Lakeland 50, 27 July 2013

There are times in your life when you have to squarely look yourself in the eye and ask yourself some serious questions.  There are others, when you can forget all about that David Copperfield kind of crap and simply spill yourself over a 50 mile linear route in the Lake District and have an elemental experience.  


Following entry to the Lakeland 50 in September 2012, Steve Dixon and myself resolved to harden ourselves to the long haul.  Whilst I have regularly worked 12 hour shifts throughout my career, Steve is a bit of a part timer having made better plans for his future in his youth, I was concerned for him, and hoped to make him a little more hardy. 


We cycled around 25 miles to the Yorkshireman, we cycled to reccie the Full Tour of Pendle, we cycled 25 miles to the Haworth Hobble and looked forward to 27 July 2013 when we would enjoy every step of the 50 miles and have a strong finish.


The Woldsman, in April, was my first attempt at running 50 miles but with a dicky left knee I should have known better - a fantastic day, but I paid a heavy price.  Following on from a month of limping post-Woldsman, being unable to run I stretched, biked, swam, aqua jogged and foam rolled for England with the Christmas lights on, to my favourite LP. 


I went on a night time reccie from Ambleside to Coniston with Steve Dixon in June and I ran on the North York Moors one Sunday in July with Ultra Runner Moors Man and on the back of that decided I was just about fit for the Lakeland 50.  


Six days before the race, Timperley reverberated with my cussing as I stubbed my little toe in the throes of housework. 

Urgent texts to Ace Physio at midnight were followed by a sheepish visit to A and E on Monday morning, this little piggy was strapped to the neighbouring toe, RICE, witch hazel and arnica were applied all week and by Friday the toe was better.


Steve D and myself hauled our bikes on the train and replacement coach from Leeds to Windermere, and biked to Conistone via Hawkshead, only sending one couple of mistakenly grateful tourists in the wrong direction on our way.  Steve was so psyched up for the Lakeland 50 he was unable to navigate to his usual high standards.


Thankfully we had reccied at Easter 

 

Around 8 days before the event I walked from Pooley Bridge to Ambleside and wild camped at Sadgill.  Walking towards Troutbeck, I met the potter who made the prizes for Tanky's Trog.  He offered me a lift from Troutbeck to Windermere but I insisted on finishing the reccy as far as Ambleside. 


I rubbed shoulders with last year's winner who was casually swinging the cup he was returning in the queue to register.  I fell over about 5 yards after the start and although I jumped up as quickly as I could I didn't really settle into a proper rhythm.  In fact I could not enjoy the race as I was bloated and felt physically rubbish most of the way round. 


It was very hot and when the cool rain came it was welcome.  Heavy rain drops started to fall on the roof of the portaloo while I was at Kentmere Institute.  The rain started and stopped.  I was so hot, there was no way I could wear my waterproofs walking up to Garburn Pass, the rain seemed happy to start and stop and so was I. 


I could not whip up a run along the river after Skelwith Bridge to Elterwater, which has to be the most runnable stretch of the 50 miles.  I walked and ran, mostly walked and just before I came out of the woods before Wainwright's Inn, I heard cheers.  The woman behind me muttered "oh no, we are going to have to start running"  as we emerged onto the road.  "Not for long!" said I, and we ran along to the cheers of the happy people in the pub, then reverted to a shuffle as we turned off the road.


Approaching the Chapel Stile checkpoint I felt quite overwhelmed for the incredible support which is to be found all around this race, from the start to the finish, as the marquee was lit up and braziers burned, smoke blazed across the path and the welcome and support there and at all the checkpoints was magnificent.


As I left Chapel Stile it started raining again, but it was still warm.  I was trotting behind Tom and Jon by now and was secretly yet no doubt obviously very pleased not to be on my own at this point, with what lay ahead.  I tried to keep up with them but kept losing them.  However I was not alone.  There were plenty of shadows inching their way along at this point in the dark, Lakeland 100ers - a ghostly combination of ancient mariner-like Roman Centurions clanking their chains.


The rain became heavier, and I got soaked; at Blea Tarn I had to put my waterproof on. Just after this I bumped into Tom and Jon again and their ace navigating got us to the compulsory unmanned checkpoint in no time. 


I ran a while with Super Kev, the giggly road runner from Wigan.  As we hit the tarmac at Tilberthwaite he knelt down and wept, and kissed the metalled road.  We caught up with Julie and another couple of people he knew at the checkpoint and we all headed out for the final section warmed by teas and coffees. 


One minor error as we headed towards the slate cottages instead of away from them, which lost us a place but three of us ran down the road to Coniston and through the rainy streets, to the cheers of the supporters to the finish, into the school and into the gym where we were cheered and presented with medals.


Andreas, Amanda and Steve greeted me, having kindly waited up for me, with a styrofoam cup with sparkling wine, which tasted just great.  A first aid lady gouged the grit out of my cuts and I had a baked potato and salad, that's it, I am definitely on a diet after this heavy experience.


In the Black Bull on Sunday evening we met a 100er called Nick who told us how his secret weapon had been ham sandwiches he had pulled out of his bag which had revived him.  The penny didn't drop but it would have been obvious to most we were talking to Mr Ham.


I finished the weekend with a rendition of Frank Sidebottom singing Radio Gaga, as Nick wanted to know what kind of songs Frank sang.

I am looking forward to next year, I believe I can knock at least an hour off my time.  Sincere thanks to all the race organisers, marshalls and supporters.  A fantastic event. 

Lakeland 50, 27 July 2013

1st male  Ben Abdelnoor               7h 39m 26s
1st female Katherine Brougham      9h 44m 10s

73rd   Amanda Seims      11h 38m 47s
73rd   Andreas Mayer     11h 38m 47s
78th   Steve Dixon            11h 42m 58s  (first MV60) 
223rd Sarah Smith           13h 56m 40s

587 started
482 finished