Race Report: Worsley Woods 5 mile 'Trail' race

 I don't usually go in for a in the city trail races; nothing against them but you only have so much time a a bit of park and canal doesn't usually match a nice fell run. But when the start line is literally half a mile from your house, and it is organised by a local club, you feel obliged to join in, even after a night shift. 

So I trotted down my usual dog walk route to the cricket club at Roe Green and collected my number having gotten back from my night shift 10 minutes before. I had a lovely chat with two lovely ladies from my club I hadn't seen in a while and we walked over to the start line on the loop line. It was nice to see more women than men on the start which is really rare, and lots of local club vests despite it being the Great Manchester 10k and half on the same day. 

It is easy to forget how lovely the places on your door step are, and I am definitely guilty of forgetting how lovely the loop line and Worsley woods are. With the leaves just starting to change, and some unseasonably dry weather, they looked great. 

The route started on the loopline which is about as good under foot as you are going to get, and better than most pavements. I went out far to fast as the loopline is slightly down hill all the way to Monton, and I knew I was being a twit when I clocked 8mm on my watch. Also, the front runners weren't coming back as we passed the only section on the route where runners would be going in the opposite direction. Ooops! I tried to even it out as we went through the the gap in the fence at the bottom and on to the (also very good) canal path. 

And then we dropped on to a little used footpath full of roots and we all slowed down. As we headed around Duke's drive park (on good path again) there were a few very confused dog walkers and the group was nicely spread out. But I was also aware that it was gradually uphill from here on in and I was starting to feel it already at half way! Wally me for going off to fast. We went up the short steep slope back on to the loop line and started to head back up the loop line, almost as if we were doing the parkrun, which a few people commented on. However, when we hit the steps, I felt the fact we had done 3 miles, not 1!  Up, over and then a little divergence to the left past the park before looping back around the delph, where I ended up chatting to a Ramsbottom runner, whose club had included the event in their champs. 

I lost the Rammy runner on the second set of steps where I had to walk. I love this section of the woods and it is probsbly my little dog's favourite section. After going up one side of the mini valley, we took a much smaller path up the other side where there were quite a few roots and leaves. I struggled with the roots, my post night shift head making it hard to plan my steps. But then it was back up and over on to the loop line for the the last push to the finish. 

This section is where I really felt the overzealous start. I was pushing up the loop line, on the good path and felt like I was running through treacle. Looking back at my splits, this section was pretty terrible actually! But eventually I made it over the line. There was water and even a medal. We had to do a bit of wobbly route back to the cricket club to control traffic but overall it was a lovely, and lots of runners commented on on how much they enjoyed the race. It may not be the trailiest of the trail races, but it was a nice way to spend a Sunday morning. 

Race Report: Lakeland Trails Cartmel

 The Lakeland trail races have a bit of a place in my heart. They are defnitely not fell running, but they are really lovely trail races and include enough underfoot to keep it interesting. I have done a few from the series now, and really enjoyed them all. Prior to Covid, I had booked a few entries for 2020 but they all got rescheduled and due to work I ended up rescheduling them further which they very kindly did for me. 

So this year I am signed up for Cartmel, Coniston and the dirty double weekend. Cartmel is usually March but this year its September (Covid) an so up first. And the last time I did Cartmel the weather was appocalytically bad. The racecourse flooded, the course was waterlogged, the course was cut short, cars were stuck in the parking field; it was bedlam. I remember being blue with cold. But this year, I promised myself, it would be different. 

And so it was. For a start, it was dry, and actually quite hard underfoot at the race course which convinced me to put my terra ultras back on for a bit more padding. Martin had driven me and my friend Hannah up and we had brought the dog for good measure. It was waved start times so we had arrived eaarly enough for Hannah to register and get settled before her start time, which was an hour before mine. I wasn't convinced by the waves and had opted for the 'mass start' which was actually pretty small itself from the start list. 

But despite the waves the venue had a nice buzz to it. The steel band were there, and the usual selection of food stalls with Pete Bland's van. The annoucer was doing a sterling job on the mic and whilst people were keeping their distance, we had a certain amount of dog chat and the dog got to play in the stream whilst we waited. Martin and I also nipped in to Cartmel between start times for a mooch. I was quite nervy as usual, and had at least three nervous wees in the less than delightful portaloos. 

The start line was a bit of a non-event. There was no march out to the band, and only a handful (maybe 20, less than 30) going off together for the 'mass start'. And I hadn't clocked it until the day, but the first wave of the faster 'race' was only going to be five minutes behind us which meant being overtaken from a few minutes in (not a problem on the wide open starter sections but later, a bit of a pain). 

A handful on the start line

But soon we were away and as I touched my headphones to get my podcast to start, it made a phone call instead, which was a bit annoying as I had to get in my bumbag to stop it and this slowed me down so I was at the back of the pack. Never mind. We soon trotted out of the back of the race course and across the village car park on to a firm track that went on for a good way, starting mostly flat, including past a group of segway adventurers, who I was pleased  I was running faster than. I ran most of this section as we climbed the hill. The 5k route turn off came very quickly and we kept on climbing gradually until we reached High Barrow. The next section was a bit more bumpy under foot and i was being overtaken regularly by runners from the faster 'race' groups, and we undulated up and down with amazing views over towards Ulverston across the estuary. There was a cool breeze but it was very faint and I had stupidly worn long trousers as it had been cool in the morning. Shorts would have been a better option! I had a bit of a stomp up a few steeper sections but mostly I was running.

The course eventually dips in to some  woods and then the climb to the first of two tarns begins. This section was lovely. We passed along the still tarn which anywhere else in the lakes would have been mobbed with people, not just runners. By now I also had formed a bit of a group of sumular speed runners to keep up with and we would gentle jostle for position depending on the terrain and what we were good at: I'm not bad at up but the others were faster on down and flat. 

My official race photo, actually not too bad! 

The next section was probably the least favourite of mine. After a short section of road, we started bumping and climbing through some heather on a single track path. Lots of people were trying to over take at this point which lead to some grumpiness but I just let them pass. The long trousers were a bit useful here and I was keeping up with a pack of stronger runners (partly as they were held up passing some of the prior waves' runners). Most of us were glad to get back to the road section which went on a bit and undulated. Overall, it was allegedly down hill. One poor man looked like he was really struggling as I passed him on this section but eventually it was back to farmyard track. By now I should have recognised we had rejoined the course form 2019 but I didn't remember. 

I was starting to struggle a bit here and dropped back, walking a few sections I really ought to have run. I was warm and reckoned on it being 5k+ to the finish so when I got my bottle refilled at the aid station (memo- take more water), I was suprised to be told it was just over 3km. Time to pick it up and I head across the fields and eventually in to the woods which I knew were towards the finish. I had underestimated how uphill the woods section was however... and how long. 

We twisted and turned through the woods. The odd supporter had walked up the course which helped but generally it was a bit of a slog and not fast. There wasn't room to overtake either. Eventually I saw the drop towards the hole in the wall that took us out to the race course and made for a last dash down to the finish line....

...except a chap who had kept ahead of me was struggling to keep ahead of me and I couldn't sand bag him at this stage.... 

Happy to be finished but also enjoying myself

So I trotted in behind him and met Hannah, Martin and the dog. 2:08 and some change; not bad really, given I had said under 2:15 would be good, and anything up to 2:30 acceptable. But also I had really enjoyed it and wanted to come back and show Martin some of the amazing views I hadn't had time to enjoy. Hannah and I swapped stories about the course all the way home, after I had downed a fair bit more water. I had definitely dressed wrong! 

So now its two weeks until Coniston which is a shorter course but with more elvation. Aside from making sure I don't over dress and that I do take a bit more water, it is a case of enjoying myself from here to there! 

Parkrun Returns!

Before Covid, I wasn't getting to many Parkruns as I had other things on: namely races, work and family/friends. But I am a definite advocate in its role in grassroots running. So its return post pandemic was a moment of joy for me, even if I couldn't make it for.....over a month. Oh well, life happens! 

I also didn't expect my first parkrun back to be in St Andrews, but my friend was getting married there and it was a good way to spend a Saturday morning (plus my friend Rosie and her partner Ben were going to meet me there).  

St Andrews parkrun is in Craigtoun country park, a bit out of the (very small) town. I managed to plan a route to run there, initally through some houses but eventually on a field through fields and obviously a golf course. Having had a single drink the night before, i felt terrible as I very rarely drink alcohol. The two miles there felt awful, but eventually I found myself in a walled garden that signalled the start of the park. Oh, and it was drizzling quite heavily, a summery dreich which I hoped would lift for the wedding. I had to go round several fences to get to the start and soon realised this was quite a fancy park with not only walled gardens but a miniature train and a castle in a large pond. 

The parkrun here is just over three laps. They describe a small upward slope as a hill but its mostly quite flat and the park is lovely. Its all on good path, and very much a park. And there were vikings camping in the field (well, some people re-enacting them). The first lap I was slow and trapped in the crowd, the second lap was better, the third was a flying lap and then the last half was a drag up to the finish. I came in at 26:43 which given how awful I felt, and how slow I started, was fine. We were going to have breakfast at the cafe but it was icecreams or sausages from a van so we headed in to St Andrews instead. Parkrun return achieved!

This week it was my dog Oscar's moment to make his parkrun debut. Due to one thing and another, I was picking Martin off night shift so we went to Haigh Hall parkrun which I have never done before as it is close to where Martin is currently working. I was a bit anxious about Oscar and crowds as he isn't great with people (he growls). But we took a wonder round the park and made the first timer briefing without problem and I thought we were going to be fine as we lined up at the back of the start...

So running on your own with a dog on a harness is great. Running on a crowded footpath is a bit of a nightmare. I felt I had to try keep Oscar out of people's way but both he and I go a bit faster than that. He wanted to run right next to people's feet and push pass people so I had to keep pulling him right back in, and even then it felt tight. We got a few scowls, and I suspect we aren't welcome back. As it thinned out a bit, it got a bit easier. The course is lovely; Haigh is a lovely wooded park so some sections are on hard path and some are more trail-y. The first mile and a half is down hill and the uphill seemed mostly very gentle but maybe my mind was just on controlling Oscar. We wound in and out of the wounds and main track. Oscar had a poo (despite me trying to get him to do this before) which I had to stop to clear up (more scowling) and we spent most of the race overtaking having had a very slow penned in start at the back. A few people commented about Oscar being cheating as he was on a harness (more scowling ) but a lot of people seemed to not mind the dog as they were more focussed on the hill. 

Right at the end, just as I realised we might break 30 minutes (not bad for Oscar), and as Oscar got a second wind and started to pull again, Oscar took a dart in to a kids play area and ended up pulling me in to the fence, in front of many people (more scowling but some laughing). We made it over the line in 29:48 - a good inaugral time- and hurried off to pick up Martin before anyone could grumble at us. 

Don't get me wrong, it was a friendly parkrun. Its a lovely course and lots of people were keen ot chat. But I probably should take Oscar to some courses I know, and that are a bit less busy first. I am thinking Watergrove for the next as its more hilly (good for me) and usually gets less than 100 runners. Still, a bit proud of my little boy.

Race report: The Ron Hill Memorial Rivington Pike Fell Race

The Rivington Pike Fell Race is one that claims to be one of the longest running. It is usually held on the Easter weekend and despite being my training ground of choice and one of my closest fell races, I have never actually managed to get to the race (work, injury, covid etc).  But one nice thing is that Covid means the race this year was in September, on what was looking like a very grey day to start. As I had driven past on the motorway earlier in the day, the Pike was well and truly in the clouds. But the joy of a 3pm start was that it was actually clear by the time we raced. 

This year, Horwich running club, who organise the event, had decided to make the race a memorial to Ron Hill who died earlier this year. Ron Hill's many achievements in running need little introduction, not least his running streak and the infamous tracksters, but he actually ran this local race many times, winning on a few occasions. This charming tribute attracted a large and quite prestigous crowd, including I think Wendy Dodd who checked in a bit in front of me at reigstration. It also raised the average age of the race a bit. Over in the Peaks, it was the Groovy Kinder Love race which at 15 miles, catered for a bit of a different crowd, and I was pleased to see some people who said it was their first fell race (and I hope not their last). 

The race is quite simple: start at the memorial gardens, run up to the Pike, go round the Pike and run down again. It is less than 3 miles, but it packs quite a punch. It also has a decent chunk of road which isn't in my favour. Oh, and my coach was going to be there, and, given we have never met in person, I felt I better put on a good show. 

An elite band of 4 Chorlton Runners were in the starting line up. This was nearly reduced to two after two people nearly were too late to register but we all made it to the start. This year it was chip timed but everyone crammed on the start regardless, those in the know aware of the slight bottle neck as we leave the road, and everyone else just eager! We did a minutes applause for Ron and his wife did the count down. It was touching actually. My memory of Ron, incidentally, is him running gently down the Manchester marathon course, on his own, a little way behind the last runners as he had done the race start and he waved at me as he went as I was marshalling (and  desperately trying to find a loo but that is another story). He just wanted to be part of the day as much as possible, even if his fast days were long behind him. 

The fell race starts on the road and so it is quite quick, and it is a reasonable stretch (maybe a third of a mile?) before we turned off and went through a few trees where the bottle neck occurs and everything slowed down. I was surrounded by a mixture of people from the ever fit septigenerians to the steadier first timers. From this point the race goes up, up a bit more  and in places very steeply up. My running coach caught me as we headed up the section past the school and we had a brief introduction before she pulled away. I was going plodder pace and I tried to push the thought that I don't like this section past the school from my head (I do it in training and often sneak a walk). But then we were pulling up the steep driveway (still concrete) to the farms. I was managing to run sections and set landmarks to reach every so often. There was fantastic support and one of the mountain rescue guys (in attendance lbut hopefully not needed-- heroes)  had a darling little puppy so I had to keep running. I finally, to a parade of black horses peering over the fence, we hit the grassy track and I managed to get going again, and over take my coach (phew!). As I hit the steep part of this field, the lead runner thundered down with good clear water behind him. I didn't recognise him but he was blooming quick. I got a bit further up the slope before more came down and one of the Chorlton guys looked to be in the top ten. 

Pulling on to the track at the top, a lady pulled passed me and I cursed that I hadn't run past the top of the section, and had pulled back at the top. Never mind, time to get up the Pike! The route goes initially up the 'cobbled' (read skin stealing nemesis) track then on to the carved out path up to the pike. Now up this section I made some progress: I have done it several times, and it involves a proper stomping climb and a few big steps and looking at my strava sstats I put my fastest time in today. But again at the top, someone immediately over took me as I failed to keep pushing over the top. Blast! Fortunately I got her on the bumpy descent of the top. 

All the chins on the way down 

Thank you to the photographer from Horwich Runners

From the top you descend what you have just run. The top section is bumpy and takes some concentrating, the track up to the pike is uneven but can be hammered with care, and then the field presented two options: a direct or indirect descent. I had come up the direct so went down the direct but two men who ere behind me had caught me up at the bottom so maybe this was a bad move. I knew once we hit the concrete I was going to lose places so I put on a bit of a spurt out of the field, and was promptly over taken by a chap just after we hit the road. Oh well. 

Through the next section of road I was over taken a few times but I managed the narrow tree route section quickly (the bottleneck from the way up) and managed to catchup two people, one of whom got away from me on the flat road at the bottom. I tried to get some pace up but my fell shoes felt clunky on the road and my body is just too heavy. Right toward the finish one of Horwich's septegenarians was just in front of me and I had a moral battle about where to over take him in the final 100m. In the end I decided I couuldn't and just took the pace down a notch to keep behind him until the finish funnel. 

I took a bottle of water (something I try not to do- plastic) and drained it. It was actually quite a warm day and I hadn't worn anything to keep the sweat out my eyes. At least I had worn a vest, not a long sleeve! I was quite happy with my time and enjoyed a chat with a few of the Chorlton runners at the bottom as we watched some of the other runners came in. I was last Chorlton runner home but given the company I was keeping, that wasn't a problem. The had raced hard too and we were all enthusiastic about upcoming hill trips and races. It was rather wonderful. 

So in summary, its a short sharp race with reasonable climb (for Manchester) and a fair bit of road. I liked it as it had a good atmosphere and people along much of the course cheering. There were quite a few concerned members of the public who were having their Saturday walked ruined but most were very pleasant (except on lady who stepped right in to the race line, stood there and just stared at me as I swerved to avoid her...).  Its probably not actually a great first fell race as its not that runnable on the way up unless you are very fit (so not me), and its quite fast. A couple of the girls from the club did it a few years as their first and they haven't fell run or run with the Blacksheep since which isn't a good sign as they have done other trail running.... But it is an old fashioned up and down the hill, and it does have some prestige. I'll do it again, as it is local, but I might not travel if it wasn't the memorial race (which had brought people from far and wide incidentally). 

Time to mini taper for the Lakeland Trails next week! 

A trip to the lakes…. But no running

 I rarely get the long bank holiday weekends off. This rarely bothers me as usually bank holidays mean over priced accommodation, busy roads and hoards of people in tourist places I might visit. But it’s been a bit of a bad year for holidays in our house (long story) so when both me abs my other half were off for the weekend, and I managed to find so reasonably priced accommodation in Cumbria, we decided to make a break for it…

In my head, I would run, swim and eat nice food. The dog would be walked on some hills and we’d just dodge the crowds. It would be fine. 

It didn’t start well. Martin had been on nights so wanted a little sleep before we set out. Whilst disappointing, this was fair but even when he woke up he made no effort to get ready and a massive traffic jam developed out of Manchester leading to a massive argument.

Due to various accidents on the motorway we ended up on ‘the scenic route’ which involves a lot of A roads through the edge of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales. It was beautiful and we ended up stopping at Barbon for a cup of tea and a cake at the Churchmouse. I had finally let Martin off for being an ungrateful dick given I had organised the whole trip. After the cake we took a lovely walk along a bridle way. Better than a services! 

After a quick stop at Penrith for supplies at Booths, it was on to our accommodation. The place we were staying is beautiful but very out the way. It was wonderfully quiet! A quiet night in felt wonderful, just Martin, the dog and I. 

The plan the next day had been to go to parkrun but Martin was keen to do some proper hill walking, and to do that we would have to drive in to the Lakes proper and park. Now parking was going to be an issue in the Lakes on Bank Holiday…… in the end we agreed to skip parkrun and head to the upper aira force car park with the aim of doing Great Dodd. We got there for 8:30, and fortunately got parked nice and easily. 

The original plan had been for 6 miles up to great Dodd and maybe to extend to Clough Head. But it was gorgeous weather, and there weren’t too many people on the trail (though it wasn’t empty), so we decided to head to Watson Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd, but then Raise looked so easy to get to…. So we carried on and ended up coming down the Glenridding just before Hellvelyn (the crowds were a step too far for me, and Martin was starting to tire). I have wanted to do this ridge for ages as a run so really enjoyed what I hope will be a recce for a future run along the whole range from Clough head to Dollywagon. 

The views from up on the range are beautiful each side. Initially, the view of Ullswater is obscured but Gowbarrow, but you get the odd peak as you get higher. Then you get to see over the Thirlmere side and even over to Derwentwater and the surrounding fells. Then as you get closer, Hellvelyn looms ahead. And very easy navigation. It is also part of  leg 2 of the Bob Grahma for anyone who knows of such things. It was charmingly unbusy, at least until we got towards Whiteside and Hellvelyn, though Sticks pass seemed a small area of activity , and so also goes on the 'must run sometime' list. We then dropped down the pass with amazing views of Catstyecam above us, and the beck below. The dog was being abit of a turd by this point, and trying to pull me down the steep path, but we got there, and at the bottom of the steep section, he got a dip in a waterfall. Amazingly, we were running out of water despite myself and Martin both carrying a litre and a half (though I was sharing with the dog). 

For this reason, we stopped at the pub in Glenridding. Amazingly, we got a table outside though it was next to the bins and smelt of urine, so we made do with some chips and large pints of organge juice and lemonade (a fab combo for those who aren't in to shandy). The little village was heaving and as we retreated down the Ullswater way, it became apparent the Lakes was full to bursting. We hurried past car parks of irrate drivers, people replicating Ibiza on the shore of Ullswater and dragged the dog away from plent of picnics. But as ever, once a reasonable distance along between attractions, it was a bit quieter. The last slog up the hot road took forever and then getting the car out of the overcrowded car park was a challenge. But we had had a lovely walk and the dog looked like he was going to sleep forever, so all in it was a good day. I also relaised I took only three really awful photos , despite amazing views! We ended up having dinner in Uldale, at the Snooty Fox, which is lovely if you are up on the northern edge of the Lakes! 

Next day, I dragged Martin out early again as I wanted to get parked in a small car park above Threlkeld to do Blencathra. Martin has been harping on about Blencathra ever since we did Skiddaw. We got the last space in the car park, and made a speedy initial ascent as Oscar had rediscovered his legs and was hemmed in by bracken which kept him focussed on the task in hand, at least initially. I never think I walk that fast, probably as I compare myself to fell runners, but we pulled away from the handful of people in the car park and by the time the bracken ran out, we were walking on our own with wonderful views back over Keswick and over the side of Skiddaw. However, ahead a big bank of cloud was sitting over the summit. I remained optimistic for a cloud free summit as the cloud had burnt off yesterday. 

The path up the Blease fell side of Blencathra is good. Our main aim for the day was to avoid Sharp's Edge, and any other approach or descent of Blancathra that would not be dog friendly. Of this we would succeed but the weather definitely did not make this easy. We were encased in cloud from about 600meters, and would stay in it until quite a way down the side. Thank goodness for well trodden paths and navigation skills!

Blencathra is also known as Saddleback due to the pummel like aspects sticking out around the summit. I think it is rather like a crown. In the fog, we didn't really get to appreciate this, and a strong wind whipped up. I managed on good photo below. We pushed on and by the summit had our jackets on against the wind. But we made it!

 

We had opted to descend via Scales fell. This is a pretty good path too, and the other popular easier walk up the hill. We passed a few more  people in the fog now, and despite on navigational error, didn't end up on any edges. Just above Mousthwaite Combe we popped out the clouds and could see the people starting to climb up from Scales. 

We hung a right and followed a wall round just before Scales. This allowed us to follow a series of small footpaths back to Threlkeld and the Blease side of the fell. This path was actually quite fun despite on the map looking quite dull. We started among bracken, passing plenty of groups going the other way from the A66 parking spots. Then after Doddick farm it got a bit more exciting with a beautiful waterfall, a small scramble, a mini scree descent, and lots of gills for Oscar to drink from. We wondered back to the car park and ended up in Cockermouth for lunch as it became very apparent heading in to Keswick was a non-starter.

On the way home we slipped in a little trip to Cautley Spout and Sedberg. Though much quieter than the Lakes, there were actually some people in the Howgills on bank holiday Monday, in part I suspect as the day before Sedberg had hosted a sizeable orienteering event. I'd been keen for the event but they don't take dogs so we gave it a miss. This is a part of the world I want to explore more, but for now we just did the gentle walk to the bottom of the waterfall, and back to the car, as I had night shifts to get back to. 

I have a couple of Lakeland trails planned for autumn but I am aware I haven't got much Lakeland running done over the last two years. Maybe things will settle down and I can get back to doing these things; fingers crossed!