Middle Pack

Some dates for your diary for 2009 if you are interested in Ultra running.

The guys over at runfurther have annouced their 2009 race line up.

There have again been a few changes but the classics are still there and are now forming the backbone of the competition. Other races kind of making guest appearances.

New this year is the Wye Ultra 30 miler and the Dark and White Peak Race that is as yet an undecided length. Both of them fall into the short category along with the Wuthering Hike/Howarth Hobble and the Pumlumon.

The medium category remains unchanged from last year with Calderdale, Malborough Downs, Osmotherly Phoenix and the High Peaks 40 making up that category.

The long had embraced the Lakeland 100 which is an excellent thing to see as it looks and sounds an amazing race and I do hope to be able to complete it this year with a steady away approach. Alongside this future classic is an old classic in the form of the Fellsman. Joining these is the Highland Fling and Long Mynd.

Another great set of races and with over 500 miles of racing to cover this looks to be a series that is growing from year to year and attracting quite a cult like following.

After last years failed attempt at the Runfurther series due to injury I am going to be revisiting the series this year and incorporate these into my main goals for 2009. Already booked in the diary are the three Yorkshire Ultras of the Howarth Hobble, Calderdale Hike and the Fellsman.

I then get to enjoy summmer briefly with a BG and the Saunders Klets just in time for the Lakeland 100 and hopefully extra bonus points for completing this gruelling race. So that would be my 4 races for the series completed. A tough order and relies on a good injury free period.

With the Runfurther series as my backbone of races throughout the year alongside the Saunders, Rab and OMM Mountain marathons it looks like 2009 is coming together quite nicely.

And oh my god what a tour! I feel like I now know every little bit of the hill a lot more intimately that I did a couple of days ago.

The Tour of Pendle is the last A Long Fell race in the calendar. A race that squeezes in 17 miles into a hill that covers a square of land roughly 2.5 miles wide by 3 miles and has 4800ft of ascent is no mean feat.

I was looking forward to this race as it was my first proper fell race since Wasdale in July although I was running with a few niggles I was feeling strong and fresh on the Saturday morning. I even abstained from alcohol on the Friday night in anticipation.

The race starts off with just over a km on track before the first ascent (of six) up onto the tops. This followed by a great section along the wall on the top of Pendle as a route change from the usual race line to avoid further erosion. I was stuck between trying to hold back and to stay in sight of the people in front. Choosing to try to hold on to the people in front until CP 2. An up and down of the moor took us to CP 4 and the “Geronimo descent”. Managing that okay but being caught by people behind me as I run off up Ogden Clough.

The last half of the race is a series of up and down section. A real roller coaster section, with each descent and ascent feeling bigger and longer than the last. This happens right up to the last ascent of “Big End” Which is literally the big steep end of Pendle hill. A slog that gets the cramp twinging in many a person’s calves. A final tussocky run down to Ogden clough and the run back on the trail takes you back to the finish.

I understand why Tour of Pendle is called a classic as it really is a great race at a good time of year for fell running. A bit of clag, a stiff breeze and plenty of bogs and water aided my enjoyment of the race. Mud up to waist high, some killer descents and some real thigh burning ascents. Also loads or runnable ground. Maybe too much runnable ground as there is little respite in the race.

Time was 2 hrs 51 minutes and a respectable 21st place out of 201 starters. Happy with a sub 3 hours as that was my only goal coming into the race.

Full results

A glorious weekend was promised for the 2nd Rab mountain marathon and the weather really didn’t disappoint. A cold blustery Friday at camp turned into a glorious Saturday. A sharp breeze soon dropped and we were left with a cool sunny day and great visibility across the range of hills North of Skiddaw and Blencathra.

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Wow is it that time already? Well not quite yet but my mind is starting to wander to the winter season racing and Open Adventure and their Open 5 series could feature heavily over the bleak cold months.

There has been a bit of a shake up this year with all the Open 5 races being a lot closer to each other without the gap for summer of previous series. This makes more sense than having the break for summer and also gives people motivation to get out and about when it is dark, wet and cold outside. They are now going to be the 1st weekend of the month apart from a break in January whilst you recover from all the festivities.

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The first in the Dark and White Mini mountain marathons and I nearly missed it! I was shocked to see on the website on Saturday morning that entries had closed! The first time I had seen this, despite doing a fair few of their races. Good for the Dark and White crew, bad for me!

I did manage to scrounge and scam entry as some people were unable to attend so my favorite race was back on! Arriving in Castleton at 8.30am and the event area was already buzzing. There was a lot of hill fog shrouding the area and this I thought would play into my hands brilliantly (being slow but a decent navigator). So after looking at the event map and registering I was off. I did my customary glance at the map and set off in search of a nearby checkpoint.

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