First Fell Race

The last 2 weeks leading up to the race have been really nerve racking for me, today the day arrived. I prepared well: peanut butter on toast, 7:30am. porridge with banana 11am, then a banana and Powerade before the race.

The race in question is an annual one in Chipping, near Preston, England. According to my garmin 305, it worked out at over 8.5 miles, and 2500ft ascent.

The whole concept of fell running to me was new, and I was really nervous, though my brother (who is an avid fell runner talked me into it).

We arrived at Chipping about an hour before the race was due to start. It was a kind of an agricultural show being held there, as well as the race.

At 2:40pm we were all summoned to the start. We were in the middle of a field which was metal gates off from the public, incidentally there were hundreds of people all leaning over with anticipation waiting for us to start. This did not help with the nerves as I have never been in a race with such a high profile. (All my races to now have been on the road or country with only a few watchers).

Anyhow, sorry if I am boring you. I was there, in the pack with my new fell running shoes on, my shorts, vest, and hip bag, with a couple of gels in. When we set off, I just kept it in my head that this was all new to me, and that I would just intend to get around the course, and not worry about time or anyone else. It proved difficult from the start as we hit about 1.5 miles of gradually ascending fields, a little boggy, and which tested my ankle strength.

I was then faced with total intimidation as I saw the first climb. It looked as though it went on forever. I just kept my head down and plodded up it, the sheer incline rendered it impossible to run up. It seemed relentless, and went on for ages. In fact it was 0.4 of a mile in distance to the summit, and it ascended by 565ft-sheer hell.

On the way up the lactic was so intense, it felt like my calves were going to blow up. I found that when on top with some open space to stretch out the legs, I made tracks pretty well. Next there was some wicked descent which I enjoyed, but all the same it was hard, because it is at these stages I thought I need to turn on the speed a little to make up for the hills. There is a serious danger in running down these rocky, slippy, hills, but I thought what the hell, and went all out, I actually overtook 3 people on my descent, and then it was time for a monster climb again:This one was more gradual but a killer all the same, 1.3 mile with an ascent of 825ft.

After this it felt like I was literally on the top of the world. The clouds were below my feet, the wind was biting and the visibility was becoming worse. I still had 2 runners in the distance there to guide me. I managed to keep them in my sights, pushing myself harder and harder over the precarious, perilous terrain.

There were many more hills to contend with but I will spare the detail. Towards the end we had just downhill to go, and this tested my legs to the max - constant breaking really tested my quads, and it was quite difficult trying to get down the steep drop as fast as I wanted without running great risks. It was 0.4 mile descent of 650ft. At the end my legs returned to power as we hit the road, and then the fields for the final mile. I did the final mile in just over 7 mins, and ended with a sprint finish into the crowd of spectators.


I even got a pat on the back from one of the officials, saying "great finish". The results are not in yet, and so my time is a little hazy as I forgot to stop my garmin, but I know I came in 37th out of a field of about 73, so I was really happy with that.

Spoke to my brother and he thinks he was 9th, so well done to him! Now it was time for a well deserved burger.........only joking.....I settled for a bottle of water and a flapjack. Got changed and headed home. I am sat here now typing this very sore, but hell it was worth it.

I will definitely be hitting the fells more often, - hope you liked my report. Comments welcome.