Stretton Skyline

Race: Stretton Skyline (31km/4500ft)
Time/Position: 3.33.46 (40th from 79)
Multiple races going on this weekend, and it was a little tricky to decide on the best choice. Caernarfon 10k would have been a more sensible option, but, mindful of the forthcoming Mourne Mountain Marathon I thought it might be a good idea to return to the Stretton Skyline for the first time since 2009. It emphatically was not, and I limped home a staggering 33 minutes slower than seven years ago! Having said that, it was at least a sociable option and I enjoyed the day (most of it anyway). It began well, jogging up from Carding Mill Valley with Peter and running with him along to Pole Bank at the top of the Long Mynd. The descent to the road is glorious, and well remembered from 2009: a sweeping series of ridge tracks and contouring paths leads to the village of Little Stretton. The steep climb up Ragleth that follows is probably the hardest climb on the race, but I felt reasonably fresh at this point and overtook a few runners towards the top. Great running on the ridge towards Caradoc before the descent. Here, things started to go wrong! Seven years is a long time, and I couldn't remember the best route down to the next checkpoint in Church Stretton. I took the left-hand path through the woods, which takes much longer, and was passed by at least ten runners, ending up behind a big group as I started the climb up Caer Caradoc. This was rather demoralising, but worse was to follow as I began to lose energy on Caradoc. A few slices of fudge didn't help much, and the rest of the day was a real struggle, the first time I have really suffered on a long fell race for a good few years. The descent from Caradoc to the Lawley gave some respite, and takes in some delightful countryside, but the long out and back to the Lawley was slow again. Returning to the A49, I knew what lay ahead: the climax of the race up the never-ending Motts Road back to the top of the Long Mynd. With good legs, this gentle gradient can be run efficiently. Drained of energy, it is a bit of a nightmare and I lost at least 15 places as I limped up the gentle slopes, literally walking most of the descent back down Carding Mill Valley to the finish in Church Stretton. Shame not to do this great race justice: not sure what the problem was, so will have to use the feeble excuse of a bad night's sleep!