Race 3 of 60@60: Dunnerdale

Back to this local favourite for my third outing of the 60 and it was a real family day out with Luke, Katie and Kath all taking part. We finished in the order we had expected in better conditions than anybody has a right to expect in November in the Lakes. It was a shorts and vests day despite being only 7 degrees down in the valley. Top half again and under the hour for the 11th time in this race so that's fine, although significantly slower than 10 years ago on this occasion.

Looking grimly determined near the finish

Kath looking altogether more relaxed

Broughton Mills Reading Room for registration

Results: 145/296  V60: 9th/38  Time: 58:55

Distance 10km  Climb: 550m

Race 2 of 60@60: Cop Hill

Straight into a double header weekend with a new race to me over at Meltham near Huddersfield. This was never going to be a good one, being entirely runable and with the only technical terrain being in the form of sticky Yorkshire mud. Straight after the race yesterday it was bound to be tough. Well beaten by a number of other V60's but a second top half finish of the weekend so I'll take that.

Runable to the top

A view from The Cop

Results: 83rd/188 V60: 10th/ 25  Time: 57:15

Distance:10km, Climb:274m

Race 1 of 60@60: Shepherds' Skyline

Here we go again then. 50@50 went OK so why not 60@60? How hard can it be? Race one the same as race one ten years ago and I managed to knock 6 seconds off so quite happy with that. I won a bottle of beer for being 2nd vet 60 and well inside the top half so that'll do! I even managed to beat Howgill rival Pat McIver into the bargain before ducking out of the FRA Annual General Meeting after the race. Best to avoid AGM's - there's always the danger of getting elected as something.

Kath's got the camera on "Arty Mode" again

Arty starty

Results: 51st/142  V60: 2nd/23  Time:1:01:44

Distance: 10km, Climb:350m

Race 50: Race You To The Summit

Well that's all of them then. Nearly put my lights out getting inside the top half on this one. Bit an anti-climax really.

Tired now!

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• Result: 42nd/88  40:27
• Distance: 7km/4.3 miles Climb: 260m/853ft

Race 49: Withins Skyline

I did just one solo training run this week and felt tired and short of energy; the damaged ankle has been a bit tender too, after the rough terrain of Saddleworth a week ago so I go into this race with a feeling of trepidation. Nevertheless, knowing that overtaking opportunities are limited for a quite a stretch after the start, I set off making a real effort to get myself into the top half early on. As I passed Kath's vantage point in the heather I think I was doing well enough so I didn't panic as I lost a few places on the climb up Oxenhope Stoop. I  worked hard to keep going on the rough, wet moorland over to the ruins at Top Withins and even managed to pull a few places back. My plan was to push on hard from there but it didn't work out that way at all. The ankle hurt on the descent and I felt drained of energy, even on the way down to Bronte Bridge.

Kath had made her way across Haworth Moor to shout encouragement down from the waterfalls above the bridge but by that time my legs had gone. I straggled in for the last mile or more, losing position all the way. I missed out on the top half by one place again - the 19th time out of 49 races that I have finished within 5 places of half way. I really don't think it would be possible to be more mediocre!

So all in all, not my best ever day of fell running but it has to be said - the route is lovely, Kath got a good walk and some navigation practice despite still not having recovered from her broken collar bone, and I only knocked my average position back by 0.1%. It looks like I am going to complete the 50 at 50 now, with 2 weeks to go and a number of races to go for. Which to choose?

Loads of people behind me near the start.

Oh yes... and loads of people in front.

Descending towards Bronte Bridge. Every other runner in this
photo beat me to the finish. That shouldn't be happening!

Results:  128th/255  59:09

Distance: 12km/7.5 miles  Climb: 300m/984ft

Race 48: Saddleworth Edges

Not feeling really motivated on the morning of this race, partly because of the weather, partly because the race is longer than the ones I have been doing OK in recently and partly just tired but what a good race it was. A new route to me and thoroughly enjoyable along the rough wet paths around the moorland edges. The downhill was pretty good too and after passing Kath at her vantage point near the river crossing I managed to keep going fairly well to the end. All in all much better than expected and a pretty good result too, considering that I have been focussing on the really short races recently. I took a bit of a fall early on and the ankle did swell up again but nothing really serious to worry about there. Great to see Kath out in her waterproof gear getting a decent walk too.

Heading off into the mist

Slippery rocks at the river crossing towards the end of the race

Results  33rd/86  1:23:42
Distance: 13km/8.1 miles  Climb: 350m/1148ft

Race 47: Thieveley Pike

A nice short race on familiar ground with plenty of climb and some fast descents. Should suit me well and after a cautious start I managed to work my way through the field pretty well. Best result of the season so far. Enough said.

The mass start around the field at Thieveley Pike

The final descent before the trail running finish

Results  41st/133  44:25
Distance: 7km/4.3 miles  Climb: 400m/1312ft