Three Falls, One Submission (Almost) and a Knockout Race

At 10:30am on Saturday, 18^th November 2006, I found myself standing in the rain and shivering on the start line of the Tour of Pendle race. In front of the 200 strong field were 17 miles and 4800 feet of ascent up and down Pendle Hill.

This was a race that I had thought about doing a couple of months before and I had managed a recce of part of the course, then I realised it was the same weekend as my wife Elaine’s birthday, so I thought no more about it.

After circuit training on Friday night, I rang Stewart Forsyth to see why he’d missed it and his excuse was that he was resting before the race. Back in the bar I mentioned this to Elaine and she said, “Better make that your last pint then if you want to do it.” I didn’t need telling twice. Later, at home, I arranged for Stewart to pick me up at 8 next morning and spent an hour marking checkpoints on my map and getting my kit ready.

Barley village hall was quite quiet when we arrived. Kieran Carr, the race organiser, was apologetic that entry on the day was £10 instead of the £5 for pre-entry, but that was my own fault and I still got a T-shirt. As the start time neared, the runners took quite a bit of encouraging to emerge from the village hall, and their cars, into the rain and wind.

It was only when I was standing on the start line checking my shoe laces, that I realised there was something different about my Mudclaws, they looked less tatty than I remembered them. The toes were intact and there weren’t any tears in the fabric. These weren’t my shoes! How had I got the wrong ones? It must have been in the tent at Townley Park the previous week after the cross-country. How had I managed to wash them, dry them and put them on again this morning without noticing? They were feeling a bit tight as well. This was a bit of a worry and, on examination after the race, they turned out to be a size too small - lucky I cut my toenails!!

Off we went trotting up the lane, not too bad at the start; the showers seemed to be holding off. I was aware that most of the climbing came in the second half of the race and the distance was a lot for me, so I took it fairly easy. The climb was soon over with a bit of banter going on and the pace picking up a bit as we ran towards the Union flag draped over the wall at checkpoint one. The first tag was dropped into the marshal’s bag and we turned onto the longest leg towards CP2. The temptation to ‘up the pace’ on this leg is hard to resist but the warnings from the ‘wise ones’ were still ringing in my ears and I went along with the rest of the field. Down to CP2 near the road at the Nick of Pendle then just a short distance to the next cheery marshal at CP3 then next to Churn Clough reservoir.

Another climb. The bracken had died back and the path was a lot clearer than on the recce. It was pleasant running until a very steep, muddy descent down towards Ogden Clough. The small group of spectators at CP4 were very vocal, encouraging us down quickly. First fall, bit of a bang on my thigh and a slide before I found my feet again. Another tag in the bag at CP4 and away along the Clough on a good path. I felt as if the descent had taken a lot out of me; my legs were feeling it a bit here. Across the stream at an obvious point and steeply up the other side back onto the path from CP1 to CP2. Not for long as we descended to CP5 - a nice descent with the view across to Mearley Moor, the next climb, framed by a rainbow as the sun broke through. Already there was a steady stream of runners on this climb, which did not make me feel any better.

Soon I was making my own way up towards CP6 which was not as bad as it looked but I knew what else was to come - another two hard climbs. Past CP6 and fast, level running over tussocky grass before the very steep descent to CP7. Second fall, slipping on the steep grass, no damage done and I arrived at the CP7 marshal who was very encouraging, we needed it, as the next climb was very steep.

Out onto the tops in the wind again heading for CP8, the same marshal as CP1 flying his Union flag. Next we made for the stile which had to be used, running fast over level ground, third fall, just a trip, a roll and back up again, perhaps nobody noticed, “Are you alright mate?” asked the guy in front. “Yes thanks,” I replied before descending steeply again to CP9.

The marshal here was counting as we dropped our tags into the bag, “84”; not as bad as I thought but it didn’t last, the climb up ‘Big End’ in the middle of a heavy hail shower almost forced me into submission, but a few jelly babies kept me going. As I came over the top heading for CP10, Will from Bowland came past and we chatted but I couldn’t stay with him. My feet were so cold by this stage, probably due to the tight shoes and I was beginning to struggle. I ate the last of my jelly babies and headed down to CP11.

Nearly back now, but there was no sprint left for the track. I crossed the line in 3h:08m, for 91^st place, (the winner had made it in 2h:19m). I stood around for a while waiting for Stewart but had to retreat into the village hall when the rain came again. I got into the queue for a brew but realised I had no money! Will spotted me and bought me a tea, just what I needed. I started to thaw out and stopped shaking although I must have still looked a bit of a mess as Michael from Radcliff AC offered to buy me another brew.

Stewart arrived soon after. He had bonked in the last couple of miles and was suffering a bit. He was slurring his speech, and it sounded like he had stopped off somewhere for a few pints - coffee and a jam sandwich soon sorted him out. The atmosphere in the village hall was great. Everyone was tucking into soup and cakes. The main point of discussion was the weather, which had been a bit extreme, but at least visibility had been good, so navigation had not been a problem.

‘It’s a Knockout’ race and I am looking forward to next year. Well done to Kieran, the organiser, but most thanks must go to the marshals who stood out in those weather conditions to see us all through. You all deserve a medal!

Written by: Richard Davies

Submitted: 20^th November 2006

Edited: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor