Christmas races
Cheddlton Pud run and the Christmas Cracker over the roaches.
The first festival run in the Christmas Calendar was the Cheddleton Pud run. Which is 3 laps around the back lanes in Cheddleton. I had no intention of the doing the race the morning I woke up. As my leg felt a bit tight. So I opted to go to Cave training instead. I went and after I felt great. I then got a text from craig and martin saying they were running. I thought, well I may as well. And thats is what you can not do, do not change your plan, but thats what I did. I should of stayed at home. My legs felt like they had 30 christmas puds in each of them. I felt horrible warming up. This did not bow well. My only hope was that after a mile or so they would come alive.
Monday 29 December 2014
Cop Hill Fell Race
Cop Hill Fell Race 2nd November 2014
Cop Hill Fell race is located in Meltham and organised by Meltham Athletics Club. It's a 7 mile race that consists of two laps.
The first part of the course is made up of one climb to the reservoir, and then another short climb just before the trig and then a descent back near to the start line along a farm track, the course then repeats until you hit the farm track and head back towards the sport complex where the finish is.
I travelled up with Gareth Briggs, who had recommended the course and his partner Joanna Hackett.
For the first time in a while before a race, I felt okay, not that badly injured and not that nervous...Something was a miss I thought.
Cop Hill Fell race is located in Meltham and organised by Meltham Athletics Club. It's a 7 mile race that consists of two laps.
The first part of the course is made up of one climb to the reservoir, and then another short climb just before the trig and then a descent back near to the start line along a farm track, the course then repeats until you hit the farm track and head back towards the sport complex where the finish is.
I travelled up with Gareth Briggs, who had recommended the course and his partner Joanna Hackett.
For the first time in a while before a race, I felt okay, not that badly injured and not that nervous...Something was a miss I thought.
British Fell Relays 2014
British Fell Relays 19/10/14
I helped Gareth Briggs organise the Fell Relay teams this year. We decided to opted for three teams, maybe in retrospect we should of stuck to two. However we wanted to encourage the growth of fell running in the club. And to an extent that did work. We opted for one vets team, and two open teams.
We all decided to travel up on the day, which was fine apart from Alison got a puncture on the way up in her car. Which delayed there arrival a little.
After setting up the tent, getting numbers and tags etc we went for a warm up. It's hard to do this, as it's relays, some people would be running off straight away others would have to wait until the afternoon.
Sunday 28 December 2014
Shelf Moor Fell Race 14
Shelf Moor Fell Race 07/09/14
This is the second time I ve done this race, the first time I did it with Gareth Briggs. This year he decided to do another race, so I arrived with the Craig and Martin.
After registration in the old scout hut and a half mile warm up to the start we were on the start line. I saw Roger Taylor and his friend who was doing her first fell race. I can't think of a better fell race to do as your first. Good choice Roger. Roger is a good friend and he runs for Mercia and lives in Stone. Mark Platt who also runs for Staffordshire Moorlands also made his way up to the race. Hes nice bloke and has been running for a while.
This is the second time I ve done this race, the first time I did it with Gareth Briggs. This year he decided to do another race, so I arrived with the Craig and Martin.
After registration in the old scout hut and a half mile warm up to the start we were on the start line. I saw Roger Taylor and his friend who was doing her first fell race. I can't think of a better fell race to do as your first. Good choice Roger. Roger is a good friend and he runs for Mercia and lives in Stone. Mark Platt who also runs for Staffordshire Moorlands also made his way up to the race. Hes nice bloke and has been running for a while.
Longshaw Sheep Dog Trails.
Longshaw Sheep Dog Trails Fell Race 30/08/14
Myself, Craig, and Martin decided to carry on racing.
We enjoy running, we enjoy the banter, we enjoy the sport and we enjoy the land. So the next chapter in the adventure took us towards Sheffield and close to the burbage edge.
Here is the link to the website:
http://www.longshawsheepdog.co.uk/fell_race
We arrived to a muddy field in a cold and wet miserable day. O the joys of running in the rain. None of us knew what to expect and how difficult the race was. We had just turned up to take part in the race.
Myself, Craig, and Martin decided to carry on racing.
We enjoy running, we enjoy the banter, we enjoy the sport and we enjoy the land. So the next chapter in the adventure took us towards Sheffield and close to the burbage edge.
Here is the link to the website:
http://www.longshawsheepdog.co.uk/fell_race
We arrived to a muddy field in a cold and wet miserable day. O the joys of running in the rain. None of us knew what to expect and how difficult the race was. We had just turned up to take part in the race.
Weasdale Horseshoe
Weasdale Horseshoe Fell Race 23/08/14
A rare trip up to the lakes to race, this was my first lakes fell race. You start to fear the worst when you see the mountain grow as your driving on the motorway. And for those that know me, my nervous started to step it up a notch, so there were a couple of stops on the motorway!
I travelled up with a Craig Jeffery, Gareth Briggs, and Martin Dearden all from Staffs Moorlands running club. This made for an enjoyable journey because of the banter. Laughing definitely helps settle nervous.
We arrived at the Wasdale and it was no surprise that the race was attached to a village fete. A gently warm up and a quick look at the map and a technical tongue wag with Gaz about the the route as he has done it before. And I was set for me race plan.
A rare trip up to the lakes to race, this was my first lakes fell race. You start to fear the worst when you see the mountain grow as your driving on the motorway. And for those that know me, my nervous started to step it up a notch, so there were a couple of stops on the motorway!
I travelled up with a Craig Jeffery, Gareth Briggs, and Martin Dearden all from Staffs Moorlands running club. This made for an enjoyable journey because of the banter. Laughing definitely helps settle nervous.
We arrived at the Wasdale and it was no surprise that the race was attached to a village fete. A gently warm up and a quick look at the map and a technical tongue wag with Gaz about the the route as he has done it before. And I was set for me race plan.
Saturday 27 December 2014
Half tour of Bradwell
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.
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.
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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