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.
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