Thanks to the summit marshals today, it was crap, rain almost from the off and hail on Eel Crag. The ascent of Eel Crag was slippery and the descent was lethal, i slipped on a slab and over extended my back which plagued me for the rest of the race. I found a number of good lines off to the left away from the rocks, it was a long way down if you slipped though. I was behind a young lad from kcac for miles, he was solid on the rough stuff and though we both passed tens of others i couldnt get him.
I was in the lead out of the farm gate after the horn, which was fun, i just took off like a stabbed rat. I decided to be polite and moved aside down the farm drive.
There's a couple of cracking photos on facebook of you tearing out of the field with some big names in your wake!
I'm a fan of a quick start if there's a flat section, particularly on shorter races.... 10 seconds gained in the first half mile of valley is just as worthy as 10 secs gained on a climb, and if you're chasing pb's by a matter of seconds rather than minutes, can make the difference.
Coledale.jpg
It took a few seconds before any of them would pass me on the way down the drive, i think they thought i may have been capable of leading the race further than the first gate. TBH i don't really know who any of those people are, but i know Steve Smithies is running well and i never managed to catch him.
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent
Far left is Jack Agnew of Mercia.... regular top 20/30 scorer in the English Champs, wins most of the Shropshire races he attends.
Centre is Brennan Townshend who won the race.
Eden vest is i think Johnny Cox, who has finished quite high up in the Y3P in recent years and another "championship" level runner.
Sam Tosh multiple English/British champion hiding on Mr B's left shoulder.
A fried (who is definitely more of a track/road/XC) runner did Coledale a few years back and was in the lead at the turn off the road to the quarry, alongside Ricky Lightfoot.
He finished 100th.
Last edited by ba-ba; 27-03-2023 at 09:15 AM.
Nic Barber. Downhill Dandy
Looks like i came in at 79th pos. so not too bad. My back is hurting quite a bit, mainly because i insisted on a bike ride the following day.
Deep fried or shallow fried? No wonder he dropped off the pace so much, his feet must have been peeling a bit.
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent
Looks like you had a good run there MrB....
Beat Dave Lund of Ambleside who has was running well last year, and Chris Jackson Glossopdale, who i've had many a battle with.