Sitting here with the map in front of me, this seems like a race that could be seen as relatively easy. Post mortem wise- I can say that it certainly was not. Despite having a good few weeks of long distance running in Scotland (where, to be honest, it was less about the running, and more about the covering of decent distances), it would seem that my *actual* running ability has been severely curtailed. The first inkling that this was not going to be a good day was sitting down prior to the race and looking over the route with Chris..."this bit is runnable, this whole section is runnable- here is a steep climb- the rest of it is runnable".... "what. Even this bit with the ridiculous contours?" "Well.... some people will run it".
The morning was bright, clear and hot. There is not a lot of shade on Pendle. Ok- there is NO shade on Pendle. And precious little flowing water, so this was going to be a long, hot one. In hindsight, perhaps I didn't give the race enough respect- or my ability to get around it. It also didn't help that the newish shoes which had not been kind to my heels, didn't seem to be broken in very successfully either.
The race started with the almost traditional "run around a field to break up the field" as it were, and then it went out along a flagged section through a field, into a single track section, up a road and then into a single track section ending in a Kissing Gate. So a couple of hundred runners came pretty much screeching to a halt- although in some kind of line to hang around and wait to get onto the hill.
Once through, a "runnable" hill, some flat running and then a down to CP1, and up into hands on knees territory. I was surprised at how well I was moving on the hands on knees terrain. It certainly felt better than any of the running I'd been doing in the previous 10 minutes- and it was a surprise to gain some places.
I went into this one thinking that I would go very circumspectly to begin with and just see how things go. 90th seems to be about standard for me at the moment- so anything around there would be a good day.
The terrain was tussocky across the top and I caught up with Stefan just after CP2, though he pulled away from me on the drag up Ogden clough to to the trig point- where running is something you can indulge in. The huge, steep descent to CP3 should have been a joy, but my heels were both beginning to niggle. The breeze from the south was a huge relief in terms of the temperature, but it was going to become necessary to tighten my laces at some point.
Hitting the bottom of the hill and CP3, I was within touching distance of Stefan and Chris, but on the run south, the heels were becoming unbearable, so a stop and re-tie was the only way forward. I lost a fair amount of time and places here, and took on a gel as I made my way up the hill (passing someone talking to their partner saying "I can't think of a worse way to spend your day"... and presumed she was talking about us.
A drop to the CP4 in Deep Clough and then down toward the reservoir at the bottom. Heels feeling a little better, but certainly not great. I was drinking a little, but was very aware of just how hot it was getting, and that I didn't really have all that much water. Racing wasn't really in my mind by this point- simply finishing the race would be a good outcome. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are not pleasant and can be pretty nasty, so I wasn't about to start going fast and put myself in any danger of that.
The drop to CP5 in Staniscomb was fairly pleasant, but due to the location of the clough, the climb back out of it was stifling. No wind here- and incessant sun beating down. This was the place a lot of people started feeling pretty bad. Myself included.
Looking at the map now, I should have stayed a little higher on the traverse around to Deerstones- (the issues with not reccying the route)- and dropped too low, taking a route that saved me some climb, but probably cost time. Then a drop into Howcroft Brook where I took a moment to stand in the Brook and wash myself down. I should have taken my filter bottle- I'd definitely have filled it up there.
CP6, and then a long and horrible climb in the sun across to Black hill, followed by a descent into Ogden clough where I was contemplating life choices. Not finshing the race wasn't an option- but giving up running altogether seemed like a fine idea. A group of runners passed me- including a lot of people who I expected to be in front of me- which was a surprise. However, now I was going backwards.
CP7 was done and a long long drag to the trig where I could barely walk let alone run.
CP8 was on the way back down, and again, a descent that I should have enjoyed, but didn't. Out of water and out of food (except emergency food, obvs). and still a distance to go yet. In the last kilometre I lost another load of places, and limped in to the finish with a massive stitch, heels feeling like they were crucifying me and- apparently looking very grey.
Some shade, a lie down, 2 ice creams, a Sprite, a Coke ,more water, more coke and a sandwich and I was nearly feeling human.
It was a long, hard race- not helped by the heat or lack of reccying. In the end, despite losing all those places I came in- 90th. Surprise!
Not a fun day on the hill and certainly not an easy one.
No comments:
Post a Comment