We had entered three summer Ultras, the Ultimate Trails 55K, Montane Lakeland 50 miles and the Grand Tour of Skiddaw. This is how it went.
ULTIMATE
TRAILS 55K 27 JULY
We did this event for two reasons, firstly as a warm up for
the Lakeland 50 and mostly because the route goes through stunning areas of the
Lake District. Getting fantastic weather on the day was a wonderful bonus.
We set off on this adventure from Ambleside and headed
straight up a very steep and winding road until we hit the trail that brought
us onto a section of road called “The Struggle”. This is barely walkable, never
mind runnable! From here you plateau out opposite the Kirkstone Pass Inn and
stumble into the car park for a well needed rest at the checkpoint. I was
surprised how early this checkpoint was while reading the pre-race notes, I was
bloody glad it was there now!
Our next section followed the Kirkstone Pass on a fantastic
single track trail, which was an absolute joy to run on, I really pushed the
pace a bit here as it was downhill and good terrain underfoot. The trail
widened as we came to Brotherswater and I probably ran this harder than planned
but I was feeling great at this point. After a short road section we hit a
trail on the opposite side of the valley, this again was great running, so I
continued cracking on all the way to the Glenridding checkpoint.
I chucked down a quarter of a pork pie and drink here and
then ground out the extremely tough next section through the valley and up to
Grizedale Tarn. It is a never ending rocky climb to the tarn and I was
delighted to get past it and absolutely fly down into Grasmere.
More drinks and a fill of the
bottles and I headed out of Grasmere and up and over to lovely Langdale. The
heat of the day was really beginning to kick in now and all I had on my mind
was drinking. I distracted myself the best I could by savouring the magnificent
views and slowly sipping my drinks but nothing would take the drink craving
away.
I was awfully glad to get some
more drinks down at the checkpoint near Lingmoor and promised myself a beer at
the Sticklebarn Tavern checkpoint. The next few miles are all easy running on
great trails surrounded by the most perfect Lakeland scenery, so that and the
promised beer kept me going at a good pace.
This was the last fuel and
drink stop, so I made sure I got plenty of coke down and a cheese and pickle
buttie. Once I had a sat down with my refreshments and recuperated a bit, it
was time to keep my promise to myself. So I headed down to the bar and got
myself the promised lager, it was absolutely the best thing I had ever tasted.
From here it was all great
trail running back to the finish at Ambleside, with only a small climb up and
over the shoulder of Loughrigg Fell. On
the descent the lady in front of me had a bad fall, I quickly stopped and
helped her up, she was shaken but not badly hurt, so we both charged off back
down to the finish. I waited for Angela, enjoying cheering all the other
competitors in. I was glad to see she came through to the finish looking happy.
So another achievement had been completed by us both.
MONTANE
LAKELAND 50 25 JULY
This event starts at Dalemain and the finish is in
Coniston. We arrived in Coniston on the Friday afternoon and immediately got
our tent pitched and got kit check and our weigh in done, all the stressful
tasks out of the way early doors.
Next up was a beer and a meal, followed by a yomp up to the
old miner’s bridge where we watched the 100 mile competitors head off into the
lovely evening sun toward their first night of running in the fells.
The rest of the evening was spent sorting our kit and
having a few more beers before a long sleepless night in the tent, thanks to
some rather loud snorer.
We cooked our breakfast of bacon first thing and eventually
the time ticked round to the event briefing and then the coach ride to
Dalemain. From here you get to watch the 100 competitors run through the
grounds while we waited to be sent on our way at 11.30.
Finally we got going through the 4 miles of the estate
grounds and then down to the river to Pooley Bridge. This was all easy running,
mainly through fields and good trails. After weaving our way through the cars
and holiday makers in Pooley Bridge we started to ascend up at first a road and
then gravel trail until we finally reached the open fell. This always feel like
the real start of the race to me, the first bit just seems like a seven mile
warm up.
This lovely trail traverses around the flanks of the fell
giving you stunning views of Ullswater, a trail runners dream. At eleven miles
you reach the first checkpoint at Howtown, with lots of goodies for you to
scoff and plenty of drinks. I didn’t hang about here as I wanted to get the
long slow climb up Fusedale done and get the yomp over High and Low Kop out of
the way. This is the highest point of the route and probably the wettest as
well.
From here it is a fantastic grassy descent down the side of
the fell with gorgeous views of Haweswater. It was nice to be down by the lake
and heading to Mardale checkpoint as drink was running low and I was looking
forward to a nice sandwich to refuel on. The rocky and at times undulating path
to Mardale Head seemed to go on forever, at last I was there and refuelled.
The next section has the most brutal, long and very rocky
climb over Gatesgarth Pass. Halfway up I really tired and mentally fell to bits
for a short time. I stopped and savoured the stunning views of the fells
dappled in sunshine all around me, this helped me compose myself and grab a
breather. I had a bit of a word with myself hear, manned up and cracked on up
and over.
After another smaller but still tough climb it was a lovely
little run down to Kentmere checkpoint with views laying ahead of the beautiful
verdant Kentmere valley. Sadly I wasn’t heading that way! After some pasta and
lots of flat coke, it was off up the boulder strewn Garburn Pass. It was well
over the marathon distance when I tootled through Ambleside to cheers from
holiday makers and other runner’s supporters, still with the sun smiling down
on me. This really lifted my spirits, so after more coke at the checkpoint I
ran over the shoulder of Loughrigg Fell into the lovely Langdale valley. This
is my favourite place in the whole world, so I really relaxed into the running
here, especially as we went through the smooth flat trails in the bottom of the
valley.
Once through the Langdale checkpoint (after a nice hot bowl
of stew), we contoured around the bottom of Lingmoor Fell, then up the zigzag
path that hides behind the National Trust campsite. After crossing a road you
get a lovely run around Blea Tarn, which is a picturesque, lonely little lake,
overwhelmed by the Langdale group of fells. I really had to concentrate here as
I struggled to take my eyes from the surrounding breath taking views.
The dark was really trying to catch me up by now, so I
pushed on as hard as possible over another very rocky path as I wanted to be over
Blea Moss in daylight. It was a relief to dib at the unmanned dibber on the
side of the Wrynose Pass, in the last half hour of daylight. I scooted along
the small road section from here and headed onto the rocky trails again towards
the last checkpoint.
Annoyingly here I got stuck behind a convoy of, off road
vehicles that filled my lungs up with exhaust fumes and stopped me running for
a mile or so. While behind these I finally gave in and put my head light on,
darkness had slowly crept up and had now surrounded me. After another very
short road section I finally entered the last checkpoint at Tilberthwaite.
From here you climb up some huge stone steps that had been
beautifully lit with lanterns and head up onto the dark fell for the last up
and over to Coniston.
As I trudged heavy legged up the winding trail onto the
fell plateau, the knowledge that my journey was nearly completed began to wash
over me. The descent into Coniston is a real tricky, rock strewn down but I
skipped along quite happily now. Gazing down at the twinkling lights of
Coniston, full of the adrenaline rush that all us runner’s love, I was as happy
as I think it is possible to be.
I hit the road into the village centre and absolutely
floored it, or at least it felt like I did. Suddenly I was being walked into
the school hall and being announced as a fifty finisher to rousing applause. It
was a fantastic end to an awesome event.
A few beers where sampled while I waited for Angela to
finish, she came in with the same big smile I was still wearing, so a great day
all round. Next year we are doing the hundred!
ANGELA – 13 HOURS 11 MINUTES CHARLES – 11 HOURS 42 MINUTES
LA
SPORTIVA GRAND TOUR OF SKIDDAW 29
AUGUST
Our last Ultra of the summer arrived to another weekend of
camping in nice weather, we have been bloody lucky! The now usual routine of
getting the tent up, kit check and evening of beer and food, filled our Friday
evening. No dramas as we now have got pretty organised at these kind of races.
Saturday morning dawned sunny, though the forecast was for
showers for the middle of the day. Bacon barm, brew and the usual race briefing
done and we was sent on our way into the sun filled fields along the river.
From Dalston to Caldbeck was an easy going run with no tricky terrain or climbs
to worry about, so we got a nice steady pace going and ticked the first eight
miles off with ease. Soon as you leave the Caldbeck checkpoint, you start on
the long climb up to High Pike, all on good footing but definitely energy
sapping.
From here you are in wild fell country and it was stunning
to run down and across to the hut where the safety marshal was, without seeing
anyone other than runners. Heading down the side of the ghyll was far trickier
than anything we had encountered so far, it was very boggy with lots of large
rocks to clamber over. Once down to the old mines at the bottom we re-composed
ourselves before the wet and rocky trudge over to Skiddaw House Youth Hostel.
This section heralded a change in weather as cloud began to
suddenly build up over Skiddaw. This gave us some inspiration to move as fast
as we could across the trail on the flanks of Lonscale Fell, in the hope we
could get over Skiddaw before the rain moved in. We didn’t even get to the
checkpoint at Latrigg car park before the rain came and fortunately went again.
So coats had gone on and come off again before the long
walk up to Skiddaw summit. The skies lifted again but the temperature dropped
like a stone as we finally reached the summit cairn and rang the bell and dibbed.
It was so cold and windy on top we just turned round and headed to the scree
path that took us off the summit as quickly as we could.
Angela had really not been looking forward to this steep
descent down the scree path, it is her least favourite terrain. I love it. She
got down really well though and we soon had our running legs going again as we
headed across from Carl Side along the Ullock Pike ridge. This ridge gradually
brings you down to the farms below and we enjoyed the temperature increase as
we descended. From here it was now an easy run to the checkpoint.
I had a good feed up here but Angela didn’t manage anything
again, which was really starting to concern me. I knew after the two big climbs
we had done, her energy levels must be plummeting.
We hit the Cumbrian way from here to Caldbeck, running
mainly through fields in rolling countryside. It was becoming a lovely late
summer evening and I was optimistic we would easily beat the darkness. Once we
passed the last checkpoint at Caldbeck, it was just a case of retracing the
first eight miles of the route back to Lime House School.
I realised pretty quickly though that Angela had become
pretty unresponsive and rather pale and wild eyed. She was obviously beginning
to bonk quite badly. All I could do was keep talking to her and keep running.
When we hit a river crossing, she had to try and get over it via tree roots,
her legs and brain wouldn’t work together at this point. I ran back and helped
her across safely, I was getting really worried about how she would get to the
finish of the 46 miles now.
From this point we ran the whole way to the finish at a
really good pace, I have no idea how Angela kept going that well. She is bloody
tough!
 |
| Post run round the camp fire |
We ran through the finish line and straight into the school
hall to a pint of cider each, this soon brought Angela back round! Once we had
eaten, the rest of the night was spent sat drinking cider round a fire cheering
all the other runners in. We all had a great evening laughing in good company
at an absolutely superb chilled out event.
THE COLBY’S - 11 HOURS 43 MINUTES
@CHARLESCOLBY1 @angela_colby
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