Middle Pack

The second in the Valley Striders fell champs was the now infamous Windmill Wizz. Usually a 10km multi-terrain race starting and finishing at Ogden Waters, between Halifax and Haworth. This time the race was going to be considerably longer for a fair few participants.

I set off at a fair pace and tried to get into a rhythm across the moorland section with the thought of pushing on as soon as I hit the road. This tactic was working well as I pushed on into a fairly stiff breeze. I was trying to keep up with another Valley runner and had him in sight (albeit with good eyesight and clear visibility)  in the hope that I could pull a bit back later on in the race. As soon as we hit the road section, we followed the race leaders and the markers off to the right and up a steep road section. Up an up we were going for about 3/4 of a mile, all of a sudden people started slowing and scratching heads, shrugging shoulders and then the realisation that there wasn’t any more markers to show the way.

At some point between the organiser putting all the flags out and the runners setting off, some joker thought it would be a great idea to move the flags as the road turning. Unfortunately myself and a fair few others had ran a long way and on turning back many other runners seeing the mistake also turned heels and headed back. This then meant the leading groups were now virtually at the back of the race.

So off we went some at an astonishing pace to try and catch up. Me, well I was more resigned to a bad time and just enjoyed the run, taking in the scenery and a cheery hi as I pass loads of people on the run to the finish.

I have to admit it was good to be passing people right through the second half of the race, instead of hanging on for dear life to keep position. Was also nice to not be stressing about position or the person bearing down on me from behind.This is something I must remember for some future runs as this usually only happens in LDWA events where I run carefree.

Loads of runners stayed for the prize giving, a lighthearted affair with the prizes going to the ones first across the line (as it should be) despite the markers being moved.

Everyone was in good spirits and it was all accepted as just one of those things.  I wonder if the same would have happened in a city 10km race? No-one chases a PB in these types of races and people are out there for the enjoyment of the hills and running as opposed to times and pace. This showed at Windmill Wizz.

As always, huge thanks to the organisers and the marshalls.

Final result 59th out of 122.

Full results and report by the organiser

Local news

noonstone-fell-raceTo sum this race up in one sentence would be “great fun, but not my finest moment”

I made the journey out there with a few others for the first of our club Fell Championships only to find I had forgotten my fell shoes! So this being described as a “beast” on the website also there would be considerable amounts of mud, bogs, groughs and steep hills. I was not impressed. I hummed and arrghhed about buying some more shoes at the shop, but having paid for a bike the day before I wasn’t feeling too flushed for cash. The other option were my road shoes or don’t do it.

I tried not to do the race initially, quoting my physio “take it easy”, then mentioned weak ankles, lack of grip, and anything else I could think of to get out of running in flats. It all fell on deaf ears and eventually I was convinced to line up with another 250 runners for the 9 miles of mud and hills.

The start was flat road to the base of a hill then a steep climb up onto the tops. Not too much of a climb but it seemed like I was taking twice as many steps as everyone else as I just couldn’t get grip. Resporting to all fours scramble made it faster, but not easier but I was up the first hill and off! Then the mud! Gloopy stuff was fine as I sank up to the ankles. Grip wasn’t therefore an issue, only issue was keeping your shoes on. As the first descent was coming up this was going to be the make or break for the race.

I minced and shuffled down the hill, as everyone else streamed past me. I took myself off the racing line so I didn’t slow others and also to get that imaginery grip I was so hoping for.

On hitting the flat maintained bridleway at the bottom of Stoodley Pike I tried to push on as much as I could as I knew the rest of the route would be tough with no grip. Passing a load of people along the path and up to the top of the hill, then they all passed me again on the way down the other side of the hill down.  The rest of the race was a struggle between falling flat on face or falling on my arse as I tried to pass people, only to fall over and get passed again.

Coming up to the final descent, my knee was bleeding, my face was covered in mud from a face first head plant into a bog, my number had come off and it was sodden and covered in mud.

I decided the final descent was best taken sitting down, with the occasional get on feet and slowly get down the hill. The thought being I had got this far with only superficial wounds, I wasn’t going to injure myself seriously on the final descent. Then a quick sprint to the finish and it was all over.

An interesting race and I am glad that I took part, although disappointed that I didn’t have proper shoes as I reckon I would have been a good 20 places further up the field.

Final postion was 58th out of 251 starters.

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