We did it!

On Saturday 21st June 2014, me and Beccy were up and out by 4.30 am, to set off on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. Looking at our recent pace on slightly hilly ground, we set ourselves a realistic target of 14 hours - a little slower than the official target time of 12 hours.

We set off up Pen-y-ghent at a decent pace, with just a couple of short breaks to catch our breath. It took us 1 hour 40 to reach the top - spot on for our target. After a quick break and a photo we continued down the first peak and headed towards Ribblehead. The weather forecast for the day was cloudy with the occasional sunshine, and as we walked the sun began to shine through the clouds.

Top of Pen-y-ghent

We arrived at Ribblehead at around 9.30, which was slightly ahead of target. By this time the sun was beating down and the soles of my feet were sore, so we stopped of a sock change and a bite to eat.

Refreshed we set off on the long hard slog up Whernside. Initially the going was good, but after about an hour I was exhausted and needed to stop every 15 mins or so. But eventually we got to the top - slightly behind schedule and after a long break we set off roughly 30 mins behind our planned time. The mid day sun was beating down and it was hot - even 736 meters on top of the peak.

View looking back as we walked up Whernside

Force Gill

Beccy at the top of Whernside

Coming off of the top of Whernside is very steep, and my dodgy knee and lack of balance made this a slow and scary process - good job I had a walking pole or I'd probably have had to come down on my bum!

The steep steps off Whernside - a lot worse than this photo shows!

We got to the bottom of Whernside and made our way to the Old Hill Inn - to have a cold drink, shelter from the sun and top up our water supply. We left the pub about an hour behind schedule.

By this time we where exhausted and the slow initial climb up Ingleborough seemed never ending. Finally we could see the final fairly short but very steep scramble to the top and with a last push of energy struggled up the zig-zag stone steps.

About half way up the steep section to Ingleborough.

As we reached the top of the steps we realised that we still had more distance and climbing before we finally reached the summit. At the top a final walk on flat, rocky ground to reach the Trig Point.

Trig point on Ingleborough

The initial descent from Ingleborough is a bit steep and tricky, but not too bad, and then what seems like a never ending slight downhill walk back to Horton that goes on and on and on. By this time we'd run out of water, were sunburned and every step I took on the stony ground was agony to the soles of my feet.

We eventually arrived back at our start point 15 hours and 7 mins after setting off. Some way off the official target and an hour behind our own target. But we were still very happy that we had completed this challenge and at the same time raised money for a worthwhile cause.

Would I do it again - NEVER.

Oh but wait a minute. I arranged with a couple of friends months ago that I would do the Y3P with them in the summer. And one of them has done this walk several times, in as quick as ten and a half hours.

As James May would say - 'Oh cock!'


Our route/timings are below. I think the GPS on my phone is not accurate as the total distance for this walk should be 25 miles.

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Practice walk - Charnwood Peaks, Leicester

So yesterday myself and Beccy went to Leicestershire to climb some hills - admittedly a lot smaller than the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, but much bigger then anything available in the Fens.

The first hill was in Bradgate Park, Newton Linford. At what initially appears to be the top is a war memorial - The Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Regiment. Probably not the most respectful thing to do, but here's a picture of Beccy and the monument.

From the monument there is a short downhill walk to a walled copse which hides the true summit of the hill. After a short climb back up we got the summit. At the summit is a building called "Old John Tower, again modeled by Beccy.

From there we proceeded down hill, initially in the totally wrong direction, to the bottom of the hill.

After a short rest we did some road walking, then across the greens of a golf course, some more road, a track and finally a long uphill track to the top of Beacon Hill (248m / 814ft).

We headed downhill, over the countryside, rather than the road at the other side of the hill. One short part was quite steep and needed careful descent, but apart from that it was easy going.

 (Does not look steep here, but it seemed it coming down!)

We continues on the route, but due to low battery and rain I only took one more photo. We walked through Wetton Wood, a nice little wood that runs alongside the M1, As you can see in the photo we were very close to the road. The sound pollution spoiled what should have been a nice tranquil woods.

The route should have been 15 miles long. We got lost a couple of times and had to double back, but when Endomondo (tracker app) told us we were at 15 miles, we still had another 6 or 7 miles left. Due to this we took a few shortcuts from the route we were following. Not really sure how far we walked as Endomondo stopped at one point, but pretty sure we did well over 15 miles (probably nearer 20!)

We plan to go back again in a couple of weeks and do the 'prescribed' route.

Here is the recorded route (a 3-4 mile section missing due to app crashing)

Pain is so close to more pain (and this week's progress)

The pain

I think I might have over done it last weekend. As we were at the coast visiting the in-laws, we made the most of the change of scenery and the sea air and did jogging sessions on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, back at home, we did an early morning jog (Day 1 of week 4 of the couch to 5K). I barely got started and my calf was aching. After the first three minute session it was starting to hurt and during the five minute session it got worse. I ended up walking most of the rest of the way.

I think 3 days with no rest days was too much. I was in pain all of Monday, and it was still aching on Tuesday.

By Wednesday morning it was just a dull pain so I went for a jog. Did the 3 mins, the 5 mins, the 3 mins and about 4 minutes of the final 5 before I had to stop. My calf was very painful all of Wednesday and into Thursday. So on Friday morning I decided not to do the C25K plan, but did an interval training session. 10 times 1 minutes jogs with alternate 60 and 90 seconds rests. I managed it, but the calf started to hurt during the 8th jogging time. As soon as I got back home I applied ice and that seemed to relive the pain. However it was stiff and painful of through the day.

I've just been out and walked about a mile and a half delivering Christmas Cards for our Church. The calf is very stiff and has a dull ache, but not too bad. I have to go out again tomorrow to deliver a few more - probably only half a mile though.

I'm hoping that with 2 days of rest, I will be fighting fit for Monday mornings jog. I intend to do week 4 of the C25K program again this week, to become comfortable with it before moving on.


196 days to go...

According to the widget on my phone there are 196 days until the big day. Yikes, it only seems a few days since I wrote the 222 days to go post. Where did those 26 days go?

In terms of jogging progress, see above. Not good, but hopefully I can make progress this week if I do not over do it.

No real walking this week. Hoping that the rest will heal my calf. If all goes to plan, and no further injuries occur, I aim to go for a long walk next weekend.

In terms of weight, I weighed in at 78kg yesterday - the lowest I've been for a very long time - so feeling very pleased.

M

Bonding with Bex (and this week's progress)

Bonding with Bex

When Beccy was born, or to be more accurate the unnamed baby was born, who we later called Rebecca, I took a career break and became a house husband. Because of this we have always been very close.  We've always done activities together, such as walking, cycling and camping - all activities that Mrs F.  does not do.

After the failed attempt this year, we are determined that in 2014 we will succeed. As part of this we are spending a lot of time together exercising and walking , which  I am really enjoying. Quality Daughter and Dad time cannot be bought.

I find this time especially important at the moment, as in September Beccy will be going off to Newcastle for University. Of course I'm extremely happy that my little baby is growing up and moving on to the next stage of her life, but it will be a sad time for me.

So although in reality this will not be our last walk together, it will mark at end of an era.

This weeks progress

I have not weighed myself today as we are away at the in laws. However I weighed 78.9 yesterday. So no real movement, but at least no going up.

We have continued with week 3 (of the couch to 5k plan) for a second week and now feeling ready to progress to WK 4.

Also this morning we did a 10x1 min interval run. Due to achy back I had to walk the first three 'jogging' sections, did a very slow 4th session and managed to jog the other six.

M