The fell running section
of Preston Harriers. Some of our fell runners also do cross country and road
running, but fell running is our main activity. 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 our chairman of fellblog recently did
the Bob Graham Round. Fell Runners are not as much bothered about PB's as they
are about 3B's ( a local brewery).
Preston
Harriers Fell Section
:- fellblog
Anglezarke
Amble
Feb
11th 2006
A
great report from Karen Nash
Anglezarke Amble
So what would you do if suddenly
your children were invited away for the weekend? Obvious isn’t it? Enter a 25
mile fell race (well it is a walk really but try telling that to the first 50 or
so home!). We hadn’t done it for 12 years ie BC before children, although in
fairness we usually miss it because we are away skiing.The course has changed
quite a lot. Different start, over the hill rather than round Turton reservoir
and now taking in
Darwen
Tower
. On the day there was a further amendment courtesy of United Utilities – no
Rivington Pike.
At registration we m et many
other harriers, all with their own challenge and goal. Sarah was there but
worried about the distance. Pete was there with a whole group of ladies- he must
have great powers of persuasion. Pete Carter wanted to knock spots off his last
time and Bob wanted to beat 5 hours. I wanted to get as near to 4 hours as
possible- t was probably going to be a tall order with the course 2 miles
longer, me 12 years older and injuries upsetting my plans. Could I beat my old
time?
We stood chatting in a flurry of
light snow and then suddenly we were off, in the opposite direction to what most
people seemed to be expecting. Pete set off like a rocket and Mick was just
behind me. Not having to do the Pike made Winter Hill seem almost easy. The
ground was rock hard – no mud to sap our strength today.
By the checkpoints at Turton and
Entwistle I suddenly realized that there were only about 6 men ahead and nobody
at all behind. Oh heck! Bob had been out and checked the course but some of us
have to go to work. I prayed I could remember the route and tried to stick with
Pete and a guy in a red vest. By Cadshaw Farm I was worried, they were pulling
away and I was tired. Time for a gel bar. I think they taste disgusting but they
do the trick. The men were up ahead and I could see them most of the time. Pete
seemed to find extra energy but I caught red vest man and stuck with him all the
way to
Darwen
Tower
and down to Slipper Lowe. The kind lady there could not understand why I
wouldn’t have a hot dog! For one I would have been sick but I now had Pete
back in my sights as he had stopped for some tea.
We flogged up Great Hill to meet
with a stiff wind and snow on the summit. I led Pete to the top but he soon
pulled away on the descent, my quads were screaming. Dig in, don’t be soft,
you’ve done all the climbing now. By some unspoken agreement we ran the rest
of the course together. We both had rough patches and only the other person
plodding and shuffling on kept us going. Too much of this last bit is on tarmac
really, especially after all the frozen ground. We knew we had missed 4 hours
but the end was in sight. Neither of us could manage a sprint so we entered the
hall together. Officially 4 hours 10 ( 4 hrs 8 on our watches).Exhausted but
happy we slumped over hot pot and cups of tea and cheered the others as they
reached the hall. Bob met his target easily – 4 hours 42 and so was very
pleased. Driving home was a challenge but rugby on TV and beer awaited.
Now all we have to hope is that
Scout camp is on the same weekend next year.
This is a pre amble before the real
reports & pictures come in.
Leaving home at 7.35am, the 'red sky in
the morning sailor's warning' was indicative of what might be in store for our
huge Harrier turnout at the LDWA annual event.
Sunrise over Belmont Reservoir 7.45am. Our
intrepid long distance folks would see this reservoir later, I suspect without
the sunshine.
Is there no limit to the blogger's talents?
Yes there obviously is in the photo dept. Did I not get there on time to do this
simple task? The pictures look so blurred, like everything does for me when I
remove my specs.......... Maybe I should take the camera to Specsavers! For
those who can't tell, above is definitely Pete Carter, Barry Nuttall, Karen
& Bob Nash, possibly Joe Howard & Alan Thingy. (Please help on the
names)
Some more of our blurred beauties. At 8.00
am true ladies don't like having pictures taken. No preparation, no make up, no
breakfast, I know I've heard it all my life.
A regrouping was called for....... all
smiles now!
A blurred Pete Benson & Chris behind
him & more of the Ladies Group. Come on send me some decent pictures! I hope
by the time you lot see this, you'll have had a really good time. On my way back
to the white van, an older couple were seemingly going the wrong way. They
explained that there'd been a route change & they were just nipping back to
their car for their rucksack. As we parted I said "have a nice day".
There was an instant pain inside me. I called to them, "Sorry I didn't mean
that". They looked at me perplexed. I explained that I was neither
American, nor did I ever wish to sound American. So I called out once again
" I take that 'nice day' bit back. I really meant, enjoy yourself today,
have a lovely walk, enjoy the great atmosphere & food galore at the rest
stations, enjoy the repartee of all the competitors, enjoy the aches you will
feel for a day or two. And to quote a friend of mine (very recently) enjoy that
'warm glow' that will last for a week or so after the event". They looked
at me again and were probably wondering from which lunatic asylum I was on day
release. I notice this year there is no Paula Homan. (Baby to look after now)
& no Alan Appleby (probably cos there's no Paula Homan this year).
See
Anglezarke 2005
fellblog
