Last of the 2014 challenges: what to do during the Christmas holidays?

End of 2014 - Quick update

Between the GYRR in August and my last challenge in December there were - as planned for my charity challenge - another 3 marathon-or-longer runs these went roughly like this:

• September - High Peak 40 - 40.9m, near 5000ft asc, 7hrs10mins on foot. So far more hills than any of my long GYRR days and nice to have a change from the slog as this was mostly run or fast territory jog (even on many of the uphills, which were a cracking gradient to still be able to run, especially road ones). I've been retraining myself to try and pick up some road-speed for Yorkshire Marathon in October. Quite happy with that time for HP40, but it really beasted my quads so training the week after was mostly a non-event.
• October - Yorkshire Marathon - First 26.2m on road for a year-and-a-half. Reasonably big (3000+) entry charity marathon starting and finishing in York. But with wide enough roads early so you can get straight into your running. In its 2nd year, but well organised and really well supported. A reminder that its tough running that far on a road at a pace that's a minute/mile under any marathon+ off-roader I've done. But unlike in the remote trail runs where you feast in the serenity and quiet of your surroundings I found the support, cheering, music, comedy banners all helped to push me along. Also happy to have run a good race, speeding up each ten miles and having a real kick in my last 6 where I was running almost like a 10k-race. Good PB, close to 3hrs15mins.
• November December - Hardmoors 26.2:Roseberry Topping - I'd planned to run the Hardmoors 26.2: Goathland marathon in November, but family illness made me a last minute DNS. I then had to cancel a planned 50m run in the Yorkshire Wolds later in the month due to workload. So I signed up for the Roseberry Topping marathon. Name is partially misleading as its 26.2 'hardmoors miles' which can mean anything, in this case 29.55 miles (and a not insignificant 5600ft asc). As name more accurately suggests though it tackles the very distinctive, almost cone-shaped steep hill in the North York Moors. BUT... not just the once, twice from two different sides and then there is still the best part of another 20m left to go with lots more hills and high moorlands into a bitter cold wind on the day. I overcooked my start and I think I was on the verge of a cold - hit me later in day - so the second half was a case of just getting around.

7am - and one set of tire-tracks on the road, only I've been here today

I wonder if anybody else did anything like this December 30th?

Although I'd not run an event in November due to circumstance I could still claim to have run 12 longer than marathon length runs as planned (or 14 if the long days of GYRR are taken into individual account). But the idea of a long run in the Wolds in winter had captured my imagination since my abandoned attempt to do a 50m route in late November. And a great opportunity came up between Christmas and new year on a weekday when I was on leave from work, but Clare was working and the nursery was open and it was one of Isaac's scheduled nursery days.

But what to do? The 50 mile idea had been a point-to-point which was made practical as I'd have been running with a friend. But this was last minute and I'd be alone so a loop was the order of the day. So I picked out somewhere in the Wolds I could park my car all day long and worked out a route from their which incorporated some of my favourite paths, and some I'd never run before..... and of course, being my route and in the Wolds, this also meant lot of challenging - if small - hills.

So I was out of the door early to make the most of the very short day. I drove out of Hull and into an increasingly frost-whitened landscape before parking up at the very rural car park for the Medieval Village of Wharram Percy. After last minute gear adjustments I set out with a full 12-litre pack that hopefully had all the contents to cover all my day long needs for clothing, food and drink. It was 0754 and just getting light prior to sunrise.

Kit check

Due to the expected freezing temperatures at the start and not changing much the whole day I was wearing (when I started):

• Head: half-thermal/half-cotton "buff"-type thing double-layered to make warm hat.
• Upper: Odlo baselayer, Montane windproof jacket, Marmot convertible mitts.
• Lower: Cotton underwear, Adidas Trail hybrid tights.
• Feet: Drymax thick trail socks, Roclite 295's.

Some of this gear was barely or untested as I've had no weather cold enough and run long enough to need it since buying earlier in the year. The half thermal buff was a cheapo brand market-stall thing, I hoped I'd find out today whether it was useful as a versatile alternative on cold days to carrying a hat and buff. Could the hybrid tights - only bought as heavily discounted in sale - be a better cold weather option than my 'go to' ron hill leggings for long days? They had seemed ok when used for first time recently on a shorter run.

Of the known kit. I'd recommend the marmot convertible mitts to anyone for runs at around freezing or colder and long runs as they keep your hands toasty well below freezing when mitt ends on and all you need do is pull ends back to regain finger use when needed. Drymax socks are also great for day long adventures on varied terrain, I don't do anything wild enough to need more protection or full-waterproofing. The Odlo baselayer works great, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend had it not developed the recent habit - after a few years irregular use/washing - of riding up. I figured today would be cold enough that this wouldn't be a problem as it would remain tucked in to leggings.

As well as this kit I had in the pack the following essential, useful and "just in case" items:

• spare base-layer;
• waterproof jacket
• water resistant over-trousers
• thinner gloves (pearl izumi ones with pull over mitt flap - earlier version of these)
• buff
• spare socks? (I can't remember if I did or not)
• Portable charger
• small medical pack (incl. painkillers and anti-inflamattories)
• Food: Chia charge flapjack, chia charge trail mix, 9-bar, eat natural bar: dark choc, banana, small pack haribo, savoury slice
• Drink: 1-litre water, 600ml Chia Charge drink

Wharram and Settrington loop

Bassett Brow

I headed down the single-track road back towards the main road and then cut onto a track to take me to Wharram-le-Street. It was cold, freezing in fact, but the wind was low and I soon warmed up due to my warm layers of gear and heat being trapped against me by my pack (great in winter, not so in summer). The day promised much, a mostly white landscape tinted by frost and in some place a thin layer of snow. The light from a sun just above the horizon also bathed any un-whitened landscape in a calm and un-threatening orange-and-brown coloured light, which I think would have made the day of any landscape artists/photographers present at this place. If such artists were present I didn't see them, as usual in the Wolds I enjoyed not seeing many people and those I did see seemed to be equaling my enjoyment.

Through Wharram-le-Street I followed the road north-east to neighboring Duggleby. From where I turned north gradually climbing on the road upto Settrington Beacon - my first 'summit' at 653ft. Now I joined the Wolds Way route briefly through a plantation and then contoured down a hill brow to then leave the Wolds Way again on to paths that were new to me for a while. Along the bottom of the this typical Wolds dale I then followed the angled path back up to the top of Bassett Brow.

Looking back from atop Bassett Brow

Across a couple of fields and a minor road I then dropped into pretty Town Wold with its tree-lined dale sides wrapping around a small pond. Then back uphill and along a farm track (east-bound) out to the join the road down to Settrington.

I don't know that much about trees, but this is a rude one!

Then came my only real negative moment of the day as was half-distracted, taking out some sweets to eat running down the frosty, slippery road and realised my I was about to miss my left turn onto the track I needed - which was sooner than I expected. Not usually a problem, stop on the spot if needed and turn as I wasn't running fast. But on this slippery downslope hitting the brakes would mean a certain slip, so I tried to swing off the road without slowing much and nearly managed it. My feet only slipping as I hit the the change in surface at the track start, crashing me down on left knee and hand.

After turning the cold air blue just briefly I got back up and set onwards again to run off the bashed knee. I rounded a farm and slowed to a fast walk up interestingly named Fizgig Hill, which soon brought me back on to known paths on the Wolds Way south of Settrington Beacon running downhill alongside Settrington Wood. I was now southbound back to Wharram-le-Street, but first had another small steep dale to cross before running down Broad Balk to the village.

The North-west Wolds 

Winters cold shadow

Through the village I was close to my start/finish point, but I was way off finishing for the day having only covered about 13m in my first 2hrs40. My route now took me down the road to the old Wharram station house of the former Malton and Driffield Railway. I followed the former line route - now partially laid as a path - south until I turned off to run along the Wolds way again through the site of the former village of Wharram Percy. Passing through I saw as many people here as I'd see anywhere throughout the day - a group of 3 happy walkers.

Up the bank and onto the, always muddy and rough, path along the east and then south lip of Deep Dale. It made for nice pictures today with the shaded side of the dale in white and sunny side a subtle orangey-brown, but I never particularly enjoy running this dale. Probably due to aforementioned path and the fact from this direction it usually catches the full force of any wind present.

Following the Wolds way still I left the dale and headed south dipping in and out of Vessey Pasture Dale - having half of my "lunch" savoury slice on walk uphill - and then dropping down the path to the west side of Thixendale village. My first and closest of three visits near the village today and none would take me into it (Unless I needed to get warmed up on my next pass, in which case I'd see if the The Cross Keys was open). Instead I'd take a route from the village I'd not run before, the quiet winding road through Water Dale - with perhaps the best photo opportunities of the day.

Wharram Percy's medieval church

And at around the middle of the day this would be the first time I truly felt warm enough to swap the thermal buff-hat thing for a regular buff (which in some wind exposures still felt cool at times throughout the day) and the warm convertible mitts for thinner gloves. Apart from that the only other gear adjustments throughout the day were partial unzipping of the jacket at the warmer times.

Now with about 20m complete, as the road branched off to follow Birdsall Dale I followed the path to the end of the dale and hopped over the road into another Deep Dale. I followed the eastern edge path south passed Hanging Grimston. Some days I'd descend into and out of this steep sided dale for hill training as its as steep as Wolds dales get without going off-path. But today I had enough miles and hills planned to skip this tough detour guilt-free. Instead, from one of the highest points on todays route at around 760ft I descended down the gated Gatehowe Road quickly, yet quite tentatively after my earlier fall, to cross Salamanca beck at 230ft a mile later - about the biggest single non-stop hill I'd run all day and amongst the biggest in the Wolds.

This was just one hill in what is the hilliest region of the Wolds on my route, which meant this 20-30m section had nearly double the ascent and descent of any of the other 10m segments on route (with over 2000ft ascend, and nearly as much descent). So from Salamanca beck it was now a small climb and descent on minor roads to the hamlet of Uncelby (a large farm, which also appears to offer 'fancy weddings/receptions' with scattered smaller farms around the nearby hills).

Deep Dale (nr. Wharram Percy) in winter colours

The hills come thick and fast now, first 350ft of ascent in 0.7m up the Uncelby Hill road. Then back off-road across a field to soon steeply descent into Painsthorpe Dale (which I like to include in any tough run around here due to its challenging short climbs in and out), bother a few sheep before ascending out steeply to then descend 350ft in 0.8m down Painsthorpe lane and then into boggy fields. This then hits the track to Garrowby, turning south the front-loaded climb packs in 300ft in the first 0.5m and levels off towards the A166 (near the top of - 'infamous' on bad weather days - Garrowby Hill) back up at around 750ft.

Back to Thixendale... twice (but never quite there)

Thixendale from above

After crossing the busy road I went down the quiet lane on the other side which drops quite steeply south-westerly to Bishop Wilton, but I kept reasonably high up as I took a path (quite narrow and angled so one foot below other - not a nice one on muddy days) which heads southerly then joined an uphill path west which passes into a larger field not long before crossing a road. The path became a track across the road and I followed it as it turned south-easterly to drop down the wooded bank a few hundred feet, not-to-steeply into yet another Deep dale!. I doubled back a bit along the dale floor then proceeded into a branch off dale. I decided for some reason not to take the usual steep path up the side and walk along the brow to the road. Instead opting to follow the bottom of the dale as it rose steadily towards the road - but over bumpy, grassy earth and then through a thickly-branched small plantation - in future I'll keep to the mapped path here! I followed the road briefly north and topped out at the highest point on my route today - 774ft.

Following that road leads to the highest point in the county at a dizzying 807ft. But I was turning east on a track over some undulating fields to re-cross the A166 at the picnic site. I dipped down into Wayrham dale and followed the path along its churned up, muddy, bottom on through a plantation area that feels peaceful even by E.Y.Wolds standards. I followed this outlying tentacle of Thixendale roughly north-easterly as it merged with other dales to become Bradeham dale and then after Worm dale I left the Thixendale village-bound path and took the Wolds way path which angles up the dale wall and then turns east towards Fridaythorpe.

Thixendale

Back onto levellish ground atop the steep-sided dry dales I nevertheless didn't have it flat for long as I took a branch dale into Brubber dale before following the Wolds way angled path out of the dale. As I wasn't hurrying today, any path - like this one - conceivably steep enough to walk without being lazy I usually walked on and might take on food or water. On this occasion I noted my phone was seemingly 'running on fumes'. Modern technology can be great, but its a shame the battery can't last as long as I can on a long run when in a slightly remote, but not exactly wilderness, area. This gave me the chance to test out a Christmas present though. I plugged the phone into my Momax iPower Tough 2 and stuck it in the bag to charge. Supposedly a "Hardcore Portable Charger", should more than do the job for me then. And with two USB ports could be ideal for long future runs as could feasibly charge my garmin and phone fully simultaneously and still have plenty of juice left.

Over the top and I ran into Fridaythorpe - mid-point of the Wolds Way and the highest village in the Wolds - and after rounding the factory I was straight back out of town again, north-easterly, along Thixendale road. I followed the road as it dipped through Brubber dale again and then mostly walked up the hill. Near the top I turned off the road and followed a northerly track across wold-top farmers fields before passing 'paradise cottages' and descending to the road heading into Thixendale along one of its tentacles. The urge of The Cross Keys didn't become overbearing in the end and I had enough water, food and energy to complete the remaining 3m or so without issues so I pushed on. Also, I had a good "energy reload" opportunity tonight going out for brothers birthday to a Mexican restaurant so needed to be back in reasonable time for that.

Brilliant winter colours in Water Dale

I left the road just outside the village and ascended the bank of Court Dale. I passed a guy on top, sat there seemingly chilling out and enjoying a scenery stop just as much as everybody else I'd seen today. On a day that despite being mostly clear it never felt like the sun never provided light stronger than what you'd get in the hours around sunrise or sunset in most months, the light was now fading on me. But I should finish without needing a headtorch though. It was now along a series of winding tracks and field edge paths. Before I hit the road and turned north to the find the car park where I'd started my day.

40.8 miles done in 8hrs12mins on a really nice day. Almost felt too easy for a winter run, although had I ventured out without warm layers of kit on it could still have been pretty miserable even without strong wind and rain. Gear I used all worked well, enough food and drink to top myself up regularly without having to stop for more. And I really enjoyed lots of high calorie mexican food after this!!

Gear Appraisal

Updates on some of new gear used or hints on how used existing gear better:

• half-thermal/half-cotton "buff"-type thing - very warm, and more practical than a hat. 
• Odlo baselayer - I wore this tucked into leggings just at front most of the day which stopped the riding up and regulated temperature well (as not tucked in at back where more heat generated).
• Adidas Trail hybrid tights - I'm always dubious about brands from more of a road running background making gear for tougher trail conditions. But these were fitted but not uncomforatble and really warm, guess these could cope with quite a few degrees cooler and plenty of windchill.
• Portable charger - As mentioned before I used this in about last hour of run. By end it had taken battery from nearly empty to nearly full. A useful piece of kit what with having two USB connection points and a torch built in - will be great for day long or multi-day outings. I may buy a smaller, lighter device for use at times when I want to run faster as some aren't much bigger than a pen and manage about 1/3 of the capacity of this device.

April Challenge: The Woldsman - 50 miles

Part of Millington dale - the hilly section of route.

These challenges seem to be more often than once a month at the moment. Which means it seems like I'm either ramping up miles or tapering down at the minute, always with the nagging thought "have I done enough?". On the other hand after an almost non-starter in the Hardmoors 55 there was part of me eager to sink my teeth into a comparative challenge. The Woldsman is that challenge.

This event starts in nearby Driffield so a drive up in the morning was possible and if all went well I'd be back by early evening. Maybe this led to me having a more relaxed feel about the event than prior to Hardmoors. It is a simple format circuit, no drop-bags so quite easy to prepare for - what food isn't in my bag I'd have to get from the food checkpoints (which are usually pretty good in LDWA Challenges like this one).

This route also covers ground that I sometimes do in training so there would be the comfort of some familiar ground. Also as the route only rises to the dizzy heights of 775ft, so not as much bad weather potential as some events I do. And with no mandatory kit list I was able to pack fairly light, whilst still playing fairly safe (lots of runners with just small bumbags on this one, but I still used a 5 litre pack, fairly full).

I packed and prepared mostly the days and night before and went to bed quite relaxed. Sleeping quite well till up at 5am for breakfast. I didn't set off till nearly 7 for the 8am start. And arrived with plenty of time for registration, pee and a chat with a few friends doing this. Nice to chat with Mike Blamires at the start - preparing for another Grand Union Canal 145 (mile) race, Trev Misson - having a more leisurely walk around today, and Fred Clapham who I've run a few LDWA events and off-road runs with in the past - making a step up to 50 as a possible step up to a future LDWA 100.

The Off...

200 or so runners and walkers set-off at 8am and I was soon in the unusual position of running near to the front of pack.As things settled after 20 minutes or so a group of 6 formed that would stay together till quite a distance beyond CP1. The section to CP1 was quite flat, undulating at most, but we were gathering height slowly, yet the pace was fast at close to 8 min/miles. At CP1 (Danes' Graves), 6.75m, I grabbed some flapjack and a jaffa cake for my 'roughly hourly' feed. In the half hours between I planned to drink Chia Charge and have a bit of rich tea biscuit (not exciting, but hopefully would see my energy levels stay reasonably topped-up).

Some running wisdom was keeping the group entertained, mostly from veteran, but probably fastest ultra-runner here Neil Ridsdale. My favourite gem being on the subject of eating loads before the run, "If you stop burping or farting your in trouble". Colourful presentation, but sound advice I think. Towards the more Wolds-like dales we crossed the runway of former Cottam Airfield and passed the derelict chapel to run through our first dale bottom. The climb out of the dale soon after was the first with any real bite to it and one I'd forgotten about - enough so that I was in two minds whether to run or walk it. Go with the flow I guess? The rest kept on running so I fell in line. I wonder if anybody/everybody else was thinking the same?

The Hills begin

Ascending past Fairy dale

The group pushed on hard and started to seperate now towards Sledmere. But then all came together at CP2, about 2 hours running and 13.5m covered. A fantastic spread was laid out . Soon after the checkpoint after a sustained road and track run the pace was starting to tell on those who'd tried to hang on to what was near enough an 8 hour pace now - including me as I steadied off from the front few runners to run at my own comfort. As the land became more hilly, approaching twenty miles in, one of the front group was dropped and I  passed him on the downhill to Burdale house farm in one of the many tentacles of Thixendale. But no cruise along the dale bottom into the village for us yet, there was an almost immediate climb on a minor road onto Wharram Percy Wold (with great views of Fairy dale to our right).

Wharram Percy

At the car park for the Medieval village of Wharram Percy we had our CP3 - near 21m in - and I snacked on some cheese, pringles and sugary sweets. I couldn't say that this food didn't work - as I passed through the ruins of medieval Wharram Percy and struggled with the short climb onto the path running along the top of Deep dale - as I think I just needed to slow things down a bit. I needed the Thixendale indoor CP4 so I could stop, have a more substantial eat and recharge for a few minutes. There was only a few miles to go to there, but it did involve crossing a further dale and a pounding descent on stoney-path into the picturesque village.

Approaching Thixendale from above

Once there I took up the kind offer of the "pasta with spicy tomato sauce". I think I was the first runner to stop for hot food, walkers are far more likely to stop and feast, but most runners have a fine line how much and what they can stomach in run-jostled bellies. I then refilled my Chia Charge bottle for the second half whilst waiting - this CP was at about 25m. I enjoyed the pasta and filled up on some liquid I was probably lacking too. I then moved on down the road through the village and along the dale bottom road south. At this point I'd been going just under 4 hours.

Peaceful Wayrham dale

As the road became a grassy path sheep were my only companions for awhile, the runners ahead - 5 in all - had either left before I arrived at the last CP, some not long after and nobody else had arrived whilst I was there (for about 15minutes). Despite the flat dale bottom route and more food in my belly I was really struggling to get started again. My legs feeling very stiff so I was struggling to run for too long. I pushed on through dale bottom paths and as the ground became a bit rougher and more uphill towards the crossing of the A166 I figured maybe the pasta had given me some slow burn energy, but I needed a 'spark' too. I gobbled down a few shot blocks and managed a run walk on the rutted mud tracks through Wayrham dale upto the road. 

I crossed carefully and rejoined the route undulating through fields - walking up, running down, my energy gradually returning as I climbed to the high point of the route and a few hundred yards of tarmac on the roman road south from Garrowby. Then off the road and a few hundred yards picturesque dale top running before a fast grassy descent into (another) Deep dale. As I followed the dale bottom winding south with sun peaking over its steep grassy flanks, passed dotting's of forest and stream-fed-pond, my spirits picked up further. I was starting to run easier again and in a really beautiful surroundings, in perfect solitude at the moment too.

Leaving Great Givendale

I sustained this through a brief climb into Givendale and CP5 (31.5m) at the remote Scout Hut. I decided to treat myself to longer stops at CP in the second half so I could dig out my cup and keep better on top of hydration. It wasn't hot today, but I was running as hard as I thought I could sustain for this kind of long distance, it was also windy so I'd probably de-hydrated too much in the first half just relying on 500ml Chia Charge drink and water from my packs bladder (probably less than 500ml). After a drink, some flapjack and a quick chat and thanks to checkpoint volunteers I headed out again walking initially as I dug out of my bag my secret weapon, dark chocolate! 

The hilliest bit

Climbing out of Millington dale

I tucked into a third of the small bar and it was good and gave me an instant buzz as I tackled the initially hands-on-knees climb out of Givendale. Then over the top of the dale I hit the minor road descending to Millington. After a crossing through a pretty mini-woodland and stream at the dale-bottom it was straight up again on what might be the longest continuous climb of the day to the top of the dale and the turn north to track the dale. This is easily the hilliest section of the run and an area I quite often drive to to practice hill running as the ups and downs come thick and fast!

Sylvan dale

The first dale crossing is Sylvan Dale and the ascent, though short, is steep enough to have steps carved out of the hillside. At the top the route levels and then drops back down on  path winding through gauze into Nettle Dale, rising back out quite steeply immediately, before the path turns west and the climb becomes more subtle - but still at maximum of run/walk pace for my tired legs. The route the rejoins the dale as it turns west quite high above the dale bottom road now, following the 'Huggate Sheepwalk' on a narrow path that rises sufficiently at first to make this bit hard work. Thankfully the path hits a horizontal plain soon enough and the dale ends quite quickly and as I hit the road I'm at CP6 (36.5m).

Flat out...

Tough, stepped, climb out of Sylvan dale

As I leave the checkpoint I figure I've done quite a good "damage limitation" job on that last section. I've maintained near enough 5mph in a section where some bits have to be walked by all but a mountain goat. I can look forwards to faster miles from here on in as undulations give way to flats. First though the route rises over farmland before a steady descent to sweep north of Huggate on a minor road for a brief time. Then back off-road, into Cow dale - which is full of sheep most days I've been here. I talk to the sheep as they scatter off the path and then its time for a relatively fast sweep along the bottom of the dale.

There's a short, sharp climb out of the dale and a field crossing before following the road into Wetwang and soon the penultimate CP7 (42m) inside the comfort of the parish hall. Another fast section for this stage at about 6mph so I get my cup out to re-hydrate and grab a sandwich whilst I have a quick chat with the CP volunteers about "how its going?" "quite well a.t.m", "the weather effect today" "wind direction behind us for the last 5m has helped a lot. The opposite of two years ago when it made for a really hard finish!" and the marshalls walk of the route a few weeks previous where they'd finished at near midnight.

On leaving the CP a guy who'd been running ahead of me returns to the parish hall. A bad cramp or suchlike forcing him to retire agonisingly close to the end. The last 8m are probably the least interesting and challenging of the event, much of it on good track or hard surface. No bad thing at this stage when, as much as I've loved the event, I'm thinking of the finish. One last hill takes the route south before the route heads west again in the general direction of Driffield. 

A sheep in Cow Dale

My bag of tricks to keep my bod going is coming to an end now, I've got through most of my chocolate and shot bloks and I've got a very straight and dusty minor road to push on along. It also seems to magnify the heat of the bit of sun that is breaking though the clouds at about the warmest part of the day. The kind of road that taunts a tiring runner, "Your tired have a walk...... but I'm so flat and a good surface you should take advantage, you can't stop, keep pushing hard you slacker!" (if roads could talk). But soon the ongoing run on legs that have run most of 45m, forces me to stop and walk for a minute.

The final, CP8 (46m) is not much more than the garage of a remote house. I get my card clipped, grab a few sweets and push on. I've worked hard today and a massive personal PB on this course will be mine. And barring a disaster I should finish inside of 9 hours, which would make me pretty happy about my efforts.

I eventually hit the end of the long straight road and onto a short north-bound section of wide path chopped-up by off-road vehicles - so a bit of dancing around to find traction in places. Eastward turn past some suburb housing and then onto the A166 for a short distance. I take care crossing to the path as the cars seem to be super-fast along this stretch (or maybe time has slowed down for me?). Then into Little Driffield and down the main road, past the pub and to the crossing of the busy A614. I keep up a good effort trying for close to an 8:40 finish - though 6mph+ pace on flat isn't easy at this stage.

Back through a small parkland and its in to the showground for what seems an awful long slog over the grassy field towards the showground building. Its an epic event, but unlike the London Marathon no grandstand finish. The only people around are watching/playing in a couple of football - maybe rugby, not sure anymore.... - matches going on in another area of the field unaware of the irregular stream of people who'll be passing and completing this tough event. There's barely a sign of life at the finishing building until the door opens and I hear something like "here's another one" a few moments before I enter the building. I've been out for 51.1m and 8hrs41mins by my measure - 1hr54mins faster than my previous outing in 2012.

At the finish I check in, grab a quick tea and a soft drink and a few nibbles. I then sit down at the only used table in the currently pretty quiet room and talk to the 4 who've finished ahead of me - in times ranging from 7:59 to 8:20 - and a few of the organising team present.

Yes, this is perhaps the lowest of low-key finishes, but what more do you need, the experiance, and enjoyment of the course and the day are the prize. The achievement is your medal - although I do get my finishers certificate and, as its my local event, I pay £1 for my fabric Woldsman badge to wear on one of my backpacks in pride at future events. The aforementioned London marathon - running the next day - is mentioned, but in the context that this is much more fun. I enjoy my veg stew and sit around awhile to greet home a few more competitors and then take a steady short drive home, knowing that this has been a really good day and one I'll always remember as a "good run".

March Challenge.... It's a good job I did that extra long run!

Run plans update

Before I get down to detail I'll just update my concrete plans for 12-in-12 runs -

Jan - Hull to Bridlington - 27 miles - COMPLETED 25/01
Feb - Round Hull run - 43 miles - COMPLETED 23/02
Mar - Hardmoors 55 - 22/03 - 54 miles - update to follow.
Apr - The Woldsman - 12/04 - 50 miles
May - Centenary Way - probably 10/5 - 83 miles
Jun - 10 Peaks: The Lakes - 28/06 - 29 miles
....
Oct - The Yorkshire Marathon - 12/10 - 26.2 miles

I have plans for the other months, but not sure of the order I'll be tackling certain lone challenge runs or settled on which organised event in some months.

The picture above is from Helvellyn Lower man looking down towards Ullswater and capturing on the right some of vertigo-enducing "Swirral Edge" path over to the steep-sided Catstye Cam. A view I'll get part way around the '10 Peaks: The Lakes'

The Golden Fleece Circuit - 01/03/14

I was feeling quite good and felt I recovered quite quickly after the Round Hull - a nice steady pace helped I think. So I put a last minute entry in for this event, which I'd been reminded about and persuaded to run by somebody at my running club... who didn't end up doing it themselves... but no matter it's a run I'd be happy to do every year. So just 6 days after my 43 miler I toe'd the line for an additional long run I'd not planned on doing in March. It was also my first organised event run of the year and although an LDWA Challenge and not a race as such, I'd be competing with my previous time set for the route two years ago and my own target. A good weather forecast would help too - and I was in luck, no wind (great after last weekend) and sun breaking through the early mist late morning.

This being an LDWA challenge - and quite a popular one despite being only 3 years old - there was a mix of walkers and runners at the start. About a 50/50 split and I got there late so had to try and pass as many walkers as possible in the first few hundred yards on road before we were funneled into field edge paths. I caught up with a few club friends in the early section before I settled down into a steady pace that I hoped I could keep for the distance.

This event takes in an area of the East Yorkshire Wolds in a kind of loop from South Cave and is flat-to-undulating and often on road or good quality trail. So it would be a runnable, fast off-road event for me, which can be tougher than longer and slower ones if you pace it wrong! But I seemed to have plenty of go passing through Everthorpe village, along minor roads, into fields, skirting North cave and taking in the tree-lined driveway through Hotham Hall Park. I kept regularly topped up on food and drink, something about every half-hour and was aided in variety by the presence of Checkpoints (CP) on route, which are often a source of great home-baked treats in LDWA events!

Through Hotham and following a track north, west, north and onto field edge paths I was gradually catching and passing runners who'd started a bit quicker than me. The grayness of the mist gave the area a more isolated feel than up until now despite a few runners in front and behind me. Briefly into the woods and skipping along a sometimes boggy, but "not too bad today" track north before an eastward turn and a long track-cum-road to North Newbald.

At the CP leaving North Newbald the long and short (15 miles) routes separated and of the latest two runners I had nearly reeled in ahead one went each way. Still munching CP 'homemade' flapjack (yum) I made a quick march up the first real hill on route at 7.25m in. It was soon over and back down the other side of the hill, before a steady climb up through a Wolds dale to meet the Wolds Way route heading north near Sancton Wold. We were soon back off this Long distance footpath though and heading east along a puddle-strewn track towards Newbald lodge. The first promising signs of the sun's rays breaking through the mist could now be seen, but the air remained moist, still and cold so I was glad to be working quite hard.

The sun should always shine in Woo Dale

I exchanged places with a lady over the next field edge and then track section to Bishop Burton. I passed as she stopped to pick-up a glove, then was re-passed as I stopped to navigate. Following a CP, the mapped route then takes you on a non-marked route diagonally across a large field, which she took. I decided to take the more obvious and trodden field edge route around this field. Her way was marginally quicker, but she had to work harder and I passed as she stopped to eat.

I came into Bishop Burton and then it was an undulating mile-and-a-bit section south on road. I was alone again, but could make out some runners over a half mile ahead who I didn't think I'd pass any time soon. This felt like the point where I'd settled into my place in the field. The route then hopped over a field to Walkington and another CP and chance to munch. I could feel leg stiffening now, but not to the extent that I was slowing down. Undulating tracks now took the route passed Risby Park to edge Skidby and onto the long stretch along Eppleworth rd. This can seem quite hard when your tiring, but I'd been down this road/track in the other direction just last week towards the end of Round Hull, so today it didn't seem too prolonged by comparison.

Leaving the track I had to walk up the bank of the small hill as my tired legs struggled in the mud. The group of two ahead were at this point only a few hundred yards ahead and seemingly moving well, so if I could reel them in and not lose distance I could be positive I was still running strongly still. 

Across Riplingham rd and I grabbed a few sweets at the last manned CP with about 5 miles to go. Two years ago I'd been happy to run this route strongly in 4 hours 22 minutes, I now knew I'd beat that this year and aspiration-ally looked to break 4 hours. But I was already over 3 hours and with the hardest section of the route still to come I knew there'd be some slowing.

Mount Airey climb from Woo Dale

Turning west at 'Muddy Cross roads' I was now on familiar ground following the Wolds Way as it rose steadily to the top of Brantingham Wold and a steep descent down Spout Hill. I tried to push hard on this compacted trail and a road section and again as the path leveled out. On the tarmacked road section down the hill I pressed hard, but cautiously on tired legs. Then on the trail descent to the Brantingham dale road I pushed as hard as I dare without losing balance on the mud (with a barbed wire fence close to my left which the path cambered towards).

Back on road I had nearly caught two lads in front at the gate to climb the first of the two hills in the final 2.5m. I ran and then walked hard to go over the top into picturesque Woo Dale and marched hard up the larger second climb to top Mt Airey. I caught and strongly passed the two guys on the way up here as I was able to summon a run towards the top of the hill and knowing a downhill and a final fling on tarmac was to come. There's a great field path downhill from half-way up the drive to Mt Airey farm, but if anything it was too steep and slippy for me to take advantage on tired legs. 

I hit the road into south cave with just less than a mile to go - less than five minutes to four hours, so not possible to get inside, but I'd be close! No looking back just push and push on the tarmac to the finish nearer the other end of south cave. The sun was now out and the warmth of midday greeted us towards into the village. I tried to run down the next two guys in front, but they were strong and held distance, obviously experienced and pacing as well as I felt I had. I stepped into the hall stopping my watch on 4:01:53 for 27.65m, the fastest longer than marathon trail run I've ever done.

After a brief recovery sit down (who needs an ice bath?), and a bit of stew kindly provided by the organisers to all competitors, I had a quick change and drove back into South Cave to meet my dad, Clare and Isaac in the Fox and Coney pub. The sun shone down as I enjoyed a pint sat out front - a great way to top off a run :)

The Hardmoors 55 (what goes up...)

3 weeks after the Golden Fleece Circuit, less than 4 after Round Hull and I was at the start of the Hardmoors 55, with three more weeks running, not too little, not too much I had every reason to believe I could easily run the strongest Hardmoors 55 I'd ever run. This event was a step up on the runs I'd done so far this year, not just in distance - 54 miles - but also in terrain. With high, weather-exposed tracks in the highest areas  of the North York Moors moors a common feature along this route with 9000ft of ascent and descent along the way to boot.

I had history in this event too, I've run every staging since the first in 2010, seeing weather varying from 12 hours of freezing rain and wind, to sunny and calm and then snow drifts and really-freezing winds just last year. The weather this year just looked to be cold and with some rain, but I had every reason to believe I could beat my personal best on the route this year.... and beat it well.

But, it didn't quite work out that way. 

I felt somewhat less than perfect the afternoon of the day before as I got ready to go. I got a coffee for the 80min drive to Helmsley, which picked up my energy a bit. Once there I had a nice evening, a pint in a local pub with a few other runners and cooked a pizza back at the YHA I was staying in.

I struggled to get off to sleep and woke hours before the event and couldn't quite get back off. I had a dull headache, but not the type that a paracetamol helps with and felt hot. In the morning I got on with things in my pre-event ritual from 4.30am, dressed, final bag checks, two bowls of porridge and some fruit and then head for the bus to the start, which was picking up nearby.

On the bus I sat and chatted with my good friend Mark Dalton, about the event and what we'd been up to in the last few weeks since we ran round Hull together. It was a lovely start to the day as the bus crossed the sunny moors. At the start I got ready, got kit-checked, handed in drop bags and queued for the loo. After a long queue for the loo twice and not been able to go it seemed I was destined to start the run uncomfortable.

Off we went, 200 or so runners of various shape and size. With a time limit of 15 hours this event doesn't have walkers. The way training had been going I'd hoped for closer to 10 hours this year, which would beat a PB of just under 11 hours set the previous year on a slightly shortened, but snow covered course on an extremely cold North York Moors day.

But I just couldn't get comfortable, down the old train track path I passed a few people and I tried to run or fast walk the uphill towards Guisborough woods. Undulating through the woods I had a chat with a guy doing this run as warm-up for the Thames Towpath race (100 miles) in early May. This distracted me for a awhile, from feeling I was working too hard for the pace I should be able to run at this stage in this event. For the first hard climb, up Roseberry topping I felt flat. This is to an out-and-back CP on the top so I pushed downhill and then laboured onward to the next climb to the hill-top Captain Cooks monument. Most people around me were walking up here, but I felt I should have more zip and I couldn't get going on the downhill. My legs now feeling tired and lacking energy and when I tried to run I felt dizzy. At the bottom of the hill I could only run-walk on the flat road into the village of Kildale, I'd barely done 11 miles!

It was all over here, I tried to start up again running with Mark who'd caught up with me on the way to Kildale. But soon turned back again feeling dizzy and achey. I could have gone on further, but the Kildale indoor CP marks the last place for 20 miles where I could retire if needed and easily get back to Helmsley. As the next 20 miles were on high moorland, weather exposed and the most difficult hills of the route. CP only occured in the next section where the route crossed a moorland road.

Andy and Sarah of the organising team gave me a lift on to Osmotherley where the 31m indoor CP was being set up. I fell asleep in a chair once there. Waking up in time to see Jon, Shirley, Andy, Sarah and others in the RO team greet in the first few runners (exciting in a running geek way as these are pretty damn good, if unheard of, runners due to the low-key nature of trail running). From here I got a lift back to Helmsley with Jon and Shirley as they went ahead to open and setup the finish in Helmsley town hall. It was quite sad to arrive here and not see runners resting, rehydrating, eating and chilling after having finished this tough event. But a nice incite into the organisation side on the day, which I enjoyed and I was feeling a bit better so helped lift some supplies of food an drink in and put out chairs and tables.

That pretty much ends my up-and-down story of March, I managed a longer than marathon run as per my challenge, just not the one I thought it would be. Next up is the rather tough Woldsman 50, which is less than a week away as I write this. I'm hopefully fit and raring to go for this one, and the Hardmoors 55 this year was a one-off!

February Challenge: Round Hull - 43 miles

Hull??

Same weather, but another month has passed and come the end of February it was time for challenge two. And my quite well planned/recce’d Round Hull Run. It may seem odd that I’ll run an non-local event/race without seeing the course, yet want to know a lot about a route in my own back yard. But when you enter an event/race a certain amount of route marking or at least route checking/writing is done for you.  Plotting the route also revealed to me how little I know about off-road paths east of Hull – I’m pretty “au fait” West and getting there with north. And considering the length of the undertaking I didn’t want to make a poor route choice that would cause extra miles if the path on the map wasn’t a reflection of reality.

Back to the task in hand, about 43 miles of varying terrain around, and at some points through, Hull. To run a loop around – preferably outside of built-up areas where at all possible – the city. My friend and companion for many a long run over the past 5 years Mark Dalton was able to make it down to join me for this one, company which would be a big bonus. He arrived before 8 and I’d already been up nearly two hours getting breakfast and last minute kit packing/checks. I said good bye to Clare and Isaac, then Mark and I took a short drive north to Wawne – a village north of the city of Hull on the east bank of the River Hull.

Parked up, we got bags and gear ready, I realised I’d forgot my chia drink bottle so would have to rely on water in my packs bladder till about half-way when Clare would meet us. Mark provided some last minute energy in the form of chocolate he’d got at clearance from his work as it was on (or just passed) date – a useful job perk for a long-distance runner. And at 8:47 we were off – heading east (clockwise) back through the village from where I’d parked by the river.

Nothing too scary was weather forecasted, light cloud and only a small chance of rain. But, as forecasted the wind-machine had turned on, but was helping us initially as it blew from the south-west (SSW to be exact). We made quick progress on tracks and paths, which had dried nicely over the last few weeks to Fairholme house Bridge where we started to zig-zag south-east getting a taster of the wind challenge to come on this exposed stretch. We were soon in Swine and much faster than I’d thought, we were running a decent pace for a road long run at this point!

Towards and through Swine we made good on a few miles of minor roads before crossing the A165 at Coniston. About 100 metres down Thirtleby lane we swerved left on a path through a field and made our way to pass just east of Bilton on field-edge paths. Turning east we followed the road to Wyton and then back into the fields and a challenging stretch across a ploughed field due south into the teeth of the wind. Once over the field a small nav error as I missed the bridge over the ditch and we had to track a few hundred yards west. We continued south over a few more fields, with more shelter from hedgerows for bits before we closed in on Preston. Here is was a west turn to experience the wind furthermore down the long-straight Neat marsh Road that would bring us close to Hull.

The path alongside Alexandra dock, complete with superferry

It had warmed up a bit and our fast start had continued so we stopped to take on some energy. Half a Clif bar seemed good for me as mark tucked in to peanut butter sarnies. I had already reached for energy on the move earlier – apple, half a 9-bar - as trying to keep my levels as topped up as possible as we kept a good pace up. As I really didn’t want to burn out too early today and face a long walk to the end.

Hull loomed into view, firstly Saltend Chemical works, and the top of the big north sea ferry in the docks. The road, now a rutted track, hit the suburbs of Hull near Marfleet and we followed the edge of a field south to join the long, now tarmacked, ex-railway line path as it burrowed into Hull. Passing Craven Park I attempted to explain the east-west rugby rivalry to Mark. After just over a mile we took the railway bridge path south, over the goods railroad and we then crossed Hedon road and followed the road to the river-front between King George and Alexandra Dock.

This was the bit I’d feared, seeing the forecasted wind and now I was here could see we were in for a challenging stretch along the riverfront path. I run this path to work and back regularly, but rarely when there’s such a strong wind and with 15m already in my legs. I stopped to picture the waves, it was quite a low tide, but seeing the waves bashing the river defences beside path you’d think this were a seafront not a river (I know,  tidal estuary to be precise). We now faced potentially the next 10 miles on exposed river-front paths being buffeted by a south westerly building up momentum over the river. Head down time and luckily plenty to see along the river section – I could do a bit of a Hull tourist guide thing for Mark :)

I’m not sure what it is about this path, but I don’t tire of running between the docks and river and then along the “prom” of the Victoria dock village. Sometimes you get great sunrise and sunsets and on a sunny day I think the views along river are great. Although I love running countryside trails, hills and mountains the most, I think what highlights this section for me is the old dock warehouses. Timbers left to rot and fall into the river, industrial skeletons, now detached from the riverside, the graffiti remaining on them will never be cleaned off. Maybe I’m a biast local? As I also find the huge abandoned mills alongside the River Hull somewhat spellbinding – a remnant of the past industrial heritage, the city has moved on, but it’s still there, silent and slightly foreboding.

Back to things running, after crossing the marina at the lockgates – glad they were shut, saves a half mile round trip – it was onto the elevated section of path which runs over the roofs of Albert dock warehouses. A bit of a novel route I’ve always thought, I explained to Mark that I think it was built for people to view a “royal arrival” by boat to this dock a long time ago, but wasn’t really sure. For completeness of my rugby league brief started in the east, I also pointed out the KC stadium from this elevated viewpoint. Tourism aside, the effect of running into the wind was tiring me so I opted we take a more sheltered route from St Andrews Quay down Hessle road to our halfway food stop in Hessle square. The original planned route being the path running along the south of the A63 close to the river. The combo of more wind-blasted miles combined with the traffic roaring past didn’t enthral me.

It was now early afternoon and it was starting to feel warm. Maybe a trick of the wind, but I was also thirsty and glad when we trotted into Hessle square just inside of four hours and just over 22m. Clare had passed us on the way in as we took a ‘rare’ walk-break – honest – and I was glad to see her, Isaac and my bottle of chia charge mix – which would be welcome in the second half. The excitement was lost on my 1 year old who was mid-nap.

The Real Sandwich shop was still open and the massive choice on offer must have been too much for my brain. So I just went for a cheese and spring onion and a bottle of coke and we sat down on a bench in the square to eat. Ten minutes later, onwards again and we headed down station road and then took the path under the Humber bridge and dipped down the steps into the Country park and out again onto the shore.

Passing the - still shut after “Storm surge” flooding – Country Park Inn we were confronted by a confusing array of signs at the start of the shoreline path to Ferriby. On one hand very large “path entry / no access” signs on the other a sign saying this path will be closed for works until “21/02/2014”, i.e. yesterday. Was it finished or would we find an impassable section of path collapsed into the river? We took a chance, went down the path, and it paid off. There was just a short section of closed path with works vehicles around it and nothing going on today (a Sunday). We were able to get around this and run on a new piece of defence wall that had been built, before re-joining the path and running into Ferriby.

Ferriby Church

We passed through the village up Church Rd, High street and passed the pub, before an upward turn to climb Woodgates Lane and the start of the day’s undulations-cum-hills. Near the top we cut through the plantation and crossed the field passed the ‘radio mast tree’ and into the next plantation, which I always knew when young as Scout Wood. Down the hill past the small campsite and we carefully negotiated Melton Bottom road before heading uphill on the track through Bow Plantation with the large chalk quarry to our right. At the path junction we made a left following the Wolds Way route as it visited the edge of pretty Welton village and then headed through scenic Welton Dale. With its grassy bank to the west and tall tree covered bank east, one of the most scenic parts of the county.

We followed the Wolds way as it undulated along paths to the hamlet of Waudby and then on tracks through ‘muddy cross roads’, York Grounds Farm and on to cross Riplingham Rd. North of the road we picked up a field edge path that led north-east tick up the eastward bound track then road into Skidby – munching mini-jaffa cakes as we went. We were more run-walking now than in the urban sections, tiring but enjoying the going, especially with the wind now behind us. Leaving Skidby – our second-to-last village on route – we tracked north to Risby Parks and took the road east to cross the A164.

Now on narrow woodland/crop-field tracks – ‘Jillywoods’ – the light turned golden as the sun lowered in the sky and behind thin cloud, lighting up the area in a warm, comforting way. Time to eat again and we shared a peanut butter sandwich as we moved along wriggling paths towards the electrical substation ahead. Beyond the quite scary substation we crossed the railway line and the route felt more suburban again. Under the A1079 we picked up a green lane into Dunswell as the sky darkened with clouds, the sun now setting.

A last brief negotiation of a muddy track and we came to the Beverley-Hull road and crossed, heading down a road to pick-up the river Hull. The next section had frustrated me in route planning, I’d really wanted to cross the river near Wawne, but the nearest bridge is a few miles south at Kingswood or a few miles north at Beverley (how inconvenient). So we’d have to head south along the west bank of the river here, cross the bridge, and head back north up the other river bank to get to Wawne. I’d even considered planting a dirigible boat here at one stage to save some running – but then sanity prevailed, running 40 miles and then drowning in a muddy river to save a miles running wouldn’t be good.

The River Hull, in evening colours.

It was running into the wind time down towards the bridge and Mark was flying, I’d got a slight energy return, but couldn’t keep up at this stage until he stopped for a walk. Over the bridge and we made quick work of the final mile and a half – wind now behind us – up the meandering river bank to return to my car parked by the river. A good days running - as we completed the loop of Hull and nearby countryside on a varied and interesting route.

The final scores on the doors were 43.6 miles in 8 hours-and-38 minutes. Now for possibly the highlight of the day the return home to feast and replace the 4500 or so calories burned. In fact there was no chance of doing this in one go, so I would get to help myself to “seconds” guilt-free till at least Tuesday. A curry takeaway from Raj Pavilion was the choice this evening. And that’s 2 down and 10 to go! Next up, the 10 miles+ longer and considerably hillier Hardmoors 55 in the North York Moors on the 22^nd March.