WRC Race Report: Gritstone Grind

Rob Downs writes… The Gritstone Trail is a 35 mile route linking hills between Kidsgrove and Disley. The leaflet recommends tackling it as a 3-day walk. The Grind offered the chance to run it in under 12 hours and a small but determined band of WRCers took up the challenge.

With this type of race the obvious question is why? I’d seen the Gritstone Trail markers along sections of the trails that we frequent on our Sunday runs out over Lyme Park and I was curious to see how it all fitted together. The full distance would be like doing two of our 2h45 longer Sunday runs back to back. That made it seem both possible and unfeasibly hard. My vague plan was to run it at a steady Sunday run pace except for steep uphill where I’d walk, eat and drink.

Navigation is crucial on these longer races. I’d studied the route, printed some map pages and the footpath signs were all marked with a G for Gritstone. So surely nothing could go wrong …

A coach was provided to get us to the start in Kidsgrove. I was slightly disappointed that Bernard hadn’t run there. But at least he let me read his route description and gave me a few last minute tips. We lined up nervously in Kidsgrove while the race director listed the many points where it was easy to miss a turn …

The first few miles were along the canal. Charlie Sharpe and I were quickly clear, running at a comfortable towpath pace. Mow Cop was the first hill and wary of the 30+ miles still to come I eased back to a jog. Reaching the folly, I looked down to see Charlie already loping away down the hill and from that point I was mainly running alone.

At the Timberbrook feed station I grabbed a banana and ate it while striding up the steps to Bosley Cloud. At the trig point I spent a while looking for the self-clip; apparently, someone had removed it already. I knew that the next section was tricky and my eyes were peeled for those little G signs. A couple of signs and stiles were hidden by trees and I was soon heading in the wrong direction. Retracing my steps, I encountered Dave the third place runner who directed me back on course and we ran together down the muddy conduit canal.

Next up was Croker Hill. This is the broad hill topped by a fat concrete mast that dominates the view west from the summit of Shuttlingsloe. Another feature of Croker Hill is that it takes a surprisingly long time to approach it from any direction. In this case, we climbed steadily through fields then up and over Minn End. Dave had dropped back as I toiled up through farms and fields to finally gain the track by the mast.

I’d recce’d the next section to Teggs Nose which consisted mainly of bounding down and around fields and woodland with the odd path diversion to avoid runners and ramblers spoiling the views from Cheshire Life farmhouses. Teggs looked a long way but I was enjoying the steady pace and open views. I was past halfway and it all seemed possible. Only another Sunday run to go!

Teggs Nose is always steep but with my walking tactic it was much easier than in a fell race. I could see White Nancy in the distance and enjoyed running the grassy lines. Too much perhaps because I somehow missed the direct path to the tower. My long-cut took me over Kerridge Hill and along the full length of the ridge to Nancy. But finally now I was on home ground a fact emphasised by friendly Macc Harriers manning the next food station at the start of Oakenbank Lane.

The climb from the Cheshire Hunt to the charmingly named Andrews Knob is the first big obstacle in the Bollington Nostalgia race. It seemed strange to be jogging up there with nearly 30 miles on the clock. It was a long slog over the Knob, out onto the Bakestonedale Rd and then up the muddy track to Sponds Hill. Approaching Bowstones the light rain was rather pleasant and the remainder of the route was set out in front of me. I was sorely tempted to stop for a strong coffee in Lyme Park but made do with the Snickers bar that I’d been saving for emergency use. Head down past the hall, out through the East Gate, Green Lane, Red Lane and back to the Disley Community Centre.

The clock showed 2pm. I’d been running for over 5h35 which seemed slightly ridiculous. Billy Craig served me a pint of coffee and a microwaved pasty that just about hit the spot. I’m sure that these long races increase your stamina if you don’t take them too seriously. I’d found a few new routes and unlike a road marathon nothing hurt the next day.

Route: https://www.strava.com/activities/1166453849

Shoes: Salomon Fellraisers – very comfortable and great grip for damp moorland running.

Food: Peanut Trek bar, 2 bananas, peanut Nakd bar, Snickers, foraged blackberries.

Tips: study the route, think about where you are going to eat and drink, take it one hill at a time.

Rob