Last Saturday

He's a flanneller that Mat. TIM and I caught up with him on Spittlers and he made his usual "I'm exhausted, leave me to die" noises, before tagging on as we finished the Edge and jogged down the road to Ammunition Corner and across the fields to the top barn. He then broke into a sprint and left us both for dead!

We were back at the cars just about spot on noon and TIM declared we'd covered 14 and three quarter miles ~ not much in it then.

A good outing ~ I'm lining EYJ up for a Joss Naylor next year.  Think he's allowed 24 hours but judging from Saturday, he'll only need half of that.

Does my bum bag look big in this?

Today

Great to be out on the hills without Deet!  Did I mention that this morning? 

Excellent outing with old friends and new, starting off with EtU, TiM,  Matt,  and  EYJ.    The route consisted of usual diaganol to Two Lads, along the green road to the right of the metalled road and past the mast, down the ramp, Amble route to Dog Bucket Farm, Cartridge Hill, down past the old Hall and then up to Great Hill.  Just before the climb Matt, having recently returned from Austria (pictures, please) decided to divert to Spitlers and return.  On gaining the summit of Great Hill, EtU and TiM returned via Spitlers.  That left EYJ and myself to return via White Coppice, the quarries, and Rivington. 

The two of us hadn’t run together before and so I had no idea what a demon runner our new member is – not only did I get my miles in but EYJ pushed the pace hard which is just what I needed after a two week lay off.  I had to encourage him to make a break for it on the cascade climb to wait for me at the top, and he had no trouble at all – mind he was chasing a rather attractive young lady Burnden runner and beat her to the top.   Chatting to the three ladies, one known to many of us from the Amble and other LDWA events (Shirley) EYJ was able to reminisce about past running friends at the club. 

Just out of interest I wonder if any of our group noticed the time of arrival at the car park.  We arrived at 12.08, not long after EtUs deadline and I wondered how far ahead others were, as we seemed to fly – well EYJ did and I managed to hang on!

Completed – 15.43m  +2,460/-2,416

It’s surprising what a couple of weeks absence brings, last time I was on Winter Hill the road was closed, at the mast, requiring the irritating diversion around the back, but the most significant difference was the change in running conditions.  Two weeks ago everywhere was hard-baked, like running on concrete, this morning after the amount of rain since the hose-pipe ban the going was soft and lush which of course gave us the usual amount of bog in places, particularly the approach to Great Hill.  Still good to be on the home hills again.

Not out potentially for four weeks due to other games to play, but depending on weather etc this could change.

NLN

Saturday and a Plea for Continuing Inclusivity and Diversity

Looking forward to UTUP tomorrow – hope to get at least 15m in if anyone’s up for that.  No doubt you Snowdonians will be building the miles by now.  Legs from Canada strong but slow…   so hoping for best.

I’ve really been enjoying reading about the visitors in Nic’O’s barn and  hope that the ornithological postings continue – after all, at least for me, running is just another reason for being in the hills, like walking, scrambling, climbing, mountaineering - bagging Munros/Wainwrights/Trigpoints/Benchmarks etc so please keep the posts about our wonderful flora, fauna and anything hills-related, coming – love ‘em all :o)

NLN

Twite Survey

Having chided JtE for his ornithogical posts, I'm going to join his club with the following, which I received from my lunching friends:-

"The 'Twite Survey' is mainly to do with the welfare of the twites whose numbers are apparently declining. It is actually a survey of the fields within 2K of a known breeding pair for their main food sources which are, so I am told, the Dandelion (May), Sorrel (June) Thistle (July and August) and Autuum Hawksbit (August into September). Thereafter the Twite leaves its Pennine summer residence and goes to live at the seaside for the winter."

Thanks Chris, glad you're keeping up with the blog.

Nic'O, will it be these plants that are attracting them to your fields?

…and finally

Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park – there are 42 National Parks in Canada, it’s vast

Mum and baby Ptarmigan

Alpine meadows  

Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge and below

Rockbound Lake from Helena Ridge

Toe of the retreating glacier at the Columbian Icefield

Descending into Gargoyle Valley – aptly named

  

No point pretending those mozzies had a taste for our blook

 

Kitchen and dining room

 

Blueberry pancakes for breakfast

Canada Rocks More…

It’s them friendly critters again – after the trailmix in Rucksack

Sentinel Pass above Lake Louise

The Crowfoot Glacier, like many others retreating rapidly

Mozzie damage to one of our group – no-one escaped, despite the constant application of ‘Eau de Deet’ liberally and frequently

Here he comes again

Our home after an overnight storm, but waterproofs never donned during the day

Climbing Mount Fairview above Lake Louise

View over the glacier from Cirque Peak

 

Ian and Bill relaxing after an exciting scree run

Canada Rocks Again…

Campsite warning – locals can be too friendly!

Staggering views on the way to the Akamina Ridge in British Columbia

 

Lunch en route

Remains of a Cornice on the summit ridge – this is before the mozzies forced a complete cover up!

 

Another lunch spot, another day – views from Carthew Pass in Waterton Lakes National Park

Sunrise from the tent

Amazing alpine meadows greeted us on many approaches

Canada Rocks

Awesome two weeks in the Canadian Rockies, great treking, good bunch of fellow ‘Hikers’, great guides.  Few snaps of the trip with more to follow.

First night of luxury in hotel suite of International Hotel – view from balcony of Calgary city

Then the reality check of one of four campsites that would become our home for the next two weeks – still the locals were friendly

 

Local views were unbelievable – Waterton Lakes Naitonal Park

First evening and we saw our first bear from the safety of the minibus

 

 

Future races

One I've got the tiredness out of my legs - where it has come form I've no idea as I was fine whilst walking - fancy seeing what I'm like at a longish event.

I've a couple in mind if anyone else is interested.

Just got an entry form through for Where Eagles Fly, an LDWA Challenge Event over marathon distance (or 18.2 for a shorter course). It's on September 4th from Burneside and includes Mardale and Kentmere Pike.

The other possibility is The Yorkshireman which I ought to do (only run it once previously) on September 12th. Also marathon distance, think there's also a half.

Any interest to join me?

Must get back to this running

Only had two runs since getting back. I didn't manage to get out on Thursday evening so set off to do my Winter Hill & Belmont route on Friday morning. I got about 400 metres down the descent to the Wrights Arms and decided to turn back as the weather was so foul and I just wasn't enjoying it. Although I had my light waterproof on, I wasn't really dressed for the weather up there. By the time I'd got back to Jolly Crofters it was so much milder.

Went for a run with Diane and Neal on Sunday morning from Wilderswood to Two Lads and Pike then dropped down to Rivi school before heading back. Chatted with Tony and Albert coming of Two Lads.

Off to Burnsall for the night so will see what happens for Thursday and Saturday.

I'm off to Scotland (west coast, near Skye) on thurs so won't be able to manage utup this week. If the weather improves I'll try to remember to take some photo's. Although if the midges are bad I might have to stay indoors!

TF

This Week

Monday ~ Peter Ramsdale's hill session, meeting at the R&BHS tennis courts at 6:30.

Tuesday ~ Wilderswood car park at 5:45 for whatever takes anyone's fancy.

Wednesday ~ Pilgrim's Cross race, 7:15 start from the White Horse at Helmshore.

Thursday ~ Stocks (physio clinic) on Chorley Old Road at 6:30

Saturday ~ UTUP.

An Early Recce

It was good to see YJ with fell shoes on and to hear that that his comeback had a satisfactory outcome.

We had bumped into John Parker a few weeks ago, and he had told that having done little running in the last 20 years, he had decided to make a comeback by entering the 2011 Winter Hill Race, soon after he makes up 70.

Opting for a recce of John's objective, we picked up the race route from the approach to the Shooting Hut, but diverted straight to bottom of the ramp rather than going all the way to the Hut. From there we set off up the ramp, New Ray (aka TIM ~ The Iron Man) in front, EYJ (Even Younger John) just half a pace behind, and me, many paces behind.  At the top we had a brief photo stop:-

...then TIM, suffering from the hamsting pain that had dogged his long event last weekend, excused himself and headed for home. John and I continued to the Knoll by an even worse route than the one I had taken last year (come back TF, where were you when we needed you?)

From the Knoll we made our way back to the Trig Point, at which stage I declared that I'd had enough and was ready for home. John accompanied me, but was finally slowed by the uppers of his 20 year old Walshes parting company from their soles.

I'll just mention that EYJ earned his WFDBWGUA stripes by falling over (and getting up again) several times ~ a good outing.

Back on the fells

It was grand to be back on the fells this morning for a slightly longer run than intended, in total 7.25 miles at an average of 16 mins 38 secs per mile which was encouraging after a six week lay off.

Met new John and congratulated ironman new Ray and with the arrival of EtU formed an advance party of one heading up through the gardens and the diagonal to Georges Lane. From there the route went via the gate at Pike Cottage to Two Lads and on the descent to the culvert met new John and new Ray who had taken the long way round via the Wilderswood gate. They continued to the cairns to regroup with EtU while I added a loop from the cattle grid back to the road to find the grassy track running parallel to the mast road.

By now the lay off was beginning to have an effect and the pace slowed as I went via the Winter Hill trig point down to the wooden bridge, Georges Lane, the Sheep's Back and through the fields to the Top Barn to finish in a very heavy and prolonged downpour.

I am now waiting to see if the foot gives any adverse reaction before venturing out again. So far the signs are good.

Tour of Pendle ~ False Hope

Re-reading the email I got from Kieran Carr, TF is (as always) quite right, early starters (ES's) won't, as we had at first thought, get an extra half hour to reach the cut-off.

The new arrangement will merely mean that those amongst the ES's who can beat the 1 hour 30 mins, will be half an hour further round the course than they would have been. Looks as though it's aimed particulary at those who'll just squeeze in and then slow dow, unlike us, who just go slow all the time.

Fair doos, the marshalls can't be expected to be out all day, but it would have been good if it did give us a better chance of getting round, as we had originally believed.

Who pinched all the sand?

At last the recovery process has begun, first with a couple of four mile walks and yesterday with a three mile run along the sands from Southport pier towards Formby. So far there has been no adverse reaction and the next test will be a short run on tarmac. If all goes well I will make a UTUP appearance on Saturday but will not join the elite group preferring to travel more slowly on a carefully selected shortish route as much on grass and soft ground as possible.

The trip to the seaside brought back memories of the Thomas Cook 10-mile beach race of about 25 years ago when I cycled the 17 miles to Southport, swam a mile in the open-air pool and then completed the race in 69 mins 38 secs before riding home again.

So much has changed since then - the sea bathing pool has now given way to a Premier Lodge hotel and the sandy foreshore that was the course of the race been been colonised by grasses and now seems rarely visited by the tide.

Whittle Pike ~ 4th Aug '10

Not quite the G10, but it did go on a bit for 4.5 miles.

The race was won by Sam Tosh an U18 with Rossendale. Strangely, the results don't give him a time, but the second place, also an U18, clocked 42:04.

My only claim to fame was being a counter in the 11th placed Horwich team, along with Karl Ward, 11th in 47:05 and Mark Sammon, 105th in 67:41. Rossendale won the team prize placing 1st, 3rd and 5th.

My 115th place (out of 124 finishers) in 75:33 is put fully into context, by Mr Roy Lee a 75 year old Middleton Harrier who finished 112th in 71:11.

Twelve photos to give you a taste of the GR10

As usual click on the photo for a full size display.

Three from Day 11 Arrete-La-Pierre-St-Martin to Lescun, quite an outstanding day for scenery and also including a rope climb to add to the excitement.




Day 13 Lac Bersau between Etsaut and Gabas


Day 14 - going up to the Hourquette d'Arre, a very hard zig zag climb up through the snow.


Day 19 - a long day but with magnificent views between Bareges and Chalet-Hôtel de L'Oule



Day 23 - between Refuge d'Espingo and Superbagneres.


Day 35 - A long day to reach a cabane that was already full so a night in the tent. Photo taken just after dawn - visibility the night before was less than 50 metres.


Day 44 - the GR10 doesn't go high enough so why not a variant over Canigou (2744m, 9009ft)


Day 48 - the final eve of the GR10 with friends and an unsurpassable restaurant view from the Chalet Albere. B&B and Evening Meal for less than £30 with a view like this!


Day 49 - Three Englishmen who started on different dates but completed the final day together in the Med at Banyuls - (l-r) myself, Andy and Bill


Didn't manage to get any photos of a bear - they were as rare as someone who could outclimb me!

Westpennine Moor Bridleway - if it hasn't been completed by now, my guess is it probably won't be started with all the government cuts. Pages 22 & 23 sum it up - nice little maps, although you do need a magnifying glass to read them.

Following on from recent discussions that me and EtU had re ToP, this is what’s been posted by RO on the fellrunner forum about the ToP.

‘Full Tour of Pendle, Saturday 13th November. 10:30am. 17 miles, 4830ft. £5 entry fee (or £15 on the day). If you pre enter you get a tee shirt, if you enter on day paying the £15.00, you are not guaranteed a tee shirt. Unclaimed tee shirts will be distributed to entries on the day on a first come first served basis from 10:15am on the day. Full Tour Of Pendle Entry Forms 2010 can be found at:http://www.clayton-le-moors-harriers.co.uk/

Contrary to what my notes said on the results of the 2009 Tour, the cut-off at CP4 will remain at 12:30pm (Race start still 10:30am), allowing 2 hours from the start. This year I am prepared to have an early start for slower runners at 10:00am, cut-off at CP4 will still be 2 hours. I am hoping it packs the slower runners closer together during the latter part of the race and gives the marshals an earlier finish, particularly those on the last check points’


Question - Why would you do the early start if both cut-offs are 2hrs?

TF

West Pennine Moors Bridleways Strategy

Several weeks ago someone, I think it was YJ, reported that he had been told of a plan to establish a bridle path around the West Pennine moors.  This link should take you to a comprehensive strategy paper where you can read all about it.

http://www.westpenninemoors.com/files/uploads/pdfs/strategies/WestPennineMoorsBridlewayStrategy2006-2013.pdf

I've not read it all yet, but it seems that the perimeter path is only one aspect of the plan; there is also to be ~ wait for it ~ an upland challenge route!

Grateful for any titbits that a keen reader can extract from the paper's 23 pages.

This Week

Tonight did a fairly savage session with Peter Ramsdale and Sue on and around the Pike.

UTUPing Tuesday, Whittle Pike Weds and UTUPing on Thursday ~ work and family permitting.

UTUPing Saturday and hoping to get in more than the 2.5 (only booked 2) that I managed last week.

Last Saturday

TF and I were joined by John Parker who was hoping to do a Winter Hill Race recce. Unfortunately my time was severely limited and TF wasn't planning to be out long either.

I'd submitted a CD cancellation notice to RMI "Submissions" but it never appeared and I couldn't raise anyone on any of the phone numbers on the site, so felt obliged to be at the Top Barn until 9:00 to greet anyone who turned up ~ no-one did.

TF took John onto the Pike via the race route where I met them via the direct route. Then I went home whilst  TF showed him the run in from the stream junction. We'll have to see whether New John thinks we're worth another go.

Swim Bike Run Paddle Run?

Received this from New Ray:-

It feels like the morning after the night before without the drinking and bad head but feeling a bit stiff.

Off soon to collect my bike from Rivington and Blackrod School where I left it before setting off for the running leg yesterday. Before I go just a short report on the day.

Got up at 3.15 a.m. with my brother picking me up at 4.00 a.m. and then off to collect Dave and arrived at Pennington Flash for 4.45 a.m.

In the open water at 5.50 a.m. with 1,500 other mad people. The beginning of the 2.4 mile swim was rough at the start with everyone trying to find their own open water. In the end I enjoyed the swim and felt I had done very well this year.

Got changed and on the bike for the 112 mile cycle. After twenty miles felt my right hamstring pulling and began to get worried after forty miles. Pleased I brought some painkillers with me and took a couple with another couple towards the end of the cycle. The hamstring didn't seem to get any worse thankfully although I didn't really enjoy the last thirty miles.

Glad to get my feet on the ground for the marathon and set off through Rivington for the first four mile. Felt very much at home and the first twelve miles went quite well until the painkillers stopped working and the hamstring began to play up.

At eighteen miles Dave caught me up and I began to pick up the pace a bit.

Running along the river at Lostock by the railway line with only four miles to go I took out my mobile to phone Tricia and dropped it. It bounced a couple of time until it spashed in the water. I followed it into the river and spent some time recovering it to discover the brick wall bank was too high to climb. I walked a while until I reached a pipe which I was able to climb up and onto the footpath. What I must have looked like I don't know but it can't have been a pretty picture.

Thankfully I had it covered in cling film and it is still working!

Got to the finish line of my third and last Iron Man in 15 hours.

The support I received from start to finish was fantastic and overwhelming. Friends were dotted all round the cycling and running routes. Some of them moved around the route to spur me on at different points.

A couple friends from Oxford dropped in at the finish line on their way to Scotland.

Anyway must shoot off to collect the bike (are you running there for it? Ed).

See you soon!

All the best!

Ray

Ray may not have been pleased with his time, but I'm impressed.

Gordon's G10

Received via JtE:-

Our good friend t'Y has today (Saturday 31st July) completed his Pyrenean Epic. As the French would say "Chapeau". A magnificent effort, well done Gordon!

TLoB

To which, I add my own congratulations ~ well done Gordon!  Looking forward to seeing a few (just a few) photos.