Our season started early again this year with Pendle Way in a Day on 6th Feb. It was actually my second race of the year and I was worried I would be starting on tired legs. I was even more worried when I saw the forecast of wind AND rain. I hate these two combined. Luckily it is fairly local for me and I was able to sleep in my own bed with a not too desperate 5.20am alarm. I arrived in plenty of time to put up flags, banners and boards even if it was still dark.
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| Mountain Fuel, Tent Meals, Injinji, Ultimate Direction and Icebug |
That done I retired inside to an early registration and breakfast- my own porridge pot supplemented with tea and toast courtesy of the RO. Jamie and his team are gradually tweaking this event, including the CPs and the food at the start and the end. Before long the Heritage Centre was filling up and there were people to talk to. I debated packing a spare base layer or even a primaloft but decided against it- I was already wearing two long sleeve thermal tops, fleecy tights and my thickest cag. I was to regret this decision later.
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| Pre start and Romneys mint cake on offer |
After a slight delay due to some late registrations we were assembled outside shortly after 8am and off before ten past. Even though I knew my tired legs needed a slow start I was frustrated at the pace of some on the very narrow initial footpath. By the time we were crossing the main road north of Blacko people had found their place and all was well. Heading up onto the moor and Weets Hill I leap-frogged position with another woman for several miles before and after this. At this stage there was just a breeze and the rain had not arrived. I was a bit warm in all my layers.BY the Alpaca Farm at the top of the road Gary was sheltering from the wind and cheering us on... he had also done the LAW last weekend but was not daft enough to do this too. The run down to Barlick is lovely although it was quite slippery after all the rain. After a strange little loop in the town to see the industrial history we climbed to Letcliffe Park before another drop to the canal. I was pretty much on my own now and hoping I would remember the route as I came to it. At some point on the canal tow path the rain started and got steadily heavier. David from Sportsunday shouted hello - he was still dry enough to be taking photos and smoking at 10am but it wasn't long before the rain forced him to give up.
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| The rain had just started |
As I ran past the Rolls Royce works and up to the church Chris came past me and we chatted for a while as we approached the first CP at Thornton Hall Farm. It reminded me to eat. Heading into Earby Chris pulled away and a few more guys appeared. I told myself not to worry and just to plod on and by Kelbrook Moor and the pub at Black lane Ends I had overtaken the other woman and was still with the new bunch of guys. Maybe my pace was just more realistic. The paths across moors and farm land to Laneshaw Bridge were very wet and the last bit by the stream alarmingly narrow and slippery. This year CP2 was shortly after the road crossing a some way before Wycoller. Again I stopped to grab food. More and more mud followed and I arrived at Wycoller alone. I was surprised to see nobody ahead as I crossed the old stone footbridge and passed the ancient Aisled barn. Turns out they had forked left and were heading up to the Atom before they realised and found a way back. They caught me as we climbed to the Pennine bridleway track that runs below Bouslworth Hill. Here I focused on staying with the men and picking off walkers and those on the shorter route. Part was along the track I realised how exposed it was and how cold and wet I was becoming. My gloves were soaked and despite tucking them into my cuffs they were making my hands so cold. The wind was now a blustery headwind and the rain was steady and unpleasant. I could see the woods up ahead and knew that shortly after that the paths forked and we headed to the reservoirs and the next CP at Coldwell. I prayed I would get warmer. The relief on finding that this year the CP was not a draughty gazebbo but an indoor room almost made me cry. It took a while for my brain and fingers to work out what needed to be done and to obey. Food, tea and layers. Except I didn't have much else to wear. I put on over trousers and a hat which improved things. My base layers were wet despite my heavy duty cag but I had nothing extra. I swapped my gloves for waterproof shell mitts and hoped jogging the next bits would warm me up. Luckily it worked. I had to slow in the thick deep mud before Catlow but I was now lower and more sheltered. The run to Walverden Reservoir further warmed me as did the climb up the hill to the golf course. It had been a close call but I felt warm enough to safely continue. Heading down through Reedley on the only urban section of the route I could see Chris ahead and this spurred me on.
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| Soaked but slightly warmer than I had been |
The flooded path by Pendle Water was a pain but the slippery mud along the Calder before the climb to Higham was worse. Here I caught Chris and we agreed we needed time and to refuel at the Higham CP. Two hot dogs, two donuts and two cups of tea later and I was ready for off. The first paths are OK but I knew Bull Hole would be boggy as usual and then the fields above Newchurch would be wet as they never seem to dry out even in summer. In Fell Wood there were trees down creating an obstacle course but at least they provided shelter from the wind and rain. As you drop through the woods to Ogden Clough the route plays a mean trick. Barley is only about 1km down the road to the right but the route turns left up hill. Luckily I had warmed up enough since Coldwell to resist bailing here. Work on the upper reservoir meant a slight detour and suddenly as we climbed the wind was fierce. I was blown to a stop several times and was not happy crossing the stream at Boar Clough. I headed up the side stream slightly to a smaller narrower section. From here to the top of Pendle was grim. The wind was very strong, the rain relentless and it was misty. I was just about safe and told myself I would not be on the top for long. At least I know this part of the route like the back of my hand. Even on the descent of the tourist steps it was blustery and the mist and cloud was making it dark earlier than expected. Not wanting to stop in such conditions I pushed on glad that I knew where to be cautious and where I could run. There was a comedy section of slippery mud that almost had me in the garden of the first farm but the lights in the houses of Barley were now getting close. Again an inside CP was a relief. More tea and toast. From here I knew the way to Whitehough but after that my memory was more hazy. Luckily Chris arrived minutes after me and was happy for us to leave together. He navigated the couple of kilometres to Roughlee perfectly. There we found the stepping stones under water. We might have made it across but it did not seem worth the risk... a dunking would be bad but a bashing on the stones after a fall or being swept away would be silly. Our detour added a kilometre and we re-joined the route only about 250m above the river. From here it was pretty much down hill on swampy fields and then the lane to Barrowford. The paths in the park were flooded so we arrived cleaner than we had been. It was good to fall inside the Heritage Centre where it was warm and dry. Some photos were soon followed by beer and food.
For me it was over an hour slower than my last race on the route in 2020 so I was surprised to find I was first female- the record holder was not racing and a friend who I knew would beat my 1-2 hours had not been able to come either. Not a bad start to the Runfurther season = 1000 points.
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| Possibly the slowest ever female win |
Plus a bottle of wine and a trophy (the first time the race has done them). Unbelievably the men's record had been reduced by a further 5 mins and the leading men had been back long enough to go home! Julian Hood 7hrs 10 then for Runfurther Adam Worrallo in 3rd in 8hrs 2, Kevin Hoult 8hrs 34 and 1st MV45, Steve Sweeney 10th in 9hrs 20 and 1st MV55, Martin Terry 15th in 10hrs 01 and 1st MV60 then Chris and I in 10hrs 28. A number of other Runfurther runners finished but poor Rory Harris sacrificed his race to aid another runner. He was in 3rd place on Pendle when he found a runner under- dressed for the weather and starting to suffer the consequences. Like the true gent he is he escorted the runner to safety.
Jamie McKilvenny and his team put on a good race and plan for hot food in the refurbished kitchens next year. East Lancs in early February will never be easy but it is a good day out. Big thanks to our sponsors who provided prizes for the winners and spot prizes for Runfurther runners.
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