Having completed the Lakeland 50 in 2011 and the Lakeland 100
in 2012 I was returning to the 50 this year with my eyes fixed on a good time.
Back in 2011 I had a very tough day, sapped by heat it was a fight from 10
miles and I finished in 13:25. This year, with much more experience under my
belt I felt I could probably go sub 11 but would be disappointed with anything
over12 hrs. I ended up battling with the heat, feeling ill from 10 miles and
finishing in 13:15. Hmmmm, sounds familiar.
Well, of course I have a few excuses!
- I had a stomach bug the week before the race and wasn’t fully over it
- I don’t do well in the heat and conditions were tough this year
But ultimately what it comes down to is this.
- I thought I was capable of a sub 11 hrs Lakeland 50
- I wasn’t
I think I would have done much better at the end May, when
my running was on top form, but since then my training has been so disrupted
that an 11 hr target was simply unrealistic. I actually enjoyed most of the run
at the time but on reflection I’m pretty crushed that yet again I have failed
to perform when racing an ultra.
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| The Spartan Army pre-race start |
On the start line the Spartans were clustered together at
the front over on the right hand side of the starting pen, chatting and
laughing. I wanted to be with them but felt I just needed a bit of space so I
moved to the very left of the line and into my own bubble. It felt incredibly
antisocial but I was trying to find my race head. Having helped organize the
Lakeland 1 kids fun run this year my build up to this weekend had largely
focused on the kids’ race. The weekend so far had seen me doing my marshalling
duties, talking to the growing number of friends in the ultra running
community, visiting the Spartan family zone and even squeezing in a few daddy
duties with my own kids. Friday was just manic. So I found myself at the start
of my main A race of the year feeling mentally unprepared. I needed these last
few minutes alone to get ready for what was to come.
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| Standing right at the front (over on the right) with the quick boys |
I had a plan to get to the first CP at Howtown (10 miles)
around 1:45 so I knew I would have to put in some effort on the initial lap of
the Dalemain estate to beat the crowds. It meant running beyond “comfortable”
on the first few climbs but I felt I was holding back enough. Nick was ahead
and Andy just behind and we were very much at the front of the field, running
in space with no congestion at the stiles. When we hit the gravel track I
decided Nick was going a fraction quicker than I wanted to so I feathered back
and let him drift away.
Through Dalemain past cheering supporters then off to Pooley
Bridge with more encouragement from Terry Gilpin, Tracy Dean and Bev Notton who were marshalling along the way. I was feeling fantastic at Pooley Bridge
and was lifted further by a Spartan Flag waved by Niamh and Val Whittaker. Andy
caught me on the climb and we walked over the top together, chatting away,
admiring the views before starting the wonderful run down to Howtown.
I hit CP1 at 1:40 feeling great and 5 min up on where I
wanted to be but then the wheels fell off. I got out my poles to find that the
fastening mechanism was broken on one so I would have one and a half poles
today. Then I went into the pocket of my rucksack to get some sweets and the
zip broke. Feeling a little frustrated I checked my Garmin only to find it had
accidentally stopped at the CP when I took off my bag to fill up on water. A
mental triple whammy!
Anyway, I set off up the biggest climb of the day and
immediately started to suffer. I felt sick with cold shakes and the quads
started to cramp even before the climb got steep. The effect was so dramatic
that I think the lingering stomach bug must have played a part. I quickly (and
easily) threw away my time plan and went into self preservation mode. Having
read an excellent article on the causes of cramp I wanted to be good to
my central governor so I ate some salt sachets and slowed the pace to a stroll.
The field was flooding past, including many Spartans, but I wasn’t at all
concerned about that. I just took it easily and stopped quite a few times. It
seemed about one in thirty people were struggling around me and at least one
turned back to Howtown. Throughout the climb I was surprisingly positive and
pragmatic.
I started feeling better once over the top but eased back
into the running very gradually. I tried to treat my central governor by giving
it some gummy bears and salt and walking for a while. I was able to build
slowly to a run and felt better and better as I ran over Bampton Common.
A quick pause at the stream to poor water over my head and
fill my bottle, re-passing Hackos along the way, then a quite enjoyable run
around the lake. There were hold ups but I was expecting them this year so just
went with the pace of whoever was in front of me. I re-passed Paul C who made a comment about
me coming back from the dead. I was feeling really pleased with how I’d looked
after myself on the climb and got myself running again.
Into Mardale (20 miles in and 20mins down on plan) to the fantastic
reception of the Spartan CP crew. In hindsight I should have stopped for ten
minutes here and taken on some soup but instead I snatched a Pepsi and headed
straight back out onto the trail.
I soon caught Nick who was weaving around like a drunkard.
He mumbled almost incoherently that he had been sick and was feeling bad. I
told him I thought he should go back and take a break at the CP and he told me
he had been stopped there 15 mins. I stopped in my tracks, feeling very worried
about my mate. If this is how he looks after a 15 min break he really should
not be climbing up this mountain. To say he looked like crap is a huge
understatement. He convinced me to carry on and I decided I would pull ahead
but keep an eye on him. He actually tagged me and my worries ebbed when he
passed me towards the top! For me this climb, and all others, were causing my
quads to cramp and left me feeling weak. I slowly stumbled my way to the top.
I quite enjoyed the run down the valley but found the route
after Sadgil Farm quite lonely. This bit of track always makes me feel quite sad
during the race. No idea why. Jon and I hooked up just before the road section
and basically ran into Kentmere together (26 miles).
The CP marshals were really on the ball as always and my
bottles were filled as I sat with a group of Spartans and enjoyed a strawberry
smoothie then it was back out onto the hill. John and Jetpack passed me as I
struggled upwards. I ran okay down to Troutbeck, taking walks when the cramp
got bad, but struggled out to Jenkins Woods. I was being passed a lot and felt
quite demoralized. Then it started CHUCKING it down. The rain was bouncing but
it was lovely and cool and I stayed in shorts and vest on the run into Ambleside.
The rain meant I didn’t get the famed support as locals had scattered for
shelter but there were shouts from the pubs and families were out around the CP
itself (34 miles). I gave Mich and the kids a kiss and headed inside.
Bottles were filled by Mike and Annette Raffan while I sat
next to Nick, who was still looking rough but much better than when I’d last
seen him. I left him to his soup and headed back outside. The highlight of the
race was running through the park with Mich, Val and a gaggle of Spartan kids.
It was a scene straight out of Rocky 2, with children running next to me
hurdling park benches while an 80s rock ballad thumped in the background. It
was the first time I’ve not been able to keep pace with Alex and Josie and I
had to ask them if we could walk for a bit. Embarrassing!
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| Rocky II |
I was feeling mentally strong and once I got over the climb
out of Ambleside I had a very good run down to the wonderful checkpoint in
Chapel Stile with its lights, fires and sofas all in a marquee in the middle of
a sheep field. I saw this as a chance to make up ground on those ahead so
dibbed and headed right out into the fading light. It was a mistake and I
really should have taken ten minutes here to eat and rest. I left exhausted and
barely ran another step to the finish.
So, the walk down the valley was tiring and as I hit the
climb I was passed by a large group of runners, including Hackos. I eventually
staggered to the top, where a remote-controlled UFO was zipping about, freaking
out the 100 runners. I felt completely spent and had to sit on a rock for 5
minutes while I put on my headtorch and waterproof top and tried to get some
energy.
On the walk past Blea Tarn I was looking up ahead when I
stumbled on a rock and rolled my ankle. I screamed, painted the air blue with
curses then sat on the ground panting while the pain subsided. At first I was
seriously worried that I wouldn’t be able to walk but when I braved it to my
feet I was able to hobble for a couple of minutes until the pain ebbed away then
it didn’t bother me at all. I watched my footing more closely after that!
On the road section after Blea Moss I was starting to get
very cold in the heavy rain. Last year there was very limited undercover space
at the Tilberthwaite CP so I looked around for shelter and soon spotted a large
tree off to the side of the road. It took me about 5 minutes to wrestle on my
waterproof bottoms and gloves but I felt much better with the extra layers on.
Into Tilberthwaite feeling as weak as a kitten and I grab a
seat while I drink Pepsi and eat orange slices. I’m just about to go when a
lovely lady asks if I’d like a cuppa. Oooooooooo you know what, that would be
perfect! One cup of sugary tea later and I’m stumbling up the steps.
I was progressing slowly when towards the top I was passed
by Martin Loveless, who I ran with on sections of the 2011 L50 and on much of
the 2012 L100. We hung together over the top and ran/walked all the way to the
finish, dibbing together on the count of three. It was a great end to a tough
day out in the hills.
And so after the race was over the self analysis started. I
really love long runs out in the hills but all the ultras I’ve raced, with the
possible exceptions of my first Sandstone Trail and my second Long Tour of Bradwell,
have been disappointing. I’ve generally under-performed, dealing with cramp from
an early stage and struggling on all the climbs. Why is that? Yes, my training
was inconsistent and not specific enough this year (too little time in the
mountains) but did all those people who floated effortlessly past me on each
and every climb train better? Surely not! I’m left feeling disillusioned. I
certainly need to address nutrition; I basically fueled myself on a handful of
gummy bears and half a bar of Kendal mint cake. That’s not enough to keep
yourself going on this monster.
As a result of this race I have made a sober, pragmatic
decision not to apply for entry to the UTMB next year. I don’t want to enter another
long race until I can commit to train properly for it. With three small
children at home and a wife who will be training for the Lakeland 50 next year
I just won’t have time to commit to the level of training I think would be
needed to avoid a 70 mile death march in the Alps. Instead I’m going to take
some time out and try to re-kindle my love of running with a few personal
challenges. And yes, I will return to the Lakeland 50 one day. Hopefully third
time lucky will see me put in a run I am happy with.
Footnote: This is a rather negative blog about a day that I largely
enjoyed. I am extremely disappointed about my own performance on the day but it
was great to be out in the hills, especially with so many mates. To say I am
proud of the Spartans is a bit condescending and doesn’t actually encapsulate
how I feel. It’s great to see not only the Spartan Runners having the
satisfaction of completing this very tough event but also seeing how excited
and supportive their families were. The whole weekend was brilliant. The run
just went on a bit too long.
