The Road to the Amazon Jungle Marathon
Over the last six weeks I have run two 60 plus mile ultra marathons - one in Yorkshire, one in the Lake District, 33 miles in the Marlborough Downs, completed a 30 hour non stop adventure race in Belgium and a two day mountain marathon race in the highlands of Scotland.
I am now half way through my training plan having run 502 miles in 12 events and actually feeling rather healthy and fit!!
These events ranged from extremely demanding!!
- - The 'Fellsman' is a 61 mile run over 'very hard rugged moorland in the Yorkshire Dales' with 11,000ft of climbing over 8 mountain ranges and two hours of torrential rain, sleet and gale force winds. (14 and half hours of continual running!!)
To fun!!
- The 'Malheur Raid' a 30 hour adventure race in Belgium's 'Lake District' area which included, Kayaking down river rapids, swimming across a lake with your bike on a car inner tube - in the dark !, skyping (in line roller skating with big wheels!!), Mountain Biking, Orienteering, Archery, and a great abseiling and via ferrata course (rock climbing). Boys with toys weekend!!
To really satisfying!!
- My partner and I came second in the Low Alpine Mountain Marathon event. Based in The Kintail and Morvich estate, 4 hours north west of Glasgow on the A87, it's 400 square kilometers of mostly Scottish National Trust country, home to the famous Five Sisters (a high ridge 8km long and 1067 meters high), 14 further Munros (hills over 2000ft) and the falls of Glomach, one of the highest waterfalls in great Britain (370ft), this is 'big mountain country'. New this year was the 'Score Course'. Unlike all the other courses that follow a linear route, the score course has a fixed time limit of 7 hours on day one and 6 on day two. Competitors choose from a host of controls to collect depending on location and value - highest number of points over the two days wins. Good route choice and timekeeping are vital, as 2 points are deducted for every minute or part thereof over time. 90 teams of 2 took part, checkpoint locations were given to plot 30 minutes before the start but the value of each checkpoint is only handed out at the start. Makes for quite an exciting race.
Most of the events this month were in glorious sunshine which makes such a difference and last weekend in the Lake District was no exception.
The ‘Three Rings of Shap' is an LWDA event (Long Distance Walkers Association) - an annual event - but one that can be walked at any time - and comprises of three different loops starting and ending in Shap. 100km in total (62 miles) but each loop can be done on its own.
RING 1 - MOSEDALE 18 miles (29Km), approx. 900 m. ascent.
Traveling west from Shap this ring passes above the aptly named Wet Sleddale reservoir to reach remote Mosedale Cottage via quiet and secluded moorland. It then ascends two of Haweswater's "Wainwrights", Branstree and Selside Pike, offering superb views of High Street and Eastern Lakeland. Descending to the hidden valley of Swindale with its magnificent waterfalls and the Truss Gap checkpoint the route returns to Shap through the hamlets of Rosgill and Keld passing historic Shap Abbey on the way.
RING 2 - LYVENNET, LEITH & LOWTHER 24 miles (39Km), approx. 700m. ascent
A fine low-level journey through farm and parkland visiting the quiet Westmorland villages of Reagill, Morland, Hackthorpe & Bampton Grange etc. and providing an intimate view of the three eponymous and little known rivers . Even on its own this walk is no pushover.
RING 3 - GREAT ASBY 20 MILES (32Km), approx. 750m. Ascent.
In complete contrast this ring follows Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast route out of Shap for several miles before leaving it to explore the National Nature Reserve of Great Asby Scar in classic limestone country. It returns from the checkpoint near Great Asby, now on the Westmorland Way, passing through Crosby Ravensworth and Oddendale on the way back to Shap.
Shap is two miles off Junction 39 on the M6 and an 'Anytime' Route Description may be downloaded from the website http://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/web_page.php?c=7&p=26
It is far enough from the tourist areas to be ‘quiet' even in the height of the summer season and ring2 & 3 pass through several villages with plenty of picturesque pubs - well worth a visit.
Next month, is a lighter schedule as I am building up for the Lakeland 100 miler and experience to date tells me I will need at least two weeks of beforehand to ensure I finish it within the 24 hour cut off time - mentally this is the tough one!!
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