Passing Clouds. 9miles

This year I wanted to do both the passing clouds and the roaches, both of which are races just outside of the Leek. I do a lot of training around the area and wanted to see if that would help in any way. Here’s what happened:

A change of clothes and a changes of tops, nervousness always makes me wonder if am wearing the right clothes. After a flick of a wizard’s wand I was good to go. I decided to set off in shots and a waterproof jacket.

I quick jog around the car park and few a stretches and not before having a pre race banter with Tracy and Jon, Gareth, Jack and Robin we were ready.

The whistle went we were off and my feet started a petter patter, petter patter wet feet and a glance of who’s around and try to move my legs. Gareth, Robin and Jon all go off fast, as does Jack Ross who stays with Simon Bailey. I lost visual as jack was heading off with him.

1mile down through a cows field, avoid the footprints look for a stile. Avoid, go over the gate, and steal a few places. Go through the farmers yard, a few go the wrong way and I lead the right way make a few places back and call people the right way. Head up towards the first climb, adopt a walk, run style up the hill towards Ramshaw Rocks. Climb, dodge the walkers, pull the heather out and use my arms. Stay with the group. This develops a gap between those behind.

See my brother, he offers support and tells me Jon is just a head of me. I see him but don’t think I ll catch him. All the Staffs Moorlands team members are head of me. Down through the muddiest field that lies in this parts, I swear its never dry. I begin to think I ve entered a tough mudder.  See someone injury, twisted ankle maybe. There okay. I carry on, chasing a Buxton man.  Hop over the heather and miss the bog toilets. Reaches the road a bit of a relief and its starts again. 

Remember the five D’s, duck, dodge, dive, dip and o yes dodge! Try and keep a rhythm.  Him a blackbank farm and head up towards Roach End. Slippery sandstone, slip, twist ankle. Nothing serious. slows my pace down. Take on some jelly babies. Take moment. A little bit of happiness in that juicy goodness. Get over taken, gutted. Need to push on. I adopt for a walk and run up to roach end. Hide in the shelter from the 70mph winds. Yes 70 mph winds and am running in shorts. Take on a gel. Go to the trig point. Keep pushing. No one in front, no one behind. Try to pick up my pace and find the line. A quick glance of the view and carry on, find inspiration, catch another runner over take them.  Keep to the heather. Over the ridge past Doxey’s pool, down to hen cloud, through the gates try to run my hill rep sections. Catching Jon on the ascent see him about 30 seconds in front. Hit the descent, try to catch three or four runners including Jon, fall on my arse.. Bottle of water in the air, wet bum.  Try again lost sight of the group push on, no one behind and no one in front need to keep going.  Start to feel the pain, cramp. See Gareth and Robin, they give a shout of support and I finish in a time of 1hr 25minutes in 25^th position. Staffordshire Moorlands take the team place with Jack (2^nd 1hr 12), Gareth (3^rd 1hr 13) and Robin (6^th 1hr 18).  Jon finished 19^th 1hr 23. Tracy finished in 1hr 37 and won first w40.

Grab a tea from the Tittlesworth visiter centre