Monday 13 August 2012

Borrowdale Balls Up

This was meant to be my big race! Somewhere this year the plan came off the rails, in fact it crashed and overturned. I won't go into the whole catalogue of excuses but it boils down to insufficient time on my feet at the wrong intensity.

Anyway, the race. Quite a few of us travelled up together and discussed the route and approach in detail. I'd descided to start pretty quick to avoid the crush then slow down to a pace that matched my fitness. The weather seemed promising although there were some warnings of thunder storms. As planned I moved quickly after the start until the start of the climb up Bessyboot. I slowed down and happily let folk past, trying to stick to my plan. At the start of the climb I was about sixtieth. I was determined to climb to Esk Hause steadily and enjoyed a bit of banter as we went. I did notice my heart rate was high for the pace I was going. I wondered if the speedy start was to blame.
I think climbing Scarfell Pike I started to feel slightly under the weather. Was it the heat? There are plenty of other excuses available! Down the scree okay and onto the Corridor Route. I seemed to be maintaining my position along here but thought I'd follow Jackie Winn on a few little trods, I think he's a bit nimbler than me, I'd have been better off on the path at times.
Gable. First half of the climb was fine, I chatted to a Peninne runner picked up a bit more water. Some mates were on the bottom and they gave me encouragement as well as some jelly babies. Second half of the climb I slowed considerably. I started to bleed places but wasnt overly bothered as I was still moving and my expectations weren't too high. On the flat towards Grey Knots I kept moving reasonably well although I was starting to get hints of cramp. Desending down to Honister my legs were suffering and just before the car park Pete Booth; 62 and Cieran Carr; 68! Came past me. Onlookers may have been puzzled by my gerning expression and hobbling or I dare say they'll have seen a few others who also had a crippling attack of cramp.
I should have called it a day there and then, why I didn't I'll never know. I won't go through all the miserable details but I walked and sat more than I ran up Dale Head and through the mines. It took me over an hour and a half to get back from Honister. Friends who I normally beat by quite a margin trotted past me, some concerned, most amused!

I eventually finished in 4:45, can't remember the position and don't want to look. The post mortem; better planning, probably with more mileage and be a bit less greedy with races. I'll be back next year!

Sunday 5 August 2012

Rydal Round

Still not seen the results for this but did come in third V40. Ran it about 8 minutes slower than the last time I did it 2 years ago, taking 5 minutes more to climb to the top.
It's a great race with all the atmosphere that a gala race has and a cracking route. I wasn't concerned with running too hard as I know I'm just off the pace a bit with patchy last few months of training and more than half an eye on Borrowdale. Most of the climb was in the flag and I found it probably more difficult than I should. From the top I turned with a runner just behind me and although I've been up there more than a few times I had my map and compass out to make absolutely sure I went right. I must admit I got a bit tetchy when the guy behind started quizzing me about the line. He didn't have his map out! I decided not to go over Hart Crag as I remembered following two Ambleside runners on a decent line contouring around it. Maybe the fell gods wanted revenge for my tetchiness but it didn't go well, it got very scambley and I almost got crag bound! I don't think my shadow followed me so maybe he had the last laugh. I emerged back on the path way behind a runner I'd past half an hour ago.
I decided I was trying to be too clever I maybe I should just enjoy the race. Needless to say my new found easy doing attitude back fired. I followed a couple of guys down the wrong line after wrong line. Now up until this point I'd not been really pushing the pace but as I emerged from behind the wrong side of Low Pike and x club mate who I'd left behind at the start of the main climb appears in front of me! We get on but there's history and banter; I was not happy to be behind him. So pushed on  very very hard now. Although not really part of any plan I enjoyed a final section of the race that saw my heart rate climb to an impressive 195!
The £10 prize was spent on a sausage sandwich for me and some fudge for the wife. A great afternoon was spent debriefing mates and watching bike races and wrestling.