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!