I’ve been looking for a shorter trail race to compare to my ultramarathon experiences, so I was pleased to see this race promoted by The Running Hub on the calendar.
I know Pippingford well from various mountain bike races so I knew it’d be lovely and hilly, with gorgeous scenery. Which indeed it was.
Dave laid on some smashing sunny weather to go with it. Dusty trails and hills, perfect!
We set off into a long downhill with a small bunch at the front. Once the first climb started it became clear who the main players would be. By the top I was confident it was to be a duel between me and a TAC runner. This was actually Michelle Ellis, winner of the T.Wells half this year, but luckily I didn’t know that at the time.
The race course was 2 five mile laps so I thought I’d just try to cover him for the first lap and gain some intel on his strengths and weaknesses. This is something I used to enjoy in my bike racing days; gathering information whilst also managing your effort and trying to put out the information you want them to see (yes I did pop a fruit pastel into my gob halfway up the toughest climb of the day 😉. Took me about a mile to swallow it 😆).
So during this first lap I noticed I had an edge on the downhills. I also had a skill up my sleave: there were 4 cattle grids in total. On the two uphill crossings I had the confidence to place a step on a rung without slowing my pace. A winter of messing around on wet mountainsides had served me well. On the downhill crossings I could leap clean across. Michael did not. A plan formed in my mind….
…and so at mile 7 on the longest downhill, I lengthened my stride, said a little prayer for my quads and went for it. At the cattle grid I flew across and blow me by the bottom I had thirty metres or so.
3 miles to go… mostly uphill….all in now. My god we suffered.
But I did it. There was no way I was having it any other way. Harriers vs TAC. Deckchair vs Monochrome. My first win. I would have died trying.
And thus my dear clubmates, I crossed the finish line first. A grey bearded old man in a bucket hat (it was hot 🤷♂️) against a cool young dude from the rival club. And yes it felt GREAT.
P.S. lots of sweaty hugs and chat afterwards. I’m only a calculating git in the heat of battle.
1st Ed Fraser 1.04.43 Harriers
2nd Michael Ellis 1.05.42 TAC
3rd Anthony Bradley 1.08.05 N/A
Ed Fraser