My Birthday run

 It's becoming a tradition- find a long run and do it solo with perhaps a bit of van support at a few key locations. Even better if you can now get son number two to join his dad so you have two vans - they can have fun during the day and also a bit of company plus at night they can take turns and keep an eye on each other and make sure they are not getting too tired.

This year it seemed even more important than usual to prove to myself that I can still do it (DNF on NT still having an impact). I opted for a route that I knew about but had not recceed at all. I did know some bits at least in outline although often from the opposite direction and from some years ago. 

My chosen route was the Dales Highway. Just over 90 miles (my strava showed almost 94) and a fair bit of climb at 4212m. I opted to run it north to south which is not apparently what most do. Most signage did seem to be from the other direction when it did exist at all.  Not sure which direction would be best, it perhaps makes little difference. As it turns out my option was best as we got quiet parking at the pub in Hoff and escaped the Appleby fair chaos early on. 

A pub meal and beer might not have been wise but it was my birthday after all.  These solo challenges are interesting in that there is not the same pressure as in a race and I wasn't even terribly fussed about my time. No, that's not entirely true- I wanted to finish in under 24 hours. On the other hand there was no company, fewer CPs than usual and not the same race hype/incentive.

I was awake early on Saturday morning before my 4.15am alarm. Breakfast, dressing and toilet meant I was ready for the short drive to Appleby by about 4.30am. As I stood at the Moot Hall it was light and very quiet. I set off up through the town and past the castle as a couple of shops were taking early morning deliveries. Within 1km I made my first minor nav error as I missed a bridleway. OS on my phone was going to get lots of use today! The first fields and paths had tall vegetation and a heavy morning dew.  Wet feet and legs from the start, oh well.

The early start did mean that before I reached the vans at Hoff I had seen rabbits, hares, a deer, heron and countless other birds. Bob and Chris cheered me on my was through Hoff before setting off for Sedbergh.

Here they would leave our van on my route and then go off for a walk up Cautley Spout. With luck they would be back at the van before me but if not I had a key. Lowland paths led me to Great Asby before most people were up and the lanes were traffic free. From there I headed up onto the limestone and over to Sunbiggin Tarn. A couple of minor errors but no serious diversions. It was starting to get warm and sunny.  After crossing the main road at Wath it was a climb up and into the Howgills. 

I love these mountains and their great rounded humps. The views were stunning in all directions although it looked a bit dark over on the northern Pennines. 

I met another runner on Hazelgill Knott and wondered how Bob and Chris were enjoying their walk. 

Approaching the Calf I realised they were just up ahead.  I had gone faster than hoped for but they had been following my track and decided to meet me up there. 

It was a lovely surprise. From there over Calders and down to Sedbergh was fairly speedy. I found the van and made a quick brew before refilling my water and topping up snacks.

Quiet tracks and lanes led me to the ridge over to Dentdale. I had a reminiss of a race over Barbon and thought of the Fellsman only a few weeks ago. Dent was predictably busy and people were now up and about.  It's a quaint little village but I had no time today. Riverside paths led me onto the Fellsman route over the northern shoulder of Whernside. at east today I didn't have to drop into the boggy valley and climb back up to Blea Moor! Dropping down towards Ribblehead there were hoards of walkers out doing a 3Ps charity challenge. They were friendly but many had no hill etiquette- radios blaring, four abreast taking up all the path etc.  I was pleased to reach Winterscales and turn off their route for a while. I made a deliberate decision to modify the route and avoid Chapel le Dale- I wanted to pass the snack bat on Philpin Lane ( two ice lollies please) and avoid the extra 500m on the B road which I knew would be very busy. Back at the Hill Inn I encountered the charity walkers again but few had made it that far yet. 

It was nice to be going up this path to Ingleborough as I hate the step descent. It was chilly on the top so I shot off straight away towards Nick Pot. The rocky path slowed me at first but as I turned away from Horton and left almost all the people the path turned grassy and very runnable. I made good time down to Wharfe and then Feizor where I spotted a lad training his Kestrel. Grassy paths and one small error led me to Stainforth where late afternoon meant the campsite was busy and some people were still playing in the river. I was now on a mission to reach Settle and the vans again. I had a rough schedule of pace and was still ahead of 4mph. I knew that I wanted a decent break now and a chance to recharge my phone, eat, drink and air my feet. 

Getting wet feet so early on meant some of the tape had peeled off and the hot spot under my big toe was in fact a water filled blister. Damn. I aired my feet, removed some tape, taped my toe, ate chips and quiche, drank tea and soup! Clean dry socks and I needed to get going again. It was a 30 min break but well needed.

I felt a bit full heading uphill out of town but all that food would give me energy soon. I love the scenery up past Attermire Scar and through to Stockdale Lane but it did feel like a truly relentless climb and it went on and on until I could see Malham Tarn. A very short down to the lane and then the gnarly track down Malham Cove meant I didn't make up much time on the descent as I was too busy making sure I didn't trip and end my adventure. Gordale was very busy which spurred me on up the lane to Weets Top. It was late afternoon but still warm even though the sun was sinking behind me. From Weets past Winterburn Reservoir and down to Hetton was quiet and speedy- a good path on the whole and few trip hazards. I made up some time. The vans had been tracking me and as they were bored with Settle ha decided to surprise me in Hetton village.

My sudden turn of speed meant they had to do the same! A lovely surprise and what a pretty little village- all flash Range Rovers and a 5* restaurant. 

I was now on new paths until the trig on Sharp Haw.  The riverside path to Flasby was good but the moors below the trig were the muddiest of the day. It was a relief to reach the summit and head down towards Skipton in the fading light. The path down was good and grassy until it met a track and then a lane. I recognised the vans as they shot across the B road just ahead of me and I knew the next couple of kilometres as it is the start of Lady Annes Way. It was getting dark as I crossed the golf course and then the A59 but I knew I would be in the market square in minutes. It was a bit of a shock to find masses of people dressed up for a boozy night out but a relief to climb into the van for more soup etc.  I checked my phone had charge- they were tracking me on Strava beacon and I was using it to nav when I had to.  It was tempting to linger but I didn't stop long. The climb out of town reminded me of a strange evening event we once did called the Shortbank Olympics- a local legend used to cone off the road and put on all sorts of races from a short hill sprint to a fell run. Then it was up into the woods and unknown territory again. After Skipton Moor the route drops all the way to Addingham and you know you will have to regain all the climb back up onto the moor and the start of the Ilkley Moor ridge. 

It was dark this time!

This was possibly my low point and I didn't know the paths which slowed me down and it seemed a pointless drop and climb. By the time I was up on the moor again all was good and as the path steadily improves as you move east I picked up the pace. The vans were waiting for me at Spicey Gill. Chris had even set an alarm to make sure he was up and out waiting for me. we woke Bob and I had a quick brew. Seeing them and getting encouragement spurred me on for the last section. I had a vague idea of this next bit but do not know it well. The initial climb seemed steep and the 12 Apostles took longer to appear than I had hoped. Coming off the back of the moor I was annoyed to lose the path once but managed to get back on track and was soon at the Otley- Bingley road. The very last miles were entirely new to me but I got a pleasant surprise as the track/lane was a good running surface and there was less climb than I expected. Once on Glen Road I knew the end was in sight. I was frustrated not to find the path down into Shipley Glen but after 5 mins gave up and opted for the next more obvious path instead. 

A quick section through the woods, over the river, along the canal and then just a few hundred metres uphill to Victoria Square and the Saltaire Lions. 

The vans were both parked up and Bob and Chris out ready to welcome me to the finish. Yes- job done and although the pace had slowed after Settle I made it in under 23 hours. Strava says 21hrs 6 ins moving time. 

I was amazed to find I had also won two segment crowns and had 6 personal records on segments.

What a wonderful day out with great support. After a few photos we moved the vans up onto Glen Road and fell into bed. I was wired and my hips hurt so I struggled to sleep but it was nice to be horizontal. Up for traditional post run breakfast of fried egg on bread and coffee at 8.30 and then just the drive home. Happy 61st Birthday to me. Weekend rounded off nicely with presents and a play plus cuddles with Layton. We slept through our alarms on Monday but still managed over 4 hours at the climbing wall. Still cannot believe how lucky I was with the weather  after a long spell of either wind or rain or both and today as I right this torrential rain for a few hours. Feeling blessed.

The Spire and possibly getting preparation wrong

 Our plan was simple- travel to Derbyshire, climb on Stanage, wild camp, check out sport climbing at Harpur Hill and then race on Saturday (well Bob had a bike ride planned).  As we drove down the M61 it rained and the sky was grey; not what was forecast. The end of the M67 had a massive bottle neck and we were stuck for over 45 mins... never mind , it will give the weather chance to improve. By the time we parked at Cut throat bridge near Ladybower it was looking better. We walk to the climb warmed us up and I even thought I had too many layers. It didn't last. The wind was ferocious and by the time we had stood around, decided on a climb I had two base layers, a fleece, primaloft and cag on plus 3/4 tights and big thick leggings over the top. I was not warm. By the time we had done one climb our hands were almost numb and standing on the top at the belay was getting tricky. What a bugger! Keen to salvage something from the day I jogged back to the van, changed and decided I could checkout another 20+ miles of the LDWA 100 route. Moscar to Wentworth and then down to Elsecar where Bob would meet me in the van. 

Ironically down in the shelter it was warm and sunny. I ran all afternoon in 3/4s and a T shirt! I was tired after it turned out to be almost 24 miles but enjoyed my exploring and this part of the country gets my vote for the friendliest locals.  No longer trusting the weather forecasts we opted to climb indoors on Friday but not until we had explored Elsecar. Usually I run past it on Round Rotherham and had never realised how much history there was. We were still at Awesome walls shortly after they opened at 10am. We had forgotten how much more daunting the extra height can be compared to Preston and the grades here also seemed a bit tougher too. It was fun though and there was so much more than we could manage in one visit even though we did stay for almost six hours. Yes, I know... 24 miles run and 6 hrs climb not the best race prep but life is short.

You know it's tall when it won't all fit in the shot

A shortish drive to just south of Chesterfield found us wild camping again within a five minute drive of the race start.  A quite night and a good sleep followed by a very short drive meant we were super early and all the flags etc were up by 7.30. It was good to have time to meet friends and ponder how hot the day might be. 

Still not trusting the forecast I stayed in 3/4s and it was HOT. Shortly before 9am we were herded to the start away from busy roads and suddenly we were off. Kevin and others quickly disappeared out of sight and I concentrated on not letting myself be pulled along by the pace. Although I had done the race twice before there were huge chunks I could not remember. Fortunately some felt familiar once I arrived and I was able to prevent other runners going wrong more than once. It's not a stunning route but does have some very pretty sections. I love the blue bell  and the beech woods. It was getting hotter but I had caught up with Annette the only woman in front of me. 

I knew Sarah would not be far behind. One marshal deserves a medal, he had bought ice lollies for us. I think it was at CP2 but as there were lots of extra road marshal points I might be wrong.  I had a lovely chat with a runner preparing for the Dragon's Back and then met up with another runner who had shared to Beacons 100 race in those awful conditions. He had bailed at the Storey Arms too. I ran on my own for a while and seemed to pull away from all 3 'friends'.  Mostly I remembered the way at stiles etc but I did have to use OS on my phone a couple of times just to be sure. At 33 miles this race is on the short side for me and there is so much that demands you RUN. It left little time for eating and so I tried to down a few jellies and drink more.

Shortly after the CP near Hundall, about 19 miles in, I started to get stitch and an upset stomach. I was in the bushes as a very strong looking Sarah powered past me. She stayed in sight for miles but I couldn't/wouldn't catch her. The next section of the race is not as pretty as you traverse old mining settlements like Brimington and use some tracks along old rail lines. I hate those straight flat miles, probably because it shows me what a rubbish runner I am Lakeland fells give me a chance to walk and eat). Things improve again after Arkwright Town with pleasant countryside (except for the field of head  high yellow rape) and you get a view of Bolsover Castle, Scarsdale Hall and then the pretty village of Health.  I could still see Sarah up ahead as we climbed to Heath  but once in the village she pulled ahead and out of sight. The end is now not far but now my stitch was a real pain and as we hit the last few miles on the Five Pits Trail I was reduced to walking every few hundred metres to ease it. Perhaps I should just 'man-up' and put in more effort and ignore the discomfort. I assumed Sarah was well ahead but in fact it was only 5 minutes- would a more determined effort have caught her? I doubt it she was running strongly. We both finished inside the previous record that I had set back in 2019 when the race was only in it's second year. This year the ground was rock hard. Sarah finished in 5hrs 43 and I was 5 minutes behind. The leading men were home in 4hrs 45- well done Kevin. 

Thanks to Jamie the RO- and yes he really is tall, those are adult women not primary school children.

The Fellsman

 I really really needed this race to go well enough that I finished. It sounds pathetic but my confidence was rock bottom and I was quite tearful at the thought that my back might mess up again and lead to another DNF.  I had been out for some local long runs but as these were 5 hours max and my back was very sore afterwards it was not at all clear how I would get on. People being kind and supportive was lovely but in some ways made it worse. I did not feel awesome, inspiring etc or that 170 miles was great. 

I couldn't sort my head out but I could try to put a plan together to maximise my chances. I opted for my ancient trusty OMM sack. It is getting a bit like Trigger's Broom with all the repairs and adaptations but I do love it. I also made sure I took poles in the hope that this would aid my posture in the early stages and give me something to lean on towards the end. I packed food for a long hike, even though a shortage of food is not a problem on this event. I also packed kit to be warm knowing how cold I get. This meant I felt a bit daft sat in Ingleton in long tights and with so much in my pack as many were moaning about how warm and sunny it was! It paid off though... more of that later.

As the event was in the Runfurther series there were flags, banners and display boards to put up and also prizes to sort out. Luckily Nick was volunteering and so was there to help and as Bob was volunteering we got to park at the school. There was no sleeping in the sports hall and people were being shuttled from the quarry car park. With jobs done there was time to chat with friends and once the registration and kit check were done it was time to cook. A last minute faff and taping of feet saw me off early to bed. The feet had not really been my biggest issue on the NT but I wanted to protect them and make sure they would not fail me. I didn't sleep well but I hadn't really thought I would.

The horse-shoe route means buses to the start. Early buses. Up at 5.30 and bus at 6.30. This left me far too much time to loiter in the village hall and get more and more wound up about how things might go. I am sure Albert, Mark, Andy and Sarah thought I was being ridiculous but I couldn't help it. Several loo visits and a cup of tea soaked up some time.  It was starting to look warm and sunny so once on the field I shed my cag and was glad I did. The start is always fairly comical with runners leaving the field in all directions. Few now go north and left, lots go N and right but the fastest know you go directly up the very steep bank and through the tennis courts. The minutes or seconds saved really don't matter as th event will take most of us well over 12 hours. 

It's a long way but a nice route on the whole

I had promised myself to start slowly and concentrate on my posture. My main aim was to finish but at the back of my mind I did want a 'respectable' time and even hoped I might get close to my previous slowest of 16hrs 39; after all the ground was going to be dry and fast. (Hmm) You can't help yourself in a race and having said a cheery hello to my neighbours clipping tallies on Inglebrough it was off to the Hill Inn and Whernside.  

I Love SportSunday- happy in the sunshine

A wave to my favourite photographer from SportSunday and I was pushing the pace up the climb. At Kingsdale and Dent I was still 3rd lady - Oops. By now I had the poles out in another attempt to keep me more upright. Kendra then passed me and there were others not far behind who caught me and passed me on Blea Moor. By Stonehouse I think I was 7th female and I stayed to eat a reasonable amount. I was slow up Artengill Beck and towards Great Knoutberry was suddenly cold enough to stop and put my cag on. ( a promise to myself that I would try to keep my back warm). The out and back here lets you see how others are doing and although I wasn't flying I felt I was doing OK. From there it is pretty much downhill to Redshaw and I got a good line unlike two guys ahead who climbed unnecessarily. Redshaw is where I volunteered a few years ago and today Carmine was there. He is always super positive and encouraging which is lovely. He waited on me as I ate sausages and drank tea. I also put on my merino layer- it was getting chilly. On On to Dodd Fell via Snaizeholme and the ground was getting more boggy until the nice grass bridleway. Ros and Neil were there cheering us on and I can only hope I wasn't too negative as by now my back was very sore. I knew the way off Dodd Fell and found the gap in the wall with no issues- the same two guys spotted me, turned round and came back to it. 

Tim leading our gang to Fleet Moss- cheered on by Ros and Neil

I was to spend some time with Peter and Andrew as well as Tim. 

I was already chilly

At Fleet Moss I knew I was getting colder and so put on my primaloft, hat, gloves and over trousers. I knew we would be leaving to go downhill on the road but I was cold and it had started to rain. There would be no real shelter until the buildings at Oughtershaw and no tent CP until Cray. I was on my own for a while but that was fine. I caught (I think) Stuart who was bemoaning having set off too fast and now suffering. I had been asked to turn on any beacons from Yockenthwaite onwards and duly did so as we reached the 'new' self clip and began the climb to Middle Tongue. 

The new self clip on Sat am when it was still sunny

The others guys all caught me up here and our little group reformed. I was pretty confident of the best line to Hells Gap and located to kink in the wall, then the big gate and the trod by the wall perfectly. Mark who I had run with at Lady Anne's Way caught me up here. He had talked of pulling out at Dent but was clearly feeling better now it was cooler. The guys were all  faster then me on the stone track down to Cray but were still eating when I arrived only a minute or so later.  There was more food and drink at the Cray CP but I was now predictably struggling to eat and my back was getting worse. As we had trackers there would be no official grouping this year so although we set off pretty much as a group of 5 or 6 we did not have to stick together. The climb up Buckden Pike was slow in the dark but we soon found Joe F snuggled in his tent by the trig point. From here the others shot off and I fell behind. I was reluctant to race hard in the dark as I know the edges of some of the flag stones are a big trip hazard and the visibility was deteriorating badly. By the war memorial I had lost all their head torches. Somehow I messed up here in the dark and got confused. I put it right but had lost time using OS on my phone which was a struggle with gloves, poles etc. 

Ironically the other women, except Fiona P, were not that far ahead. The two lads had gone wrong again and I caught them before Top Mere; Mark had already left though having taken the safe bridleway path that I missed. The rest of us stuck together to Park Rash.

The gloom

I was anxious that I would be very slow up Great Whernside but the four of us pretty much stuck together and shared the nav in what has to be some of the worst vis I have ever experienced. Crazy but we could not see walls we should be using as hand rails and actually had to go and touch them to check they really were there. We lost faith a couple of time on the way to the CP and faffed more than we should have. Once clipped at the tiny tent nestled in the rocks we made our way to the fence- what a lovely handrail. Sadly you do need to leave it. we got this wrong and I am cross with myself that I let myself be led by others! The poles were now good for support but a liability for nav. I had resorted to my waterproof over mitts and struggled to get my phone out and use it. we should have stuck with the fence to the next corner. As it was we hacked across some desperate terrain, fell in very wet bogs (who said the ground would be dry) and startled a flock of geese who then flew into us. Things improved when we reached the path and although we didn't know it at the time others including Mark were having an even worse time. There are some very funny traces on the Open Tracking website! 

Not my trace- anon. but funny in retrospect I am sure

As we ran towards the big track at Kelber Andrew and Peter shot off- we tried to chase and shout but as we started descending I knew it was wrong and by the gate we gave up the chase. We (Tim and I) turned around and headed back up to the crest to search for the little trod. We spotted the cairn but no beacons until we were heading in the right direction, perhaps a beacon at the junction would have helped. It was now easier nav towards Yarnbury. I told Tim not to wait as he seemed to have more energy than me and I was soon joined by both Mark with tales of woe and then Andrew E. We tried to jog as we were now on tarmac but I was struggling. Crossing the river we almost caught Kendra and 5 of us were given the same finish time with Tim just a few minutes ahead. Andrew and Peter appeared shortly afterwards having hacked their way back onto the route. 

Food, brew and bed. We almost over slept the next morning as Bob had been on duty until I finished and was ready to move to the van. Thank good ness for the car alarm that went off at 9.05am!! Not often I am pleased to be awoken by a vehicle alarm.

So, importantly for me I finished. It wasn't fast and in fact was a PW by about an hour. I guess that isn't so bad given how sore my back was and how daft my errors were both coming off Buckden Pike and then again off Great Whernside and at Kelber gate. Many people had slower times as the awful vis slowed them down even if they didn't all make nav errors and even the winning men pushing each other to joint first were a long way off the record pace. A great run by Fiona Pascall will shred our female Runfurther points though. Today my legs feel fine, my feet are pretty much OK, we have climbed indoors for over 4 hours and I plan to orienteer tonight. My back is no worse and perhaps slightly better than it was before the race. Next up is The Spire ultra in a fortnight. Feeling a bit more positive.