Cressbrook, Crowden, Burbage and Mount Famine

It's been a while since I last wrote my blog and there have been quite a few races, some good, some so so, but all worth the effort. Kicking off was the Cressbrook Crawl. I arrived early to grab a parking spot on the road rather than in the field at the bottom of the village. One climb up that hill was going to be enough. As usual there was a great atmosphere and easy changing in the club but the weather was against us this year. It was dreary and rain was threatening. A massed start on the road soon had us heading up the lane before turning sharply left onto tracks and a fast descent to the valley floor. Next came the big climb out. I was feeling OK and managing to hold my place against familiar faces. Once over the top the course descends again along great tracks and paths that allows for some pacey running. Feeling good-ish I pushed on and scampered through the woods and then set about falling into my rhythm along the river and the disused railway. The cool, damp air was perhaps a little too cool for me but there was the big climb to come. Hitting the road for a final time I set about tackling the "grind" back up to the club. Managed to catch a fellow runner and was only passed by one so finished in some style. 54.13, a tad outside a PB but pleasing all the same. Onto the Crowden Horseshoe tomorrow.
Back to back races are tough but can be a great way to gain some fitness and race pace just so long as you don't go looking for great times. The Horseshoe proved thus. I really toiled over the first section, first over Laddow Rocks and then up to Black Hill, but the views were spectacular. This is a great race, a real feeling of wilderness. At the Trig point we turned and started to head for home. Here I found my second wind and began the chase to claw back some of the time lost on the climbs. It's great running through the groughs, a labyrinth of pathways luckily all marked with red flags as you lose sight of the runners ahead. The long grind over the moors into the teeth of the wind were strength sapping, thankfully underfoot conditions were a dry as you can often be in ankle sucking moss making it twice as exhausting. The final bone jarring descent back to Crowden  is a bit heart in the mouth as you desperately want to finish in a good time but your legs are tired and you don't want to fall here. 1 hour 19mins just doesn't tell the whole story. Burbage next.
The Burbage Skyline is a classic and it seems to get more popular each year as it's one of the first mid week races in the Peak. This year there was a record entry of 353 runners that led to a frantic start with much pushing and jostling up the short track and then bodies flying everywhere as you plunge downhill to the stream crossing. Organised chaos really. Once over the stream there follows a short climb and then some contour running this year through calf high heather which took a little more out of the legs. The first climb over Mothercap always sorts a few out and then you gather your breath for the stride across the plateau to Higgar Tor. Again a steep ascent, hands on rocks towards the top before a fast descent to the woods and the stream below. Again conditions were much drier than in previous years making the ascent back up to the bridge at the head of the valley somewhat more straightforward. Crossing the stream for a third and final time the course continues to climb to the crest of the skyline. The track here is good and you can often make up some time and places if you're nimble on your feet. Climbing all done there is a single track path through the heather and some rocks parts back to the main valley path. This is a wide track and brings out the road runner in me. Bombing down here it's possible to make up quite a few places before the welcoming relief of the finishing line. Phew, another one done in a shade over 50 minutes. Nice .
OK so another weekend and a surprise in store. I gained an entry into the Manchester 10K under a pseudonym but more of that later there was the matter of Mount Famine and the Dragons Back first.
This is another of the Peak classics. A unique start straight up a wooded bank (I do mean straight up, no paths, find you own route) to the ridge. Lungs bursting at the top you need to kick into a jog / run along the path before a fast plunge down through the woods. At the bottom you turn 180 degrees and climb all the way back up again. Cruel but it gets worse. Over the lumps and bumps of the Dragons Back, climbing, climbing all the time and then a short downhill burst before the next climb up South Head (nee Dread). Topping out only to see stretching out ahead a long and fast descent to the bottom of Dimple Clough. All that height gained only to see it all to do again. On the climb out of Dimple I knew I was struggling, well let's be honest I was going backwards, you know what I mean! Finally back on the ridge after what seemed like an age of leg knackering climbing (the force wasn't flowing for me at this point I can tell you) it started to rain. Great. Still I found a bit more energy from somewhere so I tried my hardest to claw back lost minutes. By the time I reached the final descent I was feeling much better. The long run in through the woods was great and the final canter along the road before turning into the recreation ground went well and I even managed a short burst to the line. 58.44. Not my best but not my worst and enjoyable nevertheless.

Manchester 10K

This was a surprise. Due to an injury to Mat's cousin I gained an entry to the race albeit running under a nom de plume as they say. I didn't know what to expect having never done one of these mass events before but I have to say it was very well organised and thankfully I was off in the first wave of runners.
Lots and lots of people and some famous names running too so I was in good company. Off we went on the gun and I soon got into my stride pattern. I didn't know how I'd do having done Mount Famine the day before so in my mind I though that 42 minutes would be good. It was very congested in the first kilometre and I was weaving through the pack to keep my pace even. Was that a Goyt Valley vest ahead. I didn't know of anyone running the event. Anyway he was going at a good pace so I thought I'd try and keep in touch. Road running is very different to the fells. It's all about pace and rhythm. I settled into a good stride and found myself in company of others who I judged to be of similar ability. Stick with it and there's something a bit more familiar about that white vest with the green band. 5K came up and I was feeling quite good. I glanced at my watch, 19.55. I couldn't help but give a wry smile. If I could keep this pace up then a sub 40 would be on the cards. Surely not possible and there was still that vest ahead. Around 7K I caught up with Jonathan. We exchanged some banter and I pressed on. Stay focussed and hold your form was the mantra that I kept repeating to myself. Last two clicks and I was holding on to the guys ahead. Final kilometre and I could feel it beginning to hurt. The countdown begins and I daren't look at my watch. Around the final corner with 200 to go and a quick glance down shows 39.something (my eyes can't focus and I'm not going to slow down now). Can I break the 40 minute barrier? Gathering myself I just gave it all I had left. Bingo! 39.53. I couldn't believe it, not after yesterday. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together. Running, the best thing in the world.

Rivington Pike & Errwood 10K

Two very different races with two very different outcomes. Rivington Pike was warm (around 15C) and was short(ish) and very sharp. Basically straight up and down this 3.25miles and 700ft course. As always there was a mass start up Lever Park Avenue before turning left and the start of the climb. It's a good 'un and I'd recommend it to anyone. One the Pike comes into view the hard slog sets in. Runnable all the way for some and i just walked the last bit right at the top. Then around the Pike and a madcap, helter skelter race down the grassy slopes and bridleway before hitting the road at the bottom. It's a case of holding form until the finish line which can't come soon enough. 23mins 57secs was a PB and the injury held up OK.
Then onto the 10K and a completely different story. Setting off from the Errwood sailing club we made steady progress along the trail. I was keeping up a good tempo with Julian and Pete W just ahead. There were plenty of other GVS all around but more of them later. Turning the corner at Taxal church still feeling reasonably strong the climb began and I soon lost touch with Pete and then Julian. My hill strength was fading and it wasn't long before Trevor came alongside and then started to pull away. Next up was Alistair followed in quick succession by Brian and Steve Bull. I had to dig in but there wasn't much in the tank. Still I managed to keep within striking distance of the pack and even pulled the place back from Steve. It was the penultimate climb before the dam that did it for me. It doesn't look much (and it isn't!) but I was shot and I lost much ground to everyone. Still I managed to stay on my toes for the last climb up to the top of the dam and it was only just near the line that Steve came back and pipped me by 2 seconds. Not a PB this time, around 45seconds slower than last year, but still carrying an injury I guess it wasn't that bad. Must do some more hill work!!