Saturday, 01 July 2023
Woke to a day of sunshine, drizzle and wind, and aching thighs and glutes. It was a struggle just going to the loo today. I had arranged to go to Heptonstall to see the start of the Festival fell race, but I was in tow minds whether to go our not. My body was aching, my head felt better but still not all there and all this combined with the weather had me wondering if it would be worth the effort of going over, even though my mate was picking me up.
All through breakfast I ummed and ahhed and decided that a trip to Tesco’s to get my little cat some milk would be the best way to decide. I put on the gear I would be wearing for Heptonstall, wandered round to Tesco’s, and decided to go. The only other option was to stop in looking at the weather wishing I had gone, so despite my body aching all over I went to Heptonstall.
My mate picked me up on time, and off I went to Heptonstall for a fell race.
We parked just outside Oldtown and ran down and up through Hardcastle Crags to Heptonstall. When I say ran it was more of a walk then anything else, but I was enjoying myself and I was glad I came along. We chatted about fell running, people we know and life as we made our way up to Heptonstall.
We visited the grave of David Hartley who is buried in the old church graveyard at Heptonstall. David is infamous as the leader of the Coiners, a gang who went around taking gold off of coins in the late 1700s, in Cragg Vale, high up on the moors above Hebden Bridge. It was a poignant moment as we stood by the grave of someone who has become famous in the 21st century, because of a book called, ‘The Gallows Pole’ by Ben Myers, now serialised as a TV drama. David Hartley was hung in 1789 for murdering a tax collector just outside Mytholmroyd.
Afterwards we wandered around waiting for the race to start. I chatted to friends, took photos, and soaked up the unique atmosphere of a local fell race. It is something I love and is very special to me, even more so with the problems I am having with my right hip.
The race set off up the cobbles of Heptonstall High Street, and I made my way back to my mates car the other side of Hardcastle Crags. I tried to run but it was difficult and hard work, so it was more of a jog, my legs were aching, my lower back was killing me, but I kept going. Halfway down this track I stopped and looked at one of my favourite views. It looks over Hebden Bridge, down the valley and beyond. It is simply stunning to me, and I took some photos before carrying on. There is a house here that is for sale for £1,000,000. If I win the lottery I’m buying it. I could look at that view and never get bored.
I carried on down to the Blue Pig at Midgehole. I stopped and chatted to one guy who didn’t know how to get to Heptonstall and passed one lady hiker three times on the way down. I took this as a good omen for tonight’s lottery. Through Heptonstall and then the climb back up to Old Town and my mates car. I caught up with him halfway up the climb, and we stopped and chatted a fell runner and warned her about the race as it can be a disconcerting when you’re out for a run and a stream of fell runners come flying past you.
We got back to my mates car and home. Although I’ve struggled to run, my thighs and glutes have ached and my back is in constant pain, I ‘ve had a great day and I’m so glad I went out and watched the start of the race and I had a reminder of what fell running means to me and so many others.
8:30pm and it’s time for bed as my back is killing me and I’m shattered. Fingers crossed for a big win on the lottery tonight and the chance to get out of Bradford and into somewhere vaguely resembling a decent, human society.
Saturday, 01 July 2023
Woke to a day of sunshine, drizzle and wind, and aching thighs and glutes. It was a struggle just going to the loo today. I had arranged to go to Heptonstall to see the start of the Festival fell race, but I was in tow minds whether to go our not. My body was aching, my head felt better but still not all there and all this combined with the weather had me wondering if it would be worth the effort of going over, even though my mate was picking me up.
All through breakfast I ummed and ahhed and decided that a trip to Tesco’s to get my little cat some milk would be the best way to decide. I put on the gear I would be wearing for Heptonstall, wandered round to Tesco’s, and decided to go. The only other option was to stop in looking at the weather wishing I had gone, so despite my body aching all over I went to Heptonstall.
My mate picked me up on time, and off I went to Heptonstall for a fell race.
We parked just outside Oldtown and ran down and up through Hardcastle Crags to Heptonstall. When I say ran it was more of a walk then anything else, but I was enjoying myself and I was glad I came along. We chatted about fell running, people we know and life as we made our way up to Heptonstall.
We visited the grave of David Hartley who is buried in the old church graveyard at Heptonstall. David is infamous as the leader of the Coiners, a gang who went around taking gold off of coins in the late 1700s, in Cragg Vale, high up on the moors above Hebden Bridge. It was a poignant moment as we stood by the grave of someone who has become famous in the 21st century, because of a book called, ‘The Gallows Pole’ by Ben Myers, now serialised as a TV drama. David Hartley was hung in 1789 for murdering a tax collector just outside Mytholmroyd.
Afterwards we wandered around waiting for the race to start. I chatted to friends, took photos, and soaked up the unique atmosphere of a local fell race. It is something I love and is very special to me, even more so with the problems I am having with my right hip.
The race set off up the cobbles of Heptonstall High Street, and I made my way back to my mates car the other side of Hardcastle Crags. I tried to run but it was difficult and hard work, so it was more of a jog, my legs were aching, my lower back was killing me, but I kept going. Halfway down this track I stopped and looked at one of my favourite views. It looks over Hebden Bridge, down the valley and beyond. It is simply stunning to me, and I took some photos before carrying on. There is a house here that is for sale for £1,000,000. If I win the lottery I’m buying it. I could look at that view and never get bored.
I carried on down to the Blue Pig at Midgehole. I stopped and chatted to one guy who didn’t know how to get to Heptonstall and passed one lady hiker three times on the way down. I took this as a good omen for tonight’s lottery. Through Heptonstall and then the climb back up to Old Town and my mates car. I caught up with him halfway up the climb, and we stopped and chatted a fell runner and warned her about the race as it can be a disconcerting when you’re out for a run and a stream of fell runners come flying past you.
We got back to my mates car and home. Although I’ve struggled to run, my thighs and glutes have ached and my back is in constant pain, I ‘ve had a great day and I’m so glad I went out and watched the start of the race and I had a reminder of what fell running means to me and so many others.
8:30pm and it’s time for bed as my back is killing me and I’m shattered. Fingers crossed for a big win on the lottery tonight and the chance to get out of Bradford and into somewhere vaguely resembling a decent, human society.
Saturday, 01 July 2023
Woke to a day of sunshine, drizzle and wind, and aching thighs and glutes. It was a struggle just going to the loo today. I had arranged to go to Heptonstall to see the start of the Festival fell race, but I was in tow minds whether to go our not. My body was aching, my head felt better but still not all there and all this combined with the weather had me wondering if it would be worth the effort of going over, even though my mate was picking me up.
All through breakfast I ummed and ahhed and decided that a trip to Tesco’s to get my little cat some milk would be the best way to decide. I put on the gear I would be wearing for Heptonstall, wandered round to Tesco’s, and decided to go. The only other option was to stop in looking at the weather wishing I had gone, so despite my body aching all over I went to Heptonstall.
My mate picked me up on time, and off I went to Heptonstall for a fell race.
We parked just outside Oldtown and ran down and up through Hardcastle Crags to Heptonstall. When I say ran it was more of a walk then anything else, but I was enjoying myself and I was glad I came along. We chatted about fell running, people we know and life as we made our way up to Heptonstall.
We visited the grave of David Hartley who is buried in the old church graveyard at Heptonstall. David is infamous as the leader of the Coiners, a gang who went around taking gold off of coins in the late 1700s, in Cragg Vale, high up on the moors above Hebden Bridge. It was a poignant moment as we stood by the grave of someone who has become famous in the 21st century, because of a book called, ‘The Gallows Pole’ by Ben Myers, now serialised as a TV drama. David Hartley was hung in 1789 for murdering a tax collector just outside Mytholmroyd.
Afterwards we wandered around waiting for the race to start. I chatted to friends, took photos, and soaked up the unique atmosphere of a local fell race. It is something I love and is very special to me, even more so with the problems I am having with my right hip.
The race set off up the cobbles of Heptonstall High Street, and I made my way back to my mates car the other side of Hardcastle Crags. I tried to run but it was difficult and hard work, so it was more of a jog, my legs were aching, my lower back was killing me, but I kept going. Halfway down this track I stopped and looked at one of my favourite views. It looks over Hebden Bridge, down the valley and beyond. It is simply stunning to me, and I took some photos before carrying on. There is a house here that is for sale for £1,000,000. If I win the lottery I’m buying it. I could look at that view and never get bored.
I carried on down to the Blue Pig at Midgehole. I stopped and chatted to one guy who didn’t know how to get to Heptonstall and passed one lady hiker three times on the way down. I took this as a good omen for tonight’s lottery. Through Heptonstall and then the climb back up to Old Town and my mates car. I caught up with him halfway up the climb, and we stopped and chatted a fell runner and warned her about the race as it can be a disconcerting when you’re out for a run and a stream of fell runners come flying past you.
We got back to my mates car and home. Although I’ve struggled to run, my thighs and glutes have ached and my back is in constant pain, I ‘ve had a great day and I’m so glad I went out and watched the start of the race and I had a reminder of what fell running means to me and so many others.
8:30pm and it’s time for bed as my back is killing me and I’m shattered. Fingers crossed for a big win on the lottery tonight and the chance to get out of Bradford and into somewhere vaguely resembling a decent, human society.
The Autistic FellRunner 