The Grindleford 21 mile Cross-Country

Why did I enter this race? I/we must be mad, being tempted by Lesley to take part in a training weekend.

So we went to bed on Friday evening, setting the alarm for 4.45 am! Ready to leave bright and early for The Peak District, ready for race start at 10 am. If you don’t know me very well, then I don’t like being late.

The alarm didn’t go off, the birds singing at 5.20 am woke us! Great start!

Anyway, we set off just before 6 am. I was wondering what time Peter & Jane set off, as they were planning to leave at 5.30. We caught them up in Yarnton at 6.05. Traffic isn’t usually that bad between Cassington and Yarnton. Never mind, I’ll pass them as soon as I see a safe spot. Within 200 yds of seeing them, they had turned off and gone a different way. Perhaps Peter didn’t want to be overtaken. I know that was his big worry in the cycle time trial, is that Lesley, who was starting 15 mins after him, would overtake him. Derek knows all about being beaten by an ERR lady on a bike. I wonder if he needs reminding again yet.

Lovely ride up to The Peak District, arriving at 8.30 giving us time for 1 or more cups of tea. It’s traditional you know, to drink as much tea as possible before a race.

I had to go to a small tent to register and to receive a small ‘dibber’ much like the timing gadgets for The London Marathon., but these had to be attached to your wrist with something like a hospital band. If you just act a little dumb, one of the female officials puts in on for you, so I did, and she did, if you know what I mean.

I asked what to wear on my feet, would training shoes be ok? No fell shoes are best! What have we let ourselves into? So I had brought studs, they are far too tight, never mind, Pat would be on course, meeting me at every checkpoint (7 of them) carrying spare shoes for me to change into if I was having trouble with blisters. We looked into the starting field, it was like a mini swamp, with about 200 sheep in it up to their knees, or known as shanks or knuckles when they come out of the oven. Nobody had thought of bringing mint sauce I bet.

The Larbalestiers arrived just after 9, they also made their way towards the traditional cup of tea. I’m sure originally that Pat, Peter, Jan and Kevin were also going to take part! Where are they now, now that heavy snow is forecast?

While drinking our tea, we viewed the course records. I’m sure I overheard Jane say that the O45 time was within her reach. Perhaps she said pass me another cake, I can’t reach! Time will tell.

The race was due to start. Pat, Peter, Ben & Hannah were in the swamp with us at the start. Jane had a new phone with camera and was taking pictures of everyone and everything or so it appeared. What about race preparation I thought, exercising and warming up. Perhaps it was that extra piece of cake she wanted.

Off we went, within 20 yds 2 women shouted “We are from Abingdon.” Jane started chatting to them, as women do. “Clear off” I thought, I do not need 2 Amblers beating be in this, what would Derek say?

First stream to go through at 500 yds! Then a very narrow stony track for ½ mile then a very steep hill for ½ mile, crossing a road where Pat was waiting. I didn’t need a change of shoes yet. There was plenty of time for that.

After about 3 miles, some bloke started to talk to me. Was he wearing a swimming cap? What a prat he looks, can’t let him beat me! We carried on through mud, over styles, through narrow gaps in the wall, past the first checkpoint where we had to dib our dibber, if you know what I mean, just in case we get lost I think. Pat got to the checkpoint just after me, saying she would catch me up at the next one (with my change of shoes).

A little further on, I went the wrong way, only for a few yards, past a gap in the wall (there were not any marshals on course and very few signs, we were advised to take maps and a compass, yes for 21 miles) I would have gone further wrong if someone hadn’t called me back. Oh my God, it was that man in the swimming hat!

After that, the man who thought he was swimming and I went on to the old railway track, thankfully the rails had been removed some time ago.

He then had some good news. “After about another mile, there is a stop for tea and cake.” Not such a bad bloke after all, just looked silly! Sure enough, around the corner, was this table piled up with cake. Should I stop for refreshment, or carry on for a better time. Don’t be stupid, the cake was lovely with such a good choice. I chose the slice of lemon sponge filled with lovely cream. They poured me a cup of weakish tea while I ate the cake. I prefer my tea just a little stronger but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Right back to it. I kept along the railway track for about 3 miles. The guy with the hat said to keep on to the station and then take a left. Well, I got there (thankfully the swimmer had fallen behind) and 2 blokes were climbing up a narrow steep bank to the left through some small trees. So I followed them rejoining a road at the top. As I looked right, there were other runners coming from a different way. “You weren’t supposed to go that way, it’s a short cut!” Sod off, I wanted to say, but politely replied, “Oh dear, I was just following those 2, how much have I added on”. “You’ve made a short cut of about 100 yds.” Never mind, nobody from Eynsham will ever know.

As the race went on, the steady flow of runners was thinning out, making finding the route more difficult. I needed to carry a ridiculous bum bag with me carrying essentials, energy bar, gloves, phone and a wonderful map Pete had copied and encapsulated for me with the route and checkpoints highlighted. It was very good but enormous. It felt about 3 feet by 2 feet and was very difficult to bend and keep in place. It was very useful as the strap on my bag was too loose and the bag bounced up and down so much it nearly got thrown in the hedge more that once. But this is where Pete’s map was so useful. If I folded it up, forced it into my bag, zipped it up quickly and let go, the map would spring open enlarging the bag to twice its usual size, nearly to bursting point, but most importantly making the belt a perfect fit. Thanks Pete.

Anyway, as I was saying, when the runners were more spread out, finding which way to go was difficult. The need for Pete’s map, yes the bag did bounce out of control while I was trying to read the map, but where the heck was I?

I asked 2 walkers who were in the race (no I was not that slow to be overtaken by walkers, they set off earlier!)

“Go over the hill and head for the church” they said. “Thanks, do I go straight for it, or around the side?” “Straight at it” they replied.

So I did, but as I was approaching I saw 2 more walkers going round the church, so I followed them and caught them up. “Which way do I go from here?” I asked. “You should have gone the other way through the church, we’re not in the race, just out for a walk, you’ve taken a short cut!

Thankfully still no ERR around, who will ever know!

What with all the short cuts, the race seems to be going quite well. Some of the views and scenery have been fantastic, and although hilly not too many so far.

My toe has been really sore from about 10 miles, feels like another big toe nail is to be replaced over the next 9 months! I wonder where Pat is. She has that spare pair of studded shoes and clean socks. No room for them in my bag along with Pete’s map!

Right, where am I? No idea, not for the first time! I think the next place to visit is Baslow. Where is Pat, my feet are killing me. I’ll give her a ring. I was going to earlier, but reception was nil when I checked earlier.

Unbelievably, Pat was waiting at Baslow, saying that she was not able to keep up with me, as we were running across fields while she was going around the roads (nothing to do with short cuts!) Pat asked if I was coming along a narrow lane with a white gate at the end. “Yes I think so” I replied, but I came to the end of the lane – no white gate. No surely I haven’t gone wrong again! Where do I go from here? Get Pete’s map out again, ah another lane across the road to take, thanks Pete, so along I go to the end. No white gate. I can see the town to the right down the hill. Who is this coming towards me? Oh no, it’s a group of runners! For goodness sake, surely I haven’t gone wrong again! The front runner said “You’re going the wrong way. You need to go down into the town to ‘dib your dibber at the checkpoint.” So just as I’m running against the flow I need to find the checkpoint. I know I’ll shout out and see if anyone can help. “Can someone tell me where the checkpoint is.” A voice coming towards me “A few hundred yards ahead.” What is he wearing on his head? Oh no, it’s that idiot with the swimming hat. How many times is he going to catch me up? “What’s an extra mile between friends?” he asks. So for any of you that think maybe I didn’t complete the course – you’re wrong, I did extra.

Just a minute, if I’ve done an extra mile, where is Jane. Please, please don’t let her beat me. What will Derek say? If I’m beaten by an ERR lady!

Pat was at the checkpoint, where I had another cake, chocolate caramel and a cup of tea. Didn’t stop long, needed to run faster, must beat Jane, only 5 miles to go so I’ll make do with these shoes, bad toe and all.

Very steep climb of about a mile, which was very muddy and very rocky. Can I run all the way up this? Everyone else was walking, walkers and runners alike. Come on I can do it! My God, it went on and on and on, but got there in the end. Lovely run along the top for 2 or 3 miles, dodging rocks and boulders admiring the views. Now what looks like a steep decline back to race HQ for more tea and cakes and soup I believe.

Oh no this is hurting my toe, with my foot slipping to the front of my shoe squashing my toe which is getting sorer every step. With having to concentrate hard not to kick a rock, keeping my eyes wide open, they were streaming quite a lot, with tears running down my face, so that I could hardly see. What was that? A runner coming up the hill towards me, with long hair swishing from side to side. Good, someone else has gone the wrong way, or is it one of those supper fit show-offs running another hill extra. No it is Lesley “I thought I’d come and meet you.” That’s nice. So she turned round and ran down with me. Sounds good doesn’t it? But you know how fast and competitive she is. How can I keep up without making a fuss about my toe? Ah ha, she’s only got trainers on and is slipping all over the place in the mud and is slowing down to twice the speed I want to go.

“Where is Jane?” I asked. “In front or behind me?” “I think she is a long way behind, as I haven’t seen or heard from her.” Phew, that’s great news for me, but Derek will be disappointed.

So we arrived back at race HQ where I made straight for the tea, cakes and soup, which was lovely.

But just before we enjoyed that, I had to dib the dibber again for the last time. “Hold it in until the light flashes” (the mind boggles!) the guy said. So I did and instantly out of the printer came the results of my total time with all the splits (no record of missed checkpoints or short cuts or extra miles!).

So I was now able to relax with my soup and the thought that Jane had not beaten me when “What time did you do mate?” Oh no, it was him again, in the swimming hat! “3.29.00. What time did you do?” was my reply, but wait for his answer …

“3.39.00” What a great race that was, fantastic but tough course, great scenery, tea cake and soup, reasonable time, but most importantly – not beaten by any ERR ladies or any prats wearing swimming hats!!!!

Tony