Tadcaster Tri-Down!

AKA: The low down on how NOT to tackle a Triathlon!

Meet yours truly, competitor of the day, nº 259 in Tadcaster Triathlon, Gilly Payne. The lady who takes great pride in climbing big mountains, running around little mountains and rushing through UK mountain collections under big time pressures! In deed, she seems to love all there is to do with mountains & endurance events. She is one to relish jumping on two planks of wood & throwing herself down and even off mountains & couloirs just to see if her body breaks. And it does! Now there's a surprise! Its all in the name of madness really!  But she always goes back for more & the risks get bigger & the trips get trickier! So why on earth is 'Ms Madness' shaking like a leaf at the prospect of going for a little paddle, pedal & plod around North Yorkshire with all her best mates bellowing support from the side lines!?

I guess, the thought of being submerged in the pool by Tadcasters Michael Phelps and mounting her bike to pedal for England (or at least Tadcaster) against Wetherbys Mark Cavendish before sprinting as if her life depended on it next to Yorks Jane Thomlinson is more pressure than even she can take! And on top of that, Ms 'I don't do clothes' has to dress & undress herself 3 times in the process! All in the name of fun! Excuse me but where does fun ever enter into this particular equation? I think I need to Google that word & re-Wikipaed it in my brain. Can you Wikipaed something? Well, you can Google something so why not Wiki something or even better, re-Wiki something!

Its times like this that one calls up Mother! Always there for me & always wondering what her mad daughter will attempt next, she just giggles at the end of the line when I explain my dilemma:

"Mum, I think I am going to die! My heart is about to erupt out of my chest like something out of Alien, its pounding so hard right now! I think I could fuel Campbells' Bluebird with the amount of adrenalin pumping round my body at this moment in time!"

God forbid that the heart pops whilst in the pool, now that could be a messy situation! Would they charge me for emptying the pool or does Mr Drinkwater foot the bill? I'd like to see him drink that water after such an incident! What are the Aids risks associated with this one? Oh, for heavens sake Gill, shut the "…." up!

But then, like some automata, I get dressed, eat my banana, down my beetroot shot & walk the walk, to face my fate!

Please note that Beetroot shots don't look great when they re-appear! Be prepared but don't be scared of Beet-wee!

After a long sermon on the ups and downs of our holy Tadcaster water & the A's, B's & C's of Tri racing, I (Ms Blue) find myself standing in the 5th lane with Ms Red, White & Green. All those years at Uni being labelled 'The Blue Nun' & here I am, once again, stuck in the Blues! I am sorry but just remind me how I ended up here?

Is this fluke or has Paul Drink-dirty-water intentionally put 4 Tri-Virgins in a lane together? Thats quite comforting except that Gilly is, on average, 15 years older than the rest of the pools inhabitants! Why oh why, did she quote such a quick swim time? The 'Biggest Boy' (the athletic one, not the 'couchy spud') pointed out:

"Its because you always push yourself Mum…. to extremes!"

I've started swimming! When did that happen?! Why am I doing this? Why am I drowning in public? Why have a put myself in here for total public humiliation? I'm tired, so very very tired. Think Gill: Bottom up, head down, arms bent, pull straight, diaphragm breath…

Before I know it, it's all done & I am clambering out of the water. I never was one for fannying about when it comes to getting dressed & I am off at a run, leaving many others patting themselves & pulling socks on. Throwing my goggles, car keys & towel at Mr Tape who is hidden in the bushes, I pound up the pavement towards the brewery. No, I haven't gone off the rails (Yet!) but our bikes are racked in the car park up there.

I'm on my bike now & looking forward to a gentle pedal & rest time. Its a chance to draw breath after semi-suffocation and ingesting half the pool. This is my recovery phase! The words of 'Big Brother' (the Tri Pro in the family) are ringing in my ears:

"Don't kill yourself in the pool Gill, or on the bike. Just save yourself"

And for the first time in her life, his little sister has listened!….Soft pedaling now for 8 short miles Well chuffed at overtaking blond bombshell at the last post before dismounting at a run & sprinting back to the racks. Shoes off, shoes on, top off, glasses on, helmet off & RUN!

But what's this?….Stitch! I was awaiting the dead leg syndrome typical of the bike/run transition but hadn't expected this….Its the worst ever.

For 4 hard miles, I am running doubled up in pain before it's all hemmed up and slowly fades away. I am so touched by all the friends and family supporting me: Mrs Nutrition, Mr & Mrs Tape & Ms Pilates, The Priory Team & the Biggest Boy (aka the athletic one) are all there to keep me moving.

I have concluded that I just have to keep my eyes on that rather large bottom belonging to Blond Bombshell (I still don't understand how she is in front of me again! Where did that happen?)

On to the rough wiggly river path heading back to Tad & the cows, cow pats, dogs & camera men are all cheering their heads off.

The bottom is still joggling up and down in front of me & is rather mesmeric, acting to distract me from the pain. If I can keep up with it then surely I must find myself coming to the end of this torturous path at some point!

Time for a little self talk me thinks:

"You can do this. You are getting there. You are doing this. You've done far worse than this. You've been in more pain than this. Think of the cake after this!

And there they were again, all the mates, at the finish, clapping me in. I made it & finished in a perfectly respectable time for a first and last triathlon.…..

Or will it be?!




P.S. Gilly Goat will be sprinting her way around the 10 kms route in the team event at Castle Howard Triathlon on 27th July, 2014!!!!

Nordic Nomads hit The Wolds

What a fabulous walk we had in the Wolds last Wednesday.

Much of our route overlaps with the Wolds Way, the National Trail which wends through some of the most tranquil and gentle countryside in England, along wooded slopes & serene dry valleys, the walk climbs gently onto the airy tops of the rolling hills where you can see forever on a good day.

But we are all cold & disgruntled in the car park, not used to cold starts or black skies but once we head into Wayrham Dale, the microclimate that is typical of the Wolds, wraps us up and warms us through. After weaving between the sharp fingers of several steep, uncultivated Dales, we run into the Wolds Way at a point where one of the 10 new public artworks has been completed.

You can read more about these art works at the: Visit Yorkshire web site 

This particular feature was created by the artist, Chris Drury & is known as 'Waves & Time' & represents the ancient flow of ice & water through the area & how that has created the landscape we see today. It sits at the junction of three Dales & the spiral earthwork indicates how an eddy might have formed in the flowing water, to create the open space. The project involved restoring a Dew pond using traditional methods. Dew ponds were a common feature of the Wolds and were created to provide water for the sheep and cattle.

My favourite Thixendale stretches away in front of us but our route turns away from here & soon we are stripping off layers of clothing, ready for the steep climb up the side of Worm Dale. On emerging onto the road above Painsthorpe, the first rain storm of the day kicks off! Out came all the OMM jackets & the banter begins. Mrs Nomad gets a kicking for sporting the most unsightly piece of clothing possible, her sons 10 year old football waterproof & looking like a Gnome or Gnomad to boot! 

From up here we spot a coppice to the right & it transpires that approximately 20 round barrows (burial mounds) have been found in the Painsthorpe area dating from the Bronze age, some even believed to date back as far as Neolithic times, this being one such mound.

From this Wold top we head down through Painsthorpe where we come across another massive crucifix on the hillside next to Painsthorpe Hall. Painsthorpe used to be the site of Painsthorpe Abbey, an Anglican Benedictine monastery, established around 1916 by Aelred Carlyle.

At the bottom of Painsthorpe Lane, we cross the field into Kirby Underdale where we turn & swing off through the fields, heading up a chalky track with a gradient of 17% in places.

We emerge into the rain yet again and find ourselves back at the top of Garrowby Hill. At 807ft (246m) above sea level, it is the highest point on the Yorkshire Wolds with views to match even through the rainclouds that have now opened above us! Garrowby Hill sits atop Bishop Wilton Wold which supports another burial mound, the subject of Hockneys 1998 painting:

Bishop Wilton is considered by some, to be one of the prettiest villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire. A shallow beck runs through the centre of the village which is flanked on both sides by sloping grass verges & narrow lanes. This beck serves as a habitat for endangered wildlife including water voles, toads & newts.

Heading out of the village in a Southerly direction towards Pocklington, we soon turn off the road, following a public footpath sign to the left & heading back up the hillside to the wold top and the next few fields to Great Givendale. Spotting a nice open verge, we start to arrange our fleshy backsides, ready for a brief fuel stop until the cow phobics amongst us point out there is one rather over sized bull in the adjacent field. 

Despite the presence of a robust barbed wire fence, not many of us feel comfortable eating bully beef sandwiches whilst being eyed up by this young lad! So, we continue through the settlement for another 100 yards & reach the little church of St Ethelburga, situated down a wooded slope, as if hiding away from the world. It is such a peaceful place, once found, never to be forgotten! We entered into a debate as to whether they would allow such a pleb as myself to squeeze into a patch of earth when the time comes. Doubtful!

After 15 minutes, we were all becoming far too complacent about life and starting to stiffen up so Mrs Nomad gives the marching orders. From here, we follow the Minster Way which stretches for 50 miles between the Minsters in Beverley & York. It was established in 1980 by the Ramblers. The path wends its way along the bottom of Givendale & up the side of Whitekeld Dale and onto a farm drive where we spot a rope swing strung in the remote beach coppice with views across Yorkshire. Being of child at heart, there is always one Nomad who has to try these things out & provide great amusement to those not quite as brave. Clearly it wasn't designed to take her adult weight as the branch dipped, she disappeared from site & came precariously close to getting a muddy, bruised bottom on reaching full swing cycle!

We head across the next multiple crossroads & down 'The Balk' into Millington. Sadly, the Ramblers Rest is shut on Wednesdays, so I could not introduce the Nomads to one of the jewels in Yorkshire tea rooms! 

So, we turn left, following the signs to Millington Pastures & Millington Woods. Millington Woods is one of the few remaining wooded dales in the Wolds. There has always been a woodland where Millington Wood stands in the steep sided lily Dale. The first written evidence dates back to the Doomsday Book in 1086. The wood was owned by several estates & let to tenants to provide fencing materials, furniture & fuel. In 1986 the wood was bought by the local authority & designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1991. It is a popular beauty spot & is known locally for its springs - Millington Springs - which formerly supported large beds of watercress. After a mile along this road we come to the edge of Millington Woods & drop down a chalk track after another snack attack with fuelling before the next & last climb of the day.

Once on top of Millington Heights again, we join the Roman road heading back to the A 166. Turning off to the right just after a fir plantation & the clouds open once again before the last dash for home. Many of us felt that we got it totally wrong today with our fuel intake, I for one was starving when we finished but lessons were learned and future plans made!

A great walk, with some great banter, walking-talking therapy & time to laugh, live & enjoy the Wolds:

Extended Nordic Walk in the Wolds by Nordic-Nomad at Garmin Connect - Details

NORDIC NOMADS SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR

  

DATE  W/C :	WALK	OTHER NOTES
MAY:
06/05/14 (1)	9:30 TUES: Bolton Percy  Wed: Wolds Walk	Wolds Walk is a hilly 15 mile route.
12/05/14	Tockwith
18/5/14 (2)	Nidderdale Walk	22 miles. On line/postal entry.
19/05/14 (3)	Mon & Wed: Allerton Estate Friday: Pateley Bridge	Pateley Bridge  = 10.25 hilly miles
26/05/14 (4)	Kirkby Overblow	Note: There IS a walk on the bank holiday Monday
JUNE:
02/06/14	Mon: Embsay Wed: Stutton	Embsay = 14 hilly miles
04/6/14	Evening chat about Camino & Y3P Q&A session	Venue to be decided
09/06/14	Mon: Telly Tubby Land Wed: Y3P	Wed: Y3P
16/06/14	Southern Harewood Loop
23/06/14	Sicklinghall
30/06/14 (5)	Mon: Fountains Abbey Wed: No walk Fri: Linton	Fountains Abbey with Richmond NW group = 9 miles.
JULY:
07/07/14	Cowthorpe
14/07/14	Green Hammerton
21/07/14 (5)	Mon: Spofforth Wed: No walk Friday: Spofforth
28/07/14	Bardsey - Harewood linear walk & lunch.	NOTE: I need help please organising lifts. See below.
***SUMMER BREAK ***	*******ENSUES******	****SUMMER BREAK*****

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LONGER WALKS AND TALKS:

Wednesday 7th May	Wolds Walk	15 hilly miles
Sunday 18th May	Nidderdale Walk	22 miles.
Friday  23rd May	Pateley Bridge	10.25 hilly miles
Monday 2nd June	Embsay	14 hilly miles
Wednesday 4th June	Camino Girls Come To Talk	Venue to be decided.
Wednesday 11th June	Y3P - Yippee	24 miles
Monday 30th June	Fountains Abbey	8 miles
Week Commencing 28/7/14	Mon: Harewood to E Keswick Wed: E Keswick to Harewood	Normal NW: 5 miles. NOTE: Linear walk with end of term lunch/coffee at Collingham café on Monday & at Harewood muddy Boots café on the Wednesday. I need help organising the car sharing please for both days. Leaving cars at one end & driving back to collect afterwards.

NOTES:

Please note that if it doesn’t say otherwise, the walks are from the same point on both Mondays AND Wednesdays. Otherwise, the details are listed under both ‘Other Notes’ AND the table at the bottom for ‘Additional Information….’ There isn’t a week when there aren’t at least 2 walks but there are a couple weeks when there is no Wednesday walk due to a course & my sons graduation.

(1) Monday  Bank Holiday walk shifted to Tuesday at 9:30

(2)  Rotary Club Charity Walk. Entry: http://www.nidderdalewalk.com/#apply

(3)  There is an additional Friday walk this week at Pateley Bridge.

(4)  School Half Term Week

(5)  There are no Wednesday walks these weeks but Friday alternatives