Two Crosses Circuit

This was my second time of taking part in the LDWA Two Crosses Circuit.  It's a fantastic event, starting and finishing at the Laurel Play Centre in Tottington. 


There were a good few familiar faces at the registration hall before the event: Josie, Suzanne, Lindsey, Abigail, Michelle, Karen, Andy, Sophie (Andy's girlfriend who I met for the first time), Mark, Gordon, Kev and Kelly (who I didn't realise was into distance running, having only known her doing track running).


The day started badly as I had a bad stomach which was a cause for concern as the last thing you need on a long distance run is to find yourself looking for a suitable bush to drop your trollies in.  I took an Imodium and hoped for the best.

The start was at 8am and as soon as I started running I realised that my legs hadn't fully recovered from last week's 32 miler.  They were very tired although, thankfully, I wasn't having one of my 'nothing at all' day's which was good.  There was at least something there which I hoped would ease off as the run went on (when I have my 'nothing at all' days, it doesn't get any better no mater how far I go). 



I started to fall behind everyone I knew quite early on but had to remember that most of them were doing the shorter 17 mile route so I shouldn't try to keep up with them anyway as they weren't going as far as me.  Three miles in, I actually felt more tired than I had done 25 miles into the Hobble.  My calves were really tight and my legs just felt heavy.  I could see Mark, Michele, Abigail and Gordon getting further and further away into the distance but only Gordon was doing the 25 mile route, the others opting for the 17. 


When I arrived at the point where the routes split, it was so tempting to head off onto the 17 mile route and cut short but I gave myself a good talking to and stayed on the 25 mile route. 


After the split, the 25 mile route goes up a steep muddy hill and then carries on over rough ground for quite a way before getting to Checkpoint 2.  Thankfully the ground wasn't as boggy as it has been because the weather has been quite dry the last few days but it was still pretty hard work as it's really uneven and quite energy sapping. 


Before Checkpoint 2, I caught up with Gordon and headed down to the checkpoint with him but I was off straight away (after picking up a piece of marble cake) whilst he got himself a brew.  There's then some more hard going terrain before getting onto the Witton Weavers Way, which is then about two miles of hard trail.  This should have been easily runnable but with my legs as tired as they were I was doing a bit of running and a bit of walking on the uphill sections (which were only mildly uphill!). 


Then came the climb up onto Darwen Moors which isn't a huge climb but it really did feel like it today.  The people who had been running a short way in front of me were getting further and further away at this point and I was struggling to keep near them. 


The terrain again got quite hard going in places as it was across open moorland and my energy was getting sapped more and more by the minute. 


Soon enough though, we were back onto more easily runnable terrain and headed towards Entwistle Reservoir.  I had to stop a group of girls from going wrong at this point, as they had missed the right turn leading down to the steps to the reservoir.  The run along the edge of the reservoir seems to go on for ages before you get to the end and go up the steps to the best checkpoint ever (Checkpoint 4)!  As Josie said, it was like a wedding buffet - it even had a cheese board!


I still didn't hang around for long though as I find that the longer I stay at checkpoints, the more difficult it is to get going again.  I just grabbed myself a jaffa cake and continued on my way.


At this point, I noticed that I could actually be on for a sub five hour run.  I was pretty pleased at the thought of this because last year I had done it in about 5 hours 56 minutes.  I knew there was still a long way to go yet though and I was getting increasingly more tired so didn't want to get my hopes up too much. 


After Checkpoint 5, I found myself running along on my own.  There was nobody in view either in front of me or behind me.  It was at this point, when the map was telling me to run at specific bearings, that I realised I had forgotten my compass.  Oops!  Thankfully, it was quite obvious where to go so things weren't all bad.  Luckily, when I was crossing the moors towards Bull Hill, it was all flagged and visibility was good so I didn't need to worry about compass bearings. 


After a slog across the moorland, I finally arrived at Checkpoint 6 - the 'Naughty Corner'.  At this checkpoint there is no water, only rum, whisky or sherry.  I opted for a hit of rum, hoping it would give me some vigour to run up to Peel Tower.  What's the worst that could happen?


On running along to Peel Tower, I was getting really tired and didn't have as great a run up to it as I had the previous year (of course it wasn't the rum's fault).  I now realised that sub five hours was out of the question, however I did have a good chance of getting in under 5 hours 15. 


After the tower, I had a slight navigational dilemma which wasn't helped by a young boy who was trying to be helpful by telling me the right way, however the 'right way' for him was the way he had just come up with his mum and not the way I actually needed to go.  I did manage to go the actual right way and made my way down to the short but steep descent in Redisher Woods.  When your legs are tired, this is really hard work. 


Not far to go now and I soon made my way to the golf club and out onto the road, before turning onto the cycle path which leads back to the Laurel Play Centre.  The run in seems to go on for ages though and it's really flat so you try to run it pretty quick, which is no easy feat on incredibly tired legs.  Where is that bridge?!?!?!?!?


Just as I was running into the centre, Duncan and Ruby were stood on the side waiting for me, which was nice. 


At the finish, I sat with Josie, Andy, Sophie, a girl I didn't know (sorry) and Duncan (and Ruby of course).  There was a great choice of soups and I opted for parsnip with a big wedge of wholemeal bread.  There were also loads of butties and an egg mayo butty has never tasted so good. 


My official time was 5 hours and 11 minutes which is 45 minutes quicker than last year.  Imagine how well I could have done had I not been tired!  I'm pretty certain I would have smashed the five hour mark.  Maybe next year, however I don't want to end up treating these events as races because that will take all the fun out of them for me so I don't want to get too hung up on times.


What an excellent day out, even though I was so tired.  The weather was amazing and I think I actually got slightly sunburnt!  The food was the best of any long distance event I've done and the company both en route and at the registration centre was awesome.  What a lovely bunch of people.  Massive well done to all the organisers and helpers.


Duncan had mentioned to me that there was a chocolate festival on down the road in Ramsbottom so we headed there after I had finished eating soup and butties.  When we got there though, it was way too busy and I was fearful of Ruby being trampled to death so we didn't stay long and instead drove out to an ice cream parlour/café and sat out in the sun scoffing ice cream.  A well deserved treat I feel.


Great day out!



Total distance - 25 miles