Have you herd?

Well this was the second year that I have done the Sabden 6 mile trail race and it really is a beautiful course. This year it got some more support behind it and attracted a few more runners and clubs to compete, which is always great to see. The weather was kind again and the sun was shining on the fields around Pendle and Sabden.

Registration is in an old church hall and the signs were there for the post-race cakes which are just too tempting to ignore! There were a few Humbugs entering this race, Paul Hartley still on the comeback trail and running well, Karen, Mark Fawcett, Kevin Smith, John McDonald, Callum and Harry, Fiona Hall and Phil Heyworth making his debut in the famous Trawden stripes and infamous red shorts! Another convert to the Red Revolution!

The expected TAC camaraderie was there for all to see at the start as everyone wished each other well. However, one question was on everyone’s lips “Have you heard about this climb between 4-5miles?!” I did try to warn as many as I could!

So to the start, a bottle neck of a trail track over several cattle grids for around 1.5 miles, including the Cannonball Mile, the first past the 1 mile marker won free entry to a Cannonball event! Tom Brewster (CleM) was the winner of this as the start was fast and furious and I settled in alongside the usual faces I see at these races. However as the route climbed off the track up and across several fields, these faces became the backs of heads as I lost touch with the flyers and began feeling the recent runs in my legs! Determined to both enjoy it and give of my best I dug in and hung onto their vests as the ups and downs continued.

The speed increased as we raced a herd of cows that were not overly keen on us disturbing their Saturday morning snooze. They decided to run alongside us for a few hundred yards then run across the path we were on! The panic was obvious in our faces as a few of us threatened to get caught up in this and I thought we were about to become a statistic! I was envisaging my headstone: “Dave Potter, tried to race a cow…and lost!” However with some fancy footwork (by us not the cows) we managed to avoid any collision!

The race took us to Churn Clough Reservoir, which you do a loop of but in two separate halves. Initially you climb off it across some more hills where the infamous and anticipated Trawden photographer was lying in wait for us. I attempted to look composed, relaxed and breathing normally as I reached him at the top of the hill. Sadly I think I looked the opposite of all of them and the cameraman saw fit to only snap my legs and leave how I looked to the reader’s imagination. A wise decision Dean Ralphson!

From here there is a good descent which can only mean one thing: it is going to go up again pretty soon and it does. I saw the 4 mile marker and could see the climb in the distance; a steep grassed banking that leads back to the flat of the reservoir. Only one thing for it here, a big effort and up we go!

The reservoir was a welcome break as it was mostly all downhill from here, or at least not as steep as it just had been. I'd passed another runner on the climb and could hear his breath for the final miles but thought if I can hold him off I will take a moral victory. A few more stiles, I lost count of how many there were, another kissing gate, no memorable moments there either, and the last stretch on the rocky trail path we had blasted out on 40 minutes earlier.

With the finish line in sight I managed to put a spring in my step to win my little battle and finish in around 41 dead (unofficial) and ninth overall. An improvement in time on last year but a decrease in position! Strange!

Now all that remained was to clap home the other Humbugs in true TAC style. There were some awesome runs by all ages and it was not long before we were all tucking into homemade cakes and coffee. These cakes should be better advertised on the race circuit as they were awesome!

Prize giving saw several TAC members claim prizes including Fiona Hall (third lady) and Callum Grant (first junior), while Preston took the team prize we'd scooped last year.

So another well organised, marshalled and signed Sabden trail run. I cannot speak highly enough of this race, it is local, set in stunning surroundings and you get to race a cow. What more could you want?