Darren Waters, Jo Lutner and Mandy Purves from Newport & District Running Club took on the Gritstone Grind last weekend, a 35-mile trail race with 5,600 feet of ascent. Darren was kind enough to send us this report:
Starting from Kidsgrove, the route begins with a flat canal section before a climb up to Mow Cop castle for great views over Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire. Next, it descends gently to Timbersbrook before a short, sharp climb up The Cloud, from the top of which you can survey a good 10 miles of the upcoming course.
After the nice descent and run alongside the River Dane, there is a gentle climb up to Wincle Minn, and then over the road to the huge transmitter station at Croker Hill to enjoy panoramic views over Cheshire.
Descending from Croker Hill, and over fields, the route heads to the outskirts of Macclesfield Forest and Langley before a short, sharp climb up everyone’s favourite named hill “Tegg’s Nose”. Quads now burning from the climb, the route then goes onwards North to Rainow, with a cambered ascent up to The White Nancy at Kerridge Hill, and then down to the outskirts of Bollington before the final ascent of the day, the long but steady climb to the summit of Sponds Hill.
The Gritstone Trail then splits into a welcome descent all the way into Lyme Country Park and stately home (Mr Darcy’s house in the Pride and Prejudice BBC adaptation, but no Colin Firth climbing out of the lake today). There is then a final two mile descent into Disley and the finish.
Darren finished first for NDRC, 36th overall and 4th in age category with a time of 7 hours, 16 minutes, 9 seconds, followed by Mandy, 58th overall and 2nd in her age category with a time of 7:42:58, and then Jo who finished 121st overall and 8th in her age category with a time of 9:32:01.
A hot and humid day, and a surprisingly lumpy course, made for a tough but enjoyable day out, as did the beer bus at the end.
Newport & District Running Club 