Race Report: Eddie's Revenge

 I spend a surprising number of Wednesdays desperately trying to leave work on time in order to get to some race or other the other side of Manchester (often the Peaks), battling work and traffic and dog care commitments in the process. So imagine my delight when someone put a race less than 15 minutes from where I work in to the club championship! Winner! 

Eddie's revenge is apparently a reference to a chap who briefly ran for Middleton Harriers, set up the course or the event, and then promptly moved south. Its a relatively local affair, being both short and loopy. But that is also part of its charm for those of us in the Oldham area (if only for work). It is a classic fell race in so much as you register in a church hall (a very pretty St Saviour's), wonder up the road without much ceremony, run up and down a hill, and then come back to the church hall for tea and homemade cake served by lovely people whilst some prizes are presented.  The difference is the hill is actually an old quarry jus outside Oldham with a load of tracks and footpaths, and the prize table is incredibly densely laden. 

So arriving from work with a stomach ache I was at least early and parked easily. Picking up my number I chatted with a few people from Chorlton runners and a few other people I have met through various races, including Kev the local who I attempted to glean a bit of course knowledge off. I was the only female Chorlton Runner running, and managed to look suitably odd in the team photo...

All Photos Courtesy Of Sam Hartley

After a minimal race briefing. The road starts on a road up to the quarry and it was a bit jostly on this section as everyone tried to get going and in to position. I was actually quite glad to see a small queue at the end of the road section to go through the narrowing on to a footpath. I really didn't know how to play this race: I am technically on the taper in the run up to the ultra, I had done hill reps the night before but good placement adds a lot to the confidence in the run up to a big race. Continuing to climb the hill on a rocky but well made footpath I didn't exactly feel great and my hamstring and quads gently complained about the ascent. I slowed to a walk with man of the others around me and watched the stronger climber pull away. I knew we were doing several loops, each with a reasonable amount of hill in it but I had been unable to make head nor tail of the map prior to the race! 

After the hill came the first descent and I caught sight of the first gentleman climbing back up on an adjacent path, presumably starting the bigger loop. He looked to have a commanding lead and I suddenly started to worry if there was a point on the route I could be lapped.... There wasn't but I was clearly in a bit of anxious mood. This first descent was fairly straight forward and at the bottom Sam was stood with a camera to capture us all suffering as we started the longer climb up for the long lap. 

During this climb I lost the little group I had been with and walked a bit more than I wanted. It was along climb with a few steep sections interspersed by sections you could run. It was mostly pretty good under foot but occasionally it got rooty though a tree section, or loose underfoot. In the narrow section we were sort of just follow the leader pace wise but as it widened out I was a bit left behind. We went over one knowl which was a bit shaley, then climbed towards another knowl with a mast on top, and surprise trig point. I shouldn't have been looking but there were stunning views over Manchester, Knowl hill and the adjacent Pennine hills. Despite the earlier rain it had turned in to quite a clear evening and good temp for running. 

Now started a very long and enjoyable down hill. It would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't been a bit embarrassed by John from Middleton Harriers (V70?) smashing past me in an amazing show of agility for a distinguished gentleman. The path  at the top was wide and rutted and I tried to keep in the top sections of the ruts, as my feet are too fat to go in the dips. We wiggled through a few gates and then the marshal warned us the path was going to get very steep and we tilted even more downhill through heather and trees on a single track footpath. I started to catch the group I had been running with at this point, which was at least some consolation. It wasn't too technical but you had to keep an eye on the ground.  

At the bottom, marshals had wrapped the bollards in padding which seemed sensible and I used one to spin myself back out on to the road and round past Sam again to try stay with the group, completely in vain. There was a chaotic crossroads where runners moved in all directions but I managed to straight across and on to the right track to start the final short lap, looking longingly at the finish line to my left. 

On the final lap, I *THINK* we rejoined the same track as the first short lap but turned off earlier. It felt more runnable after the steeper long lap and I tried to keep going. Turning off to the left in front of some lovely flag waving marshals though I was glad to have done all the hills now. The final descent was on a relatively wide stony path that started gradual and then got steeper. It was a bit more technical than the first lap but not much and I caught the tail end of my group, even over taking one woman at the bottom. A few of the Chorlton team cheered me at the bottom. Then came a horrible left turn and a sprint on the flat for the finish where the lady smoked in the final dash.  

Courtesy Sam Hartley

I sort tumbled over the finish mats, feeling clumsy in my chunky Scotts on the flatter sections (I don't think they were the right shoes for the race and I am finding them just a bit rigid at the moment), and not really managing to get a sprint on. There was bottled water but I didn't feel I needed it. In fact i felt okay but probably because I just hadn't managed to get any real speed going that evening! Slight tummy cramps and complaining legs, plus likely just a lack of will to get going, had all held me back a bit. But I had enjoyed myself and been both first (and last) female Chorlton over the line. 

We wombled back down to the road as a group of Chorltonites comparing notes and (in my case) chatting rubbish. Back at the church tea and cake were served (swiss roll, milk no sugar) and the many many prize categories were awarded. Several sheep won individual prizes, and the chaps tied with Saddleworth for mens team prize. 

All in a lovely evening if a bit of a disorientating and unrelenting course! Category AS but no where near as bad as some in that category. Nice group of marshals and organisers. Good spectator value according to Sam (we passed her three times I think!) who I have to thank for the photos. Not a great performance but hopefully I can put a bit more welly in to Thursday's 5k instead.

Race Report: Maverick X Peak District (Middle Distance)

I am turning in to a trail runner. It is an alarming fact. I now even use poles and might even consider a fancy cap and some sunglasses..... But actually I have had some issues at home which mean I have limited options for running as its hard to fell run with a dog in tow, especially if said dog chases sheep. It is also hard to train for an ultra with a dog in tow, but poor Oscar has done a twenty miler on Arnside the other week so when the Maverick race popped up, and their races are dog friendly, I thought we would give it a go. 

I raced the Maverick Peak race twice when it was over at Castleton; once the short route and once the medium route. Both times I walked away thinking how blooming hard they were but that was some years ago and I have done a bit more running and exploring in the meantime. They have also moved their event over to the White Peak but retain the cool trail running vibe with flags and music and an excellent selection of finish line goodies. The course looked nice, I needed a longer run (though perhaps longer than this route, sorry coach), and dog could come too: in summary, perfect. 

Pulling in to the carpark at Bakewell after a wiggly drive over the hills, I had to immediately let the dog out for wee which is fine when you are parking in a field. The field was also the event field which made all the logistics so much easier; no trekking back and forth. A lovely man then offered to hold the dog whilst I had a wee and all the worry from the night before about managing the dog at the event (getting there, toilets, barking, lots of people) ebbed away. Sometimes its nice to be around people. Especially when they are nice (dog friendly) people. I have been getting stressed about people recently, and its stopped me going places, especially with the dog. 

At registration I bumped in to Nick from my club who I really didn't expect to see as he is a really good fell runner, but it was nice to say hi and have a quick team photo before the start. Racing with a dog involves a lot of phaff and extra kit including his travel bowl and extra water, poo bags, snackos etc. So we phaffed and stayed out of the way of other runners and had a quick hello to the other dog runners. A few people came over to stroke Oscar and he was a bit shy but mostly behaved, with no growling which was a mega relief. 

After a brief race briefing, there was an uncomplicated start. The plan was for the dogs to go off at the back which was good except Oscar then wanted to pull us to the front. We crossed a field which wasn't too bad as we could stay wide, then on to a quiet road which was okay but we had caught the steadier paced marathon and ultra runners, before on to a grassy path where I was very aware I was potentially irritating other runners with the bungy, and pulling Oscar back. Plus we had a few other dogs around which meant non-dog runners might feel encroached on. I spotted a hawthorn bush I could have another wee behind and Oscar and I left the race for a few minutes which took us out the crowd then back in to a quieter stretch for the first fill which started on a good tarmac track, and we jogged up, with room to go round people now it was quieter and the field was starting to stretch out. The course then narrowed to a footpath again and Oscar tried to run with a man who was not a dog fan but fortunately did not say anything. Oscar likes to run right next to men, especially using them as a wind break or a shadow for shade.... think its an alpha thing. 

As we rejoined the quiet lane/track, there was a lovely view down the valley to out left. Then we climbed up through some woodlands that Oscar would have loved to run riot in but I kept him on the harness (it seemed fairer to others and the race director to keep him on all race). It was nice to be in the shade! Having gone off too fast Oscar was panting a bit but not unduly and the woods gave way to a lovely field descent. At some point the 10k route diverged too, but I can't remember where. I would have smiled for the photographer but the dog was taking a lot of attention. On the track to Calton Lees, we were running near a Spaniel who Oscar had taken a shine to, but we stopped to let him drink out of a water trough and they passed ahead of us. This was a lovely long ascent that joined the road at the bottom and took us in to the Chatsworth estate, and the only aid station on the course. Oscar got a biscuit and a bit of my banana and I topped up water bottles as I was aware I needed enough for me and dog all the way round now. 

Its funny, running with Oscar I was so focused on him not over heating, especially as the weather was warm. I really didn't race so much as be led by Oscar wanting to walk/run. And I decided this was the safest way, time be damned. 

The run across the Chatsworth estate was amazing. It was a lovely grass path to start, going right in front of the house and over the drive bridge. Then we joined a rocky pathy the other side and ran through the deer park next to the river (Oscar had a stop for a drink and a swim) and could see various bits of art glinting in the sunshine. I need another trip over there to look at them properly. Despite it being about 10am, there were already plenty of people about and the spinning gate at the end of the estate in to Baslow required a little politeness (which everyone I saw did admirably). 

In the beautiful village of Baslow we did a wiggle down a ginnel then the marathon and ultra route split off to head to Baslow and Curbar edge. The middle route on the other hand wiggled through the village and then along the river on a mix of road, track and footpath to Calver. Oscar stopped for another swim as the river bent towards the path. In Calver we went round the edge rather than through the village, going over the shoulder of a small hill before beginning a very gentle climb up though Coombs Dale. Initally it was a very unremarkable footpath but eventually the chunks of limescale began to appear and soon we were in a proper dale where we climbed a bit more steeply. At this point, the crowd had thinned and a few people chatted about Oscar and their dogs which was really nice. At the top of the Dale, a nice man helped me get Oscar through the dog hole of a stile which was really good of him. I was glad to get out in to the open greenery of the top of the Dale even if Oscar was eyeing up the sheep. 

At the top of the Dale we joined a well made track that served the farms and some quarries. Here Oscar really started to flag and I tried to give him some water but we just had to walk and jog when he felt better. Treats were also involved. I did feel a bit of a bad dog mum at times. We soon lost the people we had been jogging with and the top of the hill and the quarries felt beautifully quiet if a bit hot and exposed. We dropped down Longstone edge and through some fields, where I found another (pretty icky) animal trough for Oscar to drink from. I was a bit worried about the water situation for us both as I had drunk a lot of mine and Oscar had done a chunk of his. But it was down and flat from here, and we might be able to get water at Hassop on the Monsal trail. Oscar didn't like the road descent but notably picked up on the lovely descent through the crop field and at the road crossing nearly jumped over the wall and in to the field (not strictly the footpath) to chase down some runners just ahead of us. 

And then we were on the Monsal trail which is an old rail line converted to a cycle way. It was reasonably busy compared to a lot of the course, and also initially very exposed. Oscar would sometimes be pulling ahead and sometimes hanging back. At the cafe at Hassop we came off the course to try get Oscar a drink but he didn't want any so we rejoined the race and confused a few people who we had over taken before. Then it was along run in to Bakewell (about 2.5 miles I think). We managed to find one or two more muddy and wet ditches for Oscar to stop in but mostly we just jogged it in. I was very aware of keeping Oscar out the way of cyclists and families, even with the harness, as people do get aggie, and one woman and her son decided to ride right at us despite us being well tucked in (no idea what that was about). At the end of the trail we descended back to the road but i felt bad as there was a wheel chair user going in zigzags across the path with his family and I didn't really want to ask to pass.... they did notice me and let me pass but I did feel awkward. 

On the road we had left on, I could see one or two runners ahead and it felt a bit longer coming back in. We caught up with one man who looked very warm, but it was actually drizzling all of a sudden as we crossed back across the field and in to the event village to the finish. A lovely lady tried to give Oscar his medal and he growled and backed away so I found myself apologising but she took it quite well. Oscar got a treat selection to take home along with his medal, and I got my medal, an alcohol free beer, a ginger shot (blooming love these), a protein bar and a Jimmy's iced coffee. Juggling all this I put Oscar's medal on and he freaked out so we ended up in a tangle on a spare deck chair (everyone was dodging the rain and under the gazebos at this point). I got Oscar some water and I got some electrolyte drink (Precision Hydration so I knew I'd be okay with it) and we managed to detangle and get to the car where Oscar had his lunch and I got out of my trainers and in to my recovery sandals. 

The rain stopped and we went back to the deck chairs for a bit. Oscar was clearly very tired however, and was trying to burrow under the deck chair. I gave him a bit of bagel and this settled him enough for me to eat the rest of the bagel but it was clear I wasn't going to get any peace so we went back to the car and he jumped on his bed and went to sleep whilst I drove us home. 

It had been a lovely experience all in. I get so worried about running with Oscar but people had been so helpful and friendly where they could, and Oscar had done well. It had actually been good to have the dog to make me steady my pace at times, and something else to worry about other than achey legs. I I didn't feel too horrendous at the end but the thought of doing twice that in two weeks does scare me. Maverick races are expensive but I really appreciated their dog friendliness. And it is nice to be able to top water bottles etc up. It would have been great to have just one more water stop on the 17 mile course, especially at was hot, but I think they reserve more outposts for the marathon and ultra routes. I'd definitely recommend them for the medium to marathon as the whole route was very runnable (assuming it continued in a similar vein) whilst offering some stunning views. I can't comment on the cut offs for the ultra but got the feeling this was generous too. Maybe next year I'll save my pennies up and come back without the dog to do the ultra? Let's see how the one in two weeks goes first.... 

Race Report: The RunNorthWest (Inaugral) Lyme Park 10k

There were two fell races (one a good deal easier to get to from home) on the same night as the inaugral Run North West Lyme Park 10k so I am not entirely sure how I ended up signing up to this which was by far more expensive and a route I have (mostly) run several times before. Curiosity maybe? Or a chance to see some nice Chorlton Runner faces? Who knows! But Martin and I loaded the dog in the car to join the mad 5pm traffic and headed south. 

I must admit, I do love Lyme Park. It is a mini Peak District landscape but with that semi-safe feel of being on a National Trust property that when you run on your own as woman (especially in winter) has its perks. And it has excellent views of the nearby Peaks as well as over Manchester. But I always avoid Lyme Park when it is crowded and with 800 people signed up to race it was actually bordering on Bedlam before the start. We had made it in reasonable time so I picked up my number and Martin and I strolled a bit with the dog, trying to avoid over heating in 25 degrees celsius head and fretting about dog child and his furry coat. I'd been nervous in the car but then a Catherine and Sue appeared from nowhere and suddenly I wanted to be there and run and have a good time. Clearly, I just needed my friends. 

The start line was the round driveway outside the main house which is rather impressive, and the race started nearly 15 minutes late due to parking issues. But it was the first event and there was a train strike so I am willing to forgive this. There was a bottleneck through the house archway as we all spilled out on to the course at the start. In  my mind we were going to effectively run the trust 10k route which, but after a short drop we climbed up to run along the reverse of the end of the parkrun course. It was very busy (800 people is a lot of people, even if not everyone turned up!) and it was hard to get going as all speeds had jumbled together. It was a very mixed bag of abilities and trail experience judging by the comments and kit. It is grassy track here so pretty easy under foot and you could sort of go in to the longer grass to over take if needed. 

We dropped on to the drive briefly then around one of the gate houses to rejoin the trust 10 k route and cross past the entrance booth to climb the hill. I had a little bit more space but not much here. A little in front of me, someone ran straight in to a tree branch and crumpled but then got straight back up; latter it seemed he was covered in blood but kudos for carrying straight on. The climb to the Cage starts on the grass and has a few steep sections before joining a rockier firmer track that goes up. It is always a lot longer than I remember and I did a bit of running and a bit of walking like most people around me. I was holding something back for the big ascent to Latern woods. 

At the Cage, there was a crowd and a bagpiper which was a lovely touch. It brought to mind the Half Peakskyline race from last year, and how I haven't seen it advertised this year....Things to ponder as we did the steady grassy downhill back towards the house before dropping on to the tarmac drive towards the East Lodge. I think I got over taken here a fair bit as road capable people enjoyed the tarmac, and I did not. There was a water station here too, and whilst I ran past, I drowning in my own sweat and with sweat and suncream in my eye, I do believe an effort had been made to source recyclable plastic bottles for this. 

Instead of sending us all over the stile to climb the field to Latern woods, very sensibly we were sent to the five bar gate which was held open by a marshal. On the otherside, the ground was very uneven and boggy, even by the normal standards of this field, as it wasn't a usual footpath. But we soon rejoined the main path and the lovely Jerry from club was there to cheer us on with a few chaps from Bollington. However I was soon walking up the tussocky field with most other people to join the queue to go over the lowered section of wall two at a time (I did not do this elegantly). The queue here was moving, and being hot and sweaty from the climb it was okay to wait. 

The path through Latern woods is always fun, but they did loop us round the Latern itself just so we could hear the fiddler playing inside (another nice touch). I love running through the pine woods here, even with the roots. After the woods, we popped out on the only mildly technical part of the course which is the descent towards the estate wall. Its only a bit rocky so I made short work of it and managed to pass one or two people before the long undulating (net uphill) track that runs around the outer wall of the estate. I prefer doing this track the other way on parkrun as its up and down and up but this way round it gradually climbs rather than the other way. Its a good enough track underfoot though, and people can pass each other with reasonable care. 

At the gate in to Knightlow woods, the marshal was struggling with some highland cattle who had seen the open gate as an invitation to enter the woods from the hill side, and I tried not to dwell on the implications for the farmer/ rangers later. We dashed along the main track through the woods, another deviation from the trust 10k course, but then turned left along the wall and....straight in the queue for the next stile. This queue took ages and people were getting a bit agitated. I was also starting to cool down. There wasn't even much of a view to admire in the woods. then a group of ladies came past saying they were going to use the dog hole, including Sue and Catherine (who somehow I was ahead of). With the queue barely moving I decided to join them. As my turn to crawl through the hole came (much to the displeasure of the marshal) I had a sudden  panic I wouldn't fit! But I was there now so I got on my knees and fortunately squeezed through with no elegance. I stood and held the hatch for the next lady and then ran on, on the narrow path around the clough.

I had now ended up behind some slower people on this narrow path and so couldn't really open up, but as we got to the pink house I managed to get some speed up and run along the short ridge and descend the grass then rocky path quite fast to the Shrigley track, where Martin and Oscar were waiting to cheer me. However, I could see Catherine ahead and knew I had less than a mile to make up some time so pushed up the road and round the knoll. One lady I overtook was having a bit of a sulk about how much further it was...it was literally down the hill and round the mill pond. One bad point though was that as we were coming down the hill, cars were coming down from the top car park and people were walking up the course towards us, not all of them respecting those of us who were still running! I kicked a bit around the mill pond and managed to over take one more person before arriving to a very animated and supportive crown (a special shout out to Style RC who gave me a lovely cheer) and over the finish line in a sweaty mess. 

There were bottles of water and flap jacks as well as a medal for everyone. Lizzie, who I hadn't seen at the start as she had struggled to park, was stood chatting to John and Catherine and Sue soon joined us. We all agreed it was a beautiful race but the queue for the stile out of the woods was a bit of a let down. I'd run relatively well, but it was hard to tell if this was fitness or just being held back by the crowds. It had been a glorious evening and the views had been stunning but it was just too busy for the course and infrastructure. I was glad I had done it but wouldn't rush back, especially as I can do the original trust 10k course on my own any time. Martin arrived and berated me as the dog had misbehaved in my absence and then was so rude we had to leave early before he embarrassed me, which rather soured an otherwise pleasant evening. Plus I had another race at the weekend to get to! 

Race Report: Walsh Two Lads

 I was going to post a blog on the Trail Pursuit Marathon fiasco but I have decided against it. If you haven't got something good to say, don't say anything at all and all that.....Views were nice and that is that. 

So moving on

Walsh Two Lads came one week after the Leo Pollard memorial which I had sadly missed due to poor planning. So one of two Winter Hill based races was better than none, and you can't miss too many in your back yard. Plus its on the club champs. 

Two lads is one of the lumps on Winter Hill, on the Horwich side. I go up there quite a lot. The race passes this point just before the descent. Its a five mile race with registration at a pub called the Banktop Alehouse. First thing to know is there is no parking but there is a train station at Blackrod a couple of miles away, and there is a bus that goes past. Other than that, bun fight for pavement parking. Seems most people managed. There was some pre-entry and some EOD but both ways you had to fill in the form with your details. Horwich RMI athletics club host it and so it ran like clockwork (they are good at these old events). 

Having arrived ridiculously early, and fannied around for an hour, I was surprised how few of the Blacksheep had made it out. I suspect a combo of Ed Sheeran concert traffic, Welsh Castle relays at the weekend and Boar's Head race the night before. Of those there, I think only two other people had run the race before. I offered the odd (probably unsolicited) tip and we lined up for the start. It had already rained whilst I was waiting, and threatened to do so again. A shout of to Bolton MRT and off we went and pretty much immediately (after the bollards of death) we started to climb up the hill. 

For a fell race, there is a reasonably high amount of tarmac. There was ait of bumpy poor quality road with some puddles, then some more tarmac, then a ginnel then some more tarmac but finally we hit the bottom of Wilderwood and something that was more like footpath, albeit a single track one. At least single track meant I had an excuse to just sit in the group I was in and not push. I knew eventually we would pop out on to George's lane and then the climb across the moor is much more broad to do a bit of over taking if necessary. Underfoot, most of the rain had drained so it wouldn't be bad going. 

As we started the climb up the moor, you could see Two Lads up to the left, and it was nice to know that the fastest people weren't already there and coming down. That said, they would be there soon. And I ran nearly all the way up this section, if at a very plodder pace. I wasn't feeling great but I also wasn't feeling horrendous. There was a lot of place swapping back and forth at this stage but I got the feeling I was mostly moving forward through the pack. On reflection, I wasn't really pushing myself cardiovascular wise but my muscles were definitely feeling a few extra pounds and extra miles of late. 

The magic happened somewhere between the road crossing and the first bridge crossing. Suddenly my legs seemed to wake up and stride out a bit. I moved with relative ease across the footpath across the moor, passing a few sheep. I was enjoying myself without pushing too hard. We went through a few gates and I got a moment of anxiety about gate etiquette in races before pushing that and my well embedded country code to one side.  A few blokes came flying past as we dropped down past the track to Burnt Edge but I could also see Nat, my fellow Chorlton Blacksheep only a little bit ahead (she was in long sleeves so probably boiling to death).I managed to catch on the climb out the clough as we headed up towards Two Lads and it was nice to have a bit of a chat. 

As we jumped the stream after the road crossing for two lads (mercifully low but a few of the bogs were a bit more full) I did have a short walk towards the stoney mounds at the top. But then we saw Tom Arthur who had come to cheer us, and decided we had better run as he had threatened to take photos. 

The decent off the top can feel a bit insane in places; it can be steep and slippery but interspersed with runnable sections where you pick up speed. To be honest, I nearly never run down this way, nearly always up! But I wasn't making too much of a hash of it, even when most people veered on to the upper track that didn't use to exist, and drops you very steeply to Pike's cottage. I had a small slip, which was just enough to remind me I am not as good as I was at descending, but stayed upright and pelted through the gate at the bottom.

I knew the next section had to be fast. George's lane at this point is quite flat, and much better surfaced than it used to be, then it was the drop through Wilders wood, before the mad footpath dash to the finish (all down hill). I was still level pegging with Nat who is much faster than me, but was mercifully tired from childcare. I was pretty sure I couldn't hold her off to the end. I swung round the gate and down the steps in to Wilders wood. It was narrow but I was moving better than I have in a long time inn a race; I felt fast. Once we hit the bobbly rocky bit at the bottom I did have a bit of a slow down and may have verablised my thought on this section which comes up in a few races and I always make a hash of it. Then we hit the cobbles and Nat came past me. I would aim to push to the end. 

Right at the end you drop in to a narrow tarmac ginnel down the back of some houses that goes on a surpringly log time. I remembered it being slick when I had done the race before but maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the graphene trainers (a gimmick I know) but I was able to really fly down here and dodge past Nat. I hit the track and the puddles at the bottom and gave it everything. Apparently I nearly 6 minute miled this last section.... Puddles be damned and I pushed right back to the grassy area where the Chorlton team cheered us in. It had pretty much been neck and neck and looking at Nat, she had definitely let me take the millisecond win. I worried I would regret my exuberance the next day on the long run.

But I had had a good race! It feels like forever since I said that. I didn't feel tired and slow. I mostly held my place on the descents and even the flat. I went up in a timely fashion (though the only two strava segments not showing gold were ascents...). I pushed for the line and got  better time than last time even if mostly due to better conditions. I enjoyed myself. I joined the Chorltonites to cheer in the last few runners. 

The good race did buoy my confidence a bit for the long run the next day, though it was still pretty tough (20 miles around Edale skyline even without the main ascent...ergh!). The feeling of descending well was the best bit; maybe my season is about to turn around? Or more likely not and I just had a decent day out; we'll see! 

Photos credit of Olga Woo, Tom Arthur and David Morrison; many thanks

Shropshire running: The Clun Valley Challenge and Mortimer Forest

 At the start of the year, I signed up to run the Clun Valley Challenge which is a 26 mile event in Shropshire. I thought it a good excuse to go visit Mum and slot a marathon ish distance run in before the Ultra in July. Unbeknownst to me, my Mum and Auntie Sarah had also signed up to the short route (walking) as a goal for their getting fit campaign for 2022. So we all went off and started training (or in my case, kept training), and that was that. Then in April I was ill with possible Covid and it became apparent that navigation was not a strong suite of my mother's. Finally, someone asked if I would run a different marathon with them at the end of May and a plan in my head hatched: why didn't I walk the CVC with my mum and aunt as support and navigation aid, and then run the marathon with Eryl later in the month? Seemed a good way to make the most of social trips to beautiful places, and also give me a week extra to get over the virus and training lost as a result. 

Clun is in Shropshire. It is one of the larger villages (I stop at calling it a town though it has a sizeable church, at least two pubs, a festival and castle) in a region where there is a lot of not a lot. It is also 20 minutes drive from my parents which is convenient. The walk in a charity fund raiser for the school, but also advertised on the LDWA so attracted a few people from 'arf' (anywhere that is not rural Shropshire). It is surrounded by hills, which are not that high but pack a few gnarly climbs. Like most LDWA events we had been supplied with a set of instructions that were borderline uninterpretable (third stile on the left, by the gnome that only rises at dawn anyone?) which had been part of the reason for concern about navigating for mum. The night before, having descended on my Mum's with the dog, I could sense there were a few nerves and already chat of dropping out at Cluneton which was about 2/3rd of the way round and had a pub. There was also an assumption we only needed to get there five minutes before we went off, and my race day paranoia insisted that perhaps a little earlier was advisable. 

Despite not a good nights sleep, I was up at 6am to walk the dog on the village playing field before we headed to Clun. Sadly Oscar dog  wasn't allowed to come with us for this one.  We parked up in a field as directed by the helpful volunteers and walked over to the school. Clun was looking particularly quaint and sleepy in the morning light of what was promising to be a scorcher of a day. It is easy to forget when you do it all the time, that a race registration and start line can be a confusing place. Mum and Auntie Sarah hadn't thought to remember their numbers but it was fine as a list was on another table, and we picked up out clip cards as well as a piece of fruit and a bar of Cadbury's chocolate (awesome touches), before walking through to the hall for string and tea. I tied my route clip card on to the front of my bag where I could tuck it out the way and grabbed a cup of tea. I didn't pay attention to what Mum was doing and it turns out she had tied her route card to the back of her bag which I only realised at CP1, and I had to clip her at every point after! Obvious when you know, less so when you don't! 

The long route walkers had already gone off and the hall was slowly filling with walkers of all shapes and sizes, along with a few early doors walkers. There was  a short briefing mostly thanking volunteers and the guys who keep the footpaths and off we went! 

We started off on the road and then climbed up and over the castle. I am so glad we were following others at this point as I would have had difficulty interpreting the instructions for the first half a mile! The castle was quite steep and an elderly lady in wellies was gathering some kind of herb flower in the field which tells you about Clun really. Soon we were on the Shropshire way on a narrow path in a steady crocodile of walkers. I didn't realise but Mum was finding the pressure to walk fast a bit stressful. However, a lovely lady did rescue to the tip of Mum's walking pole and also taught it was called a ferrule. 

By the top of the first climb, Mum, my aunt and I were pretty much on our own, at the back of the back. But literally as we hit the top stile, those gallant runners in shiny apparel appeared over the hill and leapt over the stile, making us all feel very unathletic. I tried not to be envious (and as the heat build through the day, I became even less envious) as the vaulted stiles and gates, looking agile. In my mind, I look like this.....in reality I look more like an overweight goose waddling down the hills squonking. 

At the first self clip, we realised mum had tied her route card to her back and it was lucky we were in a group. We did a bit of a road section passed the most gorgeous 16th century cottage then started up a narrow horribly cambered field before more up and down to another road where we startled the chaps laying the pitch to cover the pot holes (they were very supportive but the road wasn't very wide!)

The first manned checkpoint was in a wonderful garden tucked out the way. I mean it was almost regal this garden. And there was cake and tea. A few people appeared to have gotten waylayed by the snacks so it felt less like the back arriving in the checkpoint. Mum put coffee in her thermos flask which then remained hot for far too long, but there was an actual water dispenser for filling bottles which was amazing! Cool, fresh, clean water in the rising heat felt very needed. The brownie I had was a bit average but we had one more manned check point later. 

The next section of the course took us over tow big hills. At the top of the first was Bury Ditches which is an ancient hill fort. The climb up through the forestry tracks was pleasant even if mum was trying to drink her coffee still. Initially we were in a shady, almost damp gully, which was nice after the rapeseed field induced hayfever. Then good old forestry tracks. As we wound our way up, it became apparent several people were actually a bit lost and at one point I was leading an amalgram of about three groups up the hill as the instructions were a bit vague and at least I had a copy of the map. But we all made it to the hill fort and were rewarded with stunning views. 

We had a quick pause at the second self clip after the hill fort before starting the meandering descent to Cluneton. Initially this was a tree lined forest track, but then we started to head down a series of fields. It was now very warm and I could see Mum was starting to struggle a bit. Having driven up to Bury ditches previously, I don't think I had appreciated how bloody far it is from Cluneton. I offered to run ahead an pick up lemonades from the pub in Cluneton but people said they were okay. A group of very tired lads who I think were university age came past us, and were struggling too, so I think this actually cheered mum up and bit. Lucky, as the pub was closed! Seemed a lost opportunity there! 

Then we started what would become a bit of a mammoth hill. It started on the road, and this was hot with little shade, plus very steep. Mum plodded up, and I nagged everyone to drink. At the little car parking spot, we stopped for a sit as Mum needed to eat and drink something. I am glad we did as it got steeper and longer through the forest track and I think it took us nearly an hour to do the next hill. Mum was struggling and this was further than she had walked in practice. I kept telling them there was a checkpoint after this hill and then we were pretty much there, which was true but also a bit of a push on the truth....the checkpoint was still 2.5 miles from the end. 

Arriving at the mast, I was pleased to get mum on some flatter ground. This hill was forested so the views were less stunning but a mast makes for a good 'we made the top!' moment. It was all down hill from here. We exited the forest to the check point and were told we weren't quite last. Sitting down, Mum and Auntie Sarah made themselves coffee. The guys at the checkpoint were clearly very ready to close up shop too! 

The road section to  Clun seemed to go on and on and on. This was not helped by me needing a wee and nearly leaving my phone in a bush. We were over taken by the last people on the way down. Mum kept going but I could tell she was knackered. It was blooming hot. Below in the valley we occasionally captured amazing views of Clun and the route we had taken. We all agreed that the concrete on sore feet was bad but poor Aunty Sarah was suffering blisters quite badly. Arriving on the edge of Clun village, we nearly missed the turn up school lane and into the school. I was really proud of Mum for getting to the end, and we arrived to certificates and badges made by the school kids which was a lovely touch. Plus the usual LDWA soup! It was amazing after sweet stuff all day. 

We saw some of the people we had passed and been passed by on the route and it was a nice feeling to finish. We walked back to the car, and then drove home. On arriving home, Auntie Sarah couldn't stand up after opening the gate and Mum couldn't get out of the car. they eventually made it to the picnic table by the house where Dad bought out some fizz and we spent the evening celebrating our nearly nine hour walk! It had been a marvellous day. 

Sadly, the next day, training beckoned and Oscar and I were up early to go to Mortimer Forest for a training run. Mortimer Forest is near Ludlow and a more popular forestry commission site than the ones on our walk the day before. It was wet and grey, and I really didn't fancy it but Oscar needed exercise and I needed to train so we headed off up the climbing Jack trail. This is a 9 or 10 mile trail around all sections of the forest. We started from Vinnalls car park and picked up the trail. The first section is a loop out through the forest then a meander up to the highest point at Vinnalls where you get an amazing view on a clear day. It was mostly easy to follow and good under foot which was nice, but my legs were hating all climb and more walking was done than I might have liked. 

After the climb we turned to head across Climbing Jack common which were swathed in the most amazing bluebells

Oscar was having fun and we started the long descent in to the gap between the hills that make up the forest. It was lovely and runnable. I had decided to cut the route slightly and skip the section by Black pool to make it 8 not 9 miles and this was pleasingly easy to do. I had seen next to no one so far. And it was back to climbing slowly. Oscar had a bit of a dip in the stream, which seemed unnecessary given it was damp. 

Only as we headed towards Whitcliffe did things both level off and did we see a few more people. Not many, just the odd dog walker. It was nice for it to be a bit more runnable on tired legs. I think there were also a few more decidous trees, and I was getting less wet. But then we turned and descended to stream again. Which meant we were soon climbing up around the shoulder of the Vinalls pine forest again, but we were getting closer to the end. Eventually we ended up on the easy access trail which I looped to make it up to 8 miles. I looped back to the car park a damp and tired mess. 

I'd recommend Mortimer forest for a run. For the most part, its runnable, and the trails are mostly well marked (once or twice I had to check the trail markers coming back the other way to be sure). It also felt safe despite being quite empty. Plus the dog could be off the lead on the way round. But note there are no loos or facilities. Parking is free. 

Overall, a good adventurous weekend in Shropshire and I am sure I'll be back to do the Clun Valley Challenge in the future.