So we started. There was lots of banter at the start about which was easiest, the West or East route. People were saying the West route (mine) was slightly shorter, but hillier, and that the East route was slightly longer but flatter. You can't swap once you're there, so it didn't make any difference, and ground conditions proved to be a major factor this time. We set off together for about 1/3 of a mile, then the West route branched left down a frozen footpath next to a stream. Fabulous long downhill, but you couldn't run it as I found out when I crashed down onto my left hip... at least the pain was even now. So we hugged the edges and tried to stomp through flaky snow to avoid the sheet ice. This was NOT fun!
After the first checkpoint we got onto roads and it was a relief to be able to run fairly safely. Some runners in front took a wrong turn, but I was following a pair of ladies who had recce'd the course, so I stuck in sight of them. We soon took a long pull up a 33% hill, so I was power-walking my way up. I was so busy looking on my map for the right turn into a bridleway, that I totally missed the self-clip checkpoint and had to go back! How infuriating. This also meant that I lost the people I was keeping in sight too. Anyway, the route was pretty straight forward through the wood, but incredibly icy. I fell again (twice) both times onto my knees. I nearly fell about 50 times. At the end of the bridleway the route was ambiguous, and I was cold and not looking at my map properly. I finally decided which way to go when a runner came up behind me and reassured me I WAS going the right way. I am so annoyed at myself... I needed to trust what I knew was right!
So I ran on into Glaisedale. Unfortunately Glaisdale is up hill. And I mean UP and HILL in a big way. A long pull up, leaning at 45 degrees to keep going. I went past 'The Willy House' which was a little cottage, and this provided my only amusement for the next couple of hours. From here I hit a checkpoint at the start of Glaisedale Rigg. Despite the fact they had Custard Creams, I couldn't eat!! Now, I have had problems eating during runs, but over the last year I have managed to get over it and feed myself pretty much every hour on a variety of gels, sportsbeans, biscuits, crisps and cake.... basically whatever my body will take.... but I couldn't force this biscuit down for anything. So I strode on with a gel and hoped it would get me through. I was feeling pretty nauseous and couldn't stomach anything. I hoped I wasn't nursing a head injury from fall number 1.
Glaisedale Rigg was, to put it bluntly, horrid. I'd opted for just my running vest and Pertex Montane H2O Light jacket, and quite frankly, I was freezing. The track was wide, but the wind blew hard (and very very cold) from the right to begin with, then straight into my face. I could just about make out runners in front, but even they were struggling and I managed to gain some ground....slowly. The wide track was covered in a foot of snow which had then iced over - absolutely treacherous. I was all over the place and couldn't make any headway from a running point of view - just marching as best I could.
At the next checkpoint I still couldn't manage any food, but forced some wine gums down me. I was panicking now cos I knew I needed to be eating, but the nausea just wouldn't subside. The track off Glaisedale was bridleway which looks incredibly easy to navigate when looking at the map. Unfortunately, within a 100 yds of the start of the bridleway it suddenly became un-navigable moorland. Not a track in sight. I headed towards the house I had seen on the map, and almost ended up going down a waterfall....the quick way! I tracked back up to the ridge and saw a runner in the distance. I decided to wait for her and hope that she knew where the track was supposed to be. Luckily she had run this before and knew we were looking for a gate in a wall.... which we found. I ran down the wall edge towards the road, managing to clock up another fall on the way. Mud.... dirtier, but softer than snow and ice. Bliss.
Next was a road section that I tried to run as best I could, but it was pretty hilly. I ran the downs and had to slow up looking for another turn onto a bridleway. I found it and it went vertically up. Joy. So I clawed my way up this hill (we were cutting off the loop of the bridleway) and then started looking for the track. Again, almost impossible. We spent about 5 mins heather-bashing trying to find the path. Eventually we got it, but it was a foot deep in snow and covered in ice (familiar?). So.... we heather-bashed all the way to the gate (which was so iced we had to clamber over it rather than open it).
The way was more open now, but still impossible to do more than trudge down. We were looking for a self-clip at Wintergill, but couldn't find it where it was supposed to be according to the Grid Reference given. We must have wasted 5 mins or more looking for it before continuing on the path. Luckily we then came across it, and shouted back to the other runners who were also looking puzzled trying to find it. Looking at the map we now had a long section of moorland road. Great - will be able to run and make up some time!
Or not..... the road was sheet ice, so again we were limited to shuffling along the edges of the road and heather-bashing to gain some ground. I was feeling pretty poorly by this stage, and knew I had to try to force some food down me. I couldn't face anything sweet, so I gave plain crisps a go. It took me the next 30 mins to eat half a pack, and each mouthful made me feel worse. I abandoned them in favour of yet more water. We reached the checkpoint then headed off across the moor in the general direction of a large forest. Some of this was runnable (yay) and downhill (even more yay) but every so often a bit of ice would catch me out and I fell again. I was getting pretty fed up of this snow and ice. At one point I put my foot on the snow and I went up to my knees and into a stream. Great. My feet had been cold and wet and my trainers full of ice lumps all day, but that doesn't mean to say that this wasn't one footstep too far!
Loads ahead of us were searching (in the wrong area) for the gate into the woods. The lady I was with knew were the gate was, so we went off on our own in the right direction. Woodland track would be great for running on....right? Wrong. More snow covered the tracks and again it had partly defrosted and iced over. Treacherous again. SO we accepted that the next couple of miles would be a painful trudge. We made our way up the hill and found runners filing in from our left - the ones that had been a good twenty mins ahead of us, but who had got lost getting into the forest. Everyone seemed pretty drained and demoralised. There was no running from anyone, but I managed to pass 10 or more people power-marching up. We then ran down a muddy stream (soaked!) to arrive in Stape where we were to meet our partners.
Rich had arrived about 25mins before me and was waiting and I was pleased to see him. I grabbed a sugary cup of tea and we set off walking up the hill. I couldn't eat (still) but managed to nibble round the edge of ginger biscuit. Rich had eaten all the way round and had managed to keep a steady pace (first time running a distance like that on his own). He'd been lucky enough to stay in sight of people all round, so he hadn't had the navigation nightmares that I had had, although the moorland track conditions were the same. My legs felt amazing, nothing hurt (apart from my bumps and bruises) and my energy levels were good despite the lack of food. Rich's calves were starting to ache a bit, but otherwise we were ok.
We made our way along forest tracks, talking all the while about our experiences so far. We went through a freezing wet, snow bound wood, visited a checkpoint, then went towards the final moorland of the day. Having crossed a river over an overflowing footbridge we were faced with 3-4 miles of ice/snow track and heather-bashing. The wind was up and was cold. After about half an hour of soul-destroying trudge, we stopped and put our thermal fleece layers on (part of the essential kit we had to carry). It felt better just being a bit warmer. Running keeps you warm, but as were we forced into trudge along an exposed moor, clothing was essential. We eventually (and I mean 'eventually') got to the final beacon and check point at Two Howes. Not long to go. I had just had my 8th and final fall on the ice here, which brought tears and a "I'm really just about fed up of this snow now", when we picked up the track back down and the warming sight of Goathland Village.
Spirits picked up again and we ran all down the hill and along the final mile of road into the Village Hall. Rich was struggling with his ankle and his calf, but he limped in. We completed the 28 miles in 7 hours 40 minutes and must've been about mid-field. Some had pulled out cos of the weather conditions and there had been at least one broken shoulder and one broken ankle that we heard of. Others were being bussed back from Stape. Everyone reckoned that you needed to add about 1.5-2 hours this year for the snow.... and I think they're right. Still, at least we were in during the daylight. We both felt good. I was pleased with the state of my legs (muscle-wise) and my fitness, and certainly feel more confident for the 90 in two weeks time!
Bruising on my knee... and you can just about make out the bruising on the shin too!
We had our meal (I knew I had to try to eat something) and whilst Rich ploughed into his pie, potatoes and peas, I managed to pick away at my quiche and potatoes. At least I'd had something. I couldn't get warm though, and despite two jumpers and two coats I was shivering like nobody's business. Some of the oldies helping out made comments in the region of 'Parkinson's Disease' and being far too young for it. We picked up our badges (really nice ones!) and certificates and walked the half mile back to the car. I drove the 2hrs 15 mins home then walked the dogs. I lie... in fact I RAN the dogs. My legs felt amazing so I ran round with them. Rich was starting to stiffen up, so he stayed home and unpacked the bags. Once home I stripped all the muddy stuff into the wash and jumped straight into a hot bath. Bliss! Muddy feet, but no blisters, sore spots or anything else. My right knee is bruised, my left knee is bruised and lumpy (in two places) and I have a lovely long bruise right across my left shin. Right hip has a big red mark and left hip has a bruise and some scratches from the ice. Joy of joys!
I managed a bit of tea, but not much, then went to bed about 9.30. We were so tired. Unfortunately I woke up with toothache (ongoing) at 2am, and eventually got up for tablets at 3am....which made me nauseous, resulting in my coming downstairs for a piece of toast. Rather than disturb Rich I decided to stay on the sofa and put some TV on. I watched some telly, but must have dozed off for an hour or so. Managed a bit of brekkie, but still not feeling great. On the plus side though, my legs feel amazing! Slept in my recovery tights and they were great on the dog walk this morning - even going up the stairs over the motorway bridge.
So - rest from running this week (Achilles sore again, but not as bad as last time) then will get out and do a bit of canal running next weekend. Don't want to do too much now before the 90!!
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| Great badge.....kinda sums it up! |
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