Reflection, memories and Snowdon

Miles to date: 615 
Races to date: 28


A little look back at where I've come from over the last year: 


3rd July 2011 - my first 'run' which was really more of  a walk / run / walk / run 
23rd July 2011 - the first time I managed to run to Oxenhope and back along the Goit (river path) - 3 miles (ish) - and running all the way rather than run / walk / run / walk 
17th September 2011 - 5km Roundhay Park Run in memory of the wonderfully lovely Sue Corrigan
21st July 2012 - Snowdon Mountain Race, 10 miles and 3500foot in 2hours and 17 minutes

Eddie Applegate, previously Daniel  Butterworth
Photo taken on the day of his death - 28th July 2007
Loved and missed by many

Part of what's driving me to do this is the memory of my brother - Daniel or Eddie depending when you knew him - who tragically died from an Asthma attack at a friends wedding on the 28th July 2007. He was 39, (the same age I am now) and is deeply missed by so many who loved him. 


So as I write this blog I'm in a very reflective, and emotional place which may not be the best to write from so I'll apologise in advance.  But this might give you a little insight into what's driving me - if I can really push myself beyond anything I thought I might achieve then perhaps I might persuade, encourage or inspire a few others to make a donation (click here) and (probably more importantly) achieve what you aspire to - for me it's become running on the fells, for you it will be something else. I've had some amazing comments that make me blush and keep me going but I'm not special - everyone can be what they want if they believe in themselves (oh .. and are prepared to put in the effort, feel the pain, the fear and then do it anyway) and have the confidence to believe in themselves. 


Enough of the self indulgent emotion and back to what this blog is meant to be about - running!

Heptonstall Festival Race was a wonderful, low key, proper fell race organised as part of the Heptonstall Festival. 7 miles that set off on a steep descent to the bottom of Hardcastle Crags and then almost immediately up steeply to Pecket Well and on up to High Knoll, trig on top of Wadsworth moor, before looping round and descending down into the valley bottom and a killer steep ascent back up to Heptonstall village. Wow what a route! The sun came out after the floods and torrential downpours the day before - Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd in the valley had found themselves underwater with rivers running through houses on the hillside. 


I loved it! The descent at the start was hilarious and made me realise just how much I need to practice my downhill. Skating through leaf mulch and peat, knee deep in places, down a 1 in 2 hill left me laughing so much as pretty much everyone slipped past me including Caren who skipped away and disappeared into the distance! 


Undeterred I grunted up the ascent to Pecket Well, gained a few places, and had Caren in sight as we ran out onto the moor. Running over the bogs and ditches I passed a couple of blokes tip toeing round as I splashed through loving the mud! Having reached the trig it's all downhill back into Hardcastle Crags and off I went, really stretching out but I couldn't get enough to make up the distance I needed to catch the Crabtree woman! After the ridiculous ascent back up through the woods the finish gently dips through a field with a single strip of mown grass through. A great little race that I'd love to go back to next year. 


Walking back to the car, downhill, I had a real pain through my left knee. It was really quite sore and uncomfortable. When we got home Blue needed a walk so I thought that a gentle walk around the moor with Blue, calling for his girlfriend Storr on the way, would help loosen it up. All good as we walked uphill on to the moor - bit sore but felt like it was loosening off. Across the top and then down and the pain was awful, almost unbearable. We reached the road and I had to phone home to ask if someone could come and get Blue as I couldn't quite manage to hold him and limp down the road. 


Sunday I spent on my backside, knee strapped up with ice and heat regularly applied. A neighbour lent me a pair of crutches and an appointment with a sports physio made for Monday. The upside was that I watched Andy Murray play the Wimbledon Final and thoroughly enjoyed it! The diagnosis on Monday - my Iliotibial Band was tight and the likely cause of my knee pain. I didn't know I had an 'ITB' but I do now! Some massage, ultrasound, acupuncture. A week of rest, ice, compression and elevation and then gradual use and I was fairly sure that Snowdon might still be on the cards. 


The next week I had a couple of very tentative 6 to 7 mile runs whilst I was in London - good and flat - which felt ok and so, after the nod from Becca the physio, we set off for Snowdon. 


I've walked up Snowdon on almost every walkers path on every side - 20 plus years ago! It was hard walking then and I was about to try and run it. We arrived and found Keighley and Craven friends, pitched our tents and I realised just how nervous I was. 

Saturday morning and the sun was shining, a clear and beautiful view of the highest mountain in Wales and the second highest in the UK opened up before me as I crawled out of my tent! The race didn't set off until 2pm. A largish group raising money for MacMillan Cancer Support were camped next to us and they were keen to be away by 8:30am to walk up and down (an inspiring bunch who had also convinced NPower to match pound for pound their fundraising) - I tried to not be too grumpy as I crawled out blinking into the sunshine. 


We wandered around in Llanberis all morning, bits of retail therapy, breakfast at Petes Eats, tootled along to register, picked up our numbers to discover they had our names on! 
I'll use this space here and now to publicly apologise for all my wittering and twittering before we set off - thanks J-P, Katie, Joe, Steve, Si and everyone else who put up with me. I spent ages talking myself out of it and then rationalising that I'd run harder - I was still in that space when the Welsh / English count down began and then we were off. 


Snowdon Mountain Race - 10 miles and 3500 foot of ascent started with a fast run out of Llanberis along the road, turning right along a tarmac track which started steeply up before turning on to the mountain path and continuing up and up and up and up. The path is shale and rocky so the need to concentrate on where your feet land is paramount. As I grunted slowly upwards I was increasingly worrying about running back down. My knee was fine until there was any descent involved, at which point excruciating pain would shoot through my knee making it buckle. And descending on the rocky and unstable path would test it, and my technical ability to maintain focus, to the limit. As I continued grunting slowly upwards I forced my myself to look up and out, realising the enormity of where I was an what I was doing. I passed the MacMillan walkers, on their way back down, I shouted cheers of encouragement to them as I toiled past breathing heavily. 


About two thirds of the way up and the leading international runners started to pound down towards me - they are truly awe inspiring and amazing athletes who fly over the hardest terrain - the winner had finished (65 minutes) before I reached the summit (87 minutes). I realised as they started to pass me that I was actually going to make it to the summit and by the time I got there, running up and round the trig point summit marker, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Almost completely overwhelmed with what I had done and why I had done it, I lost about 20 places whilst pulling myself back together but that didn't matter. What mattered was that I had made it - I had set myself a target to reach the summit in 90 minutes and honestly didn't think I would manage it. I knocked 3 minutes off. 
Running down was a mixture of absolute pain shooting through my knee and sheer joy and exhilaration. Only the very steep sections really hurt and I developed a lopsided gait to keep as much weight off my left leg as possible. The final steep section of tarmacked track was a killer but as it levelled out on to the flat road back into Llanberis the pain went and I ran down the road with people clapping and cheering around me - having your name on your race number does mean that everybody knows your name which is a good place to be! As I reached the end of the Mountain path and started down the tarmacked track I passed the MacMillan walkers again who were just finishing their walk. Loads of personal amazing stories of achievement amongst them. 


Arriving at the finish and spotting Rosie and Si was just brilliant. I crossed the line totally overwhelmed with emotion. The St John's Ambulance man was simply lovely, as soon as he realised I was medically ok he gave me a great big hug. A bottle of water and a momento slate coaster put into my hands and my boy appeared to greet his totally over emotional mother. 2 hours 17 minutes, 467th overall, 70th female and 33rd female under 40. I think I'm quite happy with that.  

We had a few Keighley and Craven hoops out for this wonderful mountain race but only two women - next year I think we should have a few more to join in a fabulous weekend and experience. 


When I started attempting to run a year ago I couldn't contemplate being able to run 3 miles. Now I'm really looking forward to Borrowdale - 17 miles and 7500 foot of ascent. I might not make the cut off but I'll give it a damn good try and enjoy it regardless. 

Floods, Storms and Real Relay

Miles to date: 580 
Races to date: 25


Midsummer Madness - a series of three races over three days organised by Calder Valley Fell Runners. I had every intention of doing all three but found myself on Friday in a pathetically exhausted state, feeling ridiculously tired. Having attempted to work from home I abandoned that and gave in to PJs and sleep. This was also the day that the skies opened and the rain came down. We're used to rain in Yorkshire but this was completely unprecedented. Looking out of our window to see the river running down the hill and the rain relentlessly pounding down, I pulled the blanket over my head and went back to sleep! Later that night a twitter post of the flood sirens that sounded in Hebden Bridge and pictures of the streets turned in to rivers - a truly terrible night. The Wicken Hill Whizz set off and ran as planned - I'm not sure I would have wanted to be on the fells to hear the flood sirens shout out their eerie warning. 


Saturday morning and the sky had cleared. The roads on the way over to Reservoir Bogs were covered in debris brought down from the hills, tarmac lifted by gorged drains and bubbling springs. This race was a navigation one - you get the map at the start, there are no route markers and you can go anyway you want as long as you make it to all 7 checkpoints. Lorna, Dick and I were the only KCAC vests there. Lorna and I had the luxury of a 30 minute advance start along with four others and Linda the lovely sweeper who's job it was to make sure we all got back safely without getting too lost and needing a rescue mission! 


I was expecting bum deep bogs and water given the amount of rain that had come down in the preceding 24 hours but surprisingly they were the usual knee deep! This was a really great race - not least as for a short while, when the fast boys caught up with us at about CP 3 we ran with the front pack, an experience I'll probably never have again! The navigation practice was really important for my impending Borrowdale torture and we did OK - some route choices gained us ground and others lost us some but we didn't get lost and finished respectably! 


Sunday was short and fast - Timothy Taylors Tom Tittiman - uphill all the way out and downhill all the way back. As we set off I could feel the day before in my legs and knew there was no way I was going to keep up! With my usual mission to not be last it took more determination than normal to keep my legs going. A few more Keighley vests for this one (Karen and Simon) resulted in us taking 2nd Ladies team - a first for me to be part of a winning team and the congratulations have to go to Karen and Lorna who got us the points, I just made up the numbers! 


Cragg Vale Fell Race is on our Club Championships this year so it would have been a shame to miss it. The problem being it was on a Wednesday night - I am usually found on the 18:03 from Kings Cross to Leeds on a Wednesday evening so this required some special planning!  Setting off home on the 15:05 train from Kings Cross just so I can get to a fell race was a unique experience! 


I am so glad I made the effort - 8 Keighley Ladies and 7 Keighley Men suffered the midges to run up and out over some amazing country, heading up to Stoodley Pike but turning to run through immensely boggy plantation and across deeply muddy fields. Caren in her Wharfedale vest was both in front of me urging me on or behind me goading me to chase down others in front - she did a brilliant job and it ended as the fastest fell race I've done to date - cheers mate, I'll get you next time! 


Thursday and I had booked a flexi day off work to scare myself running round a (not quite) recce of the Borrowdale race route. All week the weather had been glorious. We arrive in the Lakes and it's looking OK. We reach the top of Bessyboot - the first summit in the 17 mile 7000foot route - and the rain started. We set off over Rosthwaite Fell and the clag came down. The low cloud and rain combined meant that we had no way of seeing where we were or where we needed to go. Compasses out and bearings set to try and head us in the right direction. A few more miles, possibly in the right direction and the clag lifted for about a minute, just long enough to orientate ourselves to have Scafell in the right place and spy the path heading to Allen Crags. Then the thunder and lightening started. I don't think any of us were smitten with the idea of being struck by lightening as the highest things bimbling around across the open moorland. So we set off down to find the valley path to take us back to Seathwaite and then on to the road back to Rosthwaite. I have never been so wet! Caren and Kirsty were superb in their map work and Mark did well to cope with the pace!!! Thanks guys it was an experience!


The Real Relay is an exciting attempt to follow the entire route of the official Olympic Torch around the British Isles in one continuous non-stop journey, running every step of the way.  Starting out from Land’s End at midnight on Monday 28 May, ten days behind the official Olympic Torch. The Real Relay involves hundreds of runners from across the British Isles running through the day and night on an 8000 mile mission to reach London in time for the Olympic Games opening ceremony.  Two members of Keighley and Craven Athletic Club were successful in getting the Bradford to Keighley (Camille) and Keighley to Skipton (Brett) legs of this fantastic relay attempt. The baton has already been up Snowdon, Ben Nevis, Scafell, the Yorkshire 3 Peaks being passed from runner to runner, day and night, all through volunteer effort and social networking. 


We arrived in Bradford on a cool but sunny Sunday morning - Centenary Square being prepared for a Sky Ride - and lurked about a bit wondering what time the Todmorden Harriers runners would arrive. Blue was a bit nervous as this would be the first time he had run in Keighley colours and it was a long way all on tarmac! Storr, his girlfriend, had also come along to offer him some canine support but (being a bit of a wuss) wasn't able to run the distance so would be supporting from the Landrover! 

Todmorden Harriers handover to KCAC 

The Tod runners arrived well ahead of schedule so a bit of panicked jumper stripping and a few photos and we were on our way. The idea of 10+ miles on tarmac, at a pace I don't usually manage for more than about 5 miles was very daunting. I was very glad I'd done a short loosening run on Saturday and felt unusually good as we set off. Pounding along the pavements  out of Bradford, along to Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Riddlesden and then a final pull on to Keighley passed very quickly. 
From Crossflatts We were accompanied by Debbie and Neville, dressed in Keighley and Craven cycle shirts they provided a marvellous outrider service - thanks guys! The last two miles really hurt but knowing we were very nearly there I determined to keep going - with the exception of a fast (and much needed) loo stop in Bingley we had run every step, no walking and no slowing, very different to my usual fell runs where the hills provide the rest from the pace. 

Arriving in Town Hall Square 

Arriving in Keighley Town Hall Square was fantastic - loads of red and green vests and cycling shirts - brilliant support from lots of club members gave us a real welcome back. Camille handed the baton to Brett and, a few photos later, the next leg set off to wend its way to Skipton.   

Camille hands over to Brett 

Big hugs and pats on the back and we all went our separate ways. Mine was to head for Skipton to see them finish the next leg and hand over to Ilkley Harriers. Blue was desperate for a drink so we detoured to the canal where he could have a paddle to soothe sore paws and a well deserved drink. Rehydrated and bathed paws Blue came back to life - he was very proud of himself and wanted to tell everyone in Skipton about his big run! We hung around Skipton Town Hall for a while - the main street was closed for the Sheep day, a folk band sang out some tunes, country dancers clogged and the sheep on the wagon danced - I kid you not they really did! 

KCAC handover to Ilkley Harriers 

Finally Brett and his entourage appeared and the Town Cryer rang his bell in celebration. Another photo call and Ilkley took the baton to take it o'er hill and Dale to Menston, Ilkley and Leeds, seen on their way by the ring of bells.  This really was the most fantastic and wonderful event to be a part of - a true celebration of Olympic spirit. 

Skipton Town Cryer 

So. What next? The 21st July is the Snowdon Mountain Race followed by Borrowdale on 4th August so I intend to take it steady, as many Borrowdale recces as I can manage, and continue to clock up some miles - would be good to have more in stock than the current 80! 




This has been an epic fortnight with so many new experiences and adventures. I'm now officially half way through, 80 miles ahead of target but the fundraising is sadly lacking. There have been some wonderfully philanthropic donations - Steve Foster you star man - we will meet one day! If anyone else reading this can find a few pennies to donate to this cause I'd like to think I can manage a £1 a mile by the end of the year! If you can my team page is www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles

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

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!!! 

Illness to Lakeland Wonders

Miles to date - 375 
Weeks of feeling poorly and sorry for self - 2 
Races missed since last blog - 1
Races run since last blog - 2

Bunny run madness
The wonderful Dave and Eileen organise a series of runs around Easter time every year - the Bunny Runs, short, sharp and great fun - have a look at their website - WoodenTops - to find out all about them. Many years ago in a previous attempt to run (lasted a few months and then the fags came back) I had a go at one of these. It snowed, I froze and mostly hated it! This year there was only one I could manage as Tuesday nights tend to find me down in London. My boy and the Husband always try and do all of them. At 3 miles and 300ft they are really too short and fast for me but in for a penny in for a pound. This time I completely loved it! I know the route and the moor well so was happy to try and push myself a bit more than I would usually and managed finish in 29 minutes. Very happy with myself. 



So, I felt I was running really strongly (for me), feeling great, had upped the weekly mileage to around 30 or so miles and then the lurgy struck. I got home from the usual two days in London and went to bed on the Wednesday night. Got up on Friday. Felt shocking. I really can't remember feeling that poorly in a long time. This was of course the days running up to the Anniversary Waltz which I have bleated on and on about running I was very excited having been up there the week before and seen the sheer beauty and scale. Needless to say, in spite of naive bravery on the Friday night - stocking up on medication, getting all my kit sorted and convincing myself I would be fine with sleep, ibuprofen, paramol and some sinus relief - I woke with tonsils like razor covered golf balls and a temperature a roast chicken would be proud of. A few tears shed, duvet on the sofa and the day was spent watching the London Marathon and dozing away. 


This spell of poorliness has meant I've had nearly two weeks with no running. Awful. Hated it. Managed to convince myself that I'd never get out and run again. Very tentatively I stepped out on the following Sunday for an attempt round Blue's moor loops (Blue had been very patient during this self pity period but was starting to look at me as if I were his gaoler). Still snotty and coughing it felt absolutely fantastic to be out again. I followed this up on Monday in London managing 5.6miles in 47minutes - a PB for me as my fastest ever run! Perhaps a couple of weeks being a wuss had a refreshing effect on me? 

Coniston Fell Race - 9 miles, 4000ft climb (AM)
Having missed out on the Anniversary Waltz I was even keener to have a go at Coniston. I'd bought the map from Pete Bland at the Three Peaks Race, the Husband ran that in 4hours 27minutes with an attentive support crew providing pork pies and other fuel at the checkpoints - maybe next year for me? The Coniston race route looked amazing and I knew Caren was planning on doing it so I was hopeful I'd have someone to follow who knew the route and give me the confidence that she does manage to instil in me! 


After many text exchanges it became a reality that Caren wasn't running it! Neither it seemed was anyone else I knew. However, not to be deterred, we set off. A beautiful day, no rain, sun shining, sharp snap of cold to the air, we arrive in Coniston and I looked up. I've never really looked at Lakeland Mountains other than as a walker. I'd happily set off with a rucksac and boots and spend the day walking up anything. Lakeland Mountains are enormous and here was I contemplating 'running' up them in shorts and trainers. What a ridiculous idea! Over the two hours I had leading up to the start I talked myself in and out of doing it at least a dozen times. I was more scared than I think I can imagine. Oddly it was the sight of a fell ponies purple running vest that gave me the final push to be on the start line. At least I knew one other person who would be toiling away at the back! 

If you zoom in I'm about 7th from the back!

Off we set, uphill, to run uphill and then a bit more uphill. This picture was only half a mile from the start and the uphill continued for quite some more miles. Actually the majority of the miles were uphill, interspersed with some shortish downhills and a single stretch of 'runnable' flat! 











Once I got into a groove the uphill grind became quite hypnotic. The pain and burn in my legs, my lungs constantly at bursting point but the rhythm and beat of maintaining a steady pace, not stopping, head down, arse up, I really dug in! Checkpoint one at Wetherlam finally appeared (thanks marshalls for being there, so positive and encouraging) and the land levelled a little before another ascent up to Swirl How. I was feeling great. I'd passed a few people and not lost sight of the back man in front of me. At Swirl How I was pointed in the right direction, encouraged hugely by two friends from Todmorden who were out supporting the race and enjoying the fells - thanks Cath and friend you gave me a massive boost. From Swirl How the route runs over to Brim Fell then curves left up the final pull to Coniston Old Man.   


I was seriously enjoying myself, pacing along, the scenery was totally awe inspiring. I could see for miles and miles across the most incredible landscape this country (the world?) has on offer. I'd dropped down and started another ascent. When the third walker asked me if there was a race on I stopped to ask if he'd not seen the other 400 runners passing him. When he replied in the negative the penny dropped that I'd managed to go a little bit wrong. Out came the map, for the first time, and we worked out that I was looking at Goats Water not Low Water. 


Obviously I wouldn't want to labour a point but, just to avoid confusion I though it worth annotating a copy of the Pete Bland race map I had thoughtfully purchased in advance of the race to show my detour. Personally I think the race overall might benefit from a route variation option (jk). I also think that the box marked 'optional route' could cause confusion for those runners who actually take the map out of their bum bag before losing lots of height and starting an additional ascent. On the bright side, the view of Goats Water was stunning and I gave a few walkers some additional entertainment they would otherwise have missed. Thanks for the picture of Dow Crag from SportSunday - a nice reminder of my detour! 

Simply to show height gained and lost with my additions!

Once I got myself back on track, back down Dow Crag and up Coniston Old Man I was very definitely last. All the work I'd put in to stay ahead and keep going was lost. Rather strangely, I felt completely fine about it! I was having such an amazing time my only concern was that I hadn't unduly worried the Marshals at CP3. When I finally arrived at the top I was warmly greeted, given a bottle of water and completely reassured. They were wonderful. Obviously getting lost / going the wrong way was entirely my own daft fault - lesson very well learned for the future - but they were all completely brilliant. So I'm now last and still have to run off down the last few miles to the finish. My bonus ball for the race was the huge privilege of being offered the company of the sweepers for the descent. Not only had I been an ass, worried everyone and made them stand around waiting but I was then rewarded for my error by having the company of two mountain goats - Mike and Hazel what fantastic people you really are - to run off with. The map marks the 'safe' race line and an alternative for those who know the fell. Off we went across a route I would never have dreamt of running on my own. It was completely brilliant. Half way down we spotted the back runner! Thanks to Mike and Hazel's pace and their intimate knowledge of the land I found myself overtaking the back two runners to arrive at the finish completely exhausted and exhilarated. I think I was about 2hours 50minutes. Without my detour I think I would have been 2:25ish - I'll see when the results are posted! 


I have no words left to describe how this race made me feel. I'll be back in the Lakes again soon! 


A final word on sponsors - an enormous thank you to Adrian not only for the very generous donation but also for the huge support and kind words.