David Staff Fell Race 5.1m/1200ft

As I'm resting at a Lecture at Bolton Hospital tomorrow evening I decided that Sunday's run had to include a bit more of an effort. So off I went to take another look at Darwen Tower.

Despite the glorious conditions there was no time for a food stop at the top this time, mostly due to the slow ascent. Normally I can run all the way up, but yesterday's run took its toll. Coming down hill I began to pull back a bit of ground on the runners in front of me. Another 10 miles and I might have got past.

A disappointing 6 mins slower than last time in 2005. At some point, racing every weekend should start to pay off surely?

Next weeks suggested route coming back via White Coppice would be very handy for me as I'll be back at 6pm with my head-torch for a bit of night-orienteering. So I'll need you all to keep your eyes peeled earlier in the day for any little orange orienteering flags. My last attempt at this resulted in emergency instructions via a mobile on the use of 'don't worry you won't need it' gps!

TF

Yesterday

Thanks NLN for the detailed 'write up' and for the excellent pictures. Yes, it was just as the pictures show.

Thanks girls for risking hypothermia as you waited for me getting up Great Hill. It felt a hard run to me, perhaps because of the conditions under foot, but I regret that I can only record 15.5 miles.

What a Grand Day Out

This morning must rank as one of the best days ever on the West Pennine Moors, setting off from the lower barn in freezing fog didn't look too promising, but by the time dangerous corner was reached, we had emerged from the clag into brilliant sunshine.   Great Hill taking on that lovely red glow of the low rising sun - what a pity none of us had a camera.  JtE had a 'superlong' route in store for us taking us via the Amble route out to Darwen Tower where we sat in the glorious sunshine for a snack.   Back via Great Hill and Spitlers Edge and the sun still shone, with the inversion clearly visible at the head of the valley.  Operator error meant that we didn't get an actual readout of miles completed, but I think JtE will provide us with appropriate information.   The looks of disappointment on everyone's face when I read out that we had completed only 6.1 miles at Darwen Tower were a picture!

Anyway in the absence of any piccies from this morning, I hope you enjoy the ones below captured on Christmas Eve 2006 when FSS and I arrived at Ambleside in exactly the same conditions as this morning and again climbed through the cloud and had the most glorious Christmas Eve completing the Fairfield Horse Shoe, before descending back through the clag in the afternoon.

NLN

Darwen Tower

Yes, if you say so NLN!

Change of Plans

Means that I'm looking forward to running from the Lower Barn tomorrow - when you say long JtE are you talking Darwen Tower?? Time to bury the ghost!

NLN

Note to TF re Photos

It's because you're on them that they need blowing up, it's the only way we can see you!

EtU

Thursdays (and Saturday 29th)

Thursdays seem to be falling apart a bit. There's only been me on three of the last five weeks. So I'm going to start turning up for 6:30, then if no-one else shows by soon after 25 to 7, I'll scamper off to join Norman's group, which kicks off at 6:45.

Plasterer coming Sunday, so I'm now a definite for Saturday.

EtU

I'll be at Lower Barn on Saturday Morning.

Sorry I didn't post an absence note yesterday. I was on an IT training course and wasn't allowed access to internet! All about teeth, so I'm afraid I can't help with the photo thing. Anyway given the fact that I'm on some of these photos, surely the smaller the better.

TF

I'll be Utuping on Saturday

Saturday the 29th.

I'm UTUPing (and hoping for a longish run!).

Thursday 27th & Saturday 29th Nov '08

I'm UTUPing Thursday (with headtorch) and Saturday (plasterer permitting), but don't wait for me.

EtU

Will it work using Picasa?

I think it's going to be too large!

So do I

EtU, I use that icon as well. Looking at Properties and comparing with other photo properties which do expand, everything seems in order. When I've a bit more time I'll have a play, but it's an interesting one.

Pictures

Mat, might it be something to do with how we upload pictures? I use the "Add Image" icon.

EtU

No Success

Sorry about that last post. I was just wondering if the size of the upload had anything to do with my pictures not expanding. But it doesn't.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments re The Tour of Pendle.

Just Testing

Yesterday's Local Run

NicO, Matt and I turned out to run via Hordern Stoops, Catherine Ege, Great Hill, Brinscall and White Coppice. EtU, who hadn't been well all week, had joined us, but was a bit off song, and left us at Drinkwaters.

There was a low air temperature, but otherwise the weather was kind to us.

14.5 Miles.

Don't Go to the Thatch and Thistle...

...on the 12th 'cos they're not expecting us. Due to a timing difficulty with the booking arrangements, we are expected at the Waggon and Horses, half a mile further north along the A6, on the left.

EtU

Kirkbymoor 6.5m/1600ft

Nothing much to report other than I didn't break 90mins, probably about 93mins this time. Height wasn't a factor with the stickers this time, as there weren't any. I skipped the prize-giving in favour of a hot flask of soup back at the car, refreshments being limited to tea and biscuits in the village hall. Black Combe are usually pretty prompt about getting results on the website so they'll appear here www.bcrunners.org.uk in the next day or two if you're curious.

Think I had 2 behind me. On a claggy day should be even more given the route choices of some from the 5th cp. Weather will determine when the next time will be!

Prizes

Well done Matt. Guess I just need to keep things ticking over for the next 20-odd years and then start to put some serious training in, hoping that all those V40's winning prizes now will have burnt themselves out.

TF

Tour of Pendle

FSS and Matt: Have you seen your pictures and the write up on the Horwich RMI blog? Well done Matt. You beat all those O70s who were not fit enough to turn up, and there are a lot of those at our age!