Originally Posted by
anthonykay
For the first time in the 21st century, I have run a race which I had previously run in the 20th century. And I am fairly sure that the Walshes that I wore at yesterday’s Turnslack fell race were the same shoes that I wore at the race in 1995.
The race was very much an old-timers’ convention. This starts with the RO: I believe Kevan Shand has been organising this race since 1978, which must surely make him the longest serving RO in the sport. Then there were the runners: I was 9th M60 (with 5-year age categories); there were eight M60's ahead of me, but also only eight MSEN’s ahead of me. That’s as many in the 60-64 age bracket as in the 24-39 age bracket.
The Taylors of Rossendale were there, with Ken winning M70 and Thornton winning M65 (both well ahead of me). A few seconds behind Thornton Taylor was the second M65, a man who was winning something more important back in 1995 when I previously ran this race. On that occasion, as I got off the train at Littleborough, a microphone was thrust towards me by a reporter, asking how I was going to vote. The Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election was the following Thursday, and the winner of that was Chris Davies, Liberal Democrat and fell runner.
On a more personal note, today I was recognised and greeted by another old-timer in the church which serves as the race HQ: Colin Valentine, who then asked me if I had come down from Scotland. I haven’t lived in Scotland since 1987, and we presumably haven’t crossed paths since before then. I first met Colin in 1979 when we were both running the Crag Fell Race, which was the junior (under-21) race that used to be run in conjunction with the Ennerdale Horseshoe.
My time in 1995, when I finished 20th, was faster than the winner’s time today. Kev Shand said that the only changes to the course since then are that the tussocks are bigger and the bracken is taller (he had been out the previous day, hacking a path through the bracken on the final descent). The competition was stronger (and younger!) back in the 20th century.
This year I got round in 62nd place (out of 87 starters). It was the longest race I have run this year, and I did fade over the last few miles, despite eating fudge at the start of the first of the two steep climbs on the second half of the race. I have also ascertained that I am even worse at tussock-running than downhill running. I can at least do some descending in the Charnwood hills near my home, but there is nothing around here to compare with Pennine tussocks.
So, to conclude: a traditional fell race held in traditional fell running weather (although actually the rain was nothing more than drizzle, and the clag was rather thin).
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