We were promised a gentle run by Andy to ease Chris back into the harsh reality of the Dark Peak after his extended stay in the soft sands of Portugal. We ten even started in the civilised urban surroundings of Low Bradfield, appropriately in the Sands car park. There was Read more
Four last week, eight this week, all out to enjoy probably the first serious downpour of the summer for the Slow Warts. We were also forecast a “feels like temperature” of 8 C for added refreshment. Not daunted, we set off from Nether North Grain and admired the chocolate brown Read more
It was holiday time and Slow Warts were taking a rest from the Wednesday rigorous training regime. This, and the annual moorland restrictions for grouse shooting reduced our choice of venue and, possibly, our numbers to just four. A notable absentee was our leader who was busy singing in Unthank. Read more
Thanks to Clive and Bob, we were made aware of the grouse shooting restrictions on the moors around Broomhead and Bradfield where we had planned this Wednesday’s outing. So, after a couple of attempts to find somewhere free of shooters, Andy chose Cutthroat Bridge to start our exertions. We have Read more
The choice of venue was made the previous Wednesday night when Andy knew he wouldn’t be there and when, coincidently, he was carrying out his very newly acquired grandparent duties. So, The Grouse Inn it was. I don’t know whether it was the hottest evening of the year at about Read more
Yes, but before then, we didn’t, it was more like straining along for some of us as we eleven climbed up the wicked Wicken towards Seal Edge. Our start from Blackden was one requiring immediate fell craft, for those who have it, down the steep and rocky path to the Read more
We can’t help but talk about shoes, and it was so at Strines Inn for we nine (including racing returnees Anna and Tom), both before and after the run. We Slow Warts think it is a healthy obsession but any outsider would probably consider it to be verging on mental Read more
There must have been too many distractions. Chris was in Portugal, Roger was running on the beaches of Jersey, Simon and Pete were on birthday celebrations, Tom was, perhaps, with the faster Willy Warts, and others with excuses or reasons for absence, so that only four loyal, athletic Slow Warts Read more
The combination of exploring new ground, avoiding the rigours of paving stones and having a shorter run, the latter to ensure that Chris could reach the ferry in time for his trip to Portugal, determined our route from a warm and sunny Doctor’s Gate. The planning of the outing had Read more
I blame, wrongly or rightly, climate change. The extraordinary warm, record-breaking recent weather trends have encouraged plant growth, with lettuces going to seed, rhubarbs becoming giants, raspberries and blackberries prolifically producing bumper crops and, most critically for us, bracken reaching ever greater heights, not to mention the bilberries and heather: Read more