Fox and Hounds 6.5mile Fell Race
By Mike Robbins
This race is not for the faint hearted! Plenty of steep hills to ascend and descend! Elevation gain of more than 1000ft and rocks and boulders to jump! Weather was lovely, bright and sunny but cool with a very slight breeze.
As we all 70+ people stood on the start line with maps in hand wondering where to go! We all waited for the car horn to go!
Beep beep we were off! This was a road section for about 500 yards straight up hill! Following the car until it stopped. We were diverted into the moor still climbing, pretty much in single file by this point and we come to our first obstacle! We all stopped and in tradition English style queued up to get over a style!! Then it was run forest run, still climbing over burnt out crispy heather moorland! Once at the top of this long climb the wind was stronger and a bit colder they was a very steep treacherous downhill section which was lined with rocks, stones, rabbit holes and heather! Once managing to get to the bottom they was a short level grass area which was nice on the legs and that was 1mile complete gaining about 300ft! To start mile 2 they was a 500ft very steep climb in half a mile! More like a mountain! By this point
99% of us were walking! It was a killer on the calves and Achilles! Once at the top, 1100ft at this point, it was single file in a very narrow track, about the width of 2 feet with heather cutting at your ankles! This went on for a few mile, stumbling, dodging rocks, springing over ditches, jumping the water bogs, and trying to follow the little markers along route so we didn't get lost! They were 2 marshals on course in the middle of nowhere who we helpful. If you dared to look up at the views it was lovely but most of time looking at your footing. Start of mile 4 this narrow track had vanished and we were now running in the deep heather/grass!
Not sure exactly were the ground was but arms were in airplane mode for balance!! Stumbling along dodging the rocks in the ground that you couldn't see!! Then finally we appeared to be back on a single foot width track which eventually opened up and the descent to the finish began. People springing left-right-left jumping over ditches-rocks -boulders but this time gravity was taking hold of you and the pace was strong and full brakes had to be applied!!
Once back on the road it was a very fast steep downhill 500yards to finish line and this point my brakes had over heated and soles of feet were literally burning hot with impact of ground!
We had finished and what amazing 6.5miles of hard physical work but most of all mental side of concentrating really drained you!
We were all awarded nothing!! But for £6 the location and fun factor and challenge made up for that. So it was a quick change then straight into the Fox and Hound public house for a rewarding pint of local ale and a bowl of homemade chips!! They went down well! So if you’re looking for a run with a challenge and you like mountain climbing this is the one for you!!
Three Marsh House Harriers completed the course Vikki Law, Andy Dean and myself Mike
Robbins excellent efforts from everyone well done.

Results out of a field of 77
40th. 378 Mike Robbins 55:51
58th. 464 Andy Dean. 61:28
59th. 113 Vikki Law. 61:30
Well done on a tough course.......till next year!!