Shady Oak, Soggy Feet

The Shady Oak, Fernilee, Peak District, mid-May it all sounds rather pleasant and anyone looking at the times might conclude that we’d all sat in the sun drinking pints in the shade of the oak before enjoying a leisurely trot round the country lanes.

In fact we were lashed by rain and gales as we struggled through a tough 10k that packed in around 900 feet of ascent.  Rarely (I’d say never but no doubt Bill ran Langley 7 in a blizzard in ‘63) have Summer Series points been so hard won.  And anyone who got up the big hill without walking deserves double.

Somewhat reluctantly we left the shelter of the warm bar and jogged up to the start.  The rain lashed down and we shivered on the start line like a cross-country in December…

Mike set off cagily watching out for any hill running whippets.  So, with the wind behind, I took the opportunity to lead down to the first turn.  As we began the first climb normal service was resumed and Mike began to pull away chased by myself and another runner.

Soon we turned onto the section described as “rough track”.  The floods had turned this into something more like “rough river”.  Now rather wet and muddy I was beginning to enjoy the grim conditions as we ploughed along into the teeth of the gale up and over the first hill.  We were steadily gaining on Mike who was struggling to see anything through his glasses and stumbling on the rocky path.  Once back on the road though he was off again running away to eventually finish 2 minutes clear.

The big hill started as we left Coombs behind (the settlement not the ex. President) and climbed up past Bog House Farm.  It didn’t seem too bad at first; picking up the pace we cruised past Lloyd Taggart (you don’t hear that line very often – in this case he was a marshall).  I was still sharing 2^nd place at this point and as the hill steepened it became a dig deep trudge with both of us wondering who would grind to a halt first.  Running over the crest of the hill revealed a slight dip followed by yet another short climb.  My legs felt like jelly, I could taste my lunch and in howling wind and soaking kit I felt suddenly freezing – for the first time in a long while I questioned what I was doing up here at all.  This loss of legs and focus resulted in a 50m gap opening up from 2^nd place by the time we started the descent.

The way down was less steep than Langley and (even on a grim day) equally fine views opened up over the valley.  The wind and rain were behind us now, running form was restored and I began to enjoy the views.  We passed the back of the Shady Oak running at full pelt down a road that had become a slippery river of rain and cow shit.  Safely round the corner and a testing final few hundred metres into the wind took us to the finish line.

Totally drenched, we retreated back to the Cosy Oak to be partially revived by fine ales – sore legs and Jennings on tap completed the Lake District feel of the occasion. 

Mike and Jane were the winners, Kate Ayres was 2^nd, Rob 3^rd.  It was great to see Kate Sutton and Penny Hinke picking up age category prizes with hill fitness hard earned over the winter cross country season.  Jim, Ian and Jeff showed their mettle on the hills too steal a few points on their rivals and there were many other staunch performances further down the field. It was another big turnout with the locals bemused at over 25% of the runners donning the famous blue and gold. 

Thanks to Goyt Valley Striders for marshalling the race so efficiently in the atrocious conditions.

Rob Downs