This is a tough race and it was never going to be easy less than 24 hours after the previous night's effort. I knew from my warm up that I was too stiff to do well over the fields early on but I didn't panic and was quite happy to get to the top of Fair Snape Fell just behind Jonathan in 36th place. The run down to Parlick from here and the steep drop towards the finish from Parlick would normally be enough to let me pick up the few places I needed to get in to the top half. Unfortunately It didn't turn out that way this time - Jonathan stayed in front off Fair Snape then opened up a gap on the small climb up Parlick, which can be seen in the background on the photo. I caught him back on the steep drop, just as he was closing in on a the small group ahead but that is where the wheels came off for me. As he pushed on to the finish he made up a few places but my legs simply refused to go faster and I struggled to hold on to the position I had.
Kath walked virtually the whole route in reverse, starting from Fell Foot and dressed in fairly heavy duty waterproofs and thermals. Although the conditions were fine for running the poor lass was almost frozen solid by the time she reached the car. Just goes to show that the kit requirements for runners make sense as an absolute minimum.
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| Chasing Jonathan Stubbs towards the top of Fair Snape Fell |
Results: 36th/63 51:06
Distance: 8km/5 miles Climb: 381m/1250ft
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