Keiron - July 16th 2018


Life sometimes gets in the way of blog writing. Mostly, it's a minor inconvenience but sometimes it throws up a few major obstacles like changing jobs and moving house both of which have curtailed my efforts at the keyboard. This being said, let me take you back a few weeks to the morning of my third Durham Dales.

I took my place alongside 280 other participants intent on besting the 14 or 30 mile routes over rugged heather clad moorland and rolling dales. I had felt ok when we set off. I say ok, and not fantastic because I'd not slept well, it had been very warm and I suspect I was somewhat dehydrated despite an extra glass of water the night before. This walk was something I'd hoped, would set me up nicely for the upcoming the One Foot in Two Dales walk, a 50 mile qualifier for the H100.

The previous day I'd stretched my legs near the Derwent Reservoir, it was stinking hot and I felt slightly nauseous and drained of the usual power in my legs as I walked down of the fells.

But I felt much better as I climbed out of Wolsingham, (where the Durham Dales begins and ends.) I was walking with the 'Everest 4', the guys with whom I'll be trekking to Base Camp at the end of October.

From left to right: Keiron Young, Chris Irving, Paul Emery and Andrew Bentham

 

Once under way, we walked at a steady pace and stayed amongst the pack for the first few miles. Our pace was respectable but we seemed to drop away through Hamsterley forest and then on towards the halfway point. I felt fine as far hydration and nutrition was concerned but I had definitely caught the sun as my face was as red as my t shirt. My feet were also in good shape unlike Andrew, who was 'compeeded' on both feet and Chris, another of the Everest 4 was struggling with a calf injury but we were in good spirits laughing and joking our way round.

A long way to go, the  Durham moors up out of Wolsingham

 

From Middleton, the route had changed from previous years. A steep climb greeted us which drained Andrew of all his energy (something similar had happened on the Allendale Challenge) and it took time plus a few caffeine shots for him to recover as we traipsed over shin deep heather.

Eventually, we picked up a rhythm again but we realised we were on for a much slower time than we’d expected. Not that this spoiled the experience, the home stretch from Bollihope back to Wolsingham was particularly scenic as we wondered through quarries within which lay ponds and wetlands. A meandering riverside track was a delight and the ornithologist in me had spotted around 40 different species on our way round.

 

The Quarry near Bollihope

 

During the last few miles wear and tear had set in, Paul’s knee had seized up, Chris was limping and I was definitely suffering from being out in the sun blazing down on me for 11 hours. In the end we finished in just under 11 hours. To put it in perspective, I had done it in 9 and a half hours the year before (when it was two miles longer and I was six weeks out from back surgery) so I was a little concerned at how long it took bearing in mind I had a 50 mile qualifier to do a fortnight later. There were no injuries but I just felt a lack of energy I had never experienced before.

However, the walk and the event were fantastic and great credit must go to the organisers. Our team had bonded over blisters, broken toe nails and bodily breakdowns which bode well for Everest.

The following morning Chris phoned me to tell me he was definitely out of the Foot in Two Dales walk. I made a few enquiries but I couldn’t find anyone I knew to walk with me that weekend. So bearing in mind my struggles in the sunshine, I decided to wait for the Red Rose event in the autumn to qualify for the H100. It meant travelling that bit further but it gave me time to find a walking buddy to do it with and conditions were likely to be cooler.

Since making this decision I’ve done a few 15-20 mile walks and lots of challenging fell walks during this fantastic summer and felt much better. So I’m looking to the qualifier with renewed optimism though I’m realising the road to the H100 is a long one and not all plain sailing.

 

Keiron