Race 31: Pen y Ghent

This is one of the few races I have done in recent years and I was fairly pleased to get in only a couple of minutes slower than four years ago and less than five minutes slower than 21 years ago, (although I have run faster in between). The race in 2010 was run in warm, clear conditions but this year it was wet, much cooler, misty and windy on top of the hill. The rain had been very heavy earlier in the day so conditions underfoot were a bit slippery but the cool, light rain during the race was a bonus for me. No problem with the mist on top because the route is always visible on the ground and I made up a lot of time on the descent, having felt tired on the climb.

It was another tough day out for Kath, slogging her way up some slippery fields and then standing in the rain with a camera, waiting an age for me to show up two thirds of the way down the field and then trudging back round to the finish to see if I've picked up enough places on the way down. For me it was an enjoyable run but still not quite fast enough to be happy with the result. We are both looking forward to fewer races next year, me in the hope that I will be able to do them better, Kath hoping that there will be more time to do something else!

Early on in the climb towards Pen y Ghent.
It steepens considerably after this.

Short uphill on the track running in to the finish at Horton in Ribblesdale.
We have just come off the low ridge behind, just out of the clouds.

Results: 56th/106  1:08:48
Distance: 9.5km/5.9 miles  Climb: 564m/1850ft