NWFPAC ‘Michael Page’ Championship 2022 – Race 5: Race the Train - Bury to Ratwenstall

Race the train – a race like no other in the NWFPAC calendar, or any calendar for that matter. As much as I enjoy shooting for PBs on the flat roads, I was looking forward to something different and it definitely delivered on that front. I have now set a benchmark for the next time I fancy chasing a steam train for 10 – 10.5 miles (depending on what Garmin model you use) around undulating trails in rural East Lancashire.

After the last NWFPAC championship race…Lyme Park Parkrun, I knew I definitely needed to get some suitable training runs under my belt to prepare for potentially 11 miles of technical terrain and hills. Did I do so? No. I felt like my preparation for this race wasn’t ideal, until I saw one runner having a crafty cigarette about twenty minutes before the start, suddenly I felt better about myself. I wasn’t the only one feeling slightly apprehensive about the course profile. Even Charles had turned up in non-carbon plated shoes, tentatively packing his Nike Vaporflys in his backpack and opting to make a final decision after scoping out the general consensus. Obviously the ‘cheat shoes’ were being laced up as soon as he saw a pair of Nike Pegasus upon entering the train station.

Around 10:50 we made our way to the start line. Charles, Adrian, David C and Dave all shuffled towards the front and Dave tried to lure me forward trying to convince me a fast start was the way to go. He might have had a point. The first mile or so was great. From initial dread, I was now feeling a sense of optimism about the course. Aside from a steep incline out of the Station car park, we headed down a lovely long tarmac decline. However I had been lured into a false sense of security and before we knew it we were bearing left up a set of steep stairs before the trails and hills began.

For the first 3-4 miles, I was enjoying the scenery. Yes the breathing was heavy, but the novelty of the trails had not yet wore off and I could still see Dave not too far ahead. However, I’d soon lost him. I found out afterwards that he had full on hurdled a dog after it crossed his path in Nuttal park – if only I could have held on to see it! The race in general began to space out and a period of isolation began. You had no idea you were racing a train since this was also nowhere to be seen.

From mile 7/8 onwards, things were starting to become more laboured. There were a few very steep climbs along the way and without the help of my own cheat shoes, my legs were beginning to tire. I also almost took a wrong turn, as I mistook the red and white tape hanging off the tree branches as a warning that the path was too treacherous to tread rather than a direction marker. Towards the last few miles, I did manage to catch some other runners up, but I myself had also been caught. I was just glad of some company.

I’d love to provide some exciting race commentary but at this point we were all just getting our heads down and getting through. It’s normally at that point of a race where I expect the sight of Steve Hughes’ hydro-vest to pop up in front of me and take the wind out of my sails but I was pleasantly surprised to still be ahead. Three or so fields and umpteen stiles later we were at the Rawtenstall level crossing. Thankfully, I knew I’d beaten the train but since no one actually knew the true length of the course, I had no idea how long there was left to the finish.

Suddenly a funnel and yellow finish sign appeared out of nowhere, which rendered an obligatory sprint finish. I wandered round the platform to the rest of the group who were already halfway through pint number one. To my delight Charles had taken the full 20 points, followed by Adrian, who was glad to get revenge over David C after last year’s race. Sam Vincent took P3 to complete the NWFPAC podium. The two David’s followed and Nicola picked up a healthy 15 points after being strongarmed into turning up by a certain team mate, putting some pressure on the championship leaders A Run for Your Money. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if only I knew Gareth was only 30 seconds ahead of me, I might not have stopped to pet that horse in Ramsbottom. Alan R managed to beat his time from his last attempt a few years ago, with Steve and Alan B also picking up double digit points as a reward for their hard efforts.

Although a great event, the best thing about this race was certainly the social afterwards, with many of us sticking around for a couple of pints in the sun at the station pub. For next year’s championship race selection, the availability of post-race beers certainly needs to be a consideration more often.