Langdale Fell Race
October 9th, 2011 by Andy NicollI’ve had quite a busy time recently trying to get back to fitness after my post Bob Graham Round rest but I’ve been hampered a little by a slight foot injury that I acquired running in the Bradley Fell race back in early September.
I then ran in the Settle Loop race which is an 8 mile trail race around the hills and trails around the back of Settle and over towards Malham tarn.
Two weeks ago I ran 12 x 400 meters on the new track at University Academy Keighley which was my first ever experience of track running and I must admit to actually enjoying it. At Bingley Harriers we’ve devised a training plan that sees us hit the track once every three weeks and I’m interested to see if it delivers the benefits that everyone suggests it will.
Last weekend we made our way to a windy, rainy and cloudy Lake District to run in the Ian Hodgson Mountain relay. As Bingley set out to win the mixed team prize this year (4 ladies and 4 men in a team) I found myself relegated to the A team. The managers’ team selection paid off and Bingley won the mixed team prize by just seven seconds from Pennine in a very tightly contested race.
This weekend it was the Langdale Fell race, one of my favourite long distance events which takes in Thunacar, Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags and Pike O Blisco before returning to the Old Dungeon Gill pub where a warm pasty and a pint awaits to refresh weary bodies.
Although I didn’t feel I’d run very well and felt tired on all the climbs I still managed to finish 8th in the Over 40s category and won a tenner.
I ran in my old Inov 8 330 fell shoes which whilst being very comfortable have the old grey hard wearing sole rather than the newer black sticky sole. This made the wet lakeland rock very interesting at times so I think some of the newer sticky models are on the cards.
Next week it’s the FRA relay in Kettlewell which Bingley are staging. I’m running leg 3, the navigation leg, so I’m hoping that my map and compass skills don’t desert me.
