Cloud 9 fell race, Congleton

Summer Series 2012 – Race 1

Sunday March 4th.

Competitors should arrive prepared to carry the following equipment:-
 Windproof whole body cover. Other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions. Map and compass suitable for navigating the course. Whistle. Emergency food .

Hiking boots , full goretex , hat , scarf 'n gloves , thermos of coffee (full measure of brandy,) Kendal mint cake and a Ginsters pasty are mandatory ! Optional extras to include flare , body bag and shovel (to bury the dead!). Added Jon the Vet.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE OFF TO TACKLE  MONT BLANC . BOSLEY CLOUD IS NOT A LOT HIGHER THAN ALDERLEY EDGE. Tony.   Seeking to put things in perspective.

So maybe just bureaucracy gone mad. At registration we were told the sledge, huskies and other paraphernalia was optional (not before the FT had noted a surge in Running Bear shares)but a mild Spring-like week had turned cold and the heavy rain overnight was still falling. No-one was talking about the race. All the discussion was about what to wear, as we first took a couple of layers off and then put them back on. In his eagerness to provide the long list of equipment needed, Steve Russell seemed to have somehow omitted his running shoes.

Malcolm picked-up the first 60 points of the season. Despite his pedigree, I can't remember him ever leading the table before. He was 12th. overall  and 1st. M45. Jim, second M40, was next and then Tom, who carried-on where he left-off last season; winning the M55 category.

Allan sets the pace in League 2 ahead of Andy and Diane McVey, impressively second lady overall. Then came Mike, Simon, Jarrod, Paul, Aron and Tony, who was 3rd.M60., Richard Lawson and newly promoted Gavin and Geoff. Then Richard Hirons and Jon, who feels his talents have been overestimated and League 3 might be more appropriate. The authorities will review in due course whether this is simply false modesty.

Great run by Dodo to head-up Division 3 just ahead of our second lady ,Diane Bygrave.  Louisa and Kate were third and fourth ladies. Steve, Gareth, John, Paul Norris, slowly working his way back from injury, Christine, not her ground conditions, last year's League 4 winner, Chris, and finally, Ian.

Andy had put a nice chart of the race on the web which helpfully précised the course as 3 miles up, 3 miles up and down and three miles down.  I always used to beat Simon but last year, race after race, we were neck and neck. I knew he would beat me to the top, the objective was to be reasonably close at six miles . I started slowly, picking my way past first Sue, then Carolyn and, as she struggled up the hill, Huma. Flurries of snow as we approached the summit. Passed Julie on the first descent, and then, ahead of schedule, caught Simon at halfway.  A Wilmslow shirt in the distance. John? Chris? But the descent was not as advantageous as I'd hoped; not steep enough, not rough enough. The Wilmslow vest disappeared. I passed and kept re-passing  a nice Congleton girl. I got ahead of her but then she was back on my shoulder, 800m to go, only she it wasn't her. Where had Simon come from? Fortunately, there was a sharp downhill and I was able to finally lay him to rest.

Simon got the League 4 60-points, Huma's recovery in the second half not quite being enough to catch him. Julie's excellent form continues and there were good points for Carolyn, Sue, Trevor and Elspeth.

35 Wilmslow runners. Experience suggests we'll look back and see these as easy points. For all my moaning beforehand, I do admit to enjoying it. However, this morning was vest and shorts, an hour down the beach, whilst it was still cool, not a speck of mud in sight and back for a good breakfast. That remains my run of choice.

I only get a narrow perspective , please email me after the race as to what was happening where you were running. I’ll try to either incorporate your comments and observations into my piece or publish them alongside. This would be particularly helpful for Trafford, when I’ll be away.

Ian