Race 19: Rivock Edge

Another new race for me and an interesting route with a wide variety of terrain. Starting on an industrial estate, the race follows the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for a short distance before crossing fields to the first climb through woodland. The middle section covers some rougher ground and climbs to the trig point on Rivock Edge through dense forestry. After a short open section on top of the fell, there is an interesting descent through the trees before crossing more fields and re-tracing our steps along the canal tow path.

I am not a fast runner on the flat so I was pleased to be placed well inside the top half as we left the canal on the way out. I lost a few places on the climb, as per usual, but once the group ahead of me had got away I held the same position for the last two thirds of the race. The runners were so well spaced out that I couldn't catch anyone on the downhill but on the plus side, I had a big enough lead on the guy behind not to have to worry about him on the return along the canal.

Kath had positioned herself next to the canal bridge and it was lucky she did because she persuaded some narrow boat users to wait for the runners to cross before opening the bridge so they could pass. I wonder how many would have taken a dip to gain an advantage!

Not until I saw the results on-line did I realise that I had made the top half by the narrowest of margins - on the day I thought that I had missed out. This is the third consecutive race where losing just one more place would have put me outside the top half. I thought that I was unlucky to miss by a tight margin on a couple of races but actually, I have been in by less than 5 places 5 times and out by less than 5 places 3 times so far. Consistent if nothing else - consistently not very good!

Anyway, since I'm making up the rules for this challenge, I have made up another one today. I have started to calculate my position as a percentage of the field in each race and so far, on average, at 49.6% I am in the top half - only just but I am - so that'll do!

Crossing the Leeds and Liverpool Canal on the way out

Returning to the canal bridge after tackling the fell section

Results: 21st/42
Distance: 10.9km/6.8 miles  Climb: 269m/883ft

Race 18: Midgeley Moor

A good day for running despite the cold wind on top and a first go at this race for me. That seems to be the only way I can get a PB these days. I didn't run well but did just enough, perhaps helped by the route choice variants taken by some other runners - who cares! Another top half finish will do for me after picking up a couple of places in the final descent.

The start of the race, before we get in to the heathery moor top

Results: 52nd/105 (finishers)  53:59
Distance: 8km/5 miles  Climb: 381m/1250ft

Race 17: Sedbergh 3 Peaks

Normal service is resumed. This is a great little race organised mostly for pupils of Sedbergh School following a tough but grassy route to the top of Arant Haw. The view of the Howgills to the North from the top is superb and the run off down to the finish is great fun. I squeezed into the top half courtesy of a runner ahead who fell towards the end of the race allowing me to overtake the three I needed on the descent. I did stop to check he was OK and I'm sure he will have limped in without too much of a problem. I must confess to being grateful for his misfortune which was my good luck!

Arant Haw in the Centre and Winder to the right

Provisional Result: 35th/71
Distance: 3.6km/2.2 miles  Climb: 462m/1516ft

Race 16: Black Combe

Looking forward to this, my ninth running of the Black Combe Fell Race, never was my optimism more misplaced. After an easy week of training to recover from my last double race weekend I warmed up with a jog around Silecroft and felt absolutely fine. My climb to the summit wasn't fast but there's nothing unusual in that and I expected to pick up places as we headed off into the mist towards Whitecombe Head. I didn't get going properly but held my position thinking that it would come together on the two big descents. It didn't. The first descent to the stream junction was fine but the second climb of Black Combe felt like it nearly killed me. I backed off a little - not enough to make me feel better; I ate my emergency Dairy Milk - no effect; I even stopped for a break but never recovered and all the while people were streaming past as they headed up the steep grassy slope. Kath was at the cairn on the South summit and I grabbed a drink to wash down the chocolate before heading off for the finish. I regained 10 of the places I had lost on the climb but finished miles outside the top half. By far my worst result in this series and my worst time on this race by 19 minutes. 19 whole minutes - and that's compared to my previous worst! I think I need a rest and to re-think my training regime. This 50 at 50 is going to be harder than I thought if I am going to include some tough races like this one. I walked up to the post box near the farm at 10:45pm to post my Jura application form before I change my mind!

Heading in to the mist just after the summit of Black Combe

Approaching the South Summit after the second big climb

A view down Whitecombe Beck at the beginning of Kath's ascent route.
The race route descends White Combe from the left before
climbing to the Souh summit of Black Combe on the right.

Results: 142nd/182 (finishers)  1:54:21
Distance: 13km/8.1 miles  Climb: 1000m/3281ft