Race 2: Dunnerdale

Dunnerdale is definitely one of my favourite races. Real fell race terrain packed into such a short route is I'm sure what makes this race so popular. I have done the race 8 times before, walked it many more times, did some of my Mountain Leader training there and have even used the area for navigation coaching myself, so I should know my way round pretty well by now. I started at the back again but not a problem after the first hundred yards as the lanes are wide enough to pass the slower runners. As we left the tarmac on the way up to the Knott I saw Lecky who I know from LOC just ahead of me so I settled in, thinking that he would set a good pace for me. At the top I didn't recover much from the effort so when we hit the second climb I was still finding it quite tough. I would have expected to get past a few people on the descent from the second checkpoint but my recovery was so slow that it just didn't happen. I kept Lecky in sight all the way through the third and fourth tops and was only two places behind as we went in to the final big descent. I found just enough energy to make up the two places by the bottom and pressed on through the trails to finish ahead. My second worst time ever but I beat my 1993 effort by 15 seconds avoiding another pw. Top half again. Got to be happy with that.

Yes I know that looks a bit fat for a fell runner but
I have my jacket tied round my waist, under the vest.

Results  113th/255  56:11
Distance: 8km/5m  Climb: 550m/1804ft