The day started with registration in a smelly, overcrowded school hall full of runners and walkers of all ages. An 8 am start saw us heading out with a steady climb onto Threshfield Moor, almost missing the first unmanned checkpoint(a clip on a post)....we were looking out for the pile of cakes.
The route continued across the moor, passing Winterburn reservoir and on to checkpoint 2..a man with a clipboard...we were beginning to wonder if we would ever find any cakes!
After passing Rylestone church we came across a sight for empty bellies...a checkpoint with cakes and chocolate. Hurrah!
After re-fuelling, we were off again with a climb up on to Bardon Moor, passing Upper Bardon Reservoir and then a long hard descent to Bardon Scale and the next feeding station...sorry, checkpoint.(delicious jam sarnies!) At almost 13 miles, we were now past the half way point.
Crossing Bardon Bridge, we then had a leisurely trot alongside the River Wharfe(The Dales Way) to Howgill and Skyreholme. A quick stop at the next checkpoint and we were off again, the route taking us through a lovely valley and up through Trollers Trot and the next checkpoint at 18 miles. We declined the hot dogs in favour of energy gels...yum!
A steady descent to Hartlington and we were at the final checkpoint where we were told ''it's just a trot along the river back to the finish''..........a long, long trot back on the Dales Way through Burnsall, over a suspension bridge and finally the welcome sight of the school we had left 5hrs and 59 mins earlier.
An even more welcome sight was the chilli and wedges... and it wouldn't be a LDWA event without the rice pudding and peaches.
We were told that this year will be the last time this event will be run......let's hope not!
A wonderful route with great support...
Posted by Paula
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