My Kind of Parkrun (perhaps?)

OK, who's up for this:-

http://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2018/01/25/parkrun-profile-watergrove/

...must be worth a look.

2018 targets

A Happy New Year to you all. I see there is not much banter about targets for this year except that TF will no doubt effortlessly complete her 50 miler.
I have also decided to participate in probably my final 50 miler and head back to the Pyrenees for the Grand Raid Pyrenees, or specifically the Tour de Lacs which is almost the same route as in 2014 albeit in the reverse direction. I think I had better get my entry in before the initial Jan 31st deadline.
At the moment my training for it is negligible : I only completed 12 miles in December and Saturday's 6 mile XC at Burnley was my longest run since mid November.
My entry for the Amble is in and accepted so that is the next build up for t'Hobble. I keep saying it will be my last Hobble but this year I shall be running it in a pair. When she was about 13 or 14, Diane said she wanted to do it but at that time she was too young and by the time she was old enough, it didn't happen. This year it will happen and I realise she will be 10 years older than I was the first time I ran it. We were hoping for a recce of part of the route this weekend but the weather forecast does not look very favourable. We shall see.
I have finally semi-retired from work so have reduced my workload to about two days per week. However, to keep me off the streets I have "volunteered" to be event co-ordinator for the Red Rose 50 - one way of avoiding doing it. The route is being revised so it will not be quite as challenging as last year and surely the weather cannot be worse. So, if you are up for it, enter (will soon be on SIEntries). If not, we don't turn away volunteers.

Saturday 13th January

Hi y'all,

Just letting you know that neither of us bros will be UTUPing this coming Saturday.

A bit of a different run today

So today I decided to pack all my textbooks away (metaphorically, as they're all online these days) and head to the hills to enjoy a bit of sunshine.

I thought I'd go and reccie a bit of Leg 2 of the Calderdale Way in preparation of my 50m Ultra in the summer. The route starts from Cragg Vale and heads past Withens Clough Reservoir and then down towards Mankinholes.

As on the previous reccies I'd decided to use my 20L OMM rucksack, seemed a bit 'over-kill' today for a planned 6m run, and given the frosty conditions and running alone I thought 'you never know'.

Well today was the 'you never know' day. On the drop down towards Mankinholes, I came across a group of 4 people, 2 sat down. It was quickly established that the 'casualty' had slipped on the icy path and gone over on her ankle. Her friend was sat down with her trying to keep her warm. Her mum had rung 999, but had found it difficult to describe where exactly they were other than 'up the hill from the pub' in Mankinholes.

So my emergency bivvy bag got to see the light of day for the first time since acquiring it 7-8yrs ago. It's one of these, and just about fits in the palm of your hand (5cm x 7cm), weighs nowt!

999 was phoned again to provide grid reference (964231), casualty got some Ibruprofen and general reassurance.

I was pretty relieved to hear the first set of sirens. I'd been there 45 mins at this point. It was chilly, but not as chilly as if you're lying immobilised on the ground.  From my advantage point on the hill I could see the first MRT vehicle pull up on the road at the start of the Calderdale Way path.

They arrived in separate groups and the final team on the hill consisted of 13 of them, plus 1 dog.

Real 'chuffed' to be told my GR was 'spot on'. I've always worried I'd get it wrong under pressure.

Bit of a report form CVSRT here http://www.cvsrt.org.uk/incidents/redirect/itemlist/date/2018/01?catid=4

I've had word back from the casualty's Mum, the hospital confirmed she has a fractured ankle and is now awaiting an op.  

TF

Season's Greetings

Happy Christmas to all my friends in WFDBWGUA. I am sorry about the lack of cards and the lateness of this message, but Anne is not at all well with labrynthitis and things are a bit fraught at present. We are postponing Christmas until she is better.

Friday 22nd December 2017

Cancelled due to family illness - that is, Chris and my outing is cancelled, not the actual Friday 22nd.

TLoB is at a loose end on Friday morning whilst his better half  does her Christmas shopping, so I'm meeting him at the lower barn (at 9:45) to roam around our local fells. All welcome.

Xmas Run/Walk Tockholes Sat 16th Dec

Start times now confirmed as
Run 8:30am
Walk 9:00am

Return to cafe by 11:30am

All welcome
TF

Xmas Run/Walk Tockholes Sat 16th Dec

We thought (TF & SN) you'd like a change of venue this year for the post run/walk  xmas coffee & mince pies etc. So we propose meeting at the Cafe at Tockholes
 http://www.vaughnscountrycafe.co.uk/

Post Code for Sat Nav : BB3 0PA

Start time for runners is 8:30am and possibly 9-9:30am for the Walkers (SN will liaise). with the aim to be back at the cafe for about 11:30am.

I went and had a recce yesterday and the cafe is open from 10:30 - approx 3-4pm. The approach from Belmont was a bit dicey in the snow, so will keep a careful eye on the forecast and will post an update later in the week if there are any changes.

TF

Picture if you will...

...two weary travellers, moving slowly along a snow covered track in a pine forest on a northern hillside. Approaching from a side path on their right, appear two wolf like beasts - for a moment the two pairs pause and eye each other suspiciously.

Then the beasts' owner appears, and it becomes clear that lives are not in danger, for the 'wolves' are in fact Northern Inuits, a breed that has been developed by crossing a number of sledge dog breeds with German Shepherds, especially to give a wolf like appearance, and the pine forest is Wilderswood. YJ and ETU engage the owner in friendly discussion for a few minutes, then both parties continue on their separate ways.

Panic over, we live to run another day.

Christmas/Quarterly 'Do'

Our Winter Solstice Quarterly/Christmas 'do' will be at the Black Horse Limbrick on Friday 8th December. There is a Christmas menu available, but this needs to be pre-ordered - contact me if you are interested, or indeed, if you have any intention of coming.

Snowdonia

In response to EtU's query about my Snowdonia marathon record I can disclose that my first appearance was in 2001 at the age of 62,  the year I recorded my best finish  of 3.29, a time which EtU must have bettered in his earlier years

Modesty forbids me from recording how many age group wins I have achieved, suffice to say that in 11 starts I have finished every one and only been beaten........as I say modesty forbids........though I do have a nice collection of prizes.

Saturday 18th November

Neither of the Bros will be UTUPing on the 18th, YJ will be down in Brighton for their 10k on the Sunday, possibly Park Running on the Saturday, and I will be at Haigh Hall for my local Park Run.

Snowdonia Marathon 2017

Saturday 28th October saw YJ and yours truly lining up at the start of yet another Snowdonia Marathon; YJ well prepared, despite a greatly reduced training window, due to an undiagnosed, but thankfully cleared, health problem; self not at all well prepared, due to loss of mojo.

Five hours later saw YJ crossing the finish line with gun/chip times of 5:00:15/4:59:58 placing 1,221 out of 2,211 finishers and 1st V75.

Much, much later, and shortly before it went dark, I staggered over the finish line, muttering that this would be my last marathon ever - but an Irish lad in my dorm had told me the evening before that the Dingle Marathon is definitely worth doing, and I've never raced in Ireland...

Having won his age group, YJ gets a complimentary entry into next years race and then in 2019 he will have moved up to the V80 category, so I guess he'll just have to keep coming back, to add that award to his set - John, at what age did you start your collection of Snowdonia age group awards?

11th of the 11th of the 11th

Very short notice, I'm, afraid, but YJ and I will be UTUPing tomorrow then heading straight to the bomber memorial to pay our respects. There will be a formal service on Sunday, so we don't expect many to be there on Saturday, probably just us.

Better notice for the quarterly 'do', which will be on Friday 8th December at the Black Horse (please note change of date from the 1st and confirmation of venue).

A Long Story Cut Short

Or The Tooth Fairy's Big Day

Readers of this blog will know that after our somewhat damp trip to the western fells in September, the TF had only four Wainwrights left to “bag”. The original outing had been scheduled for October 22^nd but had been postponed because of the weather. This was lucky for CB as he couldn’t make that day but bad luck for EtU who was unable to be there last Sunday.

TF and Botters travelled from a gloomy and wet Bolton at first light, rendezvousing with TLoB at Jn36. We had a pleasant and promisingly sunny drive to our starting point, Millbeck. Our first summit was Dodd, which was last climbed by TLoB in 1991 when it was completely afforested. Now the summit has been cleared. After an initial slog up by the side of a fence (a taste of things to come), we were rewarded with a spectacular view of Derwent water and Borrowdale. An easy trot up to the summit and back, and then it was decision time. Either a long drop down to Ravenstones on a good path, followed by a long climb to our next summit of Ullock Pike, or a yomp across some very rough ground to save 1.5 miles and 500ft of climbing.

Eager beaver TLoB was keen to take the short cut, TF was a little reticent. Botters was predictably clueless.  Short cut winning the day, the first part of our yomp wasn’t too bad, a gradual climb up a forest path with just the odd branch or two to negotiate, but then we had to turn steeply uphill, climb a fence and then slog our way through a steep slope of thick heather with no path in the latter half, and only the heather to help us up. TLoB attacked the slope like a mountain goat. TF and Botters slugged it out, finally reaching a good track just below the summit of Ullock Pike. At this point Botters announced that he needed a banana so TLoB had to run off to avoid a projectile vomiting session which might have upset the others, not to mention the walkers we now encountered. Ullock Pike and Long Side were soon ticked off and the final summit of Carl Side was reached. TLoB graciously held back at this point as he and Botters SB applauded TF onto the top, photos were taken and then SB produced a bottle of Champagne that he had very kindly lugged all the way up just so that we could mark the occasion properly. SB then gave a speech which had a large input from EtU and included several new words for our delectation! So as not to miss EtU out, here is the transcript:

“I asked Ed as our missing ‘friend in common’ for a speech that could be delivered when we reach the summit of Julie’s last (214^th) of Wainwrights’ fells, because this is what he would have done if he were here on this momentous occasion. He didn’t give me what I asked for I suspect because he doesn’t want to foster dependency. He might also fear that we may resort not to ask him to come on future outings but just provide a few words of encouragement as a less troublesome substitute which can simply be uploaded to Ed’s Echo Chamber blog. What he did provide however were a few pointers.  Now you may start to notice a smattering of strange words being used, which I would like to deny all responsibility for before we go any further…..

Ed suggested that the words I use be accompanied by a glass of fizz to celebrate the fact that Julie's extended expedition celebrates her 40th year. It’s actually her 50^th looming apparently, but Ed wanted me to say 40^th so I feel duty bound to ‘he-who-is-missing’, to comply.

Ed says it's not clear why Julie only declared her hand so late in the year.  Perhaps, he said, she wanted to have the finishing post in sight before she went public. Ed would also like to know if she ever sorted out a top beginning with 'J'? Apparently, at one point Julie was planning an outing that took in tops that all started with the letters of her name and 'J' fell into the 'too difficult' category.”

At this point the TF confirmed that although not easy, she had managed to construct a JULIE challenge. 

“Ed did ask that I send his congratulations. He says he would have loved to be here to offer his congratulations in person, but he had a pre-booked church appointment. This is so strange it must be true, and to be fair, I have never known Ed to tell a porky.

I am also instructed to ask whether she is arranging her 40th party, or does she want it to be a surprise?! Apparently now that Julie’s Wainwright gig economy-type challenge is complete we may be moving into the ‘cuffing season’.

Now you will I am sure have noticed the strange words. This again was at the behest of our missing wordsmith. He sent me a cutting from his favourite and oft quoted rag ‘the Daily Mail’ which lists the hot new words for 2017. (Google the definitions if you are so inclined). The new word I want to finish with is Corbynmania which Ed says Chris may like, but Ed wishes it noted that his spell-checker tells him it is not a real word.”

TLoB added his own few words in commendation of the TF, and then it was a pleasant and surprisingly easy descent which included some spectacular zigzags then followed before all too soon our day was done.

Hearty congratulations to the TF. Doing the Wainwrights is hard and requires commitment and good planning, both of which attributes the TF has in abundance. All so thanks are due to TLoB who enlivened the outing with many an entertaining story, which were all prefaced with ‘To cut a long story short…’   We would have needed to take in a few more summits to have had time for the unedited versions. And a special thank you to TF from TLoB for the pleasure of joining her on three outings and 14 summits this year.  Botters was just delighted to be let out of the house, but had little concept of where he was or what he was doing.

Although this article will appear as having been written by me, it is in fact a joint effort by both Botters and myself. I leave it to you dear reader to decide who wrote which bits.

The Tooth Fairy's Big Day

Many congratulations to the TF on her magnificent achievement of completing all 214 Wainwrights. . SB and I had the honour of accompanying her last Sunday when she knocked off the last four and a full report will appear here soon.

Last 4 Wainwrights

The forecast for Sunday is not good, so I've decided to cancel the trip to claim my last 4 Wainwrights this weekend.

I intend to complete by the end of the year, so if we enter a period of settled weather which means I can give sufficient notice for an alternative date, then I'll post on the blog. Otherwise I may have to take a very short notice decision to take advantage of any reasonable weather.

TF

Completing My Wainwrights

I have 4 final summits to tick off for my first completion.

EtU and TLoB expressed an interest in seeing me safely round these. They've been keen participants over the last couple of months on some of my other trips and felt a 'group' outing should be attempted to celebrate the occasion.

The last 4 summits are Dodd, Ullock Pike, Long Side and Carl Side.

We have provisionally suggested a date of Sunday 22nd October. Meeting in Keswick. Start time between 9-10am.

If you're interested to come along and join in then put the date in your diary. Lift-sharing and other details will be firmed up nearer the time. Given the exposed nature of the ridge we will be a little weather dependent but will see how things go.

TF

Quarterly do - Equinox

I know that EtU is unavailable until well into October but the Equinox does fall around Sept 22nd. As my better half has taken the evening off from Guide Dogs we shall be going out to celebrate a non-signifiant birthday on Friday 22nd. We are happy to go the the Black Horse at Limbrick. If any others would like to join us, it will be wonderful. If the numbers need us to book some tables, we can do so. We could go somewhere else but have always enjoyed the Black Horse. I'll also email as the blog is not as frequently used as once upon a time.
BTW, is anyone, else apart from TM and I, taking part in the Red Rose 50 this coming Saturday?

Another day in the Lakes

The TF has almost finished her Wainwrights and following last month's very successful outing to the Far Eastern fells, she decided to arrange another trip. There were two options, four peaks in the Northern fells if the weather was good, or six in the Western fells if it wasn't.
The forecast was dire and the whole trip was in doubt until late Monday when it was decided to risk the Western option and so I picked EtU up at our Jn 36 rendezvous, and we met up with the TF in Keswick about an hour later. Last month we travelled by boat to the start of our run, this time it was by bus, which I would highly recommend; scenic and relaxing.
We arrived in Buttermere and set off round Crummock Water in "that rain what gets you wet." Conditions underfoot were no better and within half a mile we had all given up trying to avoid the wet sections as we were already soaked. A long and slightly tedious slog up to Floutern Pass ( which can only be described as a morass) was followed by an enjoyable climb to Hen Comb, our first summit. We then had to find our way in very poor visibility to Gavel Fell and were temporarily confused by a small hill called Floutern Cap, but the TF is an excellent navigator and she soon had us on the right path to Gavel Fell, Blake Fell and Burnbank Fell. The weather had improved by this stage but we had fallen behind schedule due to the weather and the conditions underfoot, and a decision was taken to abandon the last two peaks (Fellbarrow and Low Fell) and head for the Kirkstile Inn instead.
A much needed cup of tea and a warm by an open fire revived our spirits and we jogged the last 1.5 miles to catch the bus back to Keswick. The TF is now down to 4 Wainwrights left to climb, and EtU and I are looking forward to joining her when she completes them.
Watch this space.