...and Then The Rain Came Down

...which unfortunately get into TLoB's phone and wrecked the photo of the assembled throng, so we have no 'start' photo, but please see Gordon's post, below for some shots taken en route.

There were 14 of us not photographed at the start, and TLoB (Chris - aka the Failed Photographer) and his wife Anne were also there, Chris had hoped to run, but a recurring health problem had kicked in overnight which put him hors de combat.

So the 14 of us set off and as per usual we split into loose groups, according to our aspirations. I think we all made it to Noon Hill reasonably straightforwardly - then most everybody got lost. This is the view that I had hoped we would see:-

 

I'd taken this a few weeks earlier, when the cotton grass was at its finest.

Crossing this stretch with Young John on Saturday we could hear voices from almost all four points of the compass (compass? Yes, that would have been a good idea) so even that early on it was obvious that most of us were experiencing difficulty. I think we all reached the Pike and went on to climb Two Lads, but from there on folk started to drop out.

Twelve of us got as far as Winter Hill trig, and most turned for home soon after, only Izzy, Martyn and Gordon crossed onto the northern section. Gordon missed a couple of tops after that - see his report, but managed ten of the dozen - 10 outa 12 ain't bad.

Stars of the day were Izzy and Martyn who completed the full round in 4 hours 31 minutes, but thanks to everybody for turning out and making this a day to remember - or perhaps a day to forget. If there's any interest we could organise an attack on just the northern five, for those folk who've never got that far.

Sunday saw me completing my walk/run of shame as I climbed Great Hill from Piccadilly to retrieve my stash of provisions which I had so optimistically hidden on Friday.

Apologies for any errors or omissions, please let me know about them on edswift@btinternet.com.

A Wet Coope's Dozen

Hopefully we'll get some reports from others who took part in this year's Coope's Dozen.
Arriving at the Top Barn car park quite early for me, only there was only YJ waiting. We wondered if it would be a low turnout but gradually more and more turned up. This included TLOB who I surmised didn't look appropriately dressed for the the day's activities. Alas, he had not taken the correct dietary preparation, and so didn't want to risk. However, it meant that we had someone (either TLOB or her ladyship) to take the group photo (hopefully uploaded soon).
Then the heavens opened so we were somewhat delayed before it sufficiently eased. Naturally we departed in suitably socially distanced groups with a quicker group stringing out and the slower group of YJ, Ed and myself distancing at the back before I seemed to move away and be in a group of one.
As I had done very little running over the past 18 months, my plan was to get round in about 8 hours max, a mix of walking and jogging with expected pace of 2.5mph. I also thought it wise to omit Old Adam and Round Loaf.
I noticed the quick group continued heading towards ammunition corner whilst I took our usual diagonal route up to Georges Lane. I thought I may have seen them in the vicinity of Noon Hill but none were to be seen. I don't enjoy the direct rout to Rivington Pike so I returned to Georges Lane, exchanging pleasantries with YJ and Ed who were about to start the climb to Noon Hill.
Heading for the Pike I realised I could revise my target pace from 2.5mph to 3mph, 20 minutes per mile.
Rivington Pike and Two Lads passed without seeing anyone and I headed towards Whimberry Hill via Holden's Farm and the Trespass Stone. One thing that has puzzled me for a few years is that we have the opportunity to add Adam Hill and White Brow to the dozen.
Reaching Egg Hillock, it was a case of retracing steps to Whimberry rather than the direct route or via Shaly Dingle, both of which I am sure would have been quite challenging with the recent weather. To my surprise, as I mounted Whimberry Hill for the second time, a group of runners came heading towards me : it was Ian, Mary, Hilary and the others from the quicker group. Four of them caught me up over Counting Hill and they were still in sight approaching Winter Hill.

Looking north from Egg Hillock (apologies for not wiping the lens first)

Looking south from Egg Hillock

Five of the quicker group on the left side of Winter Hill trig point

After that it was a slow descent off Winter Hill to Hordern Stoops. I was surprised that the rest of the quicker group did not catch me up. After taking a break to eat some fruit loaf and a banana, I then headed directly for Spittlers' Edge and Great Hill. By now the weather was improving but it the path was as waterlogged as I have ever seen. Taking the quarry route to White Coppice I stopped for a couple of photos.

Dean Black Brook - the weather much improved

Towards White Coppice with Dean Black Brook on the left

I chose the route past the White Coppice cricket ground (café now open) and up the road past Morris Farm. It is a few years since I have been on this route and I was unsure if the footpath signpost was the correct one so I had to refer to OSMaps on my phone. It was but was not a great choice - it must be rarely used as it was so overgrown. Eventually I reached the vantage point on Healey Nab so it was now just a matter of the usual route back to the top barn, arriving just inside 6 hours. What I did notice was how horrendous was the traffic on Sheephouse Lane. I arrived to find no sign of anyone still out. Isaline, Martin and Suzanne must have been well ahead of me all the time as I didn't see them at Whimberry and the rest may have completed shortened circuits. I recorded on my Garmin but yesterday evening found that Garmin's servers have been inaccessible since Thursday.

A colourful display on the roadside on Charnock Back Lane, opposite Waring's Farm

Strava link for my route - 

A hole in the head

A hole in the head

It was the day I hit the ground running and the day I realised that fell running is a contact sport - such as my head hitting the ground....very hard.

Ironically it was also the time when the government deemed it safe to travel to a place away from home to take exercise.  At any other time I would have opted to run  with EtU on a route we have graced many times.

As it turned out I was true to form and, embodying the falling down bit in  the title of this blog, I stubbed my toe on the roughest bit of the bridle path round the back of Healy Nab and ended up  (or rather down) on the ground.

And I got up again!

Instantly I could feel blood running down the side of my face, a sensation that has accompanied other falls and so I knew, or thought I knew, that the flow would be staunched and dry up, hopefully by the time I reached the road.

It was not to be and the blood kept flowing, attracting the attention of  of a kind lady dog walker who advised that an ambulance was needed. Of course I knew better and she was persuaded to call out EtU  who duly arrived at  what was quickly becoming a major trauma centre on  Back Lane.

Local residents emerged to offer comfort and support and it was soon obvious, as it should have been to me earlier, that an ambulance was needed.  So I ended up in A&E at Preston where I had excellent treatment, as I did from all NHS staff that day.

It turned  out that I had severed an artery, broken  two ribs and suffered multiple lacerations, not to mention that I had lost a lot of blood. Also I had put EtU and one of our other brothers to a lot of worry and inconvenience and I am grateful to both of them.

Lessons to be learnt.....No more running off road on my own, listen to the advice of people who know better than     the the casualty  and PICK MY FEET UP.