Herod Farm fell race 2013 - 3m 1099’

The first local midweek race of the season, this race can easily catch the unsuspecting fellrunner off guard . The only similar race prior to Herod Farm is the Lamb’s Longer Leg which is run back in the mists of January, so this is a short sharp re-introduction to the business end of racing.

Up, down, up and finally down again, this race is over before you know it, but you really know about it whilst you’re doing it!

Conditions were dry this year – in 2012 the final climb up Whitely Nab was more like a bad war film as we took one step forward and two steps back through the mud – so this time round we were able to make decent progress to the top ready for the final leg and lung busting run to the finish.

1m 20 seconds slower this year. I blame the Downfall 3 days prior, mrs t.o.r. says I’m getting old.

I took a couple of mates round this one as their first fell race and they absolutely loved it. One of them even had the cheek to finish in front of me.

Kinder Downfall 2013 - 9m 2000’

Windy. That probably sums this race up. Nice but windy. Rain was a constant threat and occasional companion but light enough to ensure the coat stayed in the bag. 

We gathered on the bridge in Hayfield for the customary race briefing and random equipment checks, and on the stroke of 11 we were off.

I felt like I made decent time up to the top of William Clough, tucking in behind another Pennine runner until we got to Mill Hill and the WIND.

wind.

Too strong to actually be able to move against it, at one point I was wondering if I would have to start crawling to actually make any forward progress.

The Downfall was in full blow-back mode, my first time to experience the showering that results as you run across the mouth of the river with the waterfall blowing back from the plateau edge.

3 minutes slower than last year but a good run all in all.