03/03/2012 - Training Walk#6 - A foray into The Peak District

It was nice to see Lee was awake, breakfasted and dressed when Mark picked him up at 8am (we said we'd keep ribbing him for being late once didn't we?). We drove the short distance from his house to the car park on the Staffordshire Way in Rushton Spencer (conveniently close to the Knot Inn, purveyors of fine ales but I digress...)

The weather forecast had suggested rain, brightening later and judging by the look of the sky it looked like we might be in for a right dumping. Mark donned his waterproof overtrousers as a precaution (more on this later...)   We thought we'd try the MapMyHike iPhone app but unfortunately there was absolutely zero mobile signal so no live tracking this time.

At the point of leaving the car park, the mist had come down quite quickly so we couldn't see the mast on Croker Hill (our second hill) in the distance. Golden Hill, was the first target so we set off at a decent pace enjoying the gradual incline.

A conduit apparently.

Descending down to the Dane Valley Way and the River Dane itself we spotted three buzzards ominously circling (surely they didn't think we'd be lunch?) before crossing a feature labelled as a 'conduit' on the map. 

Looking like a mini-canal we assumed it was something to do with conveying water from the reservoirs towards the Macclesfield Canal itself, though it didn't look too well maintained.

Are we there yet?

On crossing the River Dane, the upward trajectory began towards Golden Hill.This we found relatively straightforward and a decent climb though as the mist came, it became harder to work out just where the top was. At last the peak approached, but alas no, it was a just a precursor as we walked along the ridge. Another peak approached, "This must be it" Mark suggested but again no, as we approached the top a further hill loomed into view, but again no. At the fourth attempt we reached the real peak but given the mist, there was no view to speak of.

Sure, it's big but can you get Sky Sports?

We descended Golden Hill to head for Croker Hill the highest point on the training walk and still the mast remained invisible in the mist. Eventually as we approached from about 200yards the mast loomed large out of the mist. Having previously believed this to be a TV mast, the clear BT signs all the boundary suggested otherwise. Nobody home but a vast amount of cabling, dishes and backup generators. Thankfully no interference on the GPS either. Having reached our first target at 1hr 54mins a good 10 minutes ahead of schedule we broke out the energy bars and headed down the hill towards Bosley Reservoir just as the things started to brighten up. A herd of deer broke out of cover and ran right through the nearby field but too quick for me and the camera - maybe next time.

The distant Cloud beyond Bosley Dam

We reached Bosley at 2hrs 30mins which was bang on our timing. Bosley Reservoir is owned by British Waterways and was built to supply water to the Macclesfield Canal. As we walked the perimeter path there were plenty of fishermen lazily sat at the side of the lake enjoying the sunshine which was starting to appeal given that my waterproofs were now causing me to sweat and becoming uncomfortable so time to get rid. No easy task, propped against a low wall, removing gaiters then boots all covered in mud. A good 10 minutes lost before getting going towards the dam.

Do you think the natives are friendly?

A small wrong turn (the OS map hadn't been updated - thats my story and I'm sticking to it) had us crossing the outfall from the reservoir (and sure enough it discharged into a conduit) and climbing a barbed wire fence which had inconveniently been put in our way. We then found the correct kissing gate we should have come through (but the map WAS wrong!) though the natives were helpful.

The church at Bosley

Crossing the fields we came to the village of Bosley itself. A lovely little village but unfortunately no time to explore, we had to press on to the Nemesis that is The Cloud. 

The steep face of The Cloud

Now I had thought (wrongly) that we had been up The Cloud every which way but Lee knew a different way, a way which was manageable up the sheer face without ropes and crampons. Now at this point, about 15km in Mark was beginning to feel the effects of the previous ascent/descent. The legs had turned to lead resulting in several stops to catch his breath as we began the ascent. At one point Lee suggested perhaps leaving The Cloud out altogether on this occasion to spare Mark's oxygen deficiency but determination won through in the end albeit reaching the trig point 25minutes after our planned 4 hour target. 

 

Croker Hill - have we really come from there?

Another carb bar scoffed and we hit the descent making steady progress knowing there were no more ascents (this time) on the way back to the pub...I mean car. Gradually descending through fields and woodland we picked up the Staffordshire Way and the former railway that would take us back to the Knot Inn...I mean Rushton Spencer...where the car is parked...yes. 

Incoming! Hailstones at 3 o'clock

At this point we got hit with a sudden unexpected hail shower and thats right, Mark's waterproofs were now snugly in his backpack. After persisting down for about 5 minutes and duly soaking the side of our walking trousers, the Knot....I mean Rushton Spencer came into view and the chance to get out of our gear to enjoy a pint of their finest (mineral water).

The stats for this walk can be found here.

10 Things we learned on this walk:

1. Taping the vulnerable areas of your feet and toes with zinc oxide tape certainly seems to protect. No signs of blisters or chafing and no soreness underfoot.

2. Your feet can slide forward in your boots as you go downhill causing pain to the ends of your toes though this seems to be mitigated by 1. above.

3. We seem to be using about 500ml of water per hour at the moment.

4. We need to find waterproof bottoms which can easily be removed and put back on again without losing too much time.

5. Mark doesn't like hilly bits.

6. When Lee says, "This is a nice little incline...", you're in for pain, lots and lots of pain.

7. Mark hates really hilly bits

8. Lee is part mountain goat and part gazelle

9. Knowing there is a pint of ale at the end of the walk is a surprising incentive.

10. Hailstones really hurt when they are driven into the side of your face - but unlikely weather in July.

28/02/2012 - Preparation for Training Walk #6

Given that Mark has recovered from an exhausting nail-biting Wembley Final and Lee is fighting fit after his 34km stroll on Sunday, it seems right to plan our next training walk for this Saturday.

Martin and Julian are unavailable this Saturday and Simon who has masochistically joined us as an honorary Red Harrow - 'has something on' (or at least thats what he said after he saw the proposed route....)

In trying to gradually increase our walk length by about 10% each time, we find ourselves looking for a 20km walk. To try and keep with the ups and downs of Trailwalker we need to accommodate some elevational changes of about 200m and would expect about 500m in total over this distance.

This means we're looking for another 'double-peak', so in search of some variation, we've decided to venture a little further afield into the nearby Peak District.

After a bit of discussion and plotting we've come up with this route, a 20km hike giving us an estimated total 600m of elevation change which will be our toughest test to date.

The route takes us from a car park (coincidentally near a pub) in the village of Rushton Spencer towards and up Golden Hill, a long ascent of about 220m before dropping down a little before ascending Croker Hill standing at 402m above sea level and proudly sporting a transmission mast. From the top of Croker Hill, we descend to Bosley reservoir, a steep descent of 230m and then skirt the edge of the reservoir before making our way to The Cloud which has featured in several of our training walks so far and another 230m ascent this time using a permissive footpath up the steep face. From here we'll descend back towards Rushton Spencer and sample some of the landlord's finest after (hopefully) 5 hours.

We'll be trialling the MapMyHike app for the iPhone on this walk. The idea is that at the start of the walk, it should Tweet a link using our @TheRedHarrows Twitter address to a website where we can be tracked live by anyone who follows us. This obviously depends on mobile signal, battery and GPS accuracy as to how well this will work, but we're hoping it will mean our supporters can track our progress live when we're doing Trailwalker.

We'll report back with our findings later in the weekend.

24/02/2012 - Oxfam Fundraising Leaderboard Update

We were surprised to learn following an Oxfam update that The Red Harrows are currently second in the fundraising leaderboard published on the Oxfam Trailwalker website.

We have been amazed by the support we have received from friends, colleagues and work associates but this really got us excited given that 550 teams have now completed their registrations for this event - we had no idea we would even be in the top 20!

We have received 33 separate donations to date and have raised £1,112.14 so far for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far for helping us achieve this.

22/02/2012 - Advice from India's 1st Trailwalker

We were recently fortunate enough to (virtually) follow Rohan Abraham on India's 1st Trailwalker as he tweeted his experience live and taking some amazing photographs along the way.

For anyone who would like to look back on Rohan's experience, his Twitter address is here.

Rohan has kindly shared with us the advice he received from a doctor regarding diet before the event and has permitted us to share it here.

Diet

1. Pre-walk - in the run up to the final day

Objective - Load up on carbs
Nothing special to be done here.  Just ensure that approximately 75 per cent of your meal is carb based.  Sources of carbs - Pasta, whole wheat bread, rice [pressure cooked], potatoes, chappatis and parathas.
There's no need to eat extra food, just ensure that the above percentage of the quantity that you normally eat is carbs.

2. During the walk - while actually walking

Objective - Keep it light, digestible and simple. Hydration and Mineral Balancing
The doctor suggested that while walking, the food intake should be liquid as far as possible.  Your body will be losing water and salts at a high rate and so the primary purpose is to put those back in to your body.
Suggested liquids include - Gatorade / Electral, Juices, Water
Others munchies while walking - cereal/ muesli, almonds, bananas and glucose biscuits
Warning - Possibility of cramps (so keep hydrated continously). Acidity - carry gelusil/ digene.

3. During the walk - while at a service stop

Objective - Nourishment, rest
The doctor suggested that no complex food be eaten such as fried stuff etc. 
Suggested eats include - Cereal/muesli, boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, bread / rotis / naans, grilled/ tandoori, roasted meat [has to be made fresh and not carried around as this is likely to spoil].  You can make sandwiches of the food suggested. 
Salt balance - Tender coconut for potassium.
Each participant must eat at every stop even if not hungry.

4. Post walk
The doctor said to continue to eat the carb loaded meal for at least a day after and continue hydration.  Pop in a brufen right after the walk in anticipation of cramps and pains.
Also must carry - pain balm, spray, antacid liquid, crepe bandage, insect repellent, sun screen, brufen, loose motion pills

Now as if we ever needed an excuse to eat some great Indian food!

Our thanks to Rohan for sharing the advice he received.

19/02/2012 - The Junior Red Harrows get in on the act

As the team were a bit dispersed this weekend, Mark and Kate decided to take the kids to the top of Mow Cop - something they had never done before. Aged 5 and 8, about 4 miles on fairly flat ground has previously been the limit so a 4.5 mile round trip with a 200m ascent was going to prove challenging.

The kids race ahead with their new Camelbak's

It was also a chance for the kids to try out their new Camelbak's in an attempt to stop them mithering Dad for his all the time.

Holding 1.5 litres of water, the added weight didn't seem to bother them and they  seemed happier to keep going than needing an excuse for a rest and a drink.


Mark was also trying out zinc oxide tape to his feet to see if it would make any difference.

So where's the dragon you promised us Dad?

Once at the top we ventured right up to the Folly where Mark tried to work out if it was possible to imprison the kids in the tower but alas no, it seems they've though tof that.

A quick snack of KitKats for the kids and a test of energy bars by Mark and Kate. A banana and a raspberry Torq bar bought from GoOutdoors were tasted for the first time. Both bars have a chewy, sweet almost molasses like consistency. 

A very edible and welcome burst of energy for the descent but not a patch on Kate's flapjacks (I have to say that) 

The view across Cheshire to the North

The view from the top today was probably the best we've had  for a long time. 

To the North we could see across the Cheshire plains beyond Jodrell Bank to Fiddlers Ferry power station near Warrington and across to the snow capped Clwydian Range in the West. 

To the south we could see across Staffordshire to the Potteries.



A fairly short 7.4km walk with the kids at reduced pace given their little legs but the Junior Red Harrows are both showing early promise for future Trailwalker events to come.

Once returning home and removing my socks, I was surprised to see the zinc oxide tape remained well in place around the heel and toes and seemed to have almost moulded itself to my feet. Where previously I've managed to avoid any blisters but have had some skin soreness, there was no tenderness whatsoever. Perhaps a longer walk is needed for a better test but I'm impressed with the result so far.

Todays walk stats can be found here.

18/02/2012 - Two-thirds of the way to our target...

Today we have reached £1000 raised towards our target of £1500.

As a team we have been amazed by the generosity of people we know and work with and we would like to thank Lagib, Red Leaders Mum and Dad - Colin and Christine, Andrew Hornby (aka Dick Grasso), Sparkleberry Sugarfluff (you know who you are), Mark's little bro Ste, Andy Dunhill at Wardell Armstrong, Steve Brown from Jennors, Robow and Snax - you're all brilliant and we won't let you down.

In the meantime, Red Leader (taking his training far too seriously) has traveled to the foothills of Mongolia (well Northumberland actually) to stay in a Yurt.

Lee in a Yurt - cosy!

 I hope thats water you're drinking Red Leader. Give our regards to Genghis.

11/02/2012 Training Walk #5 - First Full Red Harrows Training Walk

Cold enough for ya?



Todays training walk was the first opportunity for the full Red Harrows Team to walk together. We were also joined again by honorary team member Simon and Julians two energetic dogs.

Lee (Red Leader) had arranged for everyone to meet at Mark's for 9am. Unfortunately Red Leader didn't set his alarm properly so arrived late, looking like he'd just got out of bed (which he had) and having missed his porridge. Hastily scoffing down a flapjack, we set off for the top of Mow Cop ribbing him all the way.

Mow Cop Castle is a folly of a ruined castle built in 1754. Mow Cop is famed for the 'Killer MIle', a one mile race from the bottom to the folly which gets run each year. It was for this latter reason that we thought this would be a good training exercise for the team.

The Folly at the top of Mow Cop

We set a reasonable pace as we left, first joining the Macclesfield Canal which was frozen over before hitting the base of the hill and starting out ascent.

We managed to get to the top in 47minutes a distance of 3.6km and an ascent of about 200m. Once at the top we realised just how cold it was as we struggled on packed hard ice which had melted and refrozen turning it into a skating rink so the opportunity was taken for a quick flpajack and team photo.

We found this quite slowgoing as we tried to avoid the inevitable slipping and sliding though the walking poles with spikes proved invaluable in our effort to stay upright.

We continued along the Congleton Edge and once off the roads we were onto frozen fields again with views across Cheshire and Staffordshire.

The view into Staffordshire from Congleton Edge

We had hoped to set a decent pace along this gradual descent but found ourselves negotiating more icy patches on the trail.

As we broke out of woodland we were presented with a great framed view of The Cloud so took the opportunity for another flapjack and Lee downed an energy gel pack. Fearing this would give him bionic abilities we marched on towards Congleton. Lee proposed a small diversion to the route and we hopped onto the Biddulph Way, a former railway line now widely used by walkers and cyclists.

The Cloud in the distance

The ice continued to abound and we made steady progress towards the Macclesfield Canal.

The canal itself was heavily frozen but so was the tow path. Having gained some confidence by this stage walking on ice, we set off at a pace only occasionally having a comedy fall moment as walking poles went flailing but thankfully managing to mostly retain our balance if not our composure.

The (frozen) Macclesfield Canal

As we got beyond Congleton, the ice appeared to diminish so we picked up the pace on the home straight, completing this training walk in 4hrs 10minutes with a distance of 18.4km and elevation gain/loss of 250m.Todays walks stats can be found here. 

Team total distance walked so far in training is 164.7km.

A very enjoyable training walk at a decent pace managed by all the team members.