Saturday 18th June – The White Bear Way
June 21, 2011The White Bear Way is a LDWA challenge hosted by the Adlington Scout Group. You can choose between a choice of 21 or 10 mile routes so there’s a challenge for the speedy types who fancy a quick 10 or the more challenged types that prefer the hills that the 21 has to offer.
Well myself and Mark Shuttleworth turned up in good time to collect our numbers. Time for a cup of tea and toast in the clubhouse. The only dilemma was the weather. Would it rain torrentially as forecasted or stay dry. I predicted the former.
As we set off along the tracks and trails of Adlington it was clear who the 10 milers were, setting a quick pace. We got our own pace sorted out early on and before we knew it were at CP1, Dryfield Lane for our first slab of cake and drink. Off to CP2 then which is strangely all of 2 minutes away at the Castle at Rivington. From here the 10 milers go their own way and we start for the first time the climbing.
As if to punish me for choosing to watch the 2 lads on Thursday rather than run it, the sun decides to come out in all its glory. Oh no I think to myself as the decision to don the helly top now seems a very bad idea. The climb up to the next checkpoint at two lads was hot and sweaty but another slab of cake and drink was enjoyed with a welcome breeze again. We were enjoying this now and it was time to catch a guy from Yorkshire who was already heading off towards the masts (he must have thought they charged for cake) as he hadn’t hung about.
With the hard work done as you reach the top you can then enjoy good running all the way to Lead Mines Clough. That track is just a heat trap and again I feel like I’m being boiled on the lower ground.
Up past Jepson’s Gate and down to Anglezarke and you feel like you are not that far off. On Healey Nab we take some photos at the cairn where we can clearly see Hopey’s house and I am sure we could make him out snoozing in his hammock.
The next Checkpoint is the Blackhorse pub where thoughts of a refreshing lager would have to wait, then were on the lower paths back to Adlington.
At some points we get the compass out to check directions where we are unsure which path to take. I’m not taking any chances. On these events I tend to follow a local Horwich Runner who is always getting me lost. You know who you are! Anyway after some rutted field and small paths it’s the canal back to the finish where we pass Alan’s house. Alan is busy mowing his lawn on his high powered mower. Mark and I decide to scale Alan’s fence from the canal and surprise him. However with calf muscles tightening and the thighs straining, cutting your gonads on the barb wire fence doesn’t seem a good idea and we carry on.
After a enjoyable 21 miles full of good running and conversation we are back and enjoying a hotpot, more cake and hot tea. Very nice. About 6 minutes slower than last year but the fence episode may account for that. Any way it’s not a race just a good long run out.
Having sat down for 20 minutes it’s time to go, now I am walking like I have been on Alan’s fence.
Will I be back next year, yes I will and I hope other Lostock runners will enter. Maybe we can mention it on the website next year. It’s on our doorstep so there’s no getting up too early and it’s for a good cause.
Having a few beers in town that evening with friends I kept getting asked if I’d been on a sunbed!
See you next year
Jason Tonge.
Comments
Mark Shuttleworth
Jun 21, 2011 23:17
I think they got your time wrong Jason!.
I think we got caught out with the heat, i was expecting rain and the last few miles on the canal were just too hot, still i would do it again next year.
adrian
Jun 22, 2011 19:07
Well done, I like the picture of MArk and my house!
His finger is blocking out the hammock though!
mike ernill
Jun 23, 2011 10:14
Well done Jason and mark count me in next year.sounds like a great route and the cake sounds good too .