The Spine (the final undoing!!)

As we headed over Marsden Moor which felt like it was taking forever, we passed other mini-checkpoints with the Mountain Rescue team there making sure we were ok and didn't need any assistance.  There were children playing in the snow and having snowball fights and building snowman which was a great distraction even for the short period of time it was.  My favourite bit of the race was coming, the checkpoint in a lay by that at first I seemed doomed as was handed a cup of earl grey tea which was a lovely thought and was nice and warm but tasted blinking horrible lol!  Then as we headed off I couldn't help but notice two guys getting stuck into a burger from a van, oh my gosh was this really here.  So yes you guessed it we hung around for Tom to have a proper cuppa and me to devour a burger and a can of coke! Perfect ha ha!

Once my hunger was fully satisfied off we went again towards the M62 bridge, that's all I had in my mind, that was my current goal as I think it felt like a significant point on the route for me.  Apart from it seeming to take forever to get there, it was a tad icy which made it an interesting crossing it was almost like doing a tight rope but much safer, just!  There we were across and it was just to get to 'The White' pub carpark now and meet Rob and Amy again which was now becoming crucial as my headtorch was dimming and I had a long way to go yet.  Eventually we came across a signpost that suggested it wasn't far and we started heading down towards the road.  The path now had become less snowy and more muddy and rocky with the odd bog to contend with.  Then out of nowhere I see a little dog running round, that must be Albert. Yippee!!!

So my issues were that I had a short lived head torch, 10 miles to go before I could charge it. The plan was to attach the pebble charger whilst I ran to get me to Hebden Bridge so I could charge it.  Once we got to the car and had what seemed to be obligatory cup of tea I had a quick change and started preparing for the cold night ahead.  I asked Rob to pack the battery pack into my rucksack and we were off.  I now had a torch that could shine a dot on the moon but now I know that it will only last 3-4 hours.  My reserve Nathan hand torch let me down as when I got it out of my bag thinking I had been clever, it didn't work!  Which isn't great since I'd spent the night before charging it with everything else.  My nightmare was just beginning, and was only going to get worse!

Heading past Blackstone edge reservoir was a bit tricky, I knew this part as had done one of my recce's here.  I knew the path and conditions so felt good, the track we were on was treacherous though.  There may not have been snow all over it but ice, and ice is worse as we couldn't see it so every now and again one of us would look like Bambi slidding across the path waving our arms like we were trying take off and fly ha ha!  This was dangerous yet a little funny.  We were heading towards Stoodly Pike, the path turned from a track into a paved path as we headed out onto the moors.  As we went round the moorland the ground turned into a boggy mess, and my head torch was starting to fail.  So treading as carefully as I could I was still hopping and leaping about like a jumping bean until the occasional sinking into a boggy patch that I didn't see.  By this point I didn't care about mud and water it was a game of survival now.  I wasn't especially cold if anything I had to keep taking my hat off as was over heating.  The closer we got to Stoodly Pike monument the less and less I could see.  I knew this area because of my recce so I knew it was going to be rocky and dangerous to someone running blind.  I had to keep trying to use Tom's headlight as much as possible and he every now and again turned and shone the beam when it was a bad patch to help me through.  We eventually made it to the monument where we had caught up with another guy who was just taking a minute to check his map and get the right direction.  We all set off again together having a little chat and hoping that the other one knew the route better than the other.

The path took us downwards and off towards Hebden Bridge where I knew it was going to be a crucial point for me as I was already 3 hours behind my schedule and as good as no head torch.  It was just about me any more my actions were going to have consequences and will affect other peoples lives which wasn't really fair.  I was still trying to solve the problem of the head torch and still be able to continue the race.  It was looking less and less likely as I couldn't come up with a solution that wasn't going to hold me up even longer.  Tom was now talking about stopping at Hebden Bridge due to issues with his leg, this didn't help me as made it seem easier for me to make my decision which in hindsight I should have persevered and just taking 10 minutes to think through the problem.  This is ok though as this teaches you some important lessons and on these kind of events you just keep learning.

We got to Charlestown and by now it was a matter of deciding if I can get hold of Chris before the checkpoint to come and pick me up as I remember them saying in the brief that there was no reception.  The we crossed a bridge noticing the MRT van but no sign of anyone so just carried on looking for the path on the otherside of the road thinking nothing else of it.  The guy behind us crossed the bridge but then seemed to double back once he'd crossed the road as if his crew were waiting for him but we couldn't quite see.  This turned out to be another mini checkpoint, and we missed it!  The path then suddenly turned into a very very steep climb, still a track, cobbles almost which made it a bit slippy, especially with limited light like me.  This path just kept going up and up and seemed relentless, all I could think was how cruel just before the checkpoint but typical lol! A thin rain began making our final stand slightly less pleasant.  This path had gone on for so long now we were beginning to question the route and thought we had gone wrong somewhere.  This surely couldn't have happened as we had used the GPS device and I was following it on the map but Tom was becoming more and more convinced we were heading in the wrong direction.  I knew we had to meet the road then turn right, so until we met that road we needed to just keep going.  We were slightly concerned as there were no other torch lights, normal you would see them dotted about which gives you a little confidence in where your going, unless there all following you ha ha!  Out of no where a few head lights popped up and suddenly there were a number of us heading in.

We eventually met the road, I managed to get a signal and call Chris informing him I was pulling out and could he come and get me.  We headed towards the Scout centre which was the checkpoint.  The last test was an incredibly dark steep descent which was riddled with opportunities to break your ankle, again especially if you were doing it blind like I was.  We got there hurrah!  We checked in and gave the news we were pulling out. I was gutted as never dnf'd before but I was ready for a good plate of food and to be picked up.  We were asked to take our boots off and were given a tag, as if already at the maug, and to leave our kit in the kit room.  I was given a tour, toilets to the left followed by the showers, then the bunks if we need a sleep then the cantine.  Game on, this is where I'm heading a nice plate of spag bol and a cuppa!  Chris popped his head round the door after a short while and the pain of pulling out was over, it was time to head home.  Spine challenger was over, but not completed, I'm going back and I'm going to finish the job!

THE SPINE!!!! (Part 2)

After those first few tough miles climbing Jacobs Ladder and working my way through Kinder Scout, we came to an open moorland that just blew me away it was amazing.  I spoke with the challenger behind me and said it was worth the entry fee just for that view.  Beautiful white snow, just a slight trodden path, a distant and sparse line of runners with Sun fighting through the mist. Amazing! Truly amazing!  I felt like something out of 'Scott of the Antartic' or from a Ranulph Fiennes book.  Then as we pushed on and the time was hitting Sunset it just became another sensation, same views but with a moody pink blue horizon that just melted into the snow.  Class! 

As tough going as it was I loved it.  I knew I was behind schedule but I believed I would come up with a plan to overcome this or hit easier terrain enabling me to move faster.  The snow and ice under foot was slowing me down, not massively but it just made things feel heavier and a greater work load.  I continued to make sure I kept sipping regularly at the water bottles and trying whenever possible to graze on the bits of food I brought but I find that so difficult as just like to get into a pattern and get on with it but as I do more and more of these kind of events I realise how important it is.

I eventually met up with Matthew at my first rendezvous point which was Torside Resevoir, there also happened to be a checkpoint here with an MRT tent providing cups of tea and water bottle refilling.  This was handy as Matthew seemed to have forgetten to bring anything useful for me such as water or food ha ha!  Brilliant cheers mate!!!!  Even though he'd failed at his one real job it was a good boost to see him and have a brief chat.  I soon headed off after a quick cuppa at the checkpoint.

I headed off over the other side of the reservoir and up into the hills.  This became more and more of an ascent, climbing up on to the top again.  This path turned out to be stunning, well troden the width of your feet and shin deep snow either side.  On one side of you rocky moorland, on the other side a sheer drop of a few hundred feet enough to put an edge on things and make you concentrate on your footing.  Wow the view was stunning!

This went on to be a long lonely stretch all the way to my next checkpoint, sharing the trail with only only a few for what seemed an eternity.  Then out of know where, with darkness almost apon us we could see car lights on a main road.  This was a good sign, firstly it was civilisation again which always fills you with hope and whats more it meant a possible checkpoint site.  For me it also meant Rob and Amy, they hopefully had met up wth Mathew and done a handover so they had a bag with clothes and food!  Once I got to it and eventually found them, I wanted to put my waterproof trousers on and headtorch as didn't want to be faffing about with these at a later date in  more inhospitable conditions.  I headed off after actually getting quite cold as it was a very windy cold location, but happy to be back on the move.  Now we were heading for the M62 and The White House pub carpark.  Darkness was here, and a long cold bleak night ahead of us loomed!!!

THE SPINE!!! (Part 1)

Well, where do I begin.  I didn't achieve my goal of finishing the Spine Challenger.  Normally I think DNFing would bother me immensely but for some reason I now feel more challenged and excited about what I am going to do to over come this hurdle.  There's a number of factors that came into play that affected my plan and resulted in my decision to pull out and I will try to explain these as I go.  This event for me was awesome, it is everything I love and want from a race but I was so far off understanding what is required to complete something as brutal and technically difficult as this.  Its very hard to explain because for once I wasn't able to just rely on determination, bull dog spirit and a never give in attitude.  Things were getting out of my control and I couldn't see a way around the obstacles that I faced.  These obstacles were something new for me to deal with really as it wasn't the fitness side if things as was going ok in that respect, yes I was aching and hurting which is normal, I was having problems with my lower back but was able to work through that and then my left knee became very sore but again I had that in hand.  No the biggest problem I had was a logistical dilemma and a head torch problem.  Now I think normally I'm quite good at solving problems on the move which is something that you need to be able to do on these events and that is not easy when dealing with exhaustion and the demons telling you to quit as its easier.

In all went wrong from the off really but this is kind of what I wanted because I wanted to see where my problems may lie when I go to the Sahara.  So on a cold misty January morning in Edale, I stood at the start line of whats recognised and billed as the most brutal race on the British race calender.  This was enough to make me nervous and excited on its own.  I turned to Chris my support crew and said 'what I am doing here?'  'I'm not meant to be here, these guys are mental!!!'. Well that says it all really.  What an incredible build up, the hustle and bustle in the race HQ before the race and the lead up to the race including the race brief and kit check.  Here we were counting down 3,2,1 boom off we go.  I didn't even know which way I was running lol!  Follow the crowd to begin with that was the plan, head up Jacobs ladder and get passed Kinder Scout, ha ha, make it all sound so easy.  Well within 5 meters of the start line I had encountered my first problem, my water bottle that was hanging in front of me on the shoulder strap just popped off and fell to the ground.  Apart from slightly embarrassing I couldn't help but laugh.  Un - bloody - believable!!!

The first section was as normal, very giddy and chatty people.  Not before long it soon became a more focused approach due to the snow and ice and the hill factor.  We soon approached "Jacobs Ladder"  this is just how it sounds, a long climb uphill up what can only be described as steps.  Well, if you weren't warm before this you soon gained body, blimey, I was boiling, sweating uncontrollably and thinking I'd over done it on the clothing.  This soon changed again as we steered round the hills to the start of "Kinder Scout".  This presented us with another steep climb, this time no steps just a few trodden snowy foot prints leaving a trail to follow.  The mist was descending gradually and the snow was getting increasingly deeper and more difficult to stomp through.  The next runner was soon going to disappear so I decided to work harder as in these conditions I didn't want to lose sight of others.  The mist turned into thin snow and vision became more and more difficult as did reading the map and following this white, slightly trodden path leading me into the depths of this mountain range.  What happened next was what could only be described as "school boy error!" but quite a dangerous one in some cases.  I had managed to stay close to a group that were making good pace and I was able to keep with them, which at the moment like I said due to the weather I was keen to do just in case of emergency etc.  Anyway we heading over the top and following a very slight path with very few footprints on which already roused my suspicions but instead of trusting myself and stopping to check the map and gps I just carried on.  Until!  The lead guy just stopped, obviously realising something wasn't right but I tried to be bold and carry on which was when I made a lunging step and my foot disappeared into the snow, infact my whole leg did.  This was the moment when I thought retrace your steps check the map and get back on the trail.   Funnily enough the crowd behind me who had also just followed suddenly all started shouting 'we've gone wrong!!!'  so we all headed back about 300 yrds and found the path or turn that we had missed.  To be fair you could see how someone could miss it as hardly anything there just a little white trodden trail.

The Spine!

So here we are not long now just a few days!  The anticipation, or trepidation is becoming a killer.  Its the not knowing what to expect, which in its own way is the excitement before the race and I probably secretly love this side to it but right now its stressing me out!

Just awaiting all the last minute bits of kit to come, and deciding what extra clothing I should get for the night sections as panicking now due to the extreme whether forecasts that keep getting featured in the media.  I'm actually again excited that its going to be ridiculously hard as this to be truthful is what I want.  Crazy I know but then that will be the test and the preparation I need for one of my future challenges.

Argh even whilst writing this I have a million things bouncing round my head, do I need a thermal mid layer, actually what is a mid layer?, do I have the right food, who will give me what and where and when, how do I know how quick/slow I will be, how bad is the weather going to be, will I be able to navigate, what if I cant navigate it......................will I complete it when I said! argh!!!!!

Tomorrow I am going to try a trial run with kit, full pack and extra packs.  This will also include using the GPS device, map and compass!

Its time to stop doubting and start believing!  Hardmoors trained, I can do this!!!!!

Ooooo its been a funny old last few weeks!  Training has been hit and miss until lately, due to the sprained ankle situation so therefore I didn't do quite as much as I wanted.  Whats interesting is the rest has done my body good, apart from the extra pounds I have put on.  Now when I am training my legs feel immense! So its true what they say, rest is just as important even if it feels like your going backwards believe in the method!

Ok well just before Christmas I had managed a little bit of outdoor running and gym work so over Christmas I decided it was time to put it to the test and get out there on the trails. I was spending the first part of Christmas at my parents in a little village called North Dalton on the Yorkshire Wolds.  This was a great setting as headed out on the Wolds a couple of times, wet, windy and heavy under foot which was ideal!  We then went on to my sister who lives in Alton in Hampshire so not far from the South Downs.  Again, I managed to get on a trail near to her house which provided the kind of training I needed, undulating, unstable footing and a few hills.

So now I was back out running and hitting the gym my  big concerns were coming down to kit! There's so much to get for each of my big races.  On the flip side its also very exciting as a delivery comes nearly every day at the moment ha ha!  My journey is well and truly on its way, if your not careful it bypasses you very quickly.  I am trying to enjoy all the planning side of things too but its quite stressfull organising things and people who are helping.  Actually really excited about tis next challenge but worried at the same time eeek!