A Silly Trip To Fell Running Hell

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Tideswellman / Old Man Paints

Today, I had a proper nightmare on my run. I haven’t had such a run for a long time. The problems were many and all my fault from start to finish. It just goes to show, that even after a few years of running, you can still get it badly wrong if you don’t plan it properly.

Fell Running Mistake #1 – The Distance

I have been toying with the idea of doing a half marathon equivalent on the fells. I’m sure I can do it just based on other long runs I have done before. So I thought this might be good practice.

However, I didn’t measure the distance first, and I was way too ambitious with the distance given that I haven’t done a really long run for a while, and I’m as big as a barrel after Christmas.

https://www.strava.com/routes/11506714

My route was 19k with 250m of elevation. What was I thinking? Really? Hubris, pure hubris!

Fell Running Mistake #2 – State of Mind

I really wasn’t that up for it, I’d planned to do a simple park run in the morning but due to ice, the thing had been called off, frustrated and tense, I was desperate to get out and run hard no matter what. In addition to this, I forgot to pick up my inhaler, I am a long time asthmatic. 90% of the time it NEVER troubles me…whenever I run without an inhaler, it bites. Must be psychosomatic, but it can be a real pain and a bit of a worry if you’re on your own.

Sometimes, It’s best to just have a short trot out without too much pressure. Runs are always harder when you’re not in the mood, so why put added pressure on yourself by not knowing the distance and conditions?

Fell Running Mistake #3 – Not properly Dressed

You can never mitigate for the conditions when fellrunning, just a few weeks ago we were out on a run and it was just chilly, 30 minutes later it was snowing really heavily. I always have a decent jacket and hat, but almost always forget to take my gloves, today was no exception. It wasn’t too cold on the hands, but, it could have been especially as the wind started pick up. I didn’t take a headtorch with me, I should have because the route was more challenging than I thought, thus I was slower, it was getting dark by the time I hit Elton.

I did have my bum bag with FRA kit on me and thankfully didn’t need it. The wind was blowing quite a lot as I climbed the first hill up to the trig, but thankfully left me alone after that.My issues arose from footwear. A few weeks ago I picked up some Walsh PB Elites. I’ve only used them once, on soft fields and damp woodland trail, they were brilliant. Today, they weren’t the right shoe.

Firstly, the Walsh is a very flat shoe, and there was a lot of hard trail and tar in today’s route. Also, today’s route had a lot of saturated mud and hard rocky limestone paths. The mud was almost pulling the shoes off, and the rocks were giving my feet a pummelling.
My left feet was sore before I went running, it was much worse after. My Fellraisers always protect my feet from such conditions and are not as shallow so hold the foot in place much better than the Walshes.

Fell Running Mistake #4 – Route Not Reccied

I did plan this run using a map, and had my map with me….but I suppose this WAS the recce. That said if I’d have reccied it before I would have certainly made route changes and opted for the Fellraisers over the Walshes.

If I’d have reccied the route I’d have known that the stream in clough woods was totally flooded. Never seen that before, it’s usually a dribble. Tonight it was flooded over the path least 6inches deep. I tried to go round it and discovered a marshy area. I had to bite the bullet and go wading. I really need to do a refresher navigation course with Pete Hawkins, and remember my map.

Catalogue of errors – Follow Basic Safety Steps

1) Tell someone your route, I did not.
2) Take a head torch – I did not
3) Take your life-saving medicine – I did not
4) Anything over 10k, take some water – I did not, luckily I was able to eat some snow, and wasn’t dehydrated according to my failure to create yellow snow, a bit further on.

Other Pics:

Despite all the horrors listed above, I have to see this as a learning experience. It’s a good reminder that man is NOT greater than the environment, and to be prepared, even if you feel confident, don’t take silly chances, even experienced fell runners can die in unforeseen circumstances.

Related Links
– Navigation courses
– Fell Running Kit List

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Oker Hill Trig & Beyond

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Tideswellman / Old Man Paints

Oker Hill is one of my favourite local fell running destinations. Oker Hill is a relatively small hill that extends from the side of a larger bank. It sits between Darley Bridge and Wensley, Or if you’re heading on the back road from Matlock, just above the Hamlet of Snitterton.

It has a white painted trig point that makes it clearly visible from both high and low viewpoints around the Darley / Matlock area.

My usual route to the trig starts at the Church Inn, Church Town, Darley Dale, I follow the road around the corner past St Helen’s Church, turning immediate right over the fields past the dog kennels. Follow the path across the first field and you come to a broad arable field on the floodplain.

Head toward the Cricket ground and this will bring you out at Darley Bridge. Head over the Bridge and swing left down the lane called Wenslees. You’ll have the River Derwent on your left, just after the Water Treatment plant, take the stile through the fields on your right.
Most of the year, this field is boggy, expect wet feet, if you don’t have waterproof footwear. Fell runners do not care about such things, we welcome wet feet.

You’ll come to a small stile, go over and up the next field, it brings you out on a farm track called Flint Lane, Turn right, about 10 meters on your left, take the next stile and go up the next field. This field is steep and undulating. Depending on the time of year, there may be cattle or sheep in the field. If you have a dog with you, ensure it’s on a lead to avoid spooking the livestock. I have been chased by bullocks in this field so beware.

As you climb to the top of the field there’s a gate on your right, keep going up, under the Hawthorne trees, and you’ll see the land on your left rise sharply. Up and up and you’ll come to what looks like a little ski slope. If you’re fit, you can run up this in one go. If not, you know you need some training. It’s a short but steep hill and when you get to the top you reach the trig point and are rewarded with fantastic views.

South Darley Church

Looking towards Wensley

I really like this little route because it gives you a reward, without killing you in the process. A relatively easy trig with great views, but you still have to make a bit of effort.

After you’ve caught your breath and taken in the view, head along the undulating path toward’s the big tree, you might spot a rabbit or two if you’re lucky. At the big Sycamore tree, there is a little shrine, I don’t know the detail behind it, but someone either loved this place or lost their life here.

Now follow the path past the tree, through the scrub and you’ll come out on the other side of Oker, to your left is an old derelict barn and your way back.

Oker Hill, Head down toward the barn.

Head down toward the barn, you can now turn right into Oker and take the bottom route or head left and you’ll be heading back the way you came, just slightly lower down the hill.
Look for the shard. The shard is just my name for a sharply pointed guidepost on the path, resembling it’s more modern, London counterpart.

All you have to do now is follow the path, you’ll come out at the foot of the steep incline up to the trig. Go back down, retracing your steps and back to the pub for a well-deserved drink.

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If You Like This, You Might Like My Other Fell Running Articles
– Fell Running

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