In September I returned from the Dolomites in
Italy having completed the Alta Via 2, a 12 day trek in the
mountains, feeling fit and healthy. So decided the time was right,
now or never, to have a go at the Joss Naylor Challenge. I decided to
raise money for the North West Air Ambulance and to encourage my
pacers to help me out, go for what I thought was a reasonably
ambitious target of 15hrs. Wendy thought over ambitious. So a date
was set, Sat Oct 6th,
and pacers were contacted. A 4am start was planned so hopefully
finish in daylight at 18.40pm.
At
3.55am David and I were ready to go, maps in hand, head torches on,
at Pooley Bridge. Suddenly nature called and we had to dash in the
opposite direction to the public toilets. So after our quick detour
we finally left at 4.02am. Conditions were good, dry with a gentle
northerly wind. All went pretty smoothly on this 16m section to
Kirkstone Pass. We had a slight problem on High Street when I was
ahead and David had to replace the batteries in his head torch so for
about 10 minutes we lost touch in the dark. Fortunately after a bit
of shouting and wondering around we reconnected and carried on over
Thornthwaite Beacon and Stoney Cove Pike. The only other incident was
when I tripped on a couple of occasions and crashed to the ground.
Very concerned, each time David suggested we walk for a bit, I think
he thought I’d had a mild heart attack. However, each time we
decided it was safe to continue.
At
Kirkstone the new pacers, Colin and Chris were sitting comfortably in
the van enjoying a cup of tea and a chat. They looked a bit surprised
that we had arrived on schedule and it was time to head off up Red
Screes. The north wind had now increased in strength and it was quite
chilly on the tops. We made good progress with Chris leading the way
and Colin protecting me from the wind and generally making comments
(not complementary) about my lean physique possibly to take my mind
away from task in hand. Still in shorts, with the northerly wind
increasing in strength, it was observed my legs were vibrating
unproductively, so for the descent off Seat Sandal we stopped to don
some over trousers.
Warm
once again after the descent to Dunmail, and now 21 minutes ahead of
schedule we met up with the support team, Nicky, and Wendy, my next
pacer. Eating was proving difficult but the rice pudding and cup of
tea went down well. We set off up Steel Fell with Wendy leading the
way and worrying that I’d blown my chances after the last, faster
than planned, section. The weather was still dry with some sunshine,
but the wind still quite cold. The section from Steel Fell to Rossett Pike felt like hard work with gradual climbs and boggy, energy
sapping conditions. Wendy chatted most of the way and I responded
with probably about five words during the 4 hour section, two of
which were “knackered and sick”, and the other three were, “yes
still here”. Nevertheless in spite of my protestations and dragging
my feet, Wendy picked some great lines from Rossett Pike all the way
to Great End and then down the ridge to Styhead so that we arrived,
again about 25 minutes ahead of schedule. She also proved very good
at cadging drinks from walkers along the way, mainly, I think,
because she found them more responsive than her running partner.
On
arrival at Styhead the next pacers, Nicky and Graham, had not
arrived, totally underestimating Wendy’s ability to drive her
reluctant partner faster than schedule. After cadging a coffee off
another walker she legged it off into Wasdale to find our next
pacers. I sat back in the sun at the rescue box, enjoying the coffee
and grateful for a bit of respite and a slightly longer stop. They
arrived after 12 minutes and after some more rice pudding set off up
Gable. Graham leading the way, Nicky feeding and pushing the old
fella ahead. Again some great lines down Gable and off Kirk Fell down
Joss's Gully. The traverse round Black Crag and on up to Pillar.
After Scoat Fell and Steeple it felt home was in site. Haycock and
Seatallan quickly followed and then it was just Middle Fell to go. A
fast descent down here through the dying bracken and a final stagger
to Greendale Bridge and the marvellous welcome from Joss himself. I
turned down his suggestion that I should lie down in the beck to
recover, preferring to lie in the van with a cup of tea. Again we
made great time on this section and shaved another 17 minutes off the
schedule. It was a brilliant end to a glorious day, running with
friends, chatting to Joss, Wasdale, all peaceful and quiet in the
setting sun.
We
finished the run in 13hrs 49mins a great time thanks to the
encouragement and support from my very talented pacers and
supporters. With gift aid we also managed to raise £615 for my
chosen charity, the NW Air Ambulance, so a big thank you to all the
people who sent in donations.
And
a final thank you to Joss Naylor who set up this traverse in the
Lakeland Fells and created the opportunity to do something
challenging in the company of really special friends. A grand day
out!
Pacers:
Leg 1 – David Appleyard
Leg 2 – Colin Dulson and Chris Lumb
Leg 3 – Wendy Dodds
Leg 4 – Nicky Lavery and Graham Watson
Support crew – Nicky Lavery
No comments:
Post a Comment