Calderdale Way Relay- the big day

 The day bloomed hot and dry. Ordinarily, this would be promising but given we were to be running through the heat of the day, I was a little anxious. Unlike last year, I had a bit more of a lie; the legs are run as a relay and being leg 4 rather than 2 meant a later alarm even if I was doing the driving. I was actually more anxious about getting the A team boys to the start on time. In my head, we would have loads of time but that annoying voice kept saying I should have us all there ten minutes earlier. 

We got parked on the lane without falling down the ditch without issue. A few teams were already through but only the very fast all mens teams. Amazingly, a local family at Blackshaw head had offered up their garage and drive for registration and toilets. It was a gorgeous house; the hamlet of Blackshaw Head is set well above the valley and really is a cluster of houses around the causeway road but on a day like this it looked like heaven. 

The leg three runners were coming in along the causeway, and a one way system had been created along badger lane so that the incoming pair handed over mid way down and the new pair could fire out the bottom and round the tight corner to the gate which was start of the leg. The incoming pairs looked hot and bothered. One or two definitely had the signs of heat stroke and at least one person collapsed (mountain rescue did a fab job here). It seemed a long wait for our team to come in, and then both the vets team and the mixed A pair came in close succession. One of our vets was looking worse for wear and I popped him in a car down the hill rather than letting him run. I probably came across as a bit of an insistant twit but I really don't need extra work or guilt. 

My running partner, Rachel, and I anticipated going off in the mass start. We were correct in this but I had thought there might be a bit more ceremony to the start but there was just a whistle as we were all milling in the road, and then we were off all trying to push through the single person gate.....logic would have suggest us all starting in that field but logic rare features in a fell race. 

I'm not good at pushing but we got through the gate and started running across the gorgeous buttercup fields that made up the start of the race. I was glad I had done a recce a few days before (this section, as a dog walk with my husband) as I knew there were going to be stiles. For this reason, we sort of held place then made a move to over take as we hit a hard left down a bridleway, before we got to Hebble hole, which was more narrow. It sort of worked. We didn't have time to appreciate the beautiful spot of Hebble Hole, before we were climbing up the steeper steps the other side and jogging past the trees, relatively single file towards the fields. As we hit the fields, we got a bit more pace on and pushed to keep up with a group ahead. This became a bit ironic when it became apparent they were going to use me as a navigator for the next section. Oh well, can't have it all. 

Team Photo by Adam

There are a real mixture of abilities fell running wise in Calderdale Relays, and this became apparent when we got sort of stuck behind a slower pair who were being rather tentative on the section coming in to Heptonstall. Rachel was completely stuck behind one person who was walking gingerly through here but we managed to run free of them as we entered the village and picked the right line through the town to start the long descent in to Midgehole. 

Rachel is much faster than me day to day, and she is particularly faster than me down hill. She bombed off, and I just tried to keep up, grateful for the shade. It wasn't too slippery on the descent, and with no dog getting under my feet, I did it much quicker. We ran along the river at the bottom, past the weird Blue Pig working men's club, waved to mountain rescue and turned left after the national trust loo where we were once again a little bit locked in to others' pace for a while. But at least I knew it was a good mile of climb, and at least it was in the shade. I apologised to Rachel for my slow pace, and I think this was the worst I felt all race. I felt heavy, which frankly at the moment, I am. We drifted off the back of the group slightly. But we were still only half way. 

We crossed the road at the top, went up the narrow path and ran along the next road. I think we walked up the section to the farm but we could see the other group in front of us, clumping slightly. We lost them as we ascended th epath and tracks to the moor but I think my gel must have started to kick in. I vocalised my plan that we'd just keep the heart rate nice and low over the moor section and reel people in. I think Rachel was sceptical but I had done this section on the Monday and knew it was  open, exposed and hot. A gentle breeze did catch up but it was still warm. So we just kept a gentle pace up as we handrailed the edges of the moor, enjoying the views but also, slowly, slowly, catchy monkey, reeling in a few people. We'd been in a forward and back with one pair and we eventually made it definiteively ahead of them towards the end of the section. Its a nice section of running, with not much to really think about navigationally. But it is a long section. We went past farms, golf courses, cottages, and more moorland. By the end of the section I was ready for some variety and we turned hard left down a track and hit the road. 

I had not recce'd the last 1.5 miles. I had traced them with a finger, and it was all fine, with us hairing down hill rapidly past Jerusalem farm to the bridge but coming over the bridge we were faced with 4 footpaths. Mountain rescue kindly directed us to the correct one (in my head in was the right hand one but there was a period of 'left, no more left, other left') which cost us a bit but soon we were heading up the path through the trees and I was trying to keep up with Rachel, aware the next pair ahead of us weren't too far away but were better at hills. We popped out by a house with two ladies sat on a wall cheering, which was nice. Then it was a steep road section and we stomped our way up, as there was no running this. A few finishers were walking down the other way, along with the odd dog walker and family making their way to the river. I tried to push on but I am far too fat for this. 

As we hit the final bridleway, I got a jog on, and we finished within the minute of the pair in front. Coming across the line running felt a small victory but we had long missed the mass start for leg five and it was calmer at the finish. There was an ice cream van selling cold drinks which was the most important bit. 

I hadn't made a fool of myself, and some good recce knowledge and a bit of sensible running had maybe gained us a place or two, but I hadn't exactly made a fab account of myself either. There had been a bit of a kuffufle with cars so our lift was a bit late and we got to the finish line way after our teams finished (thank you to Rebecca who rescued us!). The logistics of this race are always a mare, as legs finish miles from their start in the middle of nowhere! Then you try to get to Halifax! 

But I loved it as a day and would love to have another go next year. I think this was definitely one of the more stunning legs, but they are all pretty hard to chose from. Thank you to Halifax Harriers for hosting! 

Calderdale Relays: the Partial Recce

 Last year, I was introduced to the Calderdale Relays and really enjoyed it. This crazy event involves pairs of runners from various club haring around six legs of the Calderdale way in a relay racing to be the first back to Halifax. Logistically, it is a complete nightmare, even before you account for injuries and dropouts. Team spirit and adventure wise, it is fantastic. 

And so today I returned to the Calder valley once more, with the aim of recceing most of the leg I had been allocated. Last year I did leg 2 and my loving husband kindly dropped me at the start of the leg for the recce, and it finished in Todmorden so I could train home. The car logistics on the day were also worked out by someone else so it was the dream. It was gloriously hot on both runs (the recce and the race) and I loved running out to Stoodley and the mix of road, trail and fell the leg contained. Less good was the long climb up to the castle towards the end but the hurtle down to the finish was fun. 

This year, the start and finish were both remote, and at nearly 10 miles I was not up for a full out and back with the dog. So I settled on pitching up at Heptonstall and running 6ish miles out and then running back from there. This would take me to just above the final valley and climb without me causing the dog to keel over. I will need to go look at the start (thought I have run part of it in reverse at another race) but I am hoping we can wing it towards the end. 

I parked at the visitor car park at Heptonstall as you aren't supposed to drive through its cobbled streets unnecessarily. This was only a short walk from the Calderdale way and we traced it back through the village to where we will first enter it. This is an obvious turn so that was reassuring but Heptonstall is a rabbit warren of weird twisty passages and also, as creepy as.... We managed to navigate down the alley ways , past the ruined church, around past the shop, down another alleyway, past an arch proclaiming it was built in 1759, past a stone that was part of the village stocks, and then finally on to the bridleway that would lead us down the wooded slope to Midgehole. This is a steep descent that is made from the local grey stone that can be slippery when wet, plus also the leaf mulch from the tree. We didn't go fast but on race day it will be interesting, with 2 and a bit miles already in the legs. It crosses two roads, but generally wasn't too hard to follow. It bottomed out at the river at Midgehole and I let the dog have a drink before picking up the road and thanking the lord for the National Trust toilets on the other side of river. 

From here we picked up another stone path but this time heading steeply up. I won't be able to run it which worries me, and it goes up and through trees for some way. In places the rocks that make it are broad, in other places it is more bobbly and unstable. I was glad I had recced this, as side paths kept emerging and signage wasn't brill. After another much smaller water crossing, we climbed some more, hung a hard left and climbed a bit more.....eventually we popped out on a road but it seemed a long walk. We crossed the first road and then turned right on the second. I thought it was a reasonable run on the road (leg two had some really long segments) but actually we quickly turned left up towards a farm and then up another track (even more slippery) before another track took us up on to the moor where we turned hard right and started to hand rail the wall. 

Here the run opened up, and if it wasn't for the dope on a rope of a dog, we might have gotten some pace. It was warm so I was trying to be kind to the dog and myself. We enjoyed explansive views back towards Heptonstall, and over towards Stoodley Pike. Birds called from the surrounding area and sheep with lambs, as well as cows in fields were everywhere. This is very much a farming landscape, now that quarrying is much less a thing. Much of the moor is handrailing the wall that marks the edge of the access land. There is one bit where technically you have to pick up a trod, but if you miss it there is a track, and at one point you go past a golf course, but mostly it is easy enough running. At one point we followed well made markers across the moor, their yellow tops easy to pick out and the path quite easy to follow. Then back to handrailing as the path headed to the east.

The moorland section went on about 4 miles, undulating but mostly runnable. A few times I paused to check the map, thinking we must be nearly there but being surprised there was still yet more moor to go. But eventually a sign post marked the left turning off the moor and on to a track that bgan to descend in to the valley. Track then road and we were to zig zag down hill. At this point I decided it was time to make the turn. I took the map out and visually traced the route on the otherisde of the valley. It would be just over a mile of unrecce'd section but crikey the last climb looked massive! Oh well, I guess I'll have time to mapread on the walk up.....

We ran back the way we came. We met a lady with a dog coming the other way. I'd seen very few people in the run but a few had said hello. On a whim I asked this lady if she was on a recce for the relay and she said yes! We passed a words, and it seems she was running a full out on back, though i did say she could take the dog on the bus if need be which I really hope was accurate as I have always been allowed. It is always nice to exchange words on an easy run. 

The climb from Midgehole to Heptonstall was huge. It had been relatively uneventful on the way back and I had needed to check the map far less. It had been slippery coming down some of the rock sections but generally alright but this last climb I did very steady, letting the dog bounce among the trees. I was glad to get to the shop in Heptonstall for a diet coke and pleased to see a few more people out, all of whom said hello. It is still a very creepy place. I took my coke back to the car park (near the newer part of the village and mildly less creepy) and drank it sat on the boot whilst the dog ate his lunch. I looked across the Blackshaw head and realised I had to do all this quicker next week. And also that the locals might be plotting to sacrifice me if I didn't head off soon. Lets hope my legs recover and the locals don't catch me on my return next week!

Summer race season is here!!!

 English Summer has arrived! There has even been some sunshine. And in amongst all that is the start of what I think of as the midweek racing season. There are a couple of races that actually precede this, but for me the first Wednesday of May is the start gun on a season of getting out in the hills and plodding around about at the back of fell races. I may not be fast but I am enthusiastic. I can't race every week (work and life get in the way) but I try and get out as much as I can. And subsequently I have hit it a bit hard the last couple of weeks. 

With legs still groaning from the Howgills half, I rocked up at Rainow running a little later than I hoped but by a miracle managed to get parked in the village without too much drama. I think I have reviewed Rainow previously but it is up there amongst my faves for both it 'do-ability' and its 'thing in a hill' attraction. With pre-entries allowed, as well as EOD, I was pleased to see a large number of Chorlton Runners amonst the many runners warming up and milling around on a lovely evening. I had walked 8+ miles over Kinder that day so wasn't hoping for miracles. I kept it reasonable on Oakenclough lane, queued for the gate, and headed up to White Nancy with little expectation. It was not my fastest ascent but I sort of got a bit stuck behing someone. The cheer crew were making great noise at the top. I had a great run along the ridge and enjoyed the lovely views whilst pushing to keep place a little bit. The descent was okay and along the bottom went well but I had a good re-ascent to the lane and back in which was nice. It was perhaps the most sensible I have run the race, if not the fastest. 

Needless to say, with all those Chorlton people, I got very few points for the club champs.

Then the following Monday (bank holiday), having restrained myself over the weekend I headed out to Coiner's fell race. This is another repeat I am afraid. But this year it was a lot less fraught at registration, despite it only being 50 fewer people who registered. However, it was disappointing to have to go in the car due to railway repairs, as I enjoyed taking the train last year. Glorious sunshine bathed the start field which sits above Mytholmroyd. The race is named after a fairly historic coin trimming operation that operated out of this area many moons ago. For Calder Valley, it doesn't involve too much ascent, and most of what it does have is in the first section. It starts on the road below the field, and after a section upping and downing on this as it becomes a track, you join the queue for the gate for the bottom the the steep wooded climb that takes you half way up. I walked most of this behind Colin Valentine who despite being older than my Dad, was moving faster than I could, and also was wearing road shoes. There is then another track section before another steeper climb and then its out on to the fell top for a steady but runnerable climb across the stunning moorland to Stoodley Pike. There is a short section of narrow path thats out and back here but it wasn't too bad. I enjoyed the run around the pike but wasn't super fast down the tussocky trod back to the wall. I was surprised I wasn't too near the back though, with people still coming up the other way as I hit the two way section. 

The next section of the race heads in to the plantation....and the bog. Remembering this from last year, I prayed. The ground had been drying out but there was still plenty of moisture about. It was slow through this section, and I had forgotten quite how long the plantation was, but also that the bogs continued after this. We slipped, slid and dove through smelly mud, emerging orange legged. We passed a group of walkers who seemed to have voluntarily gone this way. And people say we fell runners are the mad ones! I was actually a bit glad to get back on the good track at that would take us past some farms and back out on to the moor. I had a good run along here and caught up with the group ahead. We turned left on to a trod and followed this across the moor, as it became a board walk then back on the track before on to the trod towards the finish. I was pleased I felt okay but was dreading what i remembered as a steep down hill. I was running just behind a lady form Saddleworth who, as we hit this, decided to let me go first given the steepness. The path had been narrow for some while and the down hill was not as bad as I remembered, but certianly wasn't attempted with too much speed! This year I got the right entry in to the field and plummeted down the grassy slope in to the finish funnel but forgot i had to dib, slowing to a jog for the last 5 meters of the race. Oh well, I was still a good bit faster (and again, more sensible) running the course this year. We did however, get very wet as the weather broke, somewhat unexpectedly, right at the end and we walked to the car in the rain. 

Talking of sensible, it was probably not sensible then to line up for yet another race on the following Wednesday (7 days, 3 races) but off to Shining Tor I went. Again, this is a race I really enjoy. Last year it monsooned apparently, but I was saved by a vomiting dog. This year, it was glorious. I arrived early and parked at the sailing club and read my book for a while next to the reservoir. But I was there to run and soon it was time to jog across the dam to the start and a slightly altered route. The race starts on the road so its a fast start with lots of room. But then it turned right through a car park and this year we went straight up the side of the hill, rather than going past Errwood Hall and making our way up the zig zag path to the top of Stakeside. The joy of it being a steeper more direct way was that I felt I could walk, though perhaps did take it a bit too steady here. However, at the top of the steep climb I was able to get in to a gently jog all the way up to the finger post, as we gently climbed up the moor. The views were stunning. 

After the dip and up to the top of Shining Tor, I noticed some people dipping through the gate to touch the trig. Its nice no one is taking it so seriously they can't touch the trig. Along the top I picked up the pace a bit, realising I had made a terrible shoe choice for the flag stones (Scott RC2s- never quite got on with them). I was a bit pace checked when I couldn't over take the chap in front but eventually got past him when the flags ended and we started the section over Cat's tor thats more grassy. It was very dry under foot and soon I was at the road where the race starts it long down hill. This section is all on a footpath next to the road and I ran relatively hard but aware it is a really long section. I caught up another group as we headed down across the grassty fields at the bottom and then over took them on the dam only to be over taken myself by a chap who had seemed to be trying to out run me earlier in the race as we ascended (getting overtaken by an overweight 35 year old does that to some chaps). The turn in to the sailing club was something I hadn't remembered but it was nice to come across the line to cheers from various club mates and running friends. I was bitten to death by midges as we all chatted at the finish line. 

Photo by Dave Merch 

I then worked some heavy days at work and went on a failed aurora adventure on Saturday night so actually missed the last race I was supposed to do in this two week period (in the Lakes, canicross) but that is perhaps testament that you can't do everything....but you can get fairly close!