Friday, June 29, 2012
Tough Training Weekend!
As usual, events have conspired against me doing as much training as I would have liked, especially back to back walks. I have loaded up my rucksack in a similar way to what it will be when I do the walk, and as reports I have read of the Peddars Way mention that there are long stretches of metallised track and minor roads, I have included a lot of this type of terrain in my training. I have also tried to find routes that are relatively mud and water free!
Thursday night I did my usual stroll round the Regatta Lake at Holme Pierrepont- not walking on the tarmac but keeping to the hills and verges to the sides, and detouring round the nature reserve and into the woods. I walked down by the Trent to Lady Bay bridge and the point where the old Grantham canal meets the river, to make it slightly longer. It ended up being longer than I planned as I followed the path along the canal which runs parallel to the road, but in front of the gate at the bottom of the track a family of swans- mum, dad and 7 cygnets- had set up camp and didn't really want to let me past so I retraced my steps!
I took today off work as I can't walk Sunday, and decided to do roughly 17 miles. I settled on walking the 'big track' route as the paths are similar to the Peddar's Way tracks and I figured it would be drier and less muddy!
So I set off along side the Trent and over the Suspension Bridge;
My mistake was to wear a sock with a hole in the bottom on my right foot- it started rubbing the skin, got worse and worse and has made a blood blister. It's been quite sore to walk on so I have covered it with a compeed but it's annoying as I will need to cover 19/ 20 miles tomorrow!
The Big Track route was fairly quiet, and became a lovely poppy lined track;
I found the Nature Reserve and started to walk one of the tracks going all the way around it, although part of it was closed so I ended up retracing my steps. It's a lovely place though so I'm sure I will go back there.
At one point though I was having a loud conversation with mum on my mobile as she was struggling to hear me due to the wind, so I took shelter by a wooden building and raised my voice- before realising that the building was actually a bird watching hide... oops...
I started to worry about 9 miles in as my feet were starting to really ache! The further I walked the worse it got, and by the time I had retraced my steps to Beeston Locks and started down Beeston Canal I kept having to sit down and give them a rest. I was quite concerned as I will need to walk longer distances than this on the walk- day after day! I hoped it was just because I had done such a lot lately and decided to take a stash of painkillers with me!
I decided to stop at a pub at Castle Marina, putting my feet up with a welcome latte. This seemed to fortify me a little and I managed to hobble the rest of the way although all I could focus on was the discomfort from my right sock!
When I reached home, the Garmin said I had done 17.60 miles, so job done. I have a route planned for tomorrow, again involving the River Trent but going the other way, from Gunthorpe up past Fiskerton. I'm annoyed about my foot- just hope it's going to bear up!
Labels: Attenborough Nature Reserve, river trent
Sunday, June 24, 2012
... still plodding...
With just over 3 weeks before I head down to Norfolk to start my Peddars Way/ Norfolk Coast Path challenge, I feel as though my life has degenerated into stomping around the county with a stupidly heavy rucksack and house painting (don't ask!)
I still haven't managed to do consecutive walks but at least have been covering distances, and loaded up the pack weight with a dumbell and bottles of water. I have been walking evenings, between 7 and 8 miles, and covering longer distances at the weekend and have also put in a guest appearance at the gym.
I have been walking to work on Thursdays with the pack (only about 2.5 miles, and I would walk in more days if I could, but my work entails visiting people over a wide area so sadly I need to take the car most days) then doing a little run with a running club we have organised (4 of us on a good day!) and then walking a circituous route back home. I had an added little bonus on Thursday as I found a £20 note on the pavement!
Went out on my 18 mile route through Shelford and past RAF Newton which I hadn't done for a while. I really didn't want to do it though... I kept procrastinating and had even started talking myself out of it- you know, stuff like missing one day won't make much difference... maybe you should rest because you might be coming down with something if you're tired... but I forced myself out the door with the rucksack on. I didn't bother taking the camera as from the look of the sky it was obvious I wasn't going to stay dry.
Now the perks of walking in Summer are usually dry paths, dry feet and an absence of mud... sadly not in Summer 2012 though! All I can say is I hope the weather picks up a bit for my walk- it's got three weeks to get itself sorted!!
I still haven't managed to do consecutive walks but at least have been covering distances, and loaded up the pack weight with a dumbell and bottles of water. I have been walking evenings, between 7 and 8 miles, and covering longer distances at the weekend and have also put in a guest appearance at the gym.
I have been walking to work on Thursdays with the pack (only about 2.5 miles, and I would walk in more days if I could, but my work entails visiting people over a wide area so sadly I need to take the car most days) then doing a little run with a running club we have organised (4 of us on a good day!) and then walking a circituous route back home. I had an added little bonus on Thursday as I found a £20 note on the pavement!
Went out on my 18 mile route through Shelford and past RAF Newton which I hadn't done for a while. I really didn't want to do it though... I kept procrastinating and had even started talking myself out of it- you know, stuff like missing one day won't make much difference... maybe you should rest because you might be coming down with something if you're tired... but I forced myself out the door with the rucksack on. I didn't bother taking the camera as from the look of the sky it was obvious I wasn't going to stay dry.
Now the perks of walking in Summer are usually dry paths, dry feet and an absence of mud... sadly not in Summer 2012 though! All I can say is I hope the weather picks up a bit for my walk- it's got three weeks to get itself sorted!!
Labels: Norfolk Coast Path, Peddars Way
Sunday, June 10, 2012
14 Mile Training Walk
Well, here am I supposed to be training for the Peddars Way/ Norfolk Coast Path and, as usual, life gets in the way and throws a couple of curve balls to keep me occupied on something else... so consequently the training has taken a bit of a back seat for the last couple of weeks, which isn't great as I will have to lug a heavy rucksack for 5 days consecutively.
Added to this the fact that all my equipment seems to be falling apart... my socks have holes in them, my running shoes are starting to fray and my trusty rucksack is probably going to disintegrate soon, and I have very little money for purchasing replacements!
But hey, onwards we go. I had offered to water my mum's plants today while they are enjoying a holiday in Italy, so decided to combine that with a Leicestershire walk. I settled on one I have done a few times before, a 14 mile route from Barrow-Upon-Soar from John Merril's book 'Long Circular Walks in Charnwood Forest'. It's quite a nice route, following the canal before heading off through the fields. I made sure that I was carrying some weight in my rucksack, parked the car and set off.
It was actually a nice day weatherwise, not too hot but sunny and cloudy. I enjoyed the first part of the route, along fields and meadows past bridges;
Through Mountsorrell to Sileby Mill;
Sileby Mill
And along through the Nature Reserve, leaving the water at Cossington Mill. My pack didn't feel too bad at all and I even managed some of my speciality slow shambling jogs!
A bit of a road walk brought me into Rothley, and a circuitous route by the church before heading down past the village green and a rather cheeky horse!
Rothely Village Green
I enjoyed the next part of the walk as it goes through the lovely Rothely Park and then through the golf course, with golfers out in full swing!
Rothely Park
After the golf course the path goes through a tunnel under the railway line before heading to the outskirts of Thurcaston;
Here I had to deviate from John Merril's route, as the footpath he recommends taking no longer seems to lead anywhere- and I have spent several fun minutes in the past trying! Luckily there is an alternative footpath further up the road which brought me out into Cropston by a field full of the cutest little shetland ponies and their foals.
Turning left for a couple of hundred yards brought me to the footpath to Swithland, following a track round the woods with some great views of Bradgate Park to the left. I was getting through my water quite quickly, which was a disappointment as I had been using it as training weight!
To The Woods
Swithland is another little Charnwood village, with a curious little round structure known as the 'Lock-Up'.
The Lock-Up
It looks quite intriguing but is thought to be a folly rather than a prison!
I could feel my left foot aching slightly, but managed a downhill run to the steam railway line and path towards Quorn. This path comes at the end of the Charnwood Forest Marathon and always seems endless. Today was no exception as it was very wet muddy in parts, although I managed to avoid the worst of it by some nifty fence traversing.
The Endless Track!
In Quorn I stopped for some essential supplies- flavoured water and chocolate; I felt a little sorry for the poor folks next to me in the queue as I wasn't at my most fragrant!
Past the village the A6 is crossed by a huge metal bridge that rises steeply from an otherwise ordinary field;
It's quite good fun crossing it!
I got back to the car in around 4 hours, which I am happy with as I was trying to walk a little faster. After the plant watering duties, I took advantage of their water meterless status and drive to wash and vacuum the car, a job that was shockingly about a year overdue!
I will need to step up the training now, and keep adding the pack weight. I also need to find the time to do two consective walks...
Added to this the fact that all my equipment seems to be falling apart... my socks have holes in them, my running shoes are starting to fray and my trusty rucksack is probably going to disintegrate soon, and I have very little money for purchasing replacements!
It was actually a nice day weatherwise, not too hot but sunny and cloudy. I enjoyed the first part of the route, along fields and meadows past bridges;
And along through the Nature Reserve, leaving the water at Cossington Mill. My pack didn't feel too bad at all and I even managed some of my speciality slow shambling jogs!
A bit of a road walk brought me into Rothley, and a circuitous route by the church before heading down past the village green and a rather cheeky horse!
I enjoyed the next part of the walk as it goes through the lovely Rothely Park and then through the golf course, with golfers out in full swing!
After the golf course the path goes through a tunnel under the railway line before heading to the outskirts of Thurcaston;
Here I had to deviate from John Merril's route, as the footpath he recommends taking no longer seems to lead anywhere- and I have spent several fun minutes in the past trying! Luckily there is an alternative footpath further up the road which brought me out into Cropston by a field full of the cutest little shetland ponies and their foals.
Turning left for a couple of hundred yards brought me to the footpath to Swithland, following a track round the woods with some great views of Bradgate Park to the left. I was getting through my water quite quickly, which was a disappointment as I had been using it as training weight!
Swithland is another little Charnwood village, with a curious little round structure known as the 'Lock-Up'.
It looks quite intriguing but is thought to be a folly rather than a prison!
I could feel my left foot aching slightly, but managed a downhill run to the steam railway line and path towards Quorn. This path comes at the end of the Charnwood Forest Marathon and always seems endless. Today was no exception as it was very wet muddy in parts, although I managed to avoid the worst of it by some nifty fence traversing.
In Quorn I stopped for some essential supplies- flavoured water and chocolate; I felt a little sorry for the poor folks next to me in the queue as I wasn't at my most fragrant!
Past the village the A6 is crossed by a huge metal bridge that rises steeply from an otherwise ordinary field;
I got back to the car in around 4 hours, which I am happy with as I was trying to walk a little faster. After the plant watering duties, I took advantage of their water meterless status and drive to wash and vacuum the car, a job that was shockingly about a year overdue!
I will need to step up the training now, and keep adding the pack weight. I also need to find the time to do two consective walks...
Labels: barrow-on-soar, Charnwood
Monday, June 04, 2012
The Leaden Boot- Event Report
I'm a bit late posting this, it's been quite a hectic week! The Leaden Boot... it was tough... very tough! Lots of climbing and I really don't think that the shearing heat of last weekend helped.
I think that this is only the second year this event was run, and it was a complete sell out. I can see why as the views are just magnificent. As I headed to the little village of Alstonefield I could tell it was going to be a scorcher, so knew I was going to have to keep myself well hydrated. I checked in, grabbed a cuppa and had heard that there was to be a 'blessing of the Boots' ceremony by Alstonefield's lady vicar. Intrigued, I joined in- it was held in a little garden opposite the village hall, and after prayers and a song, we all filed out to have our boots (or running shoes in my case) blessed with water which apparently has anti-blistering properties. I didn't actually get a blister all day, but maybe by next year they can work on anti-aching properties too!!
I saw Ross and we walked together which was great as it does make such a difference having someone to chat with and we walk at a similar pace.
We set off at 9am, shattering the peace of this sleepy little village, and it was already very warm. I didn't even bother to bring my waterproofs as the chances of rain were nil;
Ready For The Off
The route starts off deceptively downhill, along a lovely wall lined road to Milldale and over Viators Bridge. All semblence of a genteel walk now ended as we started to climb right out of the Dovedale valley, following a crocodile of people;
As we climbed, the views became better and better;
After a brief ridge walk there followed a very steep descent down into the first self clip checkpoint and Nabdale.
This brought us very briefly into Dovedale, but we were soon climbing again by Ilam Rock;
Ilam Rock
Dovedale
This was a tough ascent, made worse by the heat. It was worth it though when we passed into open moorland for a simply stunning view down the Dovedale valley towards Thorpe Cloud.
There was a welcome descent to the first proper checkpoint at Ilam Hall, set in beautiful grounds. The organisers had thoughtfully provided bowls of cold water and sponges to help us cool off. I was wearing my 'desert hat' so dunked this into the water at every checkpoint.
Ilam
Past Ilam, the route climbed through fields and then a track through a valley and Musden Woods to the next checkpoint at Slade House. The heat seemed to be really affecting people at this point and Ross felt unwell for most of the day, but incredibly finished the event even though he must have been feeling really rough. I gather that quite a few folk had to drop out during the day.
After Slade House, there was more climbing, plus a small detour to avoid a huge bull that was right in our path. The views were stunning;
After a descent to the ruins of Old Throwley Hall, we turned towards the Manifold Cycle trail, passing the impressive craggy cliffs of Beeston Tor.
After a brief respite along the Manifold cycle trail, we were soon climbing again, heading for Grindon and the next checkpoint, where we had a brief rest under the shade of a tree and snacked on salted pretzels. I was feeling quite tired at this point and felt my feet and thighs aching. Each checkpoint displayed the number of miles completed but it was quite demoralising as it was always less that we felt we should have done.
After Grindon came the descent to busy Wetton Mill and a welcome ice lolly and loo stop, before a steep haul up Ecton Hill, the brooding prescence now confronting us. The 360 degree panorama from the top made up for the hard work though.
Ecton Hill
View From Ecton Hill
A long grassy descent past abandoned mine shafts brought us to the next check point by the folly. There were a few people waiting for a companion but as there was no sign of him they left word for the checkpoint staff to persuade him to retire when he reached it and they went off ahead.
We were to join the Manifold Trail again for a little while, before heading off through fields and Sheen village towards Sheen Hill.
Sheen Hill
After checkpoint 6 (where there were chocolate bars in a cooler- bliss!) we climbed again, before a gradual descent into Hartington. The views were, as always, glorious but we had passed the point of being able to appreciate them as it was now a case of head down, teeth gritted and just get through it. Although it was now late afternoon the temperature did not seem to have dropped at all.
Finally we were on a track towards Hartington and the last checkpoint. To my dismay the checkpoint sign read 21.5 miles completed and I realised that we still had another 4 miles to go, but then one of the guys manning the checkpoint told us to ignore that and that we only had around 2.5 miles to go. It was the best news he could have given me (apart from telling me we had reached the finish) and I actually felt a bit of energy coming back for the last couple of miles.
We went through a lovely little valley called Narrowdale, and on climbing out overtook quite a few people.
Approaching Narrowdale
The sight of Alstonefield several fields away was an extremely welcome one, and it was such a relief to stop, sit down, have a coffee and some very good vegetarian pie, I can also highly recommend the home made lemon cake!
This was a toughie, especially given the weather, but a glorious route and one I am sure I will do again!
I think that this is only the second year this event was run, and it was a complete sell out. I can see why as the views are just magnificent. As I headed to the little village of Alstonefield I could tell it was going to be a scorcher, so knew I was going to have to keep myself well hydrated. I checked in, grabbed a cuppa and had heard that there was to be a 'blessing of the Boots' ceremony by Alstonefield's lady vicar. Intrigued, I joined in- it was held in a little garden opposite the village hall, and after prayers and a song, we all filed out to have our boots (or running shoes in my case) blessed with water which apparently has anti-blistering properties. I didn't actually get a blister all day, but maybe by next year they can work on anti-aching properties too!!
We set off at 9am, shattering the peace of this sleepy little village, and it was already very warm. I didn't even bother to bring my waterproofs as the chances of rain were nil;
The route starts off deceptively downhill, along a lovely wall lined road to Milldale and over Viators Bridge. All semblence of a genteel walk now ended as we started to climb right out of the Dovedale valley, following a crocodile of people;
This was a tough ascent, made worse by the heat. It was worth it though when we passed into open moorland for a simply stunning view down the Dovedale valley towards Thorpe Cloud.
Past Ilam, the route climbed through fields and then a track through a valley and Musden Woods to the next checkpoint at Slade House. The heat seemed to be really affecting people at this point and Ross felt unwell for most of the day, but incredibly finished the event even though he must have been feeling really rough. I gather that quite a few folk had to drop out during the day.
After Slade House, there was more climbing, plus a small detour to avoid a huge bull that was right in our path. The views were stunning;
After a descent to the ruins of Old Throwley Hall, we turned towards the Manifold Cycle trail, passing the impressive craggy cliffs of Beeston Tor.
After Grindon came the descent to busy Wetton Mill and a welcome ice lolly and loo stop, before a steep haul up Ecton Hill, the brooding prescence now confronting us. The 360 degree panorama from the top made up for the hard work though.
A long grassy descent past abandoned mine shafts brought us to the next check point by the folly. There were a few people waiting for a companion but as there was no sign of him they left word for the checkpoint staff to persuade him to retire when he reached it and they went off ahead.
We were to join the Manifold Trail again for a little while, before heading off through fields and Sheen village towards Sheen Hill.
After checkpoint 6 (where there were chocolate bars in a cooler- bliss!) we climbed again, before a gradual descent into Hartington. The views were, as always, glorious but we had passed the point of being able to appreciate them as it was now a case of head down, teeth gritted and just get through it. Although it was now late afternoon the temperature did not seem to have dropped at all.
We went through a lovely little valley called Narrowdale, and on climbing out overtook quite a few people.
The sight of Alstonefield several fields away was an extremely welcome one, and it was such a relief to stop, sit down, have a coffee and some very good vegetarian pie, I can also highly recommend the home made lemon cake!
This was a toughie, especially given the weather, but a glorious route and one I am sure I will do again!
Labels: Derbyshire, Leaden Boot
