Race 50 of 60 @ 60: Whittle Pike

 A tough little race up on the moors above Cowpe which I really like as a route so I set off with intent to do as well as I could. Dave Naughton and a couple of other V60's passed me at the top of the first of the three climbs so I put in an effort to get back at them on the downhill but just as I overtook all but Dave I got my foot in a hole, twisted my ankle and crashed to the floor, landing on my right shoulder. That hurt and the rest of the race didn't go too well. Finished though, and nearly in the top half.

50 races in and time to take stock. I'm running at much the same level as I was 10 years ago, finishing slightly higher up the field than then and just as likely to get into the top half. All despite running more in Cumbria, where the competition is hotter, and completing the 50 in two months less. Shouldn't grumble but I still want to be winning every once in a while!

Results: 42nd/83  V60-69: 5th/13  Time: 1:07:23
Distance: 8.2km  Climb: 488m

Race 49 of 60 @ 60: Farleton Knott

This was a tough one for me. Having suffered from some soreness in front of my left hip for a while now, it has been increasingly difficult to get a good start. Not knowing the exact start time of the senior race at BOFRA events, an effective warm up isn't easy to achieve and as I launched into the race I felt a sharp pain. I limped a few metres to compose myself but by the the time I could break into a jog two of my V60 rivals were gone. The exit from the field is tight and there's virtually no possibility of overtaking on the steep climb thanks to the narrowness of the path between the gorse. I arrived at the top with a bunch of people to pass to even get close and I knew that the game was up. Paul and Chris both ran well so I bagged 3rd V60. Not a disaster but I need a rest - something I'll not be getting any time soon.

Passing a few as the course
opens up at the top

Results: 41st/96  V60: 3rd/11  Time: 28:00
Distance: 4.2km  Climb: 457m

Race 48 of 60 @ 60: Ambleside Sports Senior Guides Race

Probably the perfect Guides Race. Viewable from the field virtually all the way to the top, runnable by the best runners all the way save for the short scrambly bit at the summit and fast runnable all the way down into the show field. I had a slight knot of nervousness in my stomach before the start having realised that as well as Joe, runaway leader of the series in the V60 category, most of the contenders for best of the rest had also turned up. It was Nick who got to the top first of that competitive little group, with a number of younger runners separating him from me, Chris and Ray - two V60 contenders from Helm Hill. I threw myself down the short rocky section, passing four within metres of the turn then set about the long grassy descent with intent. I caught Nick part way down and held off Chris and Ray who were both chasing hard. I have come to the realisation that it is no help looking over your shoulder worrying about being caught but instead I focus on the runner in front and aim to reel them in - Kirstin Bailey, the leading FV50 on this occasion.

Chris Speight right on my tail at the top

Results: 39th/96  V60: 2nd/14  Time: 22:02

Distance; 2.7km  Climb: 240m

Race 47 of 60 @ 60: Cracoe

BOFRA race 5 for the season and Dave Woodhead's brilliant photos show the V60 battle unfolding. Joe Blackett, number 25, won by miles again, having opened up a big gap on the climb. Chris Speight, number 100, and I battled it out for second.

Not much between us as we get
through the bog on the way up

Closing Chris down on the descent

And making my move coming into the finish field.
Chris Moore, number 22, running for Leven
was 3rd V40, just behind us on the line.

Results: 33rd/94  V60: 2nd/11  Time: 30:56
Distance: 4.2kM  Climb: 274m

Race 46 of 60 @ 60: Alva Games

I used to think that Coniston Gullies was steep and that the downhill was difficult to run. Then I went to Alva - the maddest race of all by far. 1200' of climb packed in to three quarters of a mile, according to my Strava track, but at least 400m of that is round the sports field then along the road so it really is 1200' up in half a mile as the BOFRA listing says. I arrive at the top alongside three other V60's but my quads are burned out - six races in 19 days now - that's too much! The downhill is worse than the up. With no way to stay on your feet you descend with the grass burning your backside, dust in your eyes and gorse in the palms of both hands. I like a good descent but with the legs already destroyed by the climb I can't keep up with last year's winner, Ray Gill from Helm. Second V60 again. Brilliant in the end though, to be cheered into the finish by a couple of thousand spectators, even if that final lap round the track does really hurt.

Arriving at the top
in some distress!

The sports field from the top.
Photos from Lindsay Buck on Facebook
from Jim really - Lindsay ran the race

Result: 27th/65  V60: 2nd/6  Time: 33:38

Distance: 2.4km  Climb: 380m (Strava measurements)

Race 45 of 60 @ 60: Reston Scar Scamper

Another fantastic little race, local but new to me - I don't know how I've missed it before. The evening was warm and still but misty and trying to rain without ever managing to produce the cooling shower that I needed. The start is flat and roady and everybody seemed to fly off the stat line leaving me further back than I would normally hope to be. It must be a decent field of keen runners, missing the England semi-final against Switzerland but when we hit the first hill my position gets even worse. People pass me on every climb and I only get into my stride on the downhill. After five races in just over a two week period I'm tired.

Results: 69th/90  V60: 4th/7  Time: 34:31
Distance: 6km  Climb: 301m

Race 44 of 60 @ 60: Great Hucklow

A long drive down to Derbyshire for the first time in this series which wouldn't really be complete without at least one trip to The Peak District. This is a very varied course including trail, fields, some fabulous moorland and a little bit of tarmac. On the twisty, slippery wooded section through Bretton Clough, about 7km in, I aggravated my old back injury and lost both the will and the ability to race to the finish. Losing position whilst slowly and carefully shuffling to the finish line is kind of disheartening but I suppose in the end, about half way down the field isn't too bad a result.

Results: 63rd/125  V60: 4th/18  Time: 1:08:23
Distance: 10.1km  Climb: 335m