The best way to spend the last Saturday before Christmas and fast becoming something of a tradition. I missed a few when we went skiing for Xmas but have done the course 8 times before, including one shortened route where we turned back at Stu's bridge. It has a special place in my heart as it is where I celebrated my 62@52in52 all those years ago in 2013.
I now see it as a great end to the season and a wonderful catch up with many friends. You never quite know what to expect underfoot or from the weather but that just adds to the fun. This year I found such varied forecasts that I gave up looking and slightly chastened by how cold I got in the Dales a fortnight ago I assumed and packed for the worst.
I drove up on Friday evening on a surprisingly quiet M6 and was there in plenty of time to offer to man the registration table for the evening. Joe had kindly offered me floor pace and is this was only available for volunteers it seemed the right thing to do. It wasn't crazy busy and so allowed me to cook and eat my tea as well as socialise with Colin, Stu, Paul, Rob and Joe. I actually had a pretty poor night's sleep as the voices from the Christmas social catch up kept me awake and then my mat deflated. I was aware of yet more rain in the night and in no time at all it was time to get up.
Having quickly packed all my gear away there was time for a leisurely porridge breakfast and a cup of tea. Last year I set off slightly too early and was put on the naughty step for arriving at Side Farm before 9.30am. I vowed to set off after 7.30 this year. The time passed with chats with Brian Melia and then Mark Sammon. It was warm in the hall but when I ventured out it felt chilly so I kept on my long tights and my bigger cag. By 7.30 I was itching to be off and so joined the short line to get kit checked and pick up my tracker (great that these are not half the size and weight plus even better they can reside in a pocket not be strapped and annoy my collar bone).
It was still dark but you could feel the daylight coming as we climbed up out of the village and onto the moor. There was no real need for a torch although I was extra careful on the boggy trods heading to the cockpit. From here there was enough light to see the trip hazards and I was able to run most of the path to Howtown. It looked like being a nice day and there was little cloud with good views opening up.
I ran a km or so with a young guy and when he said he was staying on the 'high' path to Martindale it seemed like a good opportunity to see which way was quickest. Power walking up the zig zags and having the easy running on tarmac confirmed my way was faster and I did not see him again for ages.
At Martindale I checked my watch anxious not to arrive in Patterdale too early. It would be close but should be OK. Having a staggered start makes it a strange race and every year the entry varies enough for me to never know quite what to expect. Starting fairly early meant I caught a few slow early starters but had no fast runners catching me for many miles yet. The road up Boredale was flooded as it often is but the path to the col no worse than usual. I stopped to take photos and soak in the views. I used to dread the steps down to Side Farm but my VJs have really improved my confidence on wet rock. Heading to the farm I could see CP staff. They assured me that my timing was perfect and that they were just open. I needed nothing yet and so was the first runner to leave and head to Glenridding.
The view along the Lake was beautiful. Another faster runner appeared and I worked on keeping him in sight as we climbed up to the YHA and the mines. Memories of arriving here after a tough night on the Lakes 13 Valleys made me smile. A few faster men now appeared and we were soon at Stu's bridge. Conditions today were much tamer than last year and I was starting to regret my extra layers. The forecast had promised strong and cold winds which there were on the way to Sticks Pass. It felt a real effort here but the others were only just ahead so I plodded on. The start of the descent was very wet and slippery underfoot and it was a relief to get to the steep section.
The path heading south to our CP in Swirls Car Park is not my favourite. I struggle to get into a rhythm and am constantly fearing a trip on the numerous rocks or a slip in the mud. I lost time here and was overtaken by some more fast men. I grabbed food and the CP and left eating as I went towards the forest tracks. They guy I had been with at Howtown appeared now and first Female shot past, closely followed by another two female runners. I admired their ability to power up the track but concentrating on power walking did allow me to reel in two guys. I crossed Raise Beck without mishap- again thanking the super grip on my new shoes. Wearing a pair straight out of the box might not have been wise but the studs on my older pair were quite worn down now and would be tricky on steep wet sections.
The food obviously did the trick because I powered past two guys and was soon saying hello to photographer Father Christmas aka John Bamber. Then it was on up to and around Grisedale Tarn. The grip on my new shoes gave me the option of the rocky track down the valley but I prefer the grassy valley trods and that's the way I opted to go. I had about 3 or 4 slides/skates on water-logged ground but stayed upright and a fall here would at least be a soft landing. I emerged at the bridge and stopped to check the main path- no sign of the others so my way obviously allowed me to move faster. I had even caught two runners that passed me on the forest track.
Being alone and not racing hard meant I had enough energy left to run pretty much every step back to Side Farm. It is mostly flat or downhill and on good tracks or tarmac but I know there have been years when I have had to stop and walk a bit. Arriving at the CP there were about 8 marshalls! I refilled my water and grabbed yet more food before heading back up to Boredale Hause. The only other runner I could see was several hundred metres ahead. Passing the time with mental maths I soon reached the top and was wondering if I could get back inside 8 hours.
Two young men caught me as we descended as did 4th F. She quickly shot off but I was able to use the guys to motivate me to run back to the church. I refilled my water again and set off in pursuit but they were faster once they reached the bridleway. Luckily there were some other slower runners ahead - either they had bailed and turned round part way on the course or were now just struggling to maintain their pace. I picked off two and then concentrated on trying to reach the next as we crossed the moor. It really helped keep me running even though I now realised that I would not get in under 8 hrs. Rory had gifted Bob some magic caffeine bullet sweets. I had one near the cockpit and it seemed to work. I caught the guy and then left him as I ran non stop all the way to the finish. I was tired but much less trashed than in some years.
Happy to sit with cups of tea, soup, bread and cake I didn't even feel the need to dash off and change. Colin and Rob were good company and I watched to scrolling results board slowly change as mor runners finished. 8hrs 10 for me was not a PB and I didn't break the 8hrs but it was my 3rd best time and was almost 50 minutes faster than last year. I was 10th F , 4th FV40 and 1st FV 50 or 60. The winner Kris Jones had a superb run in 4hrs 57 and 1st F was 6hrs 52
After an hour or so I was ready to change my socks and shoes, say my good byes and begin my journey home. It went well until almost Lancaster when a car crashed just ahead of me and shut the motorway. We sat for over an hour but I had a video call with Bob and tried to chill checking on the dots of running friends. By now I was thirsty but also needed a wee. I was still home by 7pm. Another good day out and it took my tally of race ultras to 177 and almost 10,000km (not including 100 miler birthday runs etc).
