The Great British Fell and Hill Relays 2019

Statistics
Distance: 7.8 miles (could have been 9 0r 10 without Joel's smart navigational shortcuts)
Elevation: 2215ft

This was the second time I have competed in this epic event. We were lucky that it was on our doorstep at Ladybower; hosted by the Dark Peak Fell Runners (the previous year I ran leg 2 with Alan which was held in Grasmere, Lake District).  It is the only fell relay event; thus, it’s incredibly well attended with each of the big clubs (Keswick etc.) fielding teams in each category. It leads to a fantastic day being surrounded by the best UK fell runners (Examples include: Steve Birkinshaw, Nicky Spinks and Carl Bell - fastest UK fell runner and 13th best internationally in 2019).

There’re 4 legs to the relay:

·       Leg 1 – Short, Solo (1h)

·       Leg 2 – Long, Paired (2h)

·       Leg 3 – Navigation, Paired (2h+)

·       Leg 4 – Short, Solo (1h)

·       The Belper Harriers had put out 3 teams and Each comprising of 6 runners:

• Male Senior – Simon Fisher, Wykeham & Joel, Nathan & Ed, Andy Stubbs
• Male Vet – Alan B, Pete & Ian, Saul & Dan, Ant
• Female Senior – Ruth, Jo & Louise, Helen & Lily, Karolina

The event started with a brilliant atmosphere at 7:30 am; we got on a coach from the event car park at Bamford to take us to the main event marquee at Fairholmes car park at Ladybower. It was a lovely start to the day as we were with 50 other fell runners taking in the atmosphere and talking about what the day would entail (multiple coach trips due to over 1000 runners taking part; a massive logistical task but ran incredibly effective and smooth.

Once arrived as a team, we collected our race pack (numbers, maps, dibbers and pins), indulged into a bacon cob and set up a little space to chill out for the day. We were situated below the incredible Derwent Dam that even had water flowing over it (an astonishing backdrop for spending time with friends throughout the day while watching each leg come in after a hard session of racing).

Joel and I watched Simon Fisher set off on his first leg and we bounded back down to get warmed up and ready for the race.  His leg is the shortest and approximately should take about 40mins. We had a stringent FRA kit check (Map, compass, whistle, hat, gloves, food, waterproof coat and trousers) and then quickly dashed to the toilet at Fairholmes before waiting in the changeover pen to begin our leg (the ques for the bathrooms were a challenge in themselves!).

Leg 2

Joel and I arguably had the hardest leg due to its length. However due to the nature of this event, there wasn't an official route; as long as you go through all the checkpoints to dib at and don't cross over any sections that are not allowed on the map, then you can run wherever you deemed appropriate. There was a suggested route but due to Joel and his dad's map reading interest; they proposed an alternative course about 1 mile shorter to the suggested ones on the map. However, it did entail an incredibly steep descent down a riven, through a stream and a climb up the other side (it appeared to be a sheer descent once we approached it.

Leg 2 begun with a long steep climb to get onto the top of the moors (a similar format to most fell races) I led the way throughout the route, and we kept picking off our rivals as we began to reach the top. Joel had broken his elbow a few months prior, so he wasn’t up to his regular peak fitness, but he seemed to be comfortable until around checkpoint 3. The route was incredibly stunning; excellent weather, open moorland with thick heather to run through and the inevitable bogs and mud that could go up to your eyeballs if you took a wrong turn or fall. The latter I did on a rather gnarly, muddy descent; fortunately, I remained in one piece and continued to run with a slightly sore rolled ankle. We then approached Joel’s family who was cheering us on with encouragement before we encountered a hill that almost seemed like a wall (we leant forward slightly and out hands were already touching the ground). There were 100’s of people in front of us in a line and Joel bravely took on the reins and navigated us for the next section. We took a gamble and traversed slightly round a hill before going up a hill that looked even steeper; my heart rate cam uncontrollable but we pressed our hands on our quads and tried to power up this vertical slope to the checkpoint. I was met by some lovely Dark Peak marshals who handed out energy bursting Haribo; after a putting a few in my mouth, I soon realised it was impossible to chew and digest. Due to the intensity we were running, I deposited it out as a present for the local sheep to enjoy.

 

Joel and I not following the herd of 'sheep' 1st deviation off the route

Nevertheless, the sugary boost allowed for a significant morale boost as we seemed to be still climbing for a considerable period to another hill. Once we reached another checkpoint this was where fell runners really began to spread out as they all had different route choices; we took our 1-mile shortcut and only saw one other pair around us…it was an incredibly hard section that required clinging onto trees, avoiding cliff drops and not tumbling down a slope that again seemed vertical (proper fell running terrain!). Joel successfully navigated us on this section until I came back onto the familiar territory of a footpath that I recced a week before and I began to pace us back to the next checkpoint. Joel was starting to flag and required some encouragement to power through the hard, relentless terrain; his wheels began to fall off a few miles from the finish line but he gritted his teeth to the end.

Still, we successfully gained a significant amount of places before a fast descent down to the dam to pass over to our checkpoint 3 runners Ed and Nathan who had the navigation leg (a leg that was full navigation- you were handed a map as soon as we crossed the line and they had to come up with a route that encompassed all of the checkpoints- it was a form of orienteering which is argued to be the make or break of winning or losing at the event. We were not in the position to achieve a podium finish as a team, but it certainly is an incredibly tough leg which can be running around in the moors for hours If you become misplaced or even lost!

To conclude, the fell relays is just an epic day from start to finish; it is an excellent atmosphere with the best fell runners in the country, stunning scenery and hard running that only the experienced runners even attempt to race in. It was pleasure running with Joel on leg 2, and I hope he isn’t too broken as he was a brilliant running partner who I hope I can run some more iconic national fell races with!