Stage 1 complete!

Continuing my far from perfect preparations I decided to comfort myself by sticking in a longer run AND use the Trailtrekker route as inspiration.

The plan (if such a thing ever exists in my world) was to run to Malham and get a lift back home to Skipton.

Setting off from Skipton at 9:07am my support crew had instructions to pick me up at 11am - giving me an estimated hour and a half to get to Malham and then half an hour to doss around (or a full 2 hours to get to Malham if it all went pear shaped).

Along the canal I got to Gargrave in less than 41 minutes and stopping briefly to check my time I plughed straight on up towards Malham. I took the track as per the 2009 route rather than crossing the fields from the first Pennine Way sign. From the end of the track you cut across and join the Pennine Way for a gentle downhill section to the river and then a pleasant run alongside the river until you get to Hanlith.

Once at Hanlith you meet the road and have a 200 yard slog up the hill. Once you've conquered that it is almost all downhill to Malham. I reached Malham in 1 hour 34 (measured at 12.2 miles) so not too disappointed. Feeling fairly fresh and with the support crew nowhere to be seen I tagged a bit on and carried on towards the Cove, stopping at the sign for the Cove so I didn't have another climb to do!

Returning to the village there was still no sign of support but being before 11 still I thought I'd run along the road and meet them. I rang them once I got to Kirkby Malham School and as they were still in Skipton I carried on.

At Airton I had to stop! After 16 miles my legs were beginning to hate me and so I took their advice and hung around on the green until the cavalry arrived.

I stopped running at 11:20am having been on the road (tracks/fields/towpath) for 2 hours 13.

Having done way over what I'd set out to do I made myself feel a bit better about not actually putting on the walking boots in months.