Heptonstall Fell Race

[Trig]

Thanks Trig and all the top team for an awesome race and day.
I did manage to down quite a few ales in the White Lion, then as Colin M challenged me to a (pi55ed runner v pi55ed cyclist) race down to the Blue Pig, well it would've been very rude of me to accept the challenge! So whilst he was faffing with his bike I hot footed it in civvies and shoes down to the Pig, and won my first race of the day, managing to get the beers in before he arrived!
Sadly my 3 hour late arrival at home at just gone 7 (just slightly innebriated!) did manage to get me well and truly in the doghouse, ooooooooops.

Clive! Star performance both on the fells and at the bar. You lived up to your "number 1" billing - leading others by your example great stuff!!!! I noticed you roped half of Wharfedale into your extended post race analysis. Consider yourself the permanent owner of the "number 1". This Blue Pig stage sounds like a great feature for next year's Heptonstall - 15 miles and 3000 feet is a bit tame - what are the stats / rules to "The Full Heptonstall/Blue Pig variant" ????????
At least you were nt chucking up your ale like AlfaScud.........

[Trig]

Are there any pictures from the Heptonstall Fell Race on the web by any chance.

Yep photos are a must - unfortunately not the usual Sportsunday etc presence- but we do have loads coming in from marshalls / families etc so just trying get them all to webmeister Pete to pop up on HFR website - we would be very grateful for any you can link to posts.

[Trig]

More Lovely Ladies (and James) Soup Action - will pass on the praise to the soup gang (one of whom is my long suffering fell widow wife)


Attachment 4581
Attachment 4582

Attachment 4583

Just like to add my thanks to the ever increasing list of thanks, all well deserved. Great tough course, constantly up and down, with hardly any flat sections, ace. I know we all moaned about that last killer hill climb, but given the choice of not including that in any future Heptonstall Fell Races we'd all be up in arms complaing.
Possibly most enjoyable fell race I've done, that means the race itself as well as the community spirit both before and after the race, great in the White Lion afterwards also.
Gotta mention the lovely ladies serving the free tea and flapjacks, marvellous.

[Trig]

Congrats on top half finish JoeyD - soup run recce paid off eh?
Pity I missed you in the pub
Have you joined a club yet - whats the nearest fell club to Bury?
If you fancy another day out to the village we're thinking of doing a 28 mile soup run linking 7 trig points from here; its a bit of an annual event delayed because of HFR. First Trig in chain is Standing Stone Hill, then Bridestones, Hoof Stones, Ladlaw/Boulsworth, The Stoop, High Brown Knoll, finally Sheepstones. Its very wild - not many paths, only 3 or 4 road crossings, and not a house or farm to see on the entire 20 mile high section. Surprisingly easy running across peat/heather - its a horseshoe ridge so not that much ascent given distance. Thinking early April - more good training for 3 Peaks.

I'd like to add my thanks to Trig and the myriad other people involved for a grand race yesterday. Tea and flapjack to start, a really cracking course (even in the mist) and loads more tea and cake at the end. That and the fact it's in aid of a really good cause. What more could you want from a run? Well done everyone concerned! (and I finished in the top 50%, not that this coloured my view of the day at all... honest...)

Joey D

[alfa_scud]

At least you were nt chucking up your ale like AlfaScud.........

Ssshhhhh don't tell everyone they'll think I'm a lightweight! I'm coming over Friday next year & getting more beer in beforehand, hope I don't forget my 20p's for the loos!

[Trig]

Ssshhhhh don't tell everyone they'll think I'm a lightweight! I'm coming over Friday next year & getting more beer in beforehand, hope I don't forget my 20p's for the loos!

Good plan AS - and you're no lightweight.
Only 1 out of 202 runners turned up a day early and made his way straight to the pub as soon as he'd parked up his camper van........even Clive kept his powder dry until Saturday
Think the overnight option could be a great thing to encouarge next year - nice spot with great views - some sort of runners meal deal at the pub

[Clive]

Clive! Star performance both on the fells and at the bar. You lived up to your "number 1" billing - leading others by your example great stuff!!!! I noticed you roped half of Wharfedale into your extended post race analysis. Consider yourself the permanent owner of the "number 1". This Blue Pig stage sounds like a great feature for next year's Heptonstall - 15 miles and 3000 feet is a bit tame - what are the stats / rules to "The Full Heptonstall/Blue Pig variant" ????????
At least you were nt chucking up your ale like AlfaScud.........

Heh heh, nice one Steve. Yes interestingly enough as Ben was pacing me around the race (is that allowed btw?!) I did say to him I'd like to have a crack at one of the mad downhill only races, and maybe even an uphill only race as well.
Little did I know that I had one right on my doorstep, White Lion to Blue Pig, hmmmmm, I can think of some kinda HFR annual event bolt on!
Maybe White Lion 1 pint, Blue Pig, 1 pint, and back to the White Lion for final pint and race end. Then victory celebration at the White Lion?!?!
At least I only had about 1 mile to walk/stagger back up the tracks in the dark, not sure how Colin M coped on his bike over the old road back home in fading light after probably one gallon + of ale!
Also impressed that Dave (was it Dave?) from Leeds managed to get down to the Blue Pig for afters with road bike and panniers, madness! Hope he got home safely?

[Rev Howie]

Another boringly positive thanks from me. Great race, thank God it was (incredibly comprehensively) flagged, a few potential spots for going wrong along the course. Although I have strayed far from the path of organised religion, the vicar's words nearly had me welling up, really encouraged a feeling of common endeavour.

Just for you here are St Paul's words again: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NIV)

You've also given me an idea for next year (if there is one?) - the parable of the lost sheep! I wonder how many there were up on the moors?

A great day and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[wjr]

Another very positive vote for this race from me too. Many thanks to the many involved in organising such a grand day. That last hill was a corker!

[Trig]

Grim n co - sounds a bit 70's disco - but like it

I hate folk that cut corners. Must remember to cut corners next year. No doubt grim n co will have a marshal to scold those naughties.. and the marsh was awful at walshaw dean and did not know which side of wall to run but did not choose the on wall option. Next year I will use my jet prepulsion to get over this issue (small legs + bog = nightmare).