THE VIRTUAL SPINE RACE
Virtual Spine Day 3
Virtual Spine Day 3
Distance Covered Today – 13.88 miles
Total Distance covered – 40.30 miles
Virtual
Slightly warner day but still barely getting above zero degrees. Slightly stiffer breeze gives a colder feel.
This stretch lacks the scenic splendour of the last two days and the sound of ‘civilization’ (i.e. the niggling buzz of traffic) are never far away. However, there is still much to enjoy, especially the views approaching the Calder Valley, under the watchful eye of Stoodley Pike, which dominates the second half of the day. There’s plenty of flat walking and much of this section sticks to the high moors and gritstone edges. Close to my home town now as I pass through Todmorden and stop for the day just before Hebden Bridge.
Reality
Cold day hovering just above zero with a fresh NE wind making it feel icy cold out of the sun
Walk 13.88 miles – A nice steady walk today which was meant to be around 9 miles to Salterforth and back but we extended the route up into Barnoldswick for a coffee and some lunch albeit from a garage due to the shops closed with the pandemic.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider sponsoring me for this mammoth challenge, it’s for an incredible cause and inspired by an incredible person in Laura Nuttall 🙂
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gd20in20
My motivation for this has come from a very special person called Laura Nuttall who in late 2018, was diagnosed with terminal multiple brain tumours at the young age of 18. Her determination and positive attitude to not only live her life to the full but also to help others as an ambassador for the charity is just incredible and I’m proud to join the fight in whatever way I can. You can read Laura’s story at the following link. Please be generous and help this great charity to raise much-needed funds for researching a cure.
https://www.facebook.com/DoingItForLaura/
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we’re moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour. We’re set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can’t wait.
Virtual Spine Day 2
Virtual Spine Day 2
Distance Covered Today – 15.67 miles
Total Distance covered – 26.42miles
Virtual
Very cold and sunny with a gentle breeze
Another cold but clear day today with a sharp frost and -3 degrees to wake me up this morning. Not as tough, or as scenic, as yesterday as the compelling journey through the savage beauty of the Peak District’s gritstone moors is mostly flat walking followed by a long but enjoyable descent into tiny Crowden. It’s undemanding, mostly moorland running and often on stone flagstones but with the moorland vistas and some invitingly picturesque valleys, the walk has stacks of charm. The days running takes me to a marathon in just 2 days as I reach Standedge and I’m 9 miles ahead of my target
Reality
Very cold & sunny start at -3 degrees turning to heavy snow by lunchtime
RUN 15.67 miles – From Briercliffe myself and Ed Lee set out towards Catlow bottoms where we joined the PWIAD route. It’s really cold and very icy underfoot but we make steady progress. We head down towards Walverden Reservoir and through very boggy fields before climbing to Nelson golf course. From there it’s down through Reedley, alongside Pendle Water and then on towards the Crossroad of the Pendle Way and Burnley Way. From here it’s a 1-mile climb up to Higham before turning round and heading back down the hill. Up to Ightenhill then down to Crow Wood and along the greenway where the snow became very heavy. It was a slow plod from there back to Briercliffe in a blizzard.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider sponsoring me for this mammoth challenge, it’s for an incredible cause and inspired by an incredible person in Laura Nuttall 🙂
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gd20in20
My motivation for this has come from a very special person called Laura Nuttall who in late 2018, was diagnosed with terminal multiple brain tumours at the young age of 18. Her determination and positive attitude to not only live her life to the full but also to help others as an ambassador for the charity is just incredible and I’m proud to join the fight in whatever way I can. You can read Laura’s story at the following link. Please be generous and help this great charity to raise much-needed funds for researching a cure.
https://www.facebook.com/DoingItForLaura/
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we’re moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour. We’re set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can’t wait.
Virtual Spine Day 1
Virtual Spine Day 1
Distance Covered Today – 10.75 miles
Total Distance covered – 10.75 miles
Virtual
The weather isn’t too bad for the start of this epic challenge, very cold hovering around zero but light cloud and no wind makes it good for running and walking. The race starts and I opt for walking the first 3.2 miles out of Edale on the road and towards the starting point of the Pennine Way at Newfold Farm where I then turn into the fields. Its a climb now up Jacobs Ladder to the summit of Kinder Scout. From here I head out over Bleaklow Moor passing a B29 plane crash site, a very sombre place in a remote part of the peak district the wreck is surprisingly well preserved seeing as its been there since 1948. At 10.75 miles my first day comes to an end with me 2 miles ahead of target.
Reality
Very Gentle breeze with light cloud and around 2 degrees.
WALK 3.18 miles – An easy walk with Linda up to Walton lane cemetery to lay our Christmas wreath in the tree near to my dad’s grave.
RUN 7.57 miles – Ran a loop of Colne up Albert Road, along through Laneshaw Bridge and up Emmott Lane. From there it was past the Alama and down Castle Road, up Red Lane then down through Alkincoats Park before heading back home. A lot of snow still around making running on the pavements a little treacherous so tried to stick to the road most of the time or ran on grass where the snow was a little deeper.
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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider sponsoring me for this mammoth challenge, it’s for an incredible cause and inspired by an incredible person in Laura Nuttall 🙂
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gd20in20
My motivation for this has come from a very special person called Laura Nuttall who in late 2018, was diagnosed with terminal multiple brain tumours at the young age of 18. Her determination and positive attitude to not only live her life to the full but also to help others as an ambassador for the charity is just incredible and I’m proud to join the fight in whatever way I can. You can read Laura’s story at the following link. Please be generous and help this great charity to raise much-needed funds for researching a cure.
https://www.facebook.com/DoingItForLaura/
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, were moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.We’re set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can’t wait.
