Endurance Adventures

This was tough! I had expected a lot of climbing but hadn't anticipated quite how much! 35 miles in one day was going to be a big ask considering my current fitness levels, and I fully expected to be trailing the rear.

It is a one and a half hour drive to Disley, near Stockport, which meant getting up at 4am Sunday morning so an early night was called for on Saturday (thanks Mum for accidentally sitting on your phone and ringing me at 10:30pm!)

Luckily the roads were really quiet and I reached the Community Centre in plenty of time to get registered and have breakfast before the coach left for the start at Kidsgrove. Rich had asked several times that the loos at Kidsgrove station would be opened for us and had been assured that they would be... so of course they weren't so picture a load of endurance nutters trying to find a private spot to answer nature's call!!

                                         The Start- Complete With Spectators On The Bridge!

As I expected most of the others were really fit and serious ultra runner types, so I hung towards the back with a slow jog along the canal. This was the easiest part of the whole route, we left the canal and started climbing towards Mow Cop. It was getting warm already and the stiff climb soon had me sweating (it doesn't take much!) Good excuse to stop for a photo though.

                                          View Over The Cheshire Plain With Jodrell Bank

It was at this point I went wrong... instead of walking in front of the Mow Cop castle I walked by it and ended up losing the Gritstone Trail way markers. A couple of ladies walking their dogs put me right but I cursed myself for the time I had lost. Still I got a good picture of the castle;

Back on route, the trail drops down towards a road with extensive views in all directions. I must say, this has to be one of the most scenic walks I have done, the views were awesome all day (although by the end I probably didn't appreciate them as I should).

                                         Descending From Mow Cop

The next objective, Edge Hill, can be seen just above centre in the above photograph. Following this the trail descends to a track along a disused railway and the first self clip before crossing fields to the first manned checkpoint at Timbersbrook picnic area.

I was still jogging the downhills and flats, slowly, and kept leap frogging a lady who was a very fast walker (I also kept going slightly off route!) She was faster then me though and I lost her at the checkpoint as I stopped for a mug of fizzy coke and some flapjack. As I left the checkpoint a couple asked me what we were all doing, so I told them- they looked impressed but thought we were crazy!!

The trail immediately started to climb steeply towards The Cloud and I regretted the coke as my stomach started to churn! It was so hot my eyes were stinging from the sweat dripping into them and at one point I honestly wondered whether I was actually having a heart attack. Thankfully it levelled off a little and I made it to the top, where I managed an undignified scramble up the trig point on the summit to use the self clip there.

                                         View From The Cloud Summit

A nice runnable descent to the road followed then a long descent along a path by Ravens Clough down to Barleighford Bridge.

                                         Looking Back To The Cloud

Then it was back to climbing- a long climb up to the road over Wincle Minn. It was fairly steep in parts, especially once I passed the self clip at Drumkins, and I longed to reach the road... in my mind's eye I saw a gently sloping road with a nice long descent and I couldn't wait.

Except when I finally reached the road I could just see it going up, up and up as far as I could see... and when I got to what I thought was the top the was even more up as far as the eye can see! It was quite brutal, especially as there was no shade and it was really hot. It seemed to be taking me ages to reach the second manned checkpoint and I began to seriously doubt I'd make it- this was probably my lowest ebb. I could see the next hill just beyond which promised more climbing- Croker Hill with its huge transmitter mast- but my legs were starting to protest against this cruel treatment.


Finally the never ending uphill did end and it was such as relief to be descending, even though I was no longer able to run and could see the next climb just ahead.

                                          Croker Hill

It wasn't as bad as I feared and there was a lovely long descent to the checkpoint where there were crisps- a bit of salt is always welcome on a hot day. I regretted bringing only one water bottle with me as I ran out of water before the manned checkpoints and suffered for it. I caught up with two ladies here and we walked together from this point on.

                                         The View From Croker Hill
It is amazing what a difference it makes having someone to walk with. I felt so much better for it as I was convinced I would be last, and almost had a spring in my step as we approached Tegg's Nose. It didn't last! Tegg's Nose must be one of the steepest climbs I have ever encountered- those huge steps which are a nightmare for those of us with short legs! The two ladies I was walking with discovered that their respective partners, who had run the event, had both finished joint second!

Finally the beast that is Tegg's Nose was conquered, the self clip found and the descent made to the visitor's centre, where it was obvious that there was another charity event going on and we were very kindly given a bottle of water and a banana each to keep us going!

The route kind of meanders around a bit towards the road at Rainow and it did rain (for a few minutes)- and we saw a rainbow!!
                                          Shutlingsloe

A killer climb followed, although mercifully quite short, to the top of the narrow ridge of Kerridge and the monument known as White Nancy (and another self clip).

                                        White Nancy

It wasn't far to the last manned checkpoint where one of the ladies I was walking with decided to stop as her knees were really painful. She was happy though as this was the farthest she had walked in one day, so we were chuffed for her.

The two of us pressed on, determined to complete as many of the remaining 7 miles before dark fell. We headed out and uphill, legs protesting and burning, over a vast expanse of moorland where the signage was rather erratic. I must admit I had had enough at this point and just wanted to finish. The tops of my legs were aching after all the ascending we had done and felt exhausted.

Luckily we found the way without too much trouble (I couldn't bear the thought of getting lost at this stage!) and the track over the highest part of the trail, the moorland of Sponds Hill, was mercifully gentle. Twilight was drawing in in quite a spectacular fashion as we descended through Lyme Park and found the final self clip and we walked the long road (uphill of course!) out of the park in semi darkness.

I could see the streetlights of Disley but it seemed to be taking forever to get there. We succumbed to the darkness as soon as we left the park and entered a copse, and I put on my head torch when we turned down an awkward rocky path. When we finally reached a smooth tarmac road I could have bent down and kissed it (although I wouldn't have got up again!) We were surprisingly enough maintaining quite a strong pace and my legs had recovered a little!

It was such a relief though to reach the Community Centre and see Rich waiting for us, I felt rather guilty at making his day even longer. We didn't make it in the 12 hours- we took 12 hours and 33 minutes- but he still gave us a certificate! After a really welcome jacket potato, rice pudding and coffee I turned the car towards home, bath and bed!

This was a great event- really scenic, tough and well organised by Rich and Wendy of Beyond Marathon and all the other volunteers who gave up their time. I really hope it becomes an annual fixture... I will do it in under 12 hours next year!

I have the Ponton Plod on Sunday... should be relatively easy in comparison!!

Labels: Gritstone Grind, Gritstone Trail, Peak District

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!                        

Labels: Monyash, Peak District, White Peak Walk

Oh this was a toughie!! I had originally hoped and trained to complete the full 29 miles... but it didn't go according to plan...

Saturday promised to be glorious and I witnessed a spectacular sunset as I drove my way through the Peaks towards Leek and Swythamley, the starting point of the walk. There didn't appear to be too much snow around so I looked forwards to a good day's walking although I wasn't too sure about my fitness.

After a cup of coffee I stepped out into glorious sunshine as we waited in the car park. We were officially started ('There's only 20 seconds to go so you may as well start now') and were starting the climb towards Gun Hill, and the trig point at the summit.

It was here that we encountered the first patches of snow... but I naively thought that this would be all the snow we'd see...

After Gun Hill there follows a long descent and then sharp ascent to the Roaches. I managed to fall over and turn my ankle not looking where I was going in an uneven field, but despite a few snow patches (surely the last ones we'd see...) the views were glorious and the weather was warm...


                                        Approaching The Roaches

The last part of the climb onto the Roaches is very steep and I was soon sweating and gasping for breath. There is a good path along the top and today the views were extensive... so much so that the huge white disc of Jodrell Bank could be seen.





                                         Views From The Roaches
A good path made of large stones lead down to the first checkpoint at Roach End and I happily jogged down it, feeling that I was making good progress. I stopped for a quick drink and a couple of biscuits before setting off and happily jogging downhill towards the woods.

Too late I realised that I was now trying to run on very slippery mud and soon went down on my arse! A nasty shock awaited us when we got to what I remembered to be a lovely little path descending steeply through woodland. It was still a little path, but due to the woods being quite sheltered it was now covered with ice... everyone seemed to come past me here as I found it really difficult. It took me ages to slither, crawl and wince my way down!

I was so relieved to reach the bottom and the track to Gradbach Youth Hostel, although the track now consisted of slippery wet mud and huge puddles filled with broken ice. The climb from Gradbach to Turn Edge and the track towards Three Shires Head was, although steep, without incident.

I hoped that the track would be relatively snow and ice free. These hopes were not to be fulfilled... at one point I stepped in what I thought was a mere puddle but ended up nearly up to my waist in water, Vicar of Dibley style!

                                         Three Shires Head

I felt that I was losing a lot of time as I am terrible over tricky terrain! There was even more snow, which, in the heat of the day, was rapidly turning to slush, on the track towards Wildboarclough.

                                         Shutlingsloe 2- me 0

Loads more people came past me as I slowly slithered my way down the track, and on consulting my mobile realised that it was already 12:30pm so attempting the Shutlingsloe route would leave me with insufficient time to do the Cheshire Loop as well, especially given the conditions underfoot. So I turned away from the 'Matterhorn of Cheshire' and sought solace in the cheesy oatcakes on offer at the checkpoint at Wildboarclough.

I daren't linger too long of I intended to pull in the 7 mile Cheshire Loop, so after a coffee and a brief conversation with a chap who had lost the friend he'd been walking with, I set off, climbing through fields towards Oakenclough. I was grateful to lose the snow for a short while, although I did a lot of catching up with my old pal, slippery wet mud. Before dropping down to Pot Lords there is am amazing view right over Macclesfield and beyond.

The next path goes through farmland and I remembered it being a little muddy last year, and so correctly guessed that this year it would be a lot muddy... I got to say hi to the snow again too as I fell over sideways into it! I got a little lost and ended up clambering ungainly over a gate, before the gradual muddy and slippery descent back towards Wildboarclough.




                                         Views From The Cheshire Loop

There doesn't look a lot of snow in those photos, but it's deceptive as it had stayed in sheltered spots, and along tracks and low lying areas. It seemed strange walking in warm sunshine but crunching through snow...

Tucking into another delicious oatcake I realised that I only had 3 hours to cover the remaining 7 miles back to Swythamley before the cut off time of 11 hours, so hauled my weary carcass onwards. I wasn't the last, surprisingly- I heard someone say they had another 10 to come in from the Cheshire Loop.

As I started the muddy climb onto the moors leading to Gradbach I caught up with two chaps who appeared to be walking at my speed and stuck with them for the rest of the walk. I wasn't at all surprised by now to find the track kept disappearing under deep snow, water and slippery mud and decided that I had had enough and prayed for a drought this year.


                                         The Track to Gradbach

After negotiating a slippery descent to the Youth Hostel and retracing our steps through the mud, the steep climb through the woods past Lud's Church wasn't too bad. I though we had maybe seen the last of the snow... until the steep descent to Danebridge which was completely covered in snow and ice. If I had been on my own I would have been cursing but as I had company I had to pick my way down in fed up silence. My legs were aching quite nicely at this point and I could feel a blister rubbing as my already soaked feet were pushed against the edge of my shoe by yet another sideways slide.

It was such a relief to reach the road and the track past the Trout Farm and brewery at Wincle. All that was left was a last steep climb and then the long track back to Swythamley.

                                         The Weir At Wincle

A friend of the two chaps I was walking with came to meet them (he was well into his 70s and had finished the walk some time before!) He reassured us that there was plenty of food left and we reached the village as the hills were lit up with the golden light of evening.

We finished with 5 minutes to spare- 10 hours 55 minutes, although the chap had told us that the organisers had realised that they had to extend the deadline as the conditions underfoot were slowing everyone up. A week or so earlier and I think the event may have been in jeopardy.

We did some serious damage to the lovely salads that had been prepared- the food is truly superb on this walk. Despite the snow and slippery mud (did I mention that?) it was a great day and tremendous effort by the Staffordshire LDWA.

... next year I will do the full 29 miles...

Labels: Peak District, Three Shires Challenge

The Bullock Smithy was renamed on the MdS forum, and seems rather more appropriate... especially as I didn't manage to finish. Yes, I am gutted...

We started off ok- I found Hazel Grove, parked up and walked to the start where I met three guys from the MdS forum who are doing the MdS next year too, plus joined Rose, who I met on the Kent 50 and we decided to pool our resources- my navigational skills and Rose's knowledge of run/ walk ratios.

I had been undecided about footwear- the only footwear I had was my running shoes, and I figured it was going to be very wet and boggy underfoot, so after a lot of consideration decided to wear my walking boots and carry my running shoes. I took a load of food and all the essential items listed for the event. I had thought about buying a new head torch, as mine is quite antiquated and I hadn't been able to purchase a new bulb for it, but decided to chance it as I hadn't changed the bulb that long ago- well, that decision was to bite me on the bum later! In all, my pack weighed 6 kg!

I was dreading the kit check before that start as I hadn't got the aforementioned spare bulb plus a couple of the first aid items- but all they told me to do was read through the kit list and sign to say I had everything! Looking at some of the other entrants with their tiny bum bags, there's no way they could have had all the kit items!

We started off well, running and walking, and hit bog quite early on- Rose had been wearing running shoes so changed to her trail shoes. We left Stockport and climbed through Lyme Park, where they filmed Pride and Prejudice (where's Mr Darcy when you need him!?!) Then had a long, gradual ascent to the first check point at Bow Stones.

The Climb To Bow Stones

We had a drink at the checkpoint and I changed out of my long sleeve top as I was sweating. Rose had foldable walking poles, but they kept falling off her front pack, and I think she got a bit fed up with them in the end!!

After the checkpoint was a lovely grassy track with amazing views over the Dark Peak;

Lovely Views

We jogged when we could, ie good tracks and down roads. There was a lot of climbing in the first twenty miles or so though, and at times the route wasn't apparent so I found the map essential. We had another long climb up to the second checkpoint at Chinley Churn, just below the summit edge.

Labels: Bullock Smithy Hike, Peak District