Saturday on Healey Nab and Great Hill

What a morning!  Strong winds howling around the house almost kept me in my bed, but glad I struggled out, enjoyed the outing – setting of with YJ, IK, EtU and Matt.  Headed out to Healey Nab passing the cascades (below) which were in fine fettle with the overflow from Yarrow down to Anglezarke res looking amazing.  Went back with FSS on Sunday to get another shot for blip (see right hand side of blog) and the flow wasn’t nearly as strong, but with a better camera I was able to get a smooth flow effect.  A few more snaps of the morning here.

Looking through the arch at the top of the Cascades towards Yarrow Res

Here come the boys  -  you know who you are!

Below - coming down from Healey Nab

White Coppice, where YJ left our company. IK turned for home at Drinkwaters

Some Chorley runners showing off in shorts !  At the shelter on Great Hill

As planned the wind was behind us going up Great Hill, but we could barely stand up when turning to head for Spitlers.  At the stile we decided to head back along the valley, following Dean Black Brook back to White Coppice to take the bridleway to Watermans and head back below the quarries.

Great Hill farm

Above and below the Brook at the fall just above White Coppice – the wind was so strong it was blowing the water back upstream.

A good outing giving just under 13 miles, which given the conditions wasn’t too bad.

Later in the day FSS and I went out to the coast – a few pics from Fleetwood below with more here if it’s of interest.

Not out Saturday in North Lakes – have fun

NLN

OCT Recce 31st March - Should be ok for this one.

Not out on Saturday for Utup. I was doing the Hebden, but had to pull out of this event as I've had a bad cold/cough this week. Rested up, thinking I could drop down to the shorter route, but a short 40min test run last night proved that even this would be a couple of steps too far.

Jetting off on Tuesday for a bit of sunshine, hopefully will be back fully fit/fat to start all over again in February, so far 2012's training not been up to 2011's standard!

TF

I shall be keeping you company on Saturday EtU. The March 31st recce sounds interesting. Hope the swimming goes/has gone well.

Now I know why I'm getting slow ... it's because...

I'm getting old.

But why do I think I'm getting old?

Maybe it's because of a present Julie received on Christmas Day.

It was a book called "The Good Granny Guide". The present then obviously resulted in further questions being asked to the source of the present. The result is that Diane will not be doing this year's Pike Race and certainly not this year's UK Ironman.
The super-injunction has finally been lifted so I'm at last able to use it as an excuse for my lethargic rate of motion when supposedly running.

As we are visiting them this weekend, I may be able to make UTUP before we travel to God's own county, missing out on the XC but hopefully listening to yet another Jordan goalfest en route - not sure who HTFC are playing but I expect little resistance from them whoever they are. I'm sure TLOB will agree now that he has reached a wise old age.

Saturday 21st January

I'll be at the Bottom Barn for 8:30, hope to have company.

Old Age

I have made it: free prescriptions, a bus pass and cheap football tickets are all mine!!!! I have not been for a 60th birthday run as lunch was alcoholic ( and so I hope will this evening be) but I intend to go tomorrow.......

The Northern version of my party is on Sat Feb 4th in the Ridgeway - further details available from the galloping major.

A Date for Your Diary?

Picking up on SN's request for another outing, how about Saturday 31st of March for an Old County Tops recce? The worst of the winter weather should be over, although it seems as though that doesn't matter.

Put it in your diary, folks.

Catching Up

Long time, no see, looks like a good outing on Saturday can’t go wrong on a day like that.  Weather in Glasgow on Saturday wasn’t nearly so good, but we made the best of it by taking father-in-law for a run (in the car) up the coast to Gourock.  Pleased to find the birthday boy in fine spirits and feeling well in his 87th year.  Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and although I declined FSS’s invitation for a run, I strolled out to the highest ground and took some piccies of the rising sun.  More eating and drinking ensued before the journey home.

Cardwell Bay from the Free French Monument on Lyme Hill

 

FSS at the Trig point above the Beacon on Lyme Hill

Birthday Boy

Free French Monument

Cross of Lorraine combined with an anchor to commemorate the French sailors who sailed out of Gourock and lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second world war

Redundant – cranes from the ship building era

Unusual Trigpoint

Sunday morning dawned bright and cold and I had a walk up the hill to get a couple of snaps.  The two below are of the local primary school’s windmill.

 

 

Recognise these chaps?  The lions guarding the cenotaph in George Square, Glasgow.

The ferris wheel with a typical Victorian equine sculpture.

Clyde Riverside  shots

Central Station

Glasgow Police Box reflection

 

Probably not out again this weekend as further birthday celebrations on the cards.

Having fun – NLN

Too little too late!

I've finally got 5 minutes to put pen to paper/finger to key but it appears everything has been said already.
I had a fantastic day out with NLN over Christmas but would just like to point out that I did not "just sit down." Those ahead of me did not see the wind literally sweep me off my feet and unlike the dog I was unable to turn this misfortune into an elegant backward somersault and so instead got dumped on my bottom. Despite pouring rain and gale-force winds I really enjoyed the day out which brings me to my next point. Etu had mentioned during the Christmas Thursday run that he was considering organising more days out this year, but no amount of planning could book the weather. I hope this shows that it is not the climate and conditions that are important, but the conquering of the mountain and the companionship. So get that map and diary out and start planning - please!
Derian House were very grateful for the donation from the pub kitty, though my 9 year old could not understand why I had gone into a shop, paid money and not bought anything.
Finally the Garstang 10k. Despite being beaten by men twice my age ( well almost!) I found the phrase "I'm really enjoying this" going through my mind. I'm obviously not pushing myself hard enough! Still at least coming last out of the group meant I had people cheering me over the finishing line.
Hope to make Chernobyl if I can fit it in between hospital visits and 2 footy matches!
Oh and by the way, Happy New Year everyone!

Three at Hyndburn Mid Lancs XC

Following the night's sharp frost, the XC course at Wilson Fields at Clayton had just about thawed out into a very muddy route. The course had changed from previous years taking in one shorter lap followed by two longer laps to gain only 5.4 miles. However, what it lacked in distance, it gained in lack of grip. I chose spikes but needed longer ones. A big field of around 290 set off with EYJ just ahead of me as the first half mile was a bit stop-start. Apologies to YJ as I never saw you and I don't know if EYJ did - didn't mention it : but good to see you back "xc racing". Initially I kept EYJ in sight but struggled with grip (and fitness) for most of the course. There's been a lot a tarmac path-laying near to the road which also didn't help the rhythm : I used to enjoy that stretch where I could get in some quick running. At least I achieved my fastest pace on the run in and managed to regain a couple of places
EYJ was well in front of me and if the categories were accurate, was probably the first V70.
At least it was a significant improvements over Astley Park which must have been my worst performance for 5 years. Think I'll have to skip next week due to visiting so next one will be the Northern Champs at Pontefract where hopefully the stamina and pace will be back.
Bazza took a load of photos which are on facebook.

This Morning

This morning saw a clear blue sky, frost and three of us assembling at the lower barn. Colin W and Yours Truly in matching jackets and shoes, and KLM muttering, as he usually does, about his many problems; some old and some new, the most recent of which being a sore calf.

Disappointed to have no female company, we set off to do the climbs. Stopping for a photo shoot on Two Lads, we were pleased when TYC, desperate not to miss a photo opportunity, appeared on the scene and on the photo:-

Thought this was a particularly good shot of not only a rare smile from Col, but also KLM's left ear, with TYC appearing at a gallop stage left. The pike tower is just visible between the two figures in the foreground.

Not be be outdone, but showing no originality, TYC also complained of a sore calf. We set off for the Pike, then on to Noon Hill, with Colin dropping off for home at the pigeon tower. After Noon Hill it was George's Lane, then the long climb up the back of Winter Hill. Near the top we were asked about the route of the Winter Hill race, by a young couple who seemed to be recceing it with out benefit of map or any knowledge of the whereabouts of the check points. KLM, our token navigator for the day, advised them.

Then the trig point, soon after which we turned back to look for the much viewed snow bunting, still in its compound ~ doesn't it know there's no top to its cage, and it could leave at any time?

Finally a second visit to the Two Lads cairns, and a second chat, as we neared the kennels, with the recce-ers, with whom we may be rendezvousing again soon. KLM dropped off below the Pike and TYC and I continued to the copse below Noon Hill, at which point we also turned for home.

A fine, if slightly leisurely morning out, with neither of the injured calf owners professing to any deterioration in their condition.

Edale Skyline Sunday 25th March

Entry form now available. http://www.dpfr.org.uk/uploads/ckeditor/attachment_file/data/2/entry_form_and_info_Edale_Skyline_Fell_Race_2012_-_final_version.pdf


Cut off time has been extended by 15mins, so 2hrs 45mins to get to Mam Nick. Entry needs to be in fairly sharpish as it fills up quickly.

TF

Thursday UTUP - Under New Management

Reference to my training diary that covered that period, tells me that I first ran on a Thursday with JtE on 19th January 1989, so it is something of a co-incidence that I will begin my first break from that routine, exactly 23 years later, when I start a series of short courses with the aim of finally learning how to swim the crawl. During those years I have missed the odd outing due to injury, illness, holidays, working away, races, even the occasional domestic call of duty, but there has been no break for any other reason.

The make up of the group has gradually changed. With us on my first outing was Gary Harold; John and he had been running together for some time before I joined them. Steve Bottrill joined soon after, and a Chris ran for a period before emigrating to Australia. Folk came and went, John finally opting for a daytime run, after retiring from work several years ago.  TLOB came along for a while before moving south and T'Yorkshireman has long been an occasional participant. More recently NLN, SN, TF, Matt and the Galloping Major have all turned out when available. Last and very definitely not least, Dan, my Border Collie ran for most of that period on all the summer evenings, overlapping for several years with Steve's Tilly, until he finally retired to that great dog kennel in the sky.

Over the years I've assumed the mantle of continuity man, so I have felt obliged to find a replacement to cover the period up to Easter, after which I plan to return. Anthony (the Galloping Major) Turner has kindly agreed to fill this role, and rather than via postings on the blog, he will keep in touch via email. Please try and turn out on a Thursday if you can, it would be a shame if this routine of nearly a quarter of a century were to lapse. Expect an email from the GM soon.

Remember, if you turn up and there's no-one else there, you can always join Steve Pearson's hill reps session. As Stanley Unwin used to say "Deep joy!"

In the meantime, I'm UTUPing on the 12th.

For anyone not familiar with the Thursday UTUP, the Usual Time is 6:30 pm and the Usual Place is adjacent to the stocks on Chorley Old Road, Horwich GR SD 646 115.

Four Go to Garstang

Had drafted most of the following prior to Matt's report, thought it would be a shame to waste it:-

In what was one of our biggest turnouts for a race, four of us toed the line at the Garstang 10k on Sunday 8th January. Or rather, Matt toed the line, whilst the rest of us (SN, YJ and Yours Truly) took our rightful places nearer the back of the 450 strong field.  Incidentally, does anyone know what our biggest turnout for a race has been?

The Swift bros had spent a considerable time (one more than the other) on Winter Hill the day before, so were both equipped with good excuses, in the event of any shortfall in performance. However, YJ did not need to avail himself of his, and after passing SN fairly early on (she had positioned herself slightly nearer the front) went on to hunt down Matt, passing him before the two mile mark. SN was easy to spot in her flamboyant headgear and I also passed her soonish.

After YJ had moved to his rightful place at the front of our well spaced group, there was no further changing of positions. Despite having turned in a rather lacklustre performance on Winter Hill, YJ finished first V70, 257th overall in a time of 51:05 (surely back under 50 minutes very soon). Then Matt, 3rd V70, 286th in 52:57, me 315th in 54:49 (not quite a PW) then SN, 325th in 55:43. Hadn't expected to be that far behind Matt, well done you old rogue! SN seemed pleased with her time, although I take some credit for that, as she didn't let me escape completely until the final mile, using me to drag out a little extra from her - another one I'm going to have to keep my eye on.

What will Chernobyl bring at the end of the month? Only another three weeks will tell.  And why was no. 505, potentially 3rd V70 disqualified?

The team prize was won by the Horwich men's team (interesting in that this was done with an all vets team) and Paul Muller was first V50, 7th overall in 35:43. Maria Lowe was second lady, 48th overall in 39:28.

Garstang 10K

 

After an absolutely splendid meal at JtE’s on Saturday evening I paid the price for eating too much and hardly had a minutes sleep in preparation for Sunday’s 10k. I met up with EtU and Unfit YJ and later we were joined by SN who improved the appearance of our group considerably.

The race starts and ends at Garstang High School at Bowgreave. It’s always struck me as slightly perverse that you run over 6 miles to finish up where you started. More sensible people like Christina and Anne finish up at the same place simply by going to the cafe and having a cuppa’ without moving a muscle, apart from those around the jaw area.

Now for some really riveting reading! From the school on Garstang Road you run south for about 400 yards before heading east along Calder House Lane to Ray Lane. Now how did I remember that? Having  gone under the railway line you then turn North and eventually complete the loop back to Garstang road. You then go south past the Police Station, Bowgreave Rise Care Home, the school, and Garstang Golf club before heading east  to Smithy Lane, going under the railway line again. Then you head north before turning west passing the Kenlis Arms, over the motorway, under the railway yet again before returning along Calder House Lane leaving you a short steepish run to the finish. There you are, I’m sure you’re all the wiser for that.

There were 445 runners. Ridiculously unfit YJ was first home of our group in a time  of 51:05(257th place) followed by myself in 52:57(286) followed by full-of-beer EtU in 54.49 and SN in 55.43.

After a clean-up and some food, having thought the prize-giving was over, I headed to the hall to see if I could get the results and came across YJ who was waiting for the old-timers prizes to be announced. It’ll come as no surprise to you to learn that the Disastrously unfit YJ was 1st M70. When I tell you that he’d run 8 or 9 miles on Saturday morning and 3 miles a few hours before the race, and was giving up to 2 years advantage to some of the other over 70’s you can appreciate how appallingly unfit he’s become. How has he let himself get into such a poor state? It’s up to us to encourage him so that he can at least get back some semblance of fitness. The alternative is that he’ll turn into a couch potatoe and become a Blob!

          

                                                At the start(Couldn’t find the others)

                                                  Yes you’ve guessed; At the finish      

I went up the ramp today and at the last second remembered the snow buntings. I went to the advised location but couldn’t spot them. Have they got fed up waiting for the snow or were they hiding from me?

Forgot to mention, I picked up my prize on Sunday.

Now as a girl who likes to co-ordinate her accessories, even if they do get covered in mud (eventually) I think I might have a bit of bother with this one. It's a buff, which is good 'cos you can't have too many of those, but it's a bit 'LOUD'. It won't go with my shoes, and I had thought I'd wear it for the event on Sunday but decided against it as it would make me too easy to spot.

So might have to save it for the night time excursions, unless I'm feeling particularly brave.

I'm not out again now until Feb, a couple of events and a holiday intervene, but will keep you posted.

TF

Dark and White Mini MM - Hathersage 8th Jan 2012

A good day out in the Peak District. Usual format - 3 hrs to collect as many points as possible.

You get to have a look at the 'Master' map before you start. Essentially this has all the annotations, extra footpaths, out of bounds and notes on, but not the control locations ie the red circles.

Being reasonble familiar with the area it took me a bit to decide on my initial route choice, but was please to collect both 25 point controls. As is inevitable with these events you do get to do a bit of road running so a shoe with a bit of cushioning is best. The new Inov 8 315 Gortex did the job. I have modified them since their first outing yesterday as the laces they came with were a bit too short to tie into the double bow as I usually do. So I thought I'd give those elastic ones with a locking toggle a go. So I got these from the shop at the gym
http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/details.cfm?ProdID=7928 Does make get the shoes on/off easier and stayed nice and tight whilst running.

My route control No.s 2, 7, 8, 10, 23, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 18, 19, 5, 1, 3 = 230 points

I equal tied with Mark S on points but was back a few seconds earlier.

Full results here

http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/results-cross-country-fell-races.asp

TF

Shall see EtU and presumably a fit YJ 0n Sunday at Garstang. Well done TF on your award.

Guess this comes under the guise of 'better late than never' - I've won a prize!

Have to cast your mind back to the summer and the series of mid-week mini mountain marathons I did, well the final results had me finishing in 1st place for my age category. Information suggested that we would receive contact from the organizers in due course. So I waited, and I waited and finally decided that they must have changed their minds. I hadn't wanted to declare myself as a 'pot-hunter' and enquire the whereabouts of my bounty, so had to just content myself with the honour & glory.

So imagine my surprise when apologetic email received. I've won a Buff, and can collect on Sunday when I turn up to their next event. Much more useful in the winter. I wonder if it'll be in a colour to match my new Inov8's, which came in the post this week. Feels like Xmas all over again.

I'm utuping tomorrow, new shoes to break in for Sunday!

TF

This Week

Tuesday 3rd - went to the track, but there was no main session, no-one had told me! But Carl Balshaw was there with his "improvers" group. Tagged onto them and found it a lot less depressing than trailing off the back of Steve Pearson's "improved" group. I wasn't the fastest (even in the B group), but at least there were folk to sprint in with, rather than crossing the line half way through the recovery interval. Quite exhilarating. Dilemma is now which group to join when Carl is back in a fortnight's time; do I finally accept that I am no longer a mainstream runner and take my place in the improvers B squad?

During the session one guy asked me how long I had been coming to the track, and he seemed a bit surprised when I said "About 20 years". He didn't say "It hasn't done you much good, has it?", but I thought I could see those words hovering on his lips.

Thursday 5th - UTUP

Saturday 7th - UTUP

Sunday 8th - racing two septuagenarians at the Garstang 10k.

Finally, are we adopting that old Irving Berlin number as our squad song:- "There's no buntings like snow buntings, there's no buntings I know...

Me Too!

Went out today for a jog/walk from the barn taking in the Burnt Edge area and Winter Hill. Hoped to see short eared owls around Burnt Edge/ Two Lads but no luck. On the mast road (the motor road EtU). I saw Denis Weir, himself a so called birder, and he directed me to the next to the last enclosure beyond the trig point, hopefully to see the elusive snow buntings, and there they were, two of them.

I wish all the gang members a happy new year and I hope to be running again before too long.

Miles and smiles

2011 has been a year of two halves, as they say in football. Two months after the Pennine Way run sciatica almost immobilised me as far as running was concerned, to the extent that I felt sure that for the first time in 31 years I would fall short of my annual target of 2000 training and racing miles. I was so sure of a shortfall that in order to save further demoralisation I deliberately avoided totting up the total until New Years Day.

So it was with great surprise that on completing the spreadsheet for 2011 the total came well over the target at 2200 miles.

After totting up all the available records and allowing a nominal 2000 miles for the years where the diaries are missing the running total is over 65,000 miles. Now that's a lot of worn out shoes.

Happy New Year to you all.

We saw them !

Yes a pair of Snow Buntings on the gravel just before the mast buildings on the run up to the trigpoint, and very sweet they were too.  Just checked for an image and found this one

 

and recognised them.   Well camouflaged against the stone and gravel.  This was the highlight of the morning really,  very very wet and grey.  Not particularly cold, but after a couple of hours I was beginning to feel it. 

Four turned out TF, IcedKev, YJ and me.  Pike, Two Lads, Trigpoint at which YJ left us to head down the diagonal.  The remaining three headed back down the ramp to the hole in the wall, along the road before turning to head back via allotments, Quarryman’s path, road to Dangerous Corner and back in via Little Houses car park.  Back at cars for 11.30 is with 9.3 miles covered.  YJ had also just got back to the cars having covered similar mileage over different ground.

Happy New Year to everyone and looking forward to seeing folk next year….

NLN

Christmas on t’Fells 29th December

Having received an invite from Steve to join him and his mates for the above FSS and I eagerly accepted -  FSS then got a better offer!   I cast about for any likely participants to travel up with and SN and MW jumped on board.  In fact, SN had it on her family calendar as ‘My day out’ before you could shake a stick and apparently all other arrangements were worked around it.  MW then regrettably bailed as she had been out canoeing all day and felt she couldn’t get another pass due to family commitments.  That left me and SN watching the weather forecasts for 29th.  To be honest they were atrocious, but as SN had told me that she was so excited that she didn’t know whether she’d be able to sleep the night before it seemed we were going up anyway! 

At 6.20 yesterday morning I looked out of the window and wondered what on earth we were doing driving to Braithwaite to venture onto the felltops.  I then thought when SN gets here she’s going to say, “It’s too bad to go – yeah right!

So we parked near the school in Braithwaite village and met up with Steve, his brother Jason and Ali and Chris from Border Runners.  I thought I’d better get an early photo as the chances of me getting the camera out from the rucksack and two waterproof bags was unlikely. 

We set off down the road to pick up the footpath up to Causey Pike, from there across to Scar Crags and with a bit of shelter from the Pike I did manage to get the camera out and take a few snaps, which was a good job because it never saw the light of day again.

Looking down onto Outerside with Whinlatter forest and Bassenthwaite beyond.

The path up to Sail

Eel Crag beyond

Scamp – Steve’s dog posing for a picture above and below

Scamp had an extremely stressful outing – everything was wrong and he knew it.  Now Steve is a very fast runner and you only have to look at him to see this, but this was a social day and he was making sure everyone felt part of the day, but Scamp didn’t know this.   The pack should be led by Steve and nobody else, so he spent his day trying to round everyone up, keep them together and let whoever was in front know that this wasn’t their place.

To top it all on Eel Crag where the gusting winds and horizontal ice was so strong that SN decided to just sit down!  Scamp literally got flipped over by a gust of wind.

Setting off up to Sail 

Shortly after this Ali and Chris bailed and headed down, a wise move as it turned out as the conditions deteriorated rapidly.  We carried on over Crag Hill and Eel Crag which I am very glad has a broad and flat summit plateau.   Having re-grouped we made our way carefully off and down to the old mine where even on the main path we were still being knocked about.   Finally, all that was left was an easy trot back to the cars. Quick sort out and into the Royal Oak in the village for hot coffee and a bite to eat - a grand day out and thanks to Steve for organising it.  I think SN is going to put up a few words after her New Year guests have departed.  Both so glad we headed north!

Looks like TF is out tomorrow – me too, probably slow and short-ish!  Anyone else?

I'm planning a Utup tomorrow. Let me know if to expect anyone else.

TF

See You Next Year

Going up to Santon today, back on 1/1/12.

Be good!

Christmas Eve

I'll be at the bottom barn for 8:30.

See you there?

Come All Ye Faithful

It's the RMI hospital run this Thursday, and whilst I feel that I really ought to do this, I realise that there would be little support from the diverse group that falls down but gets up again.

Accordingly, I suggest that we turn out as strong a squad as possible at our Thursday UTUP and head for the trig point.  If anyone feels that we will be in need of a drink after, then why not?

It would be good to see a few of the old faces again (and some of the younger ones too, ladies).

Saturday 17 Dec

Good to see Matt out on the hill again, just EtU, YJ and me making up a four.  Up and over Pike, Two Lads, Quarry path on the Burnt Edge in driving wind and blizzard for parts.  Didn’t bother with Trespass Stone as icy conditions on tarmac were to be avoided.  EtU suffering from cold and my feet frozen solid meant an early bath.  Back over Two Lads and down.  On returning from the changing facilities I found JtE getting changed and we had a very pleasant hot chocolate in the Barn.  Our contingent covered a measly 7.14 miles and JtE did a similar mileage over similar terrain on his solo run.  YJ still trying to return to fitness departed from us at Pike Cottage.

Some photos from the morning’s outing can be found here.

Apologies for the non appearance for Utup yesterday.

Icy conditions near home put paid to an early start. Bit of a clue how bad things were from the previous evening when preparing to go to bed only to look out the window to find that the car had slid 6ft down the drive. Another 2ft, and the back wheels would have been off the pavement and on the road!

So had to nip out to prevent further slipage using some block paving sand and two bricks lodged behind the back wheels. A line drawn on the ice acted as a marker for the front wheel, so I could check at regular intervals for further movement. Thankfully it stayed put, not sure what else I would have done had it kept moving though. So Saturday morning was spent clearing the drive of ice and a walk to the garden centre on the main road to collect some grit. It only came in one bag size (large) so it was a slow walk back, lots of huffing and puffing.

If the neighbours haven't already knicknamed me as the 'batty old spinster' from no 55, then they will now.

All the prep work meant I was able to venture out for some orienteering later in the day, one in the afternoon and back again for a night 'o' at the same venue. Caused some hilarity with the regular orientereers on my return to the finish at the end of the afternoon event, when I told them that for the section in the 'maze' where on my map it said 'use the maze map' I thought it meant memorize the map on the board at the entrance. I hadn't seen that there was a copy of the maze map printed on my paper map. The maze was constructed using a series of 6ft high mesh fences with a sparse hedge. You could see the controls, but couldn't get to them.

Fared worse in the evening using the printed map in the maze, this despite new batteries in the headtorch. None of the other controls were in the same place this time, I know 'cos I checked the list of control descriptions with the afternoons' map before setting off. So despite new batteries, and having a general idea of the layout of the course I still contrived to finish last again.

Fortunate for the organizers that I can't do any of the remaining 3 events, think I should stick to daylight ones for now until I can learn to use my compass better.

I should be out (weather permitting) for a utup on Thurs and possibly Saturday.

TF

Saturday 17th December

I will be UTUPing on Saturday for the last time before heading south for Christmas.

Christmas

Sadly we will not be up before Christmas after all. However, we are aiming to visit between Christmas and New Year, so hopefully we will see you then.
In the meantime have a holy and happy Christmas, and may your God go with you.

This Week

UTUPing Thursday 15th and Saturday 17th.

Have held back from reporting on the puddings as Matt has photos and said he would post. Suffice to say that a good time was had by all, but some had better times than others.

The Three Puddings


Apologies for the delay EtU. I wrote the draft report 2 days ago but have been waiting for the results to be published. They're not on the usual sites but eventually I've tracked them down to the Northernrunningguide website. Apologies also, for any superfluous line spacing. The editor doesn't seem to take kindly to draft reports where the images have been moved around. Anyway here it is.


Last Sunday EtU and I ran(that may be an exaggeration) in the Longridge 7 Mile race. There's a lot of uphill involved, at least 4 miles, all at the beginning, with the rest of the course a mix of flat and downhill. Because of the climbing, an unpleasant sensation, I'm totally unsuited to the race, but I do have an affinity with Christmas Pud. We get on well.

The race starts from Longridge Civic Hall where after about 300 yards(I've not turned metric yet, but I will do for the sake of the youngsters in the group)you climb up out of Longridge before starting the long ascent of Jeffrey hill. Fairly soon Jeffrey was taking it's toll on me and I was being passed by everything on two legs. Runners, mothers with prams, old ladies with walking sticks, old men with zimmer frames, two-legged dogs, even one-legged cats! In short, anything that moved. After a couple of miles there was a short stretch of descent and I started overtaking. This is a novel experience for me and in the euphoria that followed I began overtaking on the climb! Should a National Holiday be declared? Eventually I caught up with EtU who, when we got to the top of Jeff announced his intention to attend to toilet duties, in that cultured manner that we have come to know and (love?).

For quite a while he had been running alongside one of his many aquaintances(oohma) who, once we hit the level, opened up a considerable gap on me. However I managed to reduce this when we started on the descent. "Come on, only a mile to go and all downhill", cried an encouraging marshal. So naturally, we immediately hit a flat stretch of about 548.64 metres, passing the 9.656km marker about halfway along it. I'd given up hope of catching oohma but on a short piece of descent I produced a lightening burst of speed(about 4mph - back to imperial) to stagger past him, and managed to hold him off on the level run-in to the finish.

There were 233 runners and Andy Norman of Altrincham won the race in 37.50. Glyn Kay of Horwich was 2nd in 41.21. I was 174th in 1.03.34 beating oohma by 2 seconds. EtU was 182nd in 1.04.42.

So having beaten his companion would I have beaten EtU had he not had a pit-stop? I don't think so. The time difference was too small apart from which, he can dig as deep as anybody. Had he not been an Accountant he would undoubtably have been a miner.

Here are a few piccies.

Will the weather hold?

No sweat for EtU

Me with one Pudding

And as EtU wittily observes; Me with two Puddings

But on reflection it should be captioned; The Three Puddings - Fruit, Plump, and Dumb

It's currently snowing here but I shall be Utuping tomorrow providing it doesn't get any worse.

Is this post-race musings, 'cos that's very philosophical for a Tuesday, usually it's a Thursday Utup discussion.

I've not looked for the results yet (not wishing to spoil the report), but may have to give in to temptation soon just to find out which xmas pudding won if we have to wait any longer!

TF

If...

I'm sure you're all familiar, to a greater or lesser extent, with Rudyard Kipling's "If...", but like me you may not be aware that the full poem incorporates an exhortation to do speedwork. I quote the final verse here:-

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

I'm sure it also applies to ladies.

A Twitcher Am I

A twitcher is someone who will travel specifically to add a new bird to his or her list. I am now a twitcher but an unsuccessful one in that I went up Winter Hill today in the hope of seeing a snow bunting but to no avail. Just seven miles in total from the Lower Barn and I finished weary. Don’t know where it’s all gone.

As EtU stated, a select few yesterday morning. My appearance, brief in the morning as a prelude to my evening entertainment - night orienteering.

Now I'd been doing ok on the street league 'night-o', well except from being a bit late back on Thurs night, losing the points for the extra control I'd thought I'd just manage to get and all the ones for the previous one too. That will teach me! One other thing I'd noticed was that when I'd switched my headtorch on it did a flash on/off a couple of times before staying on. Wondered what it meant and fully intended on checking the instructions.

Come Saturday evening did the same again, of course I'd forgot to check. Anyway seemed bright enough for me to manage to tie my shoelaces. So off I went. About an hour in, and my third go at trying to locate one particular control, it was coming apparent that yes it was indeed a low battery warning. So tactics changed from actively locating controls (especially in the wooded areas), to getting in the vicinity and waiting for someone else to turn up, and following their lights.

So all in all I was out for an hour and 38 mins, the winner zoomed round in 47mins. The plus side to all my fumbling about in the dark was that I managed to locate a few extra controls that I wasn't meant to.

Back I went this morning to see if I could do any better in the daylight. Amazing what a difference being able to see where you're going makes. Obviously the course setter had us doing different routes, but some of the controls were ones I'd visited the night before and managed to avoid making the same mistakes. So on a course that was almost double the length of the previous night, I only took an extra 12mins.

I've got another go next saturday evening, I think new batteries are in order. Not impressed with the length of time they're lasting though. Instructions are suggesting 50 hours on the maximum setting, and there's no way I've used the head torch that much as I've only had it since August and done a couple of Thursday Utups and a couple of hour long night-o's up to last night. Going to get a dear-do if I have to keep replacing the bateries for each event.

So assuming the length of time taken was purely down to lack of visibilty, I should be able to be out for a longer utup next saturday morning.

TF

This Morning

Just three of us toed the line this morning, TF, YJ and yours truly.

With a view to preserving her energy for an evening orienteering event, TF dropped off after the Pike leaving the Swift Bros heading for Two Lads. Soon after the dog kennels we were joined by Dennis W and his Bernese Mountain dog, Murphy. Dennis turned for home on the way down, leaving us to head for the mast.

Slight concern approaching the building as we saw a man lying in the  road, and wondered why his companions were ignoring him. On closer inspection it turned out that they were all birders, watching another snow bunting, whilst the guy in the road was photographing it.

Then the trig point, wooden bridge, down through the gardens, a wide loop through the park (to make sure we clocked a full eight miles) and back to the barn.  A gentle outing, which got YJ back in time for his 12:15 cross country marshalling duties on Astley Park.

I'm Not That Fat!

Cheeky blighter, Matt! Christmas pudding indeed!

Plans

I will not be Utuping tomorrow but will be chasing around after a Christmas Pud on Sunday in Longridge.

Music of the mountains

At 1100 on Friday 16th December on BBC Radio 4 there will be a broadcast entitled The Bob Graham Round: "Italian composer Maurizio Malagnini tries to write an orchestral piece of music inspired by the gruelling Bob Graham Round - a fell-running challenge in which athletes cover 70 miles and 42 peaks in the Lake District......."

"......Participants share their thoughts about the run, interspersed with extracts of Malagnini's melodies"

If anyone has the expertise to put a podcast on the blog it could be inspirational for those who have to work on Fridays.

PS: I will be utupping on Saturday

This Week

UTUPing Thursday 8th and Saturday 10th, then Longridge 7 (Christmas Pudding) on Sunday.

Snow Bunting

This bird is mentioned in several reports posted by members of the Manchester Birding Forum in their Horwich Moors section. I was just about to blog this fact when I saw the posting by EtU. I had taken a picture of the web for inclusion but the picture posted by EtU is far superior. I see that there is a posting by the Forum stating that Ken Haydock saw the bird at 10.17am on Saturday the 3rd. Posted elsewhere it says that the bird can be disturbed by joggers. Interesting reading!

More from Saturday

Right outside the mast building I spoke briefly to a birder called Ken M of Horwich. He pointed out this snow bunting and very kindly sent me this picture which he'd taken as it foraged just across the road. I'm told it's a male in his winter finery.

A fine picture of a special sighting, thank you Ken. Just sorry we inadvertanly put him to flight, hope he returned.

3rd Dec 2011

T' Y offered to write up Saturday's run, so watch this space, but in the meantime enjoy this double rainbow taken by TYC:-

Only found out this morning that the colours are reveresd on a double rainbow, so the red appears on the inside, and the violet apperas on the outside, think you can just make that out.  As Michael Caine would say, "Not a lot of people know that".

There was a full bow at one point, and folk were suggesting that they needed to be further away to get it all in their viewfinder; not sure that the laws of refraction work that way. Photograhic challenge:- who can be the first to to submit their own picture of a full rainbow?

Saturday’s other run

Good to see that the main group braved the moors in that miserable weather. I whimped out and took a lower route via ammunition corner, bomber memorial area and High Bollough and Anglezarke reservoirs. I saw the same rainbow approx NNW as I passed the car park above the top barn. Interesting that the stats for the main run were 7.78 miles at 3.4 mph. Mine were 7.67 miles at 3.4 mph. Perhaps I’ll soon be out with the gang again. Do I hear cries of anguish?

Saturday's run

As I write this after returning from a walk in Horrocks Woods with a couple of lively dogs, just managing to avoid the hailstones but with a temperature of 2°C, I think we got away with very good conditions yesterday.
Shame that hat one or two were suffering but I think everyone got a good workout. NLN, CW and I managed 7.8 miles and just under 2000ft of climb with YJ, EtU & TYC probably similar in the end. We certainly had a much quicker average pace than on my last Saturday morning run (4.4mph v 3.4 mph)
Looks like we must have run through the end of the rainbow on our way up to Two Lads.