As I’d planned to be down in the Shire last weekend, I’d put an entry in for Tour of Pendle. Week leading up to it I was thinking it wasn’t such a good idea as my calves were still pretty sore from Wooler. Anyhow decided I go recovery racing. Basically start plum at the back and then spend the rest of the day seeing what you can claw back up the field. With nearly 600 folk the first few miles are grid locked but it’s quite impressive when you see so many runners strung out across the fell on a November morning.
On a long climb there’s two things you tend to spend a lot of time looking at a) people’s feet b) people’s derriere. I spent the first climb chatting to a guy who’d I noticed had upgraded his Hoka’s with studs. Like I’ve done in the past with other models he’d sent them away to Lancashire Shoe Repairs for an upgrade and IMO well worth considering if say you want to give your favourite road or trail shoe full gas grip. It helped the climb pass by and once on top my legs started to come round as we headed for the first moor crossing passing an earlier runner who was being treated for a “snapped” leg and were awaiting the air ambulance; which came for him later on.
Up, down, round you go as the course weaves its merry magic of the 15 sq miles or so of Pendle hill; when its misty without local knowledge its easy to lose your bearings and often people do. But today forecasters got it right and the cloud burnt off and with it came blue skies so we got to fully enjoy our surroundings. Without doubt it’s a race of two halves with the climbs getting progressively steeper and knarlier as it drags on. But once you get that final summit visit again you’re rewarded with the last couple of miles being gravity assisted, well in principal! No idea who won it, no doubt results will appear some time.
Matt Davis