Whaley Waltz 2017

Yesterday was the annual Whaley Bridge Carnival, and following the carnival the annual Whaley Waltz fell race. I did this race last year and I've been keen to return to it and try and improve my time.

The race sets off down the main road after the carnival procession, allowing for the procession time to clear the way. This does of course mean a lot of waiting around on the start line, but finally the horn sounded and we were off.

I started quickly, feeling good as we headed down the road and into the park, where after a short climb we met the first bottleneck, a gate and stile which we all passed through quickly enough, then soon after another stile on a narrow track which did make us stop for a minute or two. These bottlenecks are the reason that I wanted to get away quickly. A bit of tarmac and a road crossing later and we were crossing fields and negotiating narrow footpaths as we headed onwards to Taxal.

Once in Taxal the race, to me anyway started properly as firstly we had a short steep tarmac climb followed by a walk up a field (some did try and run it, with varying degrees of success). Across the fields and we hit another bottleneck, a tall wooden stile over a drystone wall. We queued politely, chatting about the Britishness of our behaviour, then one by one we were over to be greeted by a marshall and helper handing out cups of water. I declined but thanked them anyway (I like to thank marshalls, without their help we couldn't race) and headed up onto Taxal Moor, alternately running and walking until I reached the highest point where it flattens out. Then down into woodland, dropping then rising up to Windgather, a climbing crag and the turning point of the race. Once we passed the turning point and doubled back we took a different route through fields back onto the Moor, and another climb. All the time I was running well, keeping my own pace and not being too worried about other runners even when I was passed.

Once off the Moor we followed a series of roads and paths down into Taxal, then retraced our steps back into the park at Whaley. The route through the park is slightly different on the return, as we headed left, then right, through bushes, over a patch of mud then before you know it we're on the riverbank and there's only one option - jump!

I landed and sunk up to chest height immediatly after a couple of others to huge cheers from the locals who gather to watch us get wet. A hand on my shoulder and behind me another runner who I didn't know was following so closely, a stagger across the river, a scamble up the back and its a wet sprint to the finish line.

I finished in a time of 59.13, 6 minutes quicker than last year, and in 130th place, 17 places higher as well. I'm happy with that.

Paul.