8miles/2000feet Cat: A (hard) M (medium distance)
1 Tom Cornthwaite MO Blackburn Harriers 01:04:16
26 Dave McGuire V40 Hyde Park Harriers 01:17:48
*101 runners completed the race.
Valley Strider Malcolm Cole invited me to try out this fell race. This was indeed another cracker. A bit like Widdop from 10 days earlier this was another classic across moorland and extreme gorse covered tracks. Again we were blessed with ideal clear and not too windy conditions. And once again you could see the Victorian monument, Stoodley Pike, standing out way across the Pennine hills.
I paced myself well and made up much ground on the flat sections on the tops through the marshes. Had lost time descending and was on my arse on one occasion sliding down one section and dropping into an unexpected bog aswell! The finish was unique; running up the path and cemetery for a finish in front of the main church doors to the where the time keepers were sat clocking ‘us’ runners home. There was also an excellent spread of hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes to enjoy and aid recovery, kindly set up by the ladies in the community. Thank you Malcolm. Pictured above, me and my fell running buddy Jim Mosley from Calder Valley and several races this summer.
