Ian Hodgeson Mountain Relay 2013

Johns tea tent

A group of us went up on the Saturday night for this mass event of fellrunners. Surprisingly the pub by Sykeside campsite didn't apper to realise that the IHMR was on and wasn't entirely ready for a ridiculous amount of people to descend upon it with requests for large amounts of food and moderate amounts of beer.

However, we managed to get fed and watered, and had a good long chat with a few of the challengers to the crown over a beer before getting our heads down.

John and Chris leaving on leg 1

In comparison to last year, the weather was pretty rubbish. Instead of being a crisp clear autumnal day with a frost on the ground, the clag was coming, rain was threatening and the blue sky of the dawn was fast disappearing.
As the Leg One runners set off, vests were the order of the day with Dark Peak and Borrowdale leading the
way over the first cattle grid. After a hard fought first leg, Dark Peak were in First, and we were somewhere around the 20's with John and Chris only just missing out on their target time of a sub 40min leg one.
Julien and Mark had already jogged up to the start of leg 2 and went

Jules coming in from leg 2

off like the proverbial rocket, up into the now thickening clag. Dark Peak had gone out hard on leg 2, but were brought back by a superb run by the Helm hill runners who came in as a surprise first on that leg, causing a bit of confusion as their leg 3 guys weren't entirely ready for action.

Andy and Caity waiting to head out on leg 3...

Mark and Julien made up about 5 places, arriving in out of the mist with waterproofs on before handing over to Andy O and Caity for the lovely leg 3 up Red screes.

Leg 3 was also the leg that Muir and Nic Barber from Pennine were running. Having spoken to Nic at the beginning he mentioned that although they knew they wouldn't be
fastest going up, they wanted to get the fastest split from the top to the bottom of their leg. No idea if they did it, but they gained 4 places over Red screes and handed over in 5th place!

...And coming in hard to handover

Andy and Caity ran valiantly through the mist, though not with entirely optimal route finding, as I believe there was some rock climbing involved, but they had a stormer of a line down off the top, handing over to Me and Ali in 17th place, having cut about 6 mins off last years time on that leg.

Ali and I set off in waterproofs, and the clag was properly in as we went up, immediately overhauling a team that had just nipped in before Andy and Caity. Excellent- now into 16th place.

Ali and I heading out, with 16th in sight.

We were concerned about navigation issues to get to the top of Hart crag, but in the end, none of the concerns that we had came to pass.
We did get passed by a Calder Valley team, going like the clappers, so back into 17th... and there were 4 teams who were very close to us at the checkpoint on top of Hart crag, but we managed to keep 3 of them away with a decent burst of speed over Fairfield.

A team passed us (and into 18th) just as we went past Daz H's memorial,  marked with a plaque, a cairn, and Geoff had been up that morning to lay a Pennine vest there as well. We spoke a few words to remember him, and then upped the pace. Slowly we caught up with the team that had just passed us - (back into 17th), and stormed past them on the scree descent to get onto St. Sunday Crag, where we kept up the pace, pushing as hard as we dared across the slippery ground.

Fast Finish

The speed paid off and very soon there was nothing in sight behind us but thick mist. At the same time, there was nothing in front of us, but thick mist, no-one to chase, but we kept plugging away. Coming to the top of St. Sunday, the hill went up for much further than I remembered last year, and I had visions of us being on the wrong hill. Nonsense. I know where we are, keep going, it will all be fine.

It was. We hit the top, and Alasdair found another gear to really push on the descent. Rocky, then slippery grass, then more rocks underfoot. Bog, mud and more rock. We ran as hard as we could, and yet a team from Wasdale still overhauled us (they were 2nd fastest overall on that leg), so back into 18th.... but just coming down the final descent - a team in front of us. Someone to chase.

All out down the steepness - so much so that I ended up losing footing and sliding about 20 metres down the hill, picking up a couple of excellent bruises on my left leg that are still causing me to limp 2 days later. The flags on the final part of the hill were very very slippery and treacherous, but caution to the wind and all that. We had a chance to get that 17th spot rather than the current 18th, with about 1 km to go.

Done and dusted

We passed them just before hitting the final tarmac and pounded down the last slope, keeping a little back for a sprint finish, where we really put distance between us and them.
Finally came in at 1:22:21 (or so), which was about 15 seconds faster that I managed last year with Andy O- which was much clearer in terms of weather.

Glossopdale came in 17th, with the fastest time we've ever had.
Pennine deserve a special mention for their fantastic 4th place - Simon Caldrick and Adam Perry producing a blinder on that last leg to overhaul Helm Hill on that final descent.
Congratulations to you all, a fitting tribute to Daz.

Shelf Moor Fell race 2013

I wasn't sure if I was going to do this race. It's a Glossopdale race, so I helped out as much as I could, but there were so many people helping out on the day, marshalling, number taking and generally floating around, I didn't really have much of an excuse not to run.

In hindsight, doing 30k around and about Kinder (the second best hill in the Peak district) on the day before, followed by going out and flagging the race route with a couple of clubmates, - followed by Lynnes Birthday party until only goodness knows when - might not have been the best preparation for the race.

Ah, the anarchy of fell racing - some runners starting,
other runners playing with watches, others chatting,
it's all part of the fun. 

It was a toss up between heading out on a long bike ride, or doing the race. As distance is inverse to intensity, I decided to go for the intensity, and paid my money. Which, at £4, is really good value.

After helping out on registration I ran to the start, chatting with a couple of Pennine runners- it was one of their Champs races, so there was a good turn out of the red, yellow and black vests. Glossopdale had a relatively good showing, even with a decent amount of us out and about on the course, marshalling.
Charlie - the race organiser had a quick word at the beginning, ensuring that everyone knew not to get lost, and also to report into the end if they retired.

The wind was on our backs as we raced out along Doctors Gate toward the beginning of the climb. Legs were feeling a little heavy, and the leaders were stretching out far and away ahead of us, but I was comfortably tucked in the midst somewhere, Chris off in front, Julien somewhere between us, and a whole load of Pennine way off ahead. We came into single file around into Doctors gate proper, just before the climb up onto James's Thorn.

A lot of the guys, who were a lot faster than me on the first section started walking very abruptly once they hit the hill. James's Thorn is a climb well known to me, and I tend to follow a plan - the main problem being that during this time of year there is one trod that goes up- a wonderful racing line, but if you want to overtake anyone, you really need to step it up a gear, because it means running uphill, faster than the guy in front of you through shin deep grass instead of a nice clear track. But that's what you've got to do.

So I pulled out to the left, picked up my feet and passed a good number of people, dropped back onto the track, regained some breath as I walked behind another guy, and then out to the right, powering up behind Julien. If I can keep this up, I'll be happy.
Matt Dawson was out in full force and volume, shouting from the sidelines on the hill, exhorting us to greater speeds, Chris was still powering away up the hill, and as the gradient steepened, Julien and I came up behind another couple of runners that were struggling for breath and had gone too hard already. He went left, I went right. Steep enough for hands and feet, and I fell back into step behind him as we crested the steepest part.
Ahead of us, Chris was walking - but had sneaked a look behind, saw we were coming, and he got stuck in again. The rest of the climb was a general hard hard climb to the top with Julien ecking out a few metres on me.
Past the Lancaster wreck with Beryl marshalling, and exhorting me to catch Jules, I stepped up through the top and relaxed a little through the undulating moor, trying not to lose too much more distance on those in front of me, while trying to clear the pain from my aching legs. The next up is the last up of the race before a fabulous run across the Moor proper. Up to Lower shelf stones with someone breathing down my neck, and on across to get to the trig point.

StevieK was already 100metres past the trig as I still had 100 to go to get to it, he's obviously running well. Coming down onto the final part to the trig I managed to catch a foot, tripped, and rolled, coming back up without losing a place. Across to the trig, around and, a surprise - Rich White was there, shouting out positions, I think he said I was somewhere around 15th to 17th or so, but can't actually remember.

Quiz: which one of Juliens shoes got stuck?

And then onto the best part of the course, off the beaten track, onto the moorland. Bouncy underfoot and a place where you can really stretch out.
I pulled up to and overtook a couple of runners that were a good length ahead of me, and then halfway across the moor was Julien, sitting on the ground, trying to put his shoe back on, having lost it in a large amount of peat, and had to dig it out before attempting to put it back on again - full of peat and with a super tight knot in the laces. Shame, I was looking forward to a decent battle with him on the way down - but with 2 others now behind me, and another just in front, I certainly wasn't going to stop and wait for him.

Across the stream, and decent running on the peat down to Dog rock, overtaking another runner on the rough ground, who then took back his place as we passed Gordon, marshalling just beyond the rock.
The wind was really in our faces as we started the beginning of the descent. 4 of us, very close together. That means a place anywhere from 10th to 15th or so, depending on exactly where we were in the race at that point. All to race for then.
Over the stile, and onto slightly rougher ground again, once more, I caught a foot, and went flying, a bit more seriously than before, hitting a rock with my hand, bruising it in a couple of places. The other 2 runners passed me as I was on the floor- wow we really were close together!
I picked myself up, assuring them as they zoomed off that I was alright, and continued on down the hill, a little more circumspectly. The other 3 were now a goodly distance in front of me, and I was happy to let them go at that point, as all we had left was the descent off Lightside, and then the sprint along the Bridleway.

There seemed to be a real battle between them as they got to the stile to Lightside, and they were about 30 metres ahead going over the stile. I took it nice and easy, but then on the descent, the Buxton runner closest to me looked like he was easing up a bit - oh, I might get that place back... that might work.
I didn't count on the fact that Matt Dawson would have changed positions, and would be halfway down the hill shouting at me - Come On! You can gain 3 places here, Get On With It!

The Buxton guy went over on his ankle shortly afterward, and I gained and shot past him, still a Pennine chap and another Buxton runner in front- a good 10 and 20 metres away. When you think you're going as hard as you dare, and so are they, thats quite a distance.

Through the gate and onto the track. The final 500. Internal dialogue begins.

Do I hold off just behind the Pennine guy and overtake him right at the end, leaving the Buxton lad to beat me? Do I gamble and overtake them both - but maybe not have enough energy to hold them off at the end? When do I really start winding it up? Or shall I just cruise in at this speed? Can I actually go any faster? How will I feel in an hours time if I don't actually try and overtake these two- will I be disappointed that I could have done better? Agh - I've blackmailed myself into going for it. Time to stride out.

I gained on the Pennine guy, and passed him with about 300 to go, expecting a burst from him, I kept my

Giving it some wellie at the end. 

stride up, breathing starting to get ragged, and he fell away behind, all of a sudden, it was just the Buxton guy in front- and maybe a single corner left, an acceleration, maybe 100 to go and I passed him. Breathing really hard now, not sure if I can actually hold out, especially if he has held anything back at all. Legs burning, lungs on fire, focused on the finish and come in 11th, in 49:45 or so.

Pretty good for having done about 25miles yesterday.

Congratulations to Rob Little of DPFR for coming

in first. (someone actually beat him, but was DQed for not carrying any kit whatsoever), well done to DPFR for winning the mens team prize, to Caity of GDH for winning the Lady's trophy, and Glossopdale for winning the womens team.  - a closely fought battle with Pennine.

Rob with his new trophy

Caity adding to her silverware collection

Pennine and Glossopdale Ladies teams. 

Mountain Equipment Ultratherm jacket

Is it a fleece? Is it a windproof? Its both, and its flipping great.

Of all of the bits of kit that I had on my recent Mountain Leader assessment, I was most impressed with this little jacket. I first saw it last year, a grid fleece inner with a water resistant outer layer of Helium 30rs - a fabric made specifically for Mountain Equipment. A fleece with a windproof layer, a hood and that folds up into its own pocket.

Fleece inner, Helium shell outer

Excellent.

Lynne actually went and got one first, and after seeing it in action I went out and got one as soon as I could.
I used it a bit in Switzerland, but not really in anger, but a week later, on Mountain Leader assessment I barely took it off. It was raining for virtually the whole way through, and even though the Helium RS face fabric on the outside was soaked, the grid fleece inner felt dry and good against the skin. Which is important when you end up with ridiculous amounts of eczema when you have damp clammy skin, like I do.

There is also an elasticated strip on each side, running from the waist right up, under the arm, and continues to the cuff. Stretchy stuff to allow for reachy moves if climbing, and lets you move easily. A good touch for dynamism which is sometimes not allowed for in outdoors clothing. It also has waist toggles to allow for pulling the waist in around you.

The face fabric itself, as already mentioned was designed exclusively for ME as a windproof and downproof outer shell - and for those that care, its about 29grams per metre. (It also has a surprising resilience to moisture, beading for quite a long time before wetting out when exposed to rain.

Lightweight, but windproof and water resistant

When out in the rain, what was great was that if I was wearing a fleece, it would have been heavy, and getting heavier and damper with more and more ingress of water, the Ultratherm didn't. When I wore it on its own, it was as warm as a fleece, but it was also windproof.

Equally, when I wore it under a waterproof, it was a great insulating layer, but it still breathed enough that I was walking, to not completely wet out inside the jacket, providing an excellent and breathable alternative to fleece

Hood bungee bits

I have to admit weighing it and a Patagonia R1 on the kitchen scales, just for interests sake, and the Ultratherm weighs less than the same size Patagonia R1 (by about 50g).

Helmet compatible hood
(thats a petzl elios under there)

Elasticated cuffs

The hood lives up to Mountain Equipment expectations as well, with a volume reducing elastic strap, and a cinch on either side in case the wind gets up.
The only criticism is that the side pulls on the hood are not one-hand adjustable - not the end of the world, but it would have been an excellent touch. (but difficult on a fold away hood of this lightweight material).

It isn't a strong waterproof, but nor is it meant to be. The hood is, however, helmet compatible, and clamps onto your head whether you are wearing headgear or not. Mountain Equipment really have got their hoods sorted out. I had a Changabang a few years ago and

Stuffed into its own pocket

thought the hood was good then... their mastery at over the head material shaping has got even better since then.

I've worn a fair few mid-layers and "softshells" and this is almost certainly the best one I've worn.
Ever.

The amazing thing was that it just felt comfortable for the entire week, no matter what I was doing. Even
when it was wet.

Stuffed into a stuffsack - much smaller

As a shell for summer evenings, an insulation layer under waterproofs, an extra layer in the bag when out in spring and autumn, something to stick on your harness as a belay jacket, something to throw on at the end of a race, I really cannot recommend it enough.
.
Just go out and buy one.