Dales runner 40 2nd of September 2023
When I entered this race at the beginning of the year, it was part of a series. The Dales runner 20 the Dales runner 30 and the Dales runner 40 The first race in the series, in March, the DR20, was postponed due to poor weather and rescheduled for the 12th of August which meant I couldn't do it as I was running across Scotland. I did however complete the Dales runner 30 which was 30 kilometres from Muker, But I couldn't complete the series.
The DR 40 starts at Semerwater And is actually 42 kilometres. When I entered it, I always knew it was close to the end of race across Scotland but I thought I'd be recovered.
I got a lift with Louise who was going to be marshalling as the Dales runner organisers like to encourage car sharing. I had been running well, I'd had 10 days off running since the end of right across Scotland then I had done a social club run from Ripon Cathedral to York Minster which was 30 miles and felt good and I had also run with Ripon Runners and Bedale and Aiskew Runners as well as doing my hill training so I felt that I could complete the course in about 6 hours.
The organisers had said that people who were steadier runners could start half an hour earlier, I debated in my head if that was me, my friends James and Chris both faster than me decided to start at 9:30. As I was filling in the back of my race number most people we're opting for the 9:30 start I didn't want to be last from the start and hold people up so I too opted for the 9:30 start.
It was a warm day and a nice uphill start to warm the legs up. I was right at the back of the group, but I wasn't worried because of the people who would be setting off half an hour later. At the top of the hill generally comes the good bit, the rundown it was rough under foot awful bouldery limestone stuff that they put on these lanes and tracks in the Dales the stones were rolling under my feet and the lovely rundown became more of a walk. I was passed by the lead runners of the 10:00 group. At the first checkpoint I grabbed a macaroon I didn't need to top up my water as it was still quite full and set up on a lovely road downhill then into fields, fields with cattle. More walking, it was starting to warm up now and my legs were feeling empty, I started a run walk strategy run the downs and flats walk the ups. The DR 40 is a beautiful route, running alongside babbling brooks crossing stepping stones trekking through bogs (OK the last bits not so beautiful). At 10 miles I saw Louise, I hoped she wouldn't have too long to wait for me to complete the whole route. Checkpoint 2 had cheese and pineapple on sticks this was inspired, on a hot day the salt on the cheese sweet of the pineapple was perfect. I set off uphill munching away three pieces. Stuck the sticks into my back pocket and cracked on with the rest of the route. There was quite a bit of road on this section which was quite nice but my legs were empty and I had to keep walking, but I could see runners ahead and felt as long as I could see them, I wasn't too far behind and now I had lost sight of the sweeps. After the road section came the bo Igs, running round them jumping over them climbing out of them but there was always more of them. This was the toughest section; it was working its way uphill towards checkpoint 3 but it was hard work in the heat. Finally at the top of the hill a good hard surface even though I couldn't run much I could hike pretty fast. It was good to reach checkpoint 3 I topped up my bottles drank some squash and ate some melon. This was the last checkpoint and ahead it was a good section of road, I hiked and jogged along, every step being a step closer to finish. Suddenly over a wall I could see semerwater, the end was in view. A marshall stood in the lane had the lovely job of sending runners away from the finish line back off road and along trails up and down hills I finally got back on the lane again which I crossed. It now felt like I was on the way back, more boggy bits, more ups, more downs. One of the fields was full of long grass it was very difficult going through the grass and the thistles downhill quite slippy, I didn't know what was underneath the long grass, one lady came running past me very confident on the rough ground, I walked.
Only a couple of miles to go little bit of road a little bit of fields and some stiles. Working the logistics out of stiles at this point was a nightmare turning around like a cat working out what foot to put where, just tired. Finally got onto a bit of road the marshall directed me to the finish, 7 hours and 5 minutes quite a lot slower than I planned luckily Louise had entertained herself paddle-boarding onSsemerwater whilst waiting for me.
Dales runner 40 2nd of September 2023
When I entered this race at the beginning of the year, it was part of a series. The Dales runner 20 the Dales runner 30 and the Dales runner 40 The first race in the series, in March, the DR20, was postponed due to poor weather and rescheduled for the 12th of August which meant I couldn't do it as I was running across Scotland. I did however complete the Dales runner 30 which was 30 kilometres from Muker, But I couldn't complete the series.
The DR 40 starts at Semerwater And is actually 42 kilometres. When I entered it, I always knew it was close to the end of race across Scotland but I thought I'd be recovered.
I got a lift with Louise who was going to be marshalling as the Dales runner organisers like to encourage car sharing. I had been running well, I'd had 10 days off running since the end of right across Scotland then I had done a social club run from Ripon Cathedral to York Minster which was 30 miles and felt good and I had also run with Ripon Runners and Bedale and Aiskew Runners as well as doing my hill training so I felt that I could complete the course in about 6 hours.
The organisers had said that people who were steadier runners could start half an hour earlier, I debated in my head if that was me, my friends James and Chris both faster than me decided to start at 9:30. As I was filling in the back of my race number most people we're opting for the 9:30 start I didn't want to be last from the start and hold people up so I too opted for the 9:30 start.
It was a warm day and a nice uphill start to warm the legs up. I was right at the back of the group, but I wasn't worried because of the people who would be setting off half an hour later. At the top of the hill generally comes the good bit, the rundown it was rough under foot awful bouldery limestone stuff that they put on these lanes and tracks in the Dales the stones were rolling under my feet and the lovely rundown became more of a walk. I was passed by the lead runners of the 10:00 group. At the first checkpoint I grabbed a macaroon I didn't need to top up my water as it was still quite full and set up on a lovely road downhill then into fields, fields with cattle. More walking, it was starting to warm up now and my legs were feeling empty, I started a run walk strategy run the downs and flats walk the ups. The DR 40 is a beautiful route, running alongside babbling brooks crossing stepping stones trekking through bogs (OK the last bits not so beautiful). At 10 miles I saw Louise, I hoped she wouldn't have too long to wait for me to complete the whole route. Checkpoint 2 had cheese and pineapple on sticks this was inspired, on a hot day the salt on the cheese sweet of the pineapple was perfect. I set off uphill munching away three pieces. Stuck the sticks into my back pocket and cracked on with the rest of the route. There was quite a bit of road on this section which was quite nice but my legs were empty and I had to keep walking, but I could see runners ahead and felt as long as I could see them, I wasn't too far behind and now I had lost sight of the sweeps. After the road section came the bo Igs, running round them jumping over them climbing out of them but there was always more of them. This was the toughest section; it was working its way uphill towards checkpoint 3 but it was hard work in the heat. Finally at the top of the hill a good hard surface even though I couldn't run much I could hike pretty fast. It was good to reach checkpoint 3 I topped up my bottles drank some squash and ate some melon. This was the last checkpoint and ahead it was a good section of road, I hiked and jogged along, every step being a step closer to finish. Suddenly over a wall I could see semerwater, the end was in view. A marshall stood in the lane had the lovely job of sending runners away from the finish line back off road and along trails up and down hills I finally got back on the lane again which I crossed. It now felt like I was on the way back, more boggy bits, more ups, more downs. One of the fields was full of long grass it was very difficult going through the grass and the thistles downhill quite slippy, I didn't know what was underneath the long grass, one lady came running past me very confident on the rough ground, I walked.
Only a couple of miles to go little bit of road a little bit of fields and some stiles. Working the logistics out of stiles at this point was a nightmare turning around like a cat working out what foot to put where, just tired. Finally got onto a bit of road the marshall directed me to the finish, 7 hours and 5 minutes quite a lot slower than I planned luckily Louise had entertained herself paddle-boarding onSsemerwater whilst waiting for me.
I had a hot drink and a big chunk of cake, I checked my carshare raffle ticket and I had a winner, “what’s the prize?” “A race” last thing I wanted at that moment, but we’ll see.The cake and coffee perked me up and we set off home I was shattered, I definitely have not recovered from race across Scotland.
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