Osmotherley Phoenix

2010 is the third year on the trot I've run the Osmotherley Phoenix.  It's a fantastic race through the North York Moors and this year I persuaded my Dad and sister Clare's other half, Rich, to join me and run the 17 mile route.  I was on the 33 miler and was hoping to improve on two previous distinctly average runs here.  I'd been training on the hills for a few weeks - pacing leg 1 of Craig Stansfield and Mick Flatley's Bob Graham, some big days out in the Dark Peak and regular weeknight runs on the Saddleworth Moors - so I was in reasonable nick.

The race started in perfect conditions but I was concerned about the possibility of suffering in the heat later.  The first few miles are along the Cleveland Way and the rolling trail proved a good warm up and an opportunity to catch up with people.  Despite a brief gaff with navigation I was going pretty well through to Carlton Bank where the shorter route runners split.  Grabbing some water and a flapjack I opted for the 'fast' route round the bank rather than over the top via the trig point.  I was running with Ian Leach who I'd run with before and we made relatively easy progress all the way to the top of Round Hill.  I struggled for pace on the climbs but outpaced Ian on the flats and downhills and at the 'turnaround' I felt in excellent shape to run under 6 hours.

The long track and then road down into Chop Gate car park took quite a bit out of my legs and the next few miles were tough.  The sun never came out for too long but I still needed a couple of salt tablets washed down to keep fully hydrated.  The navigation on this section is tricky and we seemed to pick off quite a few people with good route choice and eventually arrived at Hawnby way ahead of schedule.  From this point on the route is simple to navigate but far from simple to run.  The 3 mile uphill is gruelling and at the top I welcomed the chance to top off the water bottles and take a few moments to sort myself out.  Ian's 6'5" legs helped him take off at this point as we upped to the pace into the finish.  I kept it going well and was greeted with the 'Osmotherley 2 miles' sign pleasingly early!  Passing a few other runners on the network of paths into the village I rolled in in 36th place in 5hrs 46mins - over half an hour of my previous best and feeling I'd run well within myself.

 

A pint and some chips and I sat with Dad and Rich to enjoy the festivities in the village.  Another good day out - I'll be back in 2011 to run under 5hrs 30mins...

Wharmton Dash

Just a fortnight after the GUCR my next race was a 2 mile 'dash' up Wharmton Hill in Saddleworth.  It's a race organised by Saddleworth Runners, but the reason I was there was to help introduce several kids from school into the world of fell running.  Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:15am I run a hill rep session with staff and pupils from Blue Coat on Oldham Edge.  It originated as training session I did with a friend and colleague, Swallow, but we decided to invite some kids along.  Bizarrely, it seemed to catch on with a select few and ever since a hardcore (and a few others...) have braved all conditions at the crack of dawn to, amongst other things; run up and down hills, do sprints, drag tyres and do Tabata.

Our aim was to get the kids enjoying running and what better way to inspire them than the get them all running in a local fell race!  A few kids run track athletics and cross country at school but none do any fell running.  In the end I got 7 kids and one other teacher to come along and take part in what turned out to be a tough 2 miles!  We set off from Churchill Playing Fields in Uppermill in the middle of the Saddleworth Show.  The first hundred metres or so are a fast run out to the road before skipping up some steps and into the severe climb up to the Wharmton mast!  Aaron Platt, one of the AM Mayhem-ers, was leading the pack at the start (!) and I had visions of him romping home 1st but he, like me struggled on the climb.  My legs were still feeling the 145 miles and by the top I was back in 5th place and feeling shattered!  The run straight back down didn't help and I barely stayed on my feet down some slippery steps before hitting the road again.  At this point the route takes you back along the canal and then down to the river where you plough straight through!  The highlight of the race, it took me somewhat by surprise when I was submerged up to my chest at one point!

The AM Mayhem lot loved it behind me (as did the crowd who cheered as each runner plunged into the water!) and it's pretty much all they've talked about since.  I finished a reasonable 5th considering the distance and the proximity to the GUCR...hopefully we'll all be back next year.  In the meantime, I'm on the hunt for the next race to take 'Team Mayhem' to...