Sunday, June 08, 2025

Meerbrook 15k

Race: Meerbrook 15k
Time/Position: 1.02.38 (18th from 235 [2nd V55])
A race I have long been aware of but never got round to doing. It's an unusual distance, tucked away near Leek and the Roaches in the Staffordshire Peak. Ironically enough, I would have been first V50 had I been nine days younger, but instead was beaten into second V55 by local Tim Twentyman, who was going for the regional age group record. We had a grand battle all the way round this very tough course with well over 400 metres of elevation gain. It feels a bit like a fell race in places, and the first hill is the hardest, coming immediately after the start by the village hall. A very long drag which is really steep in places. Great views at the top over this part of the southern Peak on a day of cloud and occasional drizzle. Then came a very fast and very long descent, with myself and Tim equally matched. A loop around the far end towards Wincle (home of the Trout Race) contained a few additional sharp climbs and the terrain inevitably started to take its attritional toll. A more gradual climb from the base was hard, and contained an extra out-and-back during which I started to lose ground. From the highpoint at Gun Hill, a very fast descent at 3.28 pace although I could never quite make up the ground. A decent enough performance on a hard race.

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