2022 and a long awaited race

 Due North ( a relatively new RO) has been trying to put on LAW100 for over a year now. At last it happened. But I am getting ahead of myself. The race was the last weekend in January but it is not the first thing I have done this year. Although I have pretty much given up Turfing for now I have organised a Turf event. This is more fun the standard Turf as it is sociable, the zones are brand new not learned locations and with lots of people charging around at the same time you quickly lose zones etc. 

We had booked a weekend on the North York Moors. I was going to run/race each day and Bob planned to cycle. Best laid plans! The Saturday event was LDWA and they suddenly pulled the plug citing Covid fears. Perhaps just as well as I could have an easier Saturday. After a Friday night near Sutton Bank where it was Baltic we parked near Hole of Horcum.

There was thick fog and it was not warm. We prayed it would improve as the day progressed and were rewarded.  I did a steady long run the forest and across the moors. 

One of the nicer paths on the eastern moors

Bob took his MTB into the forest. He had a good time until technical failure forced his return.

Glorious sunshine by Saturday lunch time

The main event for me was Sunday and The Tandem. This was once a LDWA event but has been restarted by local runners. It is quite unusual in that you run as a team of two but most of the time you are not together as one does a loop west while the other goes east. 

Cold but sunny Saturday

You meet up for the last 8 miles or so. Anthony TC Gurundini had invited me to be his partner. I guess initially I was flattered but as the day grew near I was increasingly anxious as I know he is faster than me. I had met him doing the western loop on day a few years ago when I was on Glaisdale Rigg doing a recee for the Northern Traverse.  I had opted for the western route as it looked simpler to navigate and I knew bits of it. At the 11th hour we found the eastern route was shorter and easier- bugger, too late to change my maps etc now. I would have to run hard and TC would just have to wait. 

We slept up on the moor in the van and were treated to a lovely sunset. I was one of the first to register and he was one of the last.  It was chilly but dry. 

It deserves a bigger entry than this

We left Goathland at a blistering pace and within minutes the two loops separated. We headed north to Grosmont on a pleasant path that must have been an old rail track. We soon corrected a minor error, found the CP and I congratulated myself that I knew the next bit- albeit in reverse. It's always when your guard is down that thigs go wrong. Approaching Glaisdale all was well and then it wasn't. I did hesitate but the guy ahead checked and shouted that his garmin said OK. I trusted this- my mistake. After nearly 1km I knew it was wrong. The three of us then compounded the error. I should have just turned round and raced back on the big track mostly downhill. Instead we opted for jungle warfare, an alarmingly steep drop to the river, a wade across and then a climb up the other side before a slight trespass let us reach a bridleway. Hmm. A fair bit of time lost as we spotted slower runners ahead of us on the Rigg. Matt Hutchinson was very surprised to see me- so it brightened somebodies day. After that I was much more careful and ad no idea where I was anyway. Maps in hand I continued. The road was nasty but quiet and easy running as were the forest tracks. 

Trying to make up for lost time

One dreadful muddy and very slippery old lane near Sleavy Slack was awful and the next forest seemed to have many trip hazards as I tried to run to Newton on Rawcliffe and the waiting TC. He had been sat a while but was cool and had no wasted his time. I was immediately given a mug of tea and cup of soup.. both cooled to fast drinking temperature. I should have eaten more both earlier and now but what can you do when the pace is faster than you like and you are doing all you can to keep up.

Leaving Newton with TC

The next 8 miles were fine as we climbed through woods on greasy mud and then over Simon Howe moor on more familiar boggy peat. Some cheats  missed the trig point self clip- it annoyed me not that they had done this but that the RO did not check or evidence! Goathland and the finish were now in sight. We had a minor blip on Two Howes Moor when I favoured a path and TC the direct route. He let me think I had burnt him off as we entered the village. I was determined to stay ahead of the pair just behind us and we did. Not a bad race and it was nice to sit with food, tea and chat. Next time I should do the shorter route- if YC will have me of course.

Afortnight later with some Street O, local hill runs and lots of indoor climbing led me to Skipton and LAW at last.  Fifteen hours climbing during the week was perhaps not the best prep but it did stop me going out for a run. When it was cancelled last January I decided I would recee it and use the route for my LDWA virtual 100. This coincided with my 60th birthday and I thought the route and challenge would make a good adventure. It had the advantage of me knowing the route if I could remember it. Mel had made some diversions for various reasons but the bulk would be the same. 

My summer start- too dark for photos on race day

Having registered in Skipton we drove up to Embsay to spend the night in the church car park, just like last time. I had looked at the start list but mostly knew people slower than me and so had no plans to run with anybody. I had little idea of who would be faster but thought I recognised the name Emma Stuart? I slept pretty well and the weather was calm despite the forecast for gales later. I remember saying I preferred dry to anything else! Be careful what you wish for- it was mostly dry but the wind!! More of that later. The start predictably seemed horridly early as I chatted to Joe as he threw drop bags into the van. I had a brief chat with Jo and Sarah, Charles and also Tim Laney who I ran some of the TOR with. 

As the church near the castle chimed 6am we set off. A front group of half a dozen went off at sprint pace and I knew enough to let them go. After Embsay it was light enough not to really need a torch and I knew the way here pretty well. Around the ice cream van farm, up the moor and onto the Barden Road. The ground was wetter than I thought it might be but not too bad. Some road running with a fair bit of downhill led to VCP1 (vehicle CP) at Barden Bridge. The next section is lovely and the Dales at their best. Great paths and scenery all the way to Burnsall. Here you leave the Dales Way and climb up to Hebden before dropping back to Grassington. Lady Anne certainly took an interesting route! By now there was a group of us running within a 200m  spread. We had to drop through Grassington to the VCP in the main car park before retracing our steps uphill and out onto the moor. I still knew the way and knew from previous errors to be cautious as he headed up to Bare House. It was here that the wind began to be a real issue. I was being blown sideways so that my line was a bizarre zig zag and could not run next to anybody as I had no control to stop me being blown into them. James and Mark were making much better progress and I envied their extra weight and power. Gates were now a serious problem. Either I could not open them against the wind or if I did I could not close them again. Mostly I ran with mark and James, in fact using them as a wind break helped a great deal. One gate when I was on my own was suddenly taken by the wind and catapulted me across the track and into the wall. (A friend logged this as sport gate wrestling). Even on the downhill to Kettlewell I was struggling to make forward progress and I could feel myself getting mad at the wind. Here we met our first indoor CP with hot food. I was able to guide us in to the village hall and back out onto the fell fuelled by soup, pasta, pizza and melon. In addition to the wind we now had the typical Dales ankle snapping flap gate/stiles. 

I hate them. Our little group drifted apart a bit as we headed from Starbotton to Buckden. In the valley it was slightly better but the wind was still strong. Tim C was still with me here and said he was conserving energy in the hope of running later when the wind died down. It worked as he finished a couple of hours ahead of me. Heading up to Cray and the VCP we were back into the wind. The waterfalls were being blown back and upwards so we got a shower. The views were amazing and I do love the Dales. We had put up with drizzle early on but the sky was now a wonderful blue. From Cray I knew the climb up Busk Lane track would be tough but I had hoped that once the climb was over I would be able to run. 

I love the heat and sun!

I had a serious sense of humour loss here as the wind was spoiling my fun. We spread out again as the guys made slightly better progress and I reverted to climbing gates as it was safer. It seemed to take forever to drop to the VCP at Carpley Green even though this should have been easy running. I now had the wind on my back which was not much help as it just raced me on totally out of control. It was a joy to drop down to Worton and the main road for some respite. There is a bit of a detour east here as Lady Anne went to Nappa Hall but before long I was heading back west to Askrigg and the next indoor CP. 

Big coat, fleecy tights..

We also had access to our drop bags here. I replenished some food but decided there was little point in changing my socks- we had just crossed one stream and I was sure they would soon be wet again. I did eat but not enough- I really wanted something that would slide down and pizza was not it.

James, Glen and Mark

Soup was good though. It was now mostly west to Sedbusk and the wind was less fierce for a while. The woods near the mill had a lovely floor of snowdrops and the sun was still shining. Mark, James and I were back together and another Mark had joined us. Glen was close by but slightly ahead and doing his own thing. As we dropped towards the river Matt Neale appeared- it was good to see him and chat. He asked if my eyes were OK. At the time I thought they were but perhaps he could see how blood shot they were. Mel had a diversion here so that we avoided Hawes and the tricky paths just after it. We took the path to Hardraw and then the lanes back towards Appersett to pick up the real route by the river. We were soon at the VCP and onto the main road. I don't like the traffic here and so pulled ahead towards Cotter Rigg. It was late afternoon and the temperature was dropping although we didn't notice it as we climbed. Once at Cotter End it is a fairly level path all the way following the Dales High Way to drop to Hell Gill. I really looked forward to running it but not today. We were back into the NW headwind and it was strong and freezing. For the first time today I was very pleased to have worn my fleecy tights and my thickest cag. Eventually we reached a wall- I was desperate to stop to find my gloves and have a pee. It was also dark enough to need our torches. The 3 of us set off with Glen a little way ahead and Mark not far behind.  We would soon be a group of 5 for the rest of the race. As we got lower the track worsened to cloying mud and the wind had not abated- I want a refund from the BBC for their poor forecast! My right eye was now very troublesome and I could only see a milky haze from it. Oh well- at least the left eye was fine. We dropped the Thrang and Mark's wife was there to offer encouragement. I then made a slight nav error and missed the bridge. The next 3km are some of the nastiest boggy tussocky fields and not at all easy to navigate. We made it without too much fuss to Pendragon Castle and the next VCP. A pleasant surprise awaited as the marshall made us tea! I tried to smile but was no longer sure I was having fun. The wind had exhausted me, I couldn't see properly and it was getting cold. I announced that if Bob was still parked neat Nateby I might bail. We will never know- he wasn't there! Another kilometre or so with tricky nav and no obvious path saw us regroup with Glen. In Nateby my torch started warning of low battery and on the third warning I knew it would die. I stopped to change the battery and got a horrid shock. I had packed a spare battery but it was the one for Bob's torch which was in my drop bag. Presumably the battery I needed was with it. I tried to use a micro torch but that was useless. I had to stumble the best I could using the light from others down the gnarly track t the meadows and Kirkby Stephen and then the tree root infested river bank to the lane at the north end of town. James tried his best to give me light. Thank you. I was very grateful for Mels diversion here that let us use the old lane into the village rather than the field paths. An even bigger relief was swapping torches from my drop bag in the Winton CP. 

Very organised

Again the guys seemed to manage to scoff down food compared to me. Tea, soup, pasta and a porridge pot from my drop bag. I should have changed my socks here but was so relieved to sort my torch that I almost forgot. Within a few miles I was really regretting this as the ball of my heel was screaming with every foot strike. I tried to ignore it. With light at last I set off with renewed hope. The group made good progress over boggy fields and we were more sheltered from the wind now, or perhaps it was at last abating. The villages came and went so we were soon in Church Brough and could hear the A66. We still had perhaps 1/3 to go but in my head we had cracked it now. Another VCP mug of tea in Warcop fuelled us on our way to Appleby. We de grouped slightly but not for long. The scenery is less interesting from here but in the dark it really didn't matter and unlike last summer there were no drunks on the town streets. At Keld we found an unplanned diversion- well the others did. I think if I had been alone I might not have seen the sign. Apparently a farmer was stressed and didn't want us all on the public footpath through the farm yard. Some more lane running took us to Long Marton with no extra distance. From there it was easy running on tracks and with no real climbs to the next indoor CP at Kirkby Thore. More soup! The section of path to Ousen Stand was worse than I remembered  but we now had a starry night and a huge group of swans on the stream. Up a giant stile and we hit the road. I had lovely memories of meeting Chris here last May and getting a cup of tea in his van whilst Bob slept. We pushed on through towards more lanes and Cliburn. I was pleased we were avoiding the farm yard here as the dog is noisy and fierce. A loop south to Street House and the final VCP before lots and lots of tarmac to the end. If I was walking this route I would not enjoy the last miles. Being a group of 5 was good- there was always somebody prepared to try to run. We walked or marched  the ups and some flats but jogged the downs. I had told myself the road from Ling Moss to Clifton Dykes went on and on so today I was prepared for it. Paths took us to Brougham and we were still together. I knew to turn towards the Hall although at this stage nobody could give a stuff what the ornate door knockers looked like! 

I still couldn't see very well so was almost pleased to be back on tarmac. I tried to suggest we broke the group and those who could run did so but in the end we all stuck together past the castle, under the A66, up the awful hill (that is probably tiny) and on to the outskirts of Penrith. No river path today as Mel thought the road at Eamont Bridge could be dangerous. We jogged the best we could unless it was uphill and were soon in the town centre and heading for the Castle and the park gates. An uphill finish. We crossed the line together in 24hrs 45. All 8th equal regardless of what the results say.

Summer finish... didn't bother climbing the railings today

 Bob then scanned out cards and so we all got slightly different official finish times. I had prepared myself for the walk to the hostel for showers, food and even a bed. It was only a 10 minute walk but we were offered a lift! Once muddy shoes were removed we refuelled on sausage buns and tea. I could have done with a main meal to make up for all I had not eaten but never mind. The shower was lovely and I did lie in a bed for 90 mins or so but couldn't sleep. I decided I would be less stiff if I walked and so strolled up to the Castle to see Bob and more finishers. Some seemed to have no idea where to go next so I escorted some back to the hostel and had cake and toast and more tea. My legs didn't feel too bad but my feet were trashed. Sore heel bottom and sore big toes. I should have changed my socks as just airing my feet at the 2 drop bag CPs would have helped them dry out. Where the left was macerated and the skin had folded I had a blister. No wonder the bottom of my heel pad had been sore.

I could not believe that we had finished in under 5 hrs. True Emma (Kenny's daughter) had finished 2nd overall in an amazing 19hrs 39 but after battling the wind, being semi blind and a head torch fail I was more than happy. I had thought that without van support and in the wind and mud I might take 28hrs. I guess it being a race and having company made a bigger difference than I had anticipated. Thanks to mark, James, Glen and Mark and of course to Bob who volunteered at the castle and also did the driving for my all weekend.