Without Runfurther I feel both liberated but also a bit unfocused. Usually by now I have a whole series of races lined up whereas this year I planto continue my denial od getting old to mix it up a bit with ultras, orienteering and just some long challenges. This has meant some clashes so no Bowland Ultra for me this year which is a shame. I have entered The Fellsman and am excited to be doing it with one of my brothers. Before that I have the Anglezarke Amble, Pendle Way in a Day and Craggrunners 15 Reservoirs. I have entered Hardmoors 200 just before my 65th birthday. I last did that race in 2017! I have a free entry to Lakeland100 and I am sure I will find more to enter.
I started the year with some orienteering- SROCs New Year Cracker. It was chill but not really cold and the ground was soft but not too muddy. It is a mass start and then an odds and evens score event. Once it had been suggested some of us could get all the controls then that was my aim. Clearly others had that target too and once you were with another runner it was hard not to stick together. I was lucky and ended up with Ciel. I did try to overtake and lead to do more nav but every time we reached rougher ground she pulled ahead again. We pushed each other and did well.
The weather then turned but was bright and sunny. After a day on Pendle I decided I wanted to have a go at the Dunsop Dash. Montane/Voom etc have 2 challenges and although the longer Dunsop Dawdle interested me more I knew that with 25km in my legs from the previous day and a cold that I cannot shift then the shorter version was the sensible one. Plus it meant Bob would not have to wait hours for me to finish.
We arrived in Dunsop Bridge early and the roads were fine even when I mistakenly took the higher lanes. It was chilly but fairly still down in the village. I decided to carry micro-spikes and loads of extra gear just in case. I knew the way most of the time as I headed up the track and then road past the water works. It should have been so runnable but my legs felt very heavy and I was struggling to breathe. Not a great start.
There were a few icy patches but nothing that was unavoidable. Soon after the water works I turned over the river and onto a nicer path It started well but I was anxious about the last bit just before Whitendale Farm. I knew this would either be boggy or icy. It was a bit icy but although it slowed me down it was all visible and I got through without a slip.
From Whitendale there is an initially steep climb up onto the moor which tested my lungs a bit even though I was walking. The moor top was a mix of frozen turf, boggy bits and some surface ice. As a consequence I felt I was being cautious and slower than I would have liked. The drop to Brennand farm was good and the tracks clear of ice, especially compared to last years Bowland race. From behind the farm it was up and up and up on the Ouster Rake path. This was dry, ice free and nicely frozen. The paths down to the Trough road were a joy. I checked my watch and decided that I might be able to meet my goal.
The road was clear with just a few small patches of ice- certainly no need for the spikes I was carrying. After a kilometre or so on the road I turned onto the permissive path at Langden Intake. Again the ground was frozen but not icy. From Hareden I started on what is my usual descent from Totridge. There were some large icy patches just above the farm where it is usually boggy but then the higher field was dry. The paths around Mellor Knoll were dry but from here I was much less certain of the way. I made one small error not knowing which side of a fence and wall I needed to be. Not many folk walk some of these paths and the way was not clear. After a short section of marsh grass I was soon on the better path and into the woods at Whitemore. I was surprised to hit tarmac as I had thought from a glance at the map that I would be on a farm track. All good though as I would be faster. Sadly I got carried away and did not hear my watch beep in warning. Heading downhill on tarmac I missed a turn and had to retrace my steps back uphill. It was only 800m-1km it total but annoying. A new fence looked like it might block my way but as I got closer I could see a large open gateway and was soon down on the lane which I then followed for about 1km to Burholme Bridge. I was now checking my watch carefully for directions and also my time. Louise had gained the fastest female so far with 2hrs 51 and I wanted to beat this. My detour had not helped my plan.
Fast running after crossing the Dunsop led me to Burholme farm. The field path after this was easy to see thanks to many walkers wearing a path. The ground was firm but less frozen. The footbridge just east of Langden road bridge was closed and this gave me a quandary. Should I cross it or stay by the river and find a new route. The new route actually looked more direct. In the end I decided the footbridge looked fine to me. I had to climb to gain access but the way off the other end was easy and many footprints suggested many others had done the same. A short section of track led me behind the farm at Root and onto the road in the village. A very short section downhill and I was back at Puddle Ducks and my car.
Total time 2hrs 45 which considering my cold and the extra km I was happy with. I am not sure whether the freeze helped or hindered. It was nice not having bogs but I did have to slow down on some icy patches.
Not a bad start to the year with a new female fastest time- until some younger faster runners discover the challenge. EDIT- Nickey Russell has just posted her time- 4 mins faster than me. I will have to go back! Plus the bonus of clean dry shoes and time for a hot chocolate in the cafe before Bob appeared.
