Lakeland 50

Ages waiting for a spell check so I'll just stick it up




So to the race, it was never so much a race in my mind it was always about getting through and trying to do it in a timely manor. I also wanted to beat Rene's time, I hoped to get round in about 12-13 hours and survive.

We took the ferry over on the Wednesday, James Eve and I the modern family as Jame's mum put it! The crossing went well and Eve slept all the way down so it was a good journey all in.

On the Friday Dad, James and I headed off to John Ruskin school in Coniston to register for the big day. As we walked in the place was buzzing with nervous excitement. I was quiet nervous and we walked up to the desk. it turns out we had missed the massive blackboard sized sign which pointed us towards getting weighed. It broke the tension and the rest of registration and kit check went as normal. I met up with Mark Barnes who was showing his wears with his new venture, he seemed happy to be living the dream and it was great to see a friendly face. We attached the dibber's set up the tent in case James kicked my arse and went off to Wilfs to get some lunch.

Saturday was weird Dad dropped us off and even though we didn't start until 12 we were up early to be ready to get the bus to Dalmaine. It meant that breakfast was still early and we would have to snack rather than have a bigger feed. Knowing that the journey was over an hour I tried to get some sleep this time.

We had met up with Sacha,Vince and a friend of theirs Emlyn, Sacha didn't seem so well but we put it down to nervousness. Especially when he said he was going for 10 hours!!

Off the bus and we milled around waiting to start, It wouldn't come quick enough I just wanted to get going, it was savage watching the 100 runners arrive in at the 55 mile mark still standing and smiling. The count down started and we were off for the 4 mile lap of the estate before winding are way to Howtown. Th start was a brisk as expected and we made are way out on to the fells. we quickly fell into line with the lads who where ripping along. I was worried already as my training had been light due to my foot. We seemed to be just a bit above my comfort zone but hey it's all new.

We tore into Howtown with the lads demanding a quick turnaround. I just manged to fill my water and the guys were off. i forced down some flapjack as I ran. we turned off the road and Sacha dropped back it turns out he had a bad stomach ache and was going to walk it as he was hoping for the UTMB points. Vince and Emlyn carried on at pace and I was relived when James pace eased. We started up the first good climb of the route up Fusedale. 13 miles in and I had my first Dark  moment. James was easing away from me on the climbs I felt I was struggling to keep up and we were only 13 miles in. I spent far to long pondering these thoughts, it was only as we pulled over the top and I caught him up they disappeared. I did a systems check. foot fine, breathing fine, legs fine I was a bit thirsty so took some sips of water. We also caught up with Vince this heartened me it turns out Emlyn had gone off all guns blazing( eventual 9:30 finish!!) We Jogged and chatted along Haweswater reservoir and over to Mardale and mile 20. Vince again checked in then quickly out saying James and I would catch him on the hill. I had some soup and filled my water bottle. I ate some more flapjack as i walked which was a mistake as it was too gooey and I found it hard to get it down. James powered off up the hill and I again couldn't figure out where i was going to get the strength. I started chatting to another runner who caught me up here. I sped up to stay with him and although the chat was irrelevant it helped take my mind off the task at hand. Just get to Kentmere and we can take it from there! As we came over the top I started pushing to catch up with James and Vince, I also took some time to identify the negative thoughts and what I could do to combat them. I thought about the amazing countryside Ann and eve and all the sacrifices we had made so I could be lucky enough to be in this position. As we dropped down towards Kentmere I met another familiar face. Nick Cox who I worked with at the climbers shop was powering along. I met him as we went over the style. Vince was convinced we went left and Nick said over. I went with Vince and James and it added a nice view of the valley but was wrong. I pointed it out when I could see we were running away from the valley. Ah well live and learn, it was only a 5-6 minute  detour!

We pulled into the fabled Kentmere, we had heard story's of runners getting overly comfortable here with smoothies and massage tables! I  had a bowl of the rice pudding and a smoothie, again Vince was up and out and I was starting to feel a lot stronger. I had hit the half way point next stop was Ambleside, my foot wasn't to sore so I pressed on. We pretty much stayed together as we marched up Garburn Pass I was working hard to stay with the lads so I could enjoy the down hill. This was the last major climb before the end, it was the one everyone talks about. We got over the top and I pressed on James and Vince slowed a bit so I paused every now and then to keep together. They both kept saying to go on and I was enjoying the down hill so I just carried on. I paused again when I hadn't seen anyone for a while I expected the lads to be shortly behind but 2 other guys came past looking strong. I thought to hell with it and tucked in behind them. Adam and Kristof the guys were moving along at a good clip I had to up my effort but after a few minuets it felt natural. It was great chatting to the guys, Adam had done most of his training on a bridge in Holland and was off like a shot every time we hit Tarmac, Kristof was very strong on the hills and managed the pace well on the flats. I remembered the path through the woods in to Ambleside and again it was a fun bit of trail running. I struggled on the tarmac and worked hard to get in to the lakes runner. A bit of soup and a salt sachet in some coke and we were off.

I delayed a little as I preferred the company of running with the guys, they caught me as I headed through the park. We missed the sharp left and it was nearly a Km before Adam noticed his GPS was telling us we were off pace, We backed tracked and had lost a couple of places but no great problem. We had 16 miles and 2 checkpoint to go. The next section is quite flat and it was hard to keep pushing. I was pleased to be running with the guys and we seemed to have a natural rhythm of taking it in turns to keep momentum. Running through the campsite there were some great smells of people's dinners cooking on the stove and lots of people cheering us. We got to Chaplestile and had some food the guys changed into long sleeved tops, I thought about it but carried on as I was. From here on in we just chipped away at it, we ran the flats and the down hill's and waled the up hill. I would have been slightly more lax with what i described as up hill but keeping with the guys kept me chugging along. We got into Tiberthwaite and we just needed to pull on are head torches. we only paused here and set off. Adam had run the last section on the Friday so was happy enough with what we had left. we came to a fork in the path and we weren't sure where to go. I pulled back and chatted to a guy behind and the lads powered on. I came over the top and my quads screamed for mercy. I started to walk the downhill but it hurt as much to walk as it did to run so I figured fuck it, ill just run! I hit the road and was overjoyed the little uphill past the garage hurt like hell but I didn't walk. I pulled into the school and was congratulated by the people who had stayed out at 11 at night. Adam and Kristof had waited to congratulate me before we went it. we are lead into the building and announced as finishers and everyone cheered.


I collected my medal and sat down, it was here I had my first real moment. I couldn't believe it I had done what I had set out to do in 10hours 53 in 64th place. 2 hours quicker than I had hoped for. I rang Ann and then James came in it was great that he was so close behind. It was a fantastic day and so many highs and lows.


So next year I thought id double it!