Helen Clitheroe

I used this low key trail race near Rochdale as part of a training session.  My intention was to run the 5k fairly hard, and then follow the course a second time, running 2mins hard, 1min easy.

The race was organised by Andy O’Sullivan who organises many races for charity throughout the yea but on this occasion all proceeds would go towards Helen’s training for the Olympic Games in 2012.

It’s a quaint little race, starting at the bottom of a steepish hill, and then following two laps around the Cowm reservoir (passing through closed gates and stiles!) before the fast downhill finish back to where you started.

I wasn’t feeling too fresh so soon after Sunday’s Cardiff 10k and starting to get some decent mileage in again, and it was a shock to the system when Ian Grime went sprinting off up the first hill.  Ian had run 51mins for 10 miles the previous month and so needed to be taken seriously.  Ian was followed up the hill by Will Smith who has a 31min 10k to his name and this race suddenly wasn’t feeling as low key as it should!

Fortunately by the time we had reached 1km, I had closed down the small gap they had opened up on the first hill, had a few moments to collect myself, and then hit the front.  They’d obviously gone out a little quick and I figured I should try to make them hurt before they had time to recover, and so I pushed on and opened a gap immediately.  I was also concerned about my inability to run fast on steep downhills and the knowledge that they are both pretty good in that department!

It was Smith who led the chase for the remainder of the race, and despite being the first to reach a couple of closed gates, I had a very healthy gap coming over the reservoir for the second time.  I opened my stride on the final stretch and felt in no danger but my earlier concerns were justified as the gap was closed to just 5secs at the finish.  The time as you’d expect on a course like this wasn’t quick, a mere 15:56. 

I went straight into my session afterwards, leaving Ron Hill wondering out loud “how can I get lapped twice on a 2 lap race?!”