Fairfield Horseshoe Race Report

The Fairfield race is a classic round in the Lakes, going back a number of years. While perhaps not as tough as it's bigger brothers like Borrowdale and Wasdale races, this race still packs a punch and in changeable weather very testing. It was great to have a good SRC turnout for a Lakeland race for a change, hopefully we can get a few more out for the Grizedale later in the year.

As it was we had 10 Sadd's on show, with a number of ex-Sadds in Simon, Chris and Ben W in attendance too. A very wet night (I was camping ;( ) brought a dull morning with light rain showers. With over 500 registered it took a while for registration to plough through their procedure (no entry on the day caused some sad faces). Ambleside, the host Club were trialling some chip timing for the first time which needed a tyvek loop attaching to each and every runners shoe. The 20 min delay actually worked in the race's favour as the day grew better in the afternoon.

The race underway the line soon snaked off into the mist and low cloud, some of the ridge on the way out can be skirted, other peaks were check-pointed with well-drilled marshals. By the time Fairfield summit was reached, the mist was thick and the field spread out making navigation tricky, though few bothered to get compasses out relying on local vests, hoping they knew the way. Both Alice and Tanya had self-doubt moments that always end up in losing time and often places.

Leading the Sadds troupe was Rowen, a brilliant run coming 17th lady overall (nearly a third of the field was ladies!) only just ahead of Des who had unbelievably just helped support a Leg2 Bob Graham just hours earlier. Alice despite her walkabout in the mist had a brilliant run and with a little more self-belief on the descending would have surely whooped Chambers who only managed to sneak by her in the last few miles.

As we descended back towards the valley, Ambleside appeared out of the mist,twinkling in the afternoon sun. Those dressed for winter conditions were busy losing layers as the day heated up, a far cry from the cold misty summit. Hitting the valley bottom means you are usually near the finish, but here a further 3/4 of mile along a gradually inclining path awaits the weary running looking for some relief.

Jo gleefully cheered each and every Sadd in, demanding a smile on the uncalled for uphill finish. Great runs all round, a good experience for those new to Lakeland running. Rowen, Alice, Tanya, Jill (3rd V60), Christobel, Liz, Nicky and Monica did the ladies proud, we just need a few more fellas next time.

Link to results: https://www.resultsbase.net/event/3867/results?round=8252

Blown away by the Atlas Mountains - Apr 2017

What do you get when you take a Financial Advisor an Economist and a Barrister to the Atlas Mountains?

Our most recent excursion to the High Atlas Mountains proved once again to be very successful. Only a small group on this occasion, but what we lacked in numbers we more than made up for in personality.

This was the sixth running of our popular trailrunning camps based at the Iconic Kasbah du Toubkal in the Berber village of Imlil (1800m), just 60km from Marrakech.

Arriving very late in the evening our guests awoke to the amazing views that surround the Kasbah, standing beneath the shadow of Mt Toubkal (4167m) the highest peak in North Africa. Imlil is actually a series of smaller villages seemingly clinging on to precipitous mountainsides. After a sumptuous breakfast we headed out for a short acclimatisation run through the Southern reaches of the villages and headed up around the hills overlooking the Kasbah. It was a hazy start to the day, but this did not spoil the magnificence of this place.

Run done some of the group headed to the wonderful surrounds of the Kasbah's hammam, the Berber version of a steam bath. Lunch taken on the terrace where our group met up with Hassan our Berber running guide.Hassan loves nothing better than showing trailrunners his Berber homeland and the myriad of trails that criss-cross the Atlas Mountains. A showery afternoon and early evening resulted in a much clearer second day which was the start proper for our 5 day traverse of the mountains. An steady introductory day taking in the high level pass of Tzi Msik of around 11k and 1000m of climb got our group used to the terrain an the effect altitude has on the body. Dropping into the remote village of Tizi Oussen we were acquainted with our accommodation for the evening. Our Gite was basic, but clean and dry. After tea (mint) and biscuits on the terrace, some free time for the group to read and chill for a while.   Night-time brought us more food, amazing fayre prepared from a single gas-ring by our Berber  Chef and muleteer Haasan...yes we had two Hassan's.

Our second day brought about a variation of route choice for our guests, with some deciding to take on a 27k route taking in 2000m of climb. Other guests headed out for an easier but no less stunning trip down the valley to the village of Tisianne. The longer route takes in a whole range of different rock strata's. Reds, Greens and Grey coloured earth mingle in the bright spring sunshine. Goats and sheep are pretty much our only companions on these lesser trod mountain paths. A stunning day ended at another Gite in the village, followed with yet more tea!

A third day of around 15k was a lovely mix of wide trail and lesser trod paths as we headed back over into the Imlil Valley and a short 'hop' into the village of Imska. It was here we were to be joined by another guest, joining us for just a taster few days who's main reason for the reccie was to test out the area for her run/yoga.Arriving very late at night, she must have wondered just where she was coming too!

Our fourth day took us back to Imlil and the Kasbah, the route of around 18k took us by some of the most remote and equally poorest villages in the area. The valleys in this area are very lush at the moment, a result of much winter rain. There is still much snow over the 3000m level giving fresh water to the valleys of an otherwise typically arid high-level landscape. Another varied day with a mixture of tracks and trails brought us back to the luxury of the Kasbah. the much awaited and hot showers and more tea followed

Our final day in the mountains led to a repeat of our opener run for some, while others took chance to chill or head out for some photos'. Our Yoga teacher then took our group out onto the terrace for an hour of meditation and running related stretches. The Kasbah lends itself to an ideal retreat and it's easy to see why a number of yoga sessions are run here.


Our trip ended with a day in Marrakech, not for the faint hearted, a hustling, bustling city that is a far cry from the remote mountains of the Atlas.

Future trips are planned later in the year, we have a Manchester running Club coming for a 5 day camp in November with places still available either side of this week. If interested in finding out more please contact me:

www.rightaltitude.wordpress.com

or info@howardchambersservices.co.uk

Kong Mini Mountain Marathon Race Report 2nd April

I’m sure I heard a faint sob from Karina above the whir of the finish control printer as it churned out our finishing points after four hours and forty minutes of running in the Coniston Fells. It confirmed our worse fears…that any time above thirty minutes late means an automatic loss of ALL of your hard earned points! This was the 2nd of the Kong Series on MMM’s (formerly RAB) now seemingly relocated to the Lakes due to increasing access issues in the Peaks. They are still though well organised an offer great value for money and a chance to pit yourself against your own navigational frailties. Run over a maximum time of 4 hours, the aim is to collect as many points (Score) as you can without losing them through time penalties. My partner for this event, Karina a well-respected Obstacle Course Racer (OCR) from the lofty mount of St Neots, Cambridgeshire had asked if she could experience some fellrunning in the Lake District. Throwing a newbie into a full blown fell race would be harsh, even for me!, but these events offer a great stepping stone into mountain navigation in the big hills.

 
 Turning the wrong way out the start area was not the best of starts, but we soon got ourselves back up to the Walna Scar Road running underneath the Coniston Fells and amongst the points. A stunning day was in the offing and Karina soon regretted wearing longs as we climbed up to Blind Tarn below Brown Pike. Dropping into the Seathwaite Valley Karina’s choice of footwear became an issue, little grip on steep soggy grass and rock resulted in a number of high profile bum-plants. I used a checkpoint in the valley bottom by the Tarn as a time check to try and ensure we could get back in time, it was going to be tight, but thought going on was our best option. Ooops!
The valley bottom was sodden and even a shuffle was hard to muster being really tough on tiring legs. By the time we started to climb the Col towards Levens Hawse it was clear Cambridge is no place to do your hill training. It took us far longer than planned and poor Karina was really struggling with tight calves and generally tired legs! ‘Don’t worry, it’s all downhill from the Hawse!’ The trouble was the descent to Levens Water below The Old Man proved as problematical as our earlier descent.

 

 We were now already 37 minutes late and Karina had stopped talking to me by the time Paul rushed passed us like the White Rabbit muttering ‘Oh dear oh dear I will be late’. (he was but by less than a minute) Back at the finish, soup and bread, lashings of tea and cake soothed the aches and pains of what had been a truly stunning day in the hills! Result apart some great lessons learned.
 1, HOKA’s are Sh1t for running on the fells
2, Don’t go to St Neots for your hill reps!
 

Dusk til Dawn Race 25th October (it seemed like a good idea at the time!)

Way back in February or so when I first asked my good friend Nicky to run with me at the 50 mile Dusk til Dawn event the world was a different place. I had just turned 50 and had a great winter training behind me. This event was to be a bit a cummulation of a year of runs to celebrate 50 years.

Roll on to the TR24 event in July and a serious knee injury laid me up for two months, making training hit and miss to say the least. To be honest, any normal minded person would have admitted defeat and asked for a refund! Alas a great training weekend including the Langdale Horseshoe and the Oldham Half marathon gave me a glimmer of hope, even though the knee still remained a pain.

Pulling out was not really an option and a further two longish runs just the week before sealed the decision, I was running.

The days itself (that should really be night) was a really mixed bag of emotions and physical fortitude. We were joined by Nicky's friend Dave, mountain rescue member and previous finisher last year. Dave is an excellent navigator and his skills were tested a few times over the 14+ hours we were on the hills.

The route itself is a circular route from Hope in Derbyshire and takes in large chunks of the Limestone Way as is circles Buxton. 

After the usual pre-race faffing of sorted what kit to wear, carry or dump as a drop bag, we assembled outside the race venue for a quick team selfie and we were off at the appointed time of 6.52pm.

As the title suggests, the race starts  as it goes dark with the aim to finish before sunlight, or risk being snaffled up the Grim Sweeper.

The race starts with a run along the road into nearby Castleton before ascending Lose Hill, before coming right back down to Castleton forming a 5 mile loop. 

Early jostling was soon forgot as we ran in 'clear air' for the next 10 miles or so, catching some who had obviously gone off too fast being caught by the odd well paced runner. 

All was going well til around the 13m point, we were going well and had been running just 2 hours 30 minutes. Then the first sign of trouble that was to plague me for the rest of the race. The troublesome knee was beginning to twinge with another 37 miles and over 10 hours still to go, thoughts turned dark and the thought of dropping out flashed momentarily through my thoughts. 

By Millers Dale, I had no other option than to reach for the pink pills (ibruprofen) the next hour or so as the pill began to work in the mood lifted and despite a navigational faux pas, we hit the food checkpoint at Earl Stendale (21m) in good form with Nicky announced as first lady!

We spent too long in the warmth of the school and as we got going again, we soon had to done cags as the mist and light drizzle swept in. We were now on our way to the Cat & Fiddle pub, high up above Buxton,but the general going underfoot was poor, rutted tracks and hard stony paths made running tough and meant that a number of headlights closed on us. The Cat and Fiddle (28m) was to be our meeting point for Matt, Nicky's lovely husband. It was great to see him for some much welcomed support.

The pub served hot tea and Hot Dog sausages. The body is a fickle thing when running and the heat of the room and  state of nausea meant Dave could not get his Hot Dog down, not to be undefeated to carried it for the next hour or so, nibbling on it while washing it down with water.

From the pub to Shining Tor is around 1.5mi, and is the scene of an ultra that runs 55 times to the Summit and back! Talk about unimaginative!  Why would you?

We were trotting along quite well again and once summited we puled out some time between us and the chasing headlights. At the village of Taxal we were greed again by Matt, offering tea and support.

The next few miles proved to be the toughest so far, big climbs one after another on the road which seemed to go on forever. By checkpoint 9 (38.5m) below Cracken Edge, a numbers of runners had swept by us, but we were still going well ourselves. The pull up Cracken Edge went on longer than you would like, but before the summit we got a good line off towards Chinley and opened up space again on the lights.

Another long pull up Mount Famine was hurting us all and even when we hit the top and had the chance to run, it was mainly walking as the paths remained hard to get good footing. 

The long track up to Rushup Edge went on and on an even though we 'Joggled' we were overtaken by a few. Once on top of the Edge, the end was in sight (well not quite) both Nicky's and my torch where pretty much useless, though it did give us the excuse not to run!. The dark brooding lump of Mam Tor loomed through the mist, we are nearly home! Still time for one last meet up with Matt at the road crossing before the Tor and a welcome swap of headtorch.

Mam Tor was conquered and we were on the home straight, just 2.5m from the finish and mostly downhill! We retraced our steps to Hollins Cross an hit the lane taking back towards Castleton we had come up some 13 hours before.

We hit the road and picked up the pace as we raced for the finish in Hope,once again someone had extended to road as it went on longer than it should.

We ran into the Leisure Centre and stopped the clock at a very respectable 13 hours 20 mins. 

Medals awarded we showered and made the most of the full breakfast (well Nicky and I did, Dave was still feeling queasey)

An excellent event, fantastic company and well worth looking at if you after a challenge next year.



 

Southern Tour of 50@50 is a stunning success

This week saw me take on the most challenging of weeks so far in my plan to run with 50 women to help promote women's health.

Twitter has been a great aid in getting to some really inspirational people and this week I had the privilege of running with 5 different people. Starting in Bedford, I met up with Sarah Roche, a psychiatric nurse with a very interesting story. We ran and talked for over an hour while running along the muddy canal towpath.

                                                                         Sarah Roche

Friday saw a double up of ladies with my work colleague Sinead and her training partner Alex. We talked while attempting some speed reps along Eastbourne sea-front. Sinead, a proud Irish woman uses running to counter the stresses at work, while much traveled Alex initially took up running to get in shape.

                                                                     Alex and Sinead

Saturday took for for a first time to Royal Tunbridge Wells, a lovely place in the sunshine and again I doubled up with Rebekkah Rand and Sarah Russell. Both ladies are extremely inspirational with Sarah having overcome some serious health issues in recent years. Both ladies help with Sarah's Runners, a greenshoot running organisation that has won awards in the last few years. Our run took us around Bewl Res, and though a touch muddy, a really stunning day out.

                                                                        Beks and Sarah

Next week takes me to Crete, though the challenge doesn't stop there, I will be looking to pick up a further 4 runs there.

Howard 50 at 50 Jo Hughes - 4th May

I had the lovely pleasure of running out with not just one, but four lovely ladies this weekend. The ladies all members of my 2nd claim club West End Runners were in the area having run in the Cake Race the previous day. One of their members Jo, a research nurse is one of life's great characters and is effectionately know as 'Mad-Jo' due to her myriad of costumes and even known to wear a little less!! A stunning run around the Castleshaw Valley nr Delph for a 5 mile run on drying out moorland.

                                                       Jo Hughes (Mad-Jo to my right)

Jo and I covered how she got into running, weight loss, her work/life balance and what drives her to improve. An avid park runner and all round lovely person

The Cake Race 3rd May

Once again our Saddleworth Cake race at weekend was a runaway success with 152 runners heading over the East Pennine Moors towards Marsden. This 10 mile fell race (was originally created as a trail race) and is fast running all the way round, bar the one exception of the Cricket Club on the way home.

Another bright sunny day, and although numbers well down on last years record field was just about right for our venue (Diggle Church) The start is a mile and a half up hill over 'Boat Lane' once used to ferry the barge horses over the Standedge Tunnel.

From Standedge, the route joins the Pennine Way and takes the runners over stone flags to Black Moss Res before dropping into the Wessenden Valley and a long hot run down towards Marsden. At just about the furthest point of the course come the dreaded steps, sixty or so steps down, followed swiftly by a cruel return up the reciprocal steps to the toughest part of the course round Marsden Golf Club.

After the Golf course a tough uphill section back onto Mount Rd and Boat Lane on the return home. Once this initial section is out of the way, its a fast mile and a half sprint to the finish...and the cakes.

Well worth a trip Up North if you ever get chance to take in this fantastic race