So last Friday night the final preparations added to the week leading up to Hebden 22. I pulled together my kit, still in two minds about how many layers and what those layers would consist of.
Settling for two layers on the bottom half, compression tights and calf guards with ‘Ronhill Tracksters’ (seriously good value but thoroughly unflattering kit) and three for starters on the top (base, Merino wool T and a bike fleece). In my bag I’d carry an additional light fleece, dry base and full waterproofs (as well as the usual first aid etc). I also opted to wear a ‘Buff-type thingy’ with a cap (I usually wear a cap in the rain and thought it would be of similar benefit in the snow, to keep it out of my eyes).
So I was nervous, for two reasons, first and foremost due to the weather. It had snowed on the Fylde coast and forecast to be heavier in the Yorkshire hills. I checked my phone with trepidation every few minutes waiting for bulletin 4: when it arrived shortly after 7pm I was a happy bunny:
The Hebden – Weather
Friday 19.00
We had a dull day in Mytholmroyd with no snow until 4.00pm but with very cold
winds. Since 4.00pm it has snowed but not heavily and the snow is very fine and over
a period of 3 hours left a coating of about 1 inch at valley level. There will probably
be more snow at higher levels. It continues to snow with the same light flurries. We
have been able to access all our checkpoints except CP4 where we have made
arrangements with a friendly resident to get us up there. All the bus routes are
currently free of snow and I saw several gritters on my journey home So in
accordance with our earlier statement we have set up the hall to start the event as
planned at 8.00am.
It cannot be emphasised enough that the wind is extremely cold and sufficient
clothing should be carried or worn to keep you warm in case of emergency. There are
some areas with ice which could be dangerous if you are not taking care but in general
it should be soft virgin snow.
Have an enjoyable day. Hopefully if the forecast is correct the snow will clear during
Saturday
Yes!!! A quick text to Steve (my partner in crime and chauffeur for this event) and it was time to kick into pre-race mode. Gnocchi with pesto was prepared and consumed. I packed the car and got my drinks sorted. No bagels so it would be toast, banana and honey for breakfast.
My other worry was my quadriceps femoris. Both quads had not fully recovered from the previous weekends harsh descents. I hadn’t run all week; I had planned to get out for a short one on Friday but with the snow etc. I didn’t bother. I had been using my ‘stick’ and foam roller and I could descend stairs with only minimal discomfort but I wasn’t fully fit. I would have to go with the flow and see what happened on the day.
Race Day
pre-race
It was another early start on Saturday. I woke well before my 4:34am alarm and sorted myself out. The kids stayed asleep although I did wake the missus… she wished me luck and I was on my way. I left at 5:15am and met up with Steve.
We headed east through the wintry conditions and reached Hebden on schedule. We registered and had a brew before getting our kit on and flushing away any last-minute nerves. It was cold and snowing lightly at the start, the morning just broke as we gathered in the car park to be sent on our way. I took it very easily at the beginning; those around me must have thought I was a walker mixing it with the runners. The start of Hebden is nice, its’ flat for just over a mile whilst you warm up and then it has a mile or so of ascent, first steep, slowly flattening out then it undulates to checkpoint 1. I waited until the field had thinned out then I whipped out the poles for their first test run. I was obviously slightly goofy with them at first and seemingly the only one that I saw using them. This year the Hebden for me was a training race. I wanted to try something new and get some more hilly miles in my legs.
Mountain King Trail Blaze poles
fancy poles helped on the hills Courtesy of SportSunday Event Photography
I found the poles definitely helped on the steep uphills, were equivocal on the flats and only felt like a very minor hindrance on the downhills. I certainly wasn’t slick but even though this was my first attempt I feel I raced better with them than without. My legs were less drained on the uphills so I felt like I ran the downhills slightly better than the week before (although they were less technical). I could feel the effort I was using in my upper body but I had no lingering effects from this. I had half expected to have sore shoulders or wrists but after 16 miles I seemed fine.
I really liked the rhythm they encouraged and the extra balance on boggy or rough ground.
I will need to use them more and become comfortable with them. This should make me more efficient and slicker at freeing a hand up for food/ drink/ opening gates etc.
I was very impressed by how light they were and my only niggle was that I need to tweak where the knot is on the string that holds them together; they need to be slightly tighter, there was a little separation when they got plugged in the snow.
Overall, I have to say I’d recommend them.
Sealskinz socks
Anyway back to the race, I grabbed some malt loaf from CP1 and moved on toward the next CP. The course was fantastic, as I remembered but a lot whiter! I decided to wear my Inov8’s because they have much better grip than my Salomon’s and they were perfect. I’d paired them with my first trip out in the Sealskinz socks. It was a bit of a risk wearing new socks on a longish hilly run, but like I said this was a training race for me so if I was going tom make mistakes this was the time to do it. The socks performed well, I had some mild/moderate perspiration collection but otherwise they remained dry. They were tested, running in 6”+ of snow and through icy streams and marsh land. I also stood in a stream that was ankle-deep for 30 seconds to test them and they passed.
As those who follow my blog know I lost my right big toe nail following the Ring ‘O Fire 131 mile ultra, last year and it has only half-grown back so far. This leaves the other half of my nail bed slightly sensitive. I slapped a bit of Vaseline on it pre-run and it remained ok for the duration wrapped in my Sealskinz socks.
Again, I’d recommend these socks for winter races, in my opinion they do a good job!
Back to the race…
I like the course between CP 2 and 3 as it is varied. We cross some flat fields and lanes and then there’s a few shorter but technical ascents and a few storming descents that really
test your nerve (especially when you combine rock, snow and ice) before the rolling track into the woods, across the river followed with a few trickier areas before descending into the valley and CP3 (the very well catered CP3). This is the first race in a while where I needed to think about drinking. Usually I’m guided by my thirst and I do tend to drink quite a bit but today I was at CP3 (10.4 miles into the race) before I had to refill my 500 ml bottle. Over the course of the race I had 1 gel an hour and whatever I ate at the CP’s. At CP3 I had a very welcome cup of tea, an egg sandwich and another piece of malt loaf.
I knew what was next. It was a big climb and I knew that from last year this is where the ever-cheerful SportSunday photographers place themselves. It must make for a better picture… nice rosy cheeks, puffing and the panoramic view. That said they had to climb the exact same hill before us and wait in the sub-zero temperatures and chilling wind whilst we all stumbled past putting on our best smiles.
However the best bit about their well thought out location is the banter and encouragement we get from them after a tough climb. There is no crowd participation in this sport so the craic from the SportSunday photographers is much appreciated. For me and my fellow competitors they are becoming part of some of these crazy events and the community that surrounds them, keep it up!
Like Bambi with my new poles courtesy of SportSunday Event Photography
Once at the top of the initial steep pull, it flattens slightly to reach the Pennine Way and another longer pull onto the tops. Thankfully this part of the route had been waymarked as the conditions were closing in. I ornamented myself with my waterproof top, which kept the wind out and ploughed on. Visibility was only 20-30 yards and I ran hard to stay with the group in front.
All the while I was considering my options, I knew that after the next descent through the woods I would arrive at CP4 and the decision to go short or long. I had been here exactly 12 months before and I made the wrong decision. I let my pride come first and went long. End result: 3 weeks off running in the lead up to the Wsahington DC marathon with a potential stress fracture (turns out it was just bruised). On reflection after the race I had basically increased mileage and introduced some serious hills, all in one go… I was asking for trouble.
One of my motos is ‘the definition of stupidity is people who don’t learn from their mistakes’. I wasn’t going to be led by my pride again. I was going with my head! Weighing the situation up I decided to go short. I had really
enjoyed the day so far, I could definitely feel my quads were hurting and going on would only increase the risk of doing some longer term damage for minimal if any gain. I was still recovering from last week’s 26 miles in the lakes. Besides 26+16= 42 miles in a week (hilly+++) was about as much as my current training load could tolerate. I had a homemade cookie and a few glasses of juice and waited for Steve, who wasn’t too far back so that we could run the last few miles together. I had the added pleasure of accompanying Steve to the finish of his first trail race, he was grinning like a Cheshire cat (and pushing the pace!) as we followed the road back to race HQ.
Steve looking fresh at the top of the climb courtesy of SportSunday Event Photography
Post-race
Hebden is brilliant for this. There is no better way to end your mornings run than with a hot pork pie, mushy peas and HP sauce, followed up with apple crumble and custard washed down with a brew! All included in the entry fee. WOW!
I was feeling good and could have run on Sunday but left it until Monday night, easy 4 miles, felt good.
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