Votwo athlete of the month

After Scott's recent claim to fame I thought I had better get off my laurels!

"Votwo's Athlete of The Month"

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and their website to view lots of interesting and challenging events:

 votwo.co.uk

Votwo athlete of the month

Name: Keith Butterworth Age: 55 Why did you start running? I started cross-country running at school at about 13 to get out of football practice, which I hated, and after a while I started to enjoy running. I wasn't naturally fast but because I was the only one that ran regularly I was picked for the school team in the Lancashire Schools Cross-Country Championships and finished 3rd. Do you do any other sports? Yes triathlon, so I swim and cycle as well. I really enjoy being outdoors so I tend to rely on fitness gained from cycling and running to get me through swimming but I think swimming is great exercise especially for recovery, it helps gets the blood flowing through stiff/tired muscles without over stressing them and by using alternative muscles it produces a better balance to muscle groups. l also do quite a bit of fell-walking although as my primary interest is running this decreases if I am training for a big or important event. What was your first race? It was school cross country but after leaving school I lost interest for a few years, girls, motorbikes and beer sort of got in the way and it wasn't until 1985 that I did my first road race and then I did my first marathon, London, in 1987 and my first triathlon in the same year and my first Ironman in 1991.  What has been your most memorable race? Nice Ironman 2005 and of course votwo's Atlantic Coast Challenge which I have completed 3 times. In 2011 I decided to carry a camera to photograph the event and still managed to finish 12th overall despite stopping to take over 200 photos along the way. I then wrote a blog on the ACC and subsequently the PCC which people who are entering for the first time find very useful in helping them to understand what it is like. The ACC has a great atmosphere and the organisers Ben & Pete in particular are very friendly and take care of everything, not forgetting Ben's Mum's home-made soup which at the end of each day makes it worth running the 78 miles for! If you want to read my ACC & PCC blog just go to http://keithbutterworth.blogspot.co.uk/ and at the right-hand side under 'Label' click on votwo (6). What has been you biggest achievement? Representing Great Britain twice, the first time was in the Long Course World Championships in Nice, France 2002 in the 45-49 age group. The second time was in the Short Course European Championships in Autun, France 2006. I had always dreamed of representing GB and while I thought if it was possible it would have had to be in a long distance event, I never thought I could achieve it in a short course event as well. How do you train for a votwo challenge? My favourite votwo events are the 3 day challenges and to finish one of these you need to be able to run comfortably for 3-4 hours, have good leg strength for the numerous ascents and descents found on the coastal paths and also to be able to run for 3 days consecutively.   I get some cross-over endurance benefit from cycling so I only do one long run every 10-14 days. I am a great believer in LSD (long slow distance) I start at 2 hrs and slowly build it up over several weeks to 4 hrs but at a very low heart rate 60%-80% of my working Heart Zone or 70%-85% of Max Heart Rate (and I try to keep to the lower half of these ranges). It is important to run slowly to ensure that you are developing the fat-burning engine. I don't often run for more than 4 hours in training it's long enough to get the body used to burning fat for fuel and any longer just increases the risk of injury or fatigue. The day before I do the long training run I do 40-45 mins of hill work so that I am used to running on tired/stiff legs and the day after the long run I go and do an hour of whatever I feel like just so that my body knows it doesn't get a day off after a long run, knowing you can do this is also a great psychological boost come the event.  I am also fortunate enough to live in the Pennines so I get plenty of off-road hill running. I am a member of Clayton-le Moors Harriers a club well known for its achievements in Fell-Running and I train once or twice a week with them.  How do you prepare yourself for a votwo challenge? I believe preparation is vital to an enjoyable and successful challenge I am meticulous in the detail of preparing clothing, equipment and drinks. I take loads of gear with me to these events so that whatever the weather I have the appropriate clothing to be comfortable in on the day, and the extras mean that I always have alternative shoes and clothes to put on for day two and three. I am also very careful about what I eat and drink on these days and make full use of the massage facilities offered by votwo at these events.  What do you want to achieve, what is your goal? To be able to enjoy my sport to a very ripe old age. If you had one piece of advice to give what would it be? I have always believed that consistency is the most important aspect of training and a good endurance base is developed over years of 'putting miles in the bank'. Oh and one other thing, don't put things off, i.e. one day I will row the Atlantic or climb Everest or run in my local 5k race, because one day there won't be another 'one day', SO DO IT NOW! If you could run any race, what would it be? votwo's The Oner, Marathon des Sables, Ultra-Trail de Mont Blanc, Ironman Austria..... but not on consecutive days!

Pembrokeshire Coast Challenge 2011 - DAY ONE

 18th - 20th November 2011

A Marathon a Day for Three
Days along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Event Organisers: 
www.votwo.co.uk

DAY - ONE

The opportunity to enter another votwo challenge was to good to miss, the Pembrokshire Coast Challenge (PCC) was of a similar format to the Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC) that I had competed in at the begining of October, "A self navigation marathon a day for 3 days over tough coastal terrain".

My theory was that I had done the training for Atlantic Coast Challenge and with six weeks to recover I should still be fit enough to complete the Pembrokeshire Coast Challenge. 

As the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (or Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro as they say in Wales) is the only Coastal National Park in Great Britain the location sounded fantastic, and according to National Geographic magazine it is the second best coastal destination in the world, sharing second place with the Tutukaka coast in New Zealand and beating places like the Seychelles, Bermuda and Costa Rica, so what more could you wish for? Good weather perhaps!

St. Davids, the smallest city in Britain, was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II because of the presence of the cathedral of St Davids. It is in reality a small attractive village and the city hall was to be headquarters for the votwo challenge event. St David's Cathederal is set in a stunning location hidden from view in the centre of the village and there has been a church on this site since the 6th century.



St David's Cathedral

The morning starts in City Hall with breakfast, registration and race briefing before been bussed-out to the start at Dale. Ben Mason Race Director read out the obligatory safety briefing highlighting the dangers of running along the cliff edge and giving tips on route navigation. The weather forecast was for wind speeds of 25mph with gusts of up to 40mph so with lots of cliff top running this was of concern to both the organisers and competitors alike, the only consolation was that the direction would be either a tailwind or an on-shore wind.


The exposed Dale peninsula in south-west Pembrokeshire is the sunniest place in Wales, as if 'the sunniest place in Wales' is anything to brag about, actually it does average over 1,800 hours of sunshine a year. However it's also the windiest, with speeds of over 100 mph having been recorded. Today's forecast was set for both, with strong winds and possibly sunny intervals later in the day.
  

Last Minute Preparations

Challenge Start - Only 78 Miles to Go!

While everybody else is doing their last minute preparations and 'dibbing-out' (registering your electronic timing chip in a recorder) and setting off running I'm busy taking photos of them and the village of Dale, and before I've dibbed everybody has gone and I'm left behind watching the last few runners disappear behind the cottages and into the trees, the flip side of being last is that it simplifies navigation. 'Lead from the rear'!




The Small Village of Dale

Dale is an unspoilt village, its claim to fame is that it is the spot where in 1485 Henry Tudor landed on his return from exile in France en route to his defeat of Richard lll at Bosworth Field. Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, historians consider this battle to mark the end of the Plantagenet Dynasty, making it one of the defining moments of English history. Spurred on with knowledge that the Lancastrians won I set off running eager to chase down any Yorkist’s.

St Ann's Head at the foot of the Dale peninsula is the entrance to Milford Haven Port one of Britain's deep water harbours. It is the third largest in the UK handling over 65 million gross tons of shipping, including Oil, Liquid Petroleum Gas, and Liquid Natural Gas tankers which are some of the largest in the world. LNG is a liquid that forms when natural gas is cooled to around -160ºC. This shrinks the volume of the gas 600 times, making it easier to store and transport. With 25 per cent of the petrol and diesel as well as 30 per cent of the UK's gas requirements these are very busy waterways. 



Watwick Point Beacon

Watwick Point Beacon is a type of lighthouse known as a leading light. Leading lights are light beacons used in navigation designed to lead ships into Milford Haven past dangerous reefs. It also serves as an handy aid to navigation on the PCC,  at 159 feet high and with a light that is visible for 15 miles you can't really miss it!
Interestingly Block-houses were built here in the reign of Elizabeth 1, and a chain is said to have been drawn across the mouth of the haven, from St. Anne's to Nangle Point on the opposite side, to obstruct the passage of the Spanish Armada.

Mill Bay with St. Anne's Head in the Distance and the Undulations of the Coast Path Begin.

                         St Ann's Head Lighthouse 'New'                               St. Ann's Head Lighthouse 'Old'

There are two lighthouses at St Ann's Head overlooking the entrance to Milford Haven, the new lighthouse was completed in 1841, the old lighthouse built in 1796 is now a holiday 'cottage' complete with swimming pool, sauna, 5 bedrooms and a lounge at the very top with unrivalled sea views. Cost £2,000 - £3,500/week. The occupants cosseted in luxury look on with bewilderment as we run past, ah well at least I look like I am running well even if it is due to the 30mph tailwind.

Looking good! (I hope so I've only run just over 3 miles!) must remember to tuck the shirt in next time!

Time to concentrate on getting to Checkpoint 1 (CP1) at Westdale Bay. On arrival, CP1 is just a remote exposed very windswept empty car park near the cliffs, I thank the volunteers feeling sorry for them but I don't stop just dib-in and carry on. It's about 8 miles to CP2 and it's right round the other side of the headland and it will be more sheltered there.

Looking Back Westdale Bay & Great Castle Head

The seas give some indication as to what it must be like manning CP1.

Marloes Sands from Hooper's Point

Looking Back at Hooper's Point

Stormy seas & skies, no sign yet of the sunshine promised for later in the day.

Marloes Sands & Gateholme Island (Island of Goats)

Gateholm & Skokholm Island in the Distance

Skomer Island in the distance

Albion Sands & Gateholm Island

Albion Sands are named after the "Albion" a paddle steamer wrecked here in 1837, apparently at low tide a small part of the ship is still visible.


It is a further 5 miles round the headland known as Deer Park to CP2 at St Brides.

Check Point 2 at St Brides Church.

According to legend St. Bride arrived here from Ireland about AD 500. Just to the north of the church and on the beach there used to be the remains of a small chapel now lost to the sea. Here fishermen prayed to Bridget for a good catch and protection while out at sea. Around the 13th century the chapel fell into decay and was used as a salt house for curing herring. In anger Bridget is said to have withdrawn her protection and there is an old rhyme that says:

 When St. Bride's chapel a salt house was made,

St. Bride's lost the herring trade.

St Brides Church and the Flag at CP2.

The old graveyard at St Brides contained cist burials (a small stone-built coffin-like box) some of which have been carbon dated to the 10th century.

Its very busy at CP2 so I grab some water a handful of jelly-babies, dib-in and I am off leap frogging over about a dozen or so other runners who are still busy fuelling-up.



St Brides Haven

Leaving CP2 it's straight across the small beach at St Brides Haven towards the cottages, the footpath then just sneaks round the left-hand side of the last cottage. Next check-point is Broad Haven in 6-7 miles.



There is a cave in the headland and Stacks Rocks are offshore.

Along the coast today it's been very muddy and I have noticed that the mud is red this I assume to be from the red sandstone that is visible on this photo. The diversity of geology on just this short stretch of coastline is fascinating and Pembrokeshire as a whole has a greater variety of geological features than any other equivalent area in the British Isles one of the reasons for its designation as a National Park.



Bridge at Mill Haven

As I arrive at the tiny cove of Mill Haven I notice that some of the runners that I passed at CP2 are now in hot pursuit. They chase me down one side of the cove, then back up the other.



Runners in hot pursuit.



Before we arrive at Little Haven I am hunted down and caught, so I tag along with these guys and chat for a while. The first one I talk to after he has offered to take my photo (shirt tucked in this time!) is from a group who have come over from Vancouver just to do the PCC (he is in the red top in the photo above) and the guy in front of him is from London and is training for the Marathon des Sables in 2012.

We drop down off the cliffs and into Little Haven, it looks more like a Cornish Fishing Village then a Welsh one.

The very sleepy village of Little Haven

The Little Streets of Little Haven

In Little Haven we are immediately lost, well not actually lost but we can't find the Coast Path out of town. it's full of tiny streets all leading up 1:4 climbs and no signs for the Coast Path. We look at the map and look around for someone to ask but the village seems deserted, so following Ben's advice on 'lost' - "keep the sea on your left and if your running uphill your probably going in the right direction" we set off out of town up a very steep road. I dig deep determined that I will live up to the promise I made to myself at the start of the challenge of running all the way. By the time I get to the top the only guy left with me is the one training for the Marathon des Sables (MDS), he has got all his food & clothing for the three days in his rucksack along with his stove, pan and sleeping bag and is doing a full dress rehearsal for the MDS. He dispels my theory about 'southern shandies/softies' but he likes my pace judgement and determination and immediately bonds by glancing at his GPS and announcing that it if we stick at this pace we will finish in under 5.1/2 hours. I try to explain that I am doing my own thing and taking photos as I go along and trying not to run for a 'time' but we're off in pursuit of CP2 at Broad Haven.


Little is known of the history of Broad Haven but by the 1800’s it had become a popular coastal village and by 1937 it was a thriving seaside resort, it’s prime industry however was coal. Interestingly, during the 1970's Broad Haven made its name known by becoming a prime spot for UFO sightings. It earned the name 'Broad Haven Triangle' after the Bermuda Triangle. 

In February 1977 it is reported that 14 schoolchildren saw a UFO craft in the field beside their school and when asked by the headmaster to draw the craft, the pictures all looked strikingly similar. 

The oddest of all would have to be the apparent sighting of a 7ft creature in a silver suit late one night in April 1977 it was concluded however that this was probably a prankster wearing a fire proof suit from one of the oil refineries in Milford Haven. 

However a local hotelier described a sighting from her window 'like the moon falling down, it landed in the field and  two very tall, faceless 'humanoids' got out of this object (about the size of a mini bus) and appeared to 'take measurements or gather things'." 

After local people campaigned their MP the MOD & RAF undertook an investigation but "could offer no further explanation" it is however very unusual for the MOD to conduct investigations into UFO sightings.



Broad Haven Sands  (The truth is still out there!)

We fly through Broad Haven & CP3 "there's no time to stop, you don't need anything do you" orders my new buddy. So there is no time to sight-see or spot UFOs, its right along the promenade and climb back up on to the cliffs. I do however spot a warning sign to add to my collection, about the hazards of cliff diving, and I thought my sport was odd. I had hoped for a warning about the dangers of 'Flying Saucers' since I was in the Welsh equivalent to 'Area 51', that would have been collectable. Seriously however it does focus ones mind on the danger of slippy/muddy paths, strong winds and cliff top running. It's now only 6-7 miles to the finish which is at Newgale but that's about 1.1/2 hours of running on this type of terrain and there is still a few 'Haven's' to bag.

Druidston Haven

Nolton Haven



Afternoon Sun Over Nolton Haven

Come On, Not Far To Go.

By now my new running partner has got used to the idea that I stop frequently to admire the view and take photos and he even offers to take one of me but by the time I've reviewed it and pointed my camera at him he's disappearing up the trail again. The wind has finally eased and the promised sunshine is trying to break through the grey skies.

Late Afternoon Sun on Calmer Seas.

Newgale Sands and The Finish of Day One

Finally Newgale Sands and the finish comes into view. It's just a case of dropping off the cliffs (not literally like the hazard sign) and then a short road section to a car park just past the headland in the middle of the photograph.

As I finish and dib-in, or is it dib-out, hand in my number and dibber for the day I quickly collect my kit bag with some warm clothes, change tops, down two mugs of Mrs. Mason's home made hot, spicy, pea & ham soup along with several slices of dry bread, food doesn't taste any better than this. Before I have chance to saviour the finish and swap stories with the others of today's endeavours I'm squashed on to a mini-bus and whisked off back to St. Davids. Well that suits me fine because I have a party to attend.

Finsh Time 5:12:18
Position 23/103

Party time, cakes with candle, prezis and a card, fitting end to a great Birthday, well Barbara did ask me what I wanted to do on my Birthday. The day before we set off for Wales Kristin sprang a surprise Birthday Dinner on me, she thought normal people would opt for the pub on their birthday rather than a run a marathon or two, or three, it takes all sorts I suppose!

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Epilogue:

I was saw impressed with the coastal scenery, especially around Marloes Sands & Gateholm Island, Barbara & I went back a few days later to explore. Late one afternoon I took some good photos on the beach, I have included two. (National Geographic magazine did say that it is the second best coastal destination in the world, all I can say is the the first must be very impressive).

Marloes Sands & Gateholm Island - The wind blows sand & surf across the beach.

Marloes Sands & Gateholm Island. (Sunsets 'R' Us)

Pembrokeshire Coast Challenge 2011 - DAY TWO

18th - 20th November 2011

A Marathon a Day for Three

Days along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Event Organisers: 

www.votwo.co.uk

DAY - TWO

Day two dawned bright & breezy as we are bussed off to today's start (yesterdays finish) at Newgale.

Storm Beach at Newgale

Newgale Sands is backed by a large pebble wall or 'storm beach' as defence against the high tides and large waves. It is popular with holiday makers, through the summer months and in particular windsurfers, surfers and canoeists throughout the year.

On a morning like this, and in such a beautiful setting, I couldn't resist the temptation to take a few photographs while the others prepared for the start.




Newgale Sands and the beautiful coastline which was to be the opening of today's run.

Looking back along the beach into the morning sun.

Race Preparations.

After 'dibbing-out' we set off running it was a nice gentle jog along the road by the beach on a beautiful sunny morning with good company, camaraderie and anticipation for the day ahead, this illusion of 'ain't life grand' lasted about five minutes before the first brutal climb of the day.

The nice gentle warm-up didn't last long.

However if you stop and look back the view is worth it.

Newgale Sands with the sunshine gleaming off Brandy Brook.

We got off to a much better start on our journey than hundreds of seabirds earlier in September. They were left stranded on the coast at Newgale after being blown off course by high winds and heavy rain. The RSPCA rescued the Manx Shearwaters, which were migrating to Argentina from Skomer Island. More than 400 were blown back into the cliffs and into the surf, getting caught up in the rough seas. Manx Shearwaters are well designed for swimming and flying but not very good at taking off from land, normally they come out of their nesting burrows and just sort of fall off the cliffs and fly away.

Passport Control - Cwm Bach

Passports at the ready as the Sais among us cross the border back into 'Welsh Wales'. The Landsker Line somewhere near here (Landsker being an old Norse word for frontier) is the term used to describe the language boundary between the Welsh-speaking and English-speaking areas in south-west Wales. The English-speaking areas, known as ‘Little England beyond Wales’, are far from the border with England. The line is noted for being sharp, and for having moved only slightly over the past several centuries. A line of over 50 castles and strongholds were built by the Normans and Flemish to protect south Pembrokeshire from the indigenous Welsh. It is not to be found on any map.

Immigration, Customs & Passport Control cleared and we are back running along the coast path.


Cwm Bach

Evidence of grass fires give a lunar-landscape feel to Cwm Bach.

Dinas Fawr

We run past Dinas Fawr, apparently if you turn off the coast path and go along the ridge of this dramatic promontory there are precipitous drops on both sides to rocks and the sea below. Not quite in the Striding Edge category but if my mate John had been here I have no doubt that we would have gone off-piste on an EVA.

The coastline, dramatic as ever, looking over Aber-West to Solva.

The first port of call is the small sea-port town of Solva about 5 miles from the start.

Solva, an ancient fishing village, whose Viking name means 'sunny inlet' stands in a deep valley gouged out by glacial melt water. Solva claims to have the sunniest climate in Wales and is known for its spectacular sunsets. At the risk of starting a civil uprising between 'Little England' and Wales the exposed Dale peninsula at the start also claimed itself 'officially' to be the sunniest place in Wales, maybe the Solvanians class Dale as England), however I make a note to call back one afternoon with my camera and check out a Solvanian sunset for myself.

Solva, bathed as usual in sunshine.

Turbulant waters in the mouth of Solva Harbour

Further West along the coast from Solva on 18th October 1981, three tugs ran aground on the rocks. The tug Vernicos Alexia towing two sister tugs had engine problems and after fouling the towline all three were swept ashore when its anchors failed to hold.

The Rocks Between Solva and Port Y Rhaw

Click on the link below for full size photo.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1390318

© Chris Howell

It's been a long run, about 9 miles, from the start at Newgale to CP1 and I 've been going 1.3/4 hrs. I set off with great enthusiasm but slumped after Solva. I was getting concerned, if I was starting to tire now it was going to be a very very long day. The coast path from here on was remote & desolate and I knew that conditions underfoot would not be as good for running as they had been this morning.

Therefore I was pleased to arrive at CP1 and took time to eat, drink and try to replenish my energy reserves. Sometimes, as any endurance athlete will tell you, you just go through a bad patch and all that is needed is a bit of grit. As they say "when the going gets tough ......." I set off jogging.

Check Point One, Day Two at Caerfai Bay. Near St. David's

Cp2 is only about 6 miles from CP1 then it's about 10 miles to CP3 which includes some big climbs. so I take my time and eat and  drink on the fly, hopefully I will start to feel better soon.


A short distance from CP1 is St Non's Bay.

St. Non's Bay.

St. Non's Chapel & Retreat

St Non was the mother of St David, close by are the ruins of an older chapel and the Holy Well of St Non which tradition says sprang up at the birth of St David. It is regarded as one of the most sacred wells in Wales and the water is considered to have miraculous healing powers.

Trwyn Cyndderiiog

The next point of interest along the way is Port Clais but when I arrive the tide is in and the sun is in the wrong position for a good photograph so I call back a few days later and take this one.

Porth Clais

Porth Clais is a long, narrow creek, carved out by glacial meltwater 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, into which the River Alun flows, At one end is an old harbour wall and at the inner end of the harbour was St. David's Gas Works, erected in 1901 and fuelled by coal from Newgale. There are also lime-kilns which were used to produce lime for mortar and spreading on the land, farmers used to say that it 'sweetened the soil'.

In Welsh folklore the Giant Wild Boar "Twrch Trwyth " forced out of Ireland came ashore here pursued by King Arthur and his Knights. Part of a saga containing gallant knights, numerous battles and a chase across Ireland, Wales, Devon & Cornwall. (Beginning to sound like a another votwo event).

Carreg yr Esgob

Carreg yr Esgob or Bishops Rock, is a rocky islet lying off Porth Lysgi. A cave runs right through it and it is said that a bishop of St Davids, on his way to Ireland, hid from pirates by sailing his boat into the cave.

All day we've been running in a westerly direction but now we start to swing round a remote headland into Ramsey Sound and start to run north. Ramsey Sound is a narrow stretch of sea between Ramsey Island and the mainland that has a very strong tidal race. There are some infamous low black rocks just off the coast of Ramsey Island at the narrowest straight of Ramsey Sound, they are known as 'The Bitches'.



Penmaenmelyn Copper Mines

On the shore of Ramsey Sound and just opposite The Bitches, are  the remains of a copper mine now fenced off. In the 19th century, shafts and tunnels were dug into the cliffs to extract copper ore.

Looking Across Ramsey Sound To Island Ynys Cantwr and the Southern Tip of Ramsey Island.

The Bitches are a reef of rocks which stretch out into Ramsey Sound and combined with the strong tides which race through the area create quite a notorious stretch of water. The tides run north for 6 hours on the Flood and south for 6 hours on the Ebb, the tidal race can reach speeds of up to 18 knots on the reef itself. The tide speeds up as it is funnelled through the relatively narrow channel of the sound and the reef then acts as a dam. This effect is particularly spectacular during the flood tide when the water level on the south side of the rocks can be as much as 1.5 metres higher than that on the north side. This has, in recent years, made the place very popular with kayakers and has been host to both national and international kayaking championships. On the ebb tide things are much quieter and a bonus is that the porpoises feed here daily.


Across the Sound to the Northern end of Ramsey.

Ramsey Sound has been ear-marked for the development of tidal power, ‘Deltastream’  (invented by a Pembrokeshire engineer), will sit on the sea bed at the north end of Ramsey Sound and use the strong tidal currents to generate clean electricity.

I had run steady since CP1 drunk lots of energy drink and eaten lots of cheese, chocolate and the new weapon in my arsenal Kendal Mint Cake (couldn't get the turbo version of Chocolate covered Kendal Mint Cake), I was feeling better, not exactly chomping at the bit but not quite the flat battery feeling that I had felt. After 1hr 20minutes I arrived at CP2 St. David's Lifeboat Station at St Justinian set in a stunning location. It was no great surprise to find it manned by Peter Mason '2ic' who was strolling back along the coast path looking for the stragglers and I was greeted with "Don't forget to Dib", I had got off lightly considering his usual banter. 

Mrs Mason was also manning the checkpoint taking care of everybody and was just brewing up for a Scotsman 'Cuppae tea wi' three succars please, ah am fair puggled' he said as he stood there with three cheese & pickle sandwiches in one hand and a piece of chocolate brownie cake in the other. I sometimes had the feeling of being the only Sassenach in Wales

St. David's Lifeboat Station at St. Justinian serving as CP2

St. David's lifeboat station has been launching lifeboats for a 140 years. The crews have been presented with 24 awards for gallantry. The Bitches have been the scene of many shipwrecks the most notable was in 1910. The 'Gem' powered by oars and sail, had been launched to go to the aid of a vessel called the Democrat. Having successfully rescued the crew of two, the Gem was then returning when she herself got into difficulties and was wrecked on the end rock of the bitches with tragic consequences. Three of the Gem’s crew lost their lives that night and the remaining crew, along with those they had rescued, were left clinging to the reef through a stormy night until rescued the following day.

St. Justinian was a Breton nobleman who settled on the island of Ramsey as a hermit in the 6th century. He was visited by St. David who was so impressed with his holiness he made him Abbot of St David's Cathedral. However, Justinian became disillusioned with the poor attitude of the monks at St David’s and took himself back to the remote Ramsey Island to establish a more holy spiritual community. Legend has it that he was beheaded by his disgruntled servants or monks fed up with his strict regime, apparently he picked up his head and carrying it under his arm crossed Ramsey Sound by walking on the water.

Portselau

It is a long way from CP2 along Whitesands Bay then St. David's Head and then a remote section of coast to CP3 at Abereiddy but I seemed to have got over the worst of my slump, if only you could buy bottled grit. The first landmark is Portselau just before the big beach at Whitesands, when the tide is out you can walk on the sands to Whitesands but our route is along the cliffs.

Whitesands is a very popular beach for families, surfers and walkers, I don't stop but on the climb out to St. David's Head I stop and look back for a photo. It is said that St. Patrick had his vision to convert Ireland to Christianity here and set sail from the bay in the 5th century.  At very low tide the remains of an ancient, submerged forest can be seen on the beach, consisting of stumps of birch, fir, hazel and oak. The remains of animals have also been found including parts of an auroch, (a type of large wild cattle, ancestor of domestic cattle but now extinct), a red deer antler and a brown bear jaw.


Whitesands Bay

Looking south there are two headlands jutting out into the sea, Trwynhwrddyn, The Ram's Nose(far) and Stacks (near)

St David’s head is the southern limit of the Irish Sea in Wales and marks the southern extremity of Cardigan Bay. It was described in a Roman survey of the known world in 140 AD by Roman astronomer, mathematician and cartographer Claudius Ptolemy, he describes the headland as the Octapitarum promontory, i.e. the 'Promontory of the Eight Perils', a testament to its wild nature, needless to say there are magnificent views in all directions

The story of Ptolemy is fascinating he embraced the generally accepted theory that the Earth did not move and was located at the centre of the universe. Ptolemy is known for the book he wrote explaining the motions of the planets and stars, entitled the "Almagest".
The ‘Ptolemaic System’ of the universe gave an acceptable description of planetary motion and lasted for more than 1,000 years. He catalogued over 1,000 stars along with the constellations and the legends that went along with them and the traditional Greek and Roman names he gave them are still in use today.
Besides his very influential work as an astronomer Ptolemy was a renowned cartographer hence his description for St. Davids Head. His other famous book the "Geographia" contained detailed maps of the world, that served travellers for hundreds of years. Even Christopher Columbus used his maps in 1492 when he discovered the Americas.

Fourteen miles out to sea is 'The Smalls Lighthouse' it is one of the most remote offshore lighthouses in the UK and home to an extraordinary story which brought about a change in the way lighthouses were run. Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, were known to quarrel, and so when Griffith died in a freak accident Howell feared that he might be suspected of murder if he discarded the body into the sea. As the body began to decompose Howell built a makeshift coffin and lashed it to the outside of the lighthouse. In a storm winds blew the box apart and the body’s arm fell within view of the window in such a way that it seemed as though it was beckoning to him. Working alone and with the decaying corpse of his former colleague outside Howell managed to keep the lamp lit. When Howell was finally relieved from the lighthouse the effect that the situation had had on him was said to be so extreme that some of his friends did not recognise him. From then on the lighthouse authority changed protocol and three men were always stationed on lighthouses.

Penberry - Wheres Wally?

After St. David's Head the next landmark is Penberry it looks like we have a mountain to climb but it's actually only 574 feet high and we don't even go over the summit but at 20 miles into today's run its a tough climb.

Pembrokeshire Wild Pony

 As I run along the coast path I startle a wild pony or I am startled by a wild pony, they are quite common in the area.

Abereiddi and Checkpoint 3

The miles pass by and all of a sudden we are spit-out on to a small road dropping down into Aberreiddi Bay and CP3. Abereiddi and CP3 is a major milestone for me as I am having a bad day, I know I have cracked it when I reach CP3 because its only 2 miles from here to the finish at Porthgain and I realise that I if I run all the way I might finish in under 6 hours so I don't waste anytime at CP3 not even a photo I just press on with my mate 'Wally'.

Porthgain is a sheltered port that in the 19th century was home to a thriving slate and brick industry, the remains of which are still visible today including a brick works and worker's cottages. The mining began in 1890 employing 200 men and boys and the town eventually became a crucial part of Britain’s building boom. Many buildings, even as far away as London and Liverpool have Porthgain granite in them. Today, the industries of Porthgain are fishing and tourism.



Porthgain & The Finish of Day Two.

I am pleased to finish today it's been tough, very tough, but I manage 5hrs 54minutes. It's going colder now and I find my kit bag and change into some warm dry clothing before indulging in 'Mrs Mason's Homemade Soup' I tell her that she should 'can it' and sell it, nectar after nearly 28 miles. The days are getting shorter now and it's not that far from dusk, I notice the Honda generator and lights are set-up at the finish  votwo as usual well prepared. I was just glad not to be negotiating those cliff paths in the dark.


Footnote!
A few days later I have the opportunity to checkout one of Solva's acclaimed sunsets:

Day's End



Solva's Arhipelago