OMM

It started in January 2013. What? The obsession. I was browsing on Facebook and there it was, a race along the backbone of Britain, the Spine. Intrigued? I certainly was. I followed the runners progress throughout the week and when entries opened for the following year, I decided to sign up for the Challenger.

Nervously, I trained. Running around the Peak District with a rucksack laden with kit. I gathered more lighter weight gear to help make the task easier and not to overburden my  petit frame.  I’m never confident about my navigational abilities but can get by with focus and concentration. There was something inside, the ambition and drive that so wanted to be on the start line. When my partner, Darren, decided to enter too, that made it a bonus, we’d support each other and run together.

The start of the Challenger, 2016
Photo courtesy of John Bamber

There we were at the start. The weather forecast had given it out to be fine but as we waited at Edale for the race to begin, it started to drizzle. Off we went, racing across the fields and as we climbed Jacob’s Ladder, it turned into full on blizzard conditions. Fun! It was winter after all but it caught everyone by surprise. On the summit of Kinder, the snow relentlessly fell and many of the competitors started to look like abominable snowmen as the snow settled both upon them and on the ground. This made conditions underfoot slippery and unfortunately, it claimed one or two competitors when they fell and injured themselves. We checked they were ok and continued, knowing their race had come to an abrupt end all too soon. On the approach to the Snake Pass, we saw several members of the Mountain Rescue Team walking towards us going to help them out. Heroes!

On Kinder
Photo courtesy of Summit Fever

Dusk arrived rather too rapidly just after Black Hill and after refilling my water bladder at Wessenden, it soon became dark.  My bladder then decided to leak with water dribbling out of my pack leaving me with a wet leg, great!  We started to get cold as the temperatures dropped quickly but onwards we continued throughout the night.

On the descent from Stoodley Pike, Darren developed a painful knee which limited our progress. By now the temperature was freezing and we could see our breath in the light of our headtorchs. I suddenly became concerned when Darren said watch out for the elephants! Cold and mildly hypothermic he added another layer and thankfully soon warmed up as we ascended out of the valley.

Darren’s knee got worse during the day after Checkpoint 1. Steadily we continued through Bronte Country and soon it was dark again. The path across Ickornshaw Moor was murky, bleak and cold. Then in the middle of the flagged path was a huge poo! Yes human, yuk!  Disgusted, we ranted as to why they couldn’t have stepped to one side of the path? We nicknamed it ‘poo path’ ever since then!

We arrived on the outskirts of Cowling and had a quick bite to eat in the road side shelter. I felt jaded as it rained heavily and tiredness was starting to take its toll. We continued on across the muddy fields, slipping and sliding and by now I was quite miserable. We got to Pinhaw Beacon, it was windy and cold and we’d simply had enough! At the next road crossing we jumped into the Marshalls vehicle and that was that, we called it a day.

Darren on the Safety Team in 2015

Undeterred, I entered again in 2015. This time, I would be racing on my own as Darren was on the Safety Team. I’d learnt lots of lessons from the previous year. I was better prepared, fitter and more determined that it wasn’t going to beat me again! I new I had to manage those demons that sit on your shoulder when you’re tired, shouting my legs hurt, it’s cold, I want some sleep!

So there I was, back on the start line for the 2015 Challenger and it was a truly epic race. Much like the previous year it started to rain at Edale and after we set off, we were treated to driving heavy rain, horizontal hail and gale force winds that threatened to blow me off my feet at any moment.

Heading out of Edale at the start

I buddied up with Sarah and Peter just before Stoodley Pike and we stayed together for the rest of the race, which was great. We all went through low points at different times so we bolstered each other and kept spirits high including singing as we ascended Pen-y-Gent!

Progress was slow but I didn’t have any ambition over time. I’d never been this far before so it was a journey of discovery for me to see whether my mind and body would behave and get me through. All I wanted to do was get to the finish in one piece. And I did. The wind was unrelenting throughout.  On the Cam High Road, it presented us with one final challenge as we were blasted, battered and bashed around and it was a tough fight to stay upright but I won! My trekking poles were a godsend.

I was shattered but so happy and relieved to be at Hawes and a bonus for Sarah and myself to be awarded joint second ladies.

2016 was a year of consolidation. My ambition is to complete the full Spine Race so I want to ensure I am fully prepared and as part of my preparation I decided to help out on this year’s race as part of the Safety Team. This included spending an overnight stop at the Auchope Refuge in the Cheviots with temperatures well below freezing. I had a fabulous week supporting, which proved invaluable as I was able to talk to the other competitors to enable me to develop my own strategy for next year. So…

…all that stands between me and Kirk Yetholm is 268 miles with 287 gates, 392 stiles and 204 bridges! Wish me luck!