Glossop MDOC Orienteering event

The MDOC orienteering events always guarantee a good run, a great test of navigation and equal amounts of fun. So when I heard there was one happening in Manor Park, Glossop, it was a done deal that I'd enter. Taking place on Saturday 24th March the organisers timed it to start after parkrun.

So after a very early start to see Tim off for the 4 Inns race (3.45am alarm!) I got myself across to Manor Park and ran parkrun. Some good socialising with fellow parkrunners and Glossopdale Harriers filled in the 45mins or so until we could start the orienteering course.

Myself, Emma and John all opted for the long course, which would take us out of Manor Park but not by much. It'd been a while since I've done an orienteering event, so my first few check points (CPs) were slower than they should have been. The O-maps never show names and while beautifully drawn, the colours and symbols are different to the usual OS maps I use so it took me a while to sync back into reading things at speed. There's also the scale difference at just 1:5,000 whereas I'm used to 1:25k.

I was the first of us three to set off, and with 3 other courses in the park all following different routes I made sure not to get drawn into following anyone. Do your own nav, trust only yourself.

CPs 1 and 2 in the park were quickly followed by our first CPs out of the park. Down High Street East and I'm onto CP3 quickly, then a long leg (though still only about 400m) to CP4. I could soon see that Emma was not too far behind me. My promise to just have a relaxed run around the course soon turned into 'you're being chased, don't slow down' mode!!  I contemplated just letting her catch me but each time I thought she had me, she disappeared as I pushed on to the next CP.  I was thinking my local knowledge might be helping a little too - o-events are so much smoother if you recognise where you need to get to and just head off without needing to do the micro-nav, especially urban ones.

CP5 and 6 ticked off then round to CP7 - then a long drag uphill to CP8. Surely Emma would catch me on that leg? Nope. I'm dibbing and away as she rounds the corner. By now I'm in O-mode - seeing where the CP after the next one is and route planning as I move. As I left CP8 I knew my route to CP9 so could just run run run. A small uphill road allowed me to plan CP9 to 10, then back into Manor Park.

Quite muddy in places

The great thing about o-events is that there are numerous people all running around clutching maps - lots of hello's and smiles as you pass each other. On this event there were several times where you nipped to get a CP then doubled back....all to the bemusement of non-runners who clearly were wondering what the heck all these people were doing!

Back in Manor Park and CPs 11 through 16 are ticked off. Turn the map over for the remainder of the course all within the confines of the park, but taking you to each far corner. Lots of doubling back, lots of double checking I'd got to the correct CP. I found the numbering of them really confusing. On the map I was going for say, CP17, which on the ground was #103. So I was having to remember two numbers in my head....and then be thinking of the next CP and related two numbers....

By the 20th CP I was quite number fatigued...and still had Emma chasing me down. She was quicker than me from CP21 to 22...and down the steep muddy bank to CP23. I was still in her wake at CP24 and up (past the start/finish area) to CP25 where we took slightly different route, popping out at the CP only just behind her. Emma made a slight nav error setting off in the wrong direction and allowing me to catch her up....and then she paused to recheck her map for CP26 but I know where it was....I overtake....down to the far side of the kids playground and it's just the run in to the finish.

Emma and I at the finish
(despite the banner in the background!)

So much for my easy run round the course. Emma literally dibs right behind me on the final CP and I'm sprinting to the finish....no way is she getting me now. A moot point given she set off after me so is most likely going to get a quicker finish time anyway. But, it's good to push after 6km of running around dibbing CPs (and after parkrun) and it made Emma work hard for the last bit too!!

Great fun. Had Emma not been right behind me my time would have been a good chunk longer. As it was, I was pushed and managed to come 2nd Glossopdale Harrier and 5th overall in the event. Quite probably my highest ever placing!!

Apologies for the lack of photos. If you haven't gathered, I was hot-footing it around with Emma chasing!!

Provisional results here.

Shelf Moor Fell Race 2015

Time once again for the local Shelf Moor fell race to be organised by the Glossopdale Harriers. I'd volunteered again this year to help put out the flags on Saturday and then sweep the race route on Sunday. Both days had glorious weather and the views onto Bleaklow, Kinder and beyond with the blazing purple heather were fantastic. I hope the racers took a brief moment to glimpse the beauty on race day!

The Saturday Flagging Party:

Sunday's race day - not many pictures as I was too busy running at the back of the race:

And a final photo to show off the beautiful heather, taken on a guided run I lead about 10 days before the race:

Frosty Sunday Saunter

Today dawned cold and very crisp, with a bright blue sky. On with my big down jacket, hat and gloves...and camera...and off for a Sunday Saunter. Here's the best of my photos...enjoy!

B29 Overexposed Commemorative Fell Run

On 3rd November 1948 'Overexposed' - a Boeing B29 Superfortress plane - crashed on the Bleaklow plateau, high above Glossop. This is the largest wreckage site in the area and to commemorate this we are organising a guided fell run to the crash site. Running Delights have organised several group and individual runs onto Bleaklow, and we've been featured in the Buxton Advertiser and Derbyshire Times. We're timing this run to coincide with the annual memorial service which is held at the site at approximately 10.45am.

The possible options for this commemorative run are:

1. meet at the summit of snake pass and run over Bleaklow, taking us around 1.5hrs and a 6km run or:
2. run from Old Glossop up Doctors Gate, returning over Bleaklow for a run of around 15km and 2.5hrs.

Either choice gives us plenty of time to attend the memorial service and pause for thought at the wreckage site. At the time of the crash the RAF Mountain Rescue attended the incident, and continuing their good work today Glossop Mountain Rescue Team are responsible for this area of the Peak District.

Once I have an indication of interest I'll finalise the details and add them onto the facebook Event page. This run will take us to a higher elevation than our usual Running Delights sessions so it will be weather dependent and clothing to suit the conditions on the day. The cost will be £5 with any additional money raised being donated to GMRT.

Final approach on the run up to Higher Shelf Stones and the plane wreck

For details of how to book on this guided fell run head over to the facebook Event page or call/text Lynne on 07985251185.

Running Delights 'Wreck Run' as featured in Derbyshire Times and Buxton Advertiser

Geocaching

Ever heard of geocaching?

If so, excellent....I hope you have fun caching like I do. If not, don't worry...it is quite simply a treasure hunt. There are hundreds of boxes (various sizes) hidden around the country for you to find, log your visit and maybe swap some 'treasure'. According to the geocaching website there are 2,495,792 active geocaches worldwide.

It's an excellent activity to do with kids, as there is always a purpose to getting them active. There are urban and hill caches, so you don't need to be uber confident with hill skills to get started. I use geocaching sporadically partly as motivation to see new places and partly to test my navigation skills.

Now, you can do geocaching the modern day way, using a gps device to guide you pretty much right on top of the cache. I however prefer to note the grid reference and description of caches, then head out with map and compass onto the hillside. Whatever method you use, it's fun and will get you out and about.  There's also the option to place your own cache (following various rules) for others to find, and in fact I have two out there somewhere...a jointly placed one with a friend and one fairly close to home.

If you're interested in geocaching have a look at the website www.geocaching.com. There is an app you can use on your phone too, it's one you have to purchase so perhaps give caching a go before spending any money.

view from one of my placed caches in Glossop

and the path to the same cache

Hidden geocaches around Glossop

If you'd like to give this a go and want some company drop me a message, I'll happily show you a few caches around Glossop. I'm also available to teach navigation if you'd like to be more confident out on the hills. Navigation training is set up on an individual or group basis; prices vary according to numbers/time out on the hill.

Bleaklow Wreck Run

Sunshine and a warm gentle breeze greeted us for today's run across Bleaklow to the B29 Superfortress plane wreck. It was a superb day to be out fell running, and I think you'll agree the photographs speak for themselves.

Doctors Gate Culvert

Running up to Higher Shelf Stones

At Higher Shelf Stones trig point

Higher Shelf Stones trig point

Higher Shelf Stones trig point with Glossop way down below us

part of the Superfortress wreckage

Cloudberries galore on the moor

Superfortress wreckage

Returning along Crooked Clough

Final section back down Doctors Gate Culvert

Great running from everyone today, including one lady who was out on her very first fell run - super effort.

Wreck Runs in the press

Running Delights in the press - featured here is an article all about our guided runs on Bleaklow to see the aircraft wrecks. Shown here in the Buxton Advertiser, and was also in the Derbyshire Times at the end of May 2014: