West Pennine Moors Marathon
November 2017:
After completing a local trail marathon in 7:30hrs just a month or two after being told to "see how I go" by the doctor post ankle fracture I decided to enter the Howlers West Pennine Moors Marathon.
It would be fine! I had built up some miles since being off my feet with injury and wasn't afraid of hurting my ankle now, I had started to run more trails and moors and was using my watch GPs routes and OS maps during. I got the route for the event and did bits of recces. It bragged of being tough.
February:
I had recently DNFd a LDWA local event due to very bad weather, I was cold to the bone and got in the van at the first checkpoint. I also hadn't learned the route and decided that I didn't want to be on unknown moors alone! I felt I had learned a lesson, and I wasn't going to be attempting this marathon alone!.
I learned the middle part, and my friend [who was taking me round] came over and we learned the first part together, so just the last bit we had to wing, we'd be fine!
The most amount of miles I had ran up to this event was 15 miles, not including the post fracture marathon, and I was slightly panicked, but I didn't want to pull out. I was hoping despite low miles to finish in 6:30 - 7:30 hours, similar to my last two tough marathon times. A long time I know but I am slow and it is a difficult terrain.
March:
After completing a local trail marathon in 7:30hrs just a month or two after being told to "see how I go" by the doctor post ankle fracture I decided to enter the Howlers West Pennine Moors Marathon.
It would be fine! I had built up some miles since being off my feet with injury and wasn't afraid of hurting my ankle now, I had started to run more trails and moors and was using my watch GPs routes and OS maps during. I got the route for the event and did bits of recces. It bragged of being tough.
February:
I had recently DNFd a LDWA local event due to very bad weather, I was cold to the bone and got in the van at the first checkpoint. I also hadn't learned the route and decided that I didn't want to be on unknown moors alone! I felt I had learned a lesson, and I wasn't going to be attempting this marathon alone!.
I learned the middle part, and my friend [who was taking me round] came over and we learned the first part together, so just the last bit we had to wing, we'd be fine!
The most amount of miles I had ran up to this event was 15 miles, not including the post fracture marathon, and I was slightly panicked, but I didn't want to pull out. I was hoping despite low miles to finish in 6:30 - 7:30 hours, similar to my last two tough marathon times. A long time I know but I am slow and it is a difficult terrain.
March:
It was an early start! My friend had a long drive over, then we headed to the event. The Sunny Hurst Kiosk was open to register. I said hello to a few friends, then we got a bacon butty and a coffee before race brief.
We made our way outside then we were off. The first mile was a climb. I'm not really good at hills, and I'm not really good at running in the first few miles! I knew it would be tough.
We made our way outside then we were off. The first mile was a climb. I'm not really good at hills, and I'm not really good at running in the first few miles! I knew it would be tough.
We knew our way and were soon plodding toward checkpoint one at Jepsons Gate, 8.5 mile away. We arrived. It was nearer 10 miles and we hadn't got lost! The good news, sort of..., we wasn't last! We drank flat coke, ate jaffa cakes and left. I knew the next part of the route, I ran it often.
At the top of Great Hill we had a quick bite to eat and I changed my socks. We pointed a lost runner in the right direction, but he had calf trouble and was unsure of the route so he decided to stay with us for the remainder of the race, despite my warning of my being a slow runner.
We headed down the side of Great Hill, turned and passed Belmont Reservoir from the other side and headed toward the Turton Heights / Moors part of the route.
We met a marshall who pointed us in the direction of our next checkpoint, Crookfield Rd car park, 14.5 mile along the route, it was almost 16 miles to it! We were in good spirits still at this point despite already being past 5 hours [I didn't know this yet]. We had flat coke and jaffas again and carried on.
I struggled on the Turton Heights section. It was ankle and calf deep in water, very boggy and I couldn't make out the trail routes and there was lots of little streams to cross. It was energy sapping and the weather turned. I felt that it was tough going under foot.
My spirits were low at this point, Stu, the race director messaged me to see if we were OK, where we were and to say that they were closing CP3. We were hours behind our predicted / hoped for time. I sent a map screen shot of our position.
At the top of Great Hill we had a quick bite to eat and I changed my socks. We pointed a lost runner in the right direction, but he had calf trouble and was unsure of the route so he decided to stay with us for the remainder of the race, despite my warning of my being a slow runner.
We headed down the side of Great Hill, turned and passed Belmont Reservoir from the other side and headed toward the Turton Heights / Moors part of the route.
We met a marshall who pointed us in the direction of our next checkpoint, Crookfield Rd car park, 14.5 mile along the route, it was almost 16 miles to it! We were in good spirits still at this point despite already being past 5 hours [I didn't know this yet]. We had flat coke and jaffas again and carried on.
I struggled on the Turton Heights section. It was ankle and calf deep in water, very boggy and I couldn't make out the trail routes and there was lots of little streams to cross. It was energy sapping and the weather turned. I felt that it was tough going under foot.
My spirits were low at this point, Stu, the race director messaged me to see if we were OK, where we were and to say that they were closing CP3. We were hours behind our predicted / hoped for time. I sent a map screen shot of our position.
Just at that moment we rounded the corner to the check pint. "is Stu pulling us?" I asked. "do you want to stop ...?" the marshalls questioned. We all agreed that no we didn't want to quit now.
We took what was left and headed on. About 10k they said ... Normally it would take me an hour just over to run 10k, but I was physically drained, nothing left in my legs but walking. I pushed on. I apologised for my pace to the runner we had with us, but he was just grateful not to be wandering alone on the moors!
I even struggled to run the flat part around the lake and took to power walking to try to get some energy back into my fatigued legs. It made the going slow ... At around mile 23 my watch died and we had to rely on OS maps, thank god we had this application!
We headed toward Darwen moor. Stu messaged if we were OK, I replied yes and sent a screen shot of our map position.
We took what was left and headed on. About 10k they said ... Normally it would take me an hour just over to run 10k, but I was physically drained, nothing left in my legs but walking. I pushed on. I apologised for my pace to the runner we had with us, but he was just grateful not to be wandering alone on the moors!
I even struggled to run the flat part around the lake and took to power walking to try to get some energy back into my fatigued legs. It made the going slow ... At around mile 23 my watch died and we had to rely on OS maps, thank god we had this application!
We headed toward Darwen moor. Stu messaged if we were OK, I replied yes and sent a screen shot of our map position.
We were back on Turton Moors, and as I crossed a stream my right leg sank up to my knicker! I lied
on the moor in front and slowly inched my leg up, hoping my trainer
would come up too!
Finally we were onto Darwen Moors. The going was much easier with well trodden fell and I managed to pick up my pace a little. The sun was starting to set, and I didn't want to be on the moors in the dark, although I did have my head torch.
Jubilee Tower was soon in sight, and as we came down a hill we saw Bolton Mountain Rescue in their van waiting for us to come off the moors. I smiled as I passed them.
Finally we were onto Darwen Moors. The going was much easier with well trodden fell and I managed to pick up my pace a little. The sun was starting to set, and I didn't want to be on the moors in the dark, although I did have my head torch.
Jubilee Tower was soon in sight, and as we came down a hill we saw Bolton Mountain Rescue in their van waiting for us to come off the moors. I smiled as I passed them.
It was all down hill now and we quickened to the finish, at last we were almost there! The runner we had with us was quicker and set off ahaead, but then fell near the bottom before the finish when his calfs 'went'. He looked looked sore after!.
Stu and a few others gave us a cheering welcome as we finally crossed the finish. We were hugged and congratulated. Our medals handed to us, a few photos taken, and despite our late finish, hot soup was served.
Final thoughts:
This was a much tougher event than I expected despite it being described as tough! I knew a lot of the route but I still had it on my watch and on my OS maps, many runners didn't and left the event after being very lost in the early miles. It was marked, but the moors are vast and some were easy to miss, especially if you went off route, or if the weather turned and made visibility poor. In my opinion it's definitely for the more experienced trail and fell runner. I was lucky to know the route, have the maps, and to not get pulled.
Conclusion:
It's definitely not for the feint hearted! It bragged of being tough and it was.
Stu and a few others gave us a cheering welcome as we finally crossed the finish. We were hugged and congratulated. Our medals handed to us, a few photos taken, and despite our late finish, hot soup was served.
Final thoughts:
This was a much tougher event than I expected despite it being described as tough! I knew a lot of the route but I still had it on my watch and on my OS maps, many runners didn't and left the event after being very lost in the early miles. It was marked, but the moors are vast and some were easy to miss, especially if you went off route, or if the weather turned and made visibility poor. In my opinion it's definitely for the more experienced trail and fell runner. I was lucky to know the route, have the maps, and to not get pulled.
Conclusion:
It's definitely not for the feint hearted! It bragged of being tough and it was.
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