Author Topic: Pennine way in 7 days  (Read 11672 times)

sparky1987

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Pennine way in 7 days
« on: 19:25:57, 16/01/14 »
Hi everyone. Need some advice. I'm planning to walk the Pennine way south to north in 7 days. Wondering if any of you have done this and have any advice on how you broke it down into 7 stages. I'm planning on wild camping and using b&bs, hostels etc. Carrying at most food for 2 days a getting supplies as i go. I have os maps and the trailblazer book which breaks it down into a 12 day trip but at the minute im struggling to work out the best places to stop for a 7 day trip. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Cheers mark

Ridge

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #1 on: 21:08:46, 16/01/14 »
For a 7 day trip you can not stop! Read the thread about the Spine race.

walking pole

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #2 on: 21:19:55, 16/01/14 »
Total respect to them all

tonyk

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #3 on: 21:32:56, 16/01/14 »
Wait till Slogger and Dixie get back next week or read Slogger's account of his eight day n-s.

 http://penninewayphotos-slogger.blogspot.co.uk/

 

llandudnoboy

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #4 on: 13:35:11, 24/01/14 »
The Pennine way in a week is averaging over 35miles every day, that kind of fitness and stamina only comes with endurance training and knowledge of the Peninnes.
With my past experience of long distance walking, averaging close on 40miles every day in goodness knows what weather, is beyond most of us.
Nine people have now completed the Pennine way in under 3 days which involves virtually continuous running with possibly less than three hours sleep in that 72hrs,  from start to finish, and three have completed a back to back Pennine way in your allotted 7 days.

Dare I say it, but to complete the 270+miles of the Pennine way in a week, you will need to travel very lite and run certain parts of the easier sections.
To complete such a task would involve several attempts on completing the course, as well as having some support with friends providing food and beverage.
It could be done, but only if your incredibly fit, and know the path incredibly well.

Mike Cudahy the first man to break 3 days only managed it after seven attempts, there are certain sections that are very difficult to navigate in bad weather, and loosing your way when you know you have to average 38miles every day, will put pay to your 7day time limit.
« Last Edit: 13:44:27, 24/01/14 by llandudnoboy »

tonyk

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #5 on: 16:53:30, 24/01/14 »
Quote
Nine people have now completed the Pennine way in under 3 days

 Have you got a list of their names? I only know two them,Hartley and Cudahy,but I wouldn't be surprised if more have done it.

 I think 7 days is doable provided you really want to do it but it would mean 18 hour days with very little in the way of proper sleep.Not the most pleasant of experiences but if you feel the need to do it then go for it.

Stottie

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #6 on: 20:11:29, 24/01/14 »
tonyk - you've said it! - "If you want to do it, do it."

There are plenty of people on various forums who talk a good game, but after the event we hardly ever hear how they fared.

OK, they might be naturally modest people, but I don't think that explains their silence.

During late summer and early autumn, I used to think how great it would be to walk the PW in winter, but that feeling always vanished when the winter weather arrived.

At any time of year, the seven day schedule means doing without sleep, which makes it a highly specialised undertaking......Good luck to any who take it on!



llandudnoboy

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #7 on: 20:29:58, 24/01/14 »
Hi there, Robin Price is another of the Sub 3 day runners, and he still holds the incredible record of a double traverse of the Pennine Way in 9 days 5 hrs 55 min.

As you have already mentioned both Mike Cudahy and Mike Hartley have also run sub 3 with Hartley holding the record of 2days 17 hrs 20 mins.

I remember reading on one of the various FRA forums that once Mike Cudahy had set the standard there were several top elite runners who shaved an hour or two off his time.

Once I can check the data,I believe there are seven runners who have broken the 72 hr barrier but for some reason it's not a record that receives much publicity.

Most walkers and members of the public know the Pennine Way exists,but ask them to name the man who first set the fastest time to complete the distance of 272 miles.

They would have no idea.

sparky1987

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #8 on: 20:50:18, 24/01/14 »
Thanks for your views and cheers for the link tonyk enjoyed reading it.
as for fitness i should be ok. At the moment im doing 5 days in the gym and a 30ish mile walk Friday and again Saturday each week. Going try drag myself out Sunday too. Also the occasional run. My training at this time of year really helps with me spending most of the time, like today, wading through mud. I was planning on doing it this year but maybe leave it till next summer as i think my navigation will let me down having not walked any stage of it. Going do a few stretches of it over the coming months and maybe if i feel confident enough i may attempt it this summer as planned

pmerryman

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #9 on: 09:11:00, 26/01/14 »
If you were going to aim for 7 days, I would choose which option of accommodation your going to aim for. If your going to mix it up, you may be carrying a tent, sleeping bag, etc, when you will only use it twice. I would definitely go the b+b hostel route, as after a long day, a hot shower and nice bed will be key to a good following day.
Paul

robb

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #10 on: 11:35:24, 26/01/14 »
A year ago I thought I was 'fit' enough to tackle the Gritstone trail, weak muscles, hayfever, and lack of water put a stop to that plan around 20 miles into the hike. I realise now that every factor has to be taken into account when tackling these kinds of challenges from the mental side of things (you will make mistakes and end up having to correct yourself) to pre-preparing provisions ahead of you as realistically you can't carry 2 weeks of food, clothing, basic essentials without having to sacrifice something.

Needless to say with the British weather as it is, climactically you'd also be doing yourself a favor by observing the current weather pattern and trying to fit in the hike once this Atlantic Jet becomes blocked and giving you a better chance of having more drier days although inevitable unless you're walking in the middle of a summer heatwave, you will get wet.

tonyk

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #11 on: 18:19:12, 28/01/14 »
 Thanks for the info,LB.I was aware of Robin Price doing some extraordinary runs/walks in the late eighties but wasn't aware of his PW double.I remember reading somewhere that he survived on Complan and stream water!

 Sparky,I think Slogger has pointed out in one of his blog posts that the problems start when you increase the  mileage from 30 to 40 miles per day.Last year I did a walk that covered around 188 miles and managed to average 30 miles per day.It involved walking at least 14 hours a day and at the end of each day I was just glad to get the tent up and to rest my legs.I doubt if I could have gone on for a further ten miles and been in a fit state to repeat the task the next day.It might be an idea to try for a sub ten day PW and if that goes well then have a think about the sub seven.Twenty years ago I tried for an 8 day PW and everything went well until I got to the halfway point but after that things started to fall apart and I had to retire at Thornton due to a foot injury.

 Navigation on the PW isn't really much of a problem.Only difficult sections are Bleaklow,Cross Fell range and the first section of the Cheviots in low cloud and mist.If the weather is clear its not a problem at all.

Slogger

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #12 on: 19:36:23, 28/01/14 »
7 days in summer, yes it can be done by a walker used to high multi day mileage and minimum sleep.
You need around 16 hours per day pure walking at a good pace which in my opinion is 2.5mph. That gives you 40 miles a day. Add to the 16 hours another couple of hours for stops, so that's 18 hours. Another hours for a good daily meal in a pub or cafe brings you to 19 hours. Say another hour getting settled in tent or B&B/bunk house or whatever, and sorting our upon waking for a quick gettaway, so you are now up to 20 hours. The other 4 hours of the 24 are what you get to sleep.
You are never going to get the amount of sleep you need, but have go with what you can grab, sleep in and youve had it, because you will never catch up.
I was going for 7 days on my last N - S trip but day 1 put paid to that and I switched for a sub 9 days instead.

sparky1987

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #13 on: 20:42:06, 28/01/14 »
Thanks for all the replies and advice. Booking a week off work gives me 9 days in total including the weekend i break up. The 7 days is my goal giving me time to relax a bit before kicking back into work so running into 8 days isn't a problem really. I just prefer set my goals out of reach rather than too easy. Id settle for a 8 and half day trip then aim for a sub 7 day trip the year after

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Re: Pennine way in 7 days
« Reply #14 on: 11:08:07, 16/11/16 »
Hi,
Did you ever complete your 7 day journey?
I'd love to hear about it if you did.
I'm the Race Director of a new event "Pennine268" which is aiming to create a supportive and competitive environment to run the whole of the Pennine Way.
In this inaugural year the route will be done North to South.


It would be great to hear your thoughts on this.


Robert


 

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