Winter to Summer running in 2 weeks

Miles to date: 425
Races to date: 14


I have really enjoyed running through the winter. The cold, wind, rain and snow all make for an invigorating trot. As we've moved into spring and the rain has flooded down on us the landscapes have burst forth into flashes of vibrant greens, vivid yellow rape and gorse, deep purples and blues of the bells all contributing to fabulous views to take your mind elsewhere whilst pounding across the moors. 


Last weekend was the Calderdale Way Relay. Our club had managed, by some major feat of cajoling and encouragement, to put together 3 women's teams - a total of 36 women donning vests akin to the Italian flag to run 6 legs round the boundaries of Calderdale. Last minute changes to teams due to accident, injury, illness and buckets of others reasons meant the team Captains had all sorts of additional pressures to cope with. Bev and I had been and recced leg  one and so were fairly OK that we knew the route - especially as there would be a hundred or so other runners setting off at the same time so we wouldn't get lost on the way out of Stainland!! At the last minute Bev was changed to cover someone else's leg and Diane (who I would have run the Penine Bridleway Relay with had it not been cancelled due to the snow and ice) kindly agreed to step in to Bev's shoes and suffer the early start for leg one. 


With no time to recce the leg Diane was entirely reliant on me to not get her lost. Obviously this would not be a problem as I had the map, compass (which I do know how to use oddly enough) and very detailed route description. There is also the added advantage for those of us running at the back of the field of following the hundreds of fell and trail shoe stud marks leaving their distinctive tracks over the peat and mud. 


An 8am start and needing to register the team and us meant a 5am alarm call on a Sunday morning - not good! After a small amount of stress with the registration desk claiming to never having seen the Keighley team sheets, they were soon located under a clipboard, we had our numbers, a baton to hand over should we by some strange twist of fate and new discovery of winged feet manage to make the 1hour 45minute cut off and the commemorative pack of slate coasters to give to all our team mates (I still have some spare if anyone reading needs theirs!). 

Four of the six Keighley and Craven Women at the start

The start - 8am and off we go

Someone said go and off we set - fast - across the park and off, uphill, into the woods. I'm not sure anyone had told Diane that the first 2 or 3 miles were continuous uphill. With fantastic spirit and determination we plugged away, not quite last but slowly the gap before us stretched out and by Butterworth Old Lane (yes it really is called that in the land of my forefathers) we had lost sight of the other teams. Undeterred my navigational skills were holding good and we wended our way over hill and across field - a beautiful, clear and crisp morning, views across to Stoodley Pike and beyond. We passed the gate with no field and were soon turning right on to the moor and the last ascent before the long downhill to the changeover at Crag Vale. It was this right turn where my superb route finding senses had an aberration - trotting along I knew all was not right, the stud marks had gone and the farm we were approaching should be on our right but by some weird magic it was on our left - now how had it moved itself? Oopsadaisy I had managed to take us up a parallel track - right direction, wrong path! Rather than run back and then up the right track I thought it would be far quicker to divert across a field (OK Diane it was a bog not a field), over a locked gate, through an enclosed farmyard, over the gate at the other side, find the farmer, be very polite and apologetic, check location and set off reunited with the right path once again. We'd probably added an extra 1.5 miles and at least 20 minutes to our time, not to mention the claggy mud on our feet! 


Reaching the summit and knowing that it was all downhill in front of us was a fabulous feeling. We finally staggered in at 2:28:33 - the 33 seconds might have been recovered if the Keighley men's team had stopped to let us cross the road rather than drive past shouting encouragement!!! A great run with a lovely lady who I hope will forgive my unfortunate navigational issues and run with me again!!! The happy ending (for us) came when we had walked up to the car about half a mile away and were getting changed when two Bingley runners came down the road towards us asking where the finish was - we weren't last and we weren't the only ones to get lost! 


Hutton Roof Crags - 7miles, 1300ft - BM 
Over the last week we seem to have moved from Winter, or at least a very cold and wet spring type season, to mid-Summer and Mediterranean style hot sunshine. I do love the sun - it makes people happy and smiley - but the prospect of setting off in 25c heat on to open moorland with little or no shade wasn't on my list of ten things I really want to achieve in life. However, Saturday arrived and dumped by my family who were all off doing other (more interesting) stuff, I set off alone to Hutton Roof in North Yorkshire, bag of running kit in the boot, sunglasses on, CD on - wonderful. Even better when I get there to find for the first time Keighley and Craven women outnumbering the men 6 to 2! 

It was also good to see a Fell Pony turning out - I'd have someone I knew at the back trotting along with me! As we all assembled at the start sharing news of injuries and illness to get the excuses for being slow out of the way (compulsory behaviour at the back of every start line) it was blindingly obvious that this wasn't going to be easy. Not even a wisp of cloud in sight the sun was glorious - for sunbathing or swimming. 

Off we set and I felt great. Out and up the first ascent a narrow path meant the pace slowed helping me to find my breathing and not be tempted to push too hard or fast. I was going well and as the land levelled my only concern was whether I'd put enough sun cream on to avoid the lobster effect. Going well didn't last long as a really painful stitch slowed me to a walk, hands on my head and trying to breath through it. Loads of runners passed me and I realised how far up the field I had managed to be - a first for me! Then a friendly voice of concern and advice came along side. It's always good to have a friend behind you who's prepared to use you as an excuse to walk!! As we were walking along a Wharfedale runner suddenly dropped to his knees beside us - checking he was OK, he said he just came over a bit dizzy, I gave him a squirt of my juice and a trusty jelly baby and he was off again! My stitch persisted a bit longer. Off we went again, nice and steady until the scree slope unfolded infront of us. Up we went and I was just about OK, except for the inevitable roasted chicken feeling as the heat belted out. I must have passed 6 or 7 people going up only for them to pass me as soon as we levelled out at the top! 

We ran out across the fell with limestone boulders and rocks strewing the path. It felt as if we were on the roof of the world, with no protection from that blazing orb, hotter and hotter and hotter. The last 3 miles or so were pure torture. Having had the kindness of Steve walking with me I then had the audacity to leave him behind (I did apologise afterwards) and so found myself in that familiar place of running alone. With no one around to pace myself against I lapsed into a run a bit walk a bit slog. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get myself into a rhythm. Eventually the final descent to the finish and I spied the kite flying above the village gala - nearly there. Staggering to the end I was pipped by another Fell Pony out on his virgin fell run - cheeky monkey I shall have revenge! My Keighley team mates were all back and lolling around in melting heaps - good to see so many friendly and encouraging faces at the finish - thanks all. 

Running in the sun - wouldn't recommend it!! I'm off to Burnley this evening to relieve the lovely Tim Moon of some of his gear - he's walking and busking the 150 miles from Blackpool to Filey raising money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance! Day two done, only 7 to go, give him a cheer and some pennies if you happen to see him on the way. 

I'll run later this evening when that blazing golden orb has subsided a little. Next weekend we have a club attempt at the Billy Bland Relay on the Bob Graham Round  - Camille, Lorna and I having the pleasure of the last leg with no pressure to make sure we bring the team home in less than the required 24hours!!! 

An extra challenge has been added to my 1000 miles! Simon seems to think that 40 fell races in my 40th year i.e. this year, would be a good thing to do! 14 done, 26 to go. 

Thanks to everyone who has given such great and supportive feedback to me - I'm just about on track but could do with a few more in the bank so need to try and up my mileage a bit! Just in case you've forgotten the just giving page is here - http://www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles - and has a few less hits than my blog!!!