Haworth Hobble Take 5

The Hobble is the first event of the season on the UK Ultra Running Champs calendar and at 32 miles is in the short category. Not in the sense that you have to be 5 foot 2 or less to enter, but in terms of distance. When Dave Croll and I decided to take on this event on in 2009, and crippled ourselves for weeks in the process, I remember picking up a postcard which showed the UK Ultras race calendar and being gobsmacked that there were 60 and 100 mile events. In the state I was at the time I couldn’t see how anyone could do those. Well, these days I have a better idea, after taking a chance on some of the longer events and learning from mistakes, particularly in relation to post-race damage limitation.

In successive years I managed to get my Hobble time down to around 4 hours 50, and this year as things seem to be going better, I was confident that in good conditions I could shave a bit more time off. Almost anything would have been an improvement on last year when I slipped off a stile and had to walk the second half. A nice walk though it was in the company of a similarly incapacitated Neil Worswick.

When I picked Tony and Jim up at 6.30am, I wasn’t really relishing the idea of 32 miles of familiar terrain. I don’t know about you but for me the miles seem to whizz by when I’m somewhere new but familiar routes tend to drag. There was a job to do however and I was ready for it, but what about my comrades? Well Tony had decided to make things harder for himself today by running the Hendon Brook route the day before. Next year he will be doing the Hobble blindfold and wearing only one shoe. Secretly I think he is getting bored and is trying to spice things up a bit. Jim was coming back from his long-standing Fellsman injury and, though things seemed to be going well, he would have liked to have had a bit more long training under his belt. For him, this was a test of his recovery.

It never ceases to amaze me how popular the Hobble is and how strong a field it attracts. Maybe the reputation and historical longevity of this event are the secrets of its draw. Consequently the school at Haworth was the expected hive of activity, with the regulars renewing their acquaintances and assessing the strength of the competition. Toileting seems to be a significant pre-race activity at any event and today was no exception, but what about the toilets: three portaloos for men, three portaloos for women. Oh, and someone had forgotten the wedges for under the mens’ so they rocked from side to side about a foot when embarking and disembarking. Obviously this was great entertainment for those waiting. Did I mention that there were only three portaloos for men? Imagine the pressure of two minutes to go and being 40th in the queue.

Just before 8am the field assembled on the cobbled street outside the Fleece. We were enjoying the kind of rain that you don’t realise is happening but is competently wet. Brent, the organiser, turned up and asked “Are you ready?” before immediately announcing “Off you go then!” With the steady start out of the window as usual I was looking to get somewhere near the front to avoid delays at Bronte Bridge and the stiles beyond, and as usual I was running faster than my body really wanted to. It was quite a relief to get beyond the Bronte Bridge climb when things can settle down a bit on the approach to Top Withens where it was pseudo snowing.

I’d no idea where Tony and Jim were, I’d lost contact with them before the start so hadn’t been able to wish them a good day out. Top Withens came and went and my nemesis, who for privacy reasons shall be known as TC, was out in front of me. I was confused. Today he was racing in a pair with a rooky from his club and she was nowhere to be seen. TC always likes to start quick and likes to keep going quick, however I overtook him on the technical descent to Walshaw, the snow getting in my eyes and fogging up his specs. Yay! From here the route heads up to Widdop and over Gorple to Hurstwood and TC was now back in front. Surprisingly TC’s rooky partner was catching up. On this fast section I’d also been overtaken by a group of four guys who looked the business but were probably running quicker than they would have been alone. I wasn’t too concerned, I’d hopefully pick ‘em off later if they tired.

Beyond Cant Clough Res is the climb up Shedden Clough and after this we were on to the Long Causeway by the windmills. I’ve no recollection of what the weather was doing here other than it still being cold. Last year’s stile of doom approached but there were no mishaps this time. On to Mount Lane and the long traverse to the golf club above Tod. Sections of this were quite sloppy and as the cloud was down the views towards Stoodley were non-existent. Things were going well and I caught a guy, who we shall call shorts man, and then the gang of four as we head on to the lanes at Crosstones.

My concern here was that I’d get held up on the steep little sketchy paths that would drop us into the valley, so I stepped on the gas and passed just in time before heading down the back of the church. I kept the throttle on after crossing the main road and up the lane to the climb leading to Lumbutts. The two guys ahead were walking and I was happy to do likewise as it’s very steep. At Lumbutts it was a quick water bottle refill and off again. Last year I’d sampled the Jura Scotch here and it sent me a bit funny for an hour or so.

On the approach to Stoodley Pike, shorts man and newly acquired bandana man were ahead of me. TC was nowhere to be seen. It’s a fast run along the lane and then one takes a diagonal line up the hillside which means you can keep a run going most of the way. Near the top I could see that the gang of four making a direct approach up the hillside. After a circuit around the monument just in case they’d hidden a marshal there this year, I followed shorts man off down the Pennine Way and we exchanged places several times on the descent to Hebden Bridge. A comfort break puts shorts man ahead but I had to call him back when he headed up the wrong snicket. He overtook me again on the climb to Heptonstall as I was trying to ferret the remaining gels out of my bag and was still ahead in the village and again as we descend to the Blue Pig.

I seemed to be going well and was wondering how much shorts man had left; maybe the next long climb would tell. As it happens the next long climb seemed to find out quite a few and I was surprised to overtake a series of runners who had resorted to a run-walk approach. It took almost to the summit to get shorts man, and in order to try and avoid a race to the death, I decided to up the pace along the flat section and the rocky descent to the last checkpoint where it was straight in and out.

The road that follows is steep but my attention was on where I was time-wise. Sub five hours was achievable but beating my previous? On Stairs Lane it was snowing and blowing and I was glad that I now had my cag on. I caught another chap before the summit and was pleased that he wasn’t up for the chase. The descent off Stairs and down Bodkin Lane is rocky and hard on the feet and I sought out as much soft stuff along the edges as I could. There was no-one in front as far as I could see.

As I climbed up to Penistone Hill, I smiled as I recalled being caught here 2 years ago by a friend who greeted me with the words “Die you b*st**d!” Thankfully there was no repeat. Those of you who know Penistone Hill will know that it is one of those disorienting Bermuda Triangle type places with paths everywhere. For some reason I ended up on the wrong path and skirted the moor rather than taking a direct line to the final descent track. The race has a great finish - rocky track into a greasy flagged path following by pedestrian hazard on the church steps, a couple of ginnels, road crossing and more steps down into the school - and I consumed it with relish.

KCAC events seem to be big on food and today was no exception. The veggie chilli that would burn both ends was supplemented by a fine array of cakes, however we had to resist the latter as we were already equipped with Mrs Garside’s confectionary delights.

I think Jim was pleased with his time, not being far off his previous, so showing a good return to form and no adverse effects. What can I say about Tony, except that his chilled approach allowed him to do the Bolton Hill Marathon the day after, and that he needs his head testing? I’m not sure how shorts man did but amazingly TC and rooky partner were just under the 5 hours and got first pairs prize. Me, well about the same time as in 2010 and 2011 but a higher placing so perhaps the conditions were a bit tougher and I am going well. I’d like to think so anyway.