Tour of Pendle 2005

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).

What a race. I had been interested in doing it for some time, without perhaps realising what exactly was involved. It certainly is a tour of ALL of Pendle and not a tour around Pendle, as I found out when I downloaded the route. Saturday dawned bright, clear and incredibly cold and frosty. Perfect running weather and wonderful views throughout the run (yes I made time to look).

It didn't seem too bad at first. Out of Barley, up past the reservoirs and across the farm land and onto the moor and the trig point. Well that was pretty easy- I even ran most of it. The run from the trig down to the quarries at the Nick was pure joy. Most of the ground was frozen enough to support our weight and we flew along. This was going to be easy. We turned S and E back towards Barley got very wet feet and were then directed up the clough and over the shoulder and down towards the ski runs. Still going well. Then the race proper started. Up the main north edge to the wall at the top, then drop down to Mearly Clough. And then it really starts- up Mearly Clough , which was bad enough as a race on its own last summer. One kind spectator even offered me food and drink so I must have looked like I was struggling! Then happily we were at the top and heading past the cairn before dropping down to the wall at the foot of the big end. By now my legs were shot and I was worried that if I just let it go I could end up in a heap on the floor. I also got wet feet again. The big end was something else - I didn't see anyone running up, although the hard men were probably already finishing at that time. Suddenly the trig point was there and the end was in sight. I tried like mad to catch up the two ladies who finished less than a minute in front of me but it was not to be - perhaps next time. Yes, I would certainly do it again. It was hard and all the climb and sting is at the end but a very satisfying race nontheless. Shame more Preston runners were not there. Very sociable afterwards too with soup, cake and tea in the beautifully warm village hall before the prizes.

Karen Nash

1st Steve Bottomley 2.21.28

92 Karen Nash 3.14.39

124 Peter Carter 3.39.17