A few people think I am an experienced orienteer and know what I am doing. But actually, this was my first proper mini-mountain marathon, my first proper dibber event outside the short courses in parks, and my first 3 hour event. I was actually a bit nervous.
I always arrive at races pretty early, and given there is no traffic at 6:30 on a Sunday, did a good time to Meerbrook giving me 30 minutes to phaff. Everyone at the village hall was jolly despite the early start, and the two other early starter and I were soon ready to go. I had accepted I would not do that well today as there were some very fast people on the start list. I was handed my map and headed off in to a misty morning having quickly checked which way north was having decided on a very vague route that could change with what I found on it.
What I found was mud. Having gotten on a bridleway that was wet but okay, after a farm that didn't really want people going through it (a massive great wire across the yard and footpath), the under foot conditions rapidly became thick farmyard type mud. It was had going, and you would suddenly drop a foot in to a hoof print and sink. I intermittently walked and jogged, cursing my absilute lack of fitness and then made a very minor nav error looking for my first control, running in to the corner of a field. I hoped it was just a warm up error and someone passed me as I moved on. I would see very few people for the next few miles.
We were gradually heading uphill on a footpath through more muddy fields and the farm at the end popped in to view. I was actually looking forward to abit of tarmac on the otherside, as I was fed up of wading. I was heading for the 50 pointer on Hen Cloud mostly as I wanted to go up there, more than it being a good route choice. After a short road section I turned right and the real hill started.
Initially it was just a path across lower moorland but it then became a steep path between boulders. Then it was more of a scramble. It was also incredubly foggy. I had no idea how close to the top I was until I practically clambering on to it. I looked at the map and control description which said 'hill top' which was less than useful in the fog and relatively flat topped gloom. I eventually found it half underneath a boulder and was pleased to get going again.
My pleasure at getting going again was balanced by the fact the descent was a bit technical and I wasn't sure how easy the next point would be. I wanted to be making more progress than I was, aware of time eating away. I have lost my ability to descend well; I probably should work on it more but my overall fitness is the main issue at present. As I came off the moor I looked across the field and couldn't see the gate only 20 meters or so away in the fog. Lucky it was straight lining!
Heading on to the moor that forms the roaches, I ignored the path that takes you straight up on to the edge, and instead headed right and followed a path handrailing a wall. There was a path in the direction of the next control on the map but it looked distinctly like one of those that might not really be a path. Fortunately, a standing stone eventually prompted me to stop my slow shuffly run and look in detail at the map and realise that the small trod to my left was probably the path. It didn't last long, and with the fog obscurring the landscape I took a rough bearing and ploughed on. The ruined walls marked were also pretty hard to make out. A sheep with horns loomed out the fog. Maybe the fog was lifting slightly on this side? I could see the rise and with a bit of forward motion, eventually found the control which was mercifully lying in relatively plain sight.
The next decision was how to get back on the main path on the edge, about half a mile away and completely obscurred by the fog, which was definitely thicker up there. I figured I couldn't run past it (I knew it was an obvious path with a drop the other side) so I just trusted to the orienteering gods and headed across the unmarked, untrodden moor.
In hindsight, this was a brave manouerve for a woman on her own and a relatively novice orienteer but maybe I am not as novice as I think. I passed a post with a video camera hanging off it, presumably for the birdlife, and crossed soft and springy ground (ironically, it was less muddy than the low ground earlier). I shoved some flapjack in my face as I started to ascend the climb that mercifully led to the path and nearly tripped over some rocks. By some miracle, I did actually make it and the rocks that make up the edge of the Roaches loomed out the fog at me.
I ran along the easy to follow tourist path of the Roaches. I had no real idea how far along I was, and I saw no one. I popped my podcast on for company as in the grey mist I was feeling a little lonely. It seemed a long way to the trig but I was doing something resembling running. I thought about the run Eryl, Claire and I had done along here in the rain and smiled; it had been a real giggle between or after lock downs.
At the trig I saw two figures coming up the other way and we all helped each other find the 60 (!!) point control that involved scrambling down beneath the crags. I was glad they were there or I think I would have been a bit nervous about climbing down and falling in the fog. Its not strictly the rules but I think it was sensible in the conditions. I wished them well and they headed off in to the mist as I headed down the fun descent to the road.
At the road I saw a concentrating Bruce who said hello but carried on resolutely. I think he was the highest scoring Chorlton.
I then made a bit of a green mistake; i went to a control I new I could find but was only worth 20, but also that involved going down a steep slope and either commiting to a run through Lud's church, and a longer loop, or climbing back up said steep slope. I should have done the same descent but to the right and gone for the 30 pointer.....
I ended up descending to the control, and climbing back up. In hindsight, I had time to do the longer loop, and would hav epicked up 80 points from doing so, on reasonable paths I know. But I was panicking about time, my fitness and the thick mud that would hold me up on the way back. I also wasn't sure I fancied a foggy Lud's Chruch on my own; its cold and creepy at the best of times. Several fast looking people were coming down as I headed up but reassuringly there were some people who ran past a gate and had to come back so everyone was struggling. The fog was also a touch better.
So I tilted down hill on the road and enjoyed a bit of actual running. People were coming up the hill in reaosnable number now, having approached from the route I would descend by. Plus there was the odd walker. I ran past one control and had to come back and get it (only 10 meters but annoying as it was uphill) and then headed further down hill to the next farm.
Despite trying to concentrate on the map at this point, I then made a nav error, in part because of an obscured stile, and in part because I think my feet were enjoying a bridle path. It was only about a third of a mile in each direction but there was also the time it took me to work out where I had ended up.
Back on track I was now back in the thick farmyard mud. Initially it was down hill and not too bad. I managed to find the next control on a wall quite easily. I slepped across another muddy field that ended in a crossing of what is probably normally a very slim stream but was now a bit more substatial, enough to have to put both feet in for a step or two. The clean trainers didn't last and I squelched across some more fields towards a gorgeous farm. Mercifully, there was abit of a bridlepath the other side, and I bumped in to Steve who, having been booked as a pair, was running alone and possibly a bit nervous. I reassured him it was better after the mud and he'd be fine. Notably, he got about the same score as me as a complete first timer. He is a fast runner though.
As the bridleway petered out I bumped in to some llamas. Which was nice. We were now below the fog too. This didn't stop me opening the wrong gate at the next farm but no one saw and I was back on the footpath pretty sharpish.
Eventually I could see the houses and the road and popped out just along from the village hall. I rand down the road, and the finish team were ready to greet me. I was worried they would think me a bit wet but mostly they were excited to have their first finisher and test the download. I peel my mud soaked shoes, socks and leggings off behind my car door before going in though- I was caked.
Inside the download worked, I was first of 1 competitors (this lasted only 5 minutes) and there was tea and enormous slabs of vegan flapjack. I was a bit disappointed with myself for not doing more but that is the lack of experience I suppose. The event team were keen to hear about the conidtions, worried about the mud putting people off. I had a brilliant time though, and as I waited for a few others to come back, I got the same impression from others; challenging but good. Shame about the views but we all had fun
