They think its all over... Friday 25 March

So, who would have thought it?

Grizzly runners out on the road again.  Derek and Julian joined Dotty and runners training for the London Marathon, for a long (19 mile) Friday afternoon run!    

THE GRIZZLY - SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2011

Team Grizzly ready to go

Firstly, thank you to all who have followed Team Grizzly over the last few months. Your support and encouragement has meant a lot. 

So, we did it. The Grizzly, "Valley of The Bogs" 2011.  Described by the Axe Valley Runners as "Twentyish muddy, hilly, boggy, beachy miles of the multiest-terrain running experience you will find this side of the end of time":  This is no exaggeration!

The Grizzly Mud

The course was the hardest yet for the Grizzly event. The route took us along shingle beach, cliff paths, woodland, thigh deep bogs, farmland, river crossings, private gardens and through the front of a pub!  Encouraged by musicians and entertainers playing and performing all along the route.  





 



So what highlights then?  

• Dotty's disappearance into a bog only to emerge with mud appearing in places mud just shouldn't reach
• Hannah's slippery exit from the bog at mile 15

Becky striding forth

• Julian stopping at a water station then joining a folk band for a quick tune
• Becky's champion off-road performance
• Finish and hose down by the fire brigade!

Dotty nearing the end

All in all a completely bonkers run...











Sadly, two of the original eleven runners were unable to join us.  But, nine of the Grizzly Bears completed the race, with respectable finishing times.
Ben Wilcox             5:00:14
Derek Hicks           4:55:24
Dotty Allan             4:18:57
Hannah Colston      4:20:49
Jim Davis               4:36:58
John Bills                4:25:42

Julian Setterington   4:24:40
Martyn Williams     4:49:20
Rebecca Mingo      3:54:31

Who now wear their Gizzly "Survivor" T-Shirts with pride!

Julian makes it home

Special congratulations go to Becky Mingo, who was the second athlete home for Tavistock Athletics, with Hannah Colston taking third place for the Tavy Runners.  Dotty Allan was first home for the Bere Alston Trekkers with Julian and Derek following along.

Shower for a bear?

Bideford Half Marathon (Sunday 6 March)

So, today was Team Grizzly's last Sunday training run before the "main event".  Five of the bears, (Dotty, Rebecca, Hannah, John and Julian) caught up with the "smell of competition" by taking part in the Bideford Half Marathon.

Some fantastic times for the distance were recorded, with personal bests being acheived!

Two special messages of congratulation need to go to:

Rebecca - 1hr 32min 57secs - winning trophies for a category place and member of the fastest female team to be placed.

Dotty - 1hr 41min 25 secs - broke the Bere Alston Trekkers Club ladies' record by four minutes, achieving a simultaneous personal best!


This time next week?

Two Weeks to go...

Only two weeks to go.  John, Becky, Hannah and Julian were out at Burrator Reservoir this morning.  All completed 5 laps of the perimeter road, running just under 20miles in the process.  The four Bears were joined by members of TACs (Tavistock Athletics) and BATs (Bere Alston Trekkers) training for the London Marathon, the Duchy 20 and the Tavy 13 among other events.

Next week, Team Grizzly Bears will be taking part in the Bideford half marathon.  This will be the final big training event before The Grizzly itself, on 13 March.

Grizzly Bears play hard in 10 mile races (Sunday 20 February)

As an alternative to the Sunday training run, Derek, Becky and Nicole ran in the "Oh My Obelisk" and Plymouth Hoe 10 mile runs.  Well done to all three for acheiving good times in the off-road Obelsik and on-road Plymouth Race. 

12 Across and 2 Down ( a run across Foggy, Boggy & Soggy Dartmoor)

The Grizzly Three ready to go!

Three Grizzly Bears (Hugh, Dotty and Julian) joined the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (Plymouth)'s 12 Across - 2 Down, walking / running event. (Click here for the DSRT Plymouth Home Page.)

Although the event is aimed at walkers, they're all a very friendly bunch and made us runners feel at home; even if we're considered a bit barmy.

The route follows a stretch of the Maltern Way, an ancient track from Buckfast Abbey to Buckland Abbey.  The Maltern Way is marked by a series of stone crosses. 

Today's efforts saw us running across Dartmoor from Venford Reservoir to Crazy Well Pool, thence to Princetown School to finish.  

We are proud of the fact that Team Grizzly were the first team home.  Mummy Bear (Dotty) is to be congratulated as the first to arrive at the final checkpoint.

There was no official timekeeping, but we recorded an "unofficial" time of 2:26 for the 12 mile route.  Conditions were hard, with a Dartmoor Fog keeping visibility down to 15 metres.  Accurate navigation was a priority. We avoided most of the bogs, including Fox Tor mire (Grimpen Mire for those Sherlock Holmes aficionados among you).  However, mud was knee deep at times and the water at the Hartor Brook was cold on the legs as we waded through.

The Grizzly Three at Childe's Tomb

Half-way around the route, we arrived at Childe's tomb.  This marks the kistvaen (burial chamber) resting place of Childe, a huntsman who lived in the 11th century.  He became disorientated in foul weather on the Moor, and knew he could die of exposure.  Sadly, despite killing and drawing his horse, into which he climbed for protection, he still died.  A ghostly tale for a ghostly day. Click here to see more about Childes Tomb!

We would like to thank DSRT (Plymouth) for staging the event.  The cup of tea at the finish was most welcome!

 

Muddy Sunday on the Bere Peninsula

With only four weeks to go until the Grizzly, five of the bears were out on the Bere Peninsula today.  Nicole, Derek, Julian, Dotty and Becky, covered sixteen and a half wet and muddy miles.  The route took the runners over footpaths and trails around Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers.  In spite of the damp conditions, and a total climb of over 2,300 feet (!) the five achieved a running time of around three hours.

Burrator Sunday - On and Off Road

Team Grizzly's Sunday run saw some of the Bears running laps of Burrator Reservoir, to build up longer distance stamina.  Others tackled a 10-mile off road run to Nun's Cross, Eylesbarrow and Sheeps Tor.  Running into the prevailing south westerly head wind added to the route's difficulty.

 

Tavy 7 Sunday (30 January 2011)

Freezing temperatures saw Team Grizzly join ing other runners for their Sunday long run.  Alongside people training for Marathons and half-marathons, the Grizzly Bears completed a timed run around the route of the "Tavy 7".  Some runners managed personal best times for the course.

Link to the Tavy 7 website

As ever though, for Team Grizzly Bears, there was a sting in the tail.  All completed an extra 3 miles on top of their timed "race" to take their Sunday training run up to 10 miles.

Photographs to follow soon.

Sponsorship coming in!

A big thank you to all of you who've sponsored us so far.  With six weeks to go, we can see our fundraising total increasing!  (Please use the link to Virgin Money Giving to see how we're progressing)

Thank you again


The Grizzly Bears

16 mile Friday

With six weeks to go, two Grizzly Bears were out today completing sixteen miles in just under two and a half hours.  Four miles on the Princetown Railway, followed by a further twelve around Burrator Reservoir.  The training must be paying off as both averaged nine minute miling!

18 Coastal Miles - Polzeath to Port Isaac and Back! (23 January 2011)

Team Grizzly at Pentire Head

This week's long run was planned to extend the team's distance over a tougher course.  Starting at Polzeath, in North Cornwall, we ran the 9 miles along the Cornish Coast Path via Port Quin to Port Isaac.  The route was far from easy, starting and finishing at sea level.  The pathway meanders around the headlands and bays, rising and falling, presenting challenging climbs of between 250 and 300 feet.

Returning to Polzeath after about four hours, we ran the last quarter of a mile across the beach.  Finishing at the beach cafe, hot tea and chips refuelled us for the trip home! 

Path from Port Quin to Port Isaac

Julian about to climb the staps to Scarnor Point

 

Sunday Run - Sourton to Okehampton Camp and back (16 January 2010)

Today's run took Team Grizzly along the disued railway line from Sourton, across Meldon Viaduct, then up the hill to Okehampton Camp.  Once the climb to the Camp was completed, the team continued out along the camp ring road, past Sand Pits.  Returning via New Bridge and the glorious run down the hill back to the railway line.  Finishing at Sourton, the team had covered sixteen miles.   

16 Mile Sunday

Today's "Sunday Run", saw Team Grizzly Bears complete 16 moorland miles and has to be toughest run we have done so far this winter!

With a 3 mile climb at the start which included negotiating rocks and stones, all of which were slippery with ice, this run was never going to be easy.  However, off we went and under blue skies and sunshine the runners did brilliantly.  Lifting their knees through the long grass, running through bogs and fords, climbing up and down rocks, some tripping and falling but all running the 16 miles in great times.

Team Grizzly at Cramber Tor

Team Grizzly at Sheeps Tor

The route took us from Norsworthy Bridge at the eastern end of Burrator Reservoir,  via Raddick Lane, Cramber Tor , Eylesbarrow, Drizzlecombe Stone Rows and Ditsworthy Warren to the top of Sheeps Tor.  We returned to Norsworthy taking in Sheepstor Village, Burrator Wood, Meavy Village, Lowery Cross and Leather Tor Bridge.  Top marks go to Martyn for leading the team through the deep freezing waters of  Meavy ford.  

Ice Water at Norsworthy

Finishing, back at Norsworthy, Vicki took the initiative, leading us back into the river for a refreshing dip before returning home with a license to eat!

Total distance - 16 miles. Total climb of 2000 feet.

Grizzly Runners on the Tavy 13 (2 January 2011)

The first Sunday training run of the year saw Team Grizzly runners out on the Tavy 13 half-marathon course.  With a total climb of over 1200 feet, the route presents some challenging hill climbs.  For many of the team, whose training was hampered by the snow and ice, this was the first long run for nearly three weeks. 

New Year's Day Muddy Running at Brown Willy (1 January 2011)

First run of the year for Team Grizzly, was the "Brown Willy Run".  Six and a bit miles of Bodmin Moor, Jamaica Inn  to Brown Willy and back.  Lots of mud and a good climb to Cornwalls highest point.