This used to be a regular runout for many of the wfdbwgua members, but as we grow less athletic (some of us including me were never athletic to start with), we see less participation. With the pandemic, it wasn't run in 2021. I walked the 25 mile route in 2020 in 8hrs 45, still recovering from my cruciate ligament injury. Prior to that it looks like my most recent run was 2018 in 7hrs 08.
With my latest spate of injuries my plan had gone from running the 25 mile course down to walking the 16 mile route. Maybe I could have walked the long route but I suspected the lack of fitness would start to tell in the final miles. There were many recognisable faces at the start including Steve Pearson who although at the walkers start, looked dressed for running. As soon as we started, I had a slight concern that I had not got my drinking cup so stopped to check and was re-assured. By the Top Barn I had caught up with Steve and guy from Achilli Ratti who is well acquainted with TLoB. We fast walked up to the Pike and even then I was feeling the pace. The descent of the Pike was run and then along to the first checkpoint at Pike Cottage. The checkpoint had been moved from Winter Hill now that Mast Road is at last closed to unauthorised vehicles by a barrier. I bade my farewell to them heading up to Two Lads as I needed a slower pace. I was also wearing walking shoes rather than fell running shoes.
I reached Winter Hill just inside the hour, well inside my target pace of three miles per hour. On the descent to San Marino, a few more ran past me (walkers start!) and then I chatted to one young lady called Angela who runs for Skelmersdale but is a frequent visitor to the Rivington area. She had caught up with me then decided to go at my pace down the ramp. I thought she was in her 20s or 30s but she assured me she was not far off being able to go for a Joss Naylor Challenge. We encouraged each other to finish in a pleasant decently paced walk to finish in 5hrs 16. I did find it tough climbing Great Hill from Piccadilly and it was quite blustery on top of Great Hill.
Albert and Michelle came past us just after White Coppice having run the 16 mile route on the runners' 9am start. Albert doing the short route? Well he has just completed the Spine Race which he reckons is the hardest event he has ever done - it could well be the toughest event in the UK. There was no usual food at the hall : instead we were given a ticket to take to the Tea Rooms were I enjoyed a very tasty Pea and Ham soup sharing company with that most prolific of fell racers, Darren Fishwick.
As I headed for my car, Tony Varley arrived having run the 16 mile route in around 4hrs 45. I also see. that Mark Sammon completed the long route in 5hrs 35.
If Storm Eunice has passed by tomorrow morning, I may try running the 16 mile route to see if I could potentially take up the offer of a substitute place in t'Hobble.
