I am sure most of Group 2 know me and my running journey but for everyone else, I will give you the brief version.
In April of last year I had a bit of a midlife crisis and realised I was due to turn 40 and was also reasonably overweight. Fat and forty is not what I wanted to be. And I could only change one of those things. Running it was and I started with parkrun and then since joining the Saltwell Harriers I have tried a few different types of racing, including relays and cross country.
Fast forward to about a week ago. At half past nine on Friday night I had just sent a WhatsApp message to ask if anyone was going for a run on Sunday. The first reply was to ask if I fancied doing the Brough Law fell race — not something I had tried or really considered before (and without the club I would never have known existed).
Checking the website on Saturday morning I was a little apprehensive about the equipment required and navigation involved. Concerned I might have taken on something beyond my ability I sent another message to the WhatsApp group to check. As always people rallied round to give good advice and spare gear as needed, so I was in.
Sunday morning, and as with all the best Saltwell race days, it started at eight in the morning outside Greggs for a sausage sarnie. Then we were on the road and were some of the first to arrive at a truly beautiful spot for a race. Some of the race organizers greeted us and after two minutes spent filling out the registration form and paying the £5 fee (all the money raised on the day went to Mountain Rescue), I was officially in the race.
“I have never seen a start to a race quite like Brough Law and I don’t think I am being overly dramatic by describing the first “hill” as basically a cliff.”
As other Hoops arrived, we did a recce of the first hill to get a feel for the start of the race.
I have never seen a start to a race quite like Brough Law and I don’t think I am being overly dramatic by describing the first “hill” as basically a cliff. I admitted to people that I was a little worried and again everyone was super supportive and gave me great advice for how to get round the route.
“I finished the race with wet feet, muddy legs, a big smile and most importantly a huge sense of accomplishment.”
I would describe the course as undulating and damp in places, with a couple of steep climbs. It was over 400m of elevation gain over the 8km route which might sound a lot but I found walking the steep hills and then running on the flatter and downhill sections, was the best approach. Fell racing is not like any other race I have ever done before — it’s tough but also rewarding. The hills are steep but what goes up must come down and I have never seen anyone run downhill quite like fell runners. I can only describe them as having no fear! I finished the race with wet feet, muddy legs, a big smile and most importantly a huge sense of accomplishment.
Once everyone had finished it was back to the race HQ (a table in a field) for the prize presentations. It was nice that as a first time fell runner, I got a little prize (Smarties Easter Egg). This alone for me made the whole experience worthwhile. After all the presentations were complete, we all stayed for some healthy cake courtesy of Sara (thank you).
“…it can appear daunting at first, but we are lucky here at Saltwell in that we have a great team who will support you and give you good advice.”
I think it’s safe to say I have been bitten by the fell racing bug and I am looking forward to the next race. My advice to anyone would be to give it a go at least once; it can appear daunting at first, but we are lucky here at Saltwell in that we have a great team who will support you and give you good advice.
Matthew Thompson
