Just To Say..

This is just a very quick post to shamelessly plug a new blog that I am helping with, called Where There's A Wilf, There's A Way- or WTATAW for short (though both are something of a mouthful!)

The site is dedicated to the memory of Wilfred Bennett, the father of my friend Trevor, who had heard about the challenges Team Chester and I had done over the last few months and decided to throw the gauntlet down to us yet again!

I won't spoil the surprise of what it's all about, but safe to say if you are interested then please click here to take a look at our latest challenge.

Looks like I'm back to training again!

Caroline

Third and Final Challenge Complete

Marie Curie Yorkshire 3 Peaks

Well we've done it! Our last challenge took place on Saturday 2nd July, and it was a very long but very rewarding day. 
5am. I had forgotten it even existed until I had to get up at that time. We got up to bundle our cars full of gear, back up gear, food, fridge, sinks, and anything else I could pack in. Of course we had our dedicated support team on hand too (Mum and Dad) in case we just couldn't possible eat all those delicious pies on our own. The weather forecast was for a glorious day and it turned out to be just that.

We arrived at Horton at 7am, my cousin Lisa Stoppard had also registered to walk the challenge so we all teamed up and set off  for Pen y Ghent at 7.30 am

Pen y Ghent is a hard first hill to climb, and you are faced with an immediate one hour up hill slog. As it is the first one, you haven't really hit your stride and you begin to wonder just what you've signed up for and how on earth you're going to manage two more. Once at the top, however, the adrenaline kicks in and it's bring on Whernside.

We stopped a Ribblehead Viaduct for refreshments and some of the 20 assorted Potts Pies we had brought along for nourishment- yummy! I have never eaten a pie so readily in my life. We set off in high spirits for Whernside summit,  If you hate Pen y Ghent because you are not warmed up, you begin to long for it after the Whernside climb- two hours of constantly ascending, it never seems to end! It was a very hot day and we threw as much water over us as we drank, but at least the wind was nice and refreshing at the very top.

View from the top of Whernside you can just about make out the Viaduct

Nearly at the summit check point you can see Ingleborough in the distance

Caron at Whernside touchstone

Rob and Lisa enjoying the views

The very steep decent back down Whernside, again with Ingleborough looming in the distance

Setting off for final hill Rob, Caron, Lisa and myself

After a very quick snack stop at the base of Ingleborough we went once more into the breach. We had an hour of climbing before we hit this -The Wall- it is  the steepest climb of the day. It took us half an hour and because it was so busy, scores of people having turned up for the event, it was a toss up whether to stare at the person's bottom in front of me or the shear drop I was climbing, I decided to alternate (the person on front being my husband thankfully). 

The Wall

Half an hour after the wall climb we hit the top of Ingleborough- Here's Caron and Lisa making it to the top

Rob heading for summit check point

Admiring the breathtaking  view of Morecambe Bay in the distance

It was 4.55pm when started back down Ingleborough to Horton, there are a few steep bits but it is a good steady downhill path. We hit the final check point at 6.55 pm once again the sense of achievement overwhelmed how tired our bodies truly felt. Then it was back to Caron and Adam's -yes, you guessed it- for a plethora of pizzas.

We did take all the boys, our dogs always enjoy a day out, but after the first hill it was way too hot for them, so we left them behind with The Oldies (my parents) who took them to play in a beck. They were all very happy chappies. We even brought along the newest member of Team Chester, Helo, who is now six months old and utterly adorable.

Helo

On behalf of Team Chester I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have sponsored and supported  us in all our Challenges. You have been very generous and helped raise money for some very deserving charities. 


We hope to keep up the good work next year and hope you will join us then too! For now, it's time for a good long rest!

Caroline and Team Chester

Second Challenge Completed

Jane Tomlinson's Run for All Leeds 10K in Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

The city of Leeds was taken over by thousands of runners to take part in the 5th Anniversary Leeds 10K on 19th June 2011.

Team Chester (consisting of Rob and myself) set off at 7.30am and it was pouring down as we made our way to the Red assembly area. I had played it safe when registering us and said it would take us 2 hours to complete, as neither of us had ever ran for anything ever! Not even a bus! 

We got totally soaked to the skin and it was only 8am. The atmosphere was astounding and everyone joined in the warm up which commenced with "Singing in the Rain" the organisers evidently not without a sense of humour.  At 8.40am we were lead en masse to line up for the start, had a Mexican wave down the waiting masses, then at 9am we were off! Well a slow paced 'off'' there were roughly 4400 people to cross the starting line before us. I have to say it was hard work on my legs, but only had myself to blame as training hit a wall after doing Asda's Yorkshire 3 Peaks, spent 4 weeks getting colds, pulling my back, jarring my foot and tweaking my knee, I was determined to complete the 10K even if I had to  crawl or plan B was to get Rob to give me a piggyback. 

I was really really surprised when we managed to complete the whole 10K in 1:07:14 in fact have to admit coming over all emotional as I was so very proud of  us both!!  Once again the sense of achievement is such a buzz it's very addictive.

I would really recommend this as it's such a fun day. You can run, jog or walk it, you have a plethora of people ranging from teenagers to 80 year olds, fun runners to professional and the famous to the fancy dressed. I may have to train better for next year- not too impressed that I was out run by a Clanger! 

Just two weeks to final challenge... The Yorkshire 3 Peaks walk in aid of Marie Curie, and I can tell you it will be nice to have a long, long, long and hopefully well deserved rest.

I am delighted to say we reached our target for donations on the Run For All and once again I would like to thank everyone for your support and sponsorship.

Caroline, Rob and Team Chester