Race Report: Eccles Pike

 Eccles Pike fell race, run by the Goyt Valley Striders, is, in many ways, all you can imagine from a fell race: a start line in a field, an out and back up a hill, and a pub at the finish line. Okay, its chipped timed as of  this year, and it not straight up but rather a wiggle up the hill, with some good footpath, but its a 5k lung and calf muscle buster. It usually signals the ending of the midweek racing season for me, perhaps with the last Harrocks Hill, though I note this year there are races right up until the end of August. Perhaps there always were these races but I just didn't notice? The light is starting to fade in the late evening, and last night it felt distinctly autumnal at times, with a good steady drizzle setting in for a lot of the race. 

With  a clash with a local 5k race, plus school holidays, there was only a small group of us out, including the odd lost road runner/fell novice. The field was relatively fast, having attracted mostly local groups with hill experience. But there are always a few people nearer the back to keep me company...

This year the race was chip times to allow a slightly less crowded start, and it also felt less busy (no entry on the night?). Out of pure laziness, I didn't warm up. We lined up by current flat 5k time, and they let us go in chunks. We headed across the field and up the ramp then on the short road section that takes you past the Navigation Inn (home og legendary cheese and onion pie), before crossing the A6 via bridge. The steps of this bridge are awakward size and i was already falling backward through the pack, cursing my laziness and fatness. 

Onc eover the bridge its past the cricket pitch and the houses and up a short steep drag where I found myself walking along with quite a few other people. At the top of here, the fell part of the  race actually starts and soon my posterior tibialis/ weak left ankle was struggling with the awkward camber of the slippy grass and mud field and we skittered down to the wall. One sheep described this section as trying to run sidewards and forwards at the same time and it is very true. Through this field you can see the next field which is quite the climb (though not the worst of the race!), and I knew I was going to walk a lot of this so tried to hang on to some pace as I descended to the stile. My left ankle was trying to skid sideways which was annoying. 

The photographer (a chap who usually beats me at fell races despite being older than my dad at a guess) was sat half way up the field and I tried to not grimace as I went past, but also I was starting to gain a few places stomping up the field. Towards the top it flattened out and I started to run a bit knowing the next section is hard ot over take.....

Over the wall the race crosses a lane and enters an old tractor track that is pitted and rocky. Also at this point, the first return runner appeared. This chap finished the race in a stunning 24 minutes something, and there was a bit foa gap behind him. Two and three followed shortly after and the first Chorltonite was one of our speedy road runners in 5th! Well done Matt!  Problem was i really wanted to over take a few places but it was too narrow to give way to the fast guys and over take..... 

At the end of the track you turn sharply right on to the steep incline up the pike. This is killer. Its a proper grab your knees and stomp climb, and the return runners are bashing down beside you. Its a bit terrifying actually, but there is lots of cheering and the spectators usually hand around here. I was gaining places, trying not to cough up my lung and stomping away. The cows at the top were making a racket and I hoped they would stay calm and not charge anyone. I also knew a couple of the guys from the club were at the top, so as soon as it flattened I tried to jog towards them, and gain a last place or two. The views from the top of Eccle Pike are usually amazing if you get the weather. Not today! You could barely see the Chinley side of the Vale! High five from Nick and Aisla at the top and then the descent. 

Misty at the top! Photo from Nick Drinkall 

I always tell people not to look at this descent, just to run. It is steep. Its pretty much what you have just stomped up, and this year was a bit more greasy from the drizzle, not to mention the 150 pairs of feet that had already gone over it. Almostimmediately I started losing places. I tried ot keep my head and not get frustrated but I knew I should be descending quicker; this is what i used to pride myself at but have seemingly lost. More people came past. One lady, who I had chatted to at the start, encouraged me telling me not to let such a strong ascent go to waste. By the bottom I had found a bit of rhythm but nothing of what I used to do. Humph.

On the track I pushed and regained some ground. Then i got stuck in a gate. I was mortified. Basically it was narrow, I am fat and I ripped my number getting out. The lady behind me tried not to laugh or get angry, then shot past me in the field as I tried to repin my number and run. 'Just run' I thought and made a reaosnable go of the grassy descent before pushing up the wonky gradient field to catch another person or two before the houses. 

I knew I didn't really have enough for the last tarmac hill past the pub but I gave it what I had and at least managed to go the right way in to the field (someone always gets in wrong). The Chorlton guys cheered and I ran as hard as I could over the line. 

Looking at my watch I was disappointed not come in under 40 minutes. But everyone else was just glad to be done. We joked its a race we keep doing but we all hate it as its such a blooming slog! But we do all keep doing it probably due to the relative authenticity of it, the  selection of pubs in the vicinity and reasonable ease to get to (its just of the A6). So I do recommend it as a race but also a nice dog walk, on a sunny day, when you can look across the hills and then go for a pint in the pub.