Edale Skyline 23/03/2014


Having completed the route on a recce day with Janson Heath earlier in the year. I realised two things, one that Edale Skyline is a beautiful race, in terms of the landscape and location. Two, that my love of the landscape would get me through the race, that I had pre entered. As this is one tough cookie... During my snowy recce with Janson, I nearly cried towards the end of the route. The pain that came to my concrete legs was heavy felt.

I went to the race with Gareth Briggs, a follow Staffs Moorlands runner. Excitement gripped my hands and turned my stomach at least four times... A brief chat and the thought of this marmite race was underway.

Pendle Fell English Championship

Pendle Fell Race
English Championship
05/04/14

 This was my first race in the English Championship, excited is a one word, nervous is another. It was a chance to put myself up against the best in the Country and see how I compared.

I travelled up with Lisa Heath who was supporting Janson Heath, her partner, both run for Trentham running club, though Janson runs for Ambleside on the Fells. Both are good friends of mine and are really good ultra runners. I have learnt a lot from both in the last year I have known them. Many Thanks. The Journey to and from the race was no different. A chance to exchange ideas and thoughts about running.

 I was running for Staffordshire Moorlands AC once again. I hoped the heart of the roaches and the hill reps from Hen Cloud would carry me forth...

Pendle is known for its witches, so I was hoping that some witch and her magic would cast a spell for me to fly up the hill and back down. Sadly I was mistaken. The course is pretty much an up and down race. With one big long climb, a little drop and a really breath taking, heart in mouth, blood to the head, pain to legs, steep climb to the trig and back to the start. A pacey race for sure.

 I meet up with Janson and follow staffs moorlands runner Martin Dearden also from Leek, after good warm up, we will ready for the start. We were ready as we would ever be. I also meet a follow runner from Leek called Will Neill, an extremely talented runner. An exchange of hellos and wishing each other luck we were all ready to go. Along with the other 400 runners in the Village of Barley.

 Lucky for both you and me Will's Dad and Sister who had just completed her Ladies race for Staffs Moorlands were filming. So I don't have to bore you with all the details. Will's sister Becky finished 43rd in the time of 47minutes and was third in her Category.

 Heres my quick description of the race:

 Breath, Wish good luck, avoid car and all the other runners, one foot in front then the other at wide spaces, as fast you can. Admire the Reservoir. Tactic...Maybe...No. Avoid that women with the camera and that puddle. Go as fast as possible. Wow that hurts, reach climb, dying on my feet. Chest forward, climb, breath. Walk, run, walk run, repeat. Seriously how long does this climb go on for!?! Finally, release legs on the down hill. breath avoid the rocks and stones. Receive the applause for acting like child or a crazy man. Yes I feel like a caveman, hit the big stupidly stupid big steep climb, pull and rip the grass, pull on the rocks. Am rubbish at climbing at pace. Repeat and wonder why am here. Get overtaken by a huge amount of runners that appear to be rest of the field behind. Reach the top of the trig, go round it and back down on big downhill. Watch footing, try to make up places. Can't. Stick with the runners. Reach the pavement, make my move. Increase pace on the road and on the last little bit of ascent overtake approximately 20 runners. Boom! I have found my inner cat self. Continue to push, and catch the last two runners in front of me before the line. Must of finish with 5 minute miles...

Will had a great run and all his training pays off in the races. Janson, is currently training for the Bob graham round, so he is doing more longer training session, so I imagine this was a bit of shock, he had a great race, as did Martin who has just started competing with the races with me. Good effort everyone.

Will Neill finished 16th in 35mins and 33 seconds
I finished in 99th at the time, now 101 in 41minutes.
Janson finished in 44minutes and 43
Martin finished in 47minutes and 05 seconds

 Pleased to have made the top 100, disappointed to be now out of it. By ONE place. O well next year. Will Neills videos, please subscribe and watch them.

 

Finishing Part of the Race, click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10203346574888165&set=vb.1324746172&type=2&theater

National Cross Country Nottingham

National Cross Country Nottingham 2014 Here is a video taken from William Neill. This is far better than me explaining what happened. Amazing start to the race to a three lap course. Total distance was 7 miles I think. I finished 684 in 47minutes and 13 seconds and something out of about 1700 runners. Which I was pleased about so the club celebrations later on in the night went on till 3am...

Post by William Neill.

Long Mynd Valley Fell Race

Long Mynd Fell Race

02 March 2014

It’s a Feb 2014 and am back in Shropshire to race at the Long Mynd Fell Race.

Its been a while since I did the Long Mynd Hike, around 18months.  The Long Mynd was one of the reason why I started to get into running in the first place. A broken promise never fore filled, add in regret and you have the reason why I started. Its not to say I didn’t enjoy running in the first place. I just never really thought about running for running’s sake before.  I suppose you don’t until you hit with the reality of completing a 50 mile hill race… Probably something I should of took a bit more seriously. I drastically over estimated it. I also underestimated how much I would become to love the sport of trail, fell and ultra running.  Its that reason why am back at the Long Mynd, this time with more knowledge and more friends. Though that doesn’t help you complete a challenging course, it does help a little.

I traveled down with Gareth Briggs, Tracy Dean and Ian Ankers. We also meet up with Dale Colclough and Will Neill.

The route is class as AL, meaning that is a long route generally 10miles plus and also it tough, bloody tough.  This was my first AL fell race.  Lets hope I last the race.  I’d finished other fell races, with the Roaches been the next toughest I’d done before which is a BL. 

Given plenty of advice from Dale, Gaz, Tracy, and Ian we will set to start the race where the visitor centre is. Which is a National Trust one.  It started in a middle of valley and lead up towards the Long Mynd vallery across the top to Pole Bank.

This was the only part of the course that I knew the rest was blind to me.

The whistle went for the start and we were off over the first hill with the sun on our backs. I started steady, and took it easy for the first two miles or so. At least what I thought was steady, I was still tired. I knew I was going to be in for hard race.  As the start was the gently part of the course compared to other half. 

We climbed up the first bank, legs and arms pumping to move the body forward. Words of encouragment came from Dale “look at young Bethell climb the hill, just like his brother (Forest Bethell).” That motivated so I moved up through packed reached the first climb and ran like kid to a candy shop all the way back down the hill. 

The climb towards Pole bank was tricky and I was trying to keep up with Tracy Dean. I stayed with her just before check point two and she was and off.  I holded myself back at this point as I didn’t want to start to go a little harder just yet. 

We moved through heather and did some zig and zag down the side of a steep hill, the approach was much like a skier. Though a lot slower and I was the slowest descender compared to my follow fell runners. I always loose places going down hill.  Still work to be done it that department. After that descent it’s a bit of blur where the course went, it was through streams, climbing sheep trods, cracks in the valley and more heather descents until we reached checkpoint 5.

Looking not so sporty...I will try to improve my fashion when running...

Tracy Dean looking good, approaching check point five

Now Checkpoint 5 – 6 was really enjoyable running and one that I have enjoyed the most compared to other fell races that I have completed.  We followed a stream all the way to checkpoint 6 on a route that is best describe as rocky trail surface with odd twist and turn.  I must of enjoyed as I began to overtake people and once I reached checkpoint 6 looked towards the next climb, I could see Tracy. I tried to catch but she was to far ahead. At this point many people were taking different lines. I didn’t have time to grab my map. Instead I just moved forward and tried to remember the line from the map I looked at before the start of the race. I decided to follow tracy and climb the steepest part of the hill instead of going right and up like a few other people. The problem was I climbed the painstaking hill, managed to overtake people but lost them when I reach the summit. I blindly ran in the direction of the course on a trodden footpath. After two minutes of running I realised I was by myself and everyone had taken a different line. Then I looked a bit further a head and saw the rest of the field. I decided to run straight to them. I did this but in my hurry I ran into a blackthorn tree. Oops. That hurt and slowed me a little. I carried on regardless and hit the bottom and saw checkpoint 7. I still haven’t decided if I lost time or if I made time. It was close either way. I think I may of made time. If just a fraction. As I didn’t recognize anyone else around me.  I did see Tracy again, so it would have been a case of minutes. I then headed for checkpoint 8 another zig zag climb. At this point I felt a bit of cramp in my leg. So I decided to slow down and stretch a little. I took two minutes and lost a few places, but then started to run again. I seemed okay after this. Well that and the magic of salt and vinegar crisps.

It was now for the hardest climb of the course to checkpoint 9 on yearlet summit. And boy did this hurt…It took a while to get to tope of this. Probably ten to fifteen minutes. Maybe I took the wrong route. Though I did manage to catch and over take people climbing up there. My ascent is far better than my descent. That’s for sure.  Off to the finish then. Well this was easy said than done. I could see a few runners in the distance so I headed towards them. I passed a friendly face of Mark Davis who was watching the race and the course. Thanks the encouragement.  At this point I was leading group of runner that had just climbed to CP9.  I tried to follow my nose, but wasn’t sure so I slowed and waited for runners to catch in hope that they knew. They didn’t. Lesson always know the course or have map to hand. We then headed towards a car park and saw some other runners and headed towards the finish line. 

Out of breath, tired and worn out with a blackthorn stuck in my ankle I was pleased to of made it back safe and sort of sound.

Will won the race in 1hr 43

Gareth finished in 1hr 57 in 11th

Tracy finished in 2hrs 16 in 54th

I finished in 2hrs and 21 in 74^th

Dale finished in 2hrs 23 in 81th along with follow and friendly runner Simon

Ian Ankers finished in 2hrs 43 in 143^rd

There were 203 runners that took on the challenge of the Long Mynd and am sure I ll be back to do it again next year. Its such a good course and one that I would recommend.

I was a little bit disappointed with my time, so I am hoping for 2hrs and 15 next year.

2014 races

This year I plan to do the English Fell Running Championship, and I aim to have these as my focus races.

I will also be running for Staffordshire Moorlands Athletics Club and Team Raidlight in races.

So I plan to do the following races:

English Fell champs

Pendle (05/04/14)
Ennerdale (07/06/14)
Kentmere Horseshoe (20/07/14)
Hodder Valley Show (13/09/14)

and also do the following:

National Cross Country Champs (22/02/14)
Long Tour of Bradwell, probably the half this year. (09-10/08/14)
Stafford Half (16/03/2014)
Passing Clouds (15/06/2014)
Shutlingsloe (26/05/2014)
Cloud Nine (06/04/2014)
Roaches Fell Race
Chrome Hill Fell Race (29/06/14)
Ipstones Five
and Summer Series

Roaches Fell Race 10th November, 15miles

I did this race last year when it was a slightly longer route, it was 18miles of fast fell running and it took me 3hrs and 25minutes to complete it. I was in a lot of pain after 12 miles. I had cramp in both legs and remember walking most of the return leg because I set off too fast on the first leg.

It was another marker race that allows me to see if I have improved during the year. My first full year of running. Though this time the course was 3miles shorter. It did still include a river crossing and rollercoaster route of up and down and more of the same. So I wanted to hit the 3hr mark.

I arrived at Meerbrooke with Tracy Dean after she kindly agreed to give me a lift to the race. Thanks Tracy.  Otherwise I would have been a bit bored.

Another cold winters morning, but no rain or cloud in sight. It was a lovely day and everyone was excited about the race.  Tracy, Jon, Dale, Janson, Mike, Will and Geoff were all taking part in the race. All of which have given me advice over the last few months. I would like to thank them for helping me improve my running.  Simon Bailey was lining up again as was Will Neill and Simon Harding. That would be an exciting race to watch at the front. Sadly I want get to see it.

We set off and I tried to stick with Jon and Janson, we hit the muddiest field in central England. I thought the passing clouds race was a dirty affair well I was wrong, this was. This was proven when Jon lost his shoe in the mud in the first field. This was the only time I was in front of him.  I tried to stick to Janson and Jon, but let go of them during the main climb to roaches. I thought I better race my only race and not get cramp again. So I let off the gas and hope that I would catch them later.  I was doing okay on the ascent and managed to over take about three or four people on the way to the trig point. This was all undone on the descent through the woods towards Gradbach. It’s clear what I need to work on…

We hit the river, I lost a few more places as I enjoyed a paddle. This was going to be a chore, I tried to push on and went for a run and walk approach on most of the ascents. Again I managed to catch people on the ascent but lost ground on the descents. This was partly due to my shoes, I had opted for trail shoes rather than mudclaws. This is because I don’t own any.

We head to the cat and fiddle road and towards Shutlingsloe the half way point and the toughest climb. It was at this point I saw Simon, Will and Simon all pass me by with about 3 minutes between them.  I carried on and tried to push on the ups but started to go with the hand knee walk on Shutlingsloe, though I did manage to over take two doing this.  But I did lose out on the down hill again… So annoying, when this is suppose to be the easier part, well so they say.  On the down hill I see my brother, give him a high five and carry on. I had a such a slow descent its an embarrassment to fell running…

I carry on down the hill and repeat the course again this time heading back to the start. At this point I was racing against three people, after a bit of battle I emerged on top and managed to stick my overtaking when I got Roach End. It must have taken me 4 miles to over take a couple of runners.  I did loose time of the river crossing due to wrestling match.  As I hit my final mile or so back through the farmers field I was caught by another runner, who said he had got lost at a turning. My race was back on, but right when I need my legs to go I got cramp and lost my shoe in the mud. I stumbled back to the finish as if I had been on a night out.

Simon Bailey took 1^st in 2hrs

Will Neill took 2^nd in 2hrs 07

Simon Harding finished in 2hrs 09

Jon Melia finished an incredible 11^th in 2hrs 29

Janson Heath  finished 14^th a great run in 2hrs 29

I finished 29^th in 2hrs 39, so I was pleased with my time. I do know where to improve and work on.

Tracy Dean finished 34^th in 2hrs 41 for third lady

Dale Colclough finished 60^th in 2hrs 52

Mike Perry in 74th in 3hrs 

Mike, Janson, Dale photo by Lisa Health

Me and Janson photo by Lisa Heath

A 142 runners entered the race. 

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