Tour of Pendle - Fell Race

[Circa86]

Have any folk run this in the past, or plan to run this year?

I have always been a decent runner, run very regularly and have run half/marathons in the past. Recently i have begun to enjoy running hills but have never done a fell race. The conditions for entry on the Tour of Pendle website suggest my inexperience might be a major issue - any know whether i would need to be an experienced fell runner for this event?

I'd be keen to enter/run but don't want to be that daft bloke completely out of his depth.

[Burnley1989]

Pendle isn't too bad at all from my experience, you'll be fine.
Don't try and push too hard on the climb, the tops a bit tricky on the ankles but relatively flat, the descent can be done at a decent speed, I wouldn't class myself as anything other than OK on fells.
Pretty sure from memory pendle is the figure of 8
You'll love it, 100% have a go, best thing about running is you get all abilities & ages and nobody is judging you

[Shaun1983]

I’ve ran the race once but done the route around four or five times. It’s a tough one. Definitely recce it. You can do the recce in two parts and makes it more manageable. The second part is definitely the most difficult. I have done the first half of it plenty of times and am just getting back into running, probably doing around 35 miles a week. When I’m back up to fitness I will be doing the first half every other week alternating with one of the Yorkshire three peaks. You are more than welcome to tag along early one sat or Sunday morning

[Shaun1983]

Just to add, when I did the race, it was the first fell race I had done but I had done the route prior. There will be plenty of runners behind you so wouldn’t worry about it

[Lambo]

Get some practice in my friend, it’s the Boulsworth Hill Fell Race on 11 August and entry to the fell race gets you a free entry to the Trawden show

[Winstonswhite]

It’s 17 miles in November isn’t it? If you live nearby why not go and run half of it and see how you get on. Start in Barley, run to the top then to the Nic and back again. Take it easy.

[Amex]

I’ve been lucky to race it a good few times, the second half, after checkpoint 4 base of Geronimo is where it gets tough as said before, cut off at CP 4 is usually 2 hours.
So my advice is from Barley, run to CP 4 look at time from there you can drop down by side of upper and lower res back to Barley.
If you are in time then another day run from just below to Nic cross the stream at Howcroft Brook up Ashendean cough to wall corner, cross the top drop to wall corner base of Mearley clough back up to Scout Cairn across the top again just past the shelter over wall there is a race trod that drops to base of big End then the last climb ( where you will be blowing out your arse) back to trig then down to CP 4 again before a plod back to barley on race route or from trig back to Nic. Clayton le moors web site has route map.
May be wise to do a few lower shorter races prior to get your kit right understand how it works
Time on your feet and climb in your legs

[ChorltonCharlie]

I've never done the race, though have done plenty on Pendle including many sections that are in it. It is a very tough race. I have an experienced Fell/Ultra Runner mate who says it's actually harder than the Yorkshire 3 Peaks because of the constant up and down. It's also November; you could get lucky and have a mild dry day, but it's common for poor conditions such as low cloud cover, rain, snow, ice.

The experience obviously covers being capable to run the distance, terrain and elevation, but just as important is your ability to navigate in poor conditions.

Have you thought about joining one of the local running clubs? They all train on the fells around here and can get you ready for the event.

[Circa86]

Thanks for the advice folks. I'm actually down in Hertfordshire, so running the Chilterns is what's attracting me to try some fells (appreciate it's a step up). Heading out along the coastal path down in Devon last week has encouraged me to think more seriously about entering.

I think maybe a couple of trips up to the Turf combined with a some morning running should help me work things out. @Shaun1983 I might take you up on a run at some point, if you wouldn't mind. Being down in Herts without a network up North (or great knowledge of the routes around Pendle) are part of the trepidation.

Exactly the sort of help this messageboard is unbeatable for - really appreciate it.

[RHansburyEsq]

Nothing better than getting out on the hills! ToP is my favourite fell race and imo the best in the south pennines. However it is arguably one of if not the toughest excluding ultras outside the Lakes so you would definitely be starting in the deep end! I would echo the comment above that it is a toss up whether ToP or the Yorkshire 3 peaks is harder….

Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, and if you have good level of half/marathon running fitness you should be ok. However don’t take it lightly and make the most of the time to November to prepare and reccie thoroughly. In terms of where ‘inexperience’ might cause you to come unstuck:

- You need to have all the correct kit and know how to use it (see FRA website for minimum stuff to carry). You also need some decent fell shoes. Unless it is unseasonably dry ordinary ‘trail’ shoes probably leave you sliding all over the place in the Pendle bogs and Geronimo descent!

- the route is not marked so you are expected to be able to nav yourself round and there are a number of route choices. If the weather is ok you might get away with just following others but if the weather is crap (and bear in mind it is November!) there are some places you can go really wrong!

- pacing in fell racing is much trickier to get the hang of than other types of races and ToP is particularly challenging with most of the climbing in the second half. A lot of experienced runners (me included!) get carried away in the first half and blow up on Big End… Personally I would do at least one proper fell race beforehand to try and get a ‘feel’ for it.

[Shaun1983]

Thanks for the advice folks. I'm actually down in Hertfordshire, so running the Chilterns is what's attracting me to try some fells (appreciate it's a step up). Heading out along the coastal path down in Devon last week has encouraged me to think more seriously about entering.

I think maybe a couple of trips up to the Turf combined with a some morning running should help me work things out. @Shaun1983 I might take you up on a run at some point, if you wouldn't mind. Being down in Herts without a network up North (or great knowledge of the routes around Pendle) are part of the trepidation.

Exactly the sort of help this messageboard is unbeatable for - really appreciate it.

Wouldn’t mind at all, do you use Strava? If so you can add me and message me on there whenever you are up and fancy a run out

[Inchy]

I ran it a couple of years ago. Was in the top 10 until the final 5 miles and slipped to 16th due to calf cramp.

The weather was descent for the time of year, just a little rain.

Definitely needs a couple of recces as it’s not straight forward towards the back end and depending on your position and if it’s claggy there maybe no one to follow. It’s a fell race so gps is not allowed.

The race really begins after 10 miles. About half the elevation of the route is in a 5 mile stretch towards the end so don’t set off too quickly like I did


If I can sort my hip out il be running it this year and hoping for a top 10 finish

[Inchy]

I've never done the race, though have done plenty on Pendle including many sections that are in it. It is a very tough race. I have an experienced Fell/Ultra Runner mate who says it's actually harder than the Yorkshire 3 Peaks because of the constant up and down. It's also November; you could get lucky and have a mild dry day, but it's common for poor conditions such as low cloud cover, rain, snow, ice.

The experience obviously covers being capable to run the distance, terrain and elevation, but just as important is your ability to navigate in poor conditions.

Have you thought about joining one of the local running clubs? They all train on the fells around here and can get you ready for the event.

Tour of Pendle is a lot harder than the 3 peaks imo. When I did the 3 peaks I could have done it in road shoes. It’s mainly hard packed trail. Pendle in November is a swamp in areas

[Inchy]

In terms of kit I’d take a running vest and carry water as there are no aid stations.

For shoes I’d recommend innov8 mudclaws. I have a pair and pendle is the only race I’ve needed that level of grip. Some of the descents are very steep.

[RMutt]

Just revisiting this wondering if Circa86 got round?

[Inchy]

Gutted I couldn’t run it this year due to injury. It’s such a great race

[RMutt]

Gutted I couldn’t run it this year due to injury. It’s such a great race

Yes, shame. You seemed to be going well last time you reported. Have you been injured a while?