Add six dales trail race report 2025

Author: Sparrow0hawk

content/blog/2025-08-16-six-dales-trail.md

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+Title: Six Dales Trail 50k race report
+Date: 2025-08-16
+
+This post is more of a reflection that a day-after race report, but with the benefit of a month or so since the race I'm
+still very pleased with how it all went and to have finished my first 50k.
+
+Since moving up to Otley I've spent a reasonable amount of time along the Six dales trail. I've found the sections I love,
+like the path along the River Washburn from Blubberhouses up to Thruscross Dam and the stretch down past Dob park farm. 
+I also knew the stretches I liked less, running around Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs and the climb back up from Padside
+green. In all my recce-ing I still hadn't quite run the entirety of the route but the majority of the race journey would 
+be familiar to me and I could ride the highs with the lows and enjoy what is a wonderful trail. 
+
+When engaging in any sporting endeavour I always want to do well, and as someone who fenced competitively for a long part 
+of my youth I've always defined success by your final position. When I started doing some road races again I defined my
+success around my time and trying to go faster. I still find it hard to shake that mentality but have come to accept through
+working with a coach and doing races like Eryri that success can be many things. I can't deny thinking about where I'd like
+to finish in this race but I knew that my primary goal was just to finish. I also tried to be intentional about viewing 
+this race not as a competition against others but a race against the course and crucially myself.
+
+My biggest concern heading into the race was the day being hot. I had enjoyed plenty of long runs along the route but found
+that on hot, sunny days I really struggled. Thankfully, the day of the race was cloudy and cool so my fears regarding 
+temperature didn't materialise. We started off nice and early and in my usual fashion I started a little bit too quick,
+the route quickly starts to climb through Newall and cuts a 7% climb through cow fields to Clifton. I've spent quite a 
+bit of time running this section, which starts on pretty runnable cow fields, up a steepish climb through a tunnel of trees
+before giving way to a farm track up to Clifton village itself. I was probably a bit keen here and ran sections I should
+have walked, given there was about 45k to go, conserving energy early would have been a better idea. Just as I reached Clifton
+village the farmer was preparing to move his cows from the sheds down to the fields, which we'd been warned may happen by the race director.
+I was just ahead of the cows so managed to not get stuck but a significant number of runners were halted whilst this went on. 
+Out of Clifton the next section crosses the road and over a bump of a sheep field, before crossing a small brook and 
+following the fenceline of more fields. After a turn, a gentle climb and a sharp downhill you're at Crag farm. From
+here you pass through various gates climbing back up to a track on the top of the hill amongst the sheep and cows. You get a
+great view out across to Lindley and the woods by the reservoir before teeing back up to the road which is a zooming descent
+past Dob park farm until you reach the old bridge. I got myself into a comfortable pace for this section, remembering to 
+eat and drink, pushing it a bit on the Dob park descent and finally reaching a section I enjoy that leads to the reservoirs.
+Along this stretch I was able to provide some navigation advice as a few people got turned around, this isn't surprising as
+there's a meeting of footpaths in Ellers wood that has had me turned around a few times. Further on there's a steep hill climb
+so into hike mode and gate hopping past Nether Timble farm (repairs still ongoing). I get to the Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs
+and yeah, don't really enjoy it but know at Blubberhouses the first checkpoint will offer some respite. At the aid station
+I top up my water and start a packet of hula-hoops (my salty treat) and get to enjoy the next stretch along the Washburn 
+to the Thruscross dam. 
+
+I climb up to the top of the dam and there's a few people waiting for racers, I get some high-fives because I know there's a
+really niggly road climb approaching and things are getting a bit tired. Down over lumpy bumpy fields past Padside green
+and more lumpy bumpy fields to the turnaround check point. Something about this terrain really takes it out of me and I 
+mix running with some walking. At the aid station I make up a new SuperCarbs flask and eat some orange and melon and when
+I'm ready head back out. I'm definitely tired by this stage and whilst it's not a full-blown bonk I slow things down,
+run-walk back through the fields, particularly because I know there's the climb back up to the water tower near Thruscross
+which is not my favourite. As I come down the road to the dam I really start to feel it and have to drop to a walk, bonk-time,
+I try and just reset, eat something, walk a bit, enjoy the scenery. Once I come down from the dam I'm on one of my preferred
+stretches and try and run-walk, knowing the aid station at Blubberhouses is close. I top up my water at the aid station 
+and crack on with the slog back round Swinsty and Fewston, this really is a slog and lots of run-walking. My stomach feels
+bloated and I'm struggling to really eat a lot. I focus on walking it off, knowing that this sensation will pass and soon
+I'll be off the reservoir paths and back on the nicer trails. My energy and rhythm doesn't really come back for a long stretch
+until near Dob park bridge when I spot some runners from the 25K race making their way back.
+Seeing them still going gives me a boost and I trot along briefly with them before starting the long climb back up Dob park 
+road. At 42km in this was always going to be a hike but things were feeling a lot better at this point and I was comfortably
+able to climb and once at the top get back into a light run. 
+
+As the route diverged again from the road I reach the final aid station. I get a refill of water and try some orange squash
+as I'm out of my liquid calories. I find the orange squash is **STRONG** as I set out and I'm not going to have a lot
+of it. But this final 7/8km is a stretch I know well, steady down to Crag farm, short sharp uphill past the small wood but 
+once at the top the view opens out and looks back across the Wharfe valley and you can see home. Once I hit Clifton my
+energy is coming back and I start to feel comfortable running. There are stages where I feel like I'm flying down and 
+once in Newall I catch back up with another runner. We stick together for the final kilometre or so and I say that I'm not
+interested in a sprint finish. We cross the temporary footbridge over the Wharfe and cruise to the finish on Cattle Market
+street. I feel remarkable good at the finish and joke that I maybe could have gone on a bit longer, but a friend makes me
+a cup of tea which tastes absolutely delicious and I'm happy to call that a day.