Autumn Leaves Fell Race

Diggle nr Oldham. Saturday 2nd October.

10 miles / 1250ft.

The name of the race was a lot more picturesque than the reality… more Autumn mudbath.

I wouldn’t advise anyone attempting this race unless their car is fully equipped with GPS navigation. Before the race I spent well over an hour hopelessly lost in a labyrinth of unsigned roads hunting for Diggle. Whereas after the race where I spent well over an hour hopelessly lost in a labyrinth of unsigned roads hunting for the motorway.

Actually doing the race was perfectly simple compared with the stress and anxiety of getting from the M61 to Diggle and back through deepest darkest Oldham-shire.

It was all fairly fast and runnable with the moorland sections paved with greasy slabs. The return leg had a confusing section through a golf course, but the race organiser assured us this would be flagged with at least 18 flags.

Plugging away in 9th spot for most of the way, I almost reeled in no.8 on the last climb bracing into the gale, but then fell asleep on the run in and got pipped to 10th.

1 Paul Green Sale 1.02.13

2 Malcolm Fowler Penistone 1.04.56

3 Karl Gray Calder Valley 1.07.50

10 Chris Upson Westerlands 1.13.36

112 runners

results at:

www.saddleworth-runners.co.uk/results/2004/results04.htm