Ladybower Trail Marathon

A little while back, I did the Kielder 50km race (blog here) and met a bloke called David Riley.  He was just getting into organising some trail races in the Peak District.  Fast forward a bit, and he's putting together the inaugural Ladybower Trail Marathon.

David got in contact and asked me if I'd like to be involved and race in it.  I was pretty excited about it as I love that area of the Peaks, and it was about perfect timing for a last long hard effort before the ever-closer Lakeland 50.

Photo: David Riley

And with views like this, why wouldn't you?

So as race day approached I was in the pretty strange position of wondering how on earth I was going to pace it, as it was (relatively) flat, and I have zero experience with long flat races!  As luck would have it, I noticed team-mate Dan Page sneaked in a late entry.  He's a 2:40 marathoner, and a running coach, so I figured I could get a bit of pacing advice off him before he left me in a cloud of dust.

My nutrition plan was pretty simple.  Mountain Fuel Night Fuel the night before, a bottle of Xtreme Energy before the race, then throw down some water and jelly babies at the checkpoints as I wanted to travel as light as possible.  I had no idea if this was a good idea, but it seemed to work for my 3 hour pickup runs, so worth a shot I thought.

On the drive up, I decided that I would run at about 145-150bpm, which is around 6:30/mile (on the flat!) and just below my threshold HR (155ish) which should leave me in a position to push on if I could later in the race, rather than crash and burn (for once!).

I arrive, park up and get registered.  Everything is wonderfully low key and very friendly, with a really nice atmosphere to it.  I spot Dan, say a quick hello, then spot Tony Holland (of The Ultra Runner Store fame and leader of the Ultra Runner Trail Team) and Shelli Gordon (outstanding long distance trail runner and Ultra Runner team mate) and have a catch up.

Tony showing off his new gels.

Comparing our different Scott shoes

Race start time.  Dan and I head off at the front, and pretty soon trotting along solo.  Have an interesting chat about heart-rate, trying to find out if my strategy is a good one.  Turns out I can't actually run at his heart rate.  My max is 179, his threshold pace is 175.  Not going to try matching that anytime soon!

Our pace, to my surprise, turned out to be near identical.  Both running just 5-10 bpm below threshold, and both similar pace.  I'd pull away on the climbs, he'd pull me back on the flats.  The first CP arrived, I stopped to grab 2 cups of water and 5 jelly babies.  Dan grabbed some water and blasted through.  Luckily there was a short climb after so I could catch him back up.

The race carried on like this until the second checkpoint, about mile 10.  Chatting whist we were running together, but no pressure to run at each others pace.  If we were together, fine.  If he was just in front, fine, he'd come back on a climb.  If I was in front, fine, he'd catch back up on the flat.  Fantastic to be running near someone but with no pressure to match their pace, just to keep on at your own.

Spot the dodgy leg action

Checkpoint 2, I stopped for some water and to grab 5 more jelly babies.  Dan blasted through again, and I spent the next mile or so catching up the 20 metres of distance between us.  I caught him on a climb, then moved a bit in front, putting the biggest gap between us so far.  We reached the bridge on the A57, where the terrain suited Dan and he caught back up.  At half marathon distance now, in 1:27ish.

We start heading back up on the lake.  There's a nice trail, and it's wooded.  There's something about running along wooded paths that just relaxes me and I pull away from Dan a little bit.  All too soon it's over, Checkpoint 3 arrives, with salted nuts!  I grab some water, 7 jelly babies (next CP is 6 miles away!) and suck the salt off a handful of nuts before spitting them back out (steady!).

It's a 400 ft climb from here, in the space of half a mile.  Head down, keep the heart rate steady.  Seems to work ok - I get up the hill alright, Dan just behind me and I can pick up the pace straight away along the top.  There's an amazing view off to the left of the Kinder Plateau, and up towards Snake Pass.  Awesome.  A tiny descent, then another climb of 100ft or so, where we run past a couple of mountain bikers.  One of them is a bit sad about it (What's going on here?  This aint right!  I'll get you on the down!) as I trot by, followed by Dan.  Then my favourite bit - a nice, technical downhill.  I let myself relax, and cruise down the hill.

I got to the bottom of the hill about 30 seconds before the mountain bikers (Ha!) and headed off back around the lake.  I put just under a minute on Dan down there, and tried to capitalise on that by picking up the pace a little.  Which worked well until mile 19, where stitch happened.  I jammed my fist under my ribs (sometimes works), slowed down a little (sometimes works), grunted a lot (never works but it hurt like hell).  Stopped.  Walked.  Saw Dan.  Ran a bit.  Got passed by Dan.  Started up some sort of weird, short-stepped fast shuffle and ran along with him.

Really not a fan of this, and right on the edge of too much pain to run, but I wasn't letting Dan get away!  Thankfully a checkpoint was coming up.  No idea what they were going to be able to do to help, but one was coming all the same.

We arrive at the same time, and they have bottles of water.  Bonus! I grab a drink (stitch immediately relaxes!), 5 jelly babies, a bottle of water and head on out, feeling great that the stitch had gone.  I'm out before Dan too, so he has to push a bit harder on the climb to tag back on.  I encourage him to push on if he wants, as I didn't want to hold hands across the line.  He doesn't.

We get to the top of the lake again, then Dan cramps up in his left calf.  I'm just behind him, so I see his gait go a bit funny.  Well, this could be it! I think to myself, and get a move on out of there.  Even though it's a steady climb, I push up to 153bpm, maintaining 6:40ish pace.  We've got 4 miles to go, it's on!

Focused!

Little did I know that Dan had only slowed a little, and briefly, and a mile later I hear footsteps.  Time to push harder!  And hello, stitch.  I back off a little, and it feels like some sort of weird, slow motion race, I feel like I'm moving through treacle but Dan isn't pulling away.  I start to get hopeful.  I spot the dam just by the finish.  I'm still feeling good, and the stitch eases a little with the adrenaline.

Heading in to the finish, Dan Page just behind!

I push harder, then with about half a mile to go hit the gas.  Feels good.  Nearly there.  Push harder.  Finish should be just around here...although we are still up a little high...  Yes!  The road down to the finish!  Massive adrenaline hit, and a little emotion, and I'm near sprinting, fatigue forgotten.  I cross the line 1st, in 3:03:37, with Dan Page 2nd, 24 seconds later.  3rd place Warren Watts comes in 5 minutes later to round off the men's podium.

First Lady (6th overall) is Elly Woodhead in an impressive 3:31, followed by Katey Foster (8th overall) then Shelli Gordon (9th overall).

Ben Brindley finished 46th, in 4:43 which is pretty epic, as it was his 7th in 7 days.  All Peak District based, all very hilly, and all in aid of Buxton Mountain Rescue (donate here)

A very informal prize giving, and I get the surprisingly heavy (9.3kg!) trophy.

1st and 2nd, Team Mountain Fuel

An awesome end to a really enjoyable run.

Things I learnt from the run.

1)  Running to a set heart rate is pretty cool, and worked really well for me here.  I was about 5bpm under threshold, and it felt nice.

2)  I can run faster than I though I can.  See above.

3)  I need to make sure I drink enough for that I don't get smashed by stitch again.  Or get some sort of really light drink carrier thing,

4) Jelly babies + Mountain Fuel = nice, smooth energy delivery (for me, anyway).

5) TrainAsONE really works.  I've been following it, it's adaptive training plan is brilliant.  (website here)

Stuff I need to change for next time:

1)  Push my pace to threshold from the off.  I felt too good at the end.

2)  I need to take some fluid around with me.  Need to find myself a 500ml bottle carrier thing.  Not in pack or bumbag/belt form though.  Some kind of handheld. Suggestions?

Stuff I wore:

x-bionic The Trick top. Coped with the temperature changes really well.
Tight Shorts.  No chafe :)
x-bionic energiser boxers.  No chafe :)
injinji trail socks.
Scott Kinabalu shoes.  These things are comfy, grippy and just work well.

Thanks to Mountain Fuel for fuelling my run.

Thanks to David Riley for the race entry.

I'm going back next year, such a fantastic event.  Also, need my first sub-3 marathon!

Old County Tops

Ah, the Old County Tops.  The classic paired fell race, taking in Helvellyn, Scafell Pike, and Old Man Coniston, starting and finishing in Great Langdale.  There's 37 miles of it (route choice dependent), and about 10,000 feet of ascent involved.

It's brutal.  It takes no prisoners.  If you go off too fast, you'll hurt all of the way to the end, if you make it.  Too slow, you might not make the cut-offs.  Can't navigate in the clag?  Might end up anywhere (god knows I did!).  Haven't experienced any 1000+ ft descents?  prepare for your quads to go numb...

It is, however, my absolute favourite race, and the race I have completed the most often.  This was to be my 7th, one t-shirt for every day of the week.  And what a t-shirt it is.  The most recognisable in fell running.

This year was to be a departure from the norm for me, as I was having to enlist help from outside my running club (Erewash Valley RC) in the form of Chris Baynham-Hughes.  I've known Chris ever since the Welsh 1000m Peaks race, where we both came off Snowden the wrong way at the end.  I've run a few races with him since then, so I knew we would be able to put up with each other.  Expectations were set at 1) complete the damn thing and 2) get in under 9 hours.  Everything else was irrelevant.

I was using the race to test out how Mountain Fuel would work for me over a long period of time, backed up with checkpoint food and some jelly babies.  Plan was 4 sachets of Xtreme over the course, with refills at Wythburn, Angle Tarn and Cockley Beck.

Briefing

Race morning arrived far too quickly.  Kit check, registration, catching up with the usual suspects and some new.  Race briefing, a final kiss from Mel and the girls (Esmee with her head in her book) and then we were off.

A steady trot along the bridlepath, onto the road briefly then up onto the footpath that goes over Thrang Crag and then down into Grasmere.  Still going nice and steady, not sure what place we were in, but wasn't really too bothered.  We head up Tongue Ghyll to Grisedale Hause still going steady.  Almost go the wrong way around the lake as the clag was down, then head straight up the fence line to The Post.  It's properly raining now, and really windy, although not a head wind as yet.  Some good running along past Dollywaggon, High Crag, Nethermost Pike to The Shelter on Helvellyn.  Numbers registered, then the massive descent down to Wythburn Carpark, and Food Point 1.

We go straight down until the terrain flattens out, then across and down to meet the path on the other side of Comb Ghyll.  Not the best route as others take much faster lines here, by dropping down further before heading across the ghyll.  Down the very slippery steps to Wythburn, for a Mountain Fuel top-up, a jam sandwich and half a cup of tea.

We exit out, and get a trot on along the path  to the road crossing.  We pass a couple of young lads and have a bit of banter.  We will see more of them later...

It gets warm heading up Wyth Burn, so I take my smock off.  It's a Berghaus Vapourlight, love it but it gets a bit sweaty on the inside when it's warm.  About 3 minutes later when we hit The Bog (actual name, very appropriate too!) the temperature drops again, so back on it goes, over my pack this time.  A bit tight, but more convenient.

We trog around The Bog, then take a slightly more Northerly route on the approach to Flour Ghyll, which works well.  Neither of us sank.  It's a hard slog up to Greenup Edge, and CBH hits a bit of a low patch going up.  We regroup, then head straight into the teeth of a ridiculous headwind.  It came accompanied with rain, small droplets that hurt.  A lot.  The run down to Stake Pass was just on the right side of exciting - too much more and it would have been verging on dangerous.

The two young lads pop past us, moving well on the descent.  We hit just above Stake Pass then head up towards Angle Tarn.  We followed the main path this time instead of the slightly more direct route as it was easier running in the horrible weather.  We pop past the lads, then on to Angle Tarn for a supply top up and photo opportunity.

Angle Tarn

Waiting for Chris....

Still waiting...

Chris has a bit of a mare with his CP admin, hands were too cold to open packets.  Entertaining stuff though.  From there, it's the steps of doom up towards Esk Hause.  We catch up to Pup (James Harris), who had broken his partner a bit.  He finished tying his shoelaces then ran up the rest of the steps.  That lad is a machine.

Back in the clag from Esk Hause all the way to Scafell Pike, with me risking injury with every footstep - all broken, wet slabs and me in Salomon Fellraisers.  Comfy, hard wearing and fantastic in every respect.  Except they act as a frictionless surface when confronted with wet rock.

We take the direct route off.  7th time doing the direct route, 7th different route down.  Adds to the excitement.  We pick up the trod easily, and head off down until we get to 3 other pairs scratching their heads when it disappears (including the lads).  Where to go next?  James lets slip that I've done it loads, so I point in a direction I hope is right.  And in all fairness, it's OK.  Only a small bit of climbing, although I do put a small hole in my smock.

It's very steep and grassy down towards Great Moss, and the lads hammer down the hill, then...go in completely the wrong direction.  Too far away to hear us unfortunately, but we have a good laugh.  Chris get out some concoction he made earlier, containing coconut, apricots and some other stuff I can't remember, coated in chocolate.  It's amazing. 

Across Great Moss (should be called Great Bog.  Really.) then pick up the trod taking the direct line to Mosedale.  We meet the lads again, have a bit of a laugh then hit Mosedale.  One of the best bits of running in the race, we let loose a bit and stretch our legs. 

Leg stretching.

We then hit the oasis of calm and food that is Cockley Beck CP.

This place is amazing.  The Cheese and Homemade Pickle sandwiches are amazing.  We get our Mountain Fuel topup, a chow a sandwich, cup of tea and a bit of fruit cake (I have learnt not to gorge myself here, sickness does follow...).  The lads pass us and carry on, going slightly to the left of the normal route...  We exit the CP, the Chris spots a lady called Wynne in a campervan.  He tells me she has Honorary BG Club membership because of her amazing support of so many successful rounds.  She also had Brownies.  I had one.  I think it had more calories in that one piece of cake than I had consumed all week.  It was incredible.

We hit the climb up to Coniston Old Man.  It actually feels easier than it has done before.  I credit the brownie.  We look for the 2 lads, but can't see them.  Clearly, they have smashed the climb and going strong.  We carry on, hitting the fences at the stiles and move upwards strongly.  About halfway up we look back... and see the lads quite a way behind.  Wonder where they have been?

At the top, it's undulating all the way to the checkpoint at COM summit.  We run the flats, the downs, and even some of the gentler ups, and get treated to some amazing scenes through breaks in the cloud over towards Windermere.  We hit the CP, then it's mostly downhill from there.  We get caught by a strong descending pair, both in full waterproofs, by the time we hit the Three Shire Stones CP.  A quick drink, and we hit the road down to Blea Tarn.  We pass by the Waterproof Pair again, and it's getting really warm.  Like really, really warm.  We finish the quad-shredding road descent, then hit the path past Blea Moss and Blea Tarn.  We hit the gas, trying to drop the pair, and spot a new pair.  Not in waterproofs.  2 miles to go, and the race is on.  We keep a good pace going, adrenaline carrying us up most of the climbs, until the drop down towards the campsite.  We take the route over the fields towards Side House, and they close a little on the descent.  

We up the pace.  We're holding them.  We get over the last ladder stile, onto the last short road section then increase pace again, and hold them off to finish in 16th place, in 8:34.

All in all, another fantastic day out.  My favourite race of the year.  If I could only do one, it would be this one.

Stuff which worked:

Montane cap.        Kept the rain from blinding me.

Mountain Fuel.      Interspersed with Jelly babies, was perfect.  Didn't hit any low patches, just a                                         constant supply of energy.

X-Bionic kit          The Trick T-shirt and shorts kept my temperature stable, had less faff with taking                                 off/replacing layers over the race.

Injinji Socks         No between-toe blisters.  Yay!

Thanks to MountainFuel for fuelling my race ( https://www.mountainfuel.co.uk )

The Ultra-Runner shop for kit ( http://ultra-runner.com )

X-Bionic for The Trick top and bottom ( www.x-bionic.co.uk )