UKA British Relay Championship
Kettlewell 2011

The short leg (1)

So, we all sat down to have the committee meeting, and Martin announced he got injured that morning and would be unable to do Leg 1 of the FRA relay that Saturday. Gary and Martin looked from Phil to me, probably hoping Phil would say yes and, with hindsight, I'm wishing he had. Saturday morning came. The sore throat I had been ignoring had turned into something worse. If it wasn't the team thing I was definitely not going anywhere, but loyalty got me out of bed and eating porridge laced with cold and flu remedies. Cold morning; Pool was in fog, but during the drive up to Kettlewell we kept creeping above the cloud and into sunshine and by the time we got there it was a pretty clear and sunny day. In fact it was going to get quite hot later.

It was great to do the first leg, lining up with 180 runners, though they always look thinner and fitter than me and they all always seem to have decent kit and running watches. I feel a mixture of intimadated and amused at my own stupidity at the starting line up; and on this occasion reflective and humbled as there was a minute's silence for Bill Smith, a fell running great; though it was suprisingly not as well observed as my experience of a minute's silence by 40,000 at Elland Road, even though there were only avout 250 people there. Anyway, off we went and I was soon left behind by almost everybody despite running as hard and fast as I could with what was now an aching body and legs of lead.

Leg 1 was the easiest and shortest leg, and was the only one on the other side of the valley. It went up, along a bit and then down; not much by way of paths; pretty wet and slippy. ...really that's it. No surprises then, except the climb back up the other side before the finishing field and the hand over the Carl and Gary.

The long leg (2)

We arrived in Kettlewell on a beautiful Saturday morning which was quite different from the previous weekend when Gary and I came to do a reccie. Then there had been high winds, heavy rain, and low cloud. Today it was a cloudless sunny morning.

We made our way to the registration tent, then we watched Christine Addison start on Leg One. Christine had been drafted in to run at the last minute as Martin Gebett had sustained a training injury. Phil Hancock had also been asked if he wanted to do leg one but unfortunately he has been processed into a pea, something to do with the Abbey Dash coming up soon.

We watched Christine disappear into the distance and we then went to the change over area and waited for her to complete her leg. All too soon the moment came for us to start our leg. Most of you will know the main route out of Kettlewell to Buckden Pike. That was the start of leg 2. This for me was lung bursting, but on our reccie I had managed to run, albeit very slowly, to the top of this very steep climb. However, today, surrounded by other runners, some who had already started to walk, temptation was too great so it was a matter of run and walk all the way to the top. It was going to be a long day for Gary!

We finally reached the track that takes you down to Starbottom, which is called Cam Road. It was a steady run down to Starbottom. We then started a long climb on a footpath called the Walden Road. This seemed to go on forever but in actual fact it was about twenty to twenty five minutes. With hands on knees, lungs pumping I managed to get to Check Point 2. Gary at this point would have expected me to take over the lead but today as I had no energy left it was up to Gary to pull me along. The conditions on this part of the run, for people who know this area, and because of all the rain we had had in recent weeks it was just like a sea of liquid peat. At every step we were falling into peaty puddles.

We finally arrived at the last stile that brought us back to the top of the steep climb I had struggled up at the beginning. Gary again waited for me to take the lead back down into Kettlewell but as before Gary ended up the front runner and dragging me along. Usually I would have enjoyed the long downhill run and would have picked a few teams off but today was not to be the day.

When we reached the bottom of the climb we were now in Kettlewell but as in all fell races the organisers had left the best bit until last. We thought we were running into the change over area but the marshalls then directed us up a short steep climb which seemed to go on for ever and with Gary trying to encourage me into a forward motion I managed to get into the main field which was slightly downhill to the finish.

As we ran through the ropes to hand over to Tim and Alison who were eagerly awaiting our return, this was the moment I had to pretend that I had really enjoyed it and I wasn't really as exhausted as I looked. GARY - I TOLD YOU I WASN'T FIT.

I think you will find when you get the reports from the runners doing the other legs that they enjoyed them more than I did, leg 2. The routes that Bingley Harriers chose for this competition were very competitive in a wonderful area, which portrayed the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, all enhanced by the glorious sunshine of the day. Congratulations to Bingley Harriers for a very well organised event.

The map readers' leg (3)

Alison and I met in that morning in time to see Christine at the finish and find out how she'd done. With a couple of hours before our anticipated start time it was off to the catering tent to sample the home made cakes for a last minute bit of energy.

Finally the time got closer and after having been 'kit checked' twice we entered the waiting area, scanning the horizon for Gary and Carl. Lots of green vests from a distance... but not the right ones. Where had those lads got to? At last here they are and the adrenaline starts pumping through the system and off we go. So first issue... were do we pick up the map? Never mind that just run and it'll turn up somewhere. On and on, up Dowber Gill Beck towards Great Whernside. Ah there at a style someone with maps - one each to share the map reading. Run, look down at the map - where is number 1? It all look Chinese! There it is, more or less above us - have we overshot? No, there's a great little switch-back path ahead that's quicker and easy than the straight up approach. Over the crest and there is No. 1 in a shake hole. Alison into the hole to do the dibbing and me with compass out to get a bearing on 2. So far so good. Been jockying for position with two lasses from Congleton.

Over the next crest and it's mayhem - runners going in all directions; both singles and pairs. Don't get distracted - trust the compass. Up a bit further and there's No. 2 - a boggy hole just before the final rise to Great Whernside. More compass work while Alison does the digging. A smart left turn and fast decent to No. 3 tucked in Kaseker Gill Beck.

Now here's one of those tricky choices - retrace our steps on a worn track but go slightly out of our way or take the straight line bearing. I've always been a straight line exponent so it's off we go up and down the tussocks - it's hard work. The girls from Congleton took the worn track. At the top of the rise we converge - neck and neck - so there there wasn't much in the route choice after all. Now there's an army of runners spilling off Great Whernside and crossing our path - pressumably on the way home. Shucks, we've still got No. 4, 5, 6 and 7 to do!

Down and down - all that height lost - into Hag Dyle Gill Beck and there's No. 4 - another quick check on the compass and it's steeply up toward 5, which is across Whernside Pasture. The ground levels out and we can get some more running in. No 5 is in sight and the terrain seems familiar - yes it's the famous fence you follow in the night on the homeward stretch in the Fellsman.

No more navigation worries now - left and follow the fence up to the end of the Great Whernside ridge - a cairn at No. 6 and whippee, the final long descent. Now my partner - the slow starter - has the bit between her teeth and wants to finish off the three teams just ahead, including the girls from Congleton. But alas yours truly is flat out with nothing more to give. Just need to hang in there - grit the teeth.

Eventually down to the road and just the nasty little climb before the field. Plod, plod up the hill, Alison now full of energy - what's this - someone running up hill at this stage - it's enough to break your spirits! Never mind, the final run down into the field is appraching - full steam ahead, legs like jelly. Into the finishing ring, round the corner, good luck to Richard and it's all all over - thank goodness the lungs haven't burst!.

The glory leg (4)

For my second comeback onto the fells I volunteered to do this leg and I have no regrets. The weather as no doubt other scribes have pointed out was perfect. Rarely have I just run in a vest but my warm up run in T-shirt soon confirmed that I'd be too hot unless I stripped off. I arrived in plenty of time and was able to see Gary and Carl finish and hand over to Alison and Tim, which gave me a good hour or so before I set off. Long enough to meet Mick Swale in the collecting ring.

The leg itself set off up a steady and sustained track for just over a mile before striking eastwards towards Hag Dyke and then directly up to the top of Whernside. Being towards the back of the field but having avoided any mass start there was not a lot of company but I'm glad to report that I was able to get the scalps of two lady runners on the way up. I reached the cairn in 34.45.

The initial decent was not on any path and was over tussocky grass. I was wearing my new Saucony Peregrine shoes described as a fell/trail shoe and whilst they were great on the track they were not so good on the steep stuff. The lower slopes were very runnable until that cruel uphill bit that every one did towards the end.

I enjoyed the whole leg and thanks to everyone for staying behind to welcome me home.