By Brian Holland
This year has been a bit of a renaissance for me, I rediscovered the evening fell races.
It started with Herod farm, the only race I know with two walking hills and only 3 miles to cover, but it is always the first of the year and gets a good crowd.
Next up, the Gun run, a bit of a hike to get to this one, but the route was good, an easy start up a gentle slope, then down a never ending hill, which caused me and Anna to get stitches, so a bit of shared sympathy and working out if you breath out on the opposite side to your foot strike, which means it hurts less. Then the uphill, Anna abandoned me as she chased down those who had enjoyed the downhill, gradually reeling them in. Over the trig point I caught some other Striders and really enjoyed going down to the finish on the slope we had run up to start. I never caught Anna, but that is a recurring event these days.
After a break to attempt my second ultra, resulting in the decision that though ultras happen in amazing places, my body does not seem to agree with my mind. The decision made to do more short fell was made. Pete F encouraged me and off we went.
Hope Wakes: another in the club champs, so plenty of Striders there for me to follow, a simple over the ridge and back route, but with the climb back up being steep and tiring. No pub, no food, just friends.
Hathersage: I have done this a few years ago, but remembered little of the route, an unusual start on a main road, followed by the inevitable big climb, nice flatter bits, a few boulders to climb which I defy anyone to run up. The long descent nearly broke my ultra-tired legs, quads tingling with the start of cramp, but a photo stop, and off again but more carefully and I made it back. Cake at the finish is always welcome even if the last few metres are very uphill, but with everyone watching and cheering it seems that everyone finds a little bit left for the finish.
Peak Forest: nice undulating, until you are nearly back and they turn you off to go up a steep rough hill. Cake and a friendly feel to the village hall.
Sheldon: unusually, for this one you run downhill first, then a nice trail bit along the river, then just to prove the saying ‘It’s not fell race unless I walk’ there is a big climb up wet, soft but stony ground to negotiate, followed by a seemingly endless slope that without the hard climb would be easy. Eventually you hit the road and downhill to the finish, where there is a pub, so nice to sit with a beer watching the tail-enders finishing.
Stoney Middleton: helped with registration, then ran it. Unfortunately I was in the loo when they said ‘Go!’, so I was never going to be at the front, I remember this – a tough road climb to start, then a nice trail type run. I was not wrong, a long plod up which dropped to a walk, then a great run across the tops, with a short ‘****** this is rough, I’m walking’ section of limestone scree on the way back to the start/finish, where there’s beef burgers, beer and cake. Ticks all the boxes besides frightening scree – I can do without that.
Cracken Edge: done this a few times, the main problem I have with it is that when on Stubbins Lane I am closer to our house than the finish. But I pushed on through this crisis because the car was in Hayfield, plus having already suffered the stile queues, unusually wet ground and the hard climb up the back of Chinley Churn. The run back from Big Stone is always nice, but a little misty this year, and the run through the trees in the gloom of dusk as frightening as ever. Great finish with a few Striders waiting for me. A new one for me, last Strider. As Pete F says, the view from the back is very different to the front, one bonus is that the grass is well trodden by the time you get there.
Eyam: I had walked most of this in lockdown, but had only vague recollections. I had a good run, but it was hot and sapping, maybe it is runnable all the way, but my body disagreed and I walked a few bits. Lovely challenging bit near the end, just when I think it’s been a tough trail route, I plunge off a nice road and into woods, with roots and rocks to keep me alert, then an unnecessary hill near the end just to give me a chance to have a proper walk. Drawback was parking miles away, legs were very tired by the time we got down the hill to the car. Hotdogs and beer at the end in part of the historic bit, so ticking all the boxes.
Great Longstone: This is the first fell race I have ever run all the way, no insane steep hill, not so rough I fear for my ankles, just climbs and descents that are great to run, plus a pub at the finish. This should be in the championship soon.
Bollington 3 Peaks: not a weekday evening as it’s too dark, but still a good run. 3 big hills in just short of 6 miles, with the last hill beating even the front runners who I am told all walked it. Loved the downhills as the first two are tricky, the last is very runnable including dull canal and road. Chilli and beer included in the price, with a great place to sit and chat with old friends after the race. Another one that ticks the boxes.
Of course there are many more I could have done, but as you can tell I came with a flurry at the end of the season, so maybe next year I will try one a week all summer. The bonus is they are great training runs for not much money, most of which goes to a local charity not a business profit. Maybe see a few more Striders out next year?