Race 34 of 60 @ 60: Caw

If somebody were to ask where they should go to experience the very best of fellrunning which race would come to mind? Jura, Borrowdale, The Three Peaks perhaps? Or Caw? Could this be the very best fell race in the calendar? I’d say so, having done each of those other three several times, as well as over 150 others. This was my 12th time running the race that has everything, or everything that matters in a fell race – the welcoming informality of the local races in Lancashire, the proper fell terrain of the best Lakes races and the variety of route choice that opens up the competition.

And back in mid-table, the competition for that V60 position Nick and I have fought over all season was hotly contested. Nick always sets off fast and so beat me to checkpoint one on The Knott. I caught up on the short descent just after but he broke away again on the steep climb and beat me to the top of Caw, this time with a decent gap. I closed him down and passed but Nick runs better on the less steep terrain so got ahead again before we return to The Knott. Last chance then – I have to get clear before we hit the tarmac so I give it my all to make up the ground. Holding on to the lead in to the finish nearly finished me off and I’m sure it had the same effect on Nick. We’re too old for all this. We both know it. Will we stop – not a chance! It’s thrilling.

Arriving at The Knott first time
Nick ahead - Photo from Petra 

Arriving at The Knott on the return
Nick already through - photo Libby

Results: 30th/64 V60: 4th/8 Time: 1:11:04
Distance: 9.3km Climb: 550m

Race 33 of 60 @ 60 The Cake Race

I’m not quite sure why I chose this race ahead of Fairfield Horseshoe which was on the same day, but as it happened, it worked in well with a fantastic Ed Byrne gig in Darwen Library Theatre on the Friday night. After staying over, I had an easy Saturday morning motorway drive towards Oldham.

I honestly think I’d have found Fairfield easier. For me, it was too hot, too long and too runnable. That’s not to say it’s a bad race – it’s an excellent race with fantastic views over Marsden Moor but the hard track around the middle of the race was too much for me. I’d fallen over twice by then, clumsily, on easy paths so I suppose that shows a level of fatigue in the legs. Maybe I paid for going too hard on Coniston but anyway managed mid-table respectability with the result.

Results: 83rd/206 V60-69: 7th/17 Time: 1:40:16
Distance: 16km Climb: 518m

Race 32 of 60 @ 60: Coniston

A somewhat more serious undertaking for number 32, given the wet and claggy conditions at Coniston. The climbs are bigger, there’s a bit of slippery rock and even an element of route choice. I felt that I’d be fine getting round, knowing these fells quite well as I do, but on the climb to the top of Wetherlam I think that Tuesday’s effort at Orchan Rocks was taking its toll. Nick went past and I didn’t expect to see him again but picked him back up on the drop in to Swirl Hawse. The field spread out again after Swirl How where I decided to stay further left than usual for the security of using the steep slope down to the valley as a handrail. Coming over Brim Fell I saw Nick pass in a group off to my right then stay what I thought was too far right leaving The Old Man. I again ploughed my own furrow and dropped close to the tourist path initially, spotted the ruin with a telegraph pole that marks the top of that famous bit of scree and dropped on to the group running along the stream immediately ahead of Nick. With only the downhill path to go I upped the pace a bit, overtook a few more and ended up 3rd V60. An unexpectedly good result in a race like Coniston which normally attracts a pretty decent field of runners. Very happy with my £15 PB Sports voucher.

The slightly sobering side of this result comes with looking at my PB. I’m now about 25 minutes slower. 25 actual minutes. ¡Joder! Pardon my Spanish.

Part of the BCR Team pre-race

Results: 88th/232 V60: 3rd/21  Time: 1:54:10
Distance: 14km  Climb: 1065m

Race 31 of 60 @ 60: Orchan Rocks

A day of lightweight DIY down in Lancashire re-sticking Anaglypta wallpaper to a ceiling at my mum’s set me up for the short drive over Sharneyford to a cracking little race in Todmorden. Sticking with the 1980’s vibe, there was “No Jacket Required”. 

Beautiful evening, up out of the valley, round a prominent rock outcrop taking in a short but steep second climb then brakes off to try to bag a few scalps on the descent. I gave it all I had, fancying my chances of a category win although the field was bigger than in previous years. In the Staff of Life after the event I didn’t pick up the prize but was happy enough with my run and I enjoyed a great post-race pint and chip butty. Proper Fell Running!

The finish funnel with Stoodley Pike
just visible in the distance

Results: 46th/134 V60: 3rd/24 Time: 30:58
Distance: 5.4km Climb: 280m

Race 30 of 60 @ 60: Cwmyoy Horseshoe

Quite a long drive to the halfway race of my sixty, to that National park at the bottom of Wales, you know the one - Bannau Brycheiniog. Katie and Tim decided to bag another race, what with it being only an hour from Bristol, so this is another fell running excuse for a get-together. 

The race route is quite straightforward, or so it appears, and it would be lovely to do it at an easier pace on a nice day. Tim fires off with the front runners, taking a wrong turn in the village and immediately losing three minutes. Katie and I, more circumspect, trot unerringly on to the hillside. The fastest out of that careless group pass quite soon but Tim doesn’t catch me till the very highest point. He then takes off at speed down the easy path, following the group, as I knw he would, round the end of the ridge to the second checkpoint, at a stile into the valley fields. Meanwhile, I descend directly through the bracken, get back in front and finish a field length ahead. Result!

Dadsplaining

Results: 12th/64 V60: 2nd/7 Time: 53:09

Tim: 17th in 54:00 Katie: 28th in 1:00:17
Distance: 9km Climb: 383m

Race 29 of 60 @ 60: Duddon Dash

Tagged on to the back end of Charmian’s excellent junior race event from behind the Newfield in the Duddon Valley, this race flies under the radar somewhat, only attracting a fairly small group of senior runners. It deserves more as it’s an absolutely cracking route and serves up everything you could expect from a Lakeland Fell Race. Some tough terrain, hard climbs, tricky descents and not a single step on tarmac. I found the ascent of Caw quite hard but that’s no surprise with so much climb in such a short distance. I finished in a respectable position although as always seems to happen, there was a very decent V60 runner there to keep me in my place.

Results: 15th/38 V60: 2nd/4 Time: 1:14:05
Distance: 9.4km Climb: 703m

Race 28 of 60 @ 60: Loughrigg

Back to the Lake District and the oh so serious business of full kit check and the major undertaking of a four mile out and back, flagged and with the first and last mile on an unmissable track. It was a grey drizzly evening and I didn’t really fancy it before we started so I told Nick that he could have the win, I wouldn’t be bothering him. I didn’t get involved in the dash for the bridge at the start but once we got on to the steep roady bit I started to overtake people and close Nick down, passing before we got to the wet bit.

Strange how you can turn up for a run not feeling like it at all but then really get going once you set off. I use the same mental trick on myself for training runs sometimes too, telling myself that I’ll just go out for a mile or two then end up doing five or six. Sorry about that Nick.

Results: 91st/169 V60: 4th/13 Time: 41:23
Distance: 6.4km Climb: 330m