Mow Cop Hill Race
Although only a small race, 107 finishers, it attracted a quality field with the first Wilmslow runner, Jim, finishing 10th. He was closely followed by Graham with Tom, who was 2nd M55, 12th. That Tom, who was first out of nearly 4000 a week ago was second here out of 107, underlines the quality point. Sally was first Wilmslow lady and third lady overall but even she was beaten by another grande dame in the L50 category. The other Sally, Johnson, was second and Huma, although she didn't like the big hill, third.
Ian Smallwood, confirmed his strength over this type of course taking the League 3 60 points with, 2nd M60, Tony taking 59 and Richard 58.
Sally, as well as 60 points in the Ladies' League, was first home in League 4. Andrew Dodd, Group 5 last year, celebrated his promotion by being second in League 4. Patrick, just to show Wilmslow was no fluke, took third.
Chris took the 60 points in League 5, Alan 59 and Soraya 58. League 5 was the most competitive, contributing 12 of the 30 Wilmslow runners.
I read Patrick's report in the newsletter with interest. He, like me, had surprised himself at Wilmslow. Was there a common link? I had set some store by not eating in the morning but he had had porridge and then gel in the race. The previous evening he had had a lowish carb meal whereas I had had a double helping of spaghetti with my meatballs. Then I spotted it, he had been reprimanded for drinking on Saturday and I had also had a pint Saturday evening with a friend who'd come-up from South Wales for the race. So I set-off for Mow Cop with science on my side; no breakfast but Saturday's steak & ale pie, chips and Wye Valley bitter to speed me on my way.
This wasn't the start to the Summer Series I wanted, I'm don't do hills. I've heard of the Mow Cop Killer Mile and kept well away from it. Rod, Simon and Peter had all deserted me but, amazingly, Roy was there. We've talked long about Roy's injury problems and agreed a recovery strategy for 2011; short, races on the flat, nothing more than 5 miles. Nick, however, had turned his head "going to be lots of points going at Mow Cop". Roy surveyed the clusters of blue and gold vests with some dismay. You might have expected our more senior members would by now be knarled old pros, picking and choosing their races wisely but look at Simon at Wilmslow last week and Trevor almost any week, a boyish enthusiasm overwhelming what is clear common sense.
1300 feet of ascent the organisers boasted. I've no idea what that means in practice but just the way they said it frightened me. I'm also frightened of the unknown, I want a race plan, even if I don't stick to it. Would Mow Cop be like Langley and Bollington where you do the climbing early and then can go for it or like Stainland when you need something in reserve for a tough finish? I sought-out a local "the first mile is tough and the big climb comes at four miles". Owen came back from his warm-up "take the first eight minutes easy".
I followed Owen's advice but it was a bit redundant, my watch showed over two minutes lost queuing at stiles, maybe this first section of the race needs re-planning. I picked-up Alan once we passed the piper and went over the top. Next was Don, running better than at Wilmslow, but this was a race a fit Don would have loved. Next, I got ahead of Chris. The man in front of me then lost his shoe in one of the bogs, another charging past me tried to avoid the limper only to crash head-first into evil smelling mud, the girl beside me squealed. In the pandemonium, Chris slipped through, I chased and managed to catch him.
I then steadily hunted down Huma, we came together at a stile and she responded to the threat by quickening her pace and held me off for two miles. After three miles of flat and downhill we turned left up the hill we'd been warned of, a transmitter towered above us. Huma lost confidence, she's done little climbing in training and before the top Chris had also come past her. I was walking more than running but nevertheless gaining ground on Owen and John. I took Owen as the gradient eased just before the top. John and Sally both looked possibilities. It wasn't to be, however. A slight deviation from the course allowed Owen back through, he was only 10m ahead but whilst I tried to catch him, he pulled further away.
The course is not unlike my favourite, Roaches, but I found the number of stiles frustrating and many of the paths were too narrow to overtake so it is not one I'll be pushing Tony to include next year. My impression, however, was that most people enjoyed it and it provided a perfect contrast to Wilmslow last week and, if its variety you want, how about a flatish 10k in the industrial outskirts of Crewe next week? Roy, the points may not look great tonight but, as the season unfolds, I think Mow Cop will be in the best 7 for most of us.
Ian
Error, sorry, I missed Chris who was first League 5 runner home – will correct when I learn how.
Ian
Ian , could have been a combination of my hand writing and registering without my glasses , as Curtis Cannon !! Quite like it .
Good race, but I got lost…again. That’s twice in a row now, once at Bramhall Parkrun (don’t ask) and now here. A nice day for exploring though.
Richard
You shouldn’t be concerning yourself with head butt chuff then you wouldn’t get lost!
At least Richard got to the course before he got lost! Having never been to Mow Cop before I used my Sat Nav. Great until the roundabout just outside Congleton, when it asked me to ‘do a U-Turn’ as soon as I entered it! Tried to hang a left to see what was happening. Usual thing ‘turn around immediately’. A scenic tour through some sunny lanes and I was back on the main road approaching the round about again: ‘do a U-Turn’ she said. Ignored her! Ended up in Congleton and re-keyed the post code – seemed to resolve that problem. Though, in the end, it might have been better to drive home and do a slow easy jog. Arrived with 8 minutes to spare. Discovered I’d left Gel at home – so couldn’t experiment with my fuelling techniques this week. Shoes on. Got to hall and filled in form. Paid, attached number. Shoes off again and ankle bandages back on. Find Start. No time for warm up or stretches. Find colleagues. Good advice: take it easy. Look after hamstrings [still very tight]. Don’t race. Don’t mess up your marathon. Pull out if you feel anything – we’ll get an Extra point!
Started sensibly – I thought. Came to hill!! A few hundred metres and legs said, we ache, you should have stayed at home! Slowed down, stiles helped there in one way but spread everyone out into a 200m crocodile.. By the time I’d got to the top several of you had passed me. Bit I wasn’t worried though as legs had already informed me we weren’t racing today.
Views up here really, really good. Until running across the top found that bog. Left foot sunk further than I’d dreamed it would ,right foot stretched to make it a three step crossing sunk as well. Left foot exiting – no shoe! Sh@t I thought – stop! Never having lost a shoe before I don’t know the runners tacit here. Stop seemed fine. Unfortunately the Laws of Physics disagree. Body velocity forward, right foot stuck. No air-bag to stop me, so head heads south. Hands dived forward – and sank several inches into the bog. Face now only a few inches above the evil smelling, black, ousing sh@t!
I hadn’t realised in a previous life I must have been a yoga master. From the back I imagine it would look like I had combined the Down Facing Dog pose with the Half Moon Pose – 3 limbs locked in the bog with left foot and sock pointing skywards. Felt backwards for the hole I must have made. Wrong. Sock now wet and boggy. Second attempt felt shoe and hooked toes into it. Realisation dawns as I look at my arms – hands have disappeared – my Garmin is submerged. I quickly pull both hands out and adopt the one legged Muddy Stalk pose. Or more like panda. People are running past me. I am stuck. Has now to be the adopt the crab approach and go left, but right leg doesn’t move so lever it out by diving sideways onto some reeds. Luckily left shoe remains on foot hooked by toes. Now I need to put it back on and clear the mud from watch. Start off again. Spot Andrew now 200+ metres in the distance. Oh well, let’s just continue.
Views still great – but not appreciated now. I just go along plod, Squelch, plod, squelch.. until half-way. Finally out of the narrow woods and onto some decent track/road the squelchy noise has stopped. I manage to pick myself up a bit. Thought I’d give the young 40’s men something to thing about who’d overtaken me running down the hill. I got into a good relaxed rhythm on the road section – went past them tongue in cheek, and arrived close behind Andrew as we hit the second hill. Closed gap quickly to 20 metres whilst he was walking. I then had two options – drive past him for 50 metres and then walk, or stay behind 20m behind and walk. Legs voted walk – which was probably the best choice for my long term health.
Got to the downhill side. Andrew now 70m in front. Thought – shall we give it a go? Yes! Within a few seconds had nearly fallen oven a steep side and followed this by stumbling a few steps later. Glasses askew I corrected them and dirtied one lens with my boggy hands. Eyes start to water. Vision blurred. I give up the chase. Snowdon has taught me a good lesson which I’d almost ignored. And I shouldn’t mess up my prep for Edinburgh.
3 or 4 of the runners I’d overtaken now shoot past me as they head down the hills like a group of picts invading England. Though one was kind enough to tell me I was running the wrong way across the field at the top when he’d made the distance up.
Well done Andrew. you finished over a minute faster than me. All on that last mile! You are running well at the moment. You too must have gone like a Looney that last mile down-hill. And Ladies too well done for finishing in fine form, with no moans, and not as dirty as me. Excellent support too, much appreciatecd, from colleagues and partners.
Not sure I’d vote for this one again. The stiles and the narrow woodland paths are annoying, the second hill ascent daunting and the descent potentially dangerous. Then again the tea and cake for 50p was truly scrumptious. If I do do it, to prove that the second climb won’t beat me, I won’t wear white socks again!!
Absolutely hilarious – I think a photogrpaher definately missed an opportunity there for all of us, I know I did alot of squealing and laughing at that point too – well done Patrick for surviving and still do a great time too!!!!!
Given Patrick’s verbosity (see newsletter and comment above), maybe he should tutor “I only use 100 words” Capello!
What does verbosity mean, Uncle Roy?
…… the quality or condition of wordiness; excessive use of empty words, especially unnecessary prolixity. Does this help, Martin ??
…..prolixus , not prolixity . Prolix ……….. long winded , verbose .
Well, I thought it was a great post, thanks Patrick.
I generally thought it was the opposite of ‘Funny Ossity’ that well known Northern descriptive saying .. though it’s very occasionally used to describe how, and what, you tell your boss to do with themselves and job, when you decide to leave for good!
I rarely post a comment, but delighted to see that mine produced 5 responses and a text!
Your race summary,Patrick, made me laugh out loud! Great banter, and its only the first race – I’m now looking forward to the summer series in a whole new way!