Friday, October 09, 2009
Event Report - Lakeland Trails - Coniston.
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With Thanks to Ian Holloway in the UK for this Nordic Walking event report.
The last of the 2009 Lakeland Trail Events was held on Saturday October 3rd when Trail Runners met with Nordic Walkers at the John Ruskin School in the picturesque village of Coniston.
The morning dawned wet and stormy but the weather experts predicted fine, if windy, conditions for the afternoon race and the organisers were confident that competitors would enjoy stunning views over the 15km course on a variety of terrain.
The race began over a short section of tarmac through the village enabling a good Nordic style to be achieved before walkers began the prolonged gradient up hard packed gravel towards the Youth Hostel at the former Coniston Mine complex. The route became steeper towards Levers Water Bridge and after contouring round beneath Stubthwaite Crag on a narrow wet and rocky track walkers descended towards Walna Scar Road on a broad track well suited to our sport. A section of moorland track came before the rocky path to Torver village and a welcome opportunity to enjoy water and some delicious chocolate coated Kendal Mint Cake.
The route through Torver Common Woods to the lake shore was rocky and slippery but the final section back to the finish at the school was superb Nordic Walking territory with stunning views of Lake Coniston and the surrounding fells.
The entire course was thoroughly marked with flags and marshalled and the atmosphere during the event and at the finish was superb.
My thanks go to the organisers and to Puma, Bridgedale and Ay-Up lights, who sponsored the event, for a great day on the fells.
Check out the slide show of the route on www.lakelandtrails.org and consider entering the 2010 series if you would like to Nordic Walk on fantastic trails and, yes, the weather people were correct even if the wind strength was at times beyond belief !
Ian Holloway
With Thanks to Ian Holloway in the UK for this Nordic Walking event report.
The last of the 2009 Lakeland Trail Events was held on Saturday October 3rd when Trail Runners met with Nordic Walkers at the John Ruskin School in the picturesque village of Coniston.
The morning dawned wet and stormy but the weather experts predicted fine, if windy, conditions for the afternoon race and the organisers were confident that competitors would enjoy stunning views over the 15km course on a variety of terrain.
The race began over a short section of tarmac through the village enabling a good Nordic style to be achieved before walkers began the prolonged gradient up hard packed gravel towards the Youth Hostel at the former Coniston Mine complex. The route became steeper towards Levers Water Bridge and after contouring round beneath Stubthwaite Crag on a narrow wet and rocky track walkers descended towards Walna Scar Road on a broad track well suited to our sport. A section of moorland track came before the rocky path to Torver village and a welcome opportunity to enjoy water and some delicious chocolate coated Kendal Mint Cake.
The route through Torver Common Woods to the lake shore was rocky and slippery but the final section back to the finish at the school was superb Nordic Walking territory with stunning views of Lake Coniston and the surrounding fells.
The entire course was thoroughly marked with flags and marshalled and the atmosphere during the event and at the finish was superb.
My thanks go to the organisers and to Puma, Bridgedale and Ay-Up lights, who sponsored the event, for a great day on the fells.
Check out the slide show of the route on www.lakelandtrails.org and consider entering the 2010 series if you would like to Nordic Walk on fantastic trails and, yes, the weather people were correct even if the wind strength was at times beyond belief !
Ian Holloway
