Deadwater Run – PREVIEW

Race 1 of the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series is just around the corner.  Runners with an eye on the series titles will look to place well at this opening run.  With around 50 runners taking part it is a prime opportunity to score big points towards the overall series.  Those races with big numbers, like the Winter Wipeout and Duergar Run, will make it harder to pick up points.  These smaller ones are crucial for those playing the long game.

The Deadwater race will be a tough opener.  Running to the top of Deadwater and back in winter is going to get the heart pumping for sure.  So here is a little break down of what you can expect.  Have a look at the course map below.

The little flag at the bottom is the start/finish point for the race.  This is where the registration is and it is the top tier of the castle car park.

The 1, 2, 3 points with yellow backgrounds are where you can expect to find marshals.  These will have radios should you need to use them.

You’ll set out from the car park along the Dukes Trail which pops you out onto the first fire road track to get your body into some kind of rhythm.

At point A on the map you’ll dive into your first bit of mountain bike trail called Ravens Hill.  It’s a neat little section full of twists and turns but nothing too taxing.

Coming out of there you’ll come to a fast down hill on Lightpipes Road (forest track) which then diverts left into Primrose Woods at point B, another sweet bit of track to get your feet through.  As you come out of here you reach your lowest part of the course as you pass by Lightpipes Cottage.

From point C you’ve got one huge drag all the way to the summit of Deadwater so don’t blow that load too early, no matter how excited you get.  It starts as a gradual red forest track that clocks you up to the entrance to 3 Dogs Climb.

Point D is the entrance to 3 Dogs which is a bugger on a bike so I’d imagine it’s going to be just as painful on two legs.  It’s steep early on but it does ease off in the middle before popping out at marshal point 1.  Turning left here you’re on a forest track which is going to seem quite relaxing compared to what you’ve just done.  Between here and marshal point 2 the woods have been felled and the views off over Kielder to your right are pretty special if the clouds are playing the game.

From marshal point 2 up to point E/Deadwater Summit is a reverse of the mountain bike black route.  It’s long and goes up and up and up until you eventually feel the chilly fingers of winter blowing in at the summit.  Don’t hang around though, pop straight over the top and follow the red forest track all the way back down to marshal point 2.  Here you’ll be thrown head first into the Into The Valley trail that takes the short and steep route between marshal points 2 back to 1.  When you get back down to marshal point 1 you touch the forest track before going straight back off road via Jimmys Gate.

Along The Watchtower is a joyous (read painful) bit of track that has punchy climbs and some juicy rock gardens.  Half way along here you’ll be diverted left, point F, and sent up a steep section of trail that that dog legs and then spits you out onto a forest track for pretty much the only bit of flat trail you’ll see all night.

With that nice little rest you’re soon upon marhsal point 3 where they will point you down a track known as Twist and Shout which is an absolute delight as it gently but quickly rolls this way and that and allows you to go as fast as you like.  If you’re in the hunt for a good placing then this is the spot to really make a push.  At the end of here you’ll cross the forest track known as Lightpipes Road and then it’s just a short shimmy through the trees before hitting the finish and getting a well deserved rest.

We can’t wait to see you there and no matter what time it takes you on Saturday or where you finish, big points towards the overall series are going to go against your name and set you up nicely for the rest of the series.

Other races in the series are:

3rd Jan Osprey Run

10th Jan Winter Wipeout

24th Jan Lewis Burn

31st Jan Lonesome Pine

7th Feb Duergar Run

Information on these can be found on the SHADOWLANDS WINTER TRAIL SERIES page.