For David Beech at the moment the weekend means only one thing, a fell race. And luckily for us that means another smashing race report. [Word of warning though, don’t continue reading if you’re busy eating].
Hexhamshire Hobble Fell Race: Sunday 1st December 2013
This year had a great attendance, due to the 20th anniversary of the event. The Hobble was created 20 years ago in memory of Angus Tait, a local fell running legend, who was successful on the fells as well as roads. The race route is a great introduction to fell running for beginners, with a mix of road, track, fells and good hills, giving all styles a chance to shine, and a reasonable distance of 16.8km/376m ascent.
‘The Hobble’
I was in Allendale early as usual, and followed my pre-race routine, checking out conditions along the route, it looked like much better conditions from last year and I sensed a fast time, I was secretly thinking I would have a chance of winning today, as some recent results have gone my way, and I felt that I could beat any North East based runner on this course in these conditions.
My new local nemesis, Andy Blackett (Durham Fell Runners) was present; he has won the event the last 2 years running, and is running well with good performances in a recent fell races. I competed last year in this event, and was fairly new to running and the fells, I managed 3rd place, and posted a reasonable time, however, my aim today was to win and beat my time from last year, which I felt would get me a win.
(l-r)Alan Wallace, Jonathan Powell, Colin Dilks and David Beech (John Tollitt taking photograph)
As you can see from my proud stance in the image, I was raring to go and get the race underway, it was then I saw a few running colours on vests that didn’t seem to be local, and a few reminded me of my Kendal Mountain Festival Race, hmmmm…. Some Lakeland clubs were present today. Then whisperings starterd “Ricky Lightfoot is racing”. Just my luck I thought, I’m feeling good and fit and the recent Gold medallist from the IAU Trail World Champs turns up. A Team Salomon sponsored athlete, Ricky has a host of course records and great results in all the top fell races and the course record would be on the cards today, however, I still had a secret urge to try and win, “why not” I thought, he may get lost…
The race started fast, with me going out in the lead, Ricky behind me and Andy Blackett just on the back of us, it was a fast pace and up a very steep hill, I started to feel a deep pain in my lungs and stomach and then I actually threw up in my own mouth, wary of letting anyone know I was struggling I decided to swallow this nutritious fluid, not very nice at all. We all settled into a pack, then Ricky came into his own and strided out, opening a fairly large lead up, I tried to hang on, but the trails and fells just seemed to open up between us. Behind me a group of Keswick, and other Lakeland runners were waiting to pounce, but lessons learned more recently came into play and reminded to just keep running, and running hard for as long as you can.
Ricky was now a distant dot on the horizon, and me not being one to ever give in, it was obvious the race was on for 2nd and 3rd place, a group of us now formed, me, Kieran Hodgson (Eden Runners) and Phil Winskill (Keswick AC), we settled into the trails but maintained a good pace, I had a feeling I was going to improve on last years’ time if I stuck at it, and decided to see how things would develop. A good solid trail appeared and I let my intentions known, going from 4th to 2nd over a fast mile, just before a tough hill section, it’s on these sections you can see the difference from a seasoned fell runner and me, both guys went flying past and put a good distance on me. But… I knew the fells so turned to trail then road, so I had to hang on, I could see both looking back to see where is was, a bad move, as I knew they must be struggling, I dug deep and found that extra strength, telling myself run hard and catch them, then you can rest a bit (knowing that I’m lying to myself as ill only tell myself to run hard once im there). I moved into 3rd place and felt the Keswick runner drop away, my sights set on 2nd place, I went hard for the last 2 miles, and set 5 min 14 secs for 2nd to last mile, I was closing in and had a kick left to use. Then… two local girls who were on a megaphone, shouted out “he’s coming, 3rd place is catching you”, noooooo ssssshhhhh, I’m sneaking up, 2nd place snapped his head round, panic etched across his features, and off he went, head down and sprinting the last 300m.
Last mile knocked out in 5’14
Checking my watch I surprised to see that I had beat my time from last year by over 5 minutes, and would of won the last 4 years events with that time, I was happy with first home from all the North East clubs, and it was a superb experience racing against Ricky and the other Lakeland fell runners. Well done to all who competed,
Top 3: (l-r) Kieran Hodgson, Ricky Lightfoot & David
Well done to all who competed, Results can be found here:
Huge congratulations to TBH, coming 3rd team and out scoring fell running clubs.
Today’s Race Lesson Was: “If another competitor is a world champ then they may beat you, but go hard or go home”
David
4 Responses
Well done DB. Great report as usual and looking at the other results some great performances from the TBH fell running Cru. Good running lads and lasses.
Well done David, great report as usual.
Some of us are just not blessed with the speed or the mechanics to be able to get to the front of these races so it is good to read the stories of what happens at the sharp end.
Its also good to read/see that the front runners in our sport, like Ricky, havent let their heads swell just because they are faster than us.
Nice one Mr Beech – superb, committed performance as ever and brilliant time on the course. You’re clearly fell running at a highly competitive level and I’m sure there’s more to come. Good detail on swallowing sick to psyche out the opposition – I’ll remember that. Finally, your report fails to mention getting lost and going the wrong way…surely some mistake?
Nice report. I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to intimidate other runners by swallowing THEIR sick, too.