Race Report: Cross Keys Relays

 I am not much of a relay runner. I used to find the baton change a phaff at school during the sprints (problems with being the left hander), and then since joining a club I have never thought myself good enough to put myself forward. Then last year I was sort of cajooled in to the road relays team and instead of runnig for the D or E team ended up in the C team as their slowest counter though not by much. Sadly this year I am away or I would probably sign up for the D team again (I am grossly out of shape for speed). Then I did the Calderdale way relays which was chaotic fun even if I was a bit slow for where I wanted to be. However, a few months ago they were putting together club fell relay teams for the national relays and I was actually a touch offended when several names were mentioned in the absence of mine. I say a touch....

But I try not to sulk so when the call went out for a few more volunteers for the Cross Keys relays I put my name in the hat for a non-competitive team. The Cross Keys is a pub in Saddleworth where the local running club have organised a mixed road and fell relay to bring the different groups of runners together. Its a great and relatively novel concept. The road leg is 5k (two loops of 2.5k) and the fell leg just over 2.5 miles (a single lap). Its run as a straight relay with no baton. Profits to mountain rescue. 

So the names were compiled and I ended up doing the road leg in a mixed D team. Fine. I am pretty slow at the moment and trying to get road fit over winter. I was trying to ignore the 500ft climb in the 5k road leg (!!!). However, with a week to go I was bumped up to the C team and a fell leg. Also okay but I was going to be the weak link in that team.... Then the final few curve balls came in: Oldham council said the race couldn't use the roads, and we had a last minute drop out. So poor Brian was rearranging teams as we arrived at the Cross Keys giving us two men's teams, and a women's team. And the women's team was definitely not going to be competitive. Even then it was touch and go as the last runners arrived very close to the start time. 

It was a nice atmosphere outside the pub, though the weather on the drive over had turned cold and claggy, despite being a nice day in Manchester. The start time of 1pm meant I had ended up eating cookies in the car (not ideal given I am supposed to be improving my diet). I was running the first leg and having handed over my dog to my friend to hold, was alarmed to find we were being walked down the road away from the lap to allow us a 'bit more time to spread out' before the narrow section. 100m plus uphill on the road before running past a crowd of onlookers focuses the mind (mostly on panic). The two chaps from the mens teams were much more chill. 

Photo by Brian Barnes

And then we were off, legging it up the road and trying to keep vaguely up with the pack at least until we had passed the bulk of spectators clustered outside the pub. Looking back at some footage someone posted, I look like a lumbering fat fool but I am trying not to wince. It was a steep start and once we were round the corner, I was one of the first to start walking. Then a sharp left turn took us on to aforementioned narrow section and it was just as fast as the person in front out on to the fell. It was quite steep, but looking up in to the clag, I sensed the top was going to be a lot worse! 

I was stomping up the fell now, across a wider track. I wasn't last but I was very near the back. There was a gap open ahead of me and ahead of that I could see figures heading in to the clag but reassuringly, shouldering the top rather than going up the steep face. The path narrowed as we headed up and two mountain rescue personnel were nestled in the grass in their bright red jackets. I hadn't really run in over half a a mile and was puffing like a train! I worried I would blow up but also feared not performing for the club. I also worried what the girls coming next would think of the long climb. But then there was a flattening, and a stile and I crossed on to a runnable track through the heather, stumbling occasionally on the narrow trod. In the clag my eye sought the next flag intently, even though there were few path options. We dropped on to a wider track that descended to the road but it was rocky and I picked some bad lines, jumping ineffectively between the boulders. 

On the road, the marshals directed me along. Ahead of me I caught a glimpse of the lady in front and sought to chase her but the incline of the road followed by the steep incline up to the top of the hill meant she pulled away in to the clag again. I puffed up the hill, this time rockier and with boggy sections to leap. These bogs continued across the top of the hill. I was sort of running, sort of ineffectively bumbling across sections before trying to leap the bogs. The clag was down and I saw no one. In one bog, my foot went in and I wondered if my shoes was going to stay on my foot. Mercifully, it did. 

At last i reached a stile at the end of the more. The flag suggested left but I could see no flags ahead. I slowed a little, hoping I was going the right way. It was down hill so I didn't want to be wrong. It seemed a long time until I caught sight of the flag on the trod. But then the down hill picked up and dropped down the hillside. The moor ended and we headed in to a steep field and I was cursing my inability to run down hills these days. I urged my body to get forward over my feet. Slightly ducking below the worst of the cloud, I saw the marshals at the corner and the stile and the road and possibly a body going over it. I wasn't going to catch her now. Damn. 

I concentrated on getting over the stile and haring it down the road as fast as I could. My arms pumped at my sides. The crowd was gathered and I saw Liz emerge and I ran through the funnel to tap her and off she went up the hill. 

Almost immediately my dog appeared, dragging poor Emma behind him. Just under 36 minutes.....not terrible but not amazing. We were perhaps fourth from last. I was immediately asked how it went and for a bit of knowledge on the course which I shared as usefully as I could (which wasn't very useful - somethings only make sense when you are there). 

The boys teams were a bit ahead and by the time I was getting my jumper on, the third chap for our A team was already off. Our team were a bit steadier though, and I worried how much I was asking of them to go up in to the clag on a tough course and be quite isolated. However, they were brilliant, including helping someone who was ill on the course. I think it was a bit type 2 fun at times. Poor Emma had it worst as she was leg 4 and it was a long wait for the third person to finish, by which time many teams had finished their full relay. I must confess, I ducked in to the pub for a drink and some warmth whilst she was out but made sure we were out on the road to cheer her in. She did amazing, bringing us in the penultimate team to finish. 

It was a great event, even without the road leg. In fact, the road leg looked savage so perhaps it was for the best! The marshals were encouraging, never suggesting our last counter couldn't run. Everyone clapped the finishers in. The A team came third and one person got fastest lap. It was very fell race prizes with large jars of jam and multipacks of chocolate bars featuring. The pub was nice too and worth remembering for a walk. Hopefully we'll get a few teams in next year for whatever format it takes, and I will b e a bit fitter. On this race I resented how slow I have become but only I can change that....after the honeymoon! 

                                            Picture by Brian Barnes 

Race Report: Blackshaw Head Fell Race

Unfortunately the Blacksheep Champs has not been well attended this year. A host of reasons for this have been put forward which I won't go in to. But its telling when I am currently first woman in the champs (and I am not fast). 

This race ticked a lot of boxes; less than an hours drive, not too steep, not too far and with a fete/fair to enjoy at the end. Somewhat unexpectedly, it was also a glorious sunshine day. 

And yet, it was only Brian and I turned up. Oh well, we can but try. I must confess, I wasn't really feeling this one. It had been a manic week, I had a week to go until my wedding, dog care had been a nightmare and I had run parkrun that morning. But you only get so many chances in life so you have to take them. 

One criticism of this event (both fete and fell race) was the parking. One road ended up completely blocked with parked cars, and a negotiation with a local farmer might have helped that. There weren't many public transport options (3.5 mile up hill walk from Todmorden aside). I managed to avoid the worst of it and get registered in a warm tent on the fete field. The portaloo wasn't great but I at least got in early. 

The race pack was dominated by local clubs Calder and Todmorden and there were just over 60 of us. The event started away from the fete field and there was a bit of fumble with counting us in and out as due to most of us being too busy chatting.... 

But then we were off up a rocky tack and one lady promptly fell over the uneven footing. But we very quickly spread out and were soon heading down up and around the higher level farm land. It was undulating rather than outright steep. A lot of it was very runnable, and the paths though narrow were fine because we spread out quite quickly. It was typically Pennine in that you had to watch your feet due to the rockiness, but in the sunshine it was lovely. 

We dropped down past someone rebuilding a wall, and then up a road section where Brian very much started to move ahead of me. The heat was getting to me a bit, and as we started the long drag along Edge Lane, I forced myself to keep running. I also realized I recognized this section from the Moors the Merrier a few years ago....in completely different weather. 

The climb across the moor to the Standing Stone trig was lovely as a slight breeze came up, but it still felt a bit warm. The view was incredible. We then dropped down slightly to join a section of Pennine Way. A couple of topless chaps were running up the other way as I hit the flags and probably thought I
was mad. I probably am a bit. This section undulated a bit but again, was very runnable. However, the heat and my lack of fitness were very much catching up with me. I was glad I had bothered to bring some water. 

Towards the edge of the moor, I past a lady hobbling, but she said she was okay. There weren't many people around me otherwise and I had the feeling I was somewhat under performing. I would later come in as last WSEN but hey. 

The next section was an up and over, wiggling between farms and roads. I am always slightly amazed how many little places there are tucked in and around here. More people live up here still than you would guess. On the descent I was being really rather slow, my legs being pathetic and my head being conscious of my wedding photos in 6 days time! No bruises or scratches above the waist please! I was overtaken by someone much closer to my Dad's age than mine! (I got him back later).

In a complete change of scene we dropped in to a steep-sided clough were a stream ran through and people were playing with their dog. It was one of those places you won't find unless you know. Then it was steeply up and out before leaving the Pennine way to start a long slog across the fields. This apparently is the Calderdale Way which is another footpath that warrants an explore some time. It was a long, hot uphill slog. I could see Brian slightly ahead of me and another old chap I thought I might catch but didn't quite. One field, a second field, a mown field (sorry farmer, we wrecked your rows), and then stumbling in to the far side of the fete field to the finish. 

THe dog show was on and many people were milling around the fete. I just wanted a cold drink. Sadly I couldn't stay due to dog care but it would have been a fab afternoon out. 

Overall a poor performance from me due to lack of threshold level fitness, but a good time on a very runnable fell race with a sting in the tail. Would recommend, but not the parking.