Dawn - Sometimes An Ultrarunner

Dawn - Sometimes An Ultrarunner

December 31, 2010

Yorkshire Dales 3 Peaks, 25 mi, New Year's Eve 2010

Pen-y-Ghent
Why?  To ring out the old year in ultrarunning style, to finally see a famous trail in my area, and to begin the preparation for next year's big challenge, the Houseman Hundred.  The 3 Peaks Walk is an an end-of-year's tradition for the West Yorkshire LDWA group.  Although severe weather can sometimes hamper a finish (last year's walk was cut short due to waist-high snow drifts), it is the attempt that counts...and the bragging rights, and the well-earned year-end pint in the pub afterwards.   Well, "that American girl from Iowa", as the club seems to know me, got really lucky with this year's weather.  The  frigid temperatures (the coldest December in 120 years!) had lifted several days ago, melting most of the ice-covered paths.   So there were just a couple of slippery spots instead of a continous ice-skating rink. 
 
Pen-y-Ghent Trig Point
 We started in darkness, and ended that way as well.    But our first peak, Pen-y-Ghent, was fully visible as daylight emerged, and I wondered aloud <sshhhh> if the sun would even come out.   It was calm and the temperature was a few degrees above freezing.   Most of us were overdressed, and by the end of an hour, we were sweating and standing atop the summit of Pen-y-Ghent.  Which was bathed not in sunlight but in fog, alas.  A gentle wind was blowing up at the Trig point, so as we all touched it, a few layers went back on for the descent. 

Ribblehead Viaduct
Next came a very long slog across the valley towards Ribblehead Viaduct and Whernside.   Some of the bogs were still frozen, but most were green and squishy again.   The melting conditions had most of us wearing light trainers, and my feet first felt the freezing seep of water at mile 6 of our journey.  Yes, I keep track of such things :)   Brrr, was that water COLD!   The first soaking is always the worst, and after that I <mostly> stopped dodging bogs.   We had one dog along for the walk, and he continually ran circles around the group...I'm sure he ended up covering 2-3 times the distance we did, seemingly always energetic...what a trooper!


Finally arriving at the viaduct, which was nice to view in person rather than from a car window, we began the ascent to Whernside. The trail up to the tallest peak in the Yorkshire Dales at 2415 ft (although I was informed that title is sometimes still contested), wound us around the edge of a ridgetop.  Too bad the views were obscured by the thick fog.  I felt bad this, until hearing that another women in the group had summitted Whernside 5 times, always in fog.   At the trig point, the wind was blowing coldly, and my fingers started to numb when I took my gloves off to dig in my pack for a hot thermos of tea and some snacks.  The tea wasn't very warm anymore, either, and we didn't linger long. 
  

 
Whernside Tri Point
Now past the halfway point, we all started to feel the call of the finish, and marched like horses heading back to the barn.  Too bad that there was another mountain in the way!  It was a quick down and up to get us across to the 3rd peak, although I stopped to take pictures mid-way of the the neat limestone rocks, which are quite extensive, now that I have looked at the satellite picture of our route.  I will have to come back someday to play on them, in summer.  



Once past the rocks, there was a has a flagstoned path leading straight up the fells to the start of the real climb. Ingleborough, which turns out to be only a few feet shorter than Whernside, certainly felt much harder, as the trail wound straight up the side of the cliff, with a frozen waterfall beside us.  Once on the plateau, we were socked in thick fog, and I could barely keep the guy in front of me in sight, to make it to the trig point.  Without the rest of the group, I'm sure I would still be lost up there (or I would have had to dig out my map and compass and attempt to blaze my own descent).   Our jackets were flapping in the stiff wind, and all 28 of us stayed tightly bunched to keep from being separated in the fog.  Our summit stop was even shorter this time.


 It was only 4 miles back to the car park after descending out of the fog, and the trail was easy to follow as the group finally spread out at quite a quick pace.   A true walking group, I was chided several times for running through them (in jest, I hope!?!), but now with a light jog, I was still barely keeping up.   We passed another intriguing group of limestone rocks, but darkness was coming quickly, and the final section stretched longer and longer.   It was full dark by the time we  finished, but out eyes had adjusted to the failing light, and no one resorted to a headlamp.   Most of the group was headed to a Youth Hostel to celebrate New Year's Eve (I hope you had fun, everyone!), but I was content to be on my way home to a hot shower, celebratory pizza, and an American football game.

See the rest of my photos HERE

December 4, 2010

Christmas Lunch Group Walk, Nidderdale LDWA 15 mi. 5 Dec 2010

For my first LDWA Group Walk, I chose one close to home, as I wanted to get to know some of the trails around my neighborhood.  As it turned out, I got to know the trails in a different sort of weather than normal, as they were all covered in about 8 inches of snow!   About 17 of us met up at the Birstwith village pub, and set off.  It was cold but clear and sunny, so with layers of mittens and scarves we stayed warm enough.  Plowing through the deep snow slowed us down a little bit, so it was almost three hours before we reached the halfway point and a tea stop.  I was absurdly grateful to stop, sink down onto a snowbank, and munch on a biscuit.  Our group leader, Adrian, shared around slices of Stollen as well.   Luckily the tea in my thermos had stayed warm, and when we set off again I felt energetic again.

We did a fair share of trail breaking, as we crossed a few untouched fields of snow with a hard crust on top.  But most of our trails were somewhat hard packed, and the scenery was just beautiful.   I get the feeling that snow doesn't stay on the ground too long in this area, so it was nice to see the world look clean and white and fresh.  

Normally I am a runner, at least until I get tired and have to walk up a hill or something.  But it was enjoyable to take a slower pace for the day, enjoy the change in scenery, and chat with the folks in the group.   And we all were happy to get back around to the pub at the finish, to warm up, change into dry clothing, and enjoy a delicious meal. 

I was most gratified to find out the best part of snow hiking comes at the end. When I finally got back to the house, my boots weren't covered in dirt and mud, and my socks were actually dry!

See my other November 2010 snow pictures here
Photo courtesy of Adrian
Photo courtesy of Adrian
Photo courtesy of Adrian
Photo courtesy of Adrian
Photo courtesy of Adrian







Photo courtesy of Stuart
Photo courtesy of Stuart
Photo courtesy of Stuart
Photo courtesy of Stuart
Photo courtesy of Stuart
Photo courtesy of Stuart

December 1, 2010

Reservoir Runners, Thursdays at 9 a.m.

Since I keep referring to the Reservoir Runners in my blog, I figure the RR deserve a mention here.  Some months ago, as I was trying to figure out which LDWA club I geographically belonged to, I emailed a couple to inquire.   One of the club leaders replied affirmatively, and knew someone else, who knew someone else, who put me in contact with a group of runners that met at a reservoir near me for a weekly run.  Adrian told me to show up with a flask of tea on a Thursday and be ready to run.   I wasn't sure that the two things necessarily belonged together, but "when in England", right?

Well, since my schedule sometimes allows me to escape on a Thursday morning at 9 a.m., I've made it out to the weekly run a few times now, and enjoy it immensely.   Quite low-key, we meet at the car park between Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs, set off promptly at 9 a.m., and run around both reservoirs, for a total of 6.4 miles...but who's measuring?   There are always a few walkers as well, who head around the smaller reservoir, letting both groups arrive back together again within an hour. 

Photo taken by Andy
Then we crowd around a picnic table, which is starting to seem smaller and smaller as the group size grows!  With hot beverages poured from our flasks, and various biscuits shared around the table, we catch up with the lastest race reports and goings-on.  Given that we run in all sorts of weather, it can be pleasant to sit around outside, or quite dreadful.  My last run there was during the first snowstorm of the year, and as we sat sipping our hot beverages afterwards, the table and biscuits got coated with a heavy dusting of snow! 

I must confess that I am by far the slowest of all the runners who show up, and if I get any slower, the tea and biscuits might well be gone by the time I reach the picnic table!   Since the members of the Reservoir Runners read like a who's who of British fell runners, I supposed I shouldn't feel so bad....there seems to be an age group champion for every possible division showing up regularily.  I suppose normally I wouldn't be allowed to join such an elite grouping, but was given special exceptions due to being an American.  Or, perhaps I am just attempting to garner sympathy from the lady in charge of the handicap times?

Photo taken by Andy
Occasionally, instead of heading off together, we set up a handicap, where I invariably get to set off first (yay!), but still finish close to last (ouch).   A nine-minute head start doesn't seem like quite enough, Wendy...I think closer to 15 would be better!  Of course, not a few of us are trying to invent aches and pains and convey them pathically enough, to be granted a better handicap.   Given that the prize for the last handicap we ran was a giant corgette, it's definitely a race everyone wants to win....

All joking aside, the path around the reservoirs is wide and easy to follow, and the views are beautiful.  I'm lucky to have such a lovely place close to home, and a group of runners to share it with.   Now, Wendy, about that next handicap race...you see, I'm still hurting a little from those extra miles on the Rotherham...I daresay that I'll need to drop to a walk in spots, and that's really going to slow down my finish times..............

Photo taken by Andy

Photo taken by Andy

Photo taken by Andy

Photo taken by Andy

Photo taken by Andy

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Add caption

Photo taken by Andy


Photo taken by Andy

Photo taken by Andy

Photo taken by Andy