David Staff Memorial Race - 25.11.12

This wasn't originally on my to-do list, but after speaking to Pudsey & Bramleys Danny Hope on Thursday during the Horwich hill sessions and him saying he planned to do it, it got me thinking.
I had originally planned to do the Preston Parkrun first thing Saturday morning, but I stayed true to my roots and avoided it to stay fresh for the race.

I was still a bit unsure whether Id do it when I woke up on Sunday morning. Even though Im still a young'un who "shouldnt be injured at your age", Im struggling with a variety of problems with my knees, calfs, shins and feet, but I felt ok so collected my gear and with a soundtrack of liquid drum and bass music blasting out, I headed the relatively short journey east to Darwen.

It was tipping it down when I arrived, but the weather was kind to us come the start of the race. I managed to catch up with a few friendly faces that you get to know through racing and generally taking part in this marvelous sport.

On the start line I had a quick chat with Danny Hope, and we both agreed that there were a few fast looking young lads. The organiser informed us that it was a record attendance for the race, 184 I think. 

Under starts orders, and off we go. Danny and I led from the off, not going off at a too ridiculous pace, so we had a rather large chasing pack sticking with us all the way out of the woods.

After around a mile we'd managed to pull out a gap on the rest of the field and we continued to pull away up the first short sharp climb up a grassy slope. Things went slightly pair-shaped here, as we lost the route and ended up in a boggy field and we had to climb a barbed wire fence and jump a ditch before climbing up onto the track. We both ran back down the hill and Danny asked the current leader if he had any objections with us rejoining the race, to which he didnt.

So we are back on-track, we've lost the lead we'd worked to gain, and we had to do it again. Worry not. The first "proper" climb went by, taking us to the top and past the tower. Neither of us were particularly fresh from Thursday nights hill session, but we pushed a decent pace and stuck together.

The descent of Aggies Staircase was a bit slippy but nothing to worry about too much. Danny took the lead here and I started to loose him slightly, but managed to pull him back by the top of the climb. I couldnt hold on to him from here. I looked at my watch and we had a mile and a half to go.

      Holding on to Danny - Just.

Danny continued to extend his lead, and I kept falling over. I looked behind and couldnt see anyone, so just concentrated to try and keep a decent pace going and see if I could at least cut down Dannys lead.

Awesome Image by Andy Holden. 

I came in 18 seconds behind Danny, and 3rd place was a little under a minute behind me. After speaking to people at the finish, it sounds like we weren't the only ones who took a wrong turn, as people apparently took alternative routes to the correct race route on the return back to the finish, but thats one of those things.

I bagged a nice 4-pack of Corona for my effort, and enjoyed a nice cup tea with a sausage butty. 

Out in the dark

On Monday after work, I did what tens, if not hundreds of thoasands of people will have done - gone out and trained.

It was either a short 3 miler on the road, or a muddy one with the headtorch. I chose the latter and once Joss was wearing his harness (which I hand-stitched the reflective material from a high-viz jacket) we set off out the door.

A Rather dirty sign, on an extremely tall post...

Ive only posted this because it abit "different".

Joss

Poor timed blink, or a poor timed photo?

 

We ended up doing just over 6 miles across lovely muddy fields, with only maybe half a mile of road in total linking strings of fields together. I only once scared the living daylights out of myself thinking someone was coming up behind me in the dark, only to realise it was just the wind whirling around the winter crops.

Unlike our run on Saturday, we didnt see any deer, but I caught the eyes of a fox shining back from the light of the headtorch, various rabbitsand we startled numberous flocks of sheep. Joss is good with sheep, and I just keep talking to him and he completely ignors them.

I had a bit of foot pain which spoilt the run a bit, but otherwise a fantastic night to be out.

My foot hurts

I dont know whats wrong with my left foot, but it absolutely kills.

It suddenly started hurting walking the dog Sunday night. I went for 6 miler across the fields on Monday night and it was excruciating 

Its the underside of my foot, towards the inside - kind of in between the ball of my foot and the arch. I usually do a gentle-ish 3 miler on the roads on a Wednesday night ahead of the tough hill session Thursday.

Might have to do a session on the turbo-trainer and then stick my foot in a bucket of water for an hour and hope that helps.

These damn little aches and pain. We all get them, but they dont stop being a pain (pun intended).

Dunnerdale Fell Race 2012

This weekend I met up with a large gathering of Preston Harriers, and four car loads of us headed up to the lakes, to an area I’ve never visited before, for the Dunnerdale Fell Race, the final race in the Harriers club championship.

Dunnerdale is regarded as a bit of a classic. In the build up to the race, I spent some time on google, various blogs and the FRA forum, trying to get to grips with what was install, and everyone agrees that the race is a bit special. A mini-lakeland classic one person described it as. 5mi with 1804ft. So it was going to be a good’un.

I wasn’t feeling fantastic Saturday morning, and nearly went back to bed, but I convinced myself to go and warm-up and go from there. There was some debate whether it was “just vest”, but I wussed out and went with a t-shirt under my vest and gloves too boot.

The start was the usual disorder and shouting by the organiser, as we all tried to hold a decent starting position, much too far ahead of the start line. In the end the organiser basically just yelled GO and we were off – legging it down the road.

The route follows the road for what must be near on half a mile, climbing uphill most of the way and eventually leading to a stone track and the climb up the fell. I didn’t really have a plan for the race, so held back a bit when Id usually gun-it from the off.

In the run out, I felt I wasn’t really putting in enough effort so made my way through the field and held about 15^th as we hit the fell. Mike Johnson of Bowland was infront of me, and he went straight into a walk up the hill rather than run, so I followed suite and decided to stick with him. I started to out-climb those around me, and pushed on and gained a few places. Up to the first checkpoint of “The Knott” there was a lot of swapping of places and apart from the front 4 who had pulled out a big lead, the “chasing pack” still consisted of around 20 runners. By the time we got to CP 2, I was 7^th, chasing Iain Ridgeway of Eyri. I was starting to feel it from here, and my arms were bursting with lactic acid and the mind games started. I managed to pass Iain and Hugh (surname escapes me) of Ambleside on the descent, but dropped back to 6^th just before the road crossing as Mark Roberts of Borrowdale flew past me on a mission.

The climb up the Stickle Pike was short, sharp and steep. A quick hailstorm shower trashed it down just before I hit the summit too, and with my body in oxygen-debt, I asked the marshals where to go and dropped off the summit starting to feel pretty crap.

I could hear Iain and Hugh pulling my in, and they passed me on the boggy trod leading onto the final summit.

The descent off Great Stickle was flagged, all the way to the finish actually. It was quite loose under-foot and I started to catch Iain. As we hit the track at the bottom, I knew we had a mile to go and I needed to push to hold my position. Catching Iain was out of the question as I wanted to vomit. Richard Melon of Bowland was coming!!!! I know this guy is a good runner, but Ive never raced him before and to beat him would be a big confidence boost. So I fought hard and made it to the road still in position, climbed the uphill track and with one final push (and a big retch) I crossed the line in 8^th position.

The pie back in the hall was worth it all. Absolutely sensational! I took a while to recover and feel normal, but had a nice chat with a few of the guys who finished around me, and got dressed and dry.

Certainly a race you’ve got to do if you haven’t. One I think I’ll have to revisit as I think I could knock some time off if I was really on form. 

No pictures yet, but I’ll upload them if any appear online.

1^st: Carl Bell – Howgill Harriers - 41:48

8^th – Me - 44:23

243 finishers.

Strange things happen to running shoes...

...when you leave them out in the cold...

Run from home with Joss

After a late breakfast, Joss and I got ready for a long one (Long by my standards considering my standard run is just 3 miles).

13 miles across the local fields of Brindle were in-store. Ive done the route lots of times before, and take in the first 4 or so mile of the LDWA's "Bottoms Up".

Train Bridge, just up the lane from Brinde St Joseph's RC Church

Joss - Mid-flight

Hoghton Viaduct, Hoghton Bottoms

A very wet gateway. With the mast of Winter Hill in the extreme distance.

The M65 - Halfway between Junctions 2 -3 if if you want to be specific.

A path through the crops

I havent got lost then...

The crop - Yet to suss out exactly what it is, but the bad weather hasnt helped the entire field get beyond waist height.

The main man

My camera wont do this landscape justice. I am two miles from home and my legs have had enough and I want some food. So I stood on the style for what must of been 5 minutes and just pondered.

The view isnt lakeland, but I enjoyed it.

The first row of trees shown the seasons are in full swing with a full variety of colours on show. The bowland fell are in the distance to the right, and you can just about see the coast on the left.

Lovely day to be out, with a few walkers in the more easy to get to sections of my route, and not a soul on the more rural stretches.

Clocked just over 30 miles for the week which I was pleased with. Only 3100ft of climbing though, but im still happy with my weeks effort.

"Test Video Go-Pro"

Back in Feb (I think) this year, I met up with my good friend Mark on Winter Hill to practice filming ahead of the Winter Hill Fell Race, as a number of us were planning on recording the race.


The footage is described by mark quite simply as...This very short film is a prequel and practice attempt at filming the Norman Mathews Winter Hill fell race which will appear on youtube later in the year. The race takes place every year in February. The purpose of this film is solely to show Alex how the camera works and what the footage looks like when used in different ways. Not all of the footage is desirable, however, this aids as a tool when viewed.

Its not going to wind any awards, but its got a nice soundtrack and Mark's editing skills have brought it to live. You fall "with me" as I hit the deck trying to stride out whilst watching the camera...anyway...enjoy.

Watch the film here!

Sunday Morning - Pendle Hill

Sunday was the day for either a long run on Pendle or Winter Hill - and Pendle won.

With Joss in the car, off we trotted down the M65 to Barley. There was frost on the cars when I first woke up, but by the time I got to Barley there was bright sunshine and I was regretting not bringing a vest to wear.

I decided on the Half Tour route, but with not knowing the route for sure I just headed off open minded. When I did the race back in 2010 I think it was, I took great personal pride in running every step of the way from Barley to the summit of Pendle Hill.
Today I wasnt confident I could do the same, but try I did, and with Daz h on my mind I got to the top....if totally knackered. Thursdays hill session was in my legs all the way to the top!

Detailed gate post which I thought was worthy of a snap.

 Blue Skies!

 Lots of dead bracken.

Onwards...

 Winter Hill in the distance

 

Loads of folk were out, and I bumped into a Bowland runner just off the trig and we had a nice chat, before I headed off on the half tour route. After loosing the trod, I found the style and enjoyed blasting along the worn path to on my way to the nick of Pendle.

 



 Well worn trod.

 The clouds are coming in!

 

I de-toured down to the ski club to see if I could spot a friend who teachers there, but with no luck, I shared a mini mars bar with Joss and plodded on. I didnt bother going round the ressie as the race route does, instead went left and took a path I didnt know existed which took me back on to Pendle before joining the race route and ultimately to Geronimo!

 

 Geronimo - Looks so easy!

 

 

A bit of a fall but nothing major, we both made it down in one piece. Then the final mile or so across the fields and back to the car in Barley and a well deserved can of coke!

Cracking day to be out, and left me just shy of 5000ft of climb for the week off 26 miles. Chuffed with that!

Thursday Night Hill Session with Horwich RMI

I used to train everything Thursday evening with Horwich, on and around Winter Hill getting nice and muddy, but I picked up a calf injury at the back end of July and didn't go back...

...since the dark nights are drawing in, the fell session has ended and it's now on the road. 

I went over the Horwich, and joined about 8 or so others for the session.

Two loops of Foxholes and Factory Hill (I think it's called) and then the long drag up to the mast on Winter Hill. 

I clocked about 7 miles of running in about 55 minutes with 1,500ft+ climbing.

My legs were pretty blitzed after it, and I recorded a new highest max HR of 187 - Which I think is due to not being as fit as I was before my calf went, and still trying to run at the pace I used to hold.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. 

Wednesday Night Training.

The title is a bit misleading really, I basically just went for a run on a Wednesday night.

I stuck to the roads tonight and just did a 3 miler with Joss, with the intention just to get out and enjoy the night before the rain starts again. I have a tough training session tomorrow so I didnt want to over-do it either.

I didnt need to look at the weather forcast for the next couple of days, I just needed to look at the mud-covered roads around the village where the farmers have hurriedly cut the grass and bundled it into trailers. I guess the rain is going to return again. Shame, I was enjoying the nice dry spell we've had.

The photo's below were taken during Sundays muddy run - But I thought Id stick them on to brighten up an otherwise dull blog entry.

A clean Joss - Before the off.

I tried and tried again, but couldnt get a perfect "running towards the camera" shot.

 

Joss on a mission

...

I think I was doing his nut in, stopping to take pictures of him every so often.

Daz h

The fell running community is still in shock over the sad and sudden death of our friend, Darren Holloway.

Daz died doing what he loved, running over the high fells with a friend.

Daz was my No.1 source of inspiration when I ran and cycled, and the world is a worst place for loosing Daz.

RIP Daz, you'll never be forgotten.

Hendersons End – 7th June 2012

 I did this race back in 2010, and along with the top 10-20 of so runners, we all went walk-abouts and made up our own extended version of the race. I eventually finished 99ths in something like 63 minutes, so I was quietly confident I would perhaps “pb”.

Upon arriving at Rivington Top Barn, it was absolutely pouring down, and had been doing non-stop all day. I stayed in my car till it was times to warm up, said a few hellos and joined the start line.

At just under 6miles with just under 1000ft of climb, it’s a fast one! Up the cobbled road, along some tarmac and you start the first climb. Its entirely runable but its abit of a bugger so early in the race. I was lying in forth at the base of the climb, but I noticed the chap who was in 2^nd be passed by the young lad in a bright yellow vest, and seized the opportunity to try and beat him mentally early in the race and also overtook him – It worked because I never saw him again.

Once you’re at the top, you take a right turn before the Pigeon Tower and run along the cobbled Georges Lane. It turned out to be more like a river with the huge amount of standing water. From here onwards I ran my own race. 1^st and 2^nd were too quick for me and pulled ahead, and I couldn’t see anybody behind me.

The next climb takes you to the summit of Winter Hill. It’s a grassy climb and again its runable, but your mind wants to you quit and walk. I was starting to pull back the race leaders and I kept pressing on. By the time I got to the top I was knackered and had no option but to let the leaders zoom off whilst I tried to get the legs to recover and refill the lungs with badly needed oxygen.

One the top the weather was pretty grim. I wore a tshirt under my vest and the tshirt was completely saturated and starting to feel heavy. From here onwards you follow the road for a while, passing the Scotsman's stump which acts as a memorials to the end of a certain Mr Hendersons I do believe? Down the road, across the cattle grid and then back onto the bogs. 

By this point my glasses were in badly need of windscreen wipers. A marshall told me to “head straight for that landrover” in the general direction of Two Lads Stone…but I couldn’t see a bloody thing let along a landrover. I stopped for a minute, took my glasses off and scanned the distance and clocked the big white landy with its lights on…deeeeeer!

I had abit of confusion whether I should actually go over Two Lads, but I did anyway. Then its quite a nice speedy descent down to the cobbled track again, and start the run to Rivington Pike.

The climb up to the Pike is always a tester, and again your mind tells you to  give in a walk, but you just bully yourself to keep running. Around the pike and down the side, before making your way back to the Pigeon Tower. The descent down from the Pigeon Tower is a beaut. Its abit twisty and lined by trees so it will hurt if you get it wrong, but I tried to bomb it regardless…and after a few twists and turns back to the finish.

 

3^rd place in 40:57 – Winner was Tim Ellis of Calder Valley in 39:07, and 4^th place was almost 3 minutes behind me. Cracking race!

Ps - The images are from Google - there was one hardly photographer on the route but I havent seen them uploaded anyway where.

Belmont Winter Hill Fell Race 12.05.12

I did this race back in 2010 as one of my first fell races and since its close to home it,  has a special appeal to me, as many races appeal to other runners for similar races.

Starting from the small village of Belmont near Bolton, the race is a good little tester. At a mere 4.5 miles with around 1000ft of climbing, it’s a short race that tests your all-round fell running capabilities.

I won’t go into it, but I have been away from the fell running scene for nearly two years now after a nausea problem whilst running, which caused me to pack in running altogether.

Many frustrating months down the line, Im back running again. February 12^th 2012 to be precise. My good friend Mark Birkbeck called me up to give me some encouraging words that he’d heard that the usual Belmont favourite; Mr Darren Kay wasn’t doing it this year, so the doors were wide open so to speak. Anyway, Mark gave me a motivational talk at how the race was up for grabs, and with this in mind, I started running again. I had exactly 3 months to the day to get race fit.

Uni, life outside or running an a stint of “the trots” made me miss quite a large amount of training time, but I ran round the route three times prior to race day (plus various other runs), and after doing my last run on the Tuesday, I rested until Saturday to be fresh for raceday.

 

Raceday came, I rocked up at Belmont with my mum, sister and girlfriend who had come to support me, and pinned on my new Preston Harriers vest which had only just arrived through the post in time.I did a quick warm up (once round the Blue Lagoon) and lined up at the front of the start line. I spotted a few fast looking lads but accepted that I could only do what I could. No Darren Kay though which was a relief!

 

After a short delay the town crier sent us on our way. I accidently found myself leading the race down the road and did have a mini “OH SHIT” moment. I had a guy breathing down my neck and did consider just moving to the side and letting him pass, but I told myself to man up and grab the bull by its cojones and keep running.

After a few hundred meters you leave the road and start the first climb through the tussocks before levelling off onto what is usually a massive bog, but today was pretty standard considering the past couple of weeks of constant rain. I kept running, still in the lead and yet to dare turn round and see who was following me. In the distance I spotted Mark Birbeck marshalling…”COOOOOOOOMEEEE ON AL” he shouted. I said some sort of greeting or thanks to mark (I was in the zone so might have just said utter rubbish) and started the proper climb up Winter Hill.

 

The last time I reccied the route I gave up and had a sit down three quarters of the way up, but today I knew I had to run it all and at a descent pace and push on at the top. I was blowing out of my arse here as people say, and Dave Woodhead of the Woodentops fell races has captured this in an absolutely awful photo. Here I let myself have a quick look behind, and Id managed to pull a pretty big lead.

I levelled off and set off in search of the bogs. My watch beeped to tell me id competed a mile, and my legs were telling my Id completed about 10. I could here somebody coming behind me, and a lad from Bury AC passed me with ease. I tried to stay with him, but he was too quick for me. The bogs over Noon Hill slowed him down and I caught him up again, but also allowed Nick Leigh of Pudsey and Bramley to catch us up. The three of us made it through the bogs and they started their race of their own as I held a solid 3^rd.

We reach Georges Lane, the cobbled track that skirts Winter Hill. The two lads in front had zoomed off ahead, and I could see a lad behind me starting to catch me. I wanted to push on here and try and run at a good pace, but I held abit back knowing what was coming.

You leave Georges Lane and head back onto the slopes of Winter Hill and begin to contour a pleasant sheep trop. I managed to pull away from Mr 4^th place, and by the time Id made it to the base of the 2^nd and final climb the front two lads were half way up. Hands on knees I pushed. Mick the Preston fell captain was there to encourage me. I dug deep and pushed my knees with my hands for all I was worth. By the time I got to the top I was goosed. Its not even that long of a climb, but it beasted me.

I actually spoke out loud, telling my legs to work, to which a middle aged man gave me a strange look. Its now a case of legging it back down the first climb and back to the finish. I know from my previous reccies that I can fly down this if I keep to the right. I passed Mark again who gave me more encouraging words, and continued on.

 

This last bit is a blur. My legs were gone and I just wanted it to end. You run along a nice path, pass the blue lagoon, cross the road and thank the police for halting the traffic and run round the field into the finish.

3^rd/113 finished. Nick Leigh wont it in 34:19 and I bagged 35:13.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me in the build up to my “comeback race” and the kind words following the race.

But my biggest thanks of all goes to Mark Birbeck. Without him and his such huge faith in me, I probably wouldn’t even have raced.

Anyway, onwards and upwards.