Well where to start? If we thought we’d got an easy week what with it being that kinda no mans land time between Xmas and the start of longer, brighter days perfect for running…well we were wrong! There was a whole host of races from short and hilly, to long and hilly, to even longer and hillier, with a bit of flat PB action, and dot watching thrown into the mix.

So, at the time of going to press the results from Hit the Trail hadn’t been published, and we couldn’t let the results of the first champs race go off without a mention!

Well done to all the guys and gals for putting in some speedy performances which saw GDH winning both the men’s and women’s team prizes – way to go! Full results can be found here, speedy performances from Paul Peters who raced home in 2^nd place, and Kirsty Sharp who was 2^nd lady, and Steve Knowles bagging a 1^st V45, and David C-L 1^st M60! Plus a host of other achievements including Marie Williamson smashing 9mins off her last time’s performance.

Brass Monkey Half Marathon

3 of us went to monkey about in York. Starting from the York race course Steve Page set off like a race horse, Will Mather stayed in the pack and Jim Talbot started at the back and worked his way up. An incredibly flat course ideal for PBs was hampered with high winds but that didn’t stop Steve swinging to his PB. 

Steve “Chimp” Page 1:25:34

Will “Gorilla” Mather 1:33:28

Jim “Orangutan” Talbot 1:42:34

Nice one guys – here they are making some new friends…

Thanks Will for the report.

Lambs Longer Leg

The race that unofficially opens the local calendar…and also seemingly opens the door on every type of weather conceivable, didn’t disappoint. The little over 5k of grind was taken on by Andrew Fox, Alan Turner, Rob Sheldon, Nick Ham, Jo Brack and Charmayne Brierley. A late person in a black vest, who some of us know, may have gone on to take First Lady but I obviously can’t confirm this 😉  Surname rhymes with nice …

So like any storm, the weather got worse the closer to the start and blew a gale as we set off up the late. A distinct lack of visible running tops today due to coat wearing. 

The first climb is always a trudge and in such weather is worse but as we descended into Dimpus Clough we entered the eye of the storm. The clag parted, and an awaiting Des Gibbons snapped away whilst Rob and I ran and slid along wondering if football boots are actually an undiscovered fell running shoe for such conditions as the bogfest we just come down. We could be onto something. 

Alas as we began to ascend, I muttered to myself ala George Clooney in Perfect Storm “she’s not gonna let us out” as the clag once again dropped on us, the wind picked up and we were hampering any attempt to run uphill. 

Finally we summited and back on track we descended swiftly down but not without literally hitting a wall of wind that prevented running to be done for a short while. 

Andrew Fox finished first Harrier and first M60, then Alan Turner hot on his heels, then Rob Sheldon and then me, quickly followed by Nick. Jo was next before the at first comical “where do I go now” look from Charmayne turned into “arrrggghhhh sprint finish is mine” and she pipped her close rival. 

A great morning at a race that really sums up the enjoyment and craziness of the short fell race.

Thanks to Pete for this report and pics.

Trigger

A healthy turnout of runners and supporters braving the fine weather today – kudos all round. Having fancied a run up to support at the top of Doctors Gate, about 30 seconds in this weather was all it took for me to turn round and run back down…directed a guy back to the Pennine Way who was merrily following me back down!

Thanks to Zoe (who survived her 3^rd running of the Trigger!) for this report on FB.

Today was a real team effort. Thanks to Matt Crompton, Elanor Swan, and Sarah Andrew for navigation, moral support and being generally bad ass. Notable support from Alice, Mark Davenport, Chris Jackson, Alison Holt, the Minshulls, Jude Stansfield, Rebecca Smith, Phil Swan and the Swan juniors who all saw fit to waste their Sundays hanging out on wind blasted hillside to give us cheers and sweeties! Tim Culshaw and Steve Knight both had a “good race”, Ian Crutchley did well on his debut despite finding it awful! Zoe and co met Ian Oates and Luke Holme a couple of times along the way and despite the cold and a couple of “little wanders off course” (*sounds about right!) they both finished well in around 6h. Runners were all thrilled to see the GDH support crew on the hill and at the road crossings!

From other sources (Strava and Ian C), Steve Knight had a minor nav malfunction after Snake summit but it doesn’t seem to have slowed him down very much. Luke apparently did find his way this time. Having said that, his way was apparently via a waist deep bog on Sliddens Bog so maybe he’s better getting lost?

Full results not yet available but it sounds like most people managed between 5hrs and 6hrs 30mins, so well done to all on that.

Parkrun

The usual array of Parkrun activity this week, despite the continuing ‘interesting’ conditions. Seventeen Glossopdalers at Glossop Parkrun on Saturday. The typically muddy Glossop course didn’t stop Melissa Crutchley smashing her PB at Glossop by 40 seconds, or Stevie Knowles getting his (Glossop?) PB, and 1^st place! There were representatives at Marple, Wythenshawe, and Hyde. Paul Drury distinguished himself at Hyde by very sportingly deciding to give everyone a 10 minute headstart, just to spice up the competition. Joe Travis also gave Chadderton Hall a go; his description of the course is either a reference to it’s parentage, or suggests that it’s one to be avoided. He didn’t make clear whether or not he was still wearing his Santa suit so that might have made a difference…

Cross Country

Thanks to Chris Webb for the x country report. A murky but relatively mild day at Heaton Park saw a stacked field in the Senior Men’s and Women’s races. Chairman Stevenson was absent and so we had to hijack the Manchester YMCA club tent! Some solid performances all round, here’s what went down:

Women:

Emma Rettig: 131st (21st V40)

Jane Mellor: 173rd (14th V50)

Kaylea Haynes: 245th

Men:

Chris Webb: 52nd

Simon Watts 129th

Sean Phillips: 144th

Jamie Helmer: 225th (52nd V40)

David Chrystie-Lowe: 348th (5th V60)

Andy Burnett: 428th (60th V50)

Full results here: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2019/maccl184.pdf

Photos here: https://www.hsphotos.co.uk/page/home/

There’s one match left in the MACCL, back at Kenworthy Woods for the 2nd time this winter, on Saturday 9th Feb. I still have a few numbers for folks who’ve registered but not yet run a race (*oops that might be us), the league gets shirty if you register but don’t run-why not come and enjoy the fun for one last time this winter?! Anyone else that fancies it but hasn’t registered can still race, just let me know before Wednesday 6th Feb and I’ll let the race organiser know.

Paul Peters was doing some x country moonlighting and sent in report below.

I’m afraid I was out cheating on GDH at the weekend, racing for Lancaster Uni again in the mid lancs XC league. After sticking with the same group of 4 people for the whole race, they all beat me as the final stretch came along, but on the plus side I ran nearly 3 minutes faster (35:59 to 33:13) than the same course last year and cemented a top 20 finish again, so silver linings and all!

As a team we also managed to come 3^rd overall, only losing to some really strong teams from Blackburn and Kendal. Well done to all the harriers who raced at Heaton park on Saturday as well!

General running

So whilst most of us were putting up with what is typical Glossop weather, seems like Frank Fielding was over in Tenerife getting in some warm weather training! There are also some of you putting in some pretty decent long training runs with marathons-a-looming in the not too distance future. Nice work folks.

Other news

Don’t forget – it’s time to pay your subs! For full details, check out the announcement from Alison Holt on the GDH Facebook page. (GDH+EA is £20 for the year)

Feeling like you’re not getting faster? The hills aren’t getting easier? You just go out and do the same old runs day after day? Then you definitely need to mix up that training! The weekly Tuesday sessions run by Jeroen have started again for 2019– great for working on your speed. These are varied sessions which start at different location in Glossop/Simmondley/Hadfield- start time at 6.45pm. If you haven’t come along yet, now’s the time! You might just get quicker but even if you don’t, whats not to like about joining nearly 40 other people on a quiet side street in Simmondley …it’s all a bit Walking Dead…
On a Wednesday, Chris Webb runs the XC sessions in Hadfield – by all accounts, muddy, hilly and a load of fun!

And one finally thing to remember, if it ain’t on Strava it didn’t happen, and even if it is on Strava we might not find it with 200+ members doing multiple runs a week! So, if you want a mention, or you want to write up a report from a race/send pics then please send an email to gdhweeklyreports@gmail.com!