This may be a tough little series, but you certainly cannot fault the locations of the Staffs Moorlands Summer Series.

Unfortunately, I missed race 1, Tittesworth (relatively flat) this year, so it was then up and over the Roaches for Race 2 and then a little climb through Macclesfield New Forest and up and over Shutlingsloe for Race 3.

Which brings us to races 4 & 5 which are in theory a little more sedate. So 22nd June it was over to Dovedale and Ilam Park.

Race 4 – Ilam Park – 22nd June

If my memory serves me correct this is the longest of the races at just less than 6 miles, a 2 lap course that runs mainly alongside the River Manifold.

As with both the previous races the sun was shining and it was a little on the warm side so the first mile or so when you run through the sheep field with a nice little climb got you properly warmed up and the lungs knew you were in a race. That first climb isn’t too bad apart from the footing, it’s a bit undulating so it takes it out of your legs straight away, you then have a very steep downhill section before dropping down through some trees to the side of the river.

Then a lovely little scenic path through a couple of stiles, a short road section crossing the river before back onto the fields. Again you have to be a bit wary of your footing but you do a couple of minor climbs through a couple more stiles before a big downhill back to the river. Then a good half mile along the beautiful river to the start/finish area before you start lap 2.

Unfortunately, this bit is a steep climb up the drive back to the hall before you start lap 2, bonus is you only do it once. Repeat – sheep field, river path, field and stiles and back onto the river path for what would be a quick finish, unfortunately 5 miles of up, down, fields and stiles seem to have told your legs that they do not wish to go any faster, so its a case of hanging on to that Trentham runner in front and hoping the finish is round the next corner.

Over the finish line and then drag yourself over to familiar faces before cheering on your clubmates and friends as they finish.

Being on the warm side any way of cooling down is tempting, so being honest when I caught sight of Jayne having a cheeky dip in the river I decided that would be a good idea – knee deep was enough for me but very refreshing.

Due to the location it is a bit of a trek back in the car so didn’t hang around too long once all the club mates were finished before heading back home.

5.86 miles in just under 44 minutes.

Race 5 – Biddulph Grange – 13th July

Two weeks later brought us to Biddulph Grange. Another 2 lap course but this time just under 4 miles but much more undulating and as one of our runner friends commented before the race much more technical.

This week I travelled to the race with Robin and we did a gentle lap of the course as a warm up as it was Robin’s first time doing the course (something I’d regret doing later). As per usual quick hello to friends and colleagues before we gathered en masse at the start.

It’s a bit of tight squeeze at the start for the first few hundred metres so you tend to get dragged along at the pace of those around you but unlike Shutlingsloe it’s not a straight up and down. I would describe the first 3 or 4 minutes as a flat incline, it doesn’t feel like a hill but there is a definite incline as you twist and turn alongside a stream under a covering of trees. At this point Robin was possibly 10 metres in front of me without about 4 or 5 people between us.

We then have a little sharp climb, more undulating through the trees and then another steep climb up about 20 steps or so – I feel pretty good with hills and steep descents so it’s normally on hills that I close the gap on runners and often pass them so the gap to Robin closed during the climb.

There is then a steady descent, before another short climb, all of the time you are twisting and turning wary of tree roots, mud, fallen branches and it was at about this point I spotted our fallen comrade who had mentioned the technicality of the course – he’d only gone over on his ankle – a quick check to confirm he was okay and I carried on.

After the twisty turny woods you then do a flat lap of the pool  before half a dozen steps down and then two downhill fields past the cows who seemed very uninterested in a bunch of daft runners. You then enter the start finish area with a steep right hand curve where you start the 2nd lap.

It’s about this point I (tongue in cheek) regret showing Robin the course – throughout the lap I closed the gap, then it widened and then closed again but you could tell Robin now knew where to push on – he is much quicker over the flatter parts than me – his weekly park runs showing their benefit.

However, it also helped having him relatively close in front as it made me work harder to try and keep that gap from getting wider.

So 2nd lap showed the same pattern and to be fair I think we both passed more runners than passed us so a few places were made up but there was always just too much distance and always a couple of runners between us so when it came to the last two downhill fields I couldn’t quite catch him and he crept home about 15 seconds in front.

I was well over a minute faster than last year and I must admit, although it is quite a tough course I really enjoyed it – it has a very Spring Treble feel to it.

We checked on our fallen colleague, got the medics to sort him an ice pack and then cheered on our colleagues as they finished.

It was then back to the car for the journey back to Stone.

3.9 miles in just over 29 minutes 

Unfortunately I cannot make the last race which is round Rudyard and perhaps the fastest and flattest of the 6 races and also has the option of chips and beer at the end. (Also, don’t tell Robin but I think if he has a good race he will pip me in finishing positions over the 4 races we will both have done – still a long way behind the speedy Mark Hopper though – who just squeezes in the odd 50k as well).

So four of the races were done at this year’s Staffs Moorlands Summer Series and this year’s objective was to run Shutlingsloe – so goal was achieved.

Do I want to run them again next year? Should I go and try to do all 6 (holidays permitting).

You know – I think I do – quite a bit of travelling but I paid £36 for the 6 races (missed two but still only £9 a race) and as I have said on numerous occasions absolutely stunning locations, challenging terrain and I must admit when I cross that finish line – great fun.

Thanks Staffs Moorlands – see you in 2024!!