Four of us ran the Calderdale Way Ultra. A 28.5 mile fell, trail, path and tarmac race that saw Mark McCrea, Bernie Mitchell, Ray Oates and Pita Oates set off on the event coach to the start for a sweltering lunchtime start! Our run started at checkpoint 3 for the 50 mile event runners and when they came into sight they didn’t look all that impressed with the heat and very blue skies!
We set off slightly after the official start, a counting in exercise had to be completed and full kit check (Ray remembered his coat this time!) and we were off!
Our start began just North of Stone Chair and our aim was to run along the Calderdale Way past Halifax, to Brighouse, Ripponden and back to Todmorden! What a run! Bernie Mitchell checked in first for RR in 7:07:48 in 38th position, Ray Oates, Mark McCrea and Pita Oates all finished together in 7:15:32 in 39th position out of 57 entrants. Many entrants had a DNF as they didn’t make the checkpoints in time for cut off.
The challenge wasn’t just to complete the event we had the added pressure of making checkpoints in good time to avoid a DNF in incredible heat, not forgetting just short of 4,000ft of climbing.
As with most Fell events the heavens opened, the winds blew and the jackets came out. Just when you are digging your deepest for the final 5k home the weather tests you to the limit! Notably, this was the first Ultra event for Ray, Mark and Pita straight on the back of Howgills marathon a few weeks ago!
Great team work on a challenging race
