Pendleton Fell Race 2015

On Saturday Gavin and I travelled to Pendleton to take part in the fell race. For both of us our second times running the race.

The weather was pretty much perfect. At the start we were held as a runner had gone missing. Safely located and with a full quota of entrants on the start line we acknowledged the achievements of the one of the Clayton runners who’d completed the race 29 times (about to become 30), and then the red and white tape was removed and we were sent on our way, firstly a charge round the field and then up the village street.

This is a great race and the first half contains a number of climbs. An initial one up a clough (down which you have descended steeply) and a second one which gains quite a bit of height up Apronful Hill which is all lost in a long descent to cross Howcroft Brook. The final and most significant ascent is the icing on the cake (or the lead in your legs if you prefer) and turns at a cairn atop Pendle Hill. The most frustrating thing about this race are the stretches, especially in-between miles 1 and 2, where it flattens and you think you should be able run but the tussocks pose enough obstacle to make this difficult.

Through this first part of the climb I served as a good pacemaker for a Helsby runner who came past me and then put a serious amount of distance between us once my usefulness (and my own energy) had been exhausted. All the while the fluo vest of Gavin – well in front from the first 100 metres – was inching away up the hill.

At the cairn we descended down a stone path which meanders down to cross (at a different point) Howcroft Brook. My descent was satisfactory and I didn’t lose any places, whilst making a few up which was pleasing in an otherwise disappointing run.

From the Brook crossing you eventually return to the village via the fell and then via the fields from the outward leg. As we neared the village I became aware of a runner catching me – I thought I had a good lead but I was mistaken – and for the last quarter of a mile all I could hear was the slapping footsteps of my pursuer. I managed to hang on to my lowly position though in a time of about 45 minutes 30 seconds; a minute and a bit behind Gavin.

To finish things off the legs were washed in the stream and hunger was satisfied with a cream and strawberry topped scone.

Steve Hunn also ran for Skipton but at the time of writing I don’t have the full results.

Edit: Results for Skipton AC here: