The Calder Vale 10 mile Country Run.
Before...
Well it seemed like a good idea as I'd done the event before and loved it every time so far. I got a rare day off as it was Good Friday and my first thought whilst looking at my rota was "Why have I been given an unplanned day off?" My second thought was "Oooh, I know a good run event on that day!".
So I quickly asked good running friend Mr David Marsh whether or not he was available to run the event and also to give me a lift there and back as he has kindly done on each of the previous three times I've been to this lovely run.
I've not been running much as you will know due to my knee issue, which does seem to be improving and I'd not run since the Btr Liverpool/Vitality half marathon on April 2nd, so fitness was possibly going to be an issue as it is a hilly run with 890+ feet of climb overall.
I have been cycling a lot which you will also know, so have been relying on the cardiovascular benefits of the cycling replacing my lack of run training, especially with hills involved.
During.....
Well I was promptly picked up on time and we got there in good time, traffic has sometimes been bad in the past with it being Bank Holiday and Easter weekend but no problems this time.
All parked up and number was collect on the day from the Village Hall and all the numbers were laid out in alphabetical order for you to pick up.....simples!.
Visit to the loo, a little standing around and then it was line up at the war memorial for the 1pm start (What a luxury, no early start).
Of we went up the first bit of incline as we approached the main country lane that would take us out on a big 10 mile loop of the area with some great views along the way.
Basically you get a mile or two of flat and decline and then miles 2 to 4 are a slow gradual climb. This is all along country lanes with nice views either side of the country if you are wise enough to use it to distract you, especially on the 2 mile climb that sucks the energy out of you if you have gone off too fast on the downhill bits etc in the first 2 miles (guilty).
It was slow progress with a little bit of huffing and puffing, but my legs managed well and I think the hill training on the bike helped with leg strength and endurance. I was borderline all the way between pushing as hard as I could and having to stop for pushing too much and not pacing properly for 10 miles in total.
5 miles in was the water stop and I was struggling a little with my cardio as I was definitely running on an oxygen deficit and was not going to survive if I stayed at that pace. As soon as I got to the water stop I had a 2 min recovery walk to try and improve my breathing and too help me with the impending hill which I knew was coming up at roughly mile 6.
Roughly 6 people passed me as I walked as I was at the back of a large group and there was a gap behind me, and people where stopping for water as well.
I ran on again as more started to pass and quickly overtook again and back to my original pace.
Next was the biggest hill of the run which is somewhere between mile 6 and 7 and it's a long tough one as it gets steeper and steeper as you go. I could see the runners who had passed me but despite a few little walks that one runner had they were still too far ahead.
I was determined to run all the way up it as I'd had the recovery walk and needed to make up for it, by the time I got to the top I actually felt sick and thought I was going to have to have a little recovery walk again, but the guy infront didn't slow and I wasn't prepared to let him run away.
The long downhill was next and I tried to take advantage of it but had to hold back as I've bombed down it in the past and hurt my knees afterward despite wearing cushioned Hoka shoes.
Another big hill approached but a shorter one this time and the guy in front walked a little so by the time I hit the top I had caught up with him. I continued to run with him for roughly a mile chatting about the run and the fact that was a hard hill and that there was only one left.
After a mile alongside the guy another runner was right behind us and as it was now the final mile I ran on and up the last incline on a vain attempt to gain some time on the ones infront. Sadly they were just too far ahead for me to catch up.
The last half a mile back into the village is an up and down but mainly down stretch and a nice long decent down into the village and over the little bridge at the bottom for a finish outside the church and old mill, all to some great support and claps and cheers from fellow runners and locals.
I was pleasantly surprised with a time of 1:19:35 on my watch which is pretty much the same as the first time I did the event 3 or 4 years ago while fully fit, and I was only 1 min slower than last year where I didn't walk once during the run.
Next was a brief wait for Mr Marsh and it was time for coffee and cake...
After....
Well this was why we really came.....the selection of cakes as always was tremendous from the local WI ladies, and quite frankly I could of sat there and sampled at least 12 different cakes if I thought I could of got away with it.
They had hot food as well which seemed extremely popular with runners, I saw pie and peas, hot dogs and pretty sure I could smell other types of food.
I sat and enjoyed my cake along with a nice cup of coffee whilst having a good chat with David and a catch up on whats going on with him.
I finished 61st overall out of 190 odd runners I think it was and they were pretty much 95% club runners which makes them tough competition as not many club runners come here just for a light run as it isn't one it's a toughie.
Hats off to the organizer as always Steve Ashcroft who runs UK Road Races and puts on some great events especially in the Lancashire area.I can thoroughly recommend this event which is held every Good Friday at Calder Vale Village near Garstang just off the A6 about 5 miles or so North of Preston.
I would recommend any off his event actually, follow this link for their web page
http://www.ukroadraces.info/
Thanks all for reading, please share where possible and comment if you wish.
Gru :)
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