It’s the summer holidays, and it’s August, and it’s raining – sounds about right.

Abort! Abort! Abort! The weather gods look like they had a wet and wild weekend lined up for us this week. So much so that our planned Ultra-relay race in Snowdonia had the route significantly amended such that it became a lapped course, and then had the start time amended, and then it became not a relay, but a mass start….and so with no doggy day care lined up we couldn’t do it. Pffffffft. Well, guess that’s one less report to write.

Anyway, in the week that Whaley was saved, there were still races a plenty going ahead, and yet again your antics have given weight to the notion  “there’s no such thing as a quiet week for GDHers”. Thanks to everyone for sending in their reports this week.

Quarry Bank Trail Race

Ah ha! I had seen this race on our old running club (sssssh) page and thought this looked great! So big thanks to Wendy Mcmahon for sending in her report!

“I was the only GDHer (that I saw and on record) at the picturesque Quarry Bank Trail Race on Wednesday.  The route was approximately 4.5-miles long with undulating terrain.  It’s a beautiful route which ran around the estate and right alongside the runway. It consisted of trail, grass, a billion steps, tarmac and not forgetting mud! I completed the course in 47:36 which considering there was near vertical climbs, cost £10, I’m happy getting the race experience in my legs.”

Thanks Wendy – sounds like a great route – bar the billion steps!! Fab time as well for such a challenging race 🙂

Cracken Edge Fell Race

So in the absence of any reports from any of our hardcore mid-week runners I set about making something up, and on my search for the results, found a rather wonderful race report by Kinder Mountain Rescue – so thanks to them, here is the official race report!

“The 10km Cracken Edge Fell Race is a major annual fund-raising event for the Kinder Mountain Rescue Team. Following the near-catastrophic events at Toddbrook Reservoir in Whaley Bridge, for which the team had been on stand-by since the previous Thursday, race-day saw Whaley Bridge re-opened to residents along with the surrounding roads, many of which had been closed when a dam-failure appeared imminent. The team feared a significant reduction in the number of entrants as a result of all the disruption but there were very nearly as many people attending as last year, with 206 runners starting. The course was significantly more ‘challenging’ than in previous years due to erosion caused by the recent deluges.

However, the race took place under clear skies after a day of rain, with lovely sunset vistas from the top of Cracken Edge and, fortunately, there were no major incidents, just a few relatively minor tumbles.

Steve Vernon of Stockport Harriers romped home in first place, over 5 minutes in front of the second-place finisher, and Lauren McNeil of Pennine Fell Runners was the first woman. Well done Steve and Lauren.

Over twenty prizes were awarded to individual runners, together with one for the muddiest tumble in the race which was awarded to Lisa Ashwood of Disley Runners. The team prize went to Stockport Harriers and the Ladies team prize to Pennine. The Mountain Rescue Team prize was won back from Woodhead by Glossop Mountain Rescue Team – always a hotly-contested challenge.

Kinder Mountain Rescue Team’s chairman was starting to present the prizes when he was interrupted by a text message; the formal “stand-down” for the team from the Toddbrook incident  – a fitting end to both a trying week for the local community and a wonderful race event. Thanks from the team to all the racers and particularly to the many friends and family that helped to organise and marshal the event.”

Well done GDH for going and supporting this race. Full results can be found here:

http://www.kmrt.org.uk/cracken-edge-fell-race-report-results/

CHAMPS RACE! Sale Sizzler #4

Well it might not have been quite as sizzling as some of the other Sizzlers this year, but was definitely still a warm one for this Champs race on Thursday. There had been a surprising number of Sizzler entrants at the Tuesday club session albeit with a handful “taking it easy” and saving the legs in preparation. Thanks to everyone’s favourite Tuesday coach for sending in this report:

“Thursday saw the 4th and final Sale Sizzler for 2019, the 18th year in which this race series is organised. It is a 5K run which starts on the running track inside Wythenshaw Park, then leaves the track and goes through the park before leaving it, back in and out again and finally back into the park before finishing on the track. 

20 Glossopdale Harriers had signed up for this Road and Trail Club Championship counter and 18 made it to the start line. Not much else to say about it as it was over. almost before it had started. That’s how fast the course is. Testament to that is that Tony Hillier, for a change, was not the first V70, truly a rare occasion. Now, how often can we say that? Closest battle was between Pete and myself. We were separated by only 2 seconds, I just ran out of track. Some notable performances though. Great run by Luke who missed his first sub-20 minute 5K by a mere 3 seconds. If only he had not taken his eye off the ball during K4. Jessica’s aim was to finish as close as possible to 20 minutes. Now, wouldn’t we all like to do just that……. apart from those who went under 20 minutes? She came really close with a new pb in 20:10.

My impression was that most were quite happy with their performances. Ian was an exception as he was struggling with a hip injury, the result from his extraordinary 15-hour, nearly 100k, 15 triggs challenge a few weeks ago. A fair excuse. John S reckons he could have done better judging by his comment: ” with hindsight, running Cracken Edge last night was maybe not the best preparation”. Now hindsight is a wonderful thing but does that really apply here? Other, oft-heard comments can be summed up as “hot and humid”. 

Results:

First GH home: Nick Lord 18:21

Steve Page 18:40

Luke Holme 20:03

Jessica Camp 20:10 (and 7th senior lady)

Matt Crompton 20:35

Pete Daly 20:39

Jeroen Peters 20:41

Ian Crutchley 20:56

David Christie-Lowe 21:34 (and 7th Vet 60)

Alex Critcher 21:40

Emma Rettig 23:47

Jo Brack 24:15 (and 5th Vet 50, highest placed GH in age-category)

Nick Ham 24:25

Tony Hillier 24:57

Charmayne Brierly 24:53 (and another 7th placed V50)

John Stephenson 25:11

Marie Williamson 25:54

Christine Peters 26:44 (and the final “top-10” finisher in 9th place V55)

Thanks Jeroen for sending this in – and great running GDH – some truly incredible times there! And some impressive category placings given the turnout you get from the local speedster clubs at those events.

Dennis Stitt Fell Race

Thanks to Lins Palmer for sending in this report of the “not the in the Club Champs” race she did this week:

“Thursday evening, I was the only Glossopdaler at the Dennis Stitt Fell Race at Holmfirth. Great race with a superfast downhill start. Lots of prizes (3 team prizes for men and 2 team prizes for women, all age category prizes). I came 1st FV50 – yay”  🙂

Great running Lins! Congrats on the cat win! Wow – a race with a superfast DOWNHILL start?! Must be unheard of!

Marple Beer Run

So I’d seen bits about this run flying about on FB lately, and whilst I guess it’s fairly obvious what the run might entail – I actually had no idea. So I read this report from Ian with a mix of mild disbelief to start with, but was proper chuckling by the end. 

“I’ll have a go at any kind of race – fell or road, from 5k to ultras.  And at best, I’m bang average at everything.  But as an honorary member of the “5 second club”, when a couple of mates invited me to Marple Beer Run, I thought this may be my calling.  Mildly irresponsible, the premise is simple, a 4K mixed terrain run from Marple to the Fox Inn near Mellor Cross, with the added challenge of having to neck a pint of beer after each kilometre.  For the none beer drinkers, there is a G&T option available, starting 15 minutes later, but this puts you in a lesser category as its clearly much easier.  Obviously a novelty race this one, and with a field of 275 there was quite of lot of “fun runners”.  But I was surprised at the number of club runners from Chorlton, Stockport and obviously Marple that turned out.  Many for a “social”, but others clearly out to race – some of this lot didn’t look like they while away their days in the boozer.

I resisted the urge to rock up to registration with a can of Stella on the go, which I still reckon would have dealt a psychological blow to the competition. The first K down to Roman Lakes was fast, and I set off with intent.  The first control came quickly, and it involved a pint of Long Hop from Bollington Brewery, which was despatched without any drama.  The second K was all uphill and this is where I picked off 3 or 4 people, arriving at the second control just as the leader was leaving.  Although a lovely hoppy number, the pint of Pokies by Blackjack Brewery was difficult to get down in between the gasping for breath.  Over the third K I was still fairing quite well, but in the haze of confusion I was bit unclear how many were ahead of me.  At the third and final control, a pint of 3.9 by Outstanding Brewery awaited.  The lad from Stockport that I had been gaining on was now clearly struggling, so I thought it best to put him out of his misery by necking the last beer in one hit.  I was nearly sick, but it had the desired effect.  Off I went, but with 3 pints sloshing about in my belly, it was starting to get difficult.  No sign of the guy in front, and no immediate threat from behind, I resolved to just hold on.  With the Fox coming into view, the route held a short uphill sting in the tail, which was incredibly unpleasant.  I crossed the line in a respectable 4^th place, but almost 3 minutes behind the winner, the same guy that won it last year.  The race was followed by more beer, music and BBQ at the Fox, then the bus back to Glossop from New Mills.  I’ll be lobbying hard for its inclusion in our club champs next year.  Seriously though, whilst it seems a bit pricey to run 4k, you get things you don’t often get during races (drunk), and a lot goes to local charities in the process.  A top laugh and I’d highly recommend for either a GDH social, and/or as a genuine bona fide challenge.

I will certainly be discussing my performance with Coach Jeroen, as I feel with a more focussed training regime, I could have done a little better.  Perhaps some running training may also help…..”

So I’m guessing any lasting hip pain from the Sizzler was dulled by beer then! 4^th place –  nice. Not sure whether it says more about your running prowess or the time well spent in your “yoof” downing pints in the local boozer! Either way, it just goes to show that its true what they say – and to save any gastrointestinal issues, you should really practice your nutrition and hydration strategy in runs before race day 😉

Lowther trail and fell run

John Pollard continues his run of regular weekend racing and sent in this report:

“I did this race over 20 years ago, and was 2nd v40, winning a rare prize, so curiosity tempted me back, since they had stopped it for years.  
It’s part of the 2-day Lowther country show, but I knew after 3 days often biblical rain and seeing pictures yesterday, the show ground would be a quagmire. So what would the course be like, given there was meant to be fording of several becks and the River Lowther itself? A text on Saturday night informed us that we would not be straddling the river as it was head high…they would pause our e-dibbers either side of the narrow suspension bridge while we queued and would be allowed across in fives (as I indeed found out as it was a swaying H & S officer’s delight).
En route this morning on the motorway a further text pinged up and I could see the capitals CANCELLED…glancing over I learned the Show was cancelled but not the race. Good.
The relentless rain hadn’t deterred a healthy turn out of runners, including top fell guys like Carl Bell, the organiser told us on the start line. 
The race itself I’ll skip the details, it’s probably a bit tedious anyway. I enjoyed the mixture of terrain, starting & finishing on road & track, with most in between on moor and fell paths n trods – a majority of which were waterlogged and boggy, which slowed us down but made for ‘small boys fun’ (& small girls too pc police) splashing through the wet and mud.
I think the regular sucking my shoe out of bog was what gave me calf cramp toward the end too, but I finished in about 2hrs 16…having lost a bit while we waited at the river crossing. 
But, boys and girls, it was fun, and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?”

Other news

A big thank you to Wendy M for sending in this inspiring piece about GDH’s most prolific V70! And I’ll add – V70 winner in this weekend’s Saddleworth race!

“Tony Hillier has been selected by the North West Awards panel as being recognised as the Winner or the Runner up of the RunTogether Group Leader of the Year category.  There were over 600 nominations made within the 9 regions.  His efforts and achievements have been recognised, and he has been nominated for his commitment to volunteering within our sport. The Regional Awards Event will be on Monday 30th September. Good luck Tony and carry on doing what you love – spreading the joy of running to others.  When are you going to get to Glossop though to run with us young uns!”

Massive congratulations Tony – great to see that your immense commitment and achievements in volunteering in running are recognised! Best of luck for the awards – be sure to send in some pics please!

Chester

So I’ve entered Chester marathon on 6^th Oct along with what, 15 others? (yes yes its the same day as the fell relays, but we aint all fell runners!) There are still entries available so if you fancy a go at this fast and flattish (so I’ve been promised!) course then now’s the time to enter. And the more the merrier…not least so that GDH get a tent and VIP toilet access for having one of the biggest turnouts! Cmon folks…VIP toilet access….just saying.

Cheryl’s Friday Spinalongs

Fancy mixing up the training? Love early starts? Love early starts on a Friday even more? Then don’t forget Cheryl has started a 4 week (or hopefully more!) block of Spin sessions at Glossop Leisure Centre from 6.15am to 7am on a Friday. 2 weeks in and attendance skyrocketed from a measly 4 to a massive 6! Aside from getting a sore bum, these have been great fun, an ideal intense session to kick off your Friday and if you’re battling any niggles that’s made worse by running, or just fancy using some different muscles with some banging tunes and disco lights – then get involved!

That, I think, is just about it for now folks. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and here’s hoping we get to see some sunshine sometime soon.