There is no Map in Hell E-Book

Steve Birkinshaw

• Herausgeber: Vertebrate Digital
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

In 1986, the legendary fell runner Joss Naylor completed a continuous circuit of all 214 Wainwright fells in the Lake District, covering a staggering distance of over 300 miles - plus many thousands of metres of ascent - in only seven days and one hour. Those in the know thought that this record would never be beaten. It is the ultimate British ultramarathon. The person taking on this superhuman challenge would have to be willing to push harder and suffer more than ever before. There is no Map in Hell tells the story of a man willing to do just that. In 2014, Steve Birkinshaw made an attempt at setting a new record. With a background of nearly forty years of running elite orienteering races and extreme-distance fell running over the toughest terrain, if he couldn't do it, surely no one could. But the Wainwrights challenge is in a different league: aspirants need to complete two marathons and over 5,000 metres of ascent every day for a week. With a foreword by Joss Naylor, There is no Map in Hell recounts Birkinshaw's preparation, training and mile-by-mile experience of the extraordinary and sometimes hellish demands he made of his mind and body, and the physiological aftermath of such a feat. His deep love of the fells, phenomenal strength and tenacity are awe inspiring, and testimony to athletes and onlookers alike that 'in order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd'.

Leseprobe

THERE IS NO MAP IN HELL

THE RECORD-BREAKING RUN ACROSS THE LAKE DISTRICT FELLS

THERE IS NO MAP IN HELL

STEVE BIRKINSHAW

www.v-publishing.co.uk

‘A wince-inducing insight into what it takes to break epic fell-running records, told with the sort of reluctance and humility that makes Birkinshaw all the more of a hero. I loved the book.’

DAMIAN HALL, OUTDOOR JOURNALIST AND ULTRAMARATHON RUNNER

‘He modestly describes the toll it takes as his body gradually disintegrates over the seven days, and also the difficulties the fatigue gives him afterwards. If you like extreme challenges, this is a brilliant unravelling of the preparation and effects of Steve’s navigation to and through hell.’

STEVE CHILTON, FELL RUNNER AND AUTHOR OF SEVERAL POPULAR RUNNING BOOKS, INCLUDING IT’S A HILL, GET OVER IT

‘The world of ultra running has many ordinary people doing extraordinary things, but none more so than Steve Birkinshaw. In this book Steve tells his own remarkable story from his childhood exploits in orienteering to his record-breaking six-day 214-peak Wainwrights run. The aftermath of this huge effort saw Steve suffer with an unknown illness linked with fatigue, and he tells this side of his story with openness and emotion.There is no Map In Hell is a story of a family man with a yearning for adventure in the hills, and is a book that any runner will love.’

ANDY NUTTALL, ULTRA MAGAZINE

‘A very entertaining, revealing and highly readable account of this top mountain runner’s trials and tribulations on trail races and record-breaking attempts – most notably the Wainwrights. It’s a fascinating insight into what drives Steve to push himself quite so incredibly hard. A must-read this summer!’

CLAIRE MAXTED, TRAIL RUNNING MAGAZINE

The book is a fascinating account of what makes Steve tick and I am seriously impressed with both Steve’s determination and the book. The book is a compelling read by a nice but extremely tough person that has pushed his body to the limit of what it can take.’

BILLY BLAND, BOB GRAHAM ROUND RECORD HOLDER AND FORMER CHAMPION FELL RUNNER

‘There is no Map in Hellis a frank, personal, yet inspiring account of an ultra-endurance feat few could comprehend. Steve’s book is a tour-de-force of the Lake District Wainwrights, detailing a once in a generation record, which was only possible thanks to Steve’s lifetime of mountain running experience, and the strength of personality to suck up suffering like few could imagine.’

SHANE OHLY, RACE DIRECTOR – BERGHAUS DRAGON’S BACK RACE

‘This is a captivating account of a seriously extreme journey. The tales of preparation and recovery are as fascinating as the meticulous detail of the record-breaking run itself.’

DAVID MCCABE, EDITOR OF THE FELLRUNNER MAGAZINE

‘I found the book fascinating from start to finish. Steve’s writing style is genuine and matter of fact. He doesn’t hide any details, from stresses as a child, to his suffering and emotion during the Wainwrights challenge. Nor does he embellish the narrative with unnecessary self-promotion. Instead he tells it like it is, from the heart. This is an awe-inspiring account of an amazing achievement, and an inspiration for what is possible doing something you love. Definitely worth reading!’

DUNCAN ARCHER, ORIENTEER AND MOUNTAIN-MARATHON RUNNER

– CONTENTS –

Foreword by Joss Naylor MBEPrologue  Part 1: I Have Always RunChapter 1 –Starting OutChapter 2 –Running Takes OverChapter 3 –The Bob Graham RoundChapter 4 –The Ramsay Round And The Paddy Buckley RoundChapter 5 –2008 Lakeland 100Chapter 6 –2009 Lake District Twenty-Four-Hour Record AttemptChapter 7 –2009 Lakeland 100Chapter 8 –2010 Lake District Twenty-Four-Hour Record AttemptChapter 9 –2012 Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race  Part 2:Considering The ChallengeChapter 10 –The WainwrightsChapter 11 –Wainwright Runners: Bland, Heaton And NaylorChapter 12 –The PlanChapter 13 –Additional MotivationChapter 14 –A Logistical Mountain To ClimbChapter 15 –Physical PreparationChapter 16 –Making A MovieChapter 17 –Two-Week Countdown  Part 3:Taking on the WainwrightsChapter 18 –Day OneChapter 19 –Day TwoChapter 20 –Day ThreeChapter 21 –Day FourChapter 22 –Day FiveChapter 23 –Day SixChapter 24 –Day Seven  Part 4:The AftermathChapter 25 –The Physical And Mental ImpactChapter 26 –Reflecting On My Wainwrights RunChapter 27 –Getting Back To Normal  EpilogueAcknowledgementsBibliographyAppendix:List of Wainwright TimingsPhotographs and Map

– FOREWORD –

BY JOSS NAYLOR MBE

I have lived all my life in the Wasdale valley and being out on the Lake District fells means everything to me. Some of my earliest memories are of being out on the fells, and these memories have stayed with me for my whole life.

When I was about four years old I went out with my brother, Scott, who was nine at the time, to collect sheep on Yewbarrow. I kept asking Scott, ‘how much further?’, and he would say ‘that crag there, that is the top’, and when we got over the crag and looked up I thought to myself ‘this fell has no top!’ I also clearly remember going up to Mickledore between Scafell and Scafell Pike when I was about five. There were some hikers going up Broad Stand and they disturbed some ring ouzels nesting on Scafell Crag – it was good to see them, as you see these birds less and less nowadays. From those days as a child I never lost the love of the fells through many years of sheep farming and running on them. This year I turned eighty, and I am still out on the fells. I help my son, Paul, with his sheep on the fells above Wasdale. I also regularly go up the fells near my house, although these days I use sticks to take the pressure off my legs and so protect my badly damaged knee.

In 1986 Andy Ligema and Colin Dulson suggested to me that I might have a go at running round all 214 Wainwright fells. I was worried that it would take too much setting up, but I was lucky enough to have Ken Ledward come on board and help with all the planning. The first two days were roasting hot but went well. On the third day my shoes fell to bits, which was a disaster. However, the biggest disaster was that when I got a new pair of shoes, the webbing was too high and it rubbed up on my ankle bones. It was so bad that I could see the ligament showing. It was a pain that bit into me all day – there was no let-up from it. There was this stinging sensation that never went away, even when I stopped; it was sore like red-hot needles shoved into my ankles. The last two days I could not eat; I was drained to a point I had never been to before. It was as though someone had got hold of me and squeezed all the energy out of me, and then I still had to march for two more days to the finish. When I eventually finished, there was absolutely nothing left in my body.

Looking back now, doing the Wainwrights was a great experience that I would not have liked to miss and I put down a time that was the best I could do. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but despite the pain I never got the feeling I wasn’t going to finish it. The memories of the hard times and the suffering I experienced during those seven days have faded and now I remember the good times. In particular, the friendships created during that run that have lasted a lifetime. I still find it unbelievable the amount of time people put in on my behalf to support me and I will always be very grateful. It is something special about the sport of fell running that people go out of their way to help one another.

I have known of Steve’s running and navigational ability on the fells for many years. He has had many wins at mountain marathons and has won the Lake District Mountain Trial – a special event for me that I have competed in fifty times and won nine times. Steve and I chatted a couple of times before his attempt at completing the Wainwrights. I was very happy to encourage him and to offer advice, such as the importance of taking it one step at a time rather than thinking of the long days and fells ahead, and also advice on nutrition and sitting in a cold beck at the end of every day.

I was delighted when I heard that Steve broke my record; I know the effort and pain that must be gone through to achieve this. Afterwards, it was wonderful to be able to share a stage with him at the Keswick Mountain Festival and for us both to talk about our experiences of the challenge.

It is a pleasure to be able to write this foreword for Steve, particularly as he has used his run of the Wainwrights to raise money for multiple-sclerosis charities, a cause for which I have also raised money in the past. It is important that the effort, planning and toughness of running the Wainwrights is documented, and Steve’s is an incredible story of dedication and strength of will, which gives an insight into the seriousness of committing to such a task.

His story will encourage walkers and runners on to the Lake District fells, and to enjoy them as I always have.

Joss NaylorWasdale, April 2016

– PROLOGUE –

I’m standing on the steps of the Moot Hall in Keswick. It is a few minutes before nine o’clock in the morning and the market traders are setting up. I have about twenty friends ready to cheer me off on the biggest challenge of my life. For the last year I have been preparing to run round all 214 Wainwright fells in the English Lake District as fast as possible, a massive route of 519 kilometres with 35,000 metres of ascent. With a plan of completing the route in under seven days, I will need to run the equivalent of around two marathons and four times up and down the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, every day. However, I have really been preparing for this moment all my life, from when I started orienteering at age seven until I have reached the point where I feel I can take on this enormous challenge.

After all the preparation I am desperate to set off. Sorting out the route, support, food and logistics has been very intense. However, I’m also scared. Scared of the pain I expect to push myself through over the next seven days. The accounts of the people who have completed the challenge – Alan Heaton and Joss Naylor – as well as showing a love of the fells, are accounts of suffering and of pushing themselves through enormous amounts of pain. I hope I don’t suffer like them.

The clock strikes nine and I set off down the steps, a twisting route past all the market stalls, a quick wave at my family and friends and down a little alleyway towards the fells. If all goes to plan, I will return to the Moot Hall in just under seven days, elated at having completed my challenge. However, if it goes wrong and I go through hell will I be strong enough mentally and physically to push through it and carry on?

– PART 1 –

I Have Always Run

– CHAPTER 1 –

STARTING OUT

‘I did it!’ Crossing the finish line of the 1976 British Orienteering Championships, I say these words to my mother and then burst into tears. It is just before my eighth birthday and I have completed my course in Cropton Forest, North Yorkshire, in two hours and twenty-four minutes. I am in the M12B class, M12 being for boys younger than twelve and B (as opposed to A) being the less-good class. I come in last by twenty minutes, but the important thing is I have completed the course. This means that my club – the West Anglia Orienteering Club – have won the team competition. Even though we were the only team. As well as me, there is my brother, Julian, who finished in the middle, and family friend, Alan Braggins, who finished second to last. An hour later we go up on to the podium to collect our certificates. I am so small I trip trying to get up the step.

I have only vague memories of what I did in the forest to take two hours and twenty-four minutes. My two-kilometre course had ten controls or checkpoints which I had to navigate round in sequence, and which the winner completed in thirty-six minutes. As it was an easy course for young children the controls were just off paths and tracks and I seem to remember I found most of them without too many problems, but one of the controls I just could not seem to find. I would leave the track and go into the forest, but I wasn’t leaving the track at the correct point. The frustration of not being able to find the control meant I started to cry. A passing walker saw me crying and tried to help but was not much better than me; I think the orienteering-specific map, rather than the standard UK Ordnance Survey map, confused her. Eventually I followed someone else on the same course into the control. This was usual for my orienteering at this time; I got round by a mixture of asking people, following people and trying (but usually failing) to make sense of the map. There were lots of tears but I was never forced to go orienteering, in fact I was desperate to go out and determined to get round the course, however long it took.