My last long race was the Scafell Trail Marathon, which went well, and with a few long steady runs under my belt I was feeling pretty good about the race. I had scanned the entry list (as I do) and noted that, amongst others, Marcus Scotney and Ben Abdelnoor were going to be racing. Matt Wilson was also running well, Phil Hayes who has completed nearly as many times as me, Sally Fawcett, Debbie Martin-Consani, James Haworth (beat me at the Highland Fling) and Jayson Cavill (yay team-mate) so I was planning for a top 10 finish somewhere.
I was also part of a new Trail Team - the Ultra-Runner.com Trail Team, having taken a step back from the TORQ Performance Trail Team. Although I still remain #TORQfuelled, I now have the opportunity to work with X-Bionic, Ultimate Direction and Injinji, which is pretty exciting!
The drive up on the Friday was a bit slow, but uneventful. We arrived in plenty of time to get settled into the hotel, and wander down to the event center to catch up with everyone. A quick chat with a few mates who were partaking in the 100 - Kevin and Chris Perry, Dave Troman, Janson Heath - then it was off to the Endurance Store to get myself some shoes to run in. After a chat with Richard Bardon (who was supposed to be racing, but had completed an Ironman the weekend before - as if that was some kind of excuse) he convinced me to have a go on a pair of Hoka Mafate Speed 3's. Turns out they were the same colour as my shorts and pack, as I was to find out later!
The start of the Lakeland 100 was its usual awesome affair, with some opera to start, then a protracted wave of runners, enthusiastic sprinters (led out by the irrepressible Ken Sutor) all the way back to the walkers at the back. Always an awesome spectacle. The it was back to get a spot at the front of the crowd for the Lakeland 1. I was running with Esmee (5) this year, and Mel was with Josie (3). Mr Fox was his usual entertaining self, doing his dance routine which Esmee had practised, and had near perfect. They started, then the girls did really well, both running the whole distance, Esmee doing around 10 minutes, Josie doing sub-12! Took a selfie with Esmee whilst waiting for the other 2 to finish...I'll talk more on that later.
Then back to the hotel, girls to bed, down to register where everything went as smoothly as it always does - the organisation is fantastic, then back to the hotel to try and get some sleep!
Race Day
After a couple of hour sleep, it was off to the event center for some toast, coffee and the pre-race talk which was as inspiring and hilarious as usual. Packed on to one of the many buses, then off to Dalemain Estate for the start. An uneventful journey, chatted lots to the guy next to me who was a first timer. Arrived at the estate, and caught up with lots of friends who I was going to be racing with over the course of the day. The wait was slightly less than normal as the start time had been changed to 11:30am, which was fantastic as the wait is the worst part! Finally time to get scanned in to the waiting pen, had a quick chat with Marcus Scotney (who had forgotten his heart rate monitor!) and Ben Abdelnoor who were both looking fit and well (there goes first and 2nd)! I also spotted Ben Hamilton, who had beaten me on the Kielder 50k - top 10 was starting to look shaky!
Photo - Jen Regan
Start!
James Harris (legend!) and Martin Gardiner sprinted off at the start, and led the field out James hilariously dressed in tutu, patchwork-looking vest and bow-tie.
Photo - Jen Regan
The 4 mile loop was the same as always, the fast starters coming back slowly, Marcus Scotney shooting off into the distance followed closely by Jayson Cavill, then Ben Abdelnoor with Phil Hayes chasing him down. I formed a "chasing pack" with Micheal Irving, Stephen Weston and Anthony Bethell. We essentially ran together until Checkpoint 1, Howtown, which we made in 1:21 ish. Quick water refill, and off again.
Fusedale. Everyone's least favourite part of the course. My plan was, get to the top still feeling good. Which I did. Anthony absolutely smashed the climb, put minutes on me, and everyone else close pulled away as well. Howard Seal caught me half-way at the stream, refilling, and Sally Fawcett caught me near the top. We exchanged a few words, then it was the descent to Haweswater. I let my legs go and set about catching the people on front. Then Paul Grundy shot past. ANother one to reclaim.
A bit of route confusion by Stephen and Paul, and I nipped in front of them for the run along Haweswater. After a couple of bad experiences along here, I have learnt to love this section. Nice, technical running and if you can keep a good even pace, time can be made. Well, it can if you don't fall over! Just about to re-take Paul and I switch off long enough for my toe to catch on something, and land on my side. Sore knee, elbow, and shoulder. (the shoulder bruise took a few days to come through, but it's a beauty!)
Up and running again, soreness fades quickly and I'm soon chasing Paul down again - and also Anthony B seems to be coming back towards me as well. Paul and I dib into Mardale Head at about the same time, I'm in and out faster though. I catch up to Anthony fairly quickly, and he looks not quite as chipper as he did. As the climb up to Gatesgarth Pass progresses, Ant slowly falls behind so he must have been suffering to be dropped by me up a hill! Near the top Paul caught me again, and we trotted down towards Sadgill Farm together before he changed gear and disappeared down the hill. I ran solo from here to Kentmere CP, the home of the famous fruit smoothies.
Mine didn't taste that nice as this time I put a sachet of salt in - things were getting a little crampy. Out the door and then off up to Garburn Pass. Near the top I was again caught by Sally, who was looking as strong as ever. Up over the top, there was Howard Seal on the side of the track, with legs in spasm. He waved us on when we asked if he needed anything, and it was a nice trot down to Troutbeck, with Sally dropping off on the downhill. Some news at the bottom - Marcus had dropped from the race - bonus, 1 place closer to the front! I had a quick count though and figured I was in 5th at this point with Jayson, Ben, Phil and Paul in front. I had also discovered that I had done something to my back/ribs/diaphragm at this point, and breathing wasn't as pain-free as it should have been.
And look, there's Phil, asking me which way to go. 4th! Me, Phil and Sally ran as a 3 through Skelghyll Woods, then myself and Phil pulled away a little before the Ambleside CP.
My girls were waiting for me with the news that 3rd was only a couple of minutes ahead and didn't know where he was going. I stopped in for a bottle refill and some salted coke. Phil shot straight through, which I thought was adventurous - he was either confident or concerned.
Apparently there were clowns at Ambleside. I really don't recall (Sorry Charlie S). I've got a vague idea Little Dave was there too.
Bouyed by seeing my girls, and the knowledge that 3rd wasn't far off, I set off looking forward to the climb up and over Loughrigg Fell towards Skelwith Bridge. I overtook 8 or so mountain bikers up the hill (hilarious), saw Charlie Sharpe at the bottom (high-five) then caught Phil and Paul on the road section down to Skelwith. Boom, 3rd! There's a lovely run along the side of Elter Water where I upped the pace a bit - as much as my breathing would allow - Paul fell off, but Phil was still just behind. Saw Mel and Girls (they had been practising the Haka to spur me on - this was forgotten as soon as they saw me!) and Ez ran off to open the gate, Mel tells me Ben had dropped (gutted for him, delighted I was now in 2nd). Pressure on! Into Chapel Stile CP, refill, coke, out.
And Phil was still just behind me. All the way along Langdale Valley, breathing hurting, Phil 2 paces behind. If I wasn't sure that he was hurting worse and just trying to hold on, I'm pretty sure this would have messed with my head a little! Climb up to Blea Tarn, then a brilliant run across to Wrynose Road. I love the technical running along that section, and I pushed it a little which I think was the final nail in Phil's coffin - didn't see him again after the unmanned dib-point.
I did however see Paul Grundy. Right. Behind. Me. I'd had someone shadowing me ever since Troutbeck so I was used to it now, and I figured he'd be pretty tired from having to catch me, so I put a bit of a plan together - stay in front until the descent into Coniston, hopefully he would continue his theme of smashing the descents, and I could re-take him on the road. Ambitious, flawed, but it was all I had. The climb up over Knotts went well (I popped some Ibuprofen - should have done that a lot earlier) and managed to stay in front on the descent, pushing into the hurt a little. A strong run into the CP, bottle refill, coke, watermelon (the best thing I had tasted ALL DAY!) then out before Paul with a handful of grapes. Push up the side of the hill, right on the edge of cramp.
Paul drops back, little by little - great, if I can keep this up he might not catch me on the descent! On to the flat bit before Crooks Beck, why hello cramp! Stop, quick stretch, walk, jog again then limit effort. Can't push hard enough to increase distance, but still in front. Far enough? Don't know. Reach top of climb, descend - last year I pushed so hard on the descent my legs seized up on the road. That wasn't happening again this year. Still down fast, but not reckless fast like last year.
Cue one Paul Grundy, sped past at the bottom of the technical section, and put about 20m on me. We get onto the road, time to get a move on. Paul's gait is looking a bit off - his left calf was cramping, so it was time to put the hammer down. All the pain of Track-Day Tuesday came to fruition and I laid down a 6 minute last 0.7 of a mile, holding off Paul to take 2nd in 8:28.
A week later it still hasn't sunk in.
Always an amazing reception when you cross the finish line, especially with my family waiting for me. I went inside and assumed my normal position:
My kit was re-checked (it passed) and I sat down and chatted with Paul, the girls, marshals and everyone else that came in after, whilst waiting for my stomach to settle down enough for more than a cup of tea (it didn't).
Sally Fawcett came in 4th, just outside the course record and first lady, Ant Bethell recovered from a fairly protracted bad patch to snag 9th, Debbie Martin-Consani rounded out the top 10 and was 2nd lady. Matt Wilson was 11th, Phil Hayes 13th.
I didn't get much sleep (never do post-race), but a midnight snack settled my tummy down. The cooked breakfast the next morning helped as well! We got down to the presentation early, so we could see the last of the #lakelandlegends come through, the guys who stick it out right up until the cut-off are so inspiring!
The presentation started off with a collection of all of the selfies that had a #lakelandlegends or #liveinthemoment hashtag, and me and Esmee were up on the first slide, it was pretty cool! The prizes were all handed out in due course (even the women's ones...Marc!), and the girls came up on stage with me:
Photo - Tony Holland
They were pretty excited about that. It was also pretty awesome that the Ultra-Trail.com Trail Team managed a 1-2 as well, with Jayson smashing out 1st place with an awesome 8:04. I received a glass trophy plaque thing, and a 5L Montane Pack (which, Mel tells me, brings me to a total of 8 packs).
As ever, a massive thanks to Marc, Terry and the crew of marshals, volunteers and supporters without whom this race would be nowhere near as awesome as it is. Also a massive thanks to Mel, Esmee and Josie for putting up with each other while I'm out training, and providing massive support to me in my racing.
Things that worked for me:
Getting to the top of Fusedale in one piece. Felt a whole lot better about everything after that.
1x TORQ gel every half hour. Good, solid, energy.
The Hokas -for me, they are perfect for this course, they take the sting out of the long descents from Gatesgarth and Garburn.
X-Bionic The Trick shorts and t-shirt - kept me a good temperature, and chafe-free.
Injinji socks - I get blisters between my toes on long distance events without these.
Ultimate Direction AK vest - just big enough for everything now I have upgraded my waterproof to a Berghaus Vapourlight Hyper Smock.
Salt in my coke later in the race. Perks me up a treat. Tastes a bit grim though.
Things that didn't
Falling over. I need to not do that.
Taking it easy on the first bit. Contradictory, maybe, but if I pushed harder over the first section I may have been closer to Jayson - but that relies on me not crashing and burning , which happened to a couple of front-runners.
SO, next year, plan is: Don't fall over, run faster. Simple enough.
Thanks to all of my sponsors:
X-Bionic
Ultimate Direction
Injinji
Thnkas to TORQ for keeping me as a #TORQfuelled athlete
Thanks to the Ultra-Runner.com Trail Team - you guys are awesome.
Next race is the Dig Deep Intro Ultra - little sister of the Ultra Tour of the Peak District where I was 2nd last year, should still be a cracking race!
