Well it finally happened: I got back to fellracing! Sadly it also coincided with the commencement of the Great British Summer and so I ran in to bother but more on that later.
The Cake Race is held by Saddleworth runners and starts at Diggle. This means it is Pennine Hills but also you get to do sections of both the Pennine Bridleway and Pennine Way. The race usually has a cake competition too, but sadly this was curtailed due to Covid. The good thing about the Pennines is that once you are up you can stay up for a reasonable distance, and they are far quieter than the neighbouring Peaks. The bad thing is that it can be a heck of a hill to climb to get up there. Oh, and the bogs.
I didn't think I could make the race until Thursday due to dog care, but the amazing Lizzie stepped in to have Oscar for me. Consequently my taper was not running between night shifts, and not going to track on Friday, off the back of some seriously ineffective training and feeling generally not very fit. So I turned up feeling anxious and was seriously jittery at the start line (and came across completely anti-social to everyone I spoke to- what a numpty!).
The race was run as waves of up to six with slower runners going off earlier, and the waves 90 seconds apart. The Kiln Green church hall provided baggage drop (at own risk) and toilets which were incredibly clean. The start line wasn't remotely crowded as people were all going off at different times. Finally our wave went and I could stop sounded like a jittery weirdo to random people and club mates alike.
Like all good fell races, we started up hill. The route heads up an old horse track which was mostly well made if a bit rocky. I actually did okay here, and got to the top before the front two runners of the next wave over took me, with minimal walking. We then cut across to the right to join the Pennine Way, which has been getting a fair bit attention recently with multiple records set and broken. I was quite sure I wasn't about to do any record or segment bothering, but I enjoyed this section. I hopped over the stepping stones feeling a little heavy and slow, but relatively content. At Black Moss reservoir, a chap called Paul Taylor took a photo of me crossing the footbridge and I look quite content, if a little chubby.
We then handrailed along the hillside, leaving the Pennine way to head round Black Moss and cross the water fall at the weir before heading around and down the shoulder of Wassenden moor to the same named reservoir. I was starting to feel very hot, very lethargic and very slow.
Crossing the dam, I took of my cap, sipped some water and then headed off to make the best of the down hill the Marsden along the Kirklees way which is a well made reservoir service track. In places it was a bit gravelly which felt harder work than it should but I got some reasonable pace down here, though faster runners were flying past. I had a chat with a lovely lady from Middleton who was doing her first fell race and seemed to be absolutely smashing it.
At the end of the track we headed down some steps, and now I felt absultely terrible. I had to concentrate where to put my feet and just couldn't get cool. Had I over done it coming down hill? Was I just too hot? I snaffled half a Chia charge mini flapjack on the upward stairs, which many people were walking (but some actually ran which is just showing off!) It was humid and I struggled to cool down. The long sleeve had been a terrible idea.
At the top of the steps people were pulling forward and away to enjoy the grassy path around the cricket and golf club. I was having flash backs to the Ian Roberts memorial race, which was the last fell race I did before lock down in 2020, and hoping we were going near those blooming gullies. Dropping through the trees, we met a line of faster runners who were coming the other way, something I related to after the Ian Roberts, and we all headed in to the small area of trees up a narrow path pitted with roots (not towards the gullies!). Usually I love this sort of stuff: single track and a bit slippy to keep you thinking, but the runners were coming past thick and fast and my legs felt like lead. I was only at 6.5 or seven miles (I forgot to start my watch so didn't really know). Was I really this unfit? I kept stepping to the side to let faster people pass and couldn't get a rhythm or any real momentum but I think that was fitness, and hayfever! Another Chorlton Runner past me and said hi; I tried to be positive.
As it opened out at the top I tried to run but it was up hill and stop start. The ladies I had tried to keep pace with pulled away. I felt pretty low but get on chuffing intermittently. A lovely chap from Nidd Valley and another lady from Middleton encouraged me to keep pace with them but I was done. I was cooler now due to the breeze but my legs were mulch. I felt fat, and unfit and admitted I had lied to myself about the effectiveness of my training of late.
After and age we crested the top of the hill and it was time to hobble down the long track we had started on. I should have been flying this down hill but there was nothing left to give. I even had a quick breather half way down. I felt pretty spent.
I pottered across the finish line with no real flair, and grabbed a bottle of water from the side (something I usually avoid for environmental reasons) which I drained immediately. Another Chorlton Blacksheep was waiting for me, and said there was one more Blacksheep awaited but I had to get back to pick up the dog. I dodged the famous cake table (I felt too much cake was perhaps a controbutor to my downfall) and picked up my bag which had more water in, which I guzzled down. My legs felt like tree trunks walking to the car.
The thing was, I had had a good time. I love fell races with their stunning scenery, tricky footing, ups and downs, and the old wold nature of their locations (village halls and pubs mostly). I love getting out on the hills in new places. But I am just not where I want to be (or indeed, had kidded myself I was) fitness wise. So it is time to try something new, and see how that goes before my big race this summer: The Half Peakskyline.
