Borrowdale Fell Race

My first Borrowdale, and one of the toughest races I have done. A superb event. The organisers and marshalls did a great job and the support around the course was brilliant. Thanks to everyone involved.

I arrived at Honister in 4 hours, with that 'pushed it to the end of the race' feeling in my legs - pity about Dale Head to come! The climb up to the top didn't go too bad, thanks to some encouragement from a Saddleworth runner, but the descent back down to Rosthwaite was so hard. My legs just had nothing left!

Looking forward to 2009 already though. :)

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Originally Posted by Trossachs!

I fell more in this race than all my other races combined, the shoes slipped on grass, rock, climbing, descending and contouring...

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A lot of people commented at the end how slippy the conditions were. I raced over the Scafells in the Great Lakes Runner Race earlier this year and it was far less slippy, despite heavy rain for the previous few days... Is it possible it was the 'wrong type of rain' last weekend?

Like you Trossachs, I also fell more than I usually do in races. I'm hobbling badly and have a very sore leg at the moment. I think I did more than just 'dead leg' it when I fell - I hope it recovers soon....

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Originally Posted by Trossachs!

I fell more in this race than all my other races combined, the shoes slipped on grass, rock, climbing, descending and contouring. The top of Scafell Pike was hideous, like Bambi on ice and I went over badly on my ankle. After that I just wanted to finish the second half and plodded, slowly, to the end. Mudlugger passed me through the final quarries. Sorry I didn't hang around to talk but I just felt awful.

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Yes, not easy to run on that greasy rock. Hope you are ok, ankles are the bane of my life too. You had a decent quarry pace considering the journey you'd had.
I'm hoping to be back up for 3 shires, maybe see you there?

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Were you in the Cheshire Hill Runners Vest?

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Yes that was me. The way round Green Gable seems obvious or so I thought - or at least it does in clear weather:). Part way up, I saw two runners on the path over the top of the hill so wasn't too surprised when the guys from Lochaber and Bingley came flying past on Grey Knotts. Fortunately, they both slowed up on Dale Head.

Well that was a bit of toughy.:eek:

4th fell race this year, 4th in 2 weeks, lets you know the state of prep, the words none spring to mind and oh boy did it show :o

Seemed ok at the start, up to bessy no probs and passed alot of people over to allen crags and up onto scafell. Wasn't working to hard and really enjoying it.
Suffered a bit coming down the corridor and lost alot of places but seemed to catch most of them back on the open uphill section to gable.
Did ok to the top and then the usual crap descent off, coming down into honister thigh just felt really tired but didn't think that unusual.
Up dalehead and 3:15 on the clock, not a great time but not too bad then the legs said yeah right, so struggled to top thinking I'd done all the hard work.
Headed off for the descent and legs just packed up and so did the head.
I can't explain it to myself so doubt I'll be able to explain it here but I just 'couldn't' get down the steep drop. Running down, jogging down, walking even tried sliding down on my ass but couldn't do it.
So ended up sitting at the top of the descent looking at the tarn and the finish along way down wondering WTF to do.
When and I don't know if you read this a very very nice I think it was a pennine runner stopped and bascially unloaded his picnic. Kendal mint cake, energy gel and full packet of jelly babies so thank you very very much from a horwich runner feeling very sorry for himself.
About 5 mins later managed to get down the steep slope and ambled into the finish not actually feeling that bad which made it all the more confusing at 4:45 so an hour and a half from honister....possibly a worlds worst :o
Treat myself to a number of ice creams and a pint of milk at the finish (never craved milk before?????)

and am currently walking....no hobbling around with thighs that feel like they have been used as punch bags.

Can't wait for next years race:D

When and I don't know if you read this a very very nice I think it was a pennine runner stopped and bascially unloaded his picnic. Kendal mint cake, energy gel and full packet of jelly babies so thank you very very much from a horwich runner feeling very sorry for himself.It was me. Thanks for the compliments and glad you made it down as I was wondering how you got on. All that food must have had an effect as you only finished 10 minutes behind me and you looked like you were going to become part of the mountain when I saw you! Glad I got a good deed out of the day as I got little else except a realisation that a track/road runner like me cant deal with the likes of Borrowdale, esp the ice rink at the top of Scafell Pike!

I think I was chatting with you all the way up Gable, Calf. Shame you bonked in sight of the finish, but you'll not be the only one. Watto was looking a bit sorry for himself at the top of Dale Head, so I unloaded my jelly babies on him to slow him down a bit.

The first few miles up Glaramara were a bit soggy and that took a bit out of people's legs. I was hoping for a slightly faster time, so I think that can be this years excuse :p

And results are up on the Borrowdale site

Ha ha found you.....cheers muchly...you are a star thanks so so much.

its a very odd sensation looking down a slope wondering why you don't have the energy to get down after you've done the getting up.:confused:
First time I've spent longer going up a hill than going down it :rolleyes:

Results are here:

http://www.keswicklakedistrict.co.uk...lts%202008.htm