With another late start (0925) we were in no hurry so had a leisurely breakfast (hot chocolate, porridge, rice pudding ready meal) and after a visit to the loos and topping up with water we were ready. Again we were a couple of minutes late (this time because our watches were wrong!) but we were off again, new maps in hand and four hours to get back to Okehampton Camp.
It was colder today, and as we started I had waterproof trousers on and an extra layer under my jacket. The waterproof trousers came off after about 1/2 a mile! (I'd mainly had them on to keep warm while at the camp.) The extra layer came off 30 mins after that, and although I felt a bit chilly in the same gear as yesterday it was better than the heat (and sweat).
We were following a similar route to the day before, but in reverse, and with (mainly) different controls. Our strategy was to pick up the controls close to the route and then see how much time we had towards the end. We progressed pretty well, though the rivers were much higher than the day before after all the rain, and the stream we had splashed across on Day 1 was more of a challenge in spate. Thigh deep, we eased our way carefully across and climbed out the other side and kept going.
As time went on the weather got mistier and colder, and the fog threatened to roll down and envelop us, but we managed to avoid losing our way. I was quite happy with our navigation, apart from the odd foolish error caused by not using all the information on the map. (In this case not recognising that a control was near the top of a valley, near the col, and wasting time searching in the marshy patches 400 yards lower down the valley).
After a couple of hours we were worried (needlessly as it turned out) that we were running late, and skipped a control not too far away to concentrate on getting onto the main North South track across the moor. We jumped a couple more rivers (just!) and joined a procession of runners (now reduced to walkers!) up the hill to Dinger Tor. A quick rest in the lee of the tor, and then off down the track, running and walking and making good time.
From there on was a breeze. We had the high of knowing it was downhill most of the way back, and with hundreds of runners streaming in towards the camp finding the last couple of controls was a doddle. Again we pondered picking off one last control, but eventually opted to just head for the finish. The last 200 yards were uphill towards the camp, and we ran them, just for show, and crossed the line with 29 minutes to spare. We could have picked off that last control, but we were happy to be back.
From the finish line we were directed into the camp, through the food tent for a cup of hot soup and then on to registration to get our results printout and a meal ticket. I headed off to the medical centre for the same round of tests, and was soon back with Pete in a warm car. We decided not to stay for lunch in the (crowded) canteen, and headed home.
Next year .....?
We were following a similar route to the day before, but in reverse, and with (mainly) different controls. Our strategy was to pick up the controls close to the route and then see how much time we had towards the end. We progressed pretty well, though the rivers were much higher than the day before after all the rain, and the stream we had splashed across on Day 1 was more of a challenge in spate. Thigh deep, we eased our way carefully across and climbed out the other side and kept going.
As time went on the weather got mistier and colder, and the fog threatened to roll down and envelop us, but we managed to avoid losing our way. I was quite happy with our navigation, apart from the odd foolish error caused by not using all the information on the map. (In this case not recognising that a control was near the top of a valley, near the col, and wasting time searching in the marshy patches 400 yards lower down the valley).
After a couple of hours we were worried (needlessly as it turned out) that we were running late, and skipped a control not too far away to concentrate on getting onto the main North South track across the moor. We jumped a couple more rivers (just!) and joined a procession of runners (now reduced to walkers!) up the hill to Dinger Tor. A quick rest in the lee of the tor, and then off down the track, running and walking and making good time.
From there on was a breeze. We had the high of knowing it was downhill most of the way back, and with hundreds of runners streaming in towards the camp finding the last couple of controls was a doddle. Again we pondered picking off one last control, but eventually opted to just head for the finish. The last 200 yards were uphill towards the camp, and we ran them, just for show, and crossed the line with 29 minutes to spare. We could have picked off that last control, but we were happy to be back.
From the finish line we were directed into the camp, through the food tent for a cup of hot soup and then on to registration to get our results printout and a meal ticket. I headed off to the medical centre for the same round of tests, and was soon back with Pete in a warm car. We decided not to stay for lunch in the (crowded) canteen, and headed home.
Next year .....?
No comments:
Post a Comment