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