Half Tour Bradwell
This year I opted to do the half tour of Bradwell, rather then the full tour that usually cripples me. The half is 15/16 miles long and takes the first part of the route from the full tour until you get to the Hollin's Cross and then it goes across the ridge until you join the route on the full tour. Then the Half goes back to start/finish line on its own route once you hit the car park checkpoint near Lady-bower reservoir. And this is the bit I didn't know, as I didn't do a recce.
I arrived just in time to get myself sorted and also meet up with Janson Heath who was running the full tour along with Frank Murphy. Lisa, Janson's wife was also there. Myself and Janson were running for Team Raidlight, though in separate races.
Sharing my trail and fell running tales, from far and wide, it will eat you alive, or rather the supply of tea and cake is endless!
Saturday, 27 December 2014
Friday, 26 December 2014
Summer Series 14
Summer Series
The summer series is a great social event for anyone living in staffordshire and beyond. There are nine races in total and they happen every thursday evening from the the end of May, I think. The races are organised by Staffordshire Moorlands Athletics Club.
Its a great chance to do a short sharp run in the middle of the week and to catch up with follow runners.
As well as competing in the series for a second time, I also organised a race. In order to be included in the league standings at the end of the series you have to complete 7 out of the 9 races. This is harder than you think. As its demanding to race every week. So my advice is to plan which seven or eight races to do, as I always feel you need a rest in the middle somewhere.
The summer series is a great social event for anyone living in staffordshire and beyond. There are nine races in total and they happen every thursday evening from the the end of May, I think. The races are organised by Staffordshire Moorlands Athletics Club.
Its a great chance to do a short sharp run in the middle of the week and to catch up with follow runners.
As well as competing in the series for a second time, I also organised a race. In order to be included in the league standings at the end of the series you have to complete 7 out of the 9 races. This is harder than you think. As its demanding to race every week. So my advice is to plan which seven or eight races to do, as I always feel you need a rest in the middle somewhere.
Kentmere Horseshoe English Champs.
Kentmere Horseshoe 20/07/14
Borrow car. Drive for 3hrs. Forget Club
top! Panic. Meet club captain. Buy random top. Warm up. Think to myself why the
hell am I here.
At this point I’d only ran once in June for training
as I got injured MTB in Wales. And since then I have had a bad back, which is
now starting to get better. Now am just stuck with my bad glute that I’ve had
since October 2013…
Meet Will Neill, Gareth Briggs, Jo and Emma Gould. And its time for the
start of the race. I position myself near the back. Confidence is low and there
is little racing legs in me apart from the summer series.
Langley Fell Race
Langley Fell Race 30/06/14
This is a local race, located in Langley near Macclessfield, it's a short 3mile race which is attached to a village fete. Village Fetes are a common sight among fell races, and there a welcome sight at the end of the race with plenty people watching to do, and tea and cakes are in abundance. Every fell runners little dream.
This is a local race, located in Langley near Macclessfield, it's a short 3mile race which is attached to a village fete. Village Fetes are a common sight among fell races, and there a welcome sight at the end of the race with plenty people watching to do, and tea and cakes are in abundance. Every fell runners little dream.
Gritstone Tryal Navigation Race
Gritstone Tryal Navigation Race 27/04/14
This is organised by a Staffs Moorlands runner Ian Ankers, a super nice chap.
This is my first navigation race, and I wanted to do it to force myself to learn how to read a map and use a compass. Dale Colclough showed me how to do it before the race. Now time like the present.
After a quick plan and chat with John Whilock on what route to take to the marked checkpoints we were standing on the starting line.
I decided that I wanted to go my own route and not follow anyone, as I wanted to learn the hard way. I certainly did, I was last at the first checkpoint. I had a lot of work to do to finish in a respectable position. Lucky the other checkpoints were areas that I kind of knew. So I hoped that my local knowledge would come in useful.
This is organised by a Staffs Moorlands runner Ian Ankers, a super nice chap.
This is my first navigation race, and I wanted to do it to force myself to learn how to read a map and use a compass. Dale Colclough showed me how to do it before the race. Now time like the present.
After a quick plan and chat with John Whilock on what route to take to the marked checkpoints we were standing on the starting line.
I decided that I wanted to go my own route and not follow anyone, as I wanted to learn the hard way. I certainly did, I was last at the first checkpoint. I had a lot of work to do to finish in a respectable position. Lucky the other checkpoints were areas that I kind of knew. So I hoped that my local knowledge would come in useful.
Wolfs Pitt Fell Race
Wolfs Pitt Fell Race (16/04/14) 34th
Invited by follow team mates from Staffs Moorlands to do this iconic race in the white peak. I was hoping for a better result than Edale Skyline...
I rested for this race and got excited, as I always do. After a brief warm up in the chilling wind. We were lined up and good to go. The first climb was the toughest in the race but a most enjoyable one, as you came see all/most of the runners at this point. Gareth Briggs, James Wood, Craig Jeffery and Jason Burgess all ahead of me.
Invited by follow team mates from Staffs Moorlands to do this iconic race in the white peak. I was hoping for a better result than Edale Skyline...
I rested for this race and got excited, as I always do. After a brief warm up in the chilling wind. We were lined up and good to go. The first climb was the toughest in the race but a most enjoyable one, as you came see all/most of the runners at this point. Gareth Briggs, James Wood, Craig Jeffery and Jason Burgess all ahead of me.
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.
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.
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