JOHN EDWARDS – A short remembrance
It was with great sadness that I heard of John’s death in March. He was a distinguished “character” in the Dark Peak Fell Runners as evident by the soubriquets he was given, Gentleman John, Squire Read more
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The race was well patronised by former and current Dark Peakers. How about this for a Southern Belles venture next year. It can of course be combined with the Titterstone Clee 2.5 mile race and there is a combined result and perpetual trophy to the fastest over two days.
Frank Thomas
By chance I'd managed to get in a recce a week before the race, especially useful when you don't know the area and the race details advise you that this is not an easy 10 miles and is not a race for novice fell runners, especially in February. The snows had mostly melted, but what was left had re- frozen overnight. This created very slippery paths where the snow had been previously compacted. In consequence most running had to be done off the paths and in many sections one foot each side of the path. This re-freezing also does strange things to mud, somehow holding lots of air in it, such that when you tread on it, it collapses with a delayed reaction, making you half trip up at every step.
The last 3 miles had 4 very steep valleys to traverse and most of the 4000 ft. My time calculations were now way out and I had to decide whether to carry on and hope I got back before it was dark, or take an escape route with miles of road. I decided to carry on and more than 5 hours after I started I descended the wrong slope to find the wrong car park and panicked when my Motor Caravan was not there. I had decided that the recce was enough and not to bother with the race.
A week later, the weather conditions were much better, the memory faded and I managed to nearly halve my recce time. However, I did learn something from this race, I came to the sad conclusion that if the same height is to be ascended/ descended then the fastest way between 2 points in nearly always a straight line, regardless of how steep it is.
If you like a lot of very steep ups and downs you will like this race. Even if you don't go for the race, the LONG MYND is well worth a visit for its interesting terrain and it is fortunately owned by the National Trust.
Jim Orrell
Members can click on their name to see a results history
Long Mynd Valleys on Sun 24th Feb 1991
150 startersThe organisers (Mercia fell runners) warn that "...this is hot an easy 10 miles and NOT a race for the novice fell runners, particularly in February." The Shropshire hills are a match any day for many a Northern race and with 4000' of ascent and some remarkable wild country dipping in and out of what they call 'hollows' in these parts, some people are screaming for mercia by the end.The race was well patronised by former and current Dark Peakers. How about this for a Southern Belles venture next year. It can of course be combined with the Titterstone Clee 2.5 mile race and there is a combined result and perpetual trophy to the fastest over two days.
Frank Thomas
By chance I'd managed to get in a recce a week before the race, especially useful when you don't know the area and the race details advise you that this is not an easy 10 miles and is not a race for novice fell runners, especially in February. The snows had mostly melted, but what was left had re- frozen overnight. This created very slippery paths where the snow had been previously compacted. In consequence most running had to be done off the paths and in many sections one foot each side of the path. This re-freezing also does strange things to mud, somehow holding lots of air in it, such that when you tread on it, it collapses with a delayed reaction, making you half trip up at every step.
The last 3 miles had 4 very steep valleys to traverse and most of the 4000 ft. My time calculations were now way out and I had to decide whether to carry on and hope I got back before it was dark, or take an escape route with miles of road. I decided to carry on and more than 5 hours after I started I descended the wrong slope to find the wrong car park and panicked when my Motor Caravan was not there. I had decided that the recce was enough and not to bother with the race.
A week later, the weather conditions were much better, the memory faded and I managed to nearly halve my recce time. However, I did learn something from this race, I came to the sad conclusion that if the same height is to be ascended/ descended then the fastest way between 2 points in nearly always a straight line, regardless of how steep it is.
If you like a lot of very steep ups and downs you will like this race. Even if you don't go for the race, the LONG MYND is well worth a visit for its interesting terrain and it is fortunately owned by the National Trust.
Jim Orrell
Members can click on their name to see a results history
| Position | Name | Club | Class | Time | Comment | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. Troman | 01:43:24 | ||||
| 4 | A. Pickles | 01:45:33 | ||||
| 13 | M. Stone | 01:51:55 | ||||
| 132 | Jim Orrell | Dark Peak | MV40 | 02:49:23 |