My Glossopdale Diary 2014

January



The Trigger is the toughest of races but very popular with the Harriers

Ladies team prize at Hit the Trail, Sue Clapham 1^st V45 followed by tea and cakes at Chez Zoe.

Ladies team prize at the Trigger.
Caitlin Rice 1^st Lady at Lambs Longer Leg and Tigger Tor.
Mike Mawby and Kirsty Johnson represent the club at the Northern XC Champs at Knowsley.
John Stephenson completes Marmot Dark Mountains overnight event on Bleaklow and Kinder.

February

Great year for ever-smiling Caity



Good times enjoyed at the YHA Shropshire weekend.

Tim Budd 2^nd overall Combined Titterstone Clee and Long Mynd Valleys.
Caity 1^st overall Combined and 1^st Lady Titterstone Clee.
Kirsty 3^rd Senior Lady @ Boggart Hole Clough XC. 2^ndoverall in SELXC series.
Mike Mawby and Kirsty Johnson compete at the National XC Champs.
Caity 1^st Lady Ratcliffe 10.
Mark O 1^st New Chew Short course.

March

Zoe very popular at Cloud Nine

Jereon holding regular Monday night speed sessions throughout the year.
Caity 1^st Lady @ Wolfs Pit.

Lins cycles over the Snake and back to complete the Wolfs Pit race, Caity 1st Lady.
11 runners at the Trafford 10K Champs Counter which passes without another Chipgate. 

Paul and Cheryl Stitt get married

6 @ the Donard Challenge in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, first counter British Fell Champs where Zoe is first to emerge from the 'mayhem in the mist' and with Caity and Lins placed 5^th in the team competition.

Lynne and Tim host popular 'Strength and Running' classes.
 



April




All smiles at 'Stride Through The Woods', a 2015 Champs Counter

Caity a marvellous 5th in English Fell Champs counter @ Pendle. Women's team 9th.
PBs for Ryan Costello, Caity, Ian Oates and Neil at the Asics Manchester Marathon.
Sue, Kirsty, Zoe PBs at the Virgin London Marathon.
Andy Burnett PB at the historic 'We're Still Racing Anyway' Rebel Sheffield Half-Marathon.

Tim and Alice 1^st mixed pair at Rab Snowdonia MM.

120 runners at Sue's Herod Farm race, Caity 1^st Lady.

Tim Budd 1^st U/40 at Ras Y Moelwyn.

Good turnout at Stride Through The Woods.

Caity 4^th Lady @ 3 Peaks; wins at Kinder Downfall following day!

Nick Ham completes another Fellsman.

May

More prizes for the GDH Babes team

A week to remember for SuperCaity:- a superb 3^rdat English Champs Counter at Coniston (Sat), 1^stat Moorfield 5K (Sun), James Thorn (Mon), Burbage Skyline (Tues), 2^ndBuxworth 5 (Fri), 1^stCressbrook Crawl (Sat), completed 83 mile High Peak Hog Cycle (Sunday) with several others from the club in atrocious weather.

Steve, Chris and Neil 1^st Men's team at Moorfield 5K.

4 teams complete Old County Tops in good weather unlike 2013.

Caity 1^st Lady at Lantern Pike Dash, Saddleworth and Bamford Sheepdog Trials race.

Six race at Jura. Tim Budd wins sub 4hour whisky glass.

Nick Ham completes Welsh Valleys 100.

13 at the Dovestone Diamond Champs counter. Ladies win team prize, Steve 1st MV45, Sue 1st FV45, Zoe 1st FV35.

Caity wins her 1st Lakes AL race at the Long Duddon.

Charlie becomes V40 and hosts a well-attended garden party.

June



Glossopdale Blokes win prizes too

Lindsay and Alison 2nd FVets 3^rd Female pairing overall in LAMM C Class at Strathcarron.

Caity 2^nd female at this stage in English Fell Champs after 3 races.

Tim B, Chris, John H 2^nd team prize at Cwn Pennant.

Chris and Caity in first place in their categories after 4 races in North Wales Champs.

16 runners out at Club Champs race at Round the Ressers.
Nev and Neil father and son double in Fun on the Fells vet category prizes.
Good turnout at the Summer Solstice bash.
John H, Chris and Rich win team prize at the Kinder Trog. 13 running at this Fell Champs race.
Carl Bedson and Lins win at the Vegan Carneddau.
Mike Mawby 7^th and sub 1.20 at the Runfest Wales Half Marathon.

July



Sikobe doing it in 'stile'



Tour de France fever hits Glossop. Many cycle, run or walk up the valley to witness this great event. Dipper-in-chief Sikobe runs to Hebden Bridge with Sue and John prior to racing in the Heptonstall Grand Depart Fell Race!

Chris Jackson continues good Welsh series form with 9^th at Moel Siabod.
Zoe, Lins and Cheryl win Ladies Team Prize at Wormstones.
4 in first 10 at Charlesworth, Caity 1^st Lady, drinks and nibbles post-race @ new Chez Zoe.
8 run at English Champs counter at Kentmere, Chris and Caity having done Snowdon day before.
Caity in 1^st position in English Fell Champs after Kentmere, Beryl 3rd FV65.
Caity 1^st Female at Peak Forest.
Ian Oates completes Full Outlaw Ironman.
Many at Gravy 6 & Millbrook Monster with Ryan, Tim Nudds and Ben in competitive top 20, great chip butty post-race.
Many GDHrs enjoy Skye trip with a  Cycling Tour and the Cuillin Ridge just some of the delights savoured.
Rich White completes the Rydale Round race prior to becoming a V40.

August

Great year for young Chris

Jon Matthews 1st V50 in the 70 miles Grim Reaper Ultra Marathon raising money for local charities Mummy's Star and Reuben's Retreat.

Caity wins again locally at Cracken Edge and Eccles Pike.
Sikobe, Sue and John 1^st team at inaugural Steam Bunny Bluff.
Caity 1st place and new course record at Chipping Show and 1st also at Cannonball Sheep Fell Over race.
Mike Mawby 1.21 and 11th place at the Canterbury Half Marathon.
Tim Culshaw completes the TDS (Tour de Savoie) one of the UTMB series.
Chris Jackson 2nd @ Hairy Dog and good points in the British Champs race at Maesgwyn Muddle.
The following day Chris is 2nd to Mark O at the Crowden Horseshoe so the Fell Champs go to the final counter at the 'Grin 'n Bear It' race in November.
Caity wins at Crowden Horseshoe, her 21st win of the year. 

 

September







Keen competition at the Plum Fair Scamper with Ben at the front





Chris 2nd again and Lins 1st FV45 at Hades Hill and confirmed as Midweek Champions.
Caity and Chris run the Ben Nevis race, Caity 4^th, bronze medal and prize.
Sue Clapham, a marvellous 2^nd Lady at the 56 mile Bullock Smithy.
Steve Crossman and Ian Oates do two legs each at the 4 leg Cross Keys Road/Fell Relay. Surely we must have at least one team in this next year?
Charlie's Shelf Moor race attracts a classy field of 100 runners with Lakeland club winners even though Sarah Tunstall does a 'Cinderella' and leaves her chocolate shoe behind at the ball!
Mike Mawby in elite pen with Mo and pb 1.17.07 at the Great North Run.
Caity 4^th at Hodder Valley to finish a fabulous 4^th overall in the English Champs series.
Beryl Buckley an equally fabulous 3rd FV65 in the same series.
Caity wins the following day at the Plum Fair Scamper, Vet category prize for Nev, everyone back to Caity's for tea and cakes.
Jo Nuttall, 2^nd Lady at the Yorkshireman Off-Road Marathon.
Caity confirmed as 8^th in the British Fell Running Champs, Ladies team 12th.
Sue Clapham 1^st Lady @ Big Stockport 10K.
Caity and Chris win Jack and Jill prize @ Scafell race, trophy presented by the legendary Joss. Caity 1^st Lady and again at Dale Head.
Caity 4^th Lakeland Classics Trophy, 1^st Lady and joint 2^nd overall in the Hayfield Fell Championships and 1^st Lady Penistone Hill Race.







October



All smiles at the finish of a tough race at Woodbank



Sue hosts end of summer get together.

Jo Nuttall 2^nd jt female and 4^th overall at Gower Ultra 50.
Caity 1^st female at Saddleworth Edges (new record time) and first again at Race You To The Summit.
Autumn Fellrunner magazine is a Glossopdale special edition.
Club has a team at the Ian Hodgson Relays.
Sikobe hosts pre Cross Country Ugali party.
Great turnout at Woodbank Park for 1^st fixture in the newly joined Manchester Area XC League.
Glossopdale history made with 4 teams at the FRA Relays on the Middleton Fells.
Sue Clapham 3.22 and 3^rd LV50 @ the BMW Frankfurt Marathon.
10 runners at Neil's inaugural Moorfield 5K Handicap.

November





Ever-competitive Kirsty, another runner who had a great year





Andy Anastasi races at Shepherds Skyline the day before moving up into the V50 category.

Chris and Caity confirmed in 2^nd places in North Wales Fell Series.

24 at the Beehive runs and social gathering (thanks due to Tim B).
Caity 1^st Lady at Cop Hill Fell Race and Tour of Pendle.
Mark Ollerenshaw clinches Fell Championship by winning at Grin 'n Bear It, Caity Female Champ.
10 out at Manchester Area XC League match 2 at Sherdley Park, St Helens, thanks for the tent Lins.
Sikobe in rich vein of form 1^st GDHr back out of 7 at the Roaches.
Malc Brown PB at the Preston 10.
Alice on foot beats Tim C on bike at Harriers v Cyclists race.
GDHrs join in Jasmin's Birthday run and post-run party with Konrad.
Caity and Chris 1^st mixed pair @ RAB Mini MM in Edale.
14 run at the £2 Famous Grouse, Caity 1^st Lady.
Kirsty's 2^nd place at the Salford Ladies Race makes the running headlines in the Glossop Chron.

December

Keeping warm post-race at Boggart Hole

22 at Royal Oak runs and social gathering.

Daily reccies by GDHrs in the Kinder Bermuda Triangle searching for the Trigger Christmas Tree route. However, they later learn that Kinder Gates might be locked on race-day.
Great weekend for the club with large numbers at Boggart Hole Clough XC and Gravy Pud Race.
Sue Clapham 2nd V50 at XC,1^st Ladies Team win @ Gravy Pud, Steve Crossman 1^st V45.
Kirsty massive PB @ Stockport 10 and 2nd at SELXC Tandle Hill fixture.
Neil 5K PB, 5^th and 2^nd V40 Todmorden 5K Winter Series, also PB at Ribble Valley 10K
New format 2015 Club Championship revealed to widespread approval.
15 on Friday daytime pre-Christmas Magical Mystery Tour.
30 in biggest ever GDH Pack Run on Presentation Party Day hosted by Dave and Ines.
Chris and Caity Club Champs, Steve wins Road/Trail Champs and Age-Grade Shield, Lins Midweek.
Sikobe wins the coveted Most Improved Runner in possibly the toughest year so far to win it.

Carl Bedson wins the infamous Bomb Trophy from stiff opposition for services to misnavigation !

Caity 1^st Lady at the Stoop and her 29th victory in a fabulous 2014.
Prizes for Lins, Zoe, Ladies Team + Rachel and Sharn, and John S at the Festive Disorientation.





You don't have to be a bit mad to be a runner but it does help!



Here's to a Great 2015 with Glossopdale Harriers! Not the biggest running club but one of the best!

My First Lake District Mountain Trial. Sep 2014

For several years I’ve wanted to try my hand at the LDMT event because it’s one of the premier navigating tests in the fell calendar. I actually entered in 2013 only for it to be cancelled for the first time in its history. Not a good omen.

For those who don’t know about the Mountain Trial here is the introduction from the organiser’s website.

The Mountain Trial is a severe test of fellrunners’ mountaineering ability and stamina. Competitors are required to traverse difficult and often dangerous terrain, rapidly but safely. Navigational skills and route choice have a direct bearing on each competitor’s safety. Evolving from a race organised by the YHA in 1952, it is run on orienteering principles and is the longest established event of its kind in Great Britain.

(Note, entry information:

Classic Trial: around 16 miles and 7000ft climb. Estimated winning time = 4.5hrs). 

So to 2014 and I get my entry in, and find that Tim Culshaw has also entered so we head off up to the Lake District on Saturday evening. We stopped the night in the nearest YHA that had room at short notice – Arnside – look it up!.  Next morning we head off too early for the hostel cooked breakfast so munch on some Sheelagh lembas wafer and tea before driving to Patterdale for 8am. We meet Jasmin and Conrad at the start, see Joss Naylor pottering about but otherwise recognize very few competitors. Probably too elite a field for us?  My start time was 9am, Tim’s was 10am. This came back to bite Tim later on.

Time arrives, I’m all kitted up with loads of water and food in a rucksack. Noticed a lot of entrants only had small bumbags. Mental review, have I packed too much kit?. The minimum plus an extra layer in case – I think I would be unwise to dump anything.

At the start in the field we are realeased in 1 minute pairs and must follow a flagged route out of the village so that we have to go out towards St Sunday Crag. Map collection is 500m in, I got passed by two other runners before I reach my map. (Based on Harveys 1:40,000, quite small for the route area).

Up a good path, pretty steep going.  CP1 is at the head of Deepdale south of St Sunday Crag, While walking  I plan my route to contour round the highest point and then traverse down to the sheepfold.  Jasmin passed me running like a gazelle and was a small dot within 10 minutes.

Shoes start biting ankle bones during traverse to CP1, a bit worrying after only 45 minutes.

As I reached CP1 I noticed for the first time that every CP has a cut-off time printed on the map. This was absolute time, not related to your start time. I reached CP1 with 1hr8m in hand.

(Remember Tim’s starting time was an hour later!)

Steep climb out of Deepdale west and due to concern over shoes rubbing decide to use path to Grisedale Tarn then down Grisedale past Ruthwaite lodge then long climb 450m up to Hole in the Wall. Brutal climb, passed by maybe 10 faster runners including Dark Peak’s Rhys Findlay Robinson who asked if I’d seen a Hunters Bog Trotter. I gasped I wouldn’t know one if he’d jumped on my back. Turns out Rhys finished 2^nd to Hector Haines.

Time in hand now 45m. (Tim got timed out here – partly cos he was still not fully recovered from his 75 mile epic)

CP3 was about 4 miles away in a stream on Birkett Fell, I chose to go down and across Red Tarn to a path and down Glenridding Common, north between Stang and Sheffield Pike up another steep climb by the disused mine then contoured round head of Glen Coyne before climbing up and contouring to CP3. Met Danny from Scarborough and shared thoughts on tough terrain, we were gasping up a steep tussocky hill at about 1mph. I took a slightly better line and found CP3 before him and was very happy to see a lady last seen pulling away from me in Deepdale!

Time in hand still 45m.

West to CP4, legs beginning to hurt with another long climb through wild tussocks. Bad choice of trod round south of Green Side (later found this hill is called White Stones on OS map!) when should have gone across country to north, heading for Stybarrow Dodd. Lost 15 minutes :((. Joined another bloke on paths across Watsons Dodd and caught Danny again on long descent to CP4. Marshall offered a gel even though against rules!

Time in hand now only ~20m

CP5 only 1.5m traverse but again through rough tussocks and groughs and ascending ~100m, expected time in cutoff list for this leg is 15 minutes!  Now with Danny and other bloke. Really very tired now. Reached CP5 2m outside time but marshals let us dib.

Another bloke from Threlkeld passed us here with great determination to make up time so we all redoubled efforts to climb (again) up tussocks heading east  to near Wolf Crags. On descending the next valley I get cramp in left quad, first for years. Salt sachet helps. Push on make CP6 bang on time.

Next section longest leg over Great Dodd and South to a crag just short of Red Tarn Beck. Legs trembling and cramping on 320m ascent long tussocky drag to Great Dodd. Only Danny and I now last runners on course, both suffering and we knew we couldn’t make the next CP in time. (allowance was 1h15m, 2^nd man took 1h7m! Looking at splits results only about 15 men and Jasmin managed this leg in the allowed time).

Anyway, I tried to eat some more but throw up on Great Dodd. Can't manage more than one gel after this. Jog paths across the Dodds to Raise, Danny pulls away by a few minutes. More cramp descending to CP7 so walking sometimes now. Taken 30 minutes too long and finally timed out.

Jog slowly heading for Patterdale past china dragonfly exhibition, Finally make worst nav decision by taking wrong turn into Glenridding and miss CP8 which wasn't there any more anyway. Had to stagger back to Patterdale by road.

9 hours, 26.7 miles 8900 ft ascent. Unbelievably tired, couldn’t stomach any food until later at home.

Reflection:  I bit off more than I could handle, but one excuse was the published entry information very misleading. On the map it stated 30.1km and 2025m ascent. (18.8 miles and 6600ft). It seems most people took similar lines and ran about 25 miles and probably similar ascent as me. Later it was stated that the stats are based on the direct line between checkpoints, so be aware if you enter this event it underestimates the true challenge. It seems many acknowledged the route this year was tougher than usual.

Footnote: Hector Haines finished shortly after I had left checkpoint 3.

John Stephenson

Le Tour Comes To Longdendale

The tour is coming to Yorkshire, however can that be?

Better hang out some bunting and learn to say 'Merci'

The cyclists arrived for Le Grand Depart

Taking all of us Northerners to their hearts

The Duke and Duchess, they came to us

Instead of Cambridge, caused a bit of a fuss

Jensie the oldest man in the race

Went solo through the Dales at a hell of a pace

Disappointment in Harrogate for our man Cav

As a sprinter it can be the luck you have

In the end 'twas all about Kittel

He collared le maillot jaune as well

It dawned bright in Glossop on the second day

Many worries about cars being towed away

Fears were fuelled of a total lockdown

Because the tour was coming close to town

People began to panic, a bit of a to-do

'Cos they might miss their Sunday out at B&Q

But many hiked and biked by various routes

To be enchanted by the rabbits and the fruit shoots

The crowd was captivated by the tour caravan

More 'Je ne sais quoi?' than 'Ca ne fait rien'

Standing by the roadside looking for quelque chose

Going polka dotty for caps and haribots

A multitude had assembled on iconic Holme Moss

But TV missed out Derbyshire, just didn't give a toss

And it wasn't the commentator's finest hour

In saying that the riders were descending to Ladybower

Thousands saw the peloton, a glistening mass

On its way back to Yorkshire up a packed Woodhead Pass

More climbs were to come including Ewden Bank

For that we had the organisers to thank

It took its toll on the riders and many were floored

Well before the denoument on Jenkin Road

The big boys all came out to play

And it was Nibali who excelled to win the day

It's all over now yet still savoured in the mind

Even though these shores have been left behind

They're already forsaking the tea for le vin

Daily they're losing their Yorkshire tan

As I ride up the valley, the yellow has gone

And yet the memories will still linger on

And in years to come, many will gladly tell their tale

About when Le Tour came to Longdendale

If you want to join a running club but you are unsure….Read on 

This blog is from Mike Mawby. He has asked me to put this on here for him.

 

Tick, tick, tick…these are the sounds of a runner! All you think about is the ticking of that clock as you approach the finish, dreaming of that PB (Personal best) that you have been training for, hoping to do a little better each time. Even the milliseconds count. I remember my very first marathon instead of this ticking noise I am sure all I could feel is thud, thud thud! I was a broken man. Whatever possessed me to run this ludicrous distance over road? In the end my achievement was complete I finished in 4:13:35! My first marathon was complete and I was ecstatic, this was back in 2008 and little did I know that my love affair with running would be rekindled in such dramatic fashion!

In all honesty in the run up to Dublin all I was doing was plodding miles. Progression runs, long slow runs, recovery runs and fartleks (what are these!) I did not really understand what any of these meant. If I was ever to move up a level and become a better runner I needed others who I could train with. The question was how do I do that? Which club do I choose? I remember just sitting down having a look at local clubs and drawing up a list. I saw the Glossopdale Harriers site and when I turned up to a session I just felt at ease, why did I not try and join Glossopdale earlier! I regularly attended the speed sessions on a Monday and the results I gained came quick and fast..a 3:39 marathon in Belfast after a short term with the club. Where could I go next? My dream to finish in under 3:30 could be close….How close would it be? Next on the agenda was the Great North Run…..in all honesty this was a disaster. I completely mis-paced the run and I set off too fast. I was now more determined than ever. The great road runs that the club committee pick and the coaching and pushing I get from those in the club really have helped me to stay focused and enable me to become a better runner.

My disappointment at the Great North Run in 2012 spurred me on in 2013. This was the year I really stepped up my training the support from the club was amazing. This was the year I smashed my marathon time and finished with a 2:49:57 marathon, not only had I automatically qualified for the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon but I narrowly missed out on a championship start, something I could not imagine before. I also gained my first fast paced running number for the Great North Run and managed to finish under the elite time clock running into the awaiting media circus..(ok they where only interested in the elite runners….but to finish at this point and in 123^rd position was amazing). This then led to one of my most amazing feats as a runner – gaining an elite number for the Conwy half marathon…ok it’s not London but it is one of the best half marathons in the country.

 





 





 

 

The next stop for me happened to be the London marathon. This was my main aim for the 2014 season and if it hadn’t been for the club I never would have got the chance to complete a warm up with Mo Farah and New York Marathon winner Geoffery Mutai.

 

 





Jeroen (the coach!) had arranged such a great training plan for me as well as Becky arranging entry into the national and regional cross country championships. Everything had been going so well but my London marathon did not go to plan and the PB I had aimed for was not to be. The support when I was disappointed with my times was as ever immense and I knew I could rely on my friends at the club to pick me up and that’s just what I have done.

I have some other goals this year namely another great chance at the Great North Run, and a crack at the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon as well as going back to Conwy. Whether I get a PB or not in these races, at least I have trained well with my good friends at Glossopdale. For me it is always a pleasure to put the blue and orange vest on and put my best foot forward and hope to have a good solid performance for my friends and for the club. So when people ask me why do I run for a club, I tell them all the amazing chances I have had, the people I have met and that I would not be able to get these fantastic times without the support of those in the club.

Thank you Glossopdale Harriers 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Brief History of Glossop Races: Part 1

During the 80s and 90s Glossop was a thriving scene for both road and fell races. For posterity, I thought it might be an idea to compile a list whilst I can still recall them! There may be one or two unintentional factual errors here so please do not hesitate to let me know. If anyone can add more information I would be most grateful. I have decided to concentrate on races no longer staged, so that is why Shelf Moor and Herod Farm, both deserving of a separate account, are not mentioned here The same would also apply to those races organised by Des. I have divided the races into two groups, those with an entry fee open to all and club races for GDH and friends.

Open Races

1. Midco Half Marathon  - Stuart Robertson who was a director at Midco Builders Merchants at Woolley Bridge, a runner himself, sponsored and staged this great event. High St West was closed for the Sunday morning as the runners headed down to Woolley Bridge before turning right heading up Padfield on to the B6105. Over the dam at Torside, back down the A628, left at Tintwistle and back to Glossop via Woolley Bridge finishing just outside the mill-yard.
   
   
2. Glossop Half Marathon - GDH took over the race organisation eventually with Howard Rees, John Nudds and Vaughan McKay doing sterling work as race organisers. In a Runners World poll the race was voted 4th best half marathon in the country! The event was eventually moved to the Hadfield site of  Glossopdale college, the route going up Newshaw Lane and down Hadfield Road before joining the original route which was changed to cross the dam at Woodhead.
   
3. Glossop 10 - organised by John Brightmore. Starting in Manor Park, the route going up Wimberry Hill, down to reservoirs for a loop then a tough climb back up to the B6105 before returning to the park. Sponsored by local firm Carpenters.
4. Glossop 5 - originally organised by Paul Richards and Godfrey Claff, two Glossop-based Salford Harriers in aid of the local Women's Refuge. Used to attract the elite of local running talent, both road and fell. Taken over eventually by the club and fronted once again by John Brightmore. Started and finished on Philip Howard Rd with two laps of St Marys Rd, High St West, Primrose  Lane, Turnlee, Drovers and Charlestown Rd.
5. Glossop Fell Race - organised in pre-Glossopdale times by DPFR in conjunction with the July Carnival and In The (Manor) Park activities. 22 miles/4200ft, 11 checkpoints including Higher Shelf Stones, shooting cabin high up Crowden Little Brook, Laddow, Tintwistle Knarr and the shooting cabin on Glossop Low. Featured in 'Studmarks on the Summits. Note the mega-size cloth numbers worn which were reclaimed after each race and how the club's reputation as ale swillers was already gaining momentum. 
   
6. New Glossop Fell Race  - the harriers took over the race in the early 90s but with a much changed route including checkpoints on Higher Shelf, Alport Trig, Fairbrook Naze, Ashop Clough, Snake Summit and Doctors Gate. Staged for two years before obtaining continued permission from the Peak District National Park authority proved insurmountable.
7. Up The Nab - organised by the club with several different race directors, run from Glossop rugby club involving a circuit of Coombes Rocks returning  down Slack Edge followed by an excuciating lap of the rugby pitch.
8. Women's Fell Race - organised by Shaun Priestley and Liz Sparkes as I recall. Circular route up to Harry Hut. Held just the once.

Club Races

1. 3 Trigs - organised by me. Pairs, choose your own route event visting Cock Hill, Higher Shelf and Harry Hut trigs. Made harder for the following two years with the addition of a mystery checkpoint revealed as the pairs started
2. Dog Rock Handicap - route from the Queens in Old Glossop up to Shelf Benches, Dog Rock and back down Lightside. Staggered start with handicaps allocated.
3. Christmas Fell Races - fancy dress races on the sunday before Christmas. Originally held from Glossop Rugby Club with a route part way up the Nab, down to Broadbottom and back through Gamesley fields. Later held from the Queens with a route up Lightside, across to the Glossop Low cabin and back down through the quarries. No entry fee, bring a prize, take a prize.

Misty Muddles in the Mountains of Mourne

I was very excited to be part of a small group of Glossopdale runners travelling to the first FRA British Championships counter race of 2014 in Northern Ireland. I had heard the mountains were beautiful, the hostel warm and friendly, the beer cool and tasty and the disco after the race legendary. We had managed to organise both a mens and a ladies team for the race, which is no mean feat considering the weekend included a club championship counter and some nice early spring events in the Peaks. We had also picked up an interloper in the form of Rob Taylor from Pennine. Seven of us set off from Manchester airport accompanied by John S's wife Sheelagh who was en route to visit some family in Ireland. Our first big moment came in the departure lounge where we met none other than the great Wendy Dodds. I must admit I was a bit awestruck though like all the great fell champions she is a warm, friendly and chatty person happy to hang about with other devotees of her sport. More about her sage advice later.

We arrived in the dark in Newcastle, the seaside town at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, ate a Mountain of fish and chips and retired to our bunks. We heard rain battering the window overnight, a sure sign Spring had not yet come to bless us with her warm air and fine views in this corner of the British Isles.

Upon waking, many runners in the hostel, whose number included Cheshire Hillrunners, Calder Valley, Ambleside and a visiting couple from Tennessee, commented on the invisibility of the mountains. We took to studying the maps and learning bearings off by heart. We collected race numbers plus free fun-sized Mars Bar and water and prepared our kit and our mettle. Having looked at the calibre of runners on the start list I was certain of a sound drubbing, though I calculated that if I came halfway down the ladies field I would at least score a point to bolster up Caity's surefire success.

Pre-race we nervously contemplated about 1000m of climbing in impenetrable mist chasing the fastest feet in the land. We sheltered from wind and rain in a little pavilion where we spied Wendy giving advice to another lady on the correct bearing to take from the summit. "If you go on 42 you will end up in hot water, some shady terrain there. 50 is much better" 50, 50, 50 I chanted to myself as I set my compass.  A proper (but well executed) kit check and we were off. Fast climbing on forest paths which necessitated quick removal of my windproof layer. Popped out of the woods onto the hill proper and began the walk/run snaking line to the next checkpoint at an old quarry. I followed the line of runners away from the quarry, knowing still yet more steep climbing was to come. I spied an Eryri lady ahead, compass firmly in her hand, and reassured myself I was on the right line. After some more climbing and thinning out of the field it was only possible to see one or two runners up ahead in the thick mist. I asked my neighbour if he knew if we were on a good line "that there is Jim, he knows this mountain like the back of his hand, follow his yellow socks" and so I did for as long as I could. It was really very eerie not being able to see the usual chain of runners blazing the way and I had no idea how far down the field I was. Finally the gradient lessened and wrapped-up marshals came into view, encouraging us to the top and the next checkpoint. Dibbed in and turned. To see Chris coming up...I shouted encouragement but our puzzled faces said it all.

Runners were now descending by various ways. I saw a Calder Valley lady and companion with their compasses and asked them what bearing they were on - 50. Good I said, I'll come with you, I know which way to go around these boulders, I spied it on the way up. So we worked as a little group finding good rock-free lines and constantly checking the magic 50 was being adhered to. We agreed on the way down that the day was so stinky and the route so challenging, working together was a better option than racing. Soon we were clearing the steep slippy parts and dashing down boggy heather happily. We reached the taped-off quarry and cheered with delight. Now that we were out of the mist we spied runners approaching checkpoint 4 from a variety of directions, but it was no time to question it. The forest section at the end was the part I had looked forward to the most and I sped off down the trail towards it, putting a gap between myself and my erstwhile companions. The forest was a fun-park for runners - fast downhill, twisty and turney with logs and roots to leap over. I revelled in it. Reached the park and put on the gas for a last sprint and crossed the line breathless with a stitch. Alex McVey was there and I asked my usual finish-line question - Caity? How did she do? "Zoe, you're the first Glossopdaler in" No fupping way, I said!!

Post race the situation was surreal and bizarre. I cheered in my team-mates and wondered what on Earth had happened to the top names coming in behind us. Gradually the stories began to circulate.. 'ten followed Lloyd and ended up at checkpoint 2 twice' ...'reached the Black Stairs by mistake' ...'came out by the ice house and had to run back to the forest' Suffice to say the whole of the evening and next day was taken up with runners recounting either disaster or blessed good fortune (or use of noggin) and the also-rans became some of the points scorers whilst some of the champions languished with the pickings.

I am bound by sportswomans honour not to recount the hedonistic events of the evening in O'Hare's. Spring had definitely sprung in the hearts of the runners young and old and they comported themselves in the expected paganistic manner. I met a lot of friendly runners from other clubs and look forward to seeing them perform to their usual skyscraping standards next race at Pendle. I just don't think I'll be able to recognise some of them without their dresses on..

Results and photos on the NIMRA website 

My Top 10 Favourite Races

In no particular order, here are my Top 10, 5 currently still being staged, 5 fond in the memory.

1. Kinder Trog - a classic circuit of the fells around Hayfield. Suited me as a stayer as I always reckoned on picking runners off on the way up to Big Stone
2. Round The Ressers - a race with a good cause, love collecting the mugs, always great to race on my own training patch
3. Lantern Pike - my first ever fell race, a great afternoon out, always a tough competitive race against friendly rivals, that little climb near the end!
4. Ennerdale Fell Race - my first and favourite Lakeland Classic, being in the same race alongside many icons of our sport, the views, the good running towards the end, the sight of the finish from atop Crag Fell, going AWOL on my first attempt then returning to get it right
5. South East Lancs XC - historic league over 100 years old, the industries, eyeballs out, so competitive, cheapest races around
6. Werneth Low Half-Marathon - predated race measuring, more like a hilly 14 to 15 miles, Romiley, Marple Bridge, Charlesworth, Broady, Mottram, Hattersley and back over Apple St and the Low, held in the depths of Winter
7. Midco Half - forerunner of the Glossop Half Marathon, High St West closed to traffic, tough course up the Longdendale Valley
8. Tanky's Trog - classic crossing of the Dark Peak moors, ran it in all weathers, always pleased to locate 7 minute crossing, the joy of seeing Edale when emerging from the clag twixt Upper and Nether Tors, Nicky's Trigger looks tougher and already destined to be a classic also
9. Saddleworth 3 Day Event - 7 mile Harrap Dale Hill on Friday evening, 10 mile Ravenstones Brow Fell on Saturday afternoon, 9 mile Scouthead Road Race on Sunday morning, plenty of pints drunk, always a Glossopdale favourite, a warm up for ....
10. Tour of Tameside - Ron Hill's brainchild, 6 stage double marathon, lucky to have the running equivalent of the Tour de France on our own doorstep, so many memories.....

Subs bench and honourable mentions:-

• Glossop Fell Race - only did it once, the day after finishing the Tour!
• Glossop 5 - fast two lapper around Glossop town centre attracting local elite runners
• Bullock Smithy - local 56 mile classic, joined up a lot of dots for me, in my opinion a must do for all Glossopdalers at some point in their running career
• Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon -long days out on the fells with some great characters

       What races would be in your Top Ten?

I have a slight confession. By Tim Budd

I have a slight confession. 

I am not a runner. Never have been. I'm barely even a walker. I hated running at school, and the most I ever did was running around a football pitch, attempting to stop someone scoring. Once my friends worked out how to pass, that became pretty redundant in terms of fun. 

In high school I barely did any real exercise, and in university I didn't run, didn't really climb much - although I considered myself a climber, and I hadn't even heard of fell running. Oh yes, I walked a little bit, and I enjoyed that, but running? I laughed at those who went out for 5 miles, 10 miles and more. Why would you ever want to do that?

Then a friend in the Expedition society entered the London marathon, and twisted his ankle about 5 weeks out, and passed the entry on to, of all people, me. 

I started out running once a week- ignoring distance, mainly because I had nothing to conveniently measure it with, but rather for time. I ran for an hour. I ran for 2 hours. And a week before the marathon, I thought... I wonder if I can actually run for 26 miles? That’s a long way.

So, going against all marathon intelligence (of which I was blissfully unaware at that time), I mapped out 28 miles on an OS map, got a rucksack, some water and bananas and went out and ran it. - Well. I ran 25 miles and walked the last 3, but figured that I'd be ok for the next week. 

I went. I ran it. I got around in 4 and a half hours. To be honest, it was the best sightseeing trip around London that I've ever done. 

However. I still didn't really get it. 

I left to go to Japan, and ran a bit there, enjoying moving faster than walking pace in the outdoors, though I was really much more into climbing. Back in the UK, again, I was more into climbing- and ran a little to lose weight. 

The partial epiphany came when my climbing partner and I started doing adventure racing. We knew we were rubbish at running, so spent as much time on Bikes as possible, and just gave the running part of it cursory lip service. 

As time went by, we realised that running was a bit of a necessity, and so started practising a bit more. 

A couple of times we headed to the peak district and it rained, so (shock horror) we ran instead of climbing, so as not to waste the trip. 

I got a place in the London marathon again, and clocked 3:45, and for 3 years running I entered the only fell race I could get to- Box hill fell race, getting faster each time by about 5 minutes. 

Yet, I still wasn't a runner. 

We moved up north and joined Glossopdale Harriers. I can't remember why I wanted to go fell running. The freedom? The speed? The delight at thrashing downhill as fast as possible? The feeling of elation at getting to the top of a climb for a great view? All of them really.

I’m not fast, certainly when I look at the times a lot of the best runners are posting, and indeed, looking back at the times being posted in the past by some of our club elders, I realise just how far I have yet to go. Those race times and places from a decade ago and more, crikey…. Whenever I think I’m getting OK at this running lark, I have a look back at those results realise just how fast they were. Even now, a podium place, though a possibility if the right race is chosen and enough people fail to turn up, is a bit of a pipe dream. It’s almost like I’m a bit of a rubbish trophy hunter. 

I’d love to win, but just don’t have the legs to carry it off. 

Slowly, but surely, I’ve started getting sucked into getting faster. Practising running. Practising hills. Getting stronger.

Perhaps I’ve begun to think like a runner, but to be honest. I don’t think I’m there yet. 

Tim

Back for Good!!

It’s taken me a while to write-up my first ever blog but the persistence of one of our illustrious elder statesmen on a social media website has finally made me take the leap. I apologise for the ramblings and it’s possible that there are 2 blogs disguised as one but hey ho! 

In September, after a disastrous 2013 VLM and a persistent injury, I took a long hard look at my running diary and came to 3 conclusions:

1)      I had to train smarter. For some time I had been going through the motions and had to agree with Paul Weller’s assessment that ‘my running life was in a rut’. I needed to re-assess instead of churning out the mile after mile at a repetitive speed. At this time, I discovered the Julian Goater book, ‘How to run faster’ which made perfect sense and immediately changed the way I trained and recovered. 

2)      I had to race more. I completed 8 races in 2013 and a similar number in 2012. I am competitive and running came into my life to fill a competitive void once I’d finally hung my football boots up. I was missing the cut and thrust of competition, pushing and testing myself against others.   

3)      I had to get out on the fells. Most of my miles and the limited number of races have been on the roads or trails with my last fell race being Herod Farm in 2012. I love being in the hills but it is a different kind of running. To make me a more complete runner, I had to commit and re-learn the art of hill running. 

I trained hard and smarter through the back end of 2013 and the New Year gave me the perfect opportunity to put my plan into action. Again I will offer an apology for the lack of detail in my race reports. People have often said to me that they shouted to me / blasted their horn at me when I was running around Glossop and that I completely ignored them. They are talking to the man who ran within ½ a yard of his wife and daughters on the High Street and didn’t recognise or acknowledge them. The truth is that I get into a zone or bubble and although aware of my vicinity (& traffic!) I don’t take in much detail.

 

Hit the Trail 05/01/14

Billed as a fast 5 mile trail race around Reddish Vale, I though it to be the perfect start to the year. After arriving at the pub / race HQ and collecting my number, there was chance to catch up with the GDH crew who had arrived in good numbers supporting the first club championship race of the year. There looked to be a good competitive turnout from other clubs (ECH in particular) but my mind was on bagging points for the GDH champs. I knew Chris Jackson was going well, Neil ‘Basil’ McGraw can be a threat on his day, Charlie is no slouch and that Caity had the potential to outgun all of us. It was going to be a good battle. After a quick warm-up, the usual banter started to kick in and the excuses for a possible poor run flowed thick and fast. 

The usual shambolic start ensued with Howard Oldham (ECH) setting off at a blistering pace along relatively flat trail. It suited me as I do tend to start off quickly and I was settling into my pace and couldn’t see any blue and orange in front of me, a good sign. The trail then twists uphill and all I remember is a blur as Chris blasted past me, putting a good 10 yards between us. Thankfully, it flattens quickly and I managed to make the effort to catch and pass Chris.  My racing bubble must have formed at this point and I don’t have much memory of anything other than Kirsty and her mum cheering us on and ringing bells (I think?), a twisty and slippery almost cross country –like course and convincing myself that  I could hear Chris breathing down my neck. I don’t look back in races, I find it counter-productive, but having him in my head drove me on.

The race finished on a slight uphill and I was relieved that no GDH had passed me. 30 points on the board, 8^th place overall and a good time recorded. Other Harriers came in and it was good to be part of the post mortem again particularly the McGraw – Hillier vet 65 battle which was relived and one that I draw inspiration from.  Judging from the comments, most enjoyed the race and the personal challenges it posed and it was a good choice for the championships. 

I waited around for the prize-giving as most of the Harriers shot off to Zoe’s for cakes and refreshments. Team GDH won various prizes but special mention most go to the all-conquering ladies who bagged a bootful of wine!

 

Results are on the website.

 

Lambs Longer Leg 19/01/14

Having done this a few years ago, I knew it was a short, fast but tough race, a perfect re-introduction into fell running. Entry was a convoluted affair via signing up to a yahoo website but managed it ok. Race HQ was the Lamb Inn and I arrived there to meet up with some of the GDH runners and supporters (Carl & Beryl). It was a pleasure to meet up with Nick Ham, a new addition to the team ranks. 

A quick change saw me donning a brand new pair of bright orange inov-8  x-talon 190’s, which attracted the odd comment! As a side issue, the company I work for are doing some development with inov-8 and I was ‘testing’ these shoes & the protective coating as part of the project. 

 

After a quick warm-up and jog to the start, the race brief was given including the very bizarre statement that in places it was very wet and slippy, so walk in these areas. Yeh right…..!!! 3-2-1 the race was off and I tucked in behind Chris on the uphill start. Feeling good, I pushed hard and overtook Chris before the first descent. Down the hill including  a bit of a tumble I was feeling ok. I think I glimpsed Nev and John but not too sure. Contour around a hill and Chris blitzed past me. Then a bloody big hill and the wheels came off! Chris opened up a big gap, Caity steamed past as did numerous other runners. Hands on knees, pump those legs,  stagger to the top to be greeted by Nev with something along the lines of ‘get a move on, you’re at the top, this is your sort of running now so pull back a few places’. It was what I needed and I got into a rhythm and took back about 4 places before finishing back at the pub. Chris and Caity were already back and is the custom were cheering runners coming through the funnel. Ali was cheering at some point and Rod was helping with the finish. Other GDH, some that I have not met, came in all at a great pace and all with smiles on their faces. 

I managed a quick chat with a few people including Anthony, who I’d not met before. Proves it’s a small world, it turns out his wife was formerly a Crossman!! Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the prizes but really pleased for the GDH who won something, particularly the rocket that is Caity. 

On reflection, I’m pleased with my return to the fells and managed to knock 1 minute or so off my previous time (31;18 / 2oth overall). There’s obviously more room for improvement, especially on the hill ascents, but that will come.

 

Results are on the website

 

1 month into 2014, training is going well, 2 races under the belt and I’m enjoying running again. It’s good to be back!!

Marmot Dark Mountain Adventure

Marmot Dark Mountain Saturday 25^th Jan 2014

A brief(ish)report on our night adventure.

When Steve Mellor (Green Box Co. Organic vegetable man) suggested a few weeks ago that we enter the Marmot Dark Mountain marathon because it was in the High Peak this year I thought he was joking. He wasn’t. After a few thoughts I decided  why not, it’s on our doorstep and a new challenge. 

Me and Steve

(Here’s the official description).

Marmot Dark Mountains™ takes the classic two-day mountain marathon format and gives it a new… darker twist. Rather than two days of running with an overnight camp in between, Marmot Dark Mountains™ packs everything into one winter’s night!

Marmot Dark Mountains™ is based on the usual mountain marathon format with Elite, A, B, C, Long and Short Score classes for competitors to choose from. Usually at a mountain marathon the nature of the terrain dictates the distance of each course with the planners designing a course with a certain winning time. We are sticking with this principle but allowing for the added difficulty of navigating and running at night. Therefore although the winning time for your chosen class will be similar to a normal mountain marathon, the overall distance will be significantly less. Note the date has been chosen carefully - no moon if the skies are clear!.

The event centre was in the Glossop Leisure Centre in the main hall. We registered much earlier than our start time so we could nip home for a final big meal and rest. Registration involved all the usual things in a mountain marathon, kit check etc, but also the organiser insisted on photo ID for each runner to be certain there were no ringers or late substitutes.

Leaving out all the preparations and muttering about the kit requirements (tent, 2 man bothy bag, sleeping mat  and survival bag) we arrived at the start line at the turning circle on the end of Shepley Street at 10 to 10 Saturday night. Poor weather earlier in the day had passed over to leave a clearing sky and relatively mild temperature, for January. I should add for information I took my GPS phone using Viewranger tracking software sealed in a bag by the organiser – this was so that we could analyse our real route after the event, and the phone could be used if an emergency arose.

We were called into the starter tent where they had tea and coffee on the go which was good to warm your hands around, and then given the 1 minute warning to get ready. Time ticks by, 30s warning and then we’re clear to go, dib our dibber and collect the maps. Relief, we recognize the checkpoints immediately from all our homework and set off for Cock Hill trig. It’s always a good feeling to knock off the first CP, and feeling smug we set off from the trig for Bleaklow Head. Up to the ruined cabin and head east across the moor, planning on using the path to the Pennine Way (PW). Then we make our first nav error, after ¼ mile on this path it looks different, some heavy vehicle tracks and a 12 foot wide wooden bridge where the path should have been so we concluded we’d gone too far south and corrected to the north. Turns out we were on the path and had now wandered into the wilderness, lots of “the path is off to our left Steve – ah no wait a minute I think it over there where those people are, oh shit we’re in a hole etc” so we zigzagged on a general easterly bearing until Torside Castle loomed up ahead of us and slightly to our right – it looks quite large closeup in the dark. It was during this stage we saw several pairs of head torches bobbing about in the dark, mainly ahead and to our right.  Anyway, back on track towards John Track Well  (a good omen?) we pass two other teams (they could be on another route so can’t assume we’re beating our rivals) cross the stream and head up the PW to swing round to Bleaklow Head. Passed another team on this section so feel we’re doing OK.                     

Here I’ll add a detail – part of the feature of the course is that the checkpoints have a reflector on them so that sometimes you can see them from a long way away, like 500m if there's line of sight and you have a good torch. Sometimes this made life easier than daylight navigation.

At Bleaklow Head Steve breaks out the jelly babies because we’ve been running for about 1½ hours. The top is in the cloud, so our torches are reflecting back on us and I can’t see more than 20 metres so I take it off and move with it in my hand which improves visibility greatly. We carefully check the bearings here and get the right path to head off towards Shelf Moor Trig, our third CP. After 200m I’m so happy we reccied this section three times for the Trigger as we get the right turning for Hern Stones and carry on mostly at walking pace. We carried on steadily, re-checking our bearing every few minutes, soon had no visual references thanks to low viz but came straight up to the trig point first time, very chuffed about that. Funny thing, never saw Hern Stones, on the Viewranger track we passed about 100m to the west of them.  

Again at the trig we used the compasses to double check the next bearing to CP4 in Upper North Grain  and both of us were amazed to find that we felt the way to go was one way but it turned out we would have ran off northwest if we had ignored the compass.  Off we headed and of course soon found the path that led down to the top of Crooked Clough. Here we were a bit casual and used the same bearing of 140 when proper navigating would have been to take a new bearing to the CP. it led us too far south so we arrived at the target valley too far down where the sides are deep and steep.  We made a basic error on this leg, didn’t read the control description until we had spent 10 minutes or more hunting upstream. When I checked and found it was a building; I knew there wasn’t one this far down so we plodded back up until it materialized out of the clag – bugger, lost at least 15m on this one.

The next checkpoints were down at Birchin Clough, CP5 was at the top of the path through the woods and CP 6 was at the bottom. Since the A57 wasn’t out of bounds we simply ran down the road and picked off the two within minutes of each other. CP 6 was the main support centre for the event where a tent had been pitched in the car park.

 Steve and I just after leaving the Birchin Clough support centre.

The next CP was easy, at the footbridge where Lady Clough meets the River Ashop. As it was sheltered and we’d made it to this point in three hours we stopped to have a proper feed and drink for at least five minutes. It's worth taking the time to do this on a long event.

The next CP was the longest leg of the course, a stream junction at the top of Grindsbrook Clough. We had thought of going up to Seal Stones and cutting straight across to the CP but the area was out of bounds (the RO made almost all of the plateau OB which was probably sensible since newcomers to the area could get into real trouble in the bogs). So we climbed to Seal Stones and then used the 7 minute crossing to reach the southern edge path – I had worried about this route in the clag but it went perfectly, I've done worse in the daylight!.  Once on the edge it was simple to run on the path to the CP, passed another team or two on the way.  Pushed on to CP9 on the spur to the south of Crowden Tower, stopped for another snack at the top of Crowden Brook. I also had to stop to change my headtorch batteries,  strange cos they lasted 12 hours on pre-race tests but the low temperature and occasional use of high beam took their toll. By now we were swapping places with a mixed team who were also in the C class, Steve wanted to chase them every time they caught us but I used my cunning and slowness to keep him in check. We had to keep some energy in reserve for a tough section coming up.

CP9 to CP10 looked easy on the map. From the spur to Kinder Low trig point, but the climb back up to the path was marred by our rotten choice of trying to cut the corner. We should have kept our height back along the spur; instead we took a straighter line and ended up traversing for ages until eventually reaching the path just before Noe Stool. It looks OK on the Viewranger  track but it was at least half an hour of trudging and traversing through tussocks when we should have regained the path and had an easier trot. Still, from Noe Stool we cut dead straight to the trig point no problem, and met up with the mixed team again.

The next CP was stream junction lower down Red Brook, just above the woods. I suggested running along the edge then following Red Brook to the CP. Great plan, until we got to the descent when I remembered that it was bloody steep and hard going, in fact it was twice as bad as I remembered. Far below us we saw two lights reach the CP and then move off and thought sod it, the mixed team found a much better way and have a 10m lead at least. We stumbled on and battled the worst ground on the whole course that night and eventually got to the CP. Must reccy Red Brook one day and see if there is any path worth trying ever again.  Hey ho, must push on. The next CP is Mill Hill cairn, big decision whether to contour round or climb back up to kinder edge path. We were partially affected by the sight of two other teams choosing the up and over route so braced our man girdles and started the climb. Up and past Mermaids Pool, on and on and up and up. We were slowly catching another team and much to our surprise it was the mixed team, turns out the other lights we saw were not they.  We chugged on together chatting in gasps and finally made the path, ran round Sandy Heys and west towards the end of Kinder for the night. Steve and I paused to gulp down another gel and then on the descent left the mixed ones well behind. Mill Hill cairn no problem except the flagstones seemed a bit slimy. Steve also had to change headtorch batteries at this point.

Next CP13 was at Old Woman just the other side of the Snake road crossing, so yet another passage along the pesky flags, and the slight slippiness turned out to be the onset of ice, joy. I swear I will NOT run along this section of the PW again until the end of Winter. We danced and cursed our way along, even managed to pass another ladies team who were walking by this time. During this section Steve was obsessed with our chances of finishing in under 8 hours, and by now we’d been out for 7½  hours. I said not to worry just over 8 hours was OK and he revealed he thought we were on a time limit for the course and would be DQ’d if we were late!. Cheered him up a great deal to learn we were not in danger and in fact still doing well. His sore knee and huge blister issues faded into the background too. He was so pleased he even remembered to smile for the camera at the Snake road crossing – lord knows how the cameraman had stayed warm all night there. I will look as usual, a surprised donkey at death’s door. We found CP13 easily and bashed off down Doctor’s Gate to pick up the last CP.

The sting in the tail, we had thought the last CP14 was on Doctor’s Gate but when we reached the area in question it wasn't there at all. We studied the map with tired eyes (it was about 6am by now) struggled to see the details on 1:40000 map and eventually saw that it was described as a stream junction about 200m north of the path. (Again, should have read the control description when plotting the route).  So, the CP was below us, across horrible tussocky bog somewhere, still couldn't actually see the thing but it had to be on the stream so we went hunting. Eventually when we got closer we found it, hidden by a lump on the edge of the stream so that it was undetectable from the line we took into it from the path. Sneaky. For anyone interested I think the grid ref would be 080 942.  What a wheeze we made getting back to the path but finally the last bit straight down to the finish at the turning circle and final relax. We ran from 10pm till 6:33am to record a time of 8 hours 33 minutes.

 We nipped back to the leisure centre to complete the dibber download and grab a very welcome hot cuppa. Unfortunately at the time we found that we were the fourth placed out of four teams that had finished thus far so slightly downhearted we decided not to hang around the 90 minutes till prize giving. Went home to start trying to sort out the sleeping pattern. Later on Sunday we checked the Marmot website and found we had placed 4^th in C class and 1^st male vets. (Our prizes are in the post). The C Class winning time was 6:37, I bet our top fell runners would have swept the board in this event. We did very well to finish in a reasonable time as the promised rain started at 7am. Many teams were out for much longer, one team spent 17 hours somewhere. Only two teams out of seven that started the B class completed the course.

The strange thing about the whole event – I’m one of the club runners who has shied away from night fell running in the winter evenings. J I think I might do another one if the weather could be as good, and it was in the Peak District again. Then again it would be another step up to try one in an unknown area.