Dunham Massey 5k Part Two

Same as last time really apart from having two races in my legs from the past two nights. Cool conditions prevailed in what ultimately turned out to be a bit of a disappointing run. 19.59 for the 5k but I was feeling tired so I shouldn't complain really. 3 races in 3 days. A rest now before some hill work on Sunday.

The Long Run Home

Grindleford

Last night Kettleshume, tonight Grindleford. I hadn't done this race for a couple of years so it was good to see that it hadn't changed at all. Two laps of the cricket pitch to sort the men from the boys (I'm still a boy!), out onto the road, across the bridge and onto the lane at the start of the climb up into the woods. It's very important to get a good position early on because after about 10 minutes of tough climbing the track narrows down to a steep single track with no overtaking possibilities. I did OK but should have pushed harder. Topping out beyond the treeline the route tracks across a swampy field that is another singletrack affair. From here you turn left onto good bridleways through Hay Wood with a chance of catching and overtaking. The climbing is all over so you can cut loose knowing there's a good stretch of downhill to come. Then decent through Windses Wood is fast and technical. You need strength left because you take quite a hammering coming down through here. Emerging from the wood and the route flattens out across fields and a race back toward the playing field. Keeping form and concentration are key here. There's just one more obstacle, the river crossing. Scurry down the bank and across the rocky bed. It's not very deep and there are nice wooden stairs at the other side now (a change from the slippy mud bank of previous years.). Onto the cricket field and it's another sprint for the line. You don't want to be passed here! 40.38. Two down one to go.

Kettleshume

The last in the series of the Lyme Park races and a bottle of Bollington Beer to celebrate running in all three (Vanessa Chappell and Boars Head as well). The race was really good. Again starting from the Moorside it follows well marked tracks and paths all the way down into Kettleshume. With no serious climbs it was fantastic to be running with the faster guys and being able to keep pace. All was going well until the BIG climb. This happens at about two thirds distance and rises from Kettleshume to the Bowstones ridge and is really two distinctive climbs. The first and steepest up to Higher Lane and then the second, less brutal but still strength sapping to the ridge itself. Anyway I kept going, digging in behind Rob from Stockport. The faster guys had pulled away and Julian who had passed me on the climb was not too far in the distance. Once onto the ridge proper I could gauge my reserves and begin to put the power down. I love running along the top with views over the Cheshire plain to the left and Kinder and Shining Tor to the right. Inspired by the moment I had a great run and even better descent to the Moorside. Hop over the stream (well there's a bridge but it sounds more exciting) and a short climb back up to the finish. 51.24. Pleased with that!

Tansley

Yesterday it was the Boars Head and today it's Tansley. A little known fell race of 4.3 miles and just 600ft of climbing. It starts from the pavilion on the playing fields in the centre of the village and the first half is mainly track and road. It's a fast and furious dash downhill around The Knolls before the long climb up Oaksedge Lane and then through woods before emerging onto Foxholes Lane. There now follows a stretch of road running where I was able to claw back some places lost on the climb. It's a good way though and not to be underestimated. After the road section thankfully we turn again onto footpaths and fields. The terrain had levelled out and it was almost time to begin the descent. Last year I made the mistake of taking it too cautiously down here. Well to hell with that! Full speed and hang the consequences I say. It turned out OK and I even passed a few (phew!). Once back onto the playing fields it was sprint finish to cross the line in 32.03 some 35 seconds quicker than last time out. Not bad!

Boars Head

Always one of my favourite races and this one didn't disappoint. I know the course well because it's my regular training run so there are no surprises. It was a cool evening as the 150+ runners lined up for the familiar start on the canal bridge. Quickly underway the route takes in a wide track on the way to Lyme Park so there's always a good getaway and it's easy to fall into a steady rhythm. Splashing across the stream (a short cut)  the track was soon rising to The Cage and I was feeling OK. Around the tower and back across the Park before the first climb up to Bowstones. Now here's a dilemma. To take the slightly longer but well marked path or the rising traverse line across the heather strewn hillside? I opted for the former and it proved a good choice on this occasion as I gained vital yards on those ahead. A glorious section followed along the ridge and then turning off the track we climbed once more over fields to the top of the park adjacent to Sponds Hill. Chocks a way and it's frantic dash down towards Park More Cottage before crossing a wall stile and back into the Park proper. Still plunging downhill on mainly singletrack until Poynton Brook in the bottom. Again decision time. Climb straight up the steep bank or go around on better, but much longer paths. I chose the climb and it served me well. All that was left was the last climb to the Pepper Pot (and this was a killer, only a slight gradient but on tired legs.....) Now onto the finishing section, mainly downhill, 56.52 at the finish and it was all over for another year.

Castleton & Wincle Trout

June is one of the busiest months in the Peak fell racing calendar with races coming in thick and fast. Sometimes you just don't have enough time to recover before the next one is upon you (especially if it's the next day!) Let's kick off with Castleton. I always reckon this to be one of the hardest races in the Peak and so it proved again. There were a few Striders present notably Claire, Andy P and Lee who were up for the challenge. (There were others but my memory is fading - sorry!!) Still suffering from the effects of pain killers for my toothache I knew that I wasn't in the best of shape, and so it proved. The route is a very fast start along the lanes from the playing field before heading up the long climbing traverse to the shoulder of Losehill. It was here that I knew that I was in trouble, losing ground and generally feeling sluggish. Once onto the final climb to the summit of Losehill I elected to walk along with most around me. Off the top and then it was a fast descent over the lumps and bumps to Hollins Cross. Ahead was the paved climb to the summit of Mam Tor. Here it's just a case of digging in and keeping going on a track that seems to go on forever, up, up and up. The front runners were already on the descent and I was keeping an eye out for Andy P to give him a shout (more of that later). I eventually reached the summit and had gotten into a battle with an eager young lass. On the way down I closed up on quite a few runners (including said lass) passing them and holding them behind me as I clattered down the narrow stone pocked path from Hollins. The final track / road section really takes it out of your legs. Don't go too early or you'll blow and thankfully I managed to keep my form to the finish. Phew. A couple of minutes slower than last year. Lee was ahead and Andy P had crashed out at a stile! No real harm done but he retired to be on the safe side. One year I will have a good one here, but not this year.
That was my Friday night and now on to Sunday and the Wincle Trout race. Always a great crowd and it gets booked early so you need to get your entries in sharpish. This year it was the tough course (just my luck)! We all amassed at Burnt House Farm amid the sideshows, marquees and Maypole. Plenty of Striders Neil, Julian, James, Clare, Wayne, Matthew, Rik, Jo & Sally. First up a blast around the field to string the field out a bit before entering the fete and then exiting down a steep bank. We were soon racing along across farmland and on to the infamous river crossing. Check out the photo.

The race then climbs for a bit before following the river through the woods which is quite undulating but very runnable. At the turning point the track takes a steep climb before exiting the tree line high up with a great view. I was going backwards at this point being passed by some runners who I normally beat so all was not well. Anyway once we hit the sandy tracks along the skyline I started to feel better and picked up some lost places. Past Luds Church and then we turned for home. A great descent, down, down and down to the Dane Valley. Brilliant running here. Soon we were back in Wincle at the site of the original fete so I knew what was coming - a big climb (or two)! The first challenge isn't too bad, running and walking with some effort you reach the top before a chase across the parkland and then there is the second climb to the finish at the hill top. A real killer but for the climbers one to savour. 51.46 and the third Strider back. Will it ever get any easier?

Dunham Massey 5k

There's a series of 5k's organised by Altringham AC and Spectrum Striders known as the North Cheshire Grand Prix 5k series. Rather grand and I only enter the two run around the beautiful drives and parkland of Dunham Massey. The first one is always useful to be able to put down a marker to see how things are shaping up. Unfortunately I was (and at this point still am) suffering from a cracked filling and some root canal stuff. All really painful and requiring a bucketful of Ibuprofen so I wasn't at my best. Ah well I'd pre-entered (you have to as it's limited to 300 in the park) so I thought I might as well give it a go. The course is basically three long straights with tight haipin turns so a good time can be had. The only small downside is the deceptive climbing gradient up the long straight (which is also the finishing straight on the last lap.) A massed start again in front of the house and I soon dropped into my regular 5k pace. Unfortunately everyone else's pace was that bit quicker! Time to up the stakes. First lap completed and on to lap 2. Pushing as hard as I could up the long drag I managed to keep station with those around me. Turning at the top onto the park paths (a little off road section and slightly downhill), I pull in a couple of places and steeled myself for the last run in. The toothache also kicked in at this point as well as the tired legs and panting breath. Not good. Still I was spurred on by seeing lots of other runners suffering who were a fair bit younger than me. 19.25 and it was all over until the next time. Now if only I can find those extra 25 seconds I might be able to break into the sub 18 category. Look out to see how I do in a couple of weeks time.

Vanessa Chappell May 25th

A fantastic GVS turnout for the second revival of this classic Lyme Park series race. A cool night but dry underfoot meant that it would be fast going. As usual there was plenty of pre race banter with all the familiar excuses being rolled out. A mass start and a mad dash down to the first bridge and stile meant some bottlenecking before a quick dash along the road section. Everyone was going like the clappers and I was trying to hold a bit in reserve for the climbs. Wrong tactic as it turned out because the queues at the stiles on the climb up to the Bowstones meant that I lost quite a bit of time to the leading pack. Pressing on over the ridge we plunged down into Lyme Park over hard and stony ground before taking a sharp right across the top of Hampers Wood. I could still see Julian and Al not too far ahead but with the climbs to come I knew I was in for a hiding. Up through Lantern Wood and not losing too many places before topping out on the ridge again and turning sharply left, dodging the trees and roots, then emerging onto the fellside for the fast decent to the track leading to East Lodge. Shortly after the Lodge we took a new detour to avoid some repair works at Bollinghurst Bridge that saw us heading up and over the Gritstone Trail to exit on Mudhurst Lane just after Bolder Hall. Again a short road section and my legs were feeling the pace. Oh dear another climb to come up past Rocks Farm before ascending to the ridge behind the Moorside. Here's where I really suffered. I asked all the right questions but got no answers ans so began a painfully laborious jog up, up, up. After the summit there only remained the last descent to the road again before returning to the start / finish area. At least I held on to my position and it was great to hear everyone cheering at the end. Time 50.02; Posn 44th out of 179. Onwards and upwards as they say!