The Otley Chevin fell Race
Posted in RunningIn keeping with my recent theme of no running training and only racing on races that are less than 6 miles and usually on an evening, it meant I could do the Otley Chevin fell race. Although only 3.5 miles it does pack in a whopping 900ft of ascent before tumbling back down to the finish.
This was the only category A fell race in the Valley Striders Fell Champs and it was also my only official short category race I competed in for the whole of last year. Last year I biked to the start only to realise that my house is then 10 miles uphill from Otley. This year I took the car. Quick pick up of another runner and we were in Otley in plenty of time. Quick register and on the start line.
The race is a cruel one, with a lot of tarmac, steps and road so not your typical fell race terrain. Really a very steep trail race would be a better description however I feel that wouldn’t do this classic race any justice to class it as a trail race.
The race started with the minimum of fuss and off we went up the cobbled street, over the bridge and up a steep road. As it was a Strider fell champs race and I wasn’t sure how fit the others are at the moment I decided to try and hang on to the faster Striders and see what happened. We were soon onto rough trails but still going steeply uphill. It then turns in to a steep section of stairs. Here I culdn’t decide which would be the fastest way to get up them? Hands on knees? stand upright? start jogging? It was kind of inbetween all three so I tried all three. That was until first lady ran past me on one side and a guy from club walked past me on the other. the guy from club looked like he wasn’t trying as hard as the lady so I tried to walk just behind him. As the path flattened out briefly I tryed to catch up but this was just not happening as the brain was saying go faster but the legs were not listening. So I tried to tuck into a nice rhythem and keep my breathing under control as we went up a final ascent to the top of the Chevin. Thinking I will get him later (I always think that, but never do?). There is then an all too brief spell of generally flat trails across the top of the Chevin, going round Suprise View before the great descent back down to the finish.
The descent is a very fast non technical descent that seems just to plummet to the bottom of the Chevin. At one point I was flying down only to lose my bottle a bit and try to apply the brakes. I really do need to master that descent as you could really pick up some mighty speed if you could get your legs to keep up with you.
Eventually the track goes onto concrete and an even steeper section that really does jar the legs. I was catching my club mate so kept on pushing. Back the way we came and I was now catching him fast, but also seeing the finish come even closer. I pushed hard down the road, finally finding a bit of speed 200m from the finish line but just couldn’t catch him.
I came in 22nd position overall, in a time of 20.48, club mate beat me by 2 seconds in the end. Winner Graham Pearce from Pudsey and Bramley in 17.35.
Another great evening race. Thanks to Skyrac for putting on the race and marshalling. I will definately be back next year and who knows I may even have a few goes at the descent in the meantime.
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