In a weird set of circumstances, my friends and I ended up with the race director taking us on our own personal recce of this race, so it was a relief when they both signed up to do it the following week. It was also the last race of the Blacksheep series so my last opportunity for points....though I was no where near contention this year.
Despite having recce'd the course I just wasn't in the mood for a race. I have been struggling with my running since having my eyes done, not least because of the change in weather but also not feeling fit, feeling (and actually being) heavy. But I rocked up, got parked on the hill at Crag Vale, and walked down to the pub to register. Mercifully the pub was also already serving tea and coffee. And shortly, friends arrived, and I felt better. Isn't that always the way.
Eventually we tottled out the pub (where we weren't able to leave bags which was a bit sad as we'd parted with coats early to take them back to the car) and the weather was certainly more promising than it had been at the recce. And with a bit of a preamble, we were off climbing the steep lane that goes on forever to meet the moor. I jogged up the first bit but was soon walking with many others. Then a bit more jogging, and a bit more walking. Eventually we made the bend by the car park where marshals cheered up towards the moor. It was a long drag and I was quite happy to queue momentarily for the stile.
Heading up the moor, there was more chopping and changing of places, as the stronger hill runners lost advantage to the more light footed on the path across the tussocky field. We tipped in to the 'lane' (defnitely not suitable for vehicles) where large puddles awaited us, and then it was time to start getting really muddy as we headed across the marshy ground to the plantation.
The plantation is really quite unpleasant; deep with mud and puddles, there is no efficicent route. I was also bursting for the loo and aware that the open moor (with its lack of woman sized cover). So mid way through bungling through the brush, I dived in to the not so wonderful cover of the trees and am eternally grateful for the chap who averted his eyes as he passed (I'd drop back a bit to try get a gap but it was still early in the race).
On we went and it was up to Stoodley Pike. I felt I should be running more of this bit, but a struggled for rhythm on the slabs (always) and then the slight ramp up felt a bit of struggle so I found myself walking, aware we had a good way to go. I waved to a former Chorlton Runner at the Pike who was supporting the race, then set off to tour the moor, very close to fellow runners Kiloran and Liz.
By now the cloud has come in a bit and the view was slightly obscured. The first bit of the moor I ran well, moving well cross the weird slabs and gritty puddles. We got to the route split (which isn't official but having recce'd with the RD we were told either way is fine) without me really registering, and I followed the pack I was in to the left rather than the right. At this point Liz caught me up and we slogged up the rise from Withens Gate together. The weather was definitely drawing in at this point.
The Pennine way (at this point) is a mixture of moorland path and then paving slab from here, and I felt I wasn't getting a rhythm, a tiring alarmingly quickly. Ahead I could see the runners curving in a broken line across the moor, and someone managed to slip on the slabs, but was up again before I got there. We eventually discharged across the end of Warland drain at the top of the reservoir, crossing the drain only to re cross it again. I was glad I had recce'd this as I would have been confused by the set up otherwise- there are steps in to the drain, you jump the water, climb up a few steps and join a trod like path across the moor.
This section is pretty tiring. The trod like path weaves across bogs and bridges, left and right, snaking its muddy way along the east and south edges of the reservoir. You then join a slightly better path at Light Hazzles reservoir (that name!) where two of our club mates were coming the other way as a cheer squad. It was aboost to see them as I was struggling now.
Landing on the good track along the reservoir, everyone started to move away from me. Liz overtook ( I suspect she had been waiting for a while) and ran strongly from here to finish about 10 minutes ahead of me. I was drifting back in the pack, and also having to walk on the very runnable reservoir access track. This was not good with another moorland section to go. It also then started to rain and I passed the photographer, putting on an attempt at speed as I went past. Just before the road, another Chorlton runner was standing with his kids in the pouring rain to cheer us on and I felt very unworthy of it!
I crossed the road and headed on to Soyland moor. There were a few more people around me now, having caught me up. I was trying to keep up with a lady from Todmorden but eventually she moved well ahead of me. I could see the climb to the top ahead but we had several dips and dives before then. I also noted that the 5 bar gate was open when it shouldn't be (you are supposed to use the stile off to the right), so I closed it behind me as I couldn't see anyone yet, though I knew Kiloran wans't far behind.
The slog was as expected and at the top, I touched the trig and tried to get a push on down across Soyland moor. But the path and my feet seemed at odds, which is weird as its not particularly techinical. I just couldn't get moving well. At least it was net down hill and I could see Brian up ahead (Liz was long gone). Getting on the farm land and then the road felt like at least we were getting somewhere but the road section was long and a car or two tried to squash me as they passed on the narrow walled lane. I made myself keep running and caught Brian, slowing for a quick check in (he wasn't happy to see me) before pushing on down the road to cross the A road and drop down the field...
...I went through the open gate and down the tussocky field only to realise the two tupps from the recce were in said field. I ran back up the field to close the gate, praying my fellow racers would be sensible enough to use the stile and not let the Tupps out on the A road! The tupps huffed as I passed, their escape plan being thwarted, and I passed in to the next pasture which is steep, down hill, slippy and full of vegetation that stings or prickles. At the bottom there is a nice bridge where a walking group were having lunch, but I had made hard work of the descent so they didn't bother with a well done!
Then it was shorter steeper ramp on to the moor again, through the bracken. Again, my legs were struggling with balance and coordination and I was slowing considerably. At the top I followed the wall and was glad to get to the slippy descent having only been overtaken by two people. The steps were, as promised, slippy with mud from many trainers, and they are in poor shape anywa so there was some wall and tree grabbing on the way down. But then I waved at Sue who was marshalling the bottom, and picked up the path to the finish.
It climbed a bit and the two chaps pulled ahead of me as I stumbled up it. The run in felt long. The path gets progressively better, until its a well made track but my legs got heavier and heavier. Was that the last gate? I skidded down the field with no elegance or real speed to cross the finish line. A group of club mates were waiting to welcome me in, Kiloran just behind me. She would have caught me but she had tripped in the last section and was carrying her signature smashed knee below her colourful shorts. I winced.
It wasn't a great performance from me, though the time was below what I had feared it would be. However, it was a good race with a lot of runnable sections for a fell/trail race, whilst remaining interesting under foot. Its also CraggRunner eventso the soup at the end was marvellous.
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