Kinder Trog

[Frank Victor Swift]

Race Details
Kinder Trog Fell Race.
Sunday 14th June - Entry on the day £4.50.
Details can be found here
Profile
Course map

Fitness permitting
I intend to run the this race.
It is a 16 mile slog around Kinder Scout in the Peak District, and includes 3000 feet of ascent.

If anyone wants further details, please let me know.


GC

[jimbo]

Frank, this seems like a rare event. Do I need a tent or bed and breakfast?

[Frank Victor Swift]

Well I did the race and for anyone interested here's a view of the day.

Nice early arrival, paid my £4.50, race number 3.
The weather was glorious; hot for running but it meant I shouldn't get lost in low cloud.
The race organiser was on hand to talk through the route, I later found out why he was overly enthusiastic about a little detour coming off Kinder Plateau and up South Head.
The start was a steady, steep road section before turning onto a steep narrow single file track up Lantern Pike. Fast walk to the summit; surprisingly I followed the advice not to get carried this early in the race.
A short downhill section followed by a long 4 mile slog up to the Kinder Plateau, the final 200 feet a climb up steep steps in the rock face.
On the plateau, it now dawned on me why this is a tough run.
I had in my mind the 3 to 4 miles on the plateau rim would be a nice reasonably flat and even path, not a bit of it, great rocks, boulders, climbs and drops most of the way. The sheep seemed to find it quite amusing, I swear they were laughing.
The decline from the plateau only brought into view South Head, it was immediately obvious why the organiser was keen to highlight this part of the course.
Heather covered, ankle twisting, knee wrenching steep downhill was followed by an all fours scramble up the other side. 7 minutes to cover 500 yards getting out of the gully.
I did overtake half a dozen people though .
Unfortunately, this just about finished my legs ("bonked" I think is the official term), the last 3 to 4 miles were a real slog, especially the steep downhill sections.
Surprisingly only lost a couple of places in the last 4 miles, so I guess everyone else was struggling.
The final flat 50yards over a grass play area to the finish was like heaven.

Finished in 109th place, just shy of 2 hours 42 minutes.
Well pleased with the time.
Will I do it again - too right I will, great race, great organisation, great scenery. 100% recommended if you fancy a fell race.

Full results