Past halfway - June is a busy month!

Miles to date: 535 miles - past the halfway mark! 
Races Completed: 22 races 


I might have done a few things of note since my last blog but I thought I'd start by linking to Neil Churchill's Asthma UK Blog - where he highlights a British Medical Association report that 21% of Team GB at the 2004 Olympics had asthma, compared to 8% of the general population. I think that's an amazing statistic and one that shows how with commitment and drive people can overcome huge adversity. Neil also talks about my running challenge so I hope that it generates some interest, debate and donations! Asthma UK do such a lot of fantastic work helping people to manage their asthma and live full and active lives - have a look at their website, there's loads of amazing and inspirational stories of people who have overcome adversity and learned how to cope with their asthma as best as they can. 


Hebden Fell Race - organised by Todmorden Harriers this 10km/350m BS race takes a steep route up to Stoodley Pike and across Erringden Moor. On a clear evening the views would be amazing. Shame that as 51 of us huddled around at the start on a wet and windy June evening we wouldn't be getting any of those! I do seem to have become quite converted to running - even admitting to enjoying trogging up hill, through bogs on windswept and wild nights! Attempting to run across sodden moorland where your feet disappear until you're arse deep in peat bog is really quite funny. If you haven't tried it I do recommend giving it a go although it plays havoc with your toenails! 


Wadsworth Boundary Walk - this was to be my longest challenge so far to see just how much further I have to go in my training to be able to have a hope of running the Yorkshireman Off Road Marathon in September. At an advertised 21 miles (my Sports Tracker said 22) this boundary walk takes in the hills and fells that sit around Hebden Bridge. Organised by the Hebden Rotary Club it's friendly and welcoming mass of helpers and volunteers made the whole event a real pleasure. There was no set start time and only a few (fools) who set out to run it. I loved just setting off with Simon and trotting along, with no pressure of a race, able to take in the views and scenery that we are so privileged to live in. There's a little slide show here that shows the route, a bit of local history and the stunning landscapes.  

Lumb hole waterfall 

I was hugely apprehensive - the furthest I've ever run is 13 miles so this was a real test to see if I had any chance. Knowing there was the option of transport back from each of the 3 checkpoints helped as I knew I was perfectly capable of each leg and could build confidence as I got further round. It was as I set off on the last leg, all downhill or flat, that I was filled with the most enormous sense of achievement, I felt great, my legs were good, breathing steady, the weather was perfect and I was still running! Running past Gibson Mill where my children, nieces, sister-in-law, brother-out-law and Mother-in-law all lounging around having lunch I was given a delicious glass of lemonade by my wonderful daughter! Simon had a quick loo stop but I carried on concious that we were so close, only a few miles left of an undulating riverside path, and the under 5 hours target was well within my grasp. We finished in 4:45 which, given the amount of uphill ascent across the moors, I think is a very respectable time! Bring on the Yorkshireman! 


Not content with one race each weekend last weekend had three that I quite fancied having a go at! Buckden Pike - a little AS 6km/486m and it promised to be hard - all uphill and starts with a death-defying river crossing over a fast flowing, glass bottomed river followed by a vertical ascent up a slippy grassy bank. 
A small and hardy band of just less than 100 runners gathered at the village gala. This type of race, as with Hebden, attracts the more hardcore end of the running community - they're fast, tough and resilient with the back runners tending to be the v70 / v75's. Very few runners of my ability (or lack of) seem to want to go through the shame and humiliation of being in the back 5 where you're often the youngest by at least 30 years. But by not giving them a go it you miss the humour, support and camaraderie that the back runners bring together. 

We set off in the rain, tentatively navigated the river crossing (it wasn't so bad Camille!) and started the pull up the almost vertical grassy hill. Just when I thought we were at the top another stretch of hill would unfold ahead of me. As it levelled out toward the top the moors became a large stretch of deep bog, sinking up to my arse again I did begin to question my sanity. A fast descent around the contour of the fell before arriving back at the top of the unfeasibly steep hill we had climbed on the way out. Wet, slippy and almost vertical grass - yes the inevitable happened in perfect view of the spectators with cameras - cheers Dave!!!  Overtaken on the downhill by two sure footed mountain goats - a V70 and V75 who I had slogged away to stay ahead of all the way round nimbly trotted past me as I skidded down on my bum. Their experience and ability to cope with such severe routes is awesome. Stepping carefully on tired legs back across the river the final trot back to the Gala field included a little hop over a wall - nice finish!! 

Photo's courtesy of the great Dave and Eileen 

We finished Buckden and set straight off to Cononley - another little Gala race - AS 5km/292m - not as hard as Buckden but still with a significant amount of ascent! 31 of us set off, jumping over a wall at the end of the gala field and straight up the hill. I hadn't realised that walls without stiles were a common feature but obviously I'm going to have to learn how to jump over then with a little more style than I achieved today! As we started to climb I realised just how tired my legs were - perhaps 2 races in one afternoon was a little ambitious. On I slogged, hands on knees, trying to maintain some pace and rhythm. We reached the top and the route runs out and down in a loop before, to my dismay, climbing back up to the top and then descending fast to the finish. I kept moving but had no pace left and finished last - the young man who had been behind me gave up halfway round!! 


Saturday night I was a bit tired. We were meant to be celebrating a friends birthday but by the time I had got home, tried to relax my muscles with a red hot bath and fed the family all I wanted to do was go to bed! 


Sunday came around, a lovely sunny day and Sutton Pinnacles was the days challenge. This was to be a family outing with the Boy and Husband donning vests and runners and the Girl adopting chief photographer role. Not to be left out, Blue was to run with me! As we'd be at the back and he'd be on a lead, Camille kindly agreed it would be OK. I had previously recced the route with some of the women from the club - a few weeks ago we'd had a lovely evening out trotting up to the Hitching Stone and navigating fields of cows. This race has been rescued from the history books and Camille has done an amazing job of organising it. A 6 mile loop out above Sutton-in-Craven that takes in historic monuments and the obligatory bogs! 


As we set off my legs felt remarkably sprightly - often running on sore legs helps to loosen them off and as we ran up the gently ascending hill I was feeling really good. Running with Blue is always a different experience and it's very easy for those around to have a view that you're being towed along and therefore being given unfair advantage. My only response to this view is to offer him on loan for anyone to run with at any time. He takes his own route, stops to pee and sniff, often diverts his course to more interesting things - sheep, cows for example. He always takes the four legged route which usually includes running through or jumping in every puddle, bog, stream etc... 

Photograph: (C) Mike Green 

We reached the top of the moor past the Hitching Stone and the kindly marshal was diverting hardy runners over a barbed wire fence and straight down the drop on the other side. Not really an option with a 6 stone dog so we carried on to the gate and went down the usual route - sadly I lost at least 5 places but then it was my choice to take Blue!! A couple of navigational issues and I'd lost yet more time but did get safely through the cow field and into Sutton Clough for a fast race to the finish as I let Blue off his lead for a little leap into the river and run around before we reached the finish back at the pub.
A fantastic little race and a great turn out from our club too. The Boy did great - just managing to hold Caren off him by a second! Next time she'll have you Boy! The Girl managed to take some fabulous pictures too! 

(C) Rosie Farrar

A great race Camille - thanks for organising and for the beer at the end, makes it all worthwhile!


Not content with three races in two days - Caren suggested St Ives Trail race on Tuesday evening. As I was, unusually, not in London it seemed churlish to not give it a go! Standing around at the start amidst a sea of Ilkley and Bingley vests it was good to have a couple of Keighley women - Lorna and Stef - to natter with. Just before we set off a lone Fell Pony appeared at the back of the assembled throng! Trying to sneak extra races in to his count without letting me have prior notice! 

Finished! Stef, Lorna and Livi (C) Dave Woodhead

(C) Dave Woodhead

Off we set on a fast loop around the St Ives estate - it felt a long 5 miles (more like 6 in my view) my legs took at least 3 miles to get moving - they were stiff and leaden from flogging up hills all weekend! The finish was a welcome sight but even more welcome were the results - my fastest race to date - it doesn't feel like it but I am making slow and steady improvement. 

June is proving to be a busy month - 8 races so far and 106 miles. I'm hoping to do the Midsummer Madness series this weekend - Friday night, Saturday and Sunday but I have a few tweaks and pains that might stop me. The rain has started again - great Summer weather! 


Please don't forget that what's pushing me to run the miles and write this is to raise funds for Manorlands and Asthma UK. I have to say an enormous thank you to the lovely Farah, who is having her own battle with her asthma and working so hard to get fitter, for her generous donation - thank you so much x  
I also really appreciate the positive feedback I've had from a few folk - especially the Bingley Lady who registered me at St Ives - you gave me a massive boost, thank you x

The Billy Bland Challenge

Miles to date - 457
Races to date - 16 

The Billy Bland Challenge


For the more well adjusted of you who read my blog I'll perhaps explain a little bit about the challenge that our club undertook last weekend. 

"The Bob Graham Round is a circuit of 42 fells in the English Lake District, including the 3,000 foot (910m) peaks of Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Scafell and Scafell Pike. The round is named after Bob Graham (1889–1966), a Keswick guest-house owner, who in 1932 set the record for the number of Lakeland fells traversed in 24 hours which he held for twenty eight years until its repeat, with Graham's encouragement, by Alan Heaton in a quicker time in 1960." (Wikipedia)

In 1982 Billy Bland smashed the time for the round and to this day his 13 hours and 53 minute record remains unrivalled.  


In 2010 Dallam runners set up the 'Billy Bland Challenge' for teams to attempt to beat Billy's record time. To date no team has managed to get even close - the record being held by Macclesfield Harriers 14 hours and 24 minutes. 


At 7pm, Friday 1st June 2012, our first leg runners set off on their 12.5 mile leg with a mere 5150foot of ascent ahead of them as they trotted up Skiddaw, Great Calver and Blencathra before dropping into Threlkeld to hand over the baton just after 11pm . By all accounts they had a crystal clear evening with only a little clag descending on them as they summitted Blencathra. 

Ali G and Shane setting off from Moot Hall in Keswisk 

Leg 2 - Threlkeld to Dunmail and Leg 3 - Dunmail to Wasdale ran like clock work (I won't mention the reported minor navigational 'issues' on leg 2 that led to a short 30 minute delay on the scheduled time!). I can make no comment as I was safely tucked up in a very warm and comfortable bed!  


Leg 4 set off ahead of schedule and so - many texts and phone calls later -  we prepared to be over at Honister Pass for 1:00pm ready to run the last leg back to the Moot Hall. 

The baton handover - a stop watch

Camille and I had been up and recced the route a few weeks previously and so were confident about the route and what it had in store for us. For Diane and Lorna this was to be their first experience of Lakeland running. Tizz is really just super woman in disguise with many, many races in her running history. However, as Stuart and Dave appeared at Honister, Tizz was no where to be seen. 


We took possession of the stop watch baton and stored it safely away in my bum bag and a white van screeched into the car park entrance. Out jumps Tizz, bags and clothes flying every where as she dug out some running kit. Concious that we didn't want to lose any of the hard run precious minutes gained by Stuart and Dave we set off without her. 

The start of the leg goes straight up from Honister Pass to Dalehead summit - a long continuous and steep ascent. Sure enough after about 15 minutes Tizz came trotting past me, having caught us up she made the summit well ahead of us all! 


At the start of every run I do the little gremlins in my head set about picking away at my confidence, niggling and questioning my ability. This one was worse as I knew I was by far the weakest link - running with women who've done marathons, who clock county standard times in cross countries and pace at least 2 or 3 mph faster than me felt an enormously daunting prospect that hit me about halfway up the first ascent - I've only been running 11 months, what on earth made me think I could run with these women?!  Not least as I know the final 4 miles is on tarmac where their pace will increase and mine will gradually dwindle to a walk as my legs protest and lungs explode, unable to maintain any pace or speed at all. I beat the gremlins into quiet submission and continued up. A new found vigour and determination filled me as we set off from Dalehead and I bounced over the uneven ground and set off down the rocky path and over to Hindscarth. I can run downhill at least! 


From Hindscarth over to Robinson the path countours round the side of the fell before the last steep ascent up to the summit. The day was perfect - blue sky, gentle breeze and views across a picture perfect chocolate box scene. 

The final ascent done, all is downhill from the summit of Robinson. As I knew from our recce there is one section of the descent that is rocky and exposed. As a group of runners we all had very different abilities and experiences. My gremlins about my own lack of speed were banished as I talked Diane down the hardest section. If you're not expecting it, and have no previous climbing experience to fall back on, finding yourself climbing down a mountain where the land falls away into a steep sided valley hundreds of feet directly below you is a truly knee trembling experience. We slowly and calmly inched our way down, seeking out foot holds and hands gripping rock until the land levelled out and we could stand back to see just what we had conquered. Massive well done Diane! 

Tizz, Diane and me descending Robinson - thanks for the picture memory Camille! 

On the steps with J-P - team Cap'n

The rest of the leg was very straight forward. A very steep but grassy descent down to a level track to Newlands Church and then tarmac all the way back to Keswick. The gremlins came back as I lumbered away at the back, clock watching and willing my legs to work and carry me back in under 3 hours! 


Tizz was a marvel as she trotted ahead and then circled back to push me forward - as Camille said, it was a bit like having a bouncy springer spaniel to keep us all together!  The last mile or so my legs completely bonked. I had lost all rhythm and my breathing was all over the place. It really took everything I had to pick up the pace and run the last few hundred metres into the town centre, through the busy market place and up to Moot Hall door. 2 hours and 48 minutes - we'd done it!  

TEAM RESULT!

LEG 1 Threlkeld 12.5 miles – 5150ft ascent - Ali G, Shane Beaumont 4 hours 3 minutes
LEG 2 Dunmail 13.2 miles – 5900ft ascent - Brett Weeden, Tim Whitehead, Fraser Hardie, Dick Ballantine, Paul Smithson 5 hours 5 mins
LEG 3 Wasdale 15.2 miles – 6500ft ascent - John-Paul Hopkinson, Ste Brock 4 hours 48 minutes
LEG 4 Honister 10 miles – 6300ft ascent - Dave Evans, Stuart Walton 3 hours 54 mins
LEG 5 Moot Hall 10.6 miles – 2500ft ascent - Livi Farrar, Tizz Woffenden, Di Macdonald, Camille Askins, Lorna Hubbard 2 hours 48 mins

Overall Time 20 hours 38 minutes.

Much celebratory drinking was done that night in Keswick, recounts of our individual experiences and plans for next year made. I had a fantastic weekend and experienced a brilliant team effort for which I need to give massive credit to Camille, Lorna, Diane and Tizz for being wonderful women to run with and to J-P for herding the cats required to make this weekend happen. 

Courtesy of David Brett

With slightly tired legs I had a day off on Sunday but - as our holiday plans had changed - found myself at Ilkley Trail Race on Monday! 7 or so miles around the woodland, fields and moors above Ilkley - all the ascent on the way out and all the descent on the way back made for a fast and furious race! Having gone on my own - the family having better things to do - it was wonderful to race to the finish and see a small posse of red and green hoops cheering me in. At 71minutes 40seconds it was a massive personal best and I really enjoyed the whole race - thanks Ilkley Harriers, you have the best marshals! 


This Thursday and it's a little 10km race over at Hebden Bridge and Sunday - The Wadsworth Parish Boundary Walk - at 21miles it's a test to see how much more I need to do before the Yorkshireman Off Road Marathon in September. 


Big thanks to Lorna for sponsoring me donating to both Asthma UK and Sue Ryder keeping the fundraising totally equal! A little reminder as I approach the halfway point in my challenge that the Just-Giving page is here - www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles