Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Charnwood Marathon- Event Report
I very nearly didn't get to the start of this one, as I came down with a bad chest and nasty cough the week before, but as I felt much better Friday night I decided to have a go and take it easy (plus the fact that I had already paid to do it and I don't like wasting money!) These events are certainly becoming more and more popular lately- I had been tempted to enter on the day, but then decided to get an entry in just in case and I'm glad I did as when I just went onto the web site to check whether the results were there yet the event was full!
It had been lovely a couple of days beforehand but as I drove to Quorn it was really foggy and quite chilly. I parked in Rawlins School as directed and checked in at the village hall, grabbing a cuppa. We were set on our way by the town crier in full regalia- as we set off Ross from the Glassback Chronicles came over and we walked together. It makes the day so much easier having someone to chat to for 26 miles and we walk at the same pace (although I am sure I was slower than him Saturday so hope I didn't slow him up too much!)
There are some lovely views on this walk, which takes in the best of the Charnwood area of Leicestershire, but some of these were obscured by the mist. In fact some of the runners got a bit lost but luckily I remembered some of the route from before. We walked through fields and tracks through the village of Woodhouse Eves before climbing to Broombriggs Hill and the first self clip checkpoint.
Not Gorillas, but Cows In The Mist
This was followed by a long steady climb to the top of Beacon Hill- no view today though- and dropped down through the trees to the first manned checkpoint and the point where the long and short routes split- we did see a guy dressed as a buffalo doing the shorter route!
Beacon Hill
The runners were streaming past now, as we faced another quite steep climb before dropping down through fields to a farm. We could hear, but not see, the M1 quite close by which was quite eerie.
Which Way?
At this point, the route climbs again before descending through Lubcloud Farm to the road and again we were cheated out of what is usually a lovely view! There was a stretch of road walking, which was a bit hairy as it was obvious that this was a fast road and some people did not see any reason to lower their speed or give us any room!
By the time we reached Blackbrook Reservoir and climbed through the trees towards Mount St Bernards Abbey, the mist was starting to clear and the sun was peeking through. It was also getting hot!
Blackbrook Reservoir
Luckily there was a checkpoint at the Abbey with cake and a loo- luxury!! As we walked away I realised it was now really warm and sunny- a perfect spring day...
Mount St Bernards Abbey
I had been a little worried how I'd feel, but I felt ok, apart from the usual pain in the side of my left foot which came on after around 15 miles. It's an odd kind of pain, right on the edge of the bones making up the arch of the foot and is quite localised, and usually hangs around for a day or two after, very frustrating.
The next part of the route is lovely, over the Charnwood Hills, moorland in miniature. We could see the next summit- Bardon Hill, the highest point in Leicestershire- looming in the distance.
Charnwood Hills
It was so hot as we toiled up Bardon Hill- a lovely steep climb in the heat and there is a self clip right on the trig point at the summit so cheating is not an option... as if we would want to...
View Of The Quarry From The Summit
The next part of the route I know quite well, down past Old Rise Rocks and through fields to the M1 and Copt Oak.
Old Rise Rocks
Descending To Copt Oak
I remembered that the checkpoint at Copt Oak usually has sandwiches, coffee and other goodies and hoped that we weren't going to be disappointed... we weren't! I managed to grab the last cheese roll and we sat and drank coffee in the churchyard and looking at the church where my sister was married last July (which happened to be the wettest day of the whole summer unfortunately- a total contrast to today!)
Copt Oak Church
We left the church yard to the annoying sounds of a motorbike being ridden repeatedly round and round a nearby field (why!?) passing a herd of very muscular cows and descending towards Ulverscroft Priory (sadly in ruins). We passed a very excuberant group of girl backpackers on the way...
Ulverscroft Priory Ruins
After a bit of fairly quiet road walking the route took us across fields towards the tourist trap village of Newtown Linford with its lovely thatched cottages. It would be a lovely place to live but unfortunately Bradgate Park has given it a bit of a traffic problem.
Newtown Linford
As expected, Bradgate Park (childhood home of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey) was really busy, but the majority of people tend to stick to the tarmac road running through the park so the higher you climb the quieter it gets. And climb we did, as of course there was a self clip on the Old John tower- the highest point of the park... my legs were protesting at this point and my feet felt as though they could do with pumping back up!
The War Memorial
Old John Tower
Fallow Deer
There is another welcome checkpoint- with coffee and the obiglatory hot cross buns at the Hallgates end of Bradgate, and from then on it was just a case of following the route through Swithland Woods, more fields and then the track back to Quorn. As usual there was lovely soup on offer- I had the spicy parsnip- but I had to dash off as I was seeing my sister swim in a gala at Loughborough so didn't get the chance to savour another bowl full- maybe next year!!
It had been lovely a couple of days beforehand but as I drove to Quorn it was really foggy and quite chilly. I parked in Rawlins School as directed and checked in at the village hall, grabbing a cuppa. We were set on our way by the town crier in full regalia- as we set off Ross from the Glassback Chronicles came over and we walked together. It makes the day so much easier having someone to chat to for 26 miles and we walk at the same pace (although I am sure I was slower than him Saturday so hope I didn't slow him up too much!)
There are some lovely views on this walk, which takes in the best of the Charnwood area of Leicestershire, but some of these were obscured by the mist. In fact some of the runners got a bit lost but luckily I remembered some of the route from before. We walked through fields and tracks through the village of Woodhouse Eves before climbing to Broombriggs Hill and the first self clip checkpoint.
This was followed by a long steady climb to the top of Beacon Hill- no view today though- and dropped down through the trees to the first manned checkpoint and the point where the long and short routes split- we did see a guy dressed as a buffalo doing the shorter route!
The runners were streaming past now, as we faced another quite steep climb before dropping down through fields to a farm. We could hear, but not see, the M1 quite close by which was quite eerie.
At this point, the route climbs again before descending through Lubcloud Farm to the road and again we were cheated out of what is usually a lovely view! There was a stretch of road walking, which was a bit hairy as it was obvious that this was a fast road and some people did not see any reason to lower their speed or give us any room!
By the time we reached Blackbrook Reservoir and climbed through the trees towards Mount St Bernards Abbey, the mist was starting to clear and the sun was peeking through. It was also getting hot!
Luckily there was a checkpoint at the Abbey with cake and a loo- luxury!! As we walked away I realised it was now really warm and sunny- a perfect spring day...
I had been a little worried how I'd feel, but I felt ok, apart from the usual pain in the side of my left foot which came on after around 15 miles. It's an odd kind of pain, right on the edge of the bones making up the arch of the foot and is quite localised, and usually hangs around for a day or two after, very frustrating.
The next part of the route is lovely, over the Charnwood Hills, moorland in miniature. We could see the next summit- Bardon Hill, the highest point in Leicestershire- looming in the distance.
It was so hot as we toiled up Bardon Hill- a lovely steep climb in the heat and there is a self clip right on the trig point at the summit so cheating is not an option... as if we would want to...
The next part of the route I know quite well, down past Old Rise Rocks and through fields to the M1 and Copt Oak.
I remembered that the checkpoint at Copt Oak usually has sandwiches, coffee and other goodies and hoped that we weren't going to be disappointed... we weren't! I managed to grab the last cheese roll and we sat and drank coffee in the churchyard and looking at the church where my sister was married last July (which happened to be the wettest day of the whole summer unfortunately- a total contrast to today!)
We left the church yard to the annoying sounds of a motorbike being ridden repeatedly round and round a nearby field (why!?) passing a herd of very muscular cows and descending towards Ulverscroft Priory (sadly in ruins). We passed a very excuberant group of girl backpackers on the way...
After a bit of fairly quiet road walking the route took us across fields towards the tourist trap village of Newtown Linford with its lovely thatched cottages. It would be a lovely place to live but unfortunately Bradgate Park has given it a bit of a traffic problem.
As expected, Bradgate Park (childhood home of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey) was really busy, but the majority of people tend to stick to the tarmac road running through the park so the higher you climb the quieter it gets. And climb we did, as of course there was a self clip on the Old John tower- the highest point of the park... my legs were protesting at this point and my feet felt as though they could do with pumping back up!
There is another welcome checkpoint- with coffee and the obiglatory hot cross buns at the Hallgates end of Bradgate, and from then on it was just a case of following the route through Swithland Woods, more fields and then the track back to Quorn. As usual there was lovely soup on offer- I had the spicy parsnip- but I had to dash off as I was seeing my sister swim in a gala at Loughborough so didn't get the chance to savour another bowl full- maybe next year!!
Labels: Charnwood Marathon
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Hi Steph,
I'm not as quick as you think with this walking lark !
Thanks for the company, and putting up with my constant nattering.
It was a lovely route and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Good luck with the training and see you at Baslow.
I'm not as quick as you think with this walking lark !
Thanks for the company, and putting up with my constant nattering.
It was a lovely route and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Good luck with the training and see you at Baslow.
Thanks Ross, I really enjoyed nattering, it was a lovely day, it is one of the nicer routes.
I now have a place on tomorrow's 3 Peaks Challenge so may see you there!
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I now have a place on tomorrow's 3 Peaks Challenge so may see you there!
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