The Winter Poppyline
Saturday 12 February 2022
50 miles (80.5 km); 3,123 feet (952 m) of ascent
Starting in Aylsham which is about 10 miles north of Norwich the route takes a clockwise circular route through undulating North Norfolk mostly on paths and trails over farmland and rural areas but with some road sections. The route headed west then north to reach the coast which it followed for about ten miles before going south and then west again to the finish. There were checkpoints at Itteringham, Holt, Sheringham, Southrepps and Felmingham which all provided refreshments. The LDWA event was well organised and the route interesting.
Walkers started at 7.30 am while the later start of 9 am was for fast walkers and runners. Due to road closures on the A47 and inadequate diversion signage I was well over an hour behind schedule but still on target to arrive for the event registration at 8.30 am. Less than five miles before Aylsham a country road was blocked due to an accident forcing me to take a 15 mile diversion along narrow country lanes. I arrived just in time to see the 9 am runners setting off. Fortunately I was allowed to start about a quarter of an hour or so late after getting changed and registering. Due to a broken right arm in plaster I had intended to do the event as a walk. However, I was forced to run a bit to beat the cut-off at checkpoint 1. I mostly walked after that with some slow running from time to time and general chatting with other entrants on the course and at checkpoints.
Conditions were dry and good underfoot and although a bit breezy the weather was good. Most participants were well wrapped up but to me the conditions seemed well suited to shorts with warmer clothes, gloves, hat, etc in my rucksack. I took up the offer to sleep in the school hall before travelling home on the Sunday morning.
There were 144 finishers. There were 168 entrants and it is not known whether not everyone started or some did not finish the course. The first three all finished together in a time of 9 hours and 24 minutes (Chris Seymour, Jared Walbridge and Lisa Joanne Walbridge). Steven Jones of Dark Peak Fell Runners finished 46th with a time of 14 hours and 21 minutes.