My Lakeland 100
All our training was done we could do no more, will it be enough to see Coniston again was the question in all our heads……………………… only time will tell.
Earlier in the week I had messages of ‘kit sorted’, mine was still in last week’s rucksack but I would have loads of time, all Thursday evening and Friday morning to sort kit and still have a little kip before we leave for Coniston. As we drove into Coniston I glanced down towards the school to see a mass of cars and tents filling the school field ‘this is becoming real’ I thought. Time for the big weigh in, ID check, kit check, collect number, attach dibber to wrist, and receive goody bag all in the pretty warm school hall. Back to the car to put up the tent, re-pack my rucksack, eat the biggest dish of pasta ever and chill for an hour in the sun whilst chatting to well wishers and fellow runners before another briefing back in that by now very warm school hall, 30 minutes chat about everything that is on the race website hmm!
A few quick team photos and off to the start line with 274 apprehensive runners, 26 didn’t even get to the start line. A 5 4 3 2 1 go and we start our 105 mile journey around the Lakes. The first 50 mins I climbed to the top of Walna Scar with my training partner Jarv, as we crested the top we said good luck, take care and I danced my way down to the checkpoint of Seathwaite to fill up on drinks (placed 87th ) , no food taken as I was still full of Pasta. I hadn’t reccied the route from Coniston to Wasdale so I was just following the line of others and using a bit of local knowledge which always helps. Next checkpoint Boot (78th) and again just a quick refill and a fig roll this time, taking a mug of tea with me as I walked uphill into the next section towards Wasdale. Could I get into Wasdale before the darkness? that’s what I was hoping to do and I did (74th). Headlight on or maybe I’ll carry it to start which I sometimes find it easier. I left the 70's disco in the barn, all the marshals in wasdale were in fancy dress, climbing towards Blacksail, I turned around to see a steady line of headlights the full length of the Wasdale Valley and over the hill towards Boot, a very impressive sight, almost as good as the still waters of Buttermere with the dark reflection of the mountains and orange glow of the moon flicking across it, these just a few of the little treats the Lakeland 100 has for our journey.
Onto Newlands Valley, I’d checked this section twice however, both times finding it hard with it’s single narrow track. I always knew this would be tricky in the dark and it was causing a couple of slips into muddy puddles but hey that’s fell running for you. Sail Pass was soon ticked off and onto the nice descent into Braithwaithe and some food, as I passed through the door (61st) I spotted Tom Phillips. He had pulled out due to an ear infection, I was gutted for him. Tom looked after me sorting drinks, food and words of encouragement, I left for the A66 road section and some easy running.
The evening had been warm, I had been hoping it would cool when the sun dropped, the time was 2.30 am and I was still in t-shirt but it was eventually starting to cool down a little. I was feeling good so time to push on a bit, this being the pattern for the whole race when I was on a downer I tried hard to keep a good walking pace going as we all know each step forward is one nearer to Coniston, I was trying to think of the distances between each checkpoint, I knew the next two were longish sections but I had filled up well with Tom’s help, I was thinking same again at Blencathra will see me well into Dockray easy. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when I entered the Blencathra checkpoint, the place was like a dentist waiting room in complete silence and only dry biscuits and gels on offer. I thought my race could be over, I had 1 fruit pot, 1 red bull and a few sweets left to do 8 miles. Chin up and crack on daylight will soon be with us; the words of Tom ringing in my ears of ‘Your sprits will lift when the sun comes up’, I made hast as best I could. I was having a little downer as the sun came up so time for that fruit pot and Red Bull which worked wonders, I pushed on to the Dockray checkpoint(58th) to the sounds of cheers and cow bells ringing.
I re-fuelled on soup, a jam sandwich, coke and tea before the drop down Aira Beck, keeping some of the other runners on the right path, the beautiful sight of Ullswater below us and the Dalemain checkpoint only a few miles away, however first the long undulating road section towards Darce, around a quarter of the way I spotted the wonderful sight of My Emily with that energetic bounce and her hair flicking from side to side, my spirits were soon lifted. It’s not long before we pass more happy smiling supporters always a welcome sight after an all nighter. Into Dalemain(51st), I ask how my buddy Jarv is doing ‘he’s doing well about 20 mins behind you’ and Doc Martin ‘about an hour ahead ‘ that’s great news everyone still going strong at the 60 mile point. I was getting some top class pampering by the marshals, when Helen decided to lend a hand in the tent, against the rules, think she was in Bob Graham mode, anyway she was prompted to leave ooops.
The next section I found very hard, my feet were sore, the sun was roasting and I’d eaten too much stew, I was getting no sympathy from Emily. She told me to get them negative thoughts straight out of my head, with this in mind a slight breather some power walking and my low point was over. My good friend Jim had come out the support at Pooley Bridge, we had a few words and a laugh from him. I said goodbye and thanks to all the supporters as I made my way towards Howton(53rd) and the dreaded Fusedale the hardest and highest part of the course, in my opinon, but it didn’t seem as bad as expected. I think the sight of other runners also struggling up helped and we soon topped out.
I was hoping to get most of the narrow paths along Haweswater out of the way before the Lakeland 50 runners started to close me down, I pretty much managed this with a little bit of pushing on when I could some good chit chat with my fellow runners, after the first twenty miles or so you tend to settle into a rhythm along with the same runners swapping places as we all go through good or bad patches at different times. I arrived at Mardale (49th) totally out of drinks at 2.30pm, only 5 of the L 50 runners had passed me, a section well done I think, I filled up on liquids, downed my soup and was off again.
My thoughts now turned to that friendly fellow Rob Hampshire at Kentmere and that smoothie he had promised me. First however two good big climbs, after the first at the top of Sadgill, I was roasting again so I decided to take a little dip in the beck trying not to get my by now very sore feet in the water not easy co-ordinating this after 80miles, but still very refreshing. Into Kentmere (49th) Rob’s smoothie’s downed, what else do you have Rob, I asked ‘We have loads of dry biscuits’. This was the last thing on my mind to eat right now almost everything now was instantly turning into a cream cracker and impossible to swallow , luckily Rob rustled up a nice dish of fresh fruit along with some Coke to wash down the pain killers, marvellous cheers Rob. On-wards to the top of Garburn Pass where my very good Buddy Micky P was sat waiting with his normal words of encouragement as we dropped off I spotted more friendly supports lining my route then the voice of Adrian Leigh passing as we headed down the runable track towards Troutbeck, Helen left me at Troutbeck Bridge stating ‘ you’re doing fantastic! you can get into the top 50 places if you keep this up ‘ I replied with ‘ right now I don’t care where I finish I just need to finish’.
Just before Ambleside more L50 runner passed shouting well done Dave keep it up I spotted an odd looking tattoo on one lads calf. I had ask! He’s only gone and done the Western States! In 27 hour!, http://www.wser.org/ I slowed him down for a bit but he was keen to tell me all about it. Ambleside was buzzing with supports in the streets, I pass the Pub to a roar from some well wisher came from the beer garden so I sportingly showed off my Guns which made for an even louder roar from them I think they must have been in the pub since it opened. Through the streets loads more cheers and more friendly smiling supporters before the checkpoint (42nd) only two checkpoints to do now things are looking good right now, I thought but still a bit to do. Over Loughrigg with a shower thrown in to cool me down a little, the L50 runners are passing more regularly now all with words of well done , keep it going , you can do it! etc, they make a big difference late in the day. Through the Langdale campsite to more cheers from campers and into Chapelstile(41st) a very surreal place in the middle of nowhere a tent full of comfy sofas, carpets on the ground, a log burner, yet more amazing marshals waiting on your every need.
10 miles to go I was overjoyed, yet more words from behind, more friendly smiling faces this time some that I recognized, by now the L50 runners too must be feeling their efforts but they still helped to pushed me on, the darkness was edging ever closer again, headlight out but this time onto the head. Everything is starting to hurt now, I could barely swallow anything solid and it’s raining again thankfully I've got Robin and Ruth to look forward to at the last checkpoint then I remember I've got some salted peanuts in my sack, may as well try them I've carried them around for 100 miles. Passing through the farm yard, just before Tilberthwaite, the sight of a twinkle in the distance catches my eye it's the final checkpoint all I can think of is every step forward is a step near to Robin. A L50 runner came alongside me with more praise and a joker he was too, telling his running partner that this L100 guy is still running in the rain, without a coat on, he's as hard as nails, way to go Dave. I reply with if I run I’ll get back to Coniston sooner and I can’t be arsed to get me coat out.
I must admit I was pretty done in at Tilberthwaite (41st) I could hardly stand up straight and could only just about speak to Robin as he meet me outside the Tent. He pulled me inside then began to try and sort me out, bringing me almost back to life, I’m not sure what happened there maybe it was those famous hallucinations everyone keeps telling me about or did I see Greg Robin’s mate? Ruth gave me Tea I think! or was it just a bag of wet sugar?I had some food I think! then I crawled my way up the side of the waterfall, very slowly one step forward, two back, one to the left, four to the right, then two forward again as I hit the flat section five runners passed one sporting the yellow band of a 100 er, I looked up spotted the col with a slight hint of an orange glow coming from street lights of Coniston below it. My head was spinning he’s not going to pass me that easy so I tucked in behind them, followed their feet for a few metres then bingo I came back from the brink, 'Exesisto validus vos es validus' I've said it to many others before now I'm saying it to myself 'be strong you are strong' again and again over and over I say it in my head before I powered passed them along the final climb and over the col then down the old miners track into the town, only a few supporters lined the street now, 30 hours ago this place was packed but thank goodness for the few outside the Pub, a loud cheer from them and I had my guns out again, more smiling faces Helen, Julie and Lynne. I pass the BP station giving a few high fives to Micky P, well I say high more midriff, the final 100 metres then I've finished overjoyed to see that school again. You are escorted into the hall by a marshal, a well done from Tom before the marshals announce your entry, yet more cheers and them guns are out again. Wow that's a long way is my I thought as I sit in the school hall with all the other finishers. How is Jarv doing I ask as I sit amongst the other finisher, not so good I’m told but he’s getting looked after by Robin and Ruth, he won’t be too long someone said but I will let sleeping beauty tell all about that some time.
With Medal placed proudly over my head that famous t shirt in hand I was feeling very proud to be a finisher, a centurion to one of the hardest foot races in this country, but that’s just my opinion! It's been said that I just plodded round the 105 miles route I'll let you decide on that one.
I was 41st overall, 1st 47year old in an awesome time of 30 hours 08 minutes
Doc martin 31st overall 28hrs 31mins
Jarv 84th overall 35hrs 28mins
300 entered 274 made to the start line and 122 finished within the 40hrs limit.
This without a doubt is a hard race to complete in any conditions, for me it was all about food and foot management if I could just get them right at the same time who knows what may happen next time!!
