Race Date: Sunday 25th February 2018

Report from Michael Slater;

Hope fell race is billed at 9.5km with 451m of climb. It has a summer and a winter version, the same route run in both directions. This year’s winter race was part of the club’s fell race championship increasing the number of striders who were there.

Despite the sub  zero temperatures it was a glorious morning for a race and I soon warmed up, in fact I was already thinking of removing my hat before I had run out of Hope. We skirted the village of Aston before ascending more sharply, on the climb up Win hill Paul Stuart bounced past me wearing his anti-gravity boots.  Over the top of Win hill and then the  steep descent towards Ladybower resevoir, the only technically tricky part of the race except maybe for the navigation.

Shortly after entering the woods someone a few places in front of me took a wrong turn and a large number of runners behind obediently followed them, me included.  Some stopped unsure if they had gone wrong, some retraced their steps. Surprisingly and annoyingly I had the dire hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers”  firmly planted in my brain, on repeat, for the duration of this race. So while folk were re finding the correct route onward I went, convinced I was on the right path. I soon realised I wasn’t when the bridge at the A57 over Ladybower came into view, too late to go back now, yet it was still another km or so before I rejoined the flock.

Coming out of the woods we were allowed a brief gorgeous glimpse of the view over towards Lose hill, Edale and the Hope valley before heading back down into Hope and the finish.

Surprising how many navigational errors for a race that should have been fairly straightforward, but I guess it all adds to the fun, and it was a lesson not to follow the person in front of you.

213 runners started the race, of which 22 were Striders – great turnout!  The race was won by Alex Hinchcliff of Vegan Runners in 44.32, and first lady home was Helen Thornhill of Buxton in 56.24.

Extra Kudos for our very own Amy Duck who was third lady home.

Striders Results