Red Rose Ultra -She Strides

 A new race for the RO and a new RO for Runfurther when Panopticons was suddenly cancelled.  Another first, for me at least, was suncream and sun glasses being mandatory kit! and waterproofs being removed from the kit list! (I carried mine anyway- we were going up and over several moors and although hot thunder storms were a possibility)The day actually offered a Red Rose Ultra, a White Rose Ultra or both ie 100km. I chose Red for Runfurther as it covered terrain our runners would know and even shared a little with the Panopticons route.

As usual we drove across on Friday evening. We needed to collect the flags which Charles had kindly taken home after Stanza. The journey was not without trauma as the van was making a strange noise and we had no idea how this would pan out. Then driving a fairly big van through Hebden and up to Chiserley was not that easy. Luckily my search of Google Earth provided a nice flat spot for the night that was not directly in front of a house and yet was only 5 mins to race HQ. There was an event on at the Bowling Club but we put the flags up anyway and hoped they would be safe overnight. The village was very quiet and with wonderful views to Heptonstall and of course Stoodley Pike which you seem to be able to see from everywhere in this area.

I slept as well as I can before a race but was up at 5am. Plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast, walk to registration and time to hang around. With only 4 Runfurther runners  entered there were not many people I knew. My plan was to make sure I finished despite the extreme (for Yorkshire) heat and so keep the Grand Slam alive. I was a bit confused re entry numbers as we all had the same colour numbers and those doing the 100km had been added to my Red Rose list.  Not knowing runners made it hard to judge speed and I wanted company for the first bit through the woods above Hebden where there is such a multitude of paths. I twice picked the wrong nav helper. The first woman led us slightly astray but it was no real problem. Then deep in the valley and woods my GPS said left and so did another woman's. Jonaton reckoned it was right. He was correct and it took me until the open moors to see him ahead.

It was nice to explore new areas but also a relief to reach the more open moors and simpler nav. We were soon at the first CP near Gorple Reservoir and I was reeling Jonaton in. I stopped to drink lots, top up my water and grab some fruit. It was already warm. We ran together and even chatted a bit as we headed up to the familiar track that would lead us to Hurstwood. We were back on home turf and moving well. The field was now very spread out. Evan was way ahead, the women had all disappeared and the two men tailing us were doing the 100km and soon started to drop back a little. 

At the Hurstwood CP it was confirmed I was 1st F and nobody was close. Again I stopped for water and fruit and potato. I set off alone but knew Jonaton would be close behind. This section follows the Panopticons route in reverse so I knew my was to Townley Hall. 

Borrowed- I took no photos today

The park was heaving with Park Run and what seemed like a festival but the wide open spaces let me through with no issue. I still couldn't see any other runners but hey ho. I had thought about an ice cream but it was early, crowded and I just wanted to escape back onto the hills and hopefully a breeze. It was roasting in the valley. I don't sweat much compared to many but I was soaked. Leaving the park I suddenly realised we were going up the main road for the next few km. Not great but there was a pavement and it didn't last too long before the turn off onto a quieter lane/track. The route was soon back on grass and small trails and Jonaton appeared before we reached the next CP near a railway underpass. More drink and food before the relentless climb to Thievely Pike. Ages since I had been up there and it was dry underfoot today. We touched the trig and headed off. It was good to be working together here and I am sure having company kept me running whereas alone it easy to walk a bit. I also used Jonaton as a wind break more than once.

Borrowed again

The Rossendale Way led us to the main road near Slate Pit Hill- more memories of other races as the Calderdale Hike has come through here in both directions in the past. We turned a little early but the wide grass verge meant we were safe as we headed south to the big track and Limers Gate. Now it was my turn to lead and keep the pace up to the Trig and Trough Edge End. There were some cows with very very young calves but they just ignored us. The breeze up here was a blessing and the sky was starting to cloud over a bit. Still hot though. It was then pretty much downhill to Walsden. Jonaton led on the gnarly stuff and me on the bigger track and tarmac. On my own I might have investigated the shop here in search of ice lolly but I was keen to stay as a pair. The CP here was superb- they had ice. One piece to suck and some for our water bottles!

Up and up to the Pennine Bridleway and the moors before a smaller path towards Gaddings Dam. The ground was wonderfully dry- no bogs today. The little sunken reservoir was heaving with swimmers and the beach at the far end looked like Blackpool. I seemed to have lost Jonaton but assumed he would catch me soon. Heading round the loop of Langfield Edge gave me a chance to look back and he was still there although some distance back. As I left Withens Gate and headed to Stoodley Pike the  were some heavy spots of rain. It was still hot enough not to worry about a waterproof  and certainly not the thunderstorms that had been forecast.  Leaving the Pike it was still raining a bit and I was sure I would be caught on the downhill as it had so many trip hazards to slow me plus I was now tired and could not even run the whole of the big almost flat track to Erringden Grange! The path through the woods was bouldery and slimy so I was even slower here but did eventually emerge on the main road at Hebden where the rain had stopped.

The race has an evil uphill finish and there was not much running done. Despite that I still managed to miss a turn. I think because the 'path' is not shown on OS I must have just followed a public footpath sign. It was not a serious error and in fact I could have just arrived at the finish from a different direction. That seemed wrong so I added a bit to get back on track and was soon on the top road with the finish in sight.  A hot sweaty mess but happy with my day out. 

The trackers were slow to update so Bob missed me but arrived soon as I was drinking more and more on the benches at the bowling green. Before long Jonaton arrived too. 

A good day out for Runfurther. Evan won in a fast 5hrs 27. He is making a play for the Runfurther Trophy and seems unstoppable. It was good to have a chance to chat with him. Jonaton was 3rd M in 7hrs 1 min and I was 1stF and 3rd overall in 6hrs 50. (advantage of it being a new race and small entry)

Emma was still out there but finished in 9hrs 21. Darren arrived having done the White Rose after his wife was injured and couldn't use the entry- shame he didn't switch to Red for Runfurther points.

After more drink, two ice lollies and food I had recovered enough to help Bob take the flags down and wonder back to the van. We made it down the lanes and through Hebden without issue and the van got us safely home although it was still not 100%.

Yes- forgot to turn watch off again!