Jan is a relative newcomer to the club – you’ve only seen her smiley face this year, but as you’ll find out she’s been active across running and other disciplines for many years.
Jan, Madeira Sept23
BACKGROUND
I have recently joined Belper Harriers and have been to a few training sessions as well as the Handicap from The Bluebell Pub, Farnah Green. I am hoping to get to more sessions inc the track at Ilkeston. I live in Belper so it is great to have these sessions on my doorstep, which have something for everyone, are welcoming and valuable training.
Running started for me after being inspired by Paula Radcliffe in the London Marathon. 3 years later I did it myself aged 50 in 3 hours 50 mins. My running club, Biggleswade AC in Bedfordshire, not known for hills, used to come for a weekend to the Peak District annually and we stayed at Hayfield where Cracken Edge FR (11.3k/442m) became a favourite.
I have now been living in Derbyshire nearly 20 years, 8 of them in Belper and my love of fell running has grown. In fact I have just taken part in the 9.2k/800m Classic Uphill Race in the World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Madeira (above), finishing in 1 hr 21 mins 57 secs, 5th in the LV70, 2 mins off bronze medal and good enough for Team Gold for GB.
CROSS TRAINING
I have always loved being outdoors and my job as a gardener ensured I kept fit. I have also worked as a fitness instructor so am aware of the importance of diet and nutrition and anatomy and physiology – yoga, weights and conditioning are part of my fitness regime – and as an ex-age group member of team GB in duathlon – cycling is part of my cross training. I had started mountain biking in 1988 and the balance and dexterity needed has definitely helped my fell running.
Jan & Margaret, Riber June 23
I got into road cycling after getting injured so often in longer road run races and found the discipline of duathlon suited me – 10k run, 40k bike, 5k run. I enjoyed being an Age Group GB member and travelled to Spain, Denmark, Germany and Canada as well as many parts of the UK over 6 years, made many friends and achieved Silver at World Level, Gold at Europeans and have been British Champion.
ROLE MODELS
I was competing alongside local legend, Eleanor Robinson, 75, who until recently was a member of Ripley RC but now lives near the Malvern Hills . Eleanor is a former ultramarathon runner and 2 times winner of the IAU 100k World Champs. She was the first woman to run over 150 miles in a 24 hour endurance race and winner of the first Badwater Ultramaratohon in 1987. She is now part of the GB age group team in Half Marathon and has recently competed in Copenhagen.
Last year the World Masters was in Co. Tipperary, Southern Ireland and we scooped Team Gold, when I was alongside fell running legend Wendy Dodds. Wendy is my nemesis and hero. I am currently 2nd to her in the English Fell Running Champs. Although this year there are other LV70s new to the category who could take her crown
So I have had some wonderful women role models who have inspired me.
Last year I completed the 214 Wainwrights in the Lakes. It is the physicality of running/walking strongly up hills and the exhilaration of running down that fires the imagination. Not sure about the phrase ‘being at one with nature’ but it is that freedom which is so inspiring.
It doesn’t always go to plan though. Once with 4 Biggleswade AC members I attempted the 3 Peaks in 12 hour challenge – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden. The same year, The Yorkshire 3 Peaks in 6 hours challenge – Penygent, Whernside and Ingleborough. I got tummy problems on the first challenge after 2 peaks and had to retire although my teammates all completed. On the 2nd challenge I was timed out. So I was known as ‘Jan 2 peaks’ for a while. Unfortunately, I think I have left it too late to right the wrongs, as although I now have the experience, at 71 – not the speed required.
THE RACING LINE
I used to get nervous before races but have been able to harness that mentally into positivity and as long as when the race starts, the body moves as it should, I will do my best to run well, take the racing line and enjoy it.
My husband introduced me to ‘take the racing line’ from his interest in motor racing and it certainly helps. I have done a couple of half marathons at Silverstone and Rockingham Race Tracks and although not really my bag, it certainly emphasises the need to ‘take the racing line’. In fell running you need to keep looking ahead to take the best line depending on terrain, as well as looking down to watch where you put your feet. So it is definitely a mental as well as physical challenge. If you can develop a good downhill technique too and conquer your fears, you can pick up places from the less intrepid runners.
FAVE RACES
My favourite fell runs are in the High Peak but Edale Country Fair Fell Race (4.7k/405m) is brilliant with a bit of everything – scenery, hills, woods, rocks. I also love Chrome Hill FR (6.4k/213m) – the run along the dragon-back limestone reef knoll ridge is not for the faint-hearted. Many Summer fell races have a country fair or sheepdog trials and Longnor Fell Race is a good one with a country fair, harness racing, motocross and a fell race. I also think the camaraderie amongst fell runners is unlike in any other sport as the elite runners are approachable, friendly and ready to give advice whatever your ability.
On our doorstep any of the races Wirksworth RC stage such as Wirksworth Incline FR (6.9k/400m) are well organised, friendly, challenging and fun. For a longer race, The Grindleford Gallop (21 miles) delivers on all levels too. The scenic route is spectacular. Because of the elevation it is more like doing a marathon and being early in the year, the weather can be awful, which adds to the drama.
Jan, Warslow July 23
A bit of navigation knowledge is useful – map and compass. It is all very well to think that the runner ahead knows the way and it is easy to adopt the ‘sheep syndrome’ and follow blindly but, if like me, you can end up near the back and on your own, having an idea of reading the terrain so that you at least know where you are is a bonus. I am still learning but find it to be a valuable skill. In Chapelfell Top FR (7k/400m), Weardale, English FR Champs race this year, the weather was atrocious with no views at all on the moorland tops. If I hadn’t had a compass bearing, I would have had trouble finding my way down. You can learn so much from a map about the terrain as well as history of the area.
So although I am from the flatlands of Bedfordshire, I just love the fells and anyone wishing to try a fell race for the first time my advice is to just go for it.
Jan Forrester, Retired Garden Designer / Garden Tutor
