It was only our second attempt at the Across Wales Walk. but already there were people to catch up with since the first time. I slept well on the village hall floor, it helps if you are the one who snores and keeps the others awake.
We set off on the short coach trip to the start at Anchor. It felt a little cold on the start line and I was nervous. As we knew we had not done enough training we started slow with a lot of walking.
The whole route across Wales covers some great landscapes, one of the most enjoyable things is seeing the changes from rural Shropshire to hills and forest to mountain. There were some great running sections, on one of the best we ran down the hill to Llandinam with Marcus. I was still felling good on the next road sections towards Hafren Forest. After consuming some very nice home-made malt loaf at Checkpoint 3 we set off along the Wye River Trail. Emerging from the forest we headed straight up the slope to Plynlimon.
This is where the difficulties began. The wind had picked up and as I reached the ridge I was starting to fell sick and starting to get cold. I put on an extra layer and we headed down towards Nant-y-moch. When we reached the reservoir I was very cold and put on all my spare kit. It was a slow shuffle to the fouth checkpoimt along the road which follows the southern edge of the reservoir. Along the road we decided I should call it a day.
After some soup and tea it was a relief to climb into the back of the mini bus and fall asleep. I tried and failed to persuade Simon that he should carry on as he was still full of beans.
You can say the first half of the course was beautiful, which it was, that the atmosphere was very friendly which it was, and it is a great event to be part of but I was still p'd off. Well next year maybe.
Showing posts with label Across Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Across Wales. Show all posts
18 Sept 2012
11 Sept 2010
Across Wales Walk Sept 2010
5 o'clock on the border of England and Wales, surrounded by head-torches and anticipation. Simon and I set off down the road to start the Across Wales Walk.
The adventure began the day before as we left the south coast after lunch arriving in Ludlow late afternoon. After a couple of attempts we found a pub serving food and sat down with lasagne and chips to have another look at the map and come up with a realistic finish time. After registering at Clun village hall we spent a slightly nosiy night sleeping on the hall floor until 3:15.
The sun came up as we ran along the Kerry Ridge way, the start of an amazing day. We ran the first couple of sections with a group of runners who had done the route before and enjoyed their company and their help route finding.
After Check Point 1 we reached a high point above Llandinam and ran over 2 km a wide track downhill all the way to the village. We crossed the River Severn for the first time and joined the Severn Way.
After a short road section we reached Check Point 2, otherwise known as Jaffa Cake heaven. Our new friends left us after the check point as the hills started to rise before us with great views over Bryn y Fan.
The route takes you along the side of the Nant Gwestyn with a very steep drop down to the trees and stream below. I tried to point out the view down to his left but Simon seemed focused on looking straight ahead.
As we dropped into the valley of the Severn again we had a new experience. In the past, out running, we have been attacked by dogs, cows and seagulls. In a narrow enclosed lane we were attacked by a sheep which charged at Simon. I decided that cowardice being the better part of valour to leap into the hedge while he defended himself with his Garmin Forerunner.
We followed the long road into the Hafren Forest where we reached Check Point 3. This provides toilets and soup, both greatly appreciated before we started the climb up to Plynlimon. Once you leave the forest the long trudged up the tussocky grass to the first col starts and then on to the summit. The views from the summit cairn were amazing back over the route we had come and over Nant-y-moch (Valley of the pigs) reservoir. We dropped down to the road around the reservoir and on to Check Point 4.
By this stage we had covered about 32 miles and we were now walking and were being caught by the faster walkers. Leaving the road we covered a beautiful section over the scree path and down the Leri valley to Check Point 5.
Here I made a mistake. On offer at Check Point 5 is the famous Bread Pudding, the recipe is available on the acrosswaleswalk.co.uk site. In my confused state I missed it. Simon, who is no fool, had 3 bits and the next morning told me how delicious it was.
The last stretch was 7 road miles to Clarach Bay, to finish in 14 hrs 10mins. A minibus then takes you to Aberystwyth University Halls, where a bath and a massive plate of fish and chips await.
A fantastically organised event which covers the whole weekend. The event is obviously a favourite with a lot of people and I can see why. The route which covers a range of contrasting beautiful country, the friendly participants and the support from marshalls all make it worth coming back.
The adventure began the day before as we left the south coast after lunch arriving in Ludlow late afternoon. After a couple of attempts we found a pub serving food and sat down with lasagne and chips to have another look at the map and come up with a realistic finish time. After registering at Clun village hall we spent a slightly nosiy night sleeping on the hall floor until 3:15.
The sun came up as we ran along the Kerry Ridge way, the start of an amazing day. We ran the first couple of sections with a group of runners who had done the route before and enjoyed their company and their help route finding.
After Check Point 1 we reached a high point above Llandinam and ran over 2 km a wide track downhill all the way to the village. We crossed the River Severn for the first time and joined the Severn Way.
After a short road section we reached Check Point 2, otherwise known as Jaffa Cake heaven. Our new friends left us after the check point as the hills started to rise before us with great views over Bryn y Fan.
The route takes you along the side of the Nant Gwestyn with a very steep drop down to the trees and stream below. I tried to point out the view down to his left but Simon seemed focused on looking straight ahead.
As we dropped into the valley of the Severn again we had a new experience. In the past, out running, we have been attacked by dogs, cows and seagulls. In a narrow enclosed lane we were attacked by a sheep which charged at Simon. I decided that cowardice being the better part of valour to leap into the hedge while he defended himself with his Garmin Forerunner.
We followed the long road into the Hafren Forest where we reached Check Point 3. This provides toilets and soup, both greatly appreciated before we started the climb up to Plynlimon. Once you leave the forest the long trudged up the tussocky grass to the first col starts and then on to the summit. The views from the summit cairn were amazing back over the route we had come and over Nant-y-moch (Valley of the pigs) reservoir. We dropped down to the road around the reservoir and on to Check Point 4.
By this stage we had covered about 32 miles and we were now walking and were being caught by the faster walkers. Leaving the road we covered a beautiful section over the scree path and down the Leri valley to Check Point 5.
Here I made a mistake. On offer at Check Point 5 is the famous Bread Pudding, the recipe is available on the acrosswaleswalk.co.uk site. In my confused state I missed it. Simon, who is no fool, had 3 bits and the next morning told me how delicious it was.
The last stretch was 7 road miles to Clarach Bay, to finish in 14 hrs 10mins. A minibus then takes you to Aberystwyth University Halls, where a bath and a massive plate of fish and chips await.
A fantastically organised event which covers the whole weekend. The event is obviously a favourite with a lot of people and I can see why. The route which covers a range of contrasting beautiful country, the friendly participants and the support from marshalls all make it worth coming back.
8 Sept 2010
At the end of Across Wales Walk
Thanks to everyone for their support and donations. I made it, what a great day. I will be writing up the story of the day and putting up some of the photos I took along the way
At the end, sitting by one of the thousands of caravans in Clarach Bay
1 Sept 2010
Just Giving
Thanks to everyone who has donated via the Just Giving pages. It has been a very generous response.
A note to anyone else thinking about setting up a Just Giving pages - in the last week before the event it sends you an email each day giving you a countdown. I think it is trying to give you some last minute fund raising tips, sort of helpful. If you read between the lines it is actually saying is
- Do you really think you have done enough training?
- Are you up to the challenge?
- You are going to let a lot of people down if you fail!
Or may be that is just me. 3 days to go by the way.
A note to anyone else thinking about setting up a Just Giving pages - in the last week before the event it sends you an email each day giving you a countdown. I think it is trying to give you some last minute fund raising tips, sort of helpful. If you read between the lines it is actually saying is
- Do you really think you have done enough training?
- Are you up to the challenge?
- You are going to let a lot of people down if you fail!
Or may be that is just me. 3 days to go by the way.
17 Aug 2010
Not too long now
Just under 3 weeks to go until Across Wales Walk. At the moment I am feeling a mixture of nervousness and "well there is nothing I can do now". A sluggish 5 mile run at lunchtime did not help my feeling of preparedness. I have got a trip to Dartmoor to organise and the Dorset Doddle to run. They will help keep my mind of it for a while.
As I have mentioned before here, I have 3 ways of estimating finish time.
Option 1 - minutes per mile
Last long run/walk was at 17 minutes per mile so this gives 13.5 hours
Option 2 - Double last year's winners time
Last year the winning time was 8.5 hours so that is 17 hours
Option 3 - 80th percentile
Looking at the results that is about 16 hours
None of them look very good. I guess Option 2 gives the best indication of the terrain and distance, but hopefully I will nearer Option 3, 16 hours..
As I have mentioned before here, I have 3 ways of estimating finish time.
Option 1 - minutes per mile
Last long run/walk was at 17 minutes per mile so this gives 13.5 hours
Option 2 - Double last year's winners time
Last year the winning time was 8.5 hours so that is 17 hours
Option 3 - 80th percentile
Looking at the results that is about 16 hours
None of them look very good. I guess Option 2 gives the best indication of the terrain and distance, but hopefully I will nearer Option 3, 16 hours..
30 Jun 2010
AWW page
I have added a new page to the blog about my attempt to complete the Across Wales Walk. Beware you may be asked to sponsor me.
Inspiration from Thunder in the Night
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