Backpost: UK run #2 (Wed. June 20)

This was the ambitious one, the great Two Hills and Two Valleys run, done from Sunnyhayes. Headed out through Allington and up the hill out of town, then at Dottery (Dott'ry, as Mrs Gerrard said it) turn off left into the vale of Marshwood; followed along to Shave Cross, then right off that road along the lanes towards Pilsdon. Start the climb up Pilsdon Lane, then cross the main road at the Cokpit and finish the climb to the top, until recently thought to be the highest point in West Dorset (now measured as 2 meters shorter than neighboring Lewesdon, my next target): 909 feet, or 277 meters, all climbed from the vale in less than half a mile. Just short of the top, as I jogged round the perimeter, I somehow missed my footing and turned my ankle, so stopped the clock for a bit to fume and rest. 7.86 miles so far.

Then I went on to the top - very windy, but of course spectacular views, even without perfect weather -- what a great ship to ride into a storm on! (click to the "aerial" view once you get to the multimap page and you'll see what I mean -- the hill was a pre-Roman era fort).

Then back down the prow of the hill and left on the main road as far as the trail up the back of Lewesdon, about another two miles to that peak, with a much more gradual climb to its hidden but flat village fort space at the top; then down the steep south side to Crabb Hill, and down again to cross the fields to Four Ash crossroads. No Stoke Abbott this time, but back down the main road to Bowood for a left onto the footpath across to Little Strode, and around the lanes to the Silkhay turnoff, but go straight on to Patley Wood and the lane -- aiming to follow this down to Pineapple lane, then across onto the footpath to Elwell, coming out just above the fruit farm. Take another break at about this point, with another 6.22 miles travelled.

Then, very tired, jog rather than run on sore legs all the way home through Wooth and Pymore, for another 2.79 miles. Next time I visit, I'll do it in one go and with energy! But it was a great sightseeing trip, even tired as I was. Here's the combined figures:

Time: 2:33:35
Speed: 6.59 mph
Distance: 16.87 miles (longest I've ever done in one session)

More backposts to come (it was a busy trip, even if I didn't run as often as I wanted to).