Bronte Way Fell Race
Sunday 27th October
Host - Keighley & Craven AC
Weather - Cloudy, one biblical hail shower and windy
Not many races are linear so this was in the race diary very early. While others were sipping Guinness and dancing with leprechauns in Dublin, my good lady and I would be off out over the moors; running from Lancashire into Yorkshire no less. We huddled with others at the scene of the Yorkshireman finish outside the primary school in Howarth on Rawdon Lane. A short sharp mini bus shuttle to Wycoller Country Park then we scuttled down a slippy grassy lane to the barn where registration and the start would take place.
The true fell running community huddled together at the start - vests from Trawden, Keighley, Bowland and Calder all massed at the start. And one lonely yellow Pudsey Pacer and purple Kirkstall Harrier. We set off along a muddy, stony track with a massive dog in the field of runners, barking with excitement. Well, I hoped it was excitement as I tried to overtake! The lane gradually rose up round and farm and towards a stone bridge with a tarmac track on the other side.
As I looked up a line of clourful vests snaked up and over the bridge then beyond on the track. This would be the last time for 10 minutes that I'd look up. The dark cloud that had been looming since the start suddenly emptied bullet-sized hail down on us. The wind also intensified. Every ice bullet was met with silent whimpers and ouches from all around. Not comfortable, but certainly drove me forward.
The tarmac track soon gave way to a heather sided track around a small reservoir. Then down a boggy valley with hazardous rocktops, slippy wooden stiles and knee deep bog holes that caught out a few. A sharp up and over the moor before grassy lanes led down to Stanbury Reservoir. Spectators cheers and clapped here from the comfort of their warm cars.
The route turned sharp right up a muddy lane and steeply on to the reverse section of leg 2 from the Bradford Millennium Way. The moortop was buffeted by strong headwinds as I edged past Queensbury and Saltaire runners. The tippy-tappy descent towards Bronte bridge was avoided by taking a wide route to the right; gained three places here. Some really enthusiastic support by KCAC ladies motivated us up towards the track back to Penistone Quarry.
I made some good time and felt strong as I drove forward below the car park, crossing the road and sharp downhill into Howarth. Then, a final push up the cobbles where hundreds cheered in every runner. I enjoyed the soup and roll. Dr LD also enjoyed the day although no soup for her at the finish as it had all been scooped - I bought her a beer instead and we chatted with some KCAC members with a cute whippet!.
Postscript
Everything about this race was warm, friendly and inclusive. Well, all except for the hail shower in the first 10 minutes, the knee deep bog traps and the steep climbs from Stanbury Reservoir. But all else was just great. Recommended to all!
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