As a member of Stone Master Marathoners for over 10 years I have run a lot of local road races and also the North Staffs Cross Country series but have only occasionally ventured off road to race on the trails. However, with a combination of work and family I was struggling to find time to enter a race and commit to some regular training but I took the plunge and booked myself onto the Staffs Moorland Summer Series – this way I was committing myself to several races on a Thursday night which would hopefully see me progress as the series went on and worst case it would act as a good training base for later in the year.
I had never done any of these races before but had often heard several of the club members raving about them so convinced a couple of others to join me and we entered the 7 race series.
As the name suggests, the series is put on by Staffordshire Moorlands AC and takes place from the 9th June until 28th July and covers several off road venues around the Moorlands area.
Race 1 – Tittesworth Resevoir – 9th June 2022
Due to the location of several of these races it is always good to car share, so along with Anne C we set off to Leek to experience the Summer Series. It was a sunny evening but a little on the chilly side so when we arrived I remained in my fleece whilst we registered and picked up our numbers.
As always I get quite nervous before any sort of race but not knowing what to expect and not knowing my current racing ability I was treating this first race as a ‘looksee’ – so I tried to relax before we got started. It was good to see quite a few of my running club present but was really surprised to see how many people were back racing – previous experience this year had shown race numbers were down so it was great to see so many gathered together at the start line.
Not going to bore you with a step by step guide to the race but suffice to say it wasn’t quite as flat as I was expecting – we went anti-clockwise around the lake, mainly on trail and there were more undulations and climbs than I remember from when I dragged the kids round for a walk several summers ago. I started slowly to find some rhythm, then slowly picked up the pace during the approximate 4.4 mile loop and finished strongly to finish in just over 33 minutes (46th out of 215).
So what did I think? Loved it. The setting was stunning, the course was enjoyable, the atmosphere was competitive but also supportive and I felt like I enjoyed it more than a road race. With the variability in surface, the fact that it is not chip timed and not knowing the exact route or distance made it a more relaxing experience, you couldn’t aim for a certain pace like you do on the road so you just had to run by feel and enjoy it.
When I first entered the series I was concerned I was committing to so many races, but after race 1 I couldn’t wait to go again.
Race 2 – The Roaches – 16th June 2022
Unlike the reservoir I knew this race wasn’t going to be flat but after feeling really good last week I felt like I was going to get a bit further forward on the start line and push a bit harder. I picked out a couple of people who finished just ahead of me previously and decided to see how I got on. I also felt much less apprehensive than before as there is no pressure when you know you are all running up steep inclines, off road and clambering over stones – there won’t be any 6 minute miles going on!!
Off we went, the first section is on the road so it is quite nice to get in a comfortable position and gauge the pace of the fellow competitors – however, this soon changes as you leave the road and start the ascent up into the Roaches. Loose gravel, big rocks, tufty grass, stony steps – all rhythm is gone and you just have to graft for the next mile or so, watching your step and trying to cling on to the person in front (not literally although maybe next time).
It just kept going, you thought you were at the top but then another incline – as with all us runners I thought at this point ‘Why am I doing this exactly?’ – but eventually you get to the top and the view is awesome – for the split second you have to appreciate it – if you lose concentration for one second on a trail you may end up on your face.
You continue across the top for a short while before a very fast descent and a sharp turn onto the road which climbs again and then it all evens out before you get back on the trail and wind yourself back around to the front of the Roaches and a fast finish back to the start.
One of the longer races of the series at 5.6 miles but very pleased with sub 45 minutes and 31st place out of just over 200 people.
Absolutely stunning location, difficult but exhilarating race and definitely worth a try.
Unfortunately, Oakamoor Hilly had to be postponed, then later cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and then we had a free week, so fingers crossed we will be going to the next race fully refreshed and ready to go.
Race 3 – Ilam Park – 7th July 2022
Next stop Ilam Park over near Ashbourne – unfortunately for me I had a bout of food poisoning early in the week so wasn’t feeling very well when we turned up and to add matters it was a very warm evening – however with 4 races out of the 6 counting I just wanted to finish this race and make up for it over the next two.
As with the first two races, the scenery and setting was amazing and somewhere I will be visiting with the family for a walk again soon (if I can get two teenage boys walking with their parents that is!).
We started off with a lap of a large undulating field with a crowd of bemused looking sheep for spectators before dropping down to run alongside the river before a short stretch of road followed by a couple of fields with a few stiles along the way to try and slow us up before coming back to the river to complete lap 1. The start of lap 2 had a steep incline back to the start line before we repeated the whole process – fortunately we didn’t have to climb back up to the start line as the finish was nicely positioned by the river.
To be honest the first lap I took relatively easily after my near death experience earlier in the week but as I didnt feel quite as bad as I expected I did pick up speed on the second lap, even if it was only to make sure I finished in front of the club chairman.
This was the longest of all of the runs at about 5.8miles which I crept round in about 43 minutes and a 35th place finish, which again I thoroughly enjoyed (afterwards).
Race 4 – Shutlingsloe – 14th July
Struck down by COVID – damn, 3 days before the race I tested positive – felt perfectly fine but couldn’t go and run with 200 other people knowing I had the virus.
People reported back that although this was the shortest of the lot, it was very tough but at the same time immensely enjoyable – a reason for me to come back next year just to do this if nothing else.
Race 5 – Biddulph Grange – 21st July
After my COVID experience it was back to business with a trip over to Biddulph Grange.
Another warm evening with a hint of drizzle in the air and two laps around the trails of Biddulph Grange.
After the first three races and feeling no pressure on how I was going to perform I set off nearer the front than at the other races, not going to suggest that was a mistake but the course was much tougher than I thought it was going to be. As a few little climbs and a couple of sets of steps took more out of me than expected but at least I knew what to expect on the
second lap. The windy woodland trails, a couple of field crossings and a lap of the lake made this another beautiful course with varying terrain and another course that I
thoroughly enjoyed.
A relatively short 3.8 mile course in just under 31 minutes but a successive 35th place finish out of just over 180 runners, another successful run.
Race 6 – Rudyard Lake – 28th July
So onto the final race of the series at Rudyard Lake near Leek and having completed 4 of the 5 races so far (needing 4 from 6 to count), this was a no pressure type of race. One lap of the lake starting on the old railway side which meant the first couple of miles was going to be flat.
Decided to get near the front and give it my best shot and see what happened – so flat out for the first two miles before we turned away from the lake and a slight incline up towards a lone piper – in Leek? We then weaved our way through some wooded trails and a few steps before dropping back down towards the lake for a relatively flat, fast finish on tarmac before the final turn down a steep footpath to the finish. I will be honest after those first tow fast miles it was a case of hanging on towards the end but it paid dividends as it was my best placed finish of the series, 4.25 miles in under 30 minutes and a 27th place out of almost 200 runners.
We all gathered up after the race for a cheeky beer, a bowl of chips and to await the presentation. As a club we had some success with Anne Coghlan winning the F55 award and Nikki Towle a close second and then Kevin Uzzell coming out top in the battle of the M75 category. For the club, Annabel Bradshaw was the first lady throughout the series but cannot remember the name of the guy who was first male home for the club ;-).
So would I recommend the Summer Series – most definitely – the locations are stunning, the organisation and the marshals are a credit to Staffs Moorlands AC.
Although the courses are very definitely challenging it felt completely different to the pressures of a road race, where you cannot set yourself a time, due to the variable terrain across all the races, the up and downs, so I thoroughly enjoyed each and every race and I will definitely be back next year with an aim to complete the whole series and hopefully improve my times on all of the courses.
Thanks Staffs Moorlands AC and well done to each and every runner who turned up and a special mention to all my SMM colleagues who made the series great fun.
Thanks for reading and below are a few stunning action shots of the guy who finished first for the club across the series.
Paul
