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?