Could some one get me the number of that bus....!

Building up stamina and endurance is not as easy as picking up a dumbbell or twenty minutes on a running machine. We have to get out, push time on the trail and dig in.

Today we pushed that notch up a level. Both Bryn and myself know hiking, running and bouncing up over and down ten of the UK's highest peaks in five days [or less], is tough and without testing ourselves weekly we know by August it could either end in injury or failure, neither a real option.

We now have too much riding on up donation money is rolling in, we have a sponsors and we have to do ourselves justice. So our new logistics team member Tim planned us yet another mind bending route across heavy moor, marsh and hill. Yes we are now officially a four man team, two runners/hikers [Bryn/Darren], back up runner/hiker/driver [Dan] and back up driver/logistics [Tim].

I apprehensively, but still excitedly awoke at five am, shuffling around the house fueling up and messing about with kit. Bryn and Tim both arrived at seven am and off the moor we went. Staring at Fernworthy Reservoir at eight twenty five, we disappeared in to the cold morning snow and fog. Leaving Tim making himself a cup of tea on the side of the road.

Today was as much about mental strength as physical training. We trekked across the moor taking in Tor's, passed Two Bridges, bending out to Whiteworks, taking in a few more punishing deep marsh beds and finally ending up in the car park of Avon Damn Reservoir. We did get off track and ended up adding approximately two miles to our day, but luckily our new GPS units pulled it back together with a slight detour [again].

Over all twenty four miles in seven hours and twenty five minutes. The day was pitched as a map and compass day, it certainly was, rewarding, challenging and nearly a marathon. Tomorrow though I feel I will wake wondering where the bus went that hit me! Already after a soak in the bath, filled up with food, the aches are setting in.

I hope Bryn posts his thoughts on the day with some picture, we both had various ups and downs.

-Darren

Stumble It!

The final count down...

Here we are, less than SEVEN months to go and the training is getting harder and more extreme. Training has been hard on me, but every week we push each other that bit more, bounce off each other. We have a lot of different strengths, but I guess that what really makes a team click.

We doubled our running this week, with our eye's on a 44Km north to south Dartmoor hike looming this month with a possible Snowdonia trip, things are far from quiet!
- Darren

Still moving...

We have been keeping busy with family and friends over Xmas, but with work back on the agenda and more UKEC organisation beckoning. The festive season is officially over and 2009 is off like a rocket!

On Sunday 4th we decided to attempt a tough training session. With the help of a friend [thanks Tim], we were dropped at Oakhampton camp on the edge of north Dartmoor. The idea was to have a multi training event; map & copmass, endurance and distance all rolled in to one session. Our tougest yet.

The target was 20km hike, jog and scramble over the more remote areas of the moor. Setting out off at Row Tor at just passed 8am, cold and very icy we climbed over West Mill Tor and up Yes Tor, where standing on top we could see the next three hours of our day before us in the sluggish winter haze. With little time to waste I snapped some pics while Bryn plotted our next hill and off we went.

Slipping and sliding on ice in the ascent High Willhays, we trudged on the Lints Tor, brushed passed Black Ridge. All the time munching on the way and trying to keep warm, on what felt like the coldest day of year so far. We got slowed down by thick ice on the higher 400m marsh land, which was a little like strapping bars of soap to your feet on a wet bathroom floor, interesting to say the least! We finally made Black Hill in what seemed half the day, the hill just kept slowing us down with thick layers of ice making us constantly check our foot work. After Sittaford Tor quickly vanished I clicked a few more pics and Bryn further made sure we were sticking to our hilly route.

With energy and feet burning we passed Grey Wethers 'stone circles', then rounded White Ridge, following the wall closely along the edge of the forest. By now we were really digging in. The day had morphed from freezing cold on the 600m plus Tors to ice melting sunshine. With all our winter gear stuffed in our day sacks we got our heads down the last 3km to our final destination of Heath Stone car park.

Sweating, puffing and delighted. We crossed 23.2km of rough terran in full gear, boots and all, in 4hrs 8mins. Not bad for a post Xmas warm up.

I know it's shameless but our kit worked great. We've had quite a lot arrive lately and this was a great way to test more of it out. All the winter warming sports sock, gloves and hats provided by Hilly Clothing were perfect on a day like we had. The performance base-layers, sports tops and mixed composite jackets sponsored by Logo4Polos were as always ideal, light, warm, breathable and easy to stow.

This coming weekend we'll be mixing it up once again with fell running to get our endurance up. Readying ourselves for a few larger 30-40km hikes in February.

Stumble It!