From Petra Bijsterveld…
The Blubberhouses Moor 25 is a challenge event, welcoming walkers and runners, organised by the Nidderdale LDWA group, starting and finishing at Norwood Social Hall on Bland Hill above Swinsty. The circular route of 24 miles (why is it called 25 I hear you say!) takes in Fewston, Thruscross, Rocking Hall, Bolton Abbey and Storiths, Beamsley Beacon, Round Hill, Ellercar Pike and Timble. Strangely enough I had never done this event. Perhaps it had always struck me as quite a long way to run. However, having moved up to some longer runs in the last year it now seemed quite short, so I entered on a whim, thinking that having done a 42 miler 3 weeks ago I would either be well in the groove, or maybe not quite recovered, and could adapt pace accordingly.
We were lucky to have a beautiful day, sunny and clear, quite warm but with a hint of a breeze on the tops once we reached Beamsley Beacon. With around 200 runners and walkers it was never crowded but I did always have someone in sight ahead of me even in the later stages. Route finding was easy, despite not having done the event before most of the sections were completely familiar, so I hardly needed to use the gps on my watch. I ran from near the start to Thruscross chatting to Matt from Otley AC, then I ran with Lynn and Jayne to Rocking Hall, somehow felt a smidgeon more oomph in my legs so pushed on by myself, just having some fleeting conversations with various runners along the way. So many lovely people to meet on these events! I was delighted to reach Ellercar Pike from Beamsley Beacon without having fallen over a rock or sunk into a bog (to be fair, the bogs were fairly dry compared to their usual state), and to have solid, easy ground to cover again. Still, my legs were tired by then, I was trying to keep a good pace up as I was wondering if I could make it back sub 5 hours. I teamed up with a young woman and we chatted for a bit which helped take my mind off the fatigue. However any hope of sub 5 vanished as I came off the causeway by Swinsty and took in the vista of the long slog uphill on the road back the Social Club, that road definitely seemed a lot longer and steeper than it had done at 8:30 on the way down!
I really enjoyed running this event with so many beautiful views in all directions. The brilliant weather helped of course, weather wise the contrast with the recent Rombalds couldn’t have been greater. Plenty of checkpoints staffed by very friendly volunteers offering a good selection of snacks and drinks. The entry fee of only £8 (!) included a very nice hot meal at the end, as well as a badge and a printed certificate.
(1 03:13 Jonathan Pownall)
15 3:59 Dick Waddington
16 3:59 John Hayes
19 4:07 Derek Oliver
27 4:18 Paul Calderbank
32 4:28 John Pickering
36 4:31 Jill Ezard
63 5:06 Petra Bijsterveld
72 5:20 Jayne Norman
73 5:20 Lynn Donohue
150 ran/walked