25 years ago, when I was running reasonably well and trying to compete for top 10's, I imagined that in the senior veteran categories I would be jogging round at the back just enjoying the run. Think again. I've never fought harder for my place than I did in this one and on top of that, the conditions were as bad as any you will come across in a British fell race.
The route was shortened to take out the summit of Blake Fell and after we had summited Gavel Fell, I doubt that any of the competitors would have quibbled with the organiser's decision. The temperature was low, the ground icy and the wind extreme. Looking back to 10 years ago, I shouldn't have been surprised.
A magnificent win for Josh, an excellent run from Tim but my battle was with Rebecca, who beat me by a few seconds here last year and with Nick, clearly coming back into form. Both surged past me early on, Rebecca faltered in the gale on the high fell but Nick beat me to the top. I stumbled past on the downhill, struggling to stay upright and thinking that I had opened enough of a gap down through the forest. At the turn as we approached the finish field I saw that he had closed the gap to a couple of metres so I gave it everything I had to stay ahead. 10 metres to go I thought I had done enough. 5 metres to go and I saw a youth from the V40 category burst through, then, even stronger, came Nick.
Jon and Rachel completed the team for BCR and what a team - 7 runners, 5 categories, filling out the field from front to back but all with an equal sense of acheivement. Is that the very best thing about Fell Running? And thanks to Jane too, for picking me up from the floor after the race.
Results: 53rd/84 V60: 5th/9 Time: 47:19 (Nick: 47:18)
Distance from watch: 7.6km Climb from watch: 390m
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