Race 11: Blake's Heaven

A pattern seems to have emerged as I get in to this challenge which presents me with something of a paradox. The tougher the races I do, the harder it becomes to get in to the top half of the results; so if I get fitter and choose harder races, I will be less likely to achieve my target finish position. I say that here because today, I missed out.

Blake's Heaven follows a fantastic route over Blake Fell in West Cumbria which I imagine on a nice summer's day could be truly heavenly. Today wasn't a nice day and that is what made this a tough race. Nobody would turn out today if they were anything but a committed Fell Runner and on the lunatic fringe of the sport at that. The wind was incredible near the summit and to make things worse we were hit by a shower of hail which when driven into the skin produced a genuine burning sensation, real heat - hellish.

I was weak from the start and I struggled to keep running even across the fields early on but I dug in and managed to keep going until we arrived on the open fell where the path steepens. From there on it felt more a battle for survival than a race and I regretted my decision to wear shorts rather than the old pair of Ron Hills I had in the car. I had the option to stop and put on the waterproofs that the organisers had quite rightly insisted we carry but on a short race, it never seems like there is enough time. On the way down Blake Fell I was blown off my feet and did a Klinsmann, taking the legs of another runner from under her. If she ever reads this, and I don't know who she was, I really do apologise. It is a mercifully fast downhill run even in the strong wind and I was just grateful to reach the finish, totally drained. I have warmed through now but my neck still feels sunburned six hours later and one side of my face feels like a slapped buttock.

Up

Over

And away

Results: 73rd/120 (finishers)  47:43
Distance: 8km/5 miles  Climb: 503m/1650ft

Race 10: Stanbury Splash

This was the Sunday of my first two race weekend for years and it went better than expected. Like Saturday's race it has a lot of fast trail running and a hard uphill finish but the top end of the Stanbury Splash course runs round the head of quite a remote valley on small paths of grass and mud - this time the good kind of mud - peaty, black and smelling of earth rather than horses. Fantastic to run on.

I started right at the back, still feeling Saturday in my legs but I soon began to pick my way through the field. By the time we splashed through the river on the return I thought that I had done enough to get into the top half and it felt good after overtaking so many on the peaty paths. Kath was at the river with the camera and she followed us up the steep field back to the track. I hardly had enough energy to get up there quicker than she did in her boots but I held on to my position from there to the finish.

The crazy mass start in the quarry

Approaching the river and looking like a runner for the first time this year.

The "Stanbury Splash"

Results: 210th/437  1:06:36
Distance: 12km/7.5 miles  Climb: 400m/1312ft

Race 9: Ashurst Beacon

This is a tough race not because it crosses any really steep or mountainous terrain but because the course follows fast, hard but invariably muddy paths and tracks. It is also a little unusual in that it starts at the top of a hill and sets off downhill but finishes with a draining climb to Ashurst Beacon. The hill topped by the Beacon is notable for being just about the westernmost viewpoint before the landscape falls away to the West Lancashire Plain, with views on a clear day from Snowdonia to the Lake District and all the flat land in between. I didn't see any of that of course but I've looked at the map and it must be true.

I hate uphill finishes. It is very dispiriting to see the group ahead ease away when in most fell races I am picking off runners at that stage. Note to self: lose some weight and gravity will be less of a hindrance. At the time of writing I don't know whether or not I made the top half of the field but with a time of around 50 minutes I will be there or thereabouts. I must also mention clubmate Jamie Dowdall, who thrashed me comprehensively today. Good run Jamie.

The final muddy climb before the Beacon

Still breathing - just about

Results: 63rd/152  50:50

Distance: 9.5km/5.9 miles  Climb: 290m/951ft