Middle Pack

Now this was a race I was all ready for! Hyped up for the start of this. I had recced bits of it that I needed to. I knew shortcuts and I knew that the distance wasn’t going to kill me. It may hurt a lot but I was going to be okay.

I went up with a club mate Eirik Stanges to run the race. His first lakes race and my 2nd attempt at the race. The first attempt being in my first year fell running and the course was cut short at Esk Hause and missed out Scafell Pike.

With Wasdale fresh in my mind and the effort that race took, meant I started this race slowly. A plan to go easy to Great Gable then see how I felt. I probably started a bit too slowly and got caught up in early queues as the race funnels down some narrow paths and through gates.  As soon as we hit Bessyboot then the race actually seems to start. Eirik and myself were soon up the first checkpoint and running on the tops. A mix between small trods and big bogs all the way to Esk Hause. Soon passing Iain Charters on this section. I briefly lost sight of Eirik as I needed to get rid of the beer still sloshing round my system from the night before, but with that done I could concentrate on this running lark. He was no more than 50m ahead at Esk Hause but as that was uphill it was probably a good couple of minutes but I knew this was easily pulled back whenever I needed.

The route up to Scafell Pike felt great. My only other times I have raced this mountain was in Wasdale, right at the end of the race so it was a novel experience for me not to be rasping and staggering by this point. Unsure of the good descent route I resorted to following someone I knew. He took us down through the crags off the summit to a lovely scree run. The fastest descent I have ever seen off a mountain!

Down the next section was treacherous. I fell a few times on wet rock during this section. It was really rough ground but often grassy sections on the sides to try and negotiate. The corridor route is a tough section as it is one where you should be going fast but the terrain is against you all the way.

On the slopes of Great Gable was Joss Naylor, handing out encouragement as you went past him on the hill. This was where I was meant to start picking up the pace. So out came the sweets, gels and drinks and I refueled early on the ascent then just got my head down and got stuck into the hill, making up at least half a dozen places on the ascent. I was also now right behind Eirik.

With the clag thick at the top, I decided not to try and find my sneaky route off Gable. The idea of trying to find a small trod on a steep mountainside across wet rocks just wasn’t kicking it with me. So off down the rocky scramble I went. A path you couldn’t miss and I was soon down to Windy Gap.  Here there was a group of people looking at each other  wondering who knows the way from here. Knowing this section well I tried to get up and over the hill and round Green Gable and away in the clag before anyone else could keep up. Unfortunately they all managed as the clag thinned, to find a train of people following. Eirik close behind with the rest at various distances behind. I pushed hard during this as I knew that with only Dale Head to go I was on the way home.

At Honister I had managed to lose Eirik and I set off up Dale Head. Promptly fell over in front of the gathered spectators and quickly on my feet before anyone with a camera appeared. Ego bruised but that was all, off I went. My hill legs were strong today as I overtook at least another half dozen by the top, but still left some people in front of me to show the best line off Dale Head (I am still not convinced it was the best line). The descent through the slate workings was surprisingly dry and uneventful and I even managed to save a little bit for the last half a kilometre where I picked up another 4 places on the flat farm track.

Winner: Rob Jebb in 2:51:54

My result was 4:06:42 in 95th place. 301 finishers in the race.

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