Kinder Trog Fell Race 2017

The day dawned claggy. That should have put me on high(er) navigational alert. I knew a decent chunk of the race route. Fairly confident I'd say, but totally in the knowledge of where I'd get the map out. Well, me, along with many others took some interesting route choices in the clag. This was going to be one tough fell race for me - distance, ascent and the shear challenge was all a bit daunting.

This is a race with a description of 25.7km and 1062m ascent. I did a bit more than that!

After arriving early to register I walked the final kilometre through the village just so I wouldn't disgrace myself by getting lost on the last bit. Back at the scout hut things were getting busy, numbers being pinned on and Glossopdale Harrier club mates arriving.

10.55am and we're all gathered on the road ready to go. I was chatting with Cheryl when suddenly we were off...no shout of 'Go' or any sort of race organiser briefing that we heard, but then we were near the back of the pack.

The first 9km or so is pretty much all up hill. And my lungs knew it. I set off with the aim of completing the race, not pushing and punishing myself by blowing up on that first section so I eased to a walk fairly soon on the climb up to Lantern Pike. It was humid and the threat of rain and clag on the tops loomed.

With plenty of people around me we made our way over the fields and down to Monks Road. What a super boost to see Andrea and Brae on the track, then Julien, John H, Alasdair and Dave H on the road. It is brilliant to see club mates out supporting, thank you.

Onwards, I grabbed a quick glass of water from the marshals then crossed the roads. The marshals were brilliant and actually stopping cars for us. The next section was a combination of run/walk as we climbed towards Kinder past Burnt Hill.

Near Burnt Hill, thanks to Frank Golden Photography for the pic

The dreaded stone flags appeared soon enough. I got my head down and thought positive thoughts! Cheryl had pulled away long since but I had caught a glimpse of her ahead when I cross the main road. Too far to catch now, and that put me as last Glossopdale Harrier but still smiling because I was out doing it.

I ate a little, kept drinking and got myself up the steep stone steps onto the Kinder Edge path. At some point between the flags and here I'd put on my waterproof. The rain was now falling heavier, not just misty moisture and it was being blasted into my right ear so I reluctantly put my hood up, knowing I'd be heating up quickly.

I'm not a fan of the running around the edge path - rocks sticking up all over the place mean you have to pay constant attention to where you put your feet. This means I only tend to go that way when it's clear as the views are amazing. Not today - visibility at perhaps 50m at best shrouded us in rain and clag. I fell into a rhythm and saw three other runners not too far ahead. Knowing this section can seem like a long way in the clag (Kinder Downfall race in 2012 was totally clagged in too) I pushed myself on to catch them.

From not too far after the steep climb up, to somewhere above Cluther Rocks we were in a train of four. Hardly a word spoken, each in our own world. There was one chap who was mostly at the front and he was setting a nice pace. I could have gone faster, but this was good for me, steady, rhythmical and sensible given we weren't halfway. I loved the mesmerisation of our footfall and the pace that slowed to a walk on the slight inclines and rockier sections. Then picked up to a run naturally.

At some point after Red Brook and before the trig there's a section of rocks you need to climb up through and the guy at the front beared off to the right around them. I reminded myself I was running my own race so kept on the path I knew to be right. The other three runners dropped away in the clag. Cairns appeared like ghosts out of the mist. I knew I'd passed the trig point but couldn't see it. Then the triangle path of paving appeared and I was sure, totally sure, I needed to go right. That was my mistake.

So on the wrong route I trundled along. At some point I knew I was wrong. There'd been runners appearing from various directions already then all of a sudden Cheryl appeared coming towards me!! A short discussion later and we were continuing on my 'I know this is wrong but think I can put it right' route choice. She decided to be 'misplaced' with me rather than strangers. I also thought it better to drop out of the clag and put it right, rather than retrace steps and not really know where to go, wasting time. Without finding the trig point and then following a bearing you could wander up there for a while.

Sure enough we popped out on the Kinder Downfall route after negotiating the steep steps of Kinderlow End. We resigned ourselves to the climb back up to Edale Cross to pass the check point. The amusing clag-lost runners were all around - some looked like they were wandering aimlessly over towards Oaken Clough and I heard later some had gone down Jacobs Ladder.

The next section was a down and steep up to pick up the bridleway past Mount Famine. We kept a good pace and soon enough were at the top. The usually very boggy path was nicely dry and before we knew it we were on the descent to the next road crossing.

Having a good natter on the bridleway heading to the road crossing to Peep O Day
Thanks to Frank Golden Photography for the pic

Another friendly face (Carl) appeared and boosted our moral. The road crossing was negotiated safely then the climb up to Big Stone. It teases you, sitting up on the horizon, seemingly getting closer but feeling like it isn't doing so. We got there in the end, along with cramp hitting Cheryl's calves. Finally the last climb was done and we were at about 3hrs 30. Could we finish under 4 hours? We had a vague idea how far it was but pace was slowed a little as we did map reading necessary to keep us on the right paths. Plus cramp stops, then on the final descent though the trees to Phoside my right knee started to be really painful with each foot fall. Ouch! Nothing for it but to carry on. Forward progress will get you there in the end, however steady.

Across the two fields and the really muddy bit you couldn't avoid - right up to my calves! Down the slippy concreted track and the final road crossing to a massive cheer from Des (cheers for that, made us smile!!). Through the car park with about 2 minutes to go until our self-imposed (well mine I think) deadline....across the bridge....into the field!! yey! Once Cheryl realised that was actually the finish she stopped insisting that I left her to push on....we crossed the line together, hand in hand and smiling - 3 hours 59 minutes and 42 seconds. And we weren't last. Not that it really would have mattered because we finished.

The finish line still had a good few runners and supporters there who cheered us in - that was wonderful. Thank you all.

Thank you to the race organiser, marshals, tea and sandwich providers, photographers, those who supported and anyone else involved. It's a really tough race, challenging conditions and one which I will definitely be doing again. (at least I should get a pb if I don't get misplaced again :) )

A big thank you goes to Cheryl for the delightful company - I'll get misplaced with you in any race :)

My record of the route is 26.8km and 1181m of ascent....so a bit over on both counts. I am really pleased with my time and will be back.

For your amusement - the route choices taken by the racers!

As a final note (rant), my experience was a little damped by a few other runners. Please, if you are going to do a race where it is advertised with these abbreviations  - "ER, PM, LK, NS" - read the descriptions and do your homework. NS means you need Navigational Skills. Yes the route was "PM - partially marked" but NS means you might actually need to get your map and compass out, or recce the route beforehand. Don't constantly ask those around you which way to go, is this the right stile, do we go down here etc...and certainly don't harangue the marshal to physically show you the route when their job is to take numbers of other runners approaching to ensure the safety of all. It was tiresome to hear your tirade. It is your responsibility to learn the skills required for the race you have entered. Rant over!

Kinder Downfall Fell Race 2015

Wormstones catching the morning sun as
I run towards Chunal Cabin

The training for my marathon is going well and it's amazing to think that 3 years ago just running this 16km fell race was a daunting prospect. So imagine how chuffed I feel today for deciding to run from Glossop to Hayfield, and then run the race today!

The flagstones towards Mill Hill

I set off at about 8.15am, giving myself plenty of time to do the 13-14km route over to Hayfield in time for the 11.30am race start. Knowing I'd be running about 30km today I took it steady, walking most of the uphill sections up to Chunal Cabin, and up to the flags on Mill Hill. Then I settled into a great rhythm on the flags (pausing only to take photos), running all the way up to Mill Hill and down to the bottom of the steep climb onto the Kinder Plateau. I can't (yet) run all the way up the steep section there, but I picked out a big stone that I'd aim for in the race and managed to run to it on the way over. Just another 150 paces and I'd be at the top. It was actually really good to do a recce on race day, and the temptation to just keep running round the edge path was really strong as I approached Sandy Heys. I'd only seen a couple of walkers and the way ahead was basking in sunny solitude...a bit different to how it would be in a few hours. But, the race was entered, and it is a club champs counter so down the hill I went.

Kinder corner....the final steep climb onto the plateau

From the bottom of Sandy Heys/William Clough I took the race route backwards....up to the White Cabin and down the Snake Path. The 13km or so route took me just under 2 hours. A super run over in glorious t-shirt sunshine, just a little chilly so gloves mostly on. I arrived into Hayfield and made my way to the scout hut. Lovely to bump into Hayley and have a chat, then onto registration via the ever-tempting Pete Bland sales....and yes, a new pair of shoes. Mudclaw 300s for me, pair #2. They'll be stored until the autumn.

Snake Path and White cabin in distance

The usual lovely pre-race banter ensued and I changed my top layers for fresh dry ones. I reckon the wind picked up a bit too before the race started so arm warmers back on, but jacket stashed. Dave Soles did a great pre-race start speech....the main take away was don't dilly-dally on the route as he wanted to be in the pub watching football later in the afternoon!

Soon enough there was the bustle of runners squeezing up the road to pick up the Snake Path. I always feel like there's a surge of everyone coming past me in the start of a race, but I settled into my own pace and managed to run to the first stile. I then did a run-walk-run-walk strategy (aka getting out of breathe then trying and failing to recover my breathing) all the way to the White Cabin. Various Glossopdale Harriers were just in sight ahead of me, but they all just stretched out the gap between us.

I wanted to push a little on here but my legs felt heavy. I know that the trod down to the bottom of William Clough offers few passing places, but I seemed to have found my pace and didn't actually need to pass except one person. Next comes the uphill section in William

the start of William Clough

Diagonal descent to bottom of
William Clough

Clough. Fairly dry today so plenty of choices to make on the route. Soon enough the steps at the top came, various comments were made about how tough it was from my fellow racers around me, but to be honest it wasn't as bad as I remembered it from 2012. Up to the finger post, thank you to the marshals, and on to the steep climb onto Kinder plateau. I made it running to my big stone, then continued to walk all the way to the top, 150 paces just as recced a few hours earlier. Thanks to Jude for the water, much appreciated.

The edge path should, essentially be relatively easy but you need total focus on the stones, lose rocks and lumps and bumps that you pass over. At some point here I was joined by Stagger of the forum and we exchanged conversation most of the way round to somewhere near Red Brook. I just couldn't shake him! My legs felt heavy and I was conscious that I could run out of water. Hmmm.

View from Sandy Heys over to Red Brook earlier in the morning 

View from Sandy Heys with South Head and the dragons
back in the distance (taken earlier in the morning)

At Kinder Downfall I was buoyed by Harshan taking photos - thanks for the big cheer, it really did pick me up. I traded places with a few runners around me, conscious that if I relaxed too much I'd slip further and just want to sit down. The temptation to stop and take photos was immense. I resisted. Next up was Kinder Low trig and then a hello to a friends son, duly on duty with jelly babies for his mum. Down the flags and I run on the soft edges catching a lady. We chat a bit (good luck with your 12hr race next week) then I pass and just eek a few metres ahead on the approach to Edale Cross.

Around here I hear a familiar voice....Nev urging me on, well it worked as although he passed me I managed to stay in touch with him down the grassy path, over the stile (hi to Geoff marshaling) across the traverse trod and into the fields. I'm flagging and fading quite nicely by now, but its too late to try and dig out some food. I have a little water left so refresh my mouth and push on. I tell Nev I'll see him at the end but in the first field I feel good and open up my stride and seem to be catching...I wonder if I can make that stile before him....push push push and I do! and the next stile...and the next. In fact I keep Nev just on my heals all the way down until we pass the Luvshack and hit the hard surface of the road. Here Nev pulls away from me a little and I let him. Legs are heavy and I don't want to end up walking in to the end so with about 2km left I get into a pace I can hold on with.

Nev is only just ahead by 20-25m. He says he'll pick off a few runners now so I keep the distance in check and sure enough I think we overtake 2 or 3 runners. I'd like to think that I could have got past Nev in the playground but he's experienced and I know he'll have something left for the finish straight so I give him the place and just concentrate on not stopping. I can't now anyway, there's a whole gaggle of Glossopdale Harriers shouting me in, Tim's voice the loudest!! Thanks, I definitely can't stop with such support bringing me in.

Round the corner and into the finish line. Apologies if I ignored anyone there or in the field....I found myself

thanks to MossieNet for the photo
www.flickr.com/photos/mossienetphotography/

on the floor wanting to recover but ended up with cramp in my right leg. There followed a comedic conversation with Tim telling me to 'just stand up' and me replying 'not on your nelly' (maybe not so politely). A good few moments passed and I'd recovered a little. There's some good chat but soon feeling cold me and Tim head back to the scout hut to change. Cake and a drink, sunshine and results, more delightful chat and then we're done. My time wasn't on the board when we left. Tim did astounding given he ran the Three Peaks yesterday, coming in 21st today. Good to see all my fell running friends out having a blast on such a glorious sunshine day. Thank you to Dave, the marshals, tea and cake people and everyone else that got this race happening.

I'm raising funds for Glossop Mountain Rescue Team by running the Howgills Trail 26 marathon (3 weeks today) - head over to Just Giving if you'd like to sponsor me, thank you!

*Update*
Full results now published, my official time is 1:54:19, and 220th/266.  In 2012 when I last did this race I was 245th/272 in 1:53:39. So, 40secs slower this time, but I did do a 13km warm up run over to the start line! Well pleased :)

Marathon Training and the Paris-Roubaix

Kit packed & ready

Yesterday was the classic Paris-Roubaix cycle race, and the Chinley Churners Cycling Club had organised a Spring Classic tribute Sportive plus a screening of the race afterwards in the Papermill pub, Chinley. Tim was riding the sportive, so I took the chance to get a long point-to-point run in from Glossop to Chinley. I needed about 3 hours or so in my legs, distance to be approx 25km. With my route planned, I managed to recruit fellow Glossopdale Harrier, Zoe, to join me.

Our route took us from Old Glossop, up past Shelf Benches, behind James Thorn, over to Higher Shelf Stone trig point, then along Crooked Clough and to Snake pass summit. The forecast of rain was doing what it should, and so far staying north of us. A stiff Southwesterly breeze was taking care of that, and already giving us a hint of what was to come.

Zoe running up onto the edge of Kinder

As we ran along the flags from Snake summit we spent time trying to find a faint trod off to one side that would, were we to be going that way, get us back down towards Glossop. We think we found the general area....the finer navigation on that one needs some work. The ebb and flow of the paving flags and a steady running pace soon got us to Mill Hill and Zoe's declaration that she was going to run all the way up Kinder corner...which she promptly did, hats off to her! I managed to get to the top without firstly stopping my steady walk pace, and secondly being blown off. The wind was clearly picking up.

I collected Zoe from her sheltered spot behind the cairn and we headed on towards the Downfall, more aptly

Looking back down to Mill Hill from Kinder corner

viewed yesterday as the Upfall. It was doing it's classic thing of being blown straight back up and over the path. Along from Sandy Heys we adopted a comedic style of 'running' which involved guessing where your foot was going to be blown as you attempted to stay on the path - or not as the case was several times! The wind was so strong that we seriously considered linking arms to prevent ourselves ending up in Yorkshire.

A vague lull in the wind enabled us to negotiate our way past the Upfall without getting completely drenched, and found ourselves in a slightly sheltered spot. I felt battered. My legs were going ok, and my lungs. But all over body weariness from fighting against the wind was certainly adding to the challenge of my longest training run to date. I'm pretty sure that each kilometre of our run should be worth 1.5km, from the effort point of view if not actual distance covered.

Picking our way through the rocky undulating path we passed Red Brook, and soon found ourselves at Kinder Low trig point. Next up was some peaty loveliness and heather bashing across to Edale Rocks, then picking up more flagstones down to the path towards Brown Knoll. Thankfully we weren't going the way that the bog-monster lives, but bearing off to the right and over to South Head. By now we'd been going for about 3hrs, therefore my target of a 3hr run had been achieved. So, the decision was made to make our way directly to Chinley and get ourselves a good seat for watching the Paris-Roubaix.

the approach to South Head

a tad windy on top of South Head - check out Zoe's fringe!!

With map in hand (I don't know the paths down off South Head) we fought against the wind some more, down to the fields on the approach to Chinley. At the bottom of the road, just before the Old Hall in Chinley we'd clocked about 25.5km in a wind-challenged 3:44 (moving time of 3:19....did we really faff that long, or were were going backwards in the wind!). Anyway, Job Done on the training front. Time to relax and await Tim's return from the sportive. Many thanks to Zoe, without her company I'm sure the run to Chinley would have been far more of a struggle, and definitely less entertaining.

Thanks to the Chinley Churners Cycling Club and the Old Hall/Paper Mill for a putting on a great event. The buzz in the pub after the sportive was brilliant, as was the very welcome log fire.

Tim's final climb on the sportive

and into the finish he goes, well done, 2:40 I think was his time!

Kinder Downfall Run & Scramble

A lovely dry, warm September's day dawned and we had plans to head up to Kinder Downfall via River Kinder. We parked at Bowden Bridge and ran along to Kinder Reservoir, along to the bottom of William Clough then beared eastwards. The path along here was overhanging with bracken....and then something red caught our eyes....

 

My knowledge of mushrooms is more or less limited to those you by in the greengrocers, are edible and tasty. I do however know that wild mushrooms are usually poisonous, or at best to be avoided unless an expert says they're ok. Identifying mushrooms is fraught with dangers, many looking similar. In this case, I think I'm safe in naming these as Amanita muscaria, or Fly Agaric....and yes, they are poisonous. Please do let me know by commenting on this blog if I'm wrong - or to confirm I'm right!

After this delightful distraction looking at the numerous mushrooms and taking pictures we continued on our run, around past Red Brook and into the River Kinder.

Looking back down the river

Sandy Heys, with Kinder Downfall hidden round the corner

Still a few bilberries scattered around here

The downfall now in view

That slab was harder to get over than it looks,
but I did take the interesting route up river

The Kinder Downfall - at least the trickle of water was
falling,  not doing the famous blowing back upwards!

Woohooo!!!

Nearing the top of the scramble

and right under the downfall

Looking towards Mount Famine and South Head

As we topped out onto the edge path we came across three stranded sheep on a ledge, clearly they'd eaten all the vegetation on it and the only option down was about a 20ft drop. We've got photos of their tags and will be seeking out the farmer so we can let them know.

Three stuck sheep

The run back along the edge, down Sandy Heys and back to Bowden Bridge was lovely. I'm really enjoying the combination of a run-scramble-see new areas kind of outing. Believe it or not, we both went to areas on the ground neither of us had been to before. Even though we've both run around the area loads there is still places to explore and find that give you new views and experiences.

Flora Focus: Cotton Grass

Common cotton-grass isn't actually a grass, it's a sedge (a flowering plant which resembles grass or rush). It's unmistakable white fluffy heads fluttering in the wind look beautiful as you run across the moorland in the Peak District, or as shown above in Snowdonia, Wales.  The two photos below are of cotton grass seen in Switzerland last year:

The plant typically flowers from May to June and loves to grow in boggy, wet marsh or acidic peat land. The white fluffy heads are actually the seeds, so as they fall or are blow off the plant disperses it's seeds. During the First World War the white heads were used to dress wounds, and they have been known to be used in stuffing pillows and for making candle wicks. It is apparently too brittle to make actual cotton from it - something I learned while researching for this blog.

A similar species is the Hare's-tail cotton grass which grows in the form of tussocks with densely tufted stems. This type also loves the damp peat bog environment but can tolerate higher acidity and is found at higher altitudes than common cotton grass.

Cotton grass (both common and Hare’s-tail cotton-grass) is being planted by the Moors For Future and National Trust projects in the Bleaklow and Kinder areas as part of their blanket bog restoration programmes. 

"This plant has special attributes which stabilise the friable peat surface allowing other species including its cousin hares' tail cotton grass to colonise naturally. Each single plant introduced as a small "plug" sends out runners into the surrounding peat in the same way marram grass does in coastal sand dunes." (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1355784717001/)

Cotton grass seen on the southern edge of Kinder on my run round the Edale Skyline yesterday

Edale Skyline

This one has been on my list to do for some time. I could analyse why it's not happened before, but in short it was mainly the distance that scared me a little, along with not quite getting enough long training runs done. Then came winter and wet weather and I didn't fancy slogging my way up Brown Knoll. Having never run beyond 29km the whole thing felt like a big step, and while not being precious about waiting for perfect conditions I really wanted to enjoy the run.

I penciled in the end of June this year to complete the route in one go. The past few months and weeks have been spent on training for longer distance, more ascent and generally being on my feet for longer. It felt like the time had come to put a big fat tick against this one, so today was the day and today I did it. I ran the whole 34km Edale Skyline (with 1435m ascent), superbly led and pulled along (mentally, not literally) by my wonderful other half, Tim.

Grindsbrook from part way up to Ringing Roger

Descending off from Kinder south edge towards Crookstone Barn.
Win Hill off in the distance at the left

Summit trig point of Win Hill (462m)

The steep climb up to Lose Hill

Nearing the top of Lose Hill, looking across to Back Tor, Mam Tor, Rushup Edge and Brown Knoll

Mam Tor summit trig (517m) with Lose Hill now behind us

Heading up onto Rushup Edge, looking back to Mam Tor and The Great Ridge

Looking across the Grindslow Knoll

Pagoda stones on the south edge of Kinder

The final descent back down to Edale with Grindslow Knoll across the valley

Leaving Ringing Roger

Rocky underfoot....this was starting to hurt my feet now as we descended the zig-zags!

Made it to the finish field, and continued to run back to the van

After making it back to the van we enjoyed an iced lolly, milk, bananas and topped up with plenty of water. The run had been mostly overcast with a slight breeze which was very welcome but it was really warm. I ate 3 chocolate geobars and drank about 1ltr of water. I suppose I could have done with more water, but having practiced my eating and drinking on all my runs I knew I'd be ok. I'd secretly hoped for a sub 5hr run on this route having done the first half of the skyline in just under 2.5hrs last year I thought it should be possible. So, with a finish time for the whole run (incl the short bit from and to the van) of 4:24:40 I'm really chuffed. I had to force myself to keep going from about Brown Knoll, and from Grindslow Knoll I started to think a sub 4:30 was possible. Strava moving time reckons 4:16:42, but either way I'm super happy and will enjoy a well earned beer tonight.