The Signpost Challenge; why we love an LDWA challenge event

Converting Emma to the LDWA was a good move on my part; I now have a willing accomplice for adventure runs with soup and cake. We arrived in Marple at the Senior Citizens Hall to the usual tea, coffee, pastries (an upgrade from toast!) and runners moving this way and that registering, carb loading a kit phaffing. The walkers had left at 8am, giving them an hours head start on the runners and Catherine had left in that group intending to walk the 17 miles (there wasa 24 mile option but we were all happy with the 17 mile) and Emma  and I had hoped to catch her up on route....

After tea and pastries (and kit phaff) we headed down to the canal to start by lock nine, lead by a authorative lady in a hat with 'Geezer' across the front. And then we were off in the autumn sunlight amongst the leaves on the tow path. Emma and I found ourselves alarmingly near the front but were glad to follow others especially for the chicane in to Brabyn's park and then past the junior parkrun and out to Compstall. After a quick road cross, it was time to start the first of the main big climbs for the day up to Werneth Low. I was very conscious of not wanting to over do it; I had been off colour the day before and      17 miles is a lomg way if you burn all your matches too quickly. But I was also conscious that Emma is a much stronger runner than I. However, I think we sitll walked quite a chunk of this hill, initially on tarmac, then on a more narrow older track before popping out on a road I know that takes you towards the monument and our first self clip. 

The view from Werneth Low in the sunshine was lovely, and I enjoyed the fun and undulating path that takes you round to Idle Hill and checkpoint one. Yes, its only 3 and a half miles in but its time for some biscuits (other options were available). One of my promises to myself was we would not be rushing checkpoints so we enjoyed out biscuits before heading off, almost going the wrong way as I went in to autopilot.... The descent was lovely, through fields and some woods before hitting the valley bottom and the track to Broadbottom. This was a nice runnable stretch with minimal need to navigate, just following the river on tracks and paths. We crossed at what was a seriously idyllic spot in morning light, catching up with the tail end of the walkers as we did. 

We now had a few miles to climb to Cown Edge and the top of the course. The breeze was starting to get up and it was a bit greyer, but initially we made reasonably good prgress up a road, then started a weird cross field section. The first turn off the road was pretty tricky to find, and the farmer seemed to have taped it off a bit, but we headed through some fields to Charlesowrth where we met with the main section of walkers. I felt a bit rude running past, and pressured to keep running, but only managed until the top of the Charlesworth play area before it was a stomping walk. Emma got her poles out and we headed across the tussocky ground on a steady slop towards the edge above us. We looked for Catherine in the walkers but didn't see her. 

The wind was really up now, snatching at my breath and causing us all to wobble a bit. The path was narrow and we were moving awkwardly a bit faster than the walkers but not so fast as to make over taking easy. There was more walking here than I might have liked but I felt my breathing go a bit and just had to take it at my own pace. I was pleased to see the trees and then the stile over the fence ahead. Crossing it, I felt more back on home turf, as this forms part of a night run route. It was also net downhill to the next check point for a water top up and snaffling some bits to go in my pack. The Peaks were rolling out ahead of us, cloud sitting lower on Kinder and wetter weather threatening. 

The course split was ahead and a couple we had been leap frogging on and off made the choice they were going to be on the short route too. They seemed to get faste  after this point as they ended up fix or 6 minutes ahead of us by the end, or maybe I slowed down. The bridle path to Rowarth was a nice mixed bag with a touch too much tarmac but some lovely dipping stretches between the trees. I think the first few drops of rain fell at this point, but then stopped. We arrived at the hamlet of Rowarth and headed through the quiet street up to the Children's Inn for our indoor checkpoint. It was quite small in there, but there were loos, hot drinks, a vast array of sandwiches and lots of snacks including some excellent fruit loaf. We enjoyed a chat, a wee and some more chat before heading on up the road towards the fields.

Initially this section was fine to navigate, but a couple of fields over the trod disappeared a bit and the GPX was used to get us back on track. It was also now drizzling. We weaved through pasture and farm field and round a farm gently heading up. There was a little section of road before we turned on to a road to summit the last big hill. My legs were feeling it now, and it there was a little bit of acutally having to navigate again, having over taken the bulk of walkers and fallen behind the couple ahead. The track at the top seemed to go on longer than it should but we were then gradually starting to tilt down to the last checkpoint. 

We wiggled through fields, mercifully only going the wrong way once (and only by  a bit) before we hit the bridleway that would take us down to the fox. Its a long bridle path and feels old. On this section of hill, I feel there are quite a few old roads and bridle paths that humans have used for longer than we remember, but maybe I am just a bit romantic. I enjoyed the descent to the road and then we shuffled down it to the fox pub, and the checkpoint, which I nearly missed as it was hidden in the corner of the car park. There was even a quiche, but I felt weirdly full and more than a bit tired. The ladies at the checkpoint said there were six miles to go; surely that wasn't right! 

We headed off down the rest of the bridleway towards Strines and the Millponds. This is another funny area that is a reminder of some of the industry that once inhabited this section of the Peaks. The flat section at the bottom made my legs ache and was road so I had to keep running. On crossing the busy A road, I thought it was only a short climb to the canal but it was longer, and I had nothing so we walked the climb. Getting on the canal for the last two miles I was convinced I couldn't run it and indeed, we did have a few walk breaks. But it is a gorgeous section of canal with views across the Peaks, pretty farms and then the lovely cottages on the edge of Marple. Still we hadn't caught Catherine!

It actually wasn't as long as my poor legs feared- soon we were up and over a bridge I recognised, then over the bridge to the Macclesfield canal and under the Marple road. We trotted through the park, following a path that didn't quit bring us to the door before arriving back at the hall, to remove muddy shoes and go in to declare ourselves finished. 

Catherine had arrived a few minutes earlier- she had 'walked' the whole 17.5 miles in under 5 hours. Emma and I had leisurely jogged in 4, so this was really some going! Emma and I joined her at a table. A lovely chap asked our food order then promptly forgot it, and then another came and tried to tell us about his 30+ years of running in the area which was a bit more challenging! But we all got some vegetarian hot pot and tea, and to share our tales. As we left, it was properly raining but didn't mind (though we cast a thought for those out on the 24 miler) having had a fab LDWA morning out!

Windgather Fell Race

 Pulling off the drive in to a gentle foggy day in Manchester, it looked like it was going to be a a typical autumnal fell race; a bit grey, cool and damp. So I had opted for a long sleeve top and three quarter length leggings (in classic Chorlton Runners black), plus layers for after, for the penultimate race of the club series. This was a bit of a mistake. As I wound down the A6 to Buxton, the edge of the cloud was found, and a glorious autumn day had settled on the town. Red and yellow leaves dropped to the dry pavements of Buxton as I walked from my parking space at Poole Cavern ot the Burbage Institute. We were in for a treat. 

The Burbage Institute is a lovely village hall style building with some lovely stained glass features. It was a fab place to drop off bags but more importantly eat sandwiches and cake afterwards. The Buxton Rotary club were even called in marshal and provide catering. 

We gathered on the road outside for the start, and a short briefing was given from a step ladder by the RD. There was a crowd of about 100 people, most of them lean and fit and I had been quite anxious about coming last. And then we were off up the road that leads to the hills. Bishops lane was not a steep climb but it was continuous, though we eventually turned off to head on to a footpath on to Wild Moor. I had bumped in to someone who had helped me get in to trail running many years ago. I think he was abit disappointed to see me, especially when I got in front. 

The top of the moor came a lot sooner than I expected. I had never taken this path before and I think I have found a new favourite in the Peaks. The sunshine was beaming down and what I am assured is often a muddy path was wonderful dipping trail across the moor next to the brook. 

I lost some places on the down hill, feeling a little frustrated with my clown like footing. There was one short cross point which had caused the lady ahead of me to stop juist as we got toward the reservoir. I wished I had done a recce but a short jog assured me we were on the right path. There were a few people on the path near the reservoir but this is definitely the quieter side and soon we had popped out on the the road. 

A quick dog leg took us down to the bottom of the dam and up the steps to the track on the far side. Presently again there was a route confusion but by chance I took the correct one. This was one the busier sections of the route. This section was a well made path and very runnable, so naturally I felt knackered on it! 

Eventually we wiggled through the car park at the end of the damn, dodging the odd dog enjoying their autumn walk. On the far side we joined a track that rises, then dips in to a clough before climbing steeply out the otherside to the first checkpoint where I made sure to refill my water bottle as I knew the big climb was about to start. 

Going up the track to the farm, the farmer was washing a nice slurry down towards us. But after the farm we were on a more grassy path that climbed towards trees. It just kept going (or so it felt) and many of us were walking. Being heavy and slow I did lose a few places but it was a beautiful climb. There was a little drop in to some woods which was a bit of respite but frankly, I was boiling. Towards the top we took another dip in to the trees and turned left and people started to move away from me. I was struggling a bit. 

The climbers were sat out on Windgather rocks, bellaying their friends up and down. There were also some walkers admiring the rock formations. But we were heading gradually up and along the ridge. I am confident that this ridge is more fun in the opposite direction (which is net down hill), and I found myself taking walk breaks even before we crossed the road. I fuelled and drank, then became aware I was already running out of water; how did that happen. My stomach cramped and I managed to get a salt tablet in. 

I walked up to Pym's chair then made myself run off the top. There were quite a few people on this popular path, but initially its not a problem as it broad and grassy. You can't get too lost as you just follow the high ground along! But eventually I hit the flagged section and was trying to not upset walkers as we crossed and passed. I was slightly behind a group so people had already got fed up with them by the time the hit me and so were not always very sympathetic (understandably). But I could see Shining Tor seemingly miles away. Either side the views over the Peak district were looking amazing, with moorland and lumpy hills. Fortunately the salt tablets were working and my stomach settled. I was really glad to see the left turn off Shining Tor to do the dip. Going down I realised I wasn't doing brill but on the up I fractionally gained on a few people ahead of me. 

The path down to the valley is a mixed bag, starting off more like a Lakeland path and then becoming lovely and boggy, popping out at a stream and then dropping through some trees to eventually drop on to the road and the next water point. I had run out of water at the top so was pleased to see this. I had caught up and overtaken a few people in front of me, enjoying some suprisingly efficient descending that felt a bit like old me. This path is such a weird one as it is never quite anything and you feel you traverse through environments somehow; its hard to explain. 

I lost one of the places I had gained on the down as I refilled my water bottle but I would have probably lost it anyway as now we were doing the dreaded bracken climb out the valley. This climb is also on the Peak Skyline race but at least the bracken has died back at bit by now. I think I did it quicker this time, and certainly felt less dead. I hung on to the group ahead of me, keeping them as close as possible making me work a bit harder up the hill.

The edge of the bracken came, and then to top of the moor with its finger post. I tried to push off the top but I really struggled and lost another place. I think part of me was scared to push, not knowing exactly how much I had at the end, and what the terrain was. But eventually we bobbled on to the track and then the road and the final rotary club marshal channeled us in to a left turn that looked very much like someone's drive. Ahead of me the group had pulled away but one lady had fallen off the back and I could catch up with her. I knew I would have to push to get in under 3 hours. 

But then I could see the finish line two fields down and my legs suddenly kicked in to life. I nearly caught the lady in front but felt a bit mean over taking with less than 50 meters to go. I crossed the line and felt terrible. Exhilerated, but terrible. I sat down then lay down which is something I rarely do. But given how much I had feared the race, I had given a reasonable account of myself. 

The rotary club put on sandwiches, soup and cake for donations after and this went down very well. We sat and chatted long enough to be offered second rounds of left over cake which is always a bonus. And then I drove through the glorious hills to drop in to the cloud that was still sitting over Manchester.