by Rob Nock

9 Striders took part in the Hope Fell Race on Wednesday evening. Heavy rain from earlier in the day mostly retreated to leave a mild but moody June evening. 

Race HQ at Hope Sports Club was busy with the 185 participants.  The race began with a crowded lap around the school field, elbows out, before heading out through the village. 

A flat(ish) first mile, was followed by a steep climb up the first of two hills Wooler Knoll.  The initial crowds were now stretched out. There followed a fast technical descent into woods before the second climb of the course up Win Hill.  Here the heather taunted legs and pulled at our shoe laces as we staggered on.  

The pay off though was a fantastic sweeping mile descent through slick fields before a final push home.

The Striders were well represented across the age categories with a highlight being 2nd in the W40 for Bec Day.

Pete F’s report from Strava
> Dead last, dead hard, dead good!

Finally, here’s a post from 2019, including a report on that year’s edition of this race.