L100

 It would be my second go at this event and I really enjoyed the first. I was though anxious as repeat events had not gone well at the NT. The weather forecast looked OKish and then we were away with no signal, as we paddle boarded on Coniston and then camped up in Broughton Forest, and so spared to constant checking and changes. We had been busy with cycle rides, SUP and climbing but not as much running as perhaps there should have been. Still P39 was quite recent and that went OK. 

Tracker picture

The 6pm start is never easy with far too much time to chill or faff. I taped my feet and pondered on shoe choices. Registration took up a bit of time as did chatting with friends. 

Nervous before the start

I opted for a calm and steady start; it's not like I am going to win! I saw Jess and Maria dash off and Emma was already well out of sight. 

Feeling small

Walna Scar Road came and went with no issues. The descent to Eskdale is not great and it was good to chat to Anna and hear that it gives her nightmares too. Matt N came past around here and steadily pulled away. 

The lane up out of Coniston

By the CP at Boot I was very pleased to find they had savoury options and not just the cakes and sweets of the first CP. It was a long haul to Wasdale but with lots of company. With no moon and overcast skies I needed to use the head torch earlier than last year. I lost a few places but felt OK and less sick than last year. On the next big climbs I met Jodie from Cornwall and it was good to chat and motivate each other before she pulled away on the long drop to Buttermere.

Outdoor CP at Buttermere

 Here I stopped long enough for hot dog and chocolate milk. My pace was slightly slower than last year but I was able to eat and the only issue was pain from the issue in my right foot.

Early on

I ended up totally alone in Newlands and as it was wet decided not to check the route on my phone. Somehow I ended up on a lower path and did a bit of bracken bashing to regain a higher trod. Here I picked up others and was able to stick fairly close to them all the way to Braithwaite. This is a nice indoor CP and worth stopping for a decent feed- yogurt, custard, fruit and more. I set off power walking towards Latrigg. A few overtook me but I stuck to my pace and nursed my now very sore foot. It's a long loop to the virtual CP and was drizzling but still warm in just a T shirt. The Blencathra Centre was rocking with Trawden's School of Rock and it was good to see friends there. It was almost light now and so felt very similar to last year.

Looking up to the Coach Road and Clough Head it looked grim so I stopped to put my cag on. I did most of the gnarly track alone and my foot was on fire.  

Fire pit at Dockray

It was a relief to get to Dockray CP which is manned by Hardmoors friends- Jon, Shirley, Jo and more. 

It was still raining despite what my forecast had said, although on the plus side there no midges this year! Chat, sympathy, a cup of tea and cheese set me up for the next section. 

Beware the chair but my foot did need the rest

It's a long way so I break it down into bits. All the way to Aira and around Gowbarrow my foot was definitely slowing me and it was a relief to get softer grounds in the woods and fields. Even tarmac was some relief and I made up some lost time as I looked forward to a shoe change and hopefully a happier foot at Dalemain where our drop bags waited.

I spent almost 40 minutes here but it was time well spent. I dried my feet enough that I could even re-tape them, changed my socks and shoes (only to find I had forgotten to stick on the velcro tabs for my gaiters) and had chats with marshalls and friends. I managed two plates full of stew plus bread. I restocked my food and MF powder but had only eaten some crisps and a couple of bars. Leaving the tent I found I had seized up and it must have looked pitiful as I set off towards Pooley Bridge. I felt a real fraud as people cheered. Others were having a worse time and both Ashkok and Marco were very sick and struggling to eat at all. As we headed up to Askham Common I met up with two southerners and was able to show them the way. By Howtown my sore foot was improving and I fuelled on fruit and even some coke. In Fusedale I was alone until near the top and there was lovely soft ground. The run along the top ridge there is one of my favourite  of the race although this year it was much wetter and my feet got soaked. The drop through the bracken as greasy and nasty- apparently a runner fell and dislocated a shoulder. I picked my way cautiously and still had two tumbles. The lead runners on the L50 came flying through and seemed to be having no problems at all, they must have special shoes :)

It always seems to take forever to make progress along Haweswater and even then when you think you are at the end there is a loop around to the CP. The rain was now a bit grim but the CP staff were cheerful and offered me some amazing flapjack. The climb up to the top of Gatesgarth was the worst weather of the race so it was a slow and steady climb. For me it was a slow and steady descent too- we were due to go on holiday and I didn't want a bad fall. I missed a turn on the way into Kentmere and had to double back... annoying but not too serious. Here we got the usual warm welcome plus smoothies. The slog up Garburn was wet but it was entertaining watching a jeep drive down- he expected us to all get out of his way naturally. The last descent to the road at Troutbeck felt greasy but I was lifted as I passed another female runner and now had the company of many L50 folk. 

Ambleside was wet and so I didn't want to stop. I grabbed banana and crisps before heading straight off. I felt I was going very slowly now and bizarrely even thought about phoning Bob to apologise for the late night he would have! I should have eaten my mint cake and Bounty bar but you don't think well once you are tired. Before long I was in Langdale. I couldn't run as much of the big tracks as I would have liked- just too tired. Shame as that bit is so runnable. Chapel Stile came and went with more soup eaten. The next bit was slow. The paths were flooded, the rocks greasy and my legs were shot. I sheltered in the woods after Blea Tarn to find my head torch. The next bit was a bit grim with flooded paths, greasy rocks and bogs. The virtual CP was lit up with car headlights. Down the road and onto the Tilberthwaite track. The weather was wet and the mist was making it hard to see where you were going. It was good to have others around me here on paths that were shin deep in muddy water. The drop to the Copper Mines was so much worse than I remembered it last year in the dry and light and I felt so slow by comparison. I was sure that from Kentmere I had been about 2 hours slower so my next aim was to beat midnight. I did and finished at about 11.30pm. 

Soggy but happy

The finish tent was heaving with supporters and I had to ask one of them for a chair so I could eat my food. My need really did seem great than theirs!

A strip wash in the van and I fell into bed.  29 hrs 40 mins. So yes it was 2 hours slower but given wet and greasy rocks plus the earlier darkness I wasn't surprised or even too disappointed.   

REcovered the morning after

An eggy breakfast and lots of coffee set me up for the prize giving which Marc does so well. The VIP area was there again together with bouncers to keep out the riff raff.  

It was a bit of deja vu as Maria and I sat drinking again- beer and champagne. Never refuse free alcohol! 

Although we did note that the true athletes like Sabs and Katie had orange squash. 

Anna FV50 champ

105 miles done with 6856m of climb. 1st FV60 only 2nd FV50 to Anna and 11th F overall Shall I do it again and work towards my 5 year slate? not sure yet.

Perhaps I am quite small