Summer running part 2.

[Bierzo Baggie]

Callow fell race, Little Stretton, July 3rd.

Whilst in the UK I stumbled across this race organized by the Mercia fell runners, the only fell running club in the West Midlands. I was intrigued by the stats; 2700ft ascent and descent over a 5 mile course. I’ve never done a circular race with so much ascent over such a short distance, even in the mountains. This one was in Shropshire!

There was nothing for it, I had to go and investigate.

It turned out to be a pleasant, low key affair, not unlike some of the races I do in the north of Spain. 60 or 70 runners took part and the overall standard was quite high (I was beaten, neigh, thrashed by two over-65 runners).

We set off from Little Stretton, a pretty village with a thatched church and immediately tackled the first of 4 enormous hills. The circuit resembled an upturned egg carton each hill being steep at the sides and smoothing out at the top. And these hills were as steep as they come. I certainly hadn’t expected to be crawling, clutching at the turf above me, but at times it was the most efficient way to travel. The descents were equally steep but safe, although a not completely healed ankle and the cheese rolling scenario made me put the brakes on. I couldn’t imagine how you’d keep your feet if it had been wet.

1 hour 36 minutes for 5 miles! 56th out of 66, so I guess I’m improving...



The photo was taken by a bloke called Jim. There are more on his excellent fell running blog... http://midlands-fell.blogspot.com/

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

I keep coming back and staring at this photo, and I still don't quite believe it.

Gadzooks!

[Bierzo Baggie]

This was the first hill, there were 4 of them, one after the other. I imagine this is the type of terrain that Glaconman races over (with rather better results than me!)

English hills, so green and beautiful...

[glaconman]

You're right BB. The lush, verdent nature of the English countryside; it's almost worth enduring all the rain.

Can't say I've done any fell running for along time. Cracoe 2010 was the last one I think, just over a year ago. I tumbled down the hill like a sack of spuds and vowed to stick to flat terrain. But I'm finding road races alittle soulless so I definitely need a new goal. Maybe longer fell races or trail races are what I should be doing. Definitely at a cross-roads with my running.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Definitely at a cross-roads with my running.

Good man. There's always a pub near the cross-roads.