There is a freedom to not having any big in the diary but it can also rapidly become an apathy to running. So I have sprinkled a couple of events through the winter to try motivate me to keep some fitness up.
Following my lovely day out at the Peak Raid, I was back in the Peak District on Saturday 5th to run the Curbar Commotion. This is a fab race that takes in the wonderfully dramatic Curbar Edge from the pictureque village of Curbar. The race supports the primary school there, and the combination of teacher and PTA involvement mean it is well run and organised! Kit was minimal whilst we were once again in a bit of mist on the way over, it was expected to clear rapidly, and by the 10am start time, we were all trying to find a bit of direct sunshine to warm our limbs. Martin had come to watch, bringing the dog for a walk to Baslow, but he was grumpy by the start line, which is always a prompt to not daly to much.
We charged off up the drive past the college, and I was soon puffing. I wanted to give it some beans all the way to the queue for the stile, but found I didn't have enough. I enjoyed the queue then once again struggled up hill through the ginnel and up to the playing field where I had a short walk and got going again. This was not ideal and I was currently last of the three Chorlton Runners in the race. As we entered the woods I found a bit more of a groove and started to enjoy the run through the roots and mud, and the gentle slope as we traversed the escarpment. I knew it kicked up sharply at the end, and met Antonio from Otley (the elderly and sometimes slight liability runner who often sets off early) on this section. Thankfully he let the little line of people I was with through but I lost a few places on this steep section. I felt heavy and a bit of a fraud (the diet has not been good of late).
We popped out on to the edge and things were suddenly different. It was a beautiful day up here, with sunshine and fluffy white clouds giving way to views of the valley below. We were weaving through walkers and climbers, hopping the puddles on the gritstone edge, and climbing steadily, with steeper tor like sections. I was also acutely aware of a 9 mile run over Kinder in my legs from the Thursday before. But I was plodding along steadily, over taking and being over taken. I tried to relax and enjoy the race a bit more. Ultimately, placement did not matter. At the left turn to White Edge, the path completely changes from well marked to heathery and boggy. My time in the Pennines suddenly came in to its own and I hopped across this section happily whilst other tried to dodge the puddles. I felt a bit better as we turned along the wall and enjoyed the good grassy run down too the dip and up that would take us on to White Edge and the highest point of the race. I actually went up the steps section much quicker than I think I did previously. At the top someone asked if it was all down hill from here... I said not quite.
I felt like I was flying on this down hill section. There was no where else I wanted to be. The path is lined with heather but is not technical. Its mostly down hill and sweeps gently side to side. I was enjoying it but also thinking it was longer than I remembered. But a marshal appeared and directed me to the road crossing. And suddenly is was the white track of doom: its very gently uphill gravel and some people love it and others hate it. I was actually loving it, taking the time to jam a gel in (I probably didn't need it but had only had a banana in the morning). Brian was hating it. He had been ahead of me for the whole race so far and I felt bad to overtake. I assumed he might also get me on the cheeky up hill turn that came from Baslow back to Curbar...
The descent off Baslow Edge was lovely. There were a few people around but not enough to hold me up as I teetered down the rocky bridleway. A sharp left turn and we were back under trees and dodging roots. A lady caught me up who was absolutely flying on this section; clearly a descent expert! We popped out at the top of Baslow village and turned back up the hill. The first time I did this race, I thought this was cruel. I still do. But I ran a bit and walked a bit to the squeeze stile and then intermittently ran walked as we headed across livestock fields initially on grass path then a more rocky track, undulating as we headed back. Then there was a sharp left turn in to a narrow path surrounded by bracken where things suddenly literally headed down hill and became a little more slippery. It wasn't as bad as I remembered but I still didn't make it look very elegant!
Then we were running down hill through a grass field, then back up a pickety, and heading back to the road that would take us to the finish. I tried to push it down this last road, using my weight to my advantage for once (heavy things fall faster in my eyes). The last section of tarmac in front of the college felt a slog but I kept up the pressure and finished 6 minutes faster than 2 years ago. Not too bad. I waited for my team mates before heading for cups of tea (no cake, trying to be good) at the school. One of the lovely parts of this race are the kids who are at many of the marshal points; its their school and they are so funny. The community feel for this one is great. The downside is that turn back up the hill at Baslow! And the fact its just over an hour to drive from home.
The next morning, I got up stupidly early and drove to Whinlatter forest for the first Lakeland Paws canicross of the season. Oscar was not amused by a two hour car ride straight out of bed, and there was some doubt as to whether Whinlatter pass was open on the Braithwaite side (it was, but google maps thought otherwise). We arrived with enough time for a short walk before the start (and to get Oscar to do his business before the race!). I had planned to leave Oscar in the car for the briefing as told, but we managed to phaff enough time away that we were only jus theading back from our walk when the briefing started and I had to take him with me. Mercifully he was very quiet but a lot of dogs weren't. It was sort of carnage but hey, they say never work with children or animals. It was the first time for Oscar and I on the Seat How course here but I have been to Whinlatter several times.
The aim is to start fastest first, so Oscar and I took my coat back to the car then hovered a bit. In the end I suspect we went a bit early but its not like we had many people over take us.
The first mile or so is on fire track so nice running, except being quite steeply up hill. I must confess there was a bit of walking, and Oscar was not exactly fixed on his task. The routes split quite early so we didn't see lots of people. We just climbed steadily.
Things get a bit more interesting as you get towards the top and turn right on to a narrower footpath. Single track, this path dodges and ducks between trees and scrub. It undulates, but overall rises, and eventually you top out at Seat How. There were some marshals with a dibber but I was more interested in the view (I am not good at racing).
And then we started on a rather lovely descent down the single track. Oscar was mostly behaved, not pulling me over, but I did make hard work of this. It was rooty path and occasional slippy rock. Eventually we were spat back on to a fire track and a minute later another labrador over took us. I was a bit worried as Oscar looked a bit done next to me. Oscar and I both need to work on our fitness....
Soon there was another left and we began to run down another path next to the ghyll. I knew Oscar would want in so I left him off the leash and wasted a minute whilst he had some time in the ghyll. It is after all his race too. Then we continues, down and down, knowing that at some point we would need to head up hill.
We popped out at another fire track and now we were in an area of the forest I didn't really know. I passed a family of walkers, as well as a 5km runner and her dog (who was on their first canicross and fully over excited at the start!). The track was climbing and my legs felt pretty heavy. We passed over a bridge, then past a tractor. I knew we were in the last mile or so, and I could see the man with the labrador up ahead. They had slowed too, and we were making a bit of ground on them. Then I realised we were climbing the track up to the cottage and the finish line. I could see the odd supporter, dog walker and yet another runner (whom we did pass, we never caught the other lab), and it was a slow push to the finish. Oscar was very much not pulling but running next to me. We had a finish photo taken with the flag.
The uphill track of dread or Hannah's overtaking lane 🤔
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