May 2017

[glaconman]

Another week and another fell race. They will come thick and fast now until the dark side of Autumn.

This time the Coiners fell race in the Calder Valley.

http://www.cvfr.co.uk/races/coiners/

From Mytholmroyd up to Stoodley Pike and back around the bottom of Cragg Vale to deliver a circuitous route back. The Coiners is fascinating local history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cragg_Vale_Coiners

I set-off at a sensible pace. But as the ascent moved onto open moorland began to press and started passing runners. The descent, however, was a series of long traverses interspersed with descents.

One-by-one they all came back past me as I drifted into the arena of the unwell. Stumbling through deep, stagnant peat bogs and rocky outcrops like a wounded fugitive.

An early-season warning. Family were slightly embarrassed by the spectacle and my inability to pace.

Like I've never done this before. Must try and avoid this. Patience is the key.