Anglezarke Amble, Feb 13th

Got there in good time (by my standards). Got my tallycard, dumped my holdall, tightened my shoelaces and headed outside with the clock showing two minutes to eight. There were still a few in the hall. To my surprise everyone had already been allowed to start. So had to navigate my way through the throngs of walkers for the first half mile or so. Eventually caught up with JtE somewhere near the start of the Chinese Gardens and then YJ, NLN and NicO just before Georges Lane.
With my renowned descending ability (lack of), thought it wise to push on a little towards the mast and NiCo duly passed me on the descent. Thought NLN was also there but apparently not. We regrouped on the road although YJ had yet to arrive.
Chatted with a very experienced hallenge walk/runner down from Northumberland enjoying the event. He was looking for 5hrs 40 so wondered if my target of five hours was a bit optimistic.
YJ had not got back to us, so continued to run with NicO and NLN. A mile or so from Darwen tower, I decided to oush on but whilst at the checkpoint taking refreshments, they arrived and zoomed off. Caught them up on the way to Slipper Rowe and got in and out of the checkpoint quickly with a cup of tea as well. They had just about caught up but I then decided it was time to push hard on the way up to Great Hill, slightly hampered as I now had to pass those who were on the shorter route, sometimes on narrow paths. White Coppice checkpoint seemed to take an age both in the clippering and the refreshments but I think it was wise to take in as much as possible. NicO and NLN had slipped to the checkpoint and skipped the refreshments to overtake me. They seemed to be miles away but I eventually caught up with them approaching Anglezarke Reservoir. Suggested we should blast it to get inside 5 hours but they were wise enough to know it wasn't on (I had an extra two minutes to play with). Didn't make it but quite happy with 5:05, especially as I still felt quite tired after my high mileage earlier in the week. With a bit slicker "transitions" at the refreshment points, I might have sneaked it.
No chances of taking any photos but it was a very fine day for the event, although there was one hairy descent between Belmont and Strawbury Duck on which no grip was possible due to the ice.
Big thanks to NicO and NLN for ensuring I didn't blow up - there were points in the first half where I could have pushed on but I know I would have paid for it later.

Week 15 - big mileage

Just two runs and a walk this week - but big ones. Tuesday saw me do what I'd intended to do the previous week, 21 miles taking in a fair chunk of the Anglezarke route. Out for 4hrs30 and fairly tired on the final return from Rivington but gave me chance to chat with Stuart of The Soul Twins (djs from Mr M's/Wigan Casino) as he walked his dog on one of the paths at Rivington. Followed this with East Lancs LDWA group walk on Wednesday, Fish Chips and Peas from the Bay Horse at Adlington, listed as 12 miles, some suggested nearer 14 but with not a great deal of climb. Nevertheless an enjoyable walk, finishing off with a pint in the Bay Horse, re-acquainting myself with a pub which we used to be semi-regulars at, many years ago. A highly recommended pub.
Saturday arrived and it was time for the Amble to give me 59 miles and 6750ft of ascent for the week.

Week 14 tidy up

Friday saw a shortish evening walk helping out a local scout group. Saturday had the cross-country at Leigh scheduled so I was already for that and contacted a clubmate to give him a lift. Eventually I found posted on another club's website that it had been postponed until the following week. Shame as I could have got out in the morning with the wfdbwgua crew and also I was already committed to the Amble next Saturday. Anyway I wasn't going to waste what was the best day weather-wise that we'd had for a while so got my Winter Hill/Belmont circuit in.
This meant 44 miles and 5800ft of climb achieved for the week, slightly up on schedule.

A new month, getting lighter

Now into week 14 of the training schedule and into February. If I don't get up too early, can have breakfast in the light and staying light in the afternoon until 5pm so longer walks can be considered. Oh and I'm getting lighter as well :-)
I'm still getting most of my mileage in through running at the moment but I've recently taken on creating online versions of some 20 mile walking routes. As they have not been updated for 15 years, someone will have to walk them to determine what has changed as far as car parking, bus routes, pubs/cafés or even paths themselves which occasionally get diverted. Why not me? Although it would be useful to do them accompanied - I'm sure I can find someone to help me.
Started this week on Tuesday with a long run. The plan was to do about 20 miles taking in parts of the Anglezarke Amble route. The weather was pretty atrocious. I was waiting for the rain to clear as promised so didn't set off till lunchtime. Somehow I managed a couple of wrong route choices around Belmont which added extra mileage and time so decided to adjust the route. My choice of route was limited due to the reservoir wall being rebuilt so ended up continuing to where I'd planned to get (Slipper Rowe), but 40 minutes late. Rather than come back via White Coppice, I chose to come back from Great Hill via Spittlers Edge and Georges Lane - bad choice - it may be a bit shorter but it was so waterlogged that I expect it took me as long, if not longer. So in the end I got my distance in, but in a much slower time than I had planned.
The snow came back on Wednesday evening, with the result that the roads were so dangerous that my table tennis match was called off. By Thursday morning though it looked fine to get a run in. Decided on the Belmont Route. Fine early on, then Burnt Edge posed problems - the thin layer of snow concealed glass-like ice. One I'd got past the north facing edge which sees no sun, it was okay but rather than continue down to Belmont I decided to turn round, head back down the mast road and then do another rep back up the mast road - speedier way of gaining both mileage and ascent (and with rarely any traffic).

January Complete and Looking Good

After achieving less than 70% of target in December, it was good to claw some back in January and significantly exceed target. Hopefully February will bring good results with its small increase in mileage and ascent but also 3 days less to complete. I probably need to get more walking in as 72% of mileage and 76% of ascent were from running.




Week 13 started off with a recce of leg 4 of the Pennine Bridleway Relay. A bit of double-checking gave a mile extra for 12 miles and an estimated 1300ft of ascent. My first track session for many months doesn't do much for mileage or for ascent but as I live on hill I do get a bit by running to and from the track. On Thursday I had my first attempt at running over Winter Hill to Belmont and back without snow and ice to battle with. This meant I could go a bit quicker, now setting a target of two hours which I almost made. The top end of the mast road still has about a foot of snow, so hopefully I can be quicker next time. Looking after the dog on Friday meant three miles to add from walking him up though the fields with more on Saturday. Finally Sunday saw a very enjoyable run in the Pennine Bridleway Relay so my leg plus return to the starting point, and a bit extra that I put in, meant I exceeded my week's target by a third and ascent by 25%.
January has been very challenging from a weather viewpoint. Hopefully things will get better as we head towards Spring.