Noonstone Fell Race – Sat 28th Feb

A rare relaxing day out in this Central Pennine race – similar to the winter Hill race in distance, climb and terrain at 9 miles / 2300ft. After a series of climbs over the first half of the race around Stoodley Pike the course sets off on its defining feature – a 2 mile slog across a soft wet slightly uphill plateau – before a final climb and very satisfying swoop off the edge of the moor to the finish. Interestingly, given my usual borderline fitness and ability, I lost ground everywhere except the plateau where I seemed more mentally tuned in to what was required and steadily drew past a score of runners obviously appalled and exasperated at what they were trying to run on.

Faring much better than me was Stuart Edmundson who finished in 8th place in 1.16.49, Rob Howarth 31st and 3rd MV50 in 1.23.28, with his better half Julie running 1.50.11 /3rd LV40. I managed 1.44.02 in 165th , there were 248 finishers, the winning time was 1.11.15)

Colin Waterworth