Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Nothing Much Doing...
Like the title says, nothing much doing... I have been on plenty of walks/ runs, although not half as many as I should have done for the Gritstone Grind on 8th September which obviously I don't feel ready for at all! Due to lack of finances though they have been mainly local- The Big Track, Holme Pierrepont, Radcliffe-on-Trent have all featured highly.
What is worrying me though are the sore spots I've been having on the heel/ bottom of my right foot and I have convinced myself that this is the onset of Plantar Fasciitis, but on the other hand could be my new shoes!
Meanwhile here's a picture of a butterfly...
What is worrying me though are the sore spots I've been having on the heel/ bottom of my right foot and I have convinced myself that this is the onset of Plantar Fasciitis, but on the other hand could be my new shoes!
Meanwhile here's a picture of a butterfly...
Labels: Gritstone Challenge
Friday, August 09, 2013
Event Report; The White Peak Walk
Phew... what a scorcher!! This year's WPW took place on one of the hottest days of the year- 30 degree heat. Apparently they had the highest drop out rate in the history of the event.
Temperatures were already rising as I reached the Peak village of Moneyash, registered and joined the crowd of walkers on the village green. This event was unusual in that we were given grid references for each checkpoint and encouraged to navigate between checkpoints, although there was a suggested route. I had only realised this the night before so was up late desparately plotting the route on my map- luckily the start is a civilised 10am.
The Start
I slapped on plenty of sunscreen and then we were off, and heading across the fields towards Flagg. People were already splitting up and going separate ways, although if I had known how many stiles there were going to be I would have used the road!
Walking Across Fields Near Flagg
The first checkpoint was outside the Waterloo Hotel and I stopped just long enough to grab a drink. It was already very warm and I was covered in sweat.
Then it was onto the next checkpoint at Brushfield as we negotiated several small dales;
I was a little concerned to note that there appeared to be only water available as I hadn't brought much food with me- although there was a plastic tub with 'biscuits' written on it, the runners and faster walkers had scoffed the lot!
We walked over the spectacular viaduct at Monsal Head, and on my map it showed the footpath climbing to the road to avoid the tunnel, rejoining the Monsal Trail on the other side. However the tunnel has now been opened up and it was great fun walking through it- it was also refreshingly cool!
Approaching The Tunnel
The next part of the route was fairly straightforward although I nearly got cleaned up by a cyclist whilst trying to walk and study my map- not a great combination! I could feel the heat rising from the gravel trail and desparately wished for a bucket of water to soak my hat in.
I turned off the trail onto a bridleway which led into Bakewell and the next checkpoint, where I did manage to get a biscuit although the lack of food was worrying me a little. I sat in the shade and ate one of the two cereal bars I had brought with me.
Bakewell
I wasn't looking forward to the steep climb through the golf course and the woods, and passed several exhausted looking people. After a walk across the meadows and a brief stop at a stone trough to dunk my hat, the Carlton Lees checkpoint was reached.
We seemed to reach Rowsley and the next checkpoint quite quickly, and I was really glad to find a shop where I bought an ice lolly and some snacks, which stopped my food worries. There were also plenty of biscuits at the Rowsley checkpoint, and hot drinks, so I had a cuppa and watched folks come in, quite a few of whom immediately retired, and sat waiting for lifts back to Monyash. One of the poor checkpoint helpers scalded her hand on the water boiler, I hope she was okay.
The chap clipping our tally cards suggested walking along the road to the next checkpoint at Birchover, which seemd like a plan. However he didn't tell me that it was all uphill! The road kept on climbing and climbing relentlessly and I could feel the heat rising from it and enveloping me. A couple of times I was almost tempted to give up... almost...
... but nothing lasts forever and Birchover was soon reached. A volunteer asked me how I was feeling and did I think I could carry on? I replied that I could and sat for a few minutes, watching the day trippers sitting sipping cold drinks and feeling quite envious!
It was an effort to get my legs going again, but it was onwards and literally upwards... past Robin Hood's Stride and the next checkpoint at Harthill Moor.
I only stopped briefly before marching onto Youlgreave, our next objective;
Youlgreave
Unfortunately Youlgreave is situated in a valley, so once reached the only way out of it is to climb... the road leading up to the last checkpoint at Long Rake seemed to go on forever; I thought that the heat might die down a little but it was relentless. It was such a releif to reach the last checkpoint- I caught up with two girls who I had been following for some time, and another girl joined us who had left the village by a different path.
I walked with them to the finish, which was lovely and kept my mind off the fact that we were taking my Mum's least favourite footpath in the whole of the Peaks (she thinks it goes on forever (it does!!) and when attempting the White Peak Long Distance route in the past begged me to leave her under a hedge and come back for her in the morning!)
Two of the girls discovered that their friend had finished as first lady (a great achievement) and as they were keen to get back to see the presentation we put in a sprint finish through the village and the finish, to finish in 9 and a half hours. Not a time to set the world alight but it was a tough day- plenty of climbing in the severe heat.
There was delicious veggie pie to finish although I was so hot I could barely eat it. This is definitely one I would do again as the route was superb- although cooler weather would be good for next year!
Temperatures were already rising as I reached the Peak village of Moneyash, registered and joined the crowd of walkers on the village green. This event was unusual in that we were given grid references for each checkpoint and encouraged to navigate between checkpoints, although there was a suggested route. I had only realised this the night before so was up late desparately plotting the route on my map- luckily the start is a civilised 10am.
I slapped on plenty of sunscreen and then we were off, and heading across the fields towards Flagg. People were already splitting up and going separate ways, although if I had known how many stiles there were going to be I would have used the road!
The first checkpoint was outside the Waterloo Hotel and I stopped just long enough to grab a drink. It was already very warm and I was covered in sweat.
Then it was onto the next checkpoint at Brushfield as we negotiated several small dales;
We walked over the spectacular viaduct at Monsal Head, and on my map it showed the footpath climbing to the road to avoid the tunnel, rejoining the Monsal Trail on the other side. However the tunnel has now been opened up and it was great fun walking through it- it was also refreshingly cool!
The next part of the route was fairly straightforward although I nearly got cleaned up by a cyclist whilst trying to walk and study my map- not a great combination! I could feel the heat rising from the gravel trail and desparately wished for a bucket of water to soak my hat in.
I turned off the trail onto a bridleway which led into Bakewell and the next checkpoint, where I did manage to get a biscuit although the lack of food was worrying me a little. I sat in the shade and ate one of the two cereal bars I had brought with me.
I wasn't looking forward to the steep climb through the golf course and the woods, and passed several exhausted looking people. After a walk across the meadows and a brief stop at a stone trough to dunk my hat, the Carlton Lees checkpoint was reached.
The chap clipping our tally cards suggested walking along the road to the next checkpoint at Birchover, which seemd like a plan. However he didn't tell me that it was all uphill! The road kept on climbing and climbing relentlessly and I could feel the heat rising from it and enveloping me. A couple of times I was almost tempted to give up... almost...
... but nothing lasts forever and Birchover was soon reached. A volunteer asked me how I was feeling and did I think I could carry on? I replied that I could and sat for a few minutes, watching the day trippers sitting sipping cold drinks and feeling quite envious!
It was an effort to get my legs going again, but it was onwards and literally upwards... past Robin Hood's Stride and the next checkpoint at Harthill Moor.
I only stopped briefly before marching onto Youlgreave, our next objective;
Unfortunately Youlgreave is situated in a valley, so once reached the only way out of it is to climb... the road leading up to the last checkpoint at Long Rake seemed to go on forever; I thought that the heat might die down a little but it was relentless. It was such a releif to reach the last checkpoint- I caught up with two girls who I had been following for some time, and another girl joined us who had left the village by a different path.
I walked with them to the finish, which was lovely and kept my mind off the fact that we were taking my Mum's least favourite footpath in the whole of the Peaks (she thinks it goes on forever (it does!!) and when attempting the White Peak Long Distance route in the past begged me to leave her under a hedge and come back for her in the morning!)
Two of the girls discovered that their friend had finished as first lady (a great achievement) and as they were keen to get back to see the presentation we put in a sprint finish through the village and the finish, to finish in 9 and a half hours. Not a time to set the world alight but it was a tough day- plenty of climbing in the severe heat.
There was delicious veggie pie to finish although I was so hot I could barely eat it. This is definitely one I would do again as the route was superb- although cooler weather would be good for next year!
Labels: Monyash, Peak District, White Peak Walk
