work health insurance - I was going to PM you some ideas for rehabilitation but your inbox is full. I'll stick it all on here in case it's any use, however I'm not an authority, just trying to help.
1. Do hot and cold treatment with e.g. frozen peas or sports ice pack if you have one, and small towel soaked in v.hot water. Maybe 5 mins each for an hour ish. Stop once the soft swelling has gone.
2. Don't bother with elevation, keep the ankle mobile instead - move it around while sitting and walk on it regularly. To promote blood circulation.
3. Try bandaging at night to reduce swelling - not tight though.
4. Strengthening (ligaments) - rise to tip-toes on both feet, go back down slowly on the bad foot. This may hurt, so not too many reps to start with.
5. Balance - receptors will be damaged so stand on the bad foot for 15mins per day split between several shorter sessions to re-train balance. e.g. 3mins while brushing teeth etc.
6. Dorsiflexion - the amount you can bend the foot up. Stand facing a door and with your knee against the door and foot flat on the floor (heel touching) as far out as it will go, measure from big toe to door. Maximum should be same as good ankle. Stretch the bad ankle by dipping on it slowly with flat foot and other leg bent (you may know this stretch already).
Only you will know how bad it is and whether it is ready for running. Two 8-10 mile runs at the w/e sounds tough. Try medium length walks first is my advice. I'm not a doctor and my injury may be slightly different to yours (think mine was similar but worse), so this advice may not all be useful, but 4,5,6 are important and need perseverence. If no physio you will not get the massage to reduce scar tissue but could try it yourself. Ideally get physio or sports massage.
Hope this helps in some way. Good luck with recovery.
Steve
Any progress with ankle Stolly? :)
Thanks for that Stevie (your ankle sounds miles worse) and for your touching concern DT :). The ankle survived a 3 hour-er today so touch wood I'll be at the starting line for the fellsman.
28. Whernside and Ingleborough out of Ingleton
Date: 2nd May2009 2009
Distance: 15.25 miles
Ascent/descent: 3,200ft
Route map
Time:2 hours 57
After strapping my ankle of doom with one of those adhesive bandages I felt okay and eager to crack off a run, following a week of mostly resting and molly coddling my ankle. With the fellsman next weekend, it wasn't just my ankle that was worrying me but also the tail off of late in my mileage, not that running a week before is going to have much of a positive effect either way.
This route, which I've done 3 or 4 times before, is lovely and, for a change, I decided to run it Whernside first, following the right hand side of the Ingleton waterfall walk up to and beyond Beezely Falls before climbing up onto the ridgeline for Whernside. Having gone through the farm up there and crossed over the road, rather than following the proper path up onto the ridge, which meanders about a bit, I just hacked a straight line up the side, crossing a wall or two and a shed load of ankle snapping limestone boulders in the process. Ingleborough as seen from the limestone paving:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/383/p5020040.jpg
After that initial scramble, I could now run all the way along the Whernside ridge, following the wall until I finally hit the trig point at least 4 miles to the north. Whernside and my wall line all the way to the top:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6937/p5020042.jpg
Eventually I reached the trig, turned about and descended in the direction of Ingleborough. Thus far my ankle had felt not too bad although I did feel a few twinges along the way. Anyway, it certainly didn't seem worth risking a full blown nutter descent so I ambled down in steady eddie fashion, protecting my ankle being my main concern.
Then it was up Ingleborough without too much trouble with fine views....
... looking back to Whernside:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5233/p5020048.jpg
... and, once past the wind shelter and trig point on the summit plateau, looking down towards Ingleton and my route back:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8265/p5020049.jpg
This path off of Ingleborough is a rubble and boulder field badly disguised as a path really and I definitely took this steady, very much on edge and planting the foot of my dodgy ankle with as much precision and care as I could. Fortunately I managed to trot all the way down and finish without any problems. Slightly worryingly though, given that the distance is a quarter of the fellsman route, I felt fairly shagged out at the end!
A marvelous run and hopefully my ankle will not fail again next week, leaving on some god forsaken and unknown hillside 10 miles from anywhere!
Fantastic pics there yet again Stolly! :cool:
Hubby is wondering what camera you use....(or is it just the skill of the camerman)? ;)
Hope the ankle holds out for you...take it easy! ;)
No skill on the cameraman front other than plonking myself on top of the hills, and even that isn't achieved that skillfully. My camera is the Olympus mju 1030 SW, seen here being held by one of my many groupies:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
http://www.letsgodigital.org/images/...-mju1030sw.jpg
29. The Fellsman
Date: 9th/10th May 2009
Distance: 62 miles as near as damn it
Ascent/descent: 11,250 ft
Route map
Time: 18 hours 10 minutes!
What a truly awesome, epic adventure! Easily the best route I have ever run and quite possibly one of the best things I've ever done in my life too. Absolutely fricking brilliant.
My build up to it though was a farce, culminating in knacking my ankle early into the 3 peaks fell race, itself a crucial bit of mileage lost in my build up to the fellsman, with too much rest time then semi imposed on me to get the ankle back into use. I can now run on it but it sure doesn't give me much confidence on rough ground.... and as I was soon to find out the fellsman has rough ground up to the gun 'oles.
The whole event is stunningly organised, including a rigorous kit check that failed me first time round (thanks donkarlo for the 'loan' of your survival bag) and something like 24 or 25 manned checkpoints all the way round, including 9 top notch food stops with brilliantly varied menus.
The start was nice and relaxed really, with all 382 of the starters more than realising the distance ahead, and the climb up Ingleborough out of Ingleton was nice and chilled as a result. I then pushed it a bit descending to Hill Inn and on the climb up Whernside, before fairly speedily scooting south along the ridge line to our drop off point into Kingsdale. At this point though the realisation of what might be ahead dawned on me as the descent was all over open tussocky fellside and I swiftly felt my ankle begin to twinge at the prospect.
All the same I got down in one piece and up Gragareth before enjoying the fairly smooth ridge run along to Great Coum. The descent though down into Dent was again over ankle killing terrain but, with a lot of care, again I survived, hitting Dent a bit before the 4 hour mark.
Out of Dent, heading towards Blea Moor, I teamed up with Mandy from Macclesfield Harriers who was great company and also knew what she was doing on the navigational front. (A good runner too, having succeeded on a BG at her first attempt). We then proceeded to get soaked and chilled to the bone together crossing Blea Moor in horizontal driven rain and hail such that, dropping downthrough the forested area before Dent Head Viaduct, I had to bid Mandy farewell, while I urgently put on extra layers and my (never ever used before) but desperately needed waterproof trousers.
The food station at Stonehouse with its delicious pasta was just in the nick of time but the conversation from alot of the competitors there was all about giving or trying not to give up, the weather had been so awful. (139 of the field were to drop out at one place or another throughout the day and night).The rain did stop though although it remained very windy and, from Stonehouse, I trudged up Great Knoutberry on my tod and then descended very badly, suffering from stomach cramps at this point! By now ML and Mrs C had over taken me and Stef F was running parallel to me with a chap called Steve, who was running his 12th consecutive Fellsman! From this point on navigation I knew would become more critical and, in any event, I was determined to try and stop Stef from overtaking me if I could. Inevitably Stef and Steve did overtake me of course dropping down to Redshaw but I sneakily started off from that checkpoint a couple of minutes before them to retake the lead!
We then gradually sort of run as a threesome, with me ingratiating myself for some much needed company and moral support. Unfortunately from this point on the ground became progressively more nightmarish and with one hand I tried to keep pace with Stef and Steve and with the other desperately watch each and every placing of my right foot on the ground to avoid damaging my ankle. Stef brilliantly set a fantastic pace which made things a bit dodgy for me, having to risk my ankle more just to keep up. Fortunately I just about got away with this tactic from there on in to the finish, although I did feel like a bit of a brake on our progress from time to time.
The crossing of Fleet Moss and Middle Tongue I mostly enjoyed in that it was totally unrunnable bog up to the eyeballs and therefore not a threat to my ankle although, as we neared Cray, things (annoyingly) became more runnable but at the same time bastard ground for my ankle and I slowed things down a bit I'm sure.
At Cray we had to wait 44 minutes to be made into a compulsory group of 4 and Hannah (soon to be doing the Moont Blanc 100 mile ultra!) joined us. In preparation for Mont Blanc she was carrying walking sticks and kindly lent them to me, which although I wouldn't normally admit to such a thing, helped protect my ankle enormously and helped me speed up somewhat. It was dark now, very muddy for the most part as we went up Buckden Pike and across down, round and up Great Whernside with low cloud coming into the equation up there. Then it was a very long and drawn out drop down towards Yarnbury but with just such a brilliant group of fellsman runners as company (Hannah from London, Steve from Essex, Stef from Southampton and me from Buckinghamshire but now a token northener!).
At Yarnbury we knew we were home and dry and we all enjoyed running all the way to the finish, reaching the school at Threshfied at 3:54 am, some 18 hours and 54 minutes after starting out. Steve, Stef and me though got the 44 minutes of hanging around waiting to be grouped at Cray added back in for a net 18:10.
I am so back next year to aim for 16 hours!
Some random pictures:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6663/p5090035u.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2163/p5090038.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/879/p5090040u.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6632/p5090044.jpg
Stolly,
Just realised I met you at the Fellsman, both on the bus from Grassington to the start, and whilst waiting to be kit checked.
I was the fella in the inov8 cap and blue buff.
You ended up with a big bin bag thing instead of a survival bag and I failed to remeber to carry any cash to buy a cup of coffee during thre 2 hour wait for kick off.
Luckily Mr C stepped in and kept my caffine levels raised.
I knew there was somet not quite right!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
Seriously though...heroic lad! 18 odd 'ours...wi' a dodgy ankle to boot (shakes 'ead in disbelief!). I was 'sweeper' at Pendle Cloughs...out ont'fell fo' just short o' 4 'ours...and that was enough to completely knacker me.
Well done.
Stolly, great report on the Fellsman.
Get that ankle sorted and look forward to hearing about your BG plans. :D
30. Ingleborough loop from Austwick
Date: 17th May 2009
Distance: 11.5 miles
Ascent/descent: 1,900 ft
Route map
Time: 2 hours 3 minutes!
I unashamedly stole this route from Ady from Accy and its a cracker. Starting from Town Head Lane in Austwick you soon branch off the lane, following the footpath firstly through somebody's front garden (!) before then hacking over the fields to eventually meet the farm track that takes you to Crummock farm. From there, in theory, it should be a gentle meander over the tops and through the limestone tank traps to Nick Pot on the main drag to Ingleborough up from Horton - for me yesterday though I went off prematurely (!) mistaking a sheep trod for my side turn and taking a far more roundabout and boggy line to Nick Pot.
Then it was straight up past Simon Fell onto the top of Ingleborough where, up until that point, a relatively unnoticed frigid gale force wind was blowing. I then had to run into the teeth of this gale coming off Ingleborough and along the top of Little Ingleborough before dropping down towards the more sheltered Gaping Gill. That said I must have looked hard as nails wearing just a tee shirt and shorts when I ran past a muffled up to the eyeballs, ready for Everest walker on the top of Little Ingleborough.
From Gaping Gill I bypassed the mini gorge and instead scooted over the top before dropping down into the bottom end of Trow Gill, clambered up the short but sharp hill to Long Lane, followed that (for ages - its long remember), then followed Thwaite Lane (should have been called 'nearly as long' lane) towards Austwick with a final whiz down through a field to finish. I was peed off with not breaking the 2 hour mark but I blame my 'short' cut for that!
Looking back through the fields in the direction of Austwick soon after starting off:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5518/p5170035.jpg
Ingleborough looking slightly ominous in the low cloud just prior to my wrong turn:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4111/p5170038v.jpg
The view towards Gaping Gill - you can just make out some potholers tents - from the rock plastered edge of Little Ingleborough:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5910/p5170042.jpg
Dropping down into Trow Gill:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/404/p5170044i.jpg
Last few times I have done this I have gone 'clockwise' and found it to be a nicer run. It's always a good test of fitness to try and maintain a running motion all the way up the steps to the ridge. Also the views coming down to Crummuck and back to Austwick are laid out before you accross to Pendle.
31. Settle, Rye Loaf Hill, Malham, Gordale and Malham Cove Loop
Date: 25th May 2009
Distance: 17.5 miles
Ascent/descent: 2,200 ft
Route map
Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
I snuck out of the house at 8 this morning and decided to go for a long run over to Malham and back from home. Lovely sunshine and it was warm sunshine too! I crossed the fields, climbed up to the Pennine Bridleway and then followed the top road to Scaleber Force:
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/6531/p5250416.jpg
From there I climbed up over open fell to the radar mast on Scosthrop High Moor before making my way to the trig on top of Rye Loaf Hill. The view from there looking into Stockdale valley:
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/6079/p5250423.jpg
I crossed over from there to the main Settle~Malham track before whizzing down in the direction of Malham itself. Malhamdale with cows, one of my better photos if I say so myself:
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/4224/p5250434.jpg
Then around the houses and into the woods below Janet's Foss, rampant with wild garlic:
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2690/p5250438.jpg
Then on to Janet’s Foss…
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8886/p5250441.jpg
Up Gordale Scar – the guys clambering up didn’t have a clue by the way and I beat all of them to the top of the first waterfall
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5236/p5250446.jpg
Looking down onto Gordale campsite from the ridge…
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3433/p5250452.jpg
And looking back at the track back to Malham from the top of Malham Cove
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2958/p5250456.jpg
After Malham Cove it was a long thirsty run in following the top half of the Settle Loop back in the direction of Langcliffe before hacking through Attermire Scar and eventually dropping down into Settle itself. A beautiful run but it didn’t half get hot and my bottle of juice ran out, still an hour from home. Arrived home a bit of a sweaty train wreck to be honest but an absolute corker of a run all the same.
32. New Forest Run
Date: 28th May 2009
Distance: Maybe 7 or so miles
Ascent/descent: 150 ft :D give or take
Route map
Time: 1 hour 3 minutes
I had a meeting arranged way down south on Thursday and decided to fit in a New Forest run while I was down there. I didn't have a lot of time nor a map so I just pulled into a car park, just off the Southampton Road in Lyndhurst, and hacked off on a loop, making the route up as I went along. The forest in the area I chose to run in was a mixture of open lawn like grassland, kept well shorn by all the New Forest ponies, foresty bits and open heathland with the odd stream and bog thrown in. It obviously wasn't particularly hilly but it was an utterly brilliant place to go running. I didn't have my camera though so couldn't take any pictures :(
As I was making this run up as I went along and I was running into wall to wall wilderness, I basically set the position of the sun to where I set off and hoped by keeping that in mind I would find my way back again. Then I just ran in a general easterly direction and looped back once I'd been going for 30 minutes. I doubt very much that a map would have been any good really anyway - vast areas had no paths whilst the heather plastered heath land is criss crossed by all sorts of paths, some which narrow and disappear and dump you knee deep in bogs and others that can be quite wide, well used and rutted. I've looked at my ancient New Forest map since returning and can't reconcile any paths shown on it to where I actually ran :)
As I turned and looped back for Lyndhurst again, even though the terrain is pretty flat, there was absolutely nothing on the horizon that would indicate that there was a town ahead. All I could see pretty much in every direction was open heathland with wooded stretches in between and of course New Forest ponies dotted about. It was fantastic really in that I pretty much had a 50 square mile stretch of the forest all to myself with little ol' me plumb in the middle of it. I did see the odd walker and did hack through a small camp site but other than that it was me, the ponies and one or two really annoying horse flies :rolleyes: with all the forest to ourselves.
Eventually a church spire did come into view but even then I couldn't remember seeing that before when I left Lyndhurst. Anyway it was Lyndhurst and I made it back okay. Brilliant run and such a fabulous area to go running in.
Came on here to ask what had happened to our fortnightly fix of photos and boggage reports but then saw your last post Stolly, which explains the situation. Hope you're OK :)
I'm okay and definitely continuing to have adventures :cool:. Just stopped reporting them, that's all. I got to the point where it was boring me, let alone you lot :D