Tandle Hill Trail Race – the Andy Dodd report

Tony said recently that the Summer Series is not a matter of life or death, and should be used more as a means for improvement rather than outright competition. Yeah, right – it’s far more important than mere life and death!!  🙂

Janine dominates Group 3 these days, not even Louisa, who dominated early on, can compete.  However, the good news is, Janine is away, and Louisa by her own admission is not running great.  So, for the 60 points – its game on! 

Many in Group 3 are present at every race and the usual suspects were in attendance here. Chris Cannon is always a nuisance in a hill race (in a nice way), Patrick gaining some of his previous form is back in the mix, and Louisa, though unsure of what trainers to wear (several times), is definitely the one to beat. 

And, of course, these days we never start a race without wondering who in Group 3 might get ‘Gailed’ … it’s happened to many this year and still continues as she just gets better and better.  John Porteous has been on notice of a ‘Gailing’ for weeks … will it be today? 

With 30 Wilmslow runners in attendance, Jim, Andy and Di look likely to be flying the flag up front even though it’s not Di’s favourite running terrain. We line up on what is a 3m wide sort of unkempt tarmac road but with potholes. The first mile looks like being on this and gradually uphill.

The route is briefly explained and stated it’s impossible to get lost. It’s not often I achieve the impossible but I did today, I got lost! Though it would seem I wasn’t the only one as so did Sue Strang, twice, apparently.  And, Jim was supposedly seen gallivanting around the woods adding an extra mile or so to the race. 

My plan is to try and keep Louisa in sight and hope she gets a stitch, I know it’s not the noblest way to beat someone, but needs must. I feel if I go off fast then I should get a nice lead on Chris Cannon just in case I run out of puff up any of the hills and need a little rest, which I duly did.

The first mile and a half is on the unkempt road, a gradual climb that then sees us go off road and onto grassy trails, though slightly muddy completely runnable. After a mile and a half we enter the woods and loop back on ourselves, it’s a good chance to see just how far people are in front and behind.  I count Louisa as being 25 secs ahead and Chris about the same behind, I am surprised that I am sat right on the tail of both Phil Walker and Chris Grimes, though I feel comfortable and go with it. 

The mile or so through the woods I found great fun, enjoyable running, mud, slippery tree stumps and roots to dodge. We get a brief rain shower but the feared hurricane Jude is nowhere to be seen. After a fast mile I then came to a point where Chris and Phil, who could only have been 15m in front, have disappeared and I see two runners on the other side of a fence, it really confuses me and I ask them where I have gone wrong.  They are unsure and suggest to go back, so I jog back 10 yards to then be met by a group of runners saying go forward and off to the right, they know the route and it’s the other two that have gone wrong.  This whole episode cost me 20 secs or so, I would say, but made no real difference to my placing in the end but allowed Chris cannon to get to see me during a race rather than just at the start, which is nice for him!  :-) 

A steep climb on two dozen steps to the top of the hill and that’s the back of this race broken. Well it looked that way on the profile.  However, though the second half is mainly downhill, I found it really draining.  Back through the woods, plenty of mud and grass, and then back onto the mile and half road back to the finish. Even that felt tough as the wind gusted into your face. 

I passed Chris Grimes in the woods with 2 miles to go, Phil had got 100 meters ahead and looked strong, as soon as we hit the road though Chris caught me and took almost 40 seconds out of me on the final downhill mile. A quick look over my shoulder saw Chris Cannon a good 200 metres or so behind and I knew that I was safe for 59 points. Louisa ran well and deservedly took the Group 3 60 points. It will be interesting to see who’ll win the ‘Ellis vs Harrsion’ battle at Langley next Saturday – it’s like a straightener! 

Chris ran well and collected 58 points. John Porteous produced a solid performance and avoided his ‘Gailing’………..for now. 

Huma continues ran really well to take the 60 points in Group 4 and looks like she will be very comfortable in Group 3 where she will surely be next year. Claire McCluskey’s improvement continues and ran a great race to collect 59 Group 4 points. 

Gail, perhaps not on her favourite terrain, collected 58 and is now looking eagerly towards Langley……watch ya backs people!! 

Andy Whittingham was our first runner home in 37.50. Second was Tom in 39:29, then Jim in 40:01 after his jaunt around the woodlands.  Closely followed by Allan in 40.13 – leading Di in for another great run and overall ladies winner in 40.20. 

A host of category wins for Wilmslow, well done all. 

Would I do this race again? I think any race where people are getting lost is a bad sign, also nothing at the finish, not even a cup of water. The route was fun but I felt it lacked the feeling of a race organised by runners for runners, it didn’t quite have a Summer Series feel to it, and so it would be a “No” for me. 

Langley 7 up next.  I would normally say here, don’t bother, but do, even if it's just for the cakes!!  See you there.

Andy Dodd