Summer Series, Oakamoor. 4th July

So this race was something of a revelation for me, as Dale and Clive have told me not to run with my water bottle. As It added extra weight and there was no need for it for the distance that I was doing. I agreed, I think I did it for a comfort thing. 

At this point, I also like to point out that doing the summer series has been a massive learning curve for me, and a most enjoyable one. I have meet lots of new people who are all friendly and all supportive. It really has helped me improve my running over short distances. Thanks to everyone who has helped me so far.

Again I was excited about the race, as I knew Oakamoor well due to friends that I know living in Dimmingsdale and also because I go climbing there.  I was also nervous and excited as per usual.

I meet up Dale, Richard, Tyler, Matt, Clive, Andrew, Gareth and Toby at the start of the race and we were all excited about it too.  We joked about not going wrong, or making any silly errors like last week. I was told to go fast at the start in order to get a good place for first up hill climb. And that is what I did. Though I didn’t expect the climb to go one for as long as it did.  I was knackered half way up the hill but I kept pushing myself as someone breath was on my shoulder, I fought as long as I could until Tyler came running past me. 

I tried to keep up with him but couldn’t, as we started the downhill towards Dimmingsdale I lost ground on Tyler. I managed to keep up with Richard, as we bounced through the brecon and over the tractor tracks. I was pleased with my pace at this point and tried to keep it up, though I was sure of the route so it was hard to judge it.

We head past the pools in dimmingsdale and I heard a voice from Toby to tell me that we had missed the turning, so myself and Richard and a few other runners ran back as quick as possible. “O no” myself and Richard said, twice in two weeks. Nightmare I thought.  We had previously passed the marshal who was walking up to his checkpoint. I think we arrived a little early. Thanks Toby for calling us back.

We carried on with the race, even more cautious of the route. I was making sure I went the right well.  After more tractor paths and jumping of the timber and lifting our sticky muddy shoes we reached the rambles retreat and I knew we were near the last and long straight home. I put in the effort and tried to keep up with Richard, but he was too strong. Well done Richard good race.  As I headed to the home straight, Jack Ross came flying past me, which was strange as I thought we would of finished the race by now.

It turned out that he and the top 8 went the wrong way also, and made the same mistake.  This did play a part in the results.  Never the less I was pleased with my pace and happy to of finished 5^th with a time of 33minutes. 

Jack Ross still managed to win the race for Staffs Moorlands with a time of 32 minutes and 41 seconds even though he went the wrong well. Impressive.

Shooting Guns

Photo Mick Hall

Chrome Hill Fell Race

After receiving a strange answer phone message from my friend on the Thursday evening after Wetton’s race. I was asked to help a friend in need. That friend was Lawrence Soleimani. He had asked (made) me to do the Chrome hill Fell Race as he promised his mum he would do it last year at Hollingsclough village festival.  His mum helps organise the festival, as its hosted by her school.

I said I would, it didn’t take much persuading, as I had heard good and bad things about Chrome hill.  This was to be my friends first fell race so I was keen to make sure he kept his promise.

Once myself, Lawrence and Isobel (Lawrence partner) got to the giant shaped paste we realised that we had a bit of challenge a head of us. I was just hoping not to get eaten by the big paste shaped hill.

Race preparations were slightly different for this one, as we took part in tombola, sold raffle tickets and eat lots of jelly tots.

Lawrence Soleimani was nervous about the whole thing, but eventually he signed the dated line… And we got kitted out.  I thought he was a man of honor for sticking for his word. Good for you. I thought.

The whistle went and off we went, This first farm offered lots of pots holes, as I saw Gareth Briggs and Robin Hope shoot of in front of me.  Two very strong Staffordshire Moorlands Runners.  I tried to keep up with the group at the front. Well at least my head was. My legs still ached from Thursday, but I knew I had to keep pushing on the uphill.  The down hills were short and sweet and the uphill’s were torturous to my legs. Lots of concentration was needed just to avoid the cow prints.  And we hadn’t even started the climb to Chrome Hill. I felt empathy towards Loz, but I knew he would be enjoying it and that he would keep going.

Once we reached the start of the climb to Chrome Hill I was exhausted and started to crawl, and I mean crawl up the side of the Hill. Like a trail of ants heading for the top of Candy mountain we pushed as hard as we could. Passing bemused walkers on the hill, we ran down the giant Cornish paste.  I was running against someone who I could shake off, and we were neck and neck all the way down the hill and over the ridges. This was the most enjoyed part of the race and we both wanted the position.  As such we managed to catch some people in front and gain a couple of places.  Once we were at the bottom of the hill, we were on last farm trail home to the finish.  I even saw Simon Bailey watching the race.

I crossed the finish line with a time of 35 minutes in 13^th place.  Gareth and Robin finished 4^th and 5^th, a great result for them. Well Done.

I also meet Isobel again and we decided to wait for Loz so we could cheer him on.

He came in with at time of 53 minutes. Well Done Loz.

I can now say that was one of the hardest fell races I have done. So well done indeed for completing it Loz.

Duck Racing

Me and Loz, Paste Hill in the Background

Summer Series, Wetton

Wetton 

Another Thursday night came round again. This time the weather was not so good, with rain and mist.  I was looking forward to this one, as I had done some previous training at Ecton Hill. Therefore I knew some of the trails, which I hoped would put me in good stead.

One thing I didn’t bargain for was the mist that cloaked the hills from 200 meters away. Visibility was going to be a problem, as was not knowing the route…

With the race underway, I managed to keep with fast road runners, a little out of my comfort zone. It wasn’t until the first hill section that I managed to gain a steady pace and figure out who I was racing with. 

I would like to tell what happened in front, but I can’t for two reasons, one the reason was the mist and the other was the top runners are bloody fast… I was running slightly behind, Tyler Goodwin and Richard. My plan was to stick to these as much as possible as I knew I would finish well.  I followed the pair along with a few other runners up and down through farm lands and marshes. After a few miles I started to locate myself at the beginning of one of the paths that leads to the summit of Ecton Hill.  Here I tried to hold off someone behind me and also catch Tyler and Richard. That was my motivation.  I managed to do this, and we all had a moment of joy once we reached the top. We then headed to the farm and up another hill…And yes this was just another hill, as it wasn’t part of the route. We somehow managed to go the wrong way, and added on another minute to our time. By the time I realised I had gone wrong it was to late as screams from Dale Calclough were heard as he shouted “Go on Dave”. It was at this point that the marshal confirmed our error.  Determined to get some time back I put in more effort in to try to gain a few places back. This did catch up with me at the last downhill section as I was over taken.

Although I went wrong I still managed to finish 10^th. With 43:44.

Well done to Gareth Briggs (38.26) and Robin Hope (39:35) for Staffs Moorlands for 3rd and 7th. Also well done to Dale Colclough & Matt Statham for finishing 15th and 16th.