Gritstone Grind 35m 2019

Mow Cop, The Cloud, Wincle Minn, Croker Hill, Tegg's Nose, Kerridge Hill, White Nancy and Sponds Hill - an interesting set of names for hills and features of this route. This area was completely new to me and the route followed the well signposted Gritstone Trail

I was doing this one on my own as Melanie wanted to take care of a few niggles, so she went on her own shorter run. The start was as Kidsgrove and the finish at Disley and we drove to Disley. Melanie ran back to the hotel where we were staying and I got on a coach to Kidsgrove. It was an early start from our hotel, registration was between 6.00 and 6.45 and the race started soon after 8.30.

The first two and half miles were along canal tow paths which was a nice way to warm up.

The first hill was Mow Cop, where there is a folly. 

Then it was a ridge run befor a descent to an old railway line. This was all very runnable. We turned off the old railway line and made our way to the first checkpoint. The checkpoints on this event were just amazing - orange slices, sausage rolls, cheese rolls, vegetable samosas, onion bhajis, twix, biscuits, cordeial, coke and water. A lot of people were gathered at this checkpoint !

I filled up with water grabbed a samosa and a vegetable roll and left as soon as I could before I was tempted to have more. The next hill, the Cloud, came straight away.

SportsSunday were there and took this one of me

and then a long runnable descent

There were some lovely wooded sections as well

Then the start of the next climb up to Wincle Minn and we passed this

On the way to the top we came across the first of three unofficial checkpoints put on by a local running club, Bollington Harriers. Even they had a great selection of food !

Once at the top there was a short descent and a climb up to the transmitter at Coker Hill. I had started almost at the back but I was going well here and others were starting to tire so I was gradually overtaking people. This was the half way point and I had a rough aim to be there by 4 hours and I was just a little behind, but I wasn't aiming to do anything but finish and I now knew I had plenty of time available.

Another long, gentle descent and on to the next official checkpoint next to a pub. It was now getting a little warm. On across some rolling countryside towards the next hill Tegg's Nose which was clearly visible as we approached it

It wasn't quite as bad as I expected and the view from close to the top was lovely

After another good descent, a few more rolling bits before a steep climb up Kerridge Hill and along a ridge to the White Nancy which was about marathon distance.

I took the tourist down as the alternative looked pretty steep to me. More rolling hills and in to the final official checkpoint. Then a long, long drag upwards to the final hill, Spond's Hill. Again lovely views

I was expecting it to be all downhill from here and it mainly was. We went into the lovely Lyme Park which was heaving with people.

A few more ups and then a long runnable one mile descent to the finish in Disley. Medals and tee shirts you could order before the event and pay for, but I decided not to opt for either and I thought it was a good idea to make them optional.

It was the first time I had had a tracker (not everybody in the event was given one). It didn't work for all of the event, but Melanie found it useful to see where I was.

It was a lovely day to do this route, hardly any wind, but not too hot, just right.

Harvest Hobble 26m 2019

This was a new event for us, neither of us had been to this area of the Lincolnshire Wolds before. The event started at Ludford, near Market Rasen and headed north west and then was a rectangular route. There was a strong breeze from the south west that blew us along in the first half, but it was hard going into the wind when Melanie and I didn't have the protection of hedges which sometimes helped.

The event HQ was the village hall and this being an LDWA event, it was cheap. Free tea or coffee at the start. The first checkpoint (3 miles) had biscuits, but after that there was sandwiches, cheese and sausage rolls. At the end there was tomato soup roll followed by rice pudding with peaches. A good day for eating !

We started off and headed for a long section of the Viking Way. Initially there was a few flat field edges, but we did come across some sunflowers.

The route then started to undulate

Before a descent to the first checkpoint (3 miles)

Then it was up and on to the edge of the wolds with lovely views to the west

Still more undulations

and into an area where there were deer

We passed many lovely churches, this one was in Normanby-le-Wold

We made a slight error when we came off the Viking Way, the path forked and we took the left one instead of the right one. We had the route on our Garmins and the paths were very close so it was hard to work out the correct way. Luckily, runners behind us let us know we were wrong so we were able to quickly backtrack.

We then entered some woods (a long way from anywhere) close to some old workings (according to the map). We came across three of these, which may apparently be airshafts.

More typical wolds countryside, lots of the route reminded us of the Golden Fleece Circuit route on the other side of the Humber

Late on the route was telling us to go straight across a field of potatoes. Not easy and we gave up in the end and headed down one of the valleys between the potatoes.

After the last checkpoint at 21 miles, there was a long drag upwards into the wind, which was very hard going and I would say this was the least attractive part of the route.

We were pleased to get back to Ludworth to our soup, roll and sweet - if you have never done an LDWA event, go for it they are fun !

Hardmoors Farndale marathon 2019

I was running this one with Melanie who is new to this route although she had covered quite a bit of it on other runs we had done when on holidays. We had picked up from Facebook that the route was very overgrown this year and it certainly was compared to the previous two years (when it was called the Hardmoors Rosedale marathon, but the same route). In spite of this I managed to pick up a 25 minute course PB (thanks to Melanie for this). But was hard, it was very humid and warm. There was a nice breeze which helped, but there were times in the valleys when we couldn't feel it.

The start was from the Village Hall in the lovely Hutton-le-Hole.

The route undulates almost immediately. I think of the route as roughly triangular. The first time I did the route, it seemed to take for ever to get to the point where we change onto the second side of the triangle (about 11 miles in). There are lots of twists and turns, but the compensation is that the scenery is just outstanding and very varied - woods, moors, fields. Thanks to Melanie for many of these photos

It did not seem too long before we got to the corner of the triangle and out onto the moors. I was feeling pretty good at this point.

This is the side of the triangle where the hills kick in and by about 15 miles in I started to tire. It was warm and I was struggling. But the compensation was the scenery

The abandoned Stork House

After Stork House the bracken became a bit overwhelming !

Thanks to Nicky Jenkins for these photos (where I looked happier than I was...)

This was followed by what felt a long road section and then we turned on to the third side of the triangle and climbed towards Dickon Howe

Then down the other side towards High Mill where we stopped for an ice cream at the cafe. This was a real bonus ! Along to Low Mill and the start of the very big climb, which was overgrown and a bit muddy. Lovely views from the top

The last checkpoint had cut up oranges and lots and lots of them. Just lovely ! As we left it started to rain a bit which was lovely and cooling. Through the woods and the final tarmac climb and the run down into Hutton-le-Hole to applause from runners sitting outside the pub.

As usual Jon and Shirley had the whole event very well organised and the marshalls and helpers in the Village Hall did a great job !

2018 blog of the previous event (now with a change of name)