Saturday, February 25, 2012
The Belvoir Challenge- Event Report
Well I always seem to start off by describing the mud... but today there was very little! I only got one foot wet once... I am almost disappointed... almost! In fact, it was a total contrast to last year as it was warm and sunny for most of the day.
As usual, I reached Harby in planty of time, got a coffee and met Kevin, who had been in the next door tent from me in the MdS, and his wife; they were doing the 16 mile route. After a welcome catch up, I wandered up to the school, where the event starts, went to the loo and heard an announcement that there was an aerobics warm up on the school field, so I went and joined in- I need all the help I can get!!
This year both routes started off together for the first 7 miles, and so I had my strategy to try to avoid 25 mile waits at stiles and boggy morasses- I decided to position myself ahead of the main mass of people but not too near the front so as not to p*ss off the serious runners, jog as much of the route as possible until the two routes split and spend as little time at the first checkpoint, which was to serve both 16 and 26 miler as possible. I was a bit apprehensive as the last time the routes stayed together for so long, I lost 25 minutes waiting to go over a stile and loads more time at the first checkpoint and ended up not finishing.
In the end I needn't have got too worried, as apart from a short wait to go through a gate at the first field, the organisers had chosen a route which followed good tracks with hardly any stiles, and had arranged for a gate to be opened near to each stile- and the muddy morass I had envisioned didn't happen!
I did run/ jog up to the first check point, overtaking walkers I knew would overtake me again later, and gulped down a couple of cups of juice, taking a slice of flap jack with me. The route gradually climbed towards Belvoir Castle and I was still trying to keep up a shambling, lurching kind of jog.
Belvoir Castle
As we approached the castle, the two routes split- the field had thinned out quite a lot by now but a few people ahead were reassuringly taking the 26 mile route, which wound by the castle on the road. My stategy had worked in so far as keeping me ahead of the main mass of people, but there was only one problem with it.
I was knackered. After only 7 miles.
By the time I reached the second checkpoint at Woolsthorpe my legs were aching quite badly and I cursed myself as I realised I had forgotten my paracetamol. There was a long, really steep climb straight after the checkpoint, which didn't help, and I promised myself a sit down and a cuppa at the 14 mile checkpoint at Denton.
Woolsthorpe
Looking Back To Belvoir Castle
After this the route followed several long tracks- easy walking but boring after a while, and it gave me too much time to think about how much my legs were aching and how rough I generally felt. Added to this the fact that walkers were now overtaking me (as I knew they would, but there is something rather demoralising about being overtaken by someone who then strides effortlessly off into the distance) and I was at a pretty low ebb- in fact, the possibility of having to retire swept across my mind in a fleeting moment. I hadn't actually done a 26 miler since the Ponton Plod and the fast (well fastish) start had taken it out of me.
We reached Denton reservoir, and followed the footpath to Denton. It was really warm and sunny, totally unlike the constant drizzle of last year.
Denton Reservoir
I heard someone close behind me when I started to climb a stile, so tried to rush and ended up giving my knee a good clout- I have a lovely bruise now!
I was so glad to reach Denton and sit down with a lovely cuppa, cheese and pickle sandwiches and the last but one piece of millionaire's shortbread. I knew I was now over halfway, and as I climbed out of Denton on the Harston road, my legs started to feel much better- it was as though they had suddenly realised what we were doing and thought 'Ok, it's a challenge walk... ' We followed the road to Harston, but a footpath keeps walkers off the road and through the fields for a lot of it.
I guessed that the next part of the route was the Ponton Plod in reverse until Croxton Kerriel and the 18 1/2 mile checkpoint, and was mostly right. Unfortunately knowing what's coming is not always so great as I couldn't stop thinking about the steep climb I had to face!
We ended up going through Croxton Kerriel to the Village Hall a different way than on the PP, and I had a welcome cake. I was chatting to one of the volunteers about the lack of mud and she mentioned that we would probably all want our money back!
Rather unusually, this was the last checkpoint so we had a 7 mile stretch back to Harby. I stocked up on a couple of pieces of mars bar but lost one when I got my camera out to take a photo.
The Croxton Water Spout
The route followed a lo-o-ong track, which I recognised from the Waltham Winder one year, to Branston. This track was actually a little- gasp- muddy!
Approaching Branston
After Branston, the route skirted Eaton, going through a gateway that was so muddy I actually got a wet foot- this was more like it!! Quite a few people passed me, and as we climbed up through a wood, I was them take a sharp right and then pick their way down the hill. What confronted me was a really steep descent down a loose, soil path. That was more than I could manage on my feet, so, to the amusement of the people in front, I walked down it crab style, belly uppermost, on my hands and feet!
Shortly after this I was faced with descending the infamous 'iron staircase' which tends to feature on the Belvoir Challenge quite a lot;
I had had enough by now. I wanted to finish- my legs were aching and it wasn't fun anymore! The last stretch from Eastwell, down the ridge and along tracks to Harby seemed endless. A few people had overtaken me and I decided that nobody else was going to, so actually put on a bit of a lurch along the track.
I really though I'd slowed up badly, but to my great surprise I finished in around 7 hours 40 minutes- a PB for the walk, but I am under no illusions that it was mainly due to the lack of mud and easier terrain!! Still... not bad...
My only little gripe with the catering is that the organisers tend to dish up different puddings and leave them on the table with a jug of custard for people to help themselves, rather than dishing up to order, which means that your pudding tends to be luke warm. They are also rather zealous about clearing up- I found a table, put my things on it, went to the loo, and came back to find it had been cleared away and my stuff was on the floor!
It is a grand day out, and my first event of the year completed, I guess next year will be business as usual with the mud!
As usual, I reached Harby in planty of time, got a coffee and met Kevin, who had been in the next door tent from me in the MdS, and his wife; they were doing the 16 mile route. After a welcome catch up, I wandered up to the school, where the event starts, went to the loo and heard an announcement that there was an aerobics warm up on the school field, so I went and joined in- I need all the help I can get!!
This year both routes started off together for the first 7 miles, and so I had my strategy to try to avoid 25 mile waits at stiles and boggy morasses- I decided to position myself ahead of the main mass of people but not too near the front so as not to p*ss off the serious runners, jog as much of the route as possible until the two routes split and spend as little time at the first checkpoint, which was to serve both 16 and 26 miler as possible. I was a bit apprehensive as the last time the routes stayed together for so long, I lost 25 minutes waiting to go over a stile and loads more time at the first checkpoint and ended up not finishing.
In the end I needn't have got too worried, as apart from a short wait to go through a gate at the first field, the organisers had chosen a route which followed good tracks with hardly any stiles, and had arranged for a gate to be opened near to each stile- and the muddy morass I had envisioned didn't happen!
I did run/ jog up to the first check point, overtaking walkers I knew would overtake me again later, and gulped down a couple of cups of juice, taking a slice of flap jack with me. The route gradually climbed towards Belvoir Castle and I was still trying to keep up a shambling, lurching kind of jog.
As we approached the castle, the two routes split- the field had thinned out quite a lot by now but a few people ahead were reassuringly taking the 26 mile route, which wound by the castle on the road. My stategy had worked in so far as keeping me ahead of the main mass of people, but there was only one problem with it.
I was knackered. After only 7 miles.
By the time I reached the second checkpoint at Woolsthorpe my legs were aching quite badly and I cursed myself as I realised I had forgotten my paracetamol. There was a long, really steep climb straight after the checkpoint, which didn't help, and I promised myself a sit down and a cuppa at the 14 mile checkpoint at Denton.
After this the route followed several long tracks- easy walking but boring after a while, and it gave me too much time to think about how much my legs were aching and how rough I generally felt. Added to this the fact that walkers were now overtaking me (as I knew they would, but there is something rather demoralising about being overtaken by someone who then strides effortlessly off into the distance) and I was at a pretty low ebb- in fact, the possibility of having to retire swept across my mind in a fleeting moment. I hadn't actually done a 26 miler since the Ponton Plod and the fast (well fastish) start had taken it out of me.
We reached Denton reservoir, and followed the footpath to Denton. It was really warm and sunny, totally unlike the constant drizzle of last year.
I heard someone close behind me when I started to climb a stile, so tried to rush and ended up giving my knee a good clout- I have a lovely bruise now!
I was so glad to reach Denton and sit down with a lovely cuppa, cheese and pickle sandwiches and the last but one piece of millionaire's shortbread. I knew I was now over halfway, and as I climbed out of Denton on the Harston road, my legs started to feel much better- it was as though they had suddenly realised what we were doing and thought 'Ok, it's a challenge walk... ' We followed the road to Harston, but a footpath keeps walkers off the road and through the fields for a lot of it.
I guessed that the next part of the route was the Ponton Plod in reverse until Croxton Kerriel and the 18 1/2 mile checkpoint, and was mostly right. Unfortunately knowing what's coming is not always so great as I couldn't stop thinking about the steep climb I had to face!
We ended up going through Croxton Kerriel to the Village Hall a different way than on the PP, and I had a welcome cake. I was chatting to one of the volunteers about the lack of mud and she mentioned that we would probably all want our money back!
Rather unusually, this was the last checkpoint so we had a 7 mile stretch back to Harby. I stocked up on a couple of pieces of mars bar but lost one when I got my camera out to take a photo.
The route followed a lo-o-ong track, which I recognised from the Waltham Winder one year, to Branston. This track was actually a little- gasp- muddy!
After Branston, the route skirted Eaton, going through a gateway that was so muddy I actually got a wet foot- this was more like it!! Quite a few people passed me, and as we climbed up through a wood, I was them take a sharp right and then pick their way down the hill. What confronted me was a really steep descent down a loose, soil path. That was more than I could manage on my feet, so, to the amusement of the people in front, I walked down it crab style, belly uppermost, on my hands and feet!
Shortly after this I was faced with descending the infamous 'iron staircase' which tends to feature on the Belvoir Challenge quite a lot;
I had had enough by now. I wanted to finish- my legs were aching and it wasn't fun anymore! The last stretch from Eastwell, down the ridge and along tracks to Harby seemed endless. A few people had overtaken me and I decided that nobody else was going to, so actually put on a bit of a lurch along the track.
I really though I'd slowed up badly, but to my great surprise I finished in around 7 hours 40 minutes- a PB for the walk, but I am under no illusions that it was mainly due to the lack of mud and easier terrain!! Still... not bad...
My only little gripe with the catering is that the organisers tend to dish up different puddings and leave them on the table with a jug of custard for people to help themselves, rather than dishing up to order, which means that your pudding tends to be luke warm. They are also rather zealous about clearing up- I found a table, put my things on it, went to the loo, and came back to find it had been cleared away and my stuff was on the floor!
It is a grand day out, and my first event of the year completed, I guess next year will be business as usual with the mud!
Labels: Belvoir Challenge
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Apologies For The Absence... Again!
Seriously, I must write more often... the last couple of weeks has been filled with work, training (not too hard) and a trip to Blackpool to see my sister. Luckily her and my Brother-in-Law are a lot keener on walking than sight seeing on Blackpool prom, so we did a little amble in the Forest of Bowland area- they are so lucky, they live within an hour's drive of the Forest of Bowland, the Dales and the Lakes...
It was a bit overcast, we set off on an 8 mile route my Brother-in-Law devised which took in fellside, fields and a cafe.
Forest Of Bowland Scenery
After climbing and traversing fell side, we had quite a lot of squelching through fields and farmland. I was particularly impressed with one exclusive looking housing estate that had the best footpath signs I have ever come across.
They obviously like horses too judging by the sign and the rather classy statue at the end of the drive...
We were seriously impressed... until we reached the end of the drive and saw the massive Man United emblems built in to the wrought iron gates... kind of spoilt the effect rather!
After a welcome cuppa and teacake at The Applestore in Wyresdale, we tackled Nicky Nook fell. I've been up here several times before, but we came down by a differen route, past Grize Dale Reservoir and through a lovely permissive path back through the woods to the car.
The good news is I have been going out for 5 mile more runs than walk, and so far so good with the knee. I wanted to do a longish walk prior to the Belvoir Challenge, but this hasn't really happened- I felt rough on Sunday with a cold so only did 10 miles, and my social life has been rather hectic too.
The Belvoir Challenge route is on their web site... and I must say, it's not great news. Both the 15 and the 26 mile routes follow each other for around 8-9 miles, and share the first checkpoint. Given that there will be hundreds and hundreds of entrants, many of them runners (and therefore faster than me) that means that the first few miles, and the checkpoint, will be extremely busy and very churned underfoot. The last time the routes stayed together for so long was the only year I didn't complete the event, and I think it was partly due to me losing so much time waiting for over 20 minutes to cross a stile (ok that and the fact that I was pathetically unfit...)
In my opinion it would have been better to have reversed one of the distances so we are not all setting off in the same direction... but it is what it is and I will just have to make the best of it!
It was a bit overcast, we set off on an 8 mile route my Brother-in-Law devised which took in fellside, fields and a cafe.
After climbing and traversing fell side, we had quite a lot of squelching through fields and farmland. I was particularly impressed with one exclusive looking housing estate that had the best footpath signs I have ever come across.
They obviously like horses too judging by the sign and the rather classy statue at the end of the drive...
After a welcome cuppa and teacake at The Applestore in Wyresdale, we tackled Nicky Nook fell. I've been up here several times before, but we came down by a differen route, past Grize Dale Reservoir and through a lovely permissive path back through the woods to the car.
The Belvoir Challenge route is on their web site... and I must say, it's not great news. Both the 15 and the 26 mile routes follow each other for around 8-9 miles, and share the first checkpoint. Given that there will be hundreds and hundreds of entrants, many of them runners (and therefore faster than me) that means that the first few miles, and the checkpoint, will be extremely busy and very churned underfoot. The last time the routes stayed together for so long was the only year I didn't complete the event, and I think it was partly due to me losing so much time waiting for over 20 minutes to cross a stile (ok that and the fact that I was pathetically unfit...)
In my opinion it would have been better to have reversed one of the distances so we are not all setting off in the same direction... but it is what it is and I will just have to make the best of it!
Labels: Belvoir Challenge, Forest of Bowland, Nicky Nook
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Fun In The Snow!
Well, we got a proper dose of winter over the weekend... I was watching my sister swim in a tournament in Braunstone, Leicester, and as I drove over to mum's to pick them up, it had started to snow- little, hard flakes- and to settle a little. By the time we reached the swimming baths there was quite a covering on the ground and the flakes had become larger.
We were in for a shock when we emerged, three hours later... it had obviously been snowing hard all the time we had been in there, so there was a good three- four inches on the ground and the car. Driving back was awful... the roads were horrendous! It was a case of keep concentrating and try to keep to the wheel ruts of the cars in front... all the time the snow was coming down in bucket loads. I am not that experienced at driving in that weather and didn't greatly enjoy it! Then I had to drive back home... the A46 was dreadful. I saw several cars who appeared to be stuck, and one car sticking out of the ditch at a jaunty angle! (It was abandoned). I got home eventually but was so glad to be back!
Sunday morning I thought I'd take advantage of all the white stuff and go out and get some pics and exercise at the same time. Going out early was lovely as the snow was still thick on the trees- I decided on my Radcliffe- Shelford route, around 13 miles, although it felt much more in the snow.
Now, when I usually do this route I see hardly a soul between Radcliffe and Shelford and so I had rather hoped of being the first one to walk it and be able to take shots of paths covered with pristine snow... not so. Obviously everyone in Radcliffe and Shelford had set their alarm clocks so that they could get out and walk every inch of the paths they could find for miles around, or so it seemed! I did get a few shots though-
Around 11am the sun came out and I kept getting wet as the snow melted and dripped off the trees. I did manage a few shambling runs but felt like I was moving in slow motion.
Unfortunatly most of it has turned to slush, which has then frozen and left the pavements lethally covered so I think I will forego tonight's run and use the elliptical (which has unfortunately become very squeaky) whilst I watch the Biggest Loser...
We were in for a shock when we emerged, three hours later... it had obviously been snowing hard all the time we had been in there, so there was a good three- four inches on the ground and the car. Driving back was awful... the roads were horrendous! It was a case of keep concentrating and try to keep to the wheel ruts of the cars in front... all the time the snow was coming down in bucket loads. I am not that experienced at driving in that weather and didn't greatly enjoy it! Then I had to drive back home... the A46 was dreadful. I saw several cars who appeared to be stuck, and one car sticking out of the ditch at a jaunty angle! (It was abandoned). I got home eventually but was so glad to be back!
Sunday morning I thought I'd take advantage of all the white stuff and go out and get some pics and exercise at the same time. Going out early was lovely as the snow was still thick on the trees- I decided on my Radcliffe- Shelford route, around 13 miles, although it felt much more in the snow.
Now, when I usually do this route I see hardly a soul between Radcliffe and Shelford and so I had rather hoped of being the first one to walk it and be able to take shots of paths covered with pristine snow... not so. Obviously everyone in Radcliffe and Shelford had set their alarm clocks so that they could get out and walk every inch of the paths they could find for miles around, or so it seemed! I did get a few shots though-
Unfortunatly most of it has turned to slush, which has then frozen and left the pavements lethally covered so I think I will forego tonight's run and use the elliptical (which has unfortunately become very squeaky) whilst I watch the Biggest Loser...
Labels: snow
