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.
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment