So after a week of not running enough and perhaps drinking and eating more than I should have on holiday, I turned up at the Roaches not really race ready so after experiencing it for the first time last year I decided to try and enjoy it.

Can you enjoy a race that starts with 2 miles uphill? Hopefully I will answer that question shortly.

After a busy day of work and not enough sun to charge my car I set off to the Roaches with range anxiety…my car is usually pretty accurate but I wasn’t exactly going to somewhere loaded with charge points – there was a point around Ipstones I considered turning round but I got distracted by the climb that we do on the Ipstones 5ish (good race if you haven’t entered get yourself signed up!). Anyway, I did continue and turned up quite early at the tea rooms and managed to nab a priority parking spot.

It was nice to have a quick catch up Michelle and Shaun and we had a little trot along the road so we could show Shaun where the little climb began (bearing in mind the road isnt exactly flat) and then began the hunt for appropriate places to prepare for the race (have a wee!!).

A few more colleagues from SMM appeared and plenty of familiar faces from the other local clubs all of us explaining exactly why we were not fit or just treating it as a training run or any other excuse we could think of – mine was I had done speed work on Wednesday night, had a holiday and was only doing it as training….made sure it was quite clear I was going to ‘take it steady’!!!!

At 7.15pm we gathered on the road, huddled together as even though the sun was shining there was a very brisk wind that was quite chilly, we could only imagine what it was going to be like up on the ridge but we would soon find out.

So off we set along the road, the road section is about ½ mile ish and gradually climbs and as promised I set off nice and steady, probably too steady as I had to weave through quite a few runners who had had the same idea. I caught up with Andy and mentioned I would run with him, not sure he liked that idea and suggested I run ahead and catch up with Michelle.

So after that incline up the road we turn right onto the footpath which is a mix of rocks, gravel and grassy verges which of course climbs gradually for about 200 yards (at this point I had passed Michelle as I quite enjoy the off road gradual climbs) before it then turns left and we have a steep climb where you have to pretty much scramble for another 200 yards or so before it levels out fractionally. The next stretch is an almost level dirt path with a few strategically placed rocks so you can’t take your eyes off the path or you will end up tripping before, guess what, a right turn and another scramble up a narrow rocky path.

Once, you have navigated this it does get easier, however there is still probably almost a mile of gradual climbing to be done, along sandy paths, over rocks and slabs as you make your way up to the trig point – easy peasy I hear you say, did i forget to mention this was now along the ridge of the Roaches and there was the small matter of a gentle breeze trying to blow you back down.

Now those first two miles are tough and because I started of relatively steady you do get the odd occasion where you have to walk, whether it is too steep or a giant boulder has to be clambered on or occasionally a bit of bunching of athlete means you have to slow down, so I reckon I was a couple of minutes slower this year than last but after all that climbing the views are spectacular.

Unfortunately, there is no time to stop and take a picture (so I have included a collage of ones I took when walking with my wife a few weeks ago….just as windy but just as spectacular).

Anyway, once we are at the top it must be dead easy right – all downhill?! (It’s also at this point I forget that I was taking it easy and decide now is the time to quicken up.) 

Easier, yes, easy no!

The downhill off the roaches is slightly better underfoot with some steps but there are occasional rocks trying to catch you out, so even though you can go a bit quicker you can’t relax for a second and then a really steep section threatens to send you hurtling down. Those who know me and hills know I am a bit like a child and although not quite fearless sometimes I end up doing a commando roll as I get carried away. My primary thought descending last night was, I have a busy day of clients tomorrow and I can’t afford a broken limb, so there was an element of caution…sort of.

Okay of the Roaches and turn right onto a lovely piece of tarmac…..and another climb, how unfair. Fortunately this once is relatively short and then it is pretty much flat and downhill for the next 2.5miles. You run along the back of the Roaches and manage to pick up a bit of pace, about a mile of tarmac before you turn right back onto a trail which brings you back between the Roaches and Hen Cloud (I think it’s called) – single track but flat and technical, good fun then a turn down a steep field back to the road….again carried away and hurtle down it to the road.

Back on the road, half a mile of pretty much downhill and some flat, I convince the guy next to me to push on and encourage him (should I be talking, perhaps not), however I do decide with a couple of hundred metres to go that I am holding back being kind and maybe I should just beat him, so increase my pace and push on past him into the field for the finish.

As I cross the line, probably a minute or two slower than last year (wind was definitely a factor), I realise that although I have worked hard I was feeling pretty comfortable and although 45 minutes ago that was my plan I regret it and wonder why I didn’t try harder…..it’s a runner thing! 

I say a quick hello to Mark, Shaun, Danny, Jayne etc who all ran great races, before heading back up onto the road to encourage everyone still out on the course and find my fellow Stone runners….one of which, Churters, shouted something along the lines of ‘I thought you were taking it easy’…oops. Michelle, Andy, Mark, Annabel, Kevin, Nikki and Ange ‘Chick’, all finished strong so I made my way back to the car park for the obligatory post race chat before jumping in the car to head home…..

Fortunately, I still had plenty of miles left to get home but glad it’s sunny today to get it charged ready for Shutlingsloe next week.

So, The Roaches – 5.6miles….half uphill, half downhill, stunning views, sun shining, wind blowing – would I do it again.

Definitely, the Summer Series is a bargain and although they aren’t the longest they are definitely a challenge and even if you are taking it easy it is still a great workout in stunning locations.

Bring on Shutlingsloe next week.

NB: none of the photos were taking during the race 😉