Mearley Clough 3.5m/1200ft Tues 8th May

This one had failed to make it into the 2012 printed calendar hence the reason why distance/climb is in 'old money'. Just checked on the the FRA website and it's now been updated into metric (5.6k and 365m) but had ended up 3ft shorter than last year. That's a almost a whole TF, so not an insignificant amount!

Despite the lack of early advertising there was a good turnout of about 80 odd. Unfortunately for me I was designated the role of last runner and sweeper for this one. That was until we got to the nice steep bit. This is my favourite climb on TofP, so it was even nicer to have a go without the 10m warm up.

3 places gained by the time I reached the cairn. At this point we turned right (TofP route heads left) to run along a nice little trod on the edge of the plateau for a while until the drop. A lot steeper than the TofP route which takes a more diagonal line to the steam. Very nice!

Once over the stream the return route was the same. I'd been a bit remiss in not checking that the finish line was not where we'd started which was at the pub, thinking that this was the reason for the line of cones outside. I'd saved a little for the final tarmac sprint, but as it was the finish was in the last field and got overtaken again in sight of the line.  

Cracking little race, time taken approx 53mins. Thankfully I can still move today, so off out racing tonight but something a little less steep and more running bits.

TF