Race Date: Sunday 7th July 2019

Thanks to Chris Lawson for the report.

Great Hucklow Fell Race is organised by the village community and held each July. It’s a lovely low-key event attracting between 100 and 200 runners each year. The 11am start allows slovenly late risers like me to get up at a decent time and have a decent breakfast before setting off. Much more civilised!!

The typical fell race starts with a lung busting ascent, followed by some running across the top of a hill or mountain, before a steep descent back to where you started. Great Hucklow breaks this tradition be starting with a gentle descent for the 1^st kilometre, which takes you through the village and out towards Little Hucklow, before you turn off the track at the bottom of the hill, splash through a huge muddy puddle and begin your first ascent of 400ft over the next mile. The 1200 ft of overall ascent is spread over a number of climbs throughout the race on what is an undulating course, and quite technical at times. Each climb is in that twilight zone where you’re not sure whether to run or walk, but some walking in inevitable for all but the very front runners.

The final third of a mile brings the race back in line with fell running tradition with a welcome descent back to the race HQ, where runners are greeted with cordial drinks and free flapjacks.

135 runners competed in this year’s race.

The first man was Stuart Bond of Matlock AC with a time of 43:04

The first lady was Sarah Lilleman of Dark Peak Fell Runners with a time of 56:39

Striders results (I’ve included my time, but I ran it in my alter ego as a Dark Peak runner, boooo!!!):