Preston Harriers' fell & trail running section . Some of our fell runners also do cross country and road running, but fell running is our main activity.Fell Running tends to be a Northern sport, the Lake District being the main centre for fell runners. The Harriers are the organizers of Paddy's Pole Fell Race, which usually takes place in June. Our junior fell runners are in a keen fell running section, you can read about them in juniorfellblog below. Preston Harriers running club was established in 1881. Mick McLoughlin the chairman of fellblog did the Bob Graham Round in 2005. Fell Runners are not as much bothered about PB's as they are about 3B's ( a local brewery).

Preston Harriers Fell Section :- fellblog

           Ennerdale

Ennerdale             Saturday 14th June       23miles and 7500’ ascent

An early start had us leaving Preston before 08h00 on a fine Saturday morning: Mick Mac, Roger, Ben and me.

By the time we arrived in Ennerdale after a scenic trip over fell land back roads, we were in good time to register, warm up next to the radiator in the Scout Hut while pretending to examine the map (well, Ben and I did anyway – the old toughies stayed outside limbering up) and make use of the smartest loos I’ve ever been to at a fell race.

Last minute adjustments made to bum bags and bladders – Roger generously lent Ben his and rucksack (which promptly started falling apart a mile into the race) and I showed off my new bum bag with a 2 litre bladder in it (which actually worked quiet well, as I never really went fast enough to allow it to bounce up and down as everyone predicted).

The start was crowded and after we set off along a track that ran next to Ennerdale Water we began ascending Great Bourne, much of which was steep and grassy. By the time I reached the top, the mist had closed in, the drizzle had started and my ankle was aching (an odd ache, where it feels like all the tiny muscles in my foot are cramping). I began to doubt (you know that doubt)… going really slowly on the down until Martin from Lytham St Annes caught up. So I figured, as long as I could hold out and stay with him 1) I won’t get lost 2) I can go slowly and finish the race, which was my goal.

Martin was strong on the ups, so we kept a steady pace up Red Pike, but he was less confident on the downs, so we took our time descending – which was ideal for me, as it stopped me from doing anything stupid and adding to ankle aches. He navigated us safely to Black Beck Tarn (where two other runners ahead of us missed the checkpoint and had to double back after a mile to return and dib their dibbers) and kept me up to date with how we were doing for time; how long we had to make the next cut off and how we were doing compared to his times last year. He also took great care to stop at each shortcut and tricky bit to show me markers to help me memorise the route for next year. We ascended Green Gable comfortably making the cut off and picked our way down the rocky path on the other side.

Meanwhile (although a significant while ahead of us) Mick Mac had given Roger a top tip for carrying water and, at this Black Beck Tarn, the two of them stopped to fill up their litre bottles of water instead of carrying all their water with them in one go.

Because Martin and I weren’t going at any great pace, my legs felt strong, and the climb up rocky Kirk Fell went almost effortlessly. When we finally made it up Pillar, Martin grabbed my hand in a hearty handshake and we congratulated each other on making all the cut offs successfully, it almost felt like we had finished the race.

On the way up Haycock, I finished my 2 litres of water and 500ml Lucozade and broke out the jelly babies in celebration. We chatted and feasted our way on the jolly little sweets as we passed Iron Crag and Crag fell – grassy, easy running in lovely sunlight (if not a little too much wind).

Martin’s personal best for the race was in sight and as my legs felt strong and he was tiring, I took the lead (as the navigation along easily identified paths ). I kept him informed as to how we were catching two runners ahead of us … until we eventually caught up with and overtook them running down into the forest.

It was at a similar point on Roger and Mick Mac’s run that they came across Ben sitting having a full blown picnic! He had got cramp about a mile from the end, so after a telling off from Rog and Mick, he set off on his race again.

A mile or so later, Martin and I crossed the finish line 6 minutes ahead of his previous personal best. Mick Mac (who had done impressive damage to his thumb on a fall), Ben and Roger were waiting patiently in the evening’s horizontal light. After some persuasion by Mick Mac, Roger went to go and get me a cup of tea before we set of for a traditional pub stop on the way home and celebrate Mick Mac’s fantastic second place in the V50 section.