Whalley nab trail race

5 ½ m – Billingham, Lancashire

Tuesday 28th July 2009

 

Do it again:                 Yes

Scenery:                       9 It’s pretty much eyeballs out and straight into the very steep Whalley Nab tarmac road, so it’s hard to notice the scenery especially with it raining. On a clear day, it is well worth a trip. East Lancs at its best.

Value:                          8 £5 to enter (£1 donation to “Children in Malawi”)

Organisation:              10 Police stopped traffic for us. Good prizes – raffle, fast results, and plenty of marshals/helpers.

Beginner Friendly:     2 – but having said that runners were still coming in at 1:08 and smiling.

PB Potential:              N/A

Atmosphere:               7 – Unusual pub with Thai Restaurant attached. Good banter from the Clayton lads.

Shoes:                         Trail shoes preferable but road shoes would suffice.

Directions:                  From FY5 3BF to BB7 9SP = 31.8 miles – about 50 minutes.

                                      M55, M6 – Exit at Junction 31, then A59 for approx 9 miles. At roundabout, take second exit onto Whalley Road.

 

Registration this year at The Judge Walmsley/Siam Palace Thai Restaurant. (Not the Dogg Inn which was last year’s HQ. ‘Pride of Pendle’ and ‘Budds’ on tap!

 

Michaela and I set off from work and met Mick and Carmel at The Fairfield. Got to the start unusually early for a Dempsey inspired trip!

 

I was staggered that not only had the police allowed the race to start on Whalley New Road, they were also stopping the traffic! On the entry form: “Risk evaluation – medium controlled”!

 

At the start, we were sheltering from the rain under a small Clayton Harriers gazebo, itching for the race to start. We ran 200 metres downhill at the Start and new member, Brian Yates, was in the thick of the action. We then turned up Moor Lane and the real race began. All of a sudden, Mel Korh of LSA came past and Michaela and Mick drew alongside. Then Sarah went past… Mick uttered an expletive. Michaela was breathing heavily.

 

I managed to get back in front of Mel and Sarah but then Mick went past me. The race then went into a track and Mick must have put a dozen runners between us. I managed to maintain my position all the way round though everyone seemed to put the brakes on going down Moor Lane.

 

Michaela came in 1min 10 secs behind me (1st F40), and 5th lady overall – she didn’t hold any prisoners! She told the timekeepers that her number must have fallen off, whereas, in reality it was still on her dashboard!

 

Carmel watched – she has an inflamed tendon in her back but she still managed to pick up a bottle of champagne in the raffle!!! The organiser’s mother-in-law also won a prize.

 

Next two races in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix:-

Cliviger 6 – 9th August 2009

Worsthorne Moor Fell (7 miles – 900’ Multi-terrain) – 16th August 2009.

 

Photographs on www.runningpixx.co.uk

 

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 28th July 2009

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor