Folkin' Reservoir Ramble - 14 miles/ 1800 ft ascent
Sat 21st Sept 2013
I really enjoy it when you participate in a low-key race where everyone is relaxed, joking and there's not much pressure. Although when the race is off- road, with only 37 competitors and the club colours on the start line are all regular fell entrants then it;s still bit daunting. Mind you, makes the pre-race announcements much easier!
The first few miles were all up and reasonably pleasant on mix of footpath, field and farm tracks. The next few were downhill, across a few stiles and weaving between farm yards and across broken stone walls. I thought I was doing ok and keeping a strong place in the field; likely somewhere in the middle.
On approach to Fewston reservoir I was bit confused when a fellow runner returned in his tracks and as he passed me said that he'd missed a checkpoint... I didn't even know there were checkpoints and hope I hadn't missed the issue of a dibber or self clip markers like at other fell races! I could see three runners approximately 100 metres ahead and from high up on the dam wall there were at least 6 other runners 500 metres behind.
I gulped down some water before ascending sharply up from the tarmac road and across lush green footpaths. I narrowly missed collision with a fast descending mountain-biker. The gradient levelled and went through a farm with two field gates. The route then again went sharply upwards on a tarmac road. The views at the top were awesome... Menwith Hill to the north and down the Lower Washburn Valley to the south. All in glorious sunshine.
The route briefly crossed the Otley Road at the Norwood transmitter then cut across technical, rocky paths, boggy fields and down a farm track. I passed an Otley female and pressed on. The route then dropped across a few pasture fields and I got bit disorientated; Otley suddenly seemed a long distance away and I was tiring. I soon reached a track and got sight of more runners. As we descended on lush green grass the previous runner who'd gone the wrong way came passed.
The route then emptied on to lower Frnley and section I'd ran once before; a long uphill drag as per the Otley 10. I couldn't make any ground on the pair ahead and another runner behind gained ground on me. As we left Farnley village and headed past the church there were lots of mini battles going on. I was almost gone but kept plodding on ahead; I was soon caught though and immediately asked if we could work together to catch the pair ahead.
I had nothing on the remaining hill and by the time we got to the last two downhill miles I was shot. The lad next to me began to pull away and I knew to catch the pair ahead I'd really need to go some. Although I tried to tuck in he was soon 50metres ahead and the pair were 100 metres further on. Big gaps with only a mile to finish. I finished strongly though with two sub 7.30 miles.
Really good race in amazing countryside. Glad I could enjoy some of it even though I was bit knacked. 21st out of 37 not too shabby; and just inside my optimistic 2.10 finish.
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