RACE REPORT BY RACHEL HOWARD – 7th September 2025
Organised by Totley AC this is a category BL Fell race. I recce’d the route back in August and I got lost several times, got swallowed up by 5-foot bracken and the route asked me to jump of a cliff, so it was going to be a challenge!!
The race is self-navigation, run over varied terrain including fields, roads, tracks, woodland, moorland, villages and hamlets. Covering 17 miles (26Km) and 3’500 feet (1’066 metres) climbing. Calling at Totley moor trig, Burbage rocks, Higger Tor, Stanage edge, Millstone edge and back to Totley moor trig.
I quite fancy having a go at the Yorkshire three Peaks fell race but you need to have raced an AL or BL category fell race in the last two years to qualify. This race fits in with my schedule and the distance of this race is the same as the last check point on Y3P, which has a cut off time off 3 hours 40 mins. The exterminator is higher elevation than the last check point on Y3P so I thought, if I could get around the 4 hour mark, I’d feel confident to enter Y3P.
Although the forecast was for rain, it was a beautiful warm start to the day, a tad too warm for racing and lots of runners were changing kit and accessories to suit.
After having our bags checked for the mandatory kit, the race briefing was concluded with 143 runners groaning as it was announced that we would still have to finish with a lap of the cricket field after running 17 miles and climbing 3,500 feet. That’s just pure evil!
A quick 3,2,1 and we were off, I tried to pace myself up the first two hills, just slow & steady to keep a nice rhythm going, pick up pace on the flat and attack the downhills. I would have liked to have had another practice run but I didn’t have time, it took me 5 hours on the one I did recce. I was fairly confident on most of the route but there were two areas that I wasn’t so sure about. First one going up to Higger Tor, I had guided one runner of the rocks the quickest way then he guided me up the Tor, teamwork. He dropped off the pace, saving himself for 9 edges race next weekend. Another 6 miles on was the next confusing section, I had stamped at the check point, so I knew I was safe from disqualification. I just needed to find the best route across the river. I caught up with a green shirt of a Totley club runner and slowed down to follow him, local lad & all that. This is the point my calves started to feel like they would cramp up at any second, so I started to walk a bit and stretch out. He was recovering from injury and starting to feel the fatigue setting in. We walked & talked for a bit until I felt ready to carry on.
3 miles to go the rain was a welcome relief, I was back up on the moor heading towards the last check point at the trig, which could be seen for miles & never seemed to get any closer. The calves felt better but the legs in general were feeling tired, lots of chuntering to myself and knowing it was 1 mile downhill from the trig, push me on. Last stamp collected, steady downhill off the moor, then let the breaks off when I hit the road to the finish.
Great race, stunning views, super friendly competitors and a lovely brew afterwards. I would have been happy with 4 – 4:15 hours but got 3:40 :16, Job done.
