Hutton Roof Crags

Last year it was very, very, very hot! This year it was hot but with a nice cool breeze and I was determined to knock five minutes off my 1h 22m time from 2012.

After the Ogden Valley Round race last Tuesday, where my position didn't change much from start to finish, I decided to try my luck closer to the start line, which only meant I was passed by loads more folk on the first ascent! But that always happens and I wasn't too concerned as I took most them on the rocky trail around the crags down to the scree climb (short and steep) at the other side.

With the hum of traffic behind me (due to the M6 not runners), I started scrambling up loose scree as one by one folk started to pass me. At the top I tried to push forward again to pick them off but felt tired, and a gap started to open up between me and the front half of the field.

I must have drifted off into the land of 'taking it easy' as the undulating rocky route along the tops took me through gorse and woodland until two chaps took over me, chatting as they went.

That seemed to snap me out of my resignation as I managed to keep up with them for around 10 mins before actually overtaking them before hitting the descent (which I knew was my chance as I remembered being even rockier than the rest of the course).

I opened up and threw caution to the wind as I passed them and could see the next group in front just entering the wooded trail down to the finish. I soon caught them too, waited patiently for safe moments to pass all four of them and another two on the short concrete road with a sprint finish.

It's a very fast race for those who can run quickly and I enjoyed the first and last parts of it, I just need to work on my middle game.

Anyway, I looked at my watch and was pleased to stride home in 1:11:54 so I'd actually knocked 10 minutes off last year! A great result but a shame I didn't see Tony Macro to share some cake with on the field, they have a great little country fair.