Running alone in the hills

Running had become a bit more a social activity for me a while ago, but even before Covid-19, I had to do a reasonable amount of it by myself either because I had other commitments during club runs, or because my trainging regimen demanded it. When I was mostly road running, this didn't turn too many eyebrows, especially during the day time. But when I started going a bit further afield, people said to me 'Isn't that unsafe?' 'Don't you feel scared?'. And the answer is yes and no, to both.

I used to walk/run the dog on my own through our local woods when I lived with my parents. I didn't always take a mobile phone but then again I wasn't going far, and I knew the route. I have been on hiking and walking trips to the lakes in winter and the few people I have come across have sometimes asked what a woman is doing out on the fells by herself in miserable weather. People aren't very used to seeing a woman on her own running or walking on the hills, especially in the abscence of dog.

I'd love a trail dog. We are working on it.

But for now, I am stuck with the fact that sometimes I run on the hills on my own. And sometimes I quite like it. But I do try to be sensible. After night shifts, if its not been too manic, I quite like driving just out of Manchester and going for a run. Depending which hospital I am working at this has been to Lyme Park, Style and the river Bolle, or Rivington/Winter hill. I pick these places as I know them well, and also they are not too remote. If, in my post nights state, I fall and twist my ankle, I can wait what won't be too long and someone will come across me. Not that I would need to do this as I also carry a whistle and a phone (if there was signal). But my first point of advice is that start by running trails and fells you know reasonably well, and that aren't too remote. This way you can get used to running by yourself and not worry too much about navigation or being isolated. Waymarked routes on National Trust or Forestry Commision land are fab for this.

I know Winter Hill and Rivington quite well,so feel confident running
here in a variety of weathers

As well as my phone and whistle I carry water, a packet of haribo (for short runs, something more substantial if going futher than six or seven miles, or more remote), a buff, light gloves in summer and proper gloves in winter, and a waterpoof top or extra layer depending on the time of year. I also always carry a foil blanket. For longer runs and in bad weather I might carry a pair of waterproof trousers too.And posssibly a very basic first aid kit. I carry all this is my Pete Bland bumbag but you may prefer a small rucksack. Its very similar to FRA mandatory kit, for the same reasons: if you become immobilised it can be a long wait for rescue. And it can happen. To anyone. Second point: go equipped.

If I am not going somewhere I know well, I do some route research. When I do my solo trips to run in the Lakes, I sit with a map and the Mountain weather forecast and decide what is realistic for the day. I also check the morning forecast before I leave and have an alternative plan if I get there and the weather is proper pants. For the most part, I stick to reasonably well known parts of the Lakes for my solo trips, though in summer I might be more adventurous in terms of elevation. I did the Fairfield Horseshoe solo in spectacular weather, and my shoe pic made it into Trail Running Magazine. But I probably wouldn't do it solo in fog. I might do the Langdale valleys in bad weather, or one of my Coffin trail-Grasmere-Loughrigg routes (I have a whole set of different versions of these and they are great for autumn when the weather is changeable but the Lakes are quieter) as I can navigate them easily and they don't go high. Third point: pick the right route for the day.

The 'famous' picture from my Fairfield Hoseshoe solo run

The other thing is to take it easy. I take a lot of photos. Sometimes I do an insta-story so Martin doesn't panic that I am dead (he worries about my solo runs sometimes). I stop to admire the scenery. Unlike when I am on my own road running, I am not worrying about pace as much, I am enjoying the time and keeping sensible (if not safe). 

So in summary, my tips for running on the hills solo are:

Start out somewhere you know, and not remote

Go equipped in case you get immobilised

Pick the right route for the day; ambitious routes need good weather

Take your time

We haven't really covered navigation in this post but that is a story for another day. 

Race report: Curley's 5km Races (from 2019)

This month should have been the start of midweek racing season for me. This runs through from April to the end of August; by September the evenings draw in to quickly and there only a few races in the week. But the summer sees me and the rest of the Blacksheep scrambling in to cars after work (a lot of anxiety about finishing on time in my case) to try get to various parts of the Peak District, Pennines and other local greenish areas to race, run and cheer. And then usually end up in a pub, a late night getting home, an annoyed Martin as I climb in to bed after a midnight shower and a sleep deprived day at work the next day. But I love midweek racing; the colour of club vests, the chaos of getting there, the evening light across the tops of the hills, and the fact you can still head out at the weekend!

The first midweek races of my season last year were the Curley's 5km series based in Horwich. The joy of these is they are more local to me than many of the other races, and also quite short. They also give me an indication of how badly winter training went....

Sadly this year Covid-19 has spoilt the plan, but I thought I would write a bit of a review from memory.

The race is run by Mad Bull Events and is a pre-register event (rather than a rock up on the night event). Its a series of three events on consecutive Wednesday nights through April, and last year I did it the week before Manchester marathon, and then ended up missing the next two due to injury.

Race number pick up is from Yo Old Jolly Crofters pub, and parking is a bit of a nuisance. Its local roads, and I ended up parked up a hill and praying I didn't upset anyone, and that the handbrake held. Once numbers are collected, the start is down a side road opposite, next to Curley's diner and fishery. Its a packed track rather than a proper road that lead down to some old cottages, before descending in to an old mill site that has been redeveloped in to flats. This section is on road and the residents seemed a bit surprised to see us all there but I guess by race three they get the idea. A sharp right turn takes us back on to trail and the start of a steep climb that managed to run slowly.

By the top there is a bit of tree cover and you come out on to George's Lane, which leads up the side of Winter Hill, becoming Belmont road and eventually passing under Rivington Pike. We aren't going this far up today but its nice to know how this links up with my normal running routes (and to take my mind of the gradual up hill on what is just uneven road). Instead we cut in to Wilderswood and do a zig zag descent. You can see the fast boys and girls through the trees. The path is a bit variable with some sections more loose than others, but nothing technical. You could get away with road shoes.

Dropping out the bottom of the wood there is another short road section, then a footpath and suddenly we are back at the factory redevelopment and trying to gain on the person in front on the up hill back to the start/finish. Its a fast finish as you know its coming and the underfoot is good. I think I caught one person here.

By my watch it came up slightly under 5km but hey its trail trail racing.

Its a really great little run, and would be every good entry level for trail running as there is nothing too technical and you aren't going to get lost. Hopefully it will all be back next year once this virus is out the way.

Kinder Downfall: the recce

Kinder Downfall was on our CR Blacksheep series this year but sadly it got cancelled. I had signed up knowing this sort of race is really the limit of what I can realistically enjoy. At just shy of 10 miles and with 600m of climb, its not an easy Wednesday evening trip out. That said, I have tried bigger.

My real fear was my curse of Kinder; everytime I am up there I seem to get lost! Well not lost, but detached from the path..... You see the problem with Kinder is that it is a massive featureless moonscape on the top. You have the classic walk along the edges but the central landmass is a mass of small streams, bogs and gullies. And no defined paths. The ups and downs make walking of a bearing exceptionally hard and my boyfriend Martin still doesn't speak of the time we tried to walk from Kinder Downfall back to Crowden clough on what was marked as a footpath.

But looking at the route, I figured I had a chance if only because it didn't cross the expanse but mostly hugged the edge. So I did a recce first. 

Of note, I bought the Pete Bland Harvey Map for this race. They are pretty handy and available for several of the more popular races. Not only do they have the race route mapped out but they also have a load of directional instructions on the back. This can be useful. And it is easier to carry a single sheet map than the full OS map for the area in your required kit. 

The Pete Bland Map - please support this small business by buying your own, I have made this deliberately poor quality to give you an idea of what you get but not so you can copy it. 

Having completed Lyme Park parkrun that morning (alternative course so ran quite a big PB but it doesn't really count),  and with a big run planned the next day, I decided to 'speed hike' the root. By speed hike I mean fell shoes but back pack and only jogging the flats and downs. Managing to park in Hayfield and nip in to the old fashioned corner shop to buy a fruit bun to take up with me, I set off from the bridge at the centre of the town. Memo to self: parking on the day will be a mare! 

The first section is road and takes you past the house where the actor who played Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army was born. Its not the greatest race start but it will at least be wide enough. The left hand footpath is pretty obviously signed and there are both steps and a track which in the race pack will prove useful. This is the Snake path and you follow this up a steady gradient through some farm land until you meet the moor edge. 

The next section is pretty pleasant. I trundled across the grit stone paths on to the moor proper. I have run near here in the dark on head torch runs and love how the pale paths almost shine. The water collects in puddles but there are few boggy sections. There were two paths after the shooting hut and it seems to be the upper one yo want round past White and Nab Brows though there seemed little difference. I dropped down to Benny's bridge which was quite steep having got a bit of a nice jogging pace on.

The grit stone paths on the moor

Round the Brows overlooking the reservoir

At Benny's bridge I had a quick drink and checked the map. The footpath across the bridge looked steeper but more enticing than the clough scramble that I had to my left, but the clough  scramble is the race route. A group of young men  had appeared from the reservoir path and seemed lost so I decided to get a move on. The followed me up the first part of the clough but I think decided it wasn't really one to be done in fashion trainers (thank goodness). 

The clough climb is typical; the path skitters from side to side of the stream in the middle and the heavy rain of winter had caused a considerable amount of erosion. Its steep and a bit scrambly in places but nothing too bad. I wasn't going fast but I was getting warm and figured on race day I was just going to have to take my time. There was little indication of where the top was so it was a case of just keep going! 

At the top the the path joins the infamous Pennine Way and its a right hand turn to carry on with a steeper but less scrambly climb up on to Ashop Head. Then you continue on the Pennine way around the gritstones of Kinder. I was grateful for my buff as the wind always howls up here and hurts your ears. Some sections of this are smoother than others, and so easier to get a rhythm on and I moved at a job thorugh these sections but then some sections were hard to judge footing. This is also an extremely popular footpath and so you find yourself dodging other path users. 

As usual, Kinder Downfall had  a cluster of disappointed walkers wondering why they couldn't see the waterfall from the top. The wind was playing its usual trick of blowing the water up but not in a spectacular way. I retrieved my bun to eat as I continued on the next section

The top of Kinder Downfall

The next section gets a bit more craggy and boggy and busy. I wasn't really enjoying it. I couldn't get a rhythm either walking or running but pottered on until two teenagers ended up stuck in a bog (usual story of fashion trainers and adventurous spirit with little practical nouse, we have all been there) and I had to help them get out. This resulted in the curse of Kinder struck as it became easier to get out of the mire by  hugging the edge rather than climbing up to the checkpoint. We came out on the footpath to Kinder End and I walkded back towards Edale Rocks to get back on the flagstone path which thankfully took me around the next knowle as I wasn't really feeling another climb about then.

I was getting tired as I reached Edale Cross.

I had been hoping to get a bit of pace up on the road but my legs were fading. It wasn't looking great for April! The road is the usual rock mountain trail. Then it was over a style on to another footpath that took me up and around before dropping on to some muddy farmland that could get pretty chewed up in the race. I then got a bit turned round in a field, partly because I was looking for a field boundary that wasn't there and partly because I was being a twit. This section is flagged in the race fortunately....

After the farm there is a steepish road section past a fancy house or two then down to the River Kinder. This next section was deceptionally long and I made a mental note not to push too hard too early as the flat section on the valley bottom could easy become a drag and loss of places (for all that matters to the fat girl at the back) is likely if I run out of steam on the day.

Getting back to Hayfield I was tired and eyed up the pub but with a LDWA event the next day elected to head home and rest and panic about what I had let myself in for with the race in April. Little did I know I wasn't going to be back quite as soon as I had hoped.

Fellrunning inspiration #1

I am missing the hills at the moment. But the magic of Youtube has been filling me with inspiration (and stuff to fill the very long lock down days with) for both fellrunning and places to go when this is over. There are a lot of running and fellrunning and outdoorsy videos on Youtube but here are a few of my personal favourites particularly related to fellrunning:

Of Fells and Hills

https://youtu.be/QXPtJ5rRM-M

Partly recorded in the Lakes, partly in Scotland this is quite a nice summary of fell running as seen by a runner from America which touches on some of the fellrunning legends. This series in general has some great stuff in it.

I Am a Fellrunner

https://youtu.be/9Z3qWQCFh9A

< Entered for the BMC TV Women In Adventure film competition 2020, sponsored by Montane. Arty and beautiful.

Dreams of Mountains

https://youtu.be/Kk69hkPeOGQ

Done by a lovely bloke called Ed from CR Blacksheep, this video captures some of the problems of being a townie with a fell running problem.

Dark Peak Fell Runners

https://youtu.be/QwTp28jbTP8

Rival club but they did a nice job on this.

Run Forever

https://youtu.be/2ABR30IHlq4

The story of Nicky Spinks and the Double Bob Graham was and sometimes still is my go to inspiration video for running. I used to watch it before my big events to remind myself that what I am aiming for is nothing. Beautiful shots of the Lakes. Inspiring woman.

If you aren't already down a rabbit hole of running and trail videos I can send you more. I'd also love to hear about other peoples favourites!

Parkrun as a starting point for trail runs

Lots of people have opinions about parkrun. Personally, I think it is a fantastic initiative to get people in to running, a fantastic social and community opportunity and a great way to get out and explore places. But some parkruns also offer something a little more.....adventurous!

Around Manchester my two favourite parkruns are Lyme Park and Watergrove.

Lyme Park is a National Trust property that I run at a lot (I feel safe running on my own there, even in moderately inclement weather) and their 5km is a charming mixture of rocky paths, wood lines trails and grassy path. And its beautiful! Unfortunately weather does mean that it has at least two alternative courses but both of these are pleasant. It is a pretty tough course with plent of elevation and you won't run your usual parkrun time, but you'll work the lungs and legs plenty. You also don't really need trail or fell shoes to complete the course; road shoes will get you round but the extra grip can aff to the fun. We have included it in the Blacksheep series for the last few years, usually in the colder months as the bigger races stop during the bad weather months, and its a great way to kick off the New Year. I have run this parkrun in baking sun, ice, snow and pouring rain and I never don't enjoy it. But I am yet to go sub 30 on the main course. For after, the cafe opens for warming cups of tea and breakfast. Trains go to Disley, which is about a mile and half from the start.

The 'sheep at Lyme Park this January

Up to the cage, photo courtesy of Alice Swift

Watergrove is a set up on the Pennines near Rochdale. The start line is often blustery, set against the reservoir. Another Blacksheep favourite, I was told that this run just 'went round the reservoir and back'. This isn't exactly a lie but you do climb up on to the lower moors and a marshal each week is set on sheep duty to prevent the moor residents escaping through open gates.  I have also come fourth woman here as during winter numbers can be tiny! Less muddy than Lyme, this parkrun can also be done in road shoes but is mostly on rocky or cobbled paths. It is an out and back and on a clear day the views from the top are incredible. For after, there is are cafes in Wardle, the local village, but my favourite is the Cherry Tree in Littleborough, where you can also find a train station.

Steep in parts but good under foot for the main part

Views across the reservoir and down the Manchester

When I am not able to travel quite so far on a Saturday, my local parkruns are Worsley Woods, Pennington and Bolton and all offer their own enjoyable aspects. Worsley Woods is tree lined and covers my local running routes, Pennington offers undulating footpath with views of the the IronManUK swim course, and Bolton has a wonderful hill you get to do more than once. I have not yet tried Haigh Woodland but running here is quite pleasant anyway so I am hoping to get there soon. 

Further afield, Whinlatter parkrun offers an opportunity for the hill lovers to get their legs to open up. It also offers incredible views over Keswick and across to Skiddaw. They reckon you can add on up to 6 minutes compared to your normal parkrun here! This is all on reasonably wide forestry track apart from the small loop section at the top which takes you along amazing lovely single track. For after, Siskins cafe at the start line offers a parkrun promotional breakfast after. You do have to pay for parking and in summer and holidays the event can get busy. 

Whinlatter is one of England's only true forest mountains and offers views of Skiddaw

Delamere forest south of Manchester is also a Forestry Commision based parkrun but without the mega climbs. Down near my southern roots, Wendover Woods Parkrun offers an inbetween version of the two. If you are at a Forestry England location, there are often multiple signposted running and walking routes that make great beginners trail runs.

If you fancy a few more challenges its worth watching this video on the toughest parkruns in the UK though some people are convinced there are tougher ones in Scotland! I'd love to hear if there are any other wilder parkruns people would recommend! 

Race report: The Ian Roberts Memorial Fell Race

This was the first of the Chorlton Runners Blacksheep series races proper after the February race was cancelled due to the storms. I should have learnt my lesson from the week before but once again turned up to race with a weeks worth of marathon training in my legs and having done the long run the day before. And the weather was looking......changeable.

The Ian Roberts memorial is held out in the Pennines above Marsden. The Pennines are a different shape to the Peaks, steeper gullies and generally more boggy. As I drove past Pule Hill on the way to the start line I bulked slightly but little did I know this would be the least of my problems.

The race had asked all runners to carry full kit and technically this includes a map. The night before I had been asked to print a few spares for team mates with no printer access. Fortunately, they weren't needed as the print quality was terrible. There had also been a bit of a panic about compasses but fortunately these too were not needed. Chorlton Runners has a bit of a rep as the 'famous inner city fellrunning club' and a bit of a joke. And whilst a lot of our guys and gals are extremely good and they occassionally rock up and win stuff (they really are very good), this sort of fluster is a nice reminder that I am not the only disorganised hobbyist in our ranks.....

Todays start point is a cricket club. There is more than 1 type of entrance form and I get moderately confused and fill out the wrong one. Never mind. Money paid and once again I am set to run. Being a series race, there is a good Chorlton Runner turn out. I am the least proficient one there but that's okay, I am used to being last one back. I don't expect people on the finish line if its cold. But its nice to walk up to the start line with Sarah and Aisla. None of us know where it is and we are all wobbling around the lanes following the other lost lemmings. When we find it there is a bit of sunshine and the obligatory team photo.

Attending Blacksheep. The sunshine actually last most of the race.

The organsiers then try and move us all back to the actual start line, further down the track whilst trying to count everyone. Pretty chaotic. Then to add to the madness, someone comes driving a car up the track towards the runners and we all pile on to the banks. Finally, the race is ready to start. 

Having started half way up the hill, we charge along the track towards the first road crossing where suddenly it becomes a narrow track and on to the moor. At this point I can't over take or really be overtaken as we are all in one long people snake on single track trod on our way to the catch water. So I settle in to the dictated pace and wait for a chance to open up a bit. When it finally comes, towards the top of the catch water, I fall face first in the bog. Its going to be one of those races.....

Along further narrow trod and the slightly excitable women from Leed's are still holding me behind. But the bleakness of the moor is nice and the reservoirs and pretty if bleak. There is a little bridge over what must be deeper bog than we have already been running and we join the Pennine way. 

Suddenly I am flying down the paving slab path and flying away from the women behind me and in to blessed space. I enjoy this section of the run and approach what I thought would be the tough section at Pule hill with enthusiam and energy, pounding up the hill at a fast walk, getting closer to the people in front of me. The descent off the top in the battering wind is marvellous and I am running well. 

There is a marshal at the right hand turn on to a sheep trod to take up back towards Marsden. I continue with reasonable smoothness but here it gets tussocky. Bit cuboid tussocks that are more solid than the clumps of moor grass I am used to. Nevermind, I can keep moving and its gently sloping down.... to the track where we started and one of our club, Brian, standing with a camera. He catches a photo of me mid-stumble as I descend the bank to the track. The photos of everyone else at this point look elegant.... I look like a hippo. 

Out on the track I want to take a breather but know I need to push on to make sure I am in space as we go round and up to the catch water again. The second time around, the ascent is more muddy and my legs make harder work of it. I have another little walk before running to the left hand turn towards Butterly Clough. One of the marshal jokes that they save the best until last, but at this point I didn't know what he meant as the race instructions had been vague...

My tired legs make hard work of the next tussocky section and I am falling and stumbling every other step. The marshal is laughing as I slowly bob towards him, landing on my arse more than once. I can't seem to do my normal trick of bobbling across the top of the path but little do I know how little this will matter shortly.....

Suddenly the man in front drops away as the ground drops away. Its blooming steep and I am clinging to the side as I attempt to lower myself down. The older man in front of me is going very cautiously as well, but the man behind keeps threatening to slip straight in to us both. At the bottom the man in front pulls away up the far side and I make a push up the steep bank. Coming out the top of the gulley I follow the flags then somehow (and I have no idea how) go wrong and end up cutting off 100-200 meters of the race. Two othe rmen follow me down the precarious path and I am mortified. But we rejoin the race, probably not having gained any places, just before the next terrifying gully.....

Scrambling down we go. Skittering and sliding as the young boy marhsal at the bottom tries not to laugh. Fortunately the river has gone down but its still a cold crossing at the bottom before another scramble up the otherside. I am done by this point. So done you could stick a fork in me. I lose the will to race an let two men pass me. Which is a shame because just down a muddy footpath is the finish and I really should have blasted it. 

As I come across the finish line, it starts to hail. But Brian and Paul have waited for me! What heroes! I apologise to the finish marshals and tell them about the short cut, but they say it probably doesn't matter and let me keep my place. We stomp back to the cricket ground quickly to get out if the storm. 

A change of clothes and a slice of cake later and I feel a bit better. I am laughing about the race, and how much I was enjoying it until the last section. Most people seem to feel the same way. But it was quite funny in a 'I might slip and die' way. Fellrunners are not normal in the head. There is quite a spread laid on by the event but we are off to the Waterhead pub in Marsden for lunch. 

Would I run this event again? As a sucker for punishment yes I think I would. Bits of it were pretty fab. But it would depend if there was something else on that weekend. It might come second to a couple of things. Though I would love to know how I managed to go the wrong way near the end.....

How to start running..... from scratch

During the recent Covid-19 crisis running has really come in to its own in the UK. Currently, the government has decreed that we may go out once a day for one daily form of exercise (and also for essential shopping, medical treatment or to go to work as a key worker). With the gyms and pools shut, and very little else to do, suddenly there are a whole bunch of people who want to run. Which is great! Actually, running has been growing as a sport in the UK for years, and there are (were until the virus) more running events than ever before, as well as more parkruns and parkrunners, and I suspect more runners who do neither of these. And why not? It can be cheap and convenient, it builds cardiovascular health and can be solo and mediative or social and exciting depending on what you want.

My Mum (right) on a 5km race at Christmas 2019

My mum, at the age of 50 someting, recently took up running. And she has done a few parkruns and 5km races now. I know people who took up running in their sixties. Lots of people can take up running. Yes, its harder as you get older but its not impossible. And not everyone wants to. But if you want to, are reasonably able bodies and are willing to feel a bit uncomfortable, go for it!

So how to start.....

The NHS couch to 5 km programme is pretty good. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/ And even if you only do the first weeks over and over again, you are running more than you might have done before

Alternatively, local running clubs and groups may run a couch to 5km programme that might suit you. Keep an eye on local newspapers and facebook groups and the like. https://runtogether.co.uk/ is part of England Athletics and an initiative to get people together to run and often has C25k groups on it. If you live in Manchester and want to find groups, let me know and I will try and help.

Alternatively, you may just want to step out your door and have a go by yourself. And that is the joy of running; you need very little kit and no expertise. At its simplest, you simply put one foot in front of the other. Youtube and many blogs are full of experts and less than experts giving advice on how to do this so I will keep it to my top tips:

1. Don't plan to go miles on your first run. Pick a short route and you can always do it more than once if you want. Getting stuck miles from home in the rain is not going to make you love running 
2. Kit pt 1: you don't need to spend tonnes of money but some decent trainers will make the world of difference. By which I mean, no tennis shoes or fashion trainers. Look after your feet and the rest of the joints will thank you. 
3. Kit pt 2 Ladies: Sports bra. Trust me, it both helps your running but also helps you back and long term boob health. Get a high impact one if you can.  
4. Kit pt 3: Everyone needs different levels of layers. I know a man who runs in a button up shirt, I have seen people doing a reasonable pace in proper trousers. However, try not to get too hot. The given advice is to dress for mile two but if you are starting in winter you may want to revise this to your second half mile. 
5. Don't worry about speed, no one really cares how fast you are going. You will get further if you slow down. And use walking breaks to gradually increase your distance. Then eventually start to shrink the breaks.
6. Try to go more than once a week, but don't do the full distance each time. If you are aiming for 5km then may be do a two or three kilometer session in the week before your longer session at the weekend, or take a walk. Three runs a week is plenty, but not obligatory, especially if you are getting other types of exercise too. 
7. It will be uncomfortable. You will get sweaty. You will feel out of breath. Things will chafe. However sharp pains in joints that don't settle with dropping the pace, chest pains and pains that don't settle down after stopping may need some extra attention. 
8. Some people run marathons, some people run 5km but some people just are happy to get around the block. All of these are valid goals and you don't have to keep going further and further or faster and faster. Appreciate what you do achieve and do only what you want. Never run away from the joy of running. 

If you do get up to 5km, then parkrun is a free international initiative on Saturday morning and is great for getting to practice your running. Many are also quite social. There are quite a lot in the UK now but also some around the world. In a few areas there are also the Great Run Local initiatives which may be at a better time for you. But there are also events with medals and tee shirts you can enter, not least the Race for Life events. But none of this is compulsory. Just pottering around the block from time to time is a valid form of exercise, if you enjoy it. 

Race report: Win Hill Fell Race

Win Hill Fell Race is held twice a year:once at the end of winter and once in summer. The two events run in opposite directoins. It is, unsurprisingly, a race based around Win Hill in the Peak District, and it starts in the village of Hope. I quite want to live there, simply to say, when people ask where I live, the I live in Hope. Anyway, I digress.

Win Hill from Hope

I have run up Win Hill in three races. Two of them where the Maverick Peak X races and approach the summit from the west, and the other was the same race last year which approaches it from the east. Last year it formed part of the Chorlton Runner Blacksheep series, and it was a grey and miserable day, and I had run with Catherine who was happy to let me take it a bit easy with injury maranoia in the run up to my marathon which was in a few weeks. This year, fewer Blacksheep were to attend and I dragged my poor friend Eryl out on her first fell race. I am a terribly cruel friend.

It had been raining heavily and constantly for weeks. We had had storm after storm and a few events had been cancelled. There was a whispering of snow so I had arranged to pick Eryl up ridiculously early in case of snow induced road chaos. So naturally there was bright sunshine and we arrived at the start line massively early. We got registered and went to try steady Eryl's nerves and kit concerns. She had text me the night before in a panic about kit, and I suddenly felt pretty bad about not warning her about the requirements of a fell race. Luckily she had found some stuff and a rucksack, and now all we had to do was decide how much we actually needed to run with given it was a fine day and the rules had been relaxed from full kit down. We warmed up on the playing field, avoiding the sports clubs best pitches and my body ached from the the previous days long run of 18 miles. The problematic ankle tendon played up but we were here and I was going to be damned if I didn't run.

The start line looked faster than the year before, possibly because of the run of bad weather and threat of snow. I came third or forth from bottom, last year and quite wanted to improve on that this year. However, with the recent deluges, the course was going to be different from last year. Its easy to forget that in fellrunning- its not the same course from year to year or even day to day. You are at the mercy of the elements. And mud was cards. Lots of it.

The first section in through the village streets and then up the lane past the campsite and cemetry. Its a suspiciously well groomed start and you can get a decent push away, right up until the first track which is a bit rocky but nothing technical. I wasn't doing to badly but did walk from half way up the farm track through the field and gratefully on to the rocky top section. I started running as it flattened out buffetted by the wind. There were a few patches of snow left tucked in to the heather at the top, but the footing is good up here.

On the pike at the top, a woman was taking photos. I looked at her dog and the man beside her and suddenly realised I was running passed relative fell running elites who were on marshalling duty- the Scotneys! I had a small fan girl freak out as I messily stumbled up the rocky outcrop before dipping down the otherside and down the first steep section of descent. Initially I stuggled to get going on what is one of my favourite descents. Its steeper at the top, and the path is narrow through the heather plants. But as you get further down you can fly with the heather ripping at your laces all the way to the tree line, with Derwent edge and the reservoirs sort of visible to the front right. I kept my pace thorugh the trees and had pulled in to some space. At one point I thought I had missed the turn but I kept plummetting through the wood, skidding in the mud and trying to remember from the year before whether we had gone this far down.....

It turns out we had and the marshal indicated the sharp left hander....straight in to the mud. Almost knee deep I squelched through before hitting some slgihtly better track on the other side. This path sort of contours around the side of the hill through the woods and has some lovely sections of undulations, but it also had some muddy sections and a gentle rise and at the 4 mile point I felt my legs starting to struggle from the effects of a weeks training. I had been vaguely aware of gaining on the woman someway in front but now she started to pull away and a man came up from behind to eventually over take me as I slepped through some more muddy sections. The section up to the brow of the hill I lost a few more places and started to sulk at my own lack of fitness. There was a photographer who caught a rather unattractive photo of my walking up the stony path through the plantation that I had forgotten existed.

As I crested the hill I looked about me and remembered why I do this. To the right hard was the Kinder landmass,  still sprinkled with snow, and Loose Hill and the Great Ridge spread out just of stright ahead also twinkling with pockets of unmelted snow. But because of my laziness in the wood I had no time to enjoy it as I was losing places rapidly. The marshal shouted something at me causing me to hesitate and I lost another place to an old man. Bother! But I bolted down the old Roman road knowing I had a good chance at catching him. Unfortunately the good weather had brought the long couped up walkers out on the paths and this made it a little harder. I got him on the flatter section at the bottom which I had also forgotten about but by this time I was hammering it, trying to regain what places I could. I could see two men ahead of me but knew I was running out of road/path.

After crossing Edale road and heaving my huge bum through the narrow wall space, I thought I had more fields than I did to catch the people in front of me. Maybe I should have given it a bit more but actually its only two or so fields before you have the water crossing at the back of the sports club. Some people take to the ford but I like the little slippy wooden bridge and came skidding up the bank on the other side. A couple of hundred meters and I knew I couldn't catch them.

Courtesy of local race photographer 

I pushed over the finish line to find a very smiley Eryl who had successfully (and very competently) finished her first fellrace. I thought I was faster than last year looking at my watch and there were certainly more people behind me. So I decided to be happy for that and tucked in to some flapjack as I shared race stories with Eryl. 

Feeling pleased 

I'd recommend Hope as a race as its well organised (except the small children with the air horn who I nearly brained), there is parking, flapjack, tea and there are, holy of holy, showers at the end! The course requires no nav and whilst its not impossible to get lost, you aren't going to get lost in the wilderness long if you do. The views are amazing too, if you have time to enjoy them. Field is a reasonable mix as far as fell races go. Apart from a steep section off the top, there is nothing technical. 

Pub wise, Eryl and I went to the Cheshire Cheese Inn on the Edale road which has fires and is lovely but I suggest you book in advance. We sat and had an overdue catch up next to the fire before the lovely drive back to Manchester (until you get to the A555 anyway). The Grasshopper cafe is also nice, as I suspect are the other pubs and cafes as its a popular area. 

None of us know whats happening with racing at present, but I will keep my ear to the ground and see if I can make to summer one to see if I like the opposite direction as much as I do the winter! 

How I came to run in the hills

Skip this post if you aren't interested in self indulgence. Its very dull.

Like most people, I took up running because it was cheap and because I thought it might help me lose weight and keep fit. I was wrong on all accounts.

Up until I was 16 I played netball and hockey and tennis and swam and basically did any sport that didn't involve running. I really couldn't run. I could walk for miles courtesy of a stint in the cadets, but I just couldn't run. That I did any sport was a bit of a miracle as my parents weren't sporty, but they were always encouraging and wondefully open to new ideas. Having been a chubby child, I developed a bit of an eating disorder and dropped to about 7 stone. Not life threatening, but not unnoticeable on my frame. I was unable to carry on sport at school. So I decided to go for a run. 

I'd like to say it was love at first run but I would be lying. 

See I have this theory that running isn't fun until you can comfortably do 5k. And having never run, I did what most people did and went out as fast as I could, and rapidly started hating it. I was running across the farmers fields at the back of my parents village. Fortunately, I had a dog to walk so managed to hide my failure with that. And for a lack of anything else to do whilst I took my GCSEs and couldn't drive, I had a few more goes. It got a bit better. I could get around the wood (maybe two miles) and feel a bit wild as I jumped tree roots and parried branches.

At 17 my mum signed my sister and I up to Marlow 5, a road race in a town not that far from where we lived. Notably, she didn't run it. It was hard. I don't think I had run nearly that far before, I had never paced myself, I had never done a running event. I finished, not fast but not last, my then boyfriend was extremely proud of me, Mum was sort of impressed and my sister came somewhere in the top 10..... I was pleased, until one of the girls at school said something smarmy about my time, and I decided to maybe stick to the school's small gym.  

Fast forward a few year to university and I got in to regular running due to the fact I couldn't afford a gym and my weight was ballooning. I was much fatter and slower than the other girls at college so I nearly always went alone. But I did get better. In my second year of university I would go running on Port Meadow and along the canal, never that far, but using it to offset the continual stress of my studies and I remember running to Iffley lock on my 21st birthday feeling jubilant and excited. I discovered parts of the city other students didn't know about and the green spaces of Oxford are marvellous. I ran my next running race sometime around this time too- Highclere 10K. It was better than Marlow if only for the beautiful setting and the fact my friend was also running the race, but I have no idea what time I did. 

At 22 I had my first running injury (IT band) and a break up. I stopped running and put on weight. A year later I met my present partner, moved in with him, went to the gym less and my weight ballooned. By the time I sat my medical finals in the January of my 6th year, I was really unhappy with my body. 

On elective, I took up running again. Ill equipped, on the otherside of the world and with daytime temperatures of 40 degrees celsius, it wasn't the most promising start. But it was a habit that stuck. When I got home, I ran the Blenheim 7km (very cold after the trip back from Australia) and the Town and Gown 10k. The first town and gown took my around 1 hour 1 minute. I came in just behind my boyfriend who thought he was going to go sub50.  I wasn't fast. I always ended up walking in races. But I was running. And I could get better. 

Over my first yeat as a house officer (foundation year one for the pedants) I aimed to run a 10km race every month to get better. And I ran my first sub hour 10k at Charlbury (I think) and eventually ran a 54 minute 10k. Some were road races, some were on trails and paths. At the time I had no concept of trail running vs road running. I just ran. I also discovered parkrun. Oh what a fantastic concept! To this day, I consider parkrun a magical idea, and am very grateful for those who continue it. I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon at the end of my second foundation year, entirely unprepared, struggling like mad with the pacing and hobbling across the line to burst in to tears. But I had done a half marathon! My sister and Martin helped me walk to the tube station. 

After this, my running sort of stagnated. I was still able to run 10k but I wasn't training for anything. I wasn't good enough to join a club or so I thought. Headington Road Runners seemed to be way to elite for the likes of me. Plus we had decided to move to Manchester (I'd visited it once, seemed a nice city so why not) to continue training, so what was the point. I googled running clubs in Manchester, and found Chorlton runners. Somehow, even before I moved, a love affair was born. I was going to join Chorlton runners and be a 'proper runner'.

Running in Manchester didn't start to auspiciously. Martin and I went up to look at the city with my parents, and I was going to run the Great Run Manchester 10k. I developed tummy craps that morning and ended up pottering around in just over an hour. A few weeks after we moved in I ran the Salford Quays 10k and turned out a 58 minute or so time, and was happy. 

And in that September I made it down to my first Sunday Social Run at Chorlton Runners. Over the next year  I was regularly turning up at Chorlton Waterpark for a slowish paced run along the Mersey. I loved the open space and the birds on the water. I actually got a lot slower that year, because I was discovering a different side of running; a social side of running. Apart from at work, I didn't know anyone but suddenly there were people to talk to about random stuff one a Sunday as we pottered around. Speed didn't matter to me as much. I got full membership once I had a car to make a few more sessions and my poor partner Martin has seen a lot less of me since! I loved, and still love, running in a Chorlton vest. Suddently you aren't annoymous, and wherever you go someone seems to know the club and cheers you on. I ran a few more half marathons and got in to a bit of pattern with my running, a few times a week. 

I had heard whispering of a subgroup within the Chorlton Runners. A group that went out running on the hills. Why on earth would they want to do that? Fell running must be for nutters! But then again I missed walking and the countryside, but having not grown up with trips to the Peaks, I had no idea where to go. Someone offered me a place on a ten mile trail race in the Peak District andnervously I took it and discovered Ladybower reservoir. And I realised I wanted to do more this! The water was sparkling, the air was fresher and you could always walk up the harder bits. The footpaths were undulating and running down hill after a hard uphill was like being a small child again. 

I looked for more trail races. There weren't as many then. But a friends brother set up a company to get people in to trail and fell running, and she brought me along. I owe the McCarron family a big thanks in my journey in running. I know four of the seven siblings and each of them have been part of my running journey. Bernard's running events gave me the confidence I needed to go do a bit more. I still didn't feel ready for fell races but I wanted to get out of running the roads of Manchester all the time, as much as I had enjoyed it.

Then I sort of staggered upon the Blacksheep at Chorlton Runners. I actually don't know what the first event I did with them was but I think it might have been a run and roast. Like it says on the tin- we run and then we go to the pub for a roast dinner. Then there were Monday trips I could do on my post weekend days off. And Wednesday night headtorch runs which are also followed by the pub incidently. Suddenly I met a load of people with a huge host of experience in the hills  who were willing to share it and take me new places, especially if I was driving. 

Then someone talked me in to Harrock Hill fellrace. It will be fine they said, its just like a trail race they said. And as far as introductions to fellracing go, its very doable. Standing at the back of the start line with all the skinny people in their vests and shorts, I felt very out of place. There were a couple of hundred of us at a guess.  And everyone seemed to know each other. I was going to be near the back, if not dead last. I was overtaken by people twice my age (this happens a lot in fell running, just take it on the chin). I struggled up the uphills but I had a sort of mad fearlessness that made the down hills crazy fun. People chatted to each other in the queue for the style and held gates open. I came back gasping for breath but also smiling in the fading evening light. Also, it was so cheap! It was £4 rather than the double figure a lot of races charge (up to £40 for a big city 10k), and you just rocked up on  the day so I didn't have to worry about getting away from work in  time. Oh and there was a pub. Magic! 

I am not a seasoned fell racer, and sometimes I wonder if people even think I am a real runner when they look at me. At best I have a few years of intermittent interest in fells coupled with a few years of trial and error on the road. I like running in the hills but I still have to do a lot of my training on the roads because I still live in the suburbs and getting out of Manchester at rush hour is a nightmare even if I finish at a reasonable time. I have had some DNFs, bitten off more than I can chew but I have had some minor personal victories. I run cross country in winter against my better judgement and tell myself it will be worth it when the Wednesday night evening season comes along. I do hill reps. I stand on startlines with people half my weight and twice my age, attracting odd looks as the townie who shouldn't be here. I come in the last handful of people and rarely make it off the last page of results. I ran my first road marathon last year and was going to do another this year before Covid 19 caught up. I'll never be a snob who doesn't wear road shoes and thinks of themselves above all that. But when I train for the long road stuff, I miss the freedom of running in the hills and fells. And the pubs. 

An Introduction

The world doesn't need another running blog. It certainly doesn't need one by some entirely unqualified, overweight woman who harps on about a sport she is not only quite clueless about, but also rather inept at.

Tough-titties world, you are getting one. You are not obliged read everything on the internet and so feel free to move on, close your browser, whatever makes you happy. I shan't be offended.

Over the last few years I have cultivated an interest in trail and fell running. I am not an extremely good runner, and most of my races are the smaller, unremarkable type. But its a sport and culture I want to keep a record of, and to share. I'll try put up a mixture of race reviews, poorly knowledged technique guides, sources of information and inspiration and whatever else floats across my brain. It may be useful. It may not.

If you don't like my blog, but want to start fellrunning, then try https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/ .Take a look at their races, pick a category B or C, short or medium route, (probably not one in the lake district) take a look at their website and have a crack. They also have useful information about hypothermia and kit. Read it. Ignore it at your peril.

For the rest of you, I'll try impart my little knowledge and experience, and am happy to take vaguely positive comments and requests. Enjoy.