Great Whernside

[peawet08]

I'm always a little apprehensive before a race and I don't like running in areas I don't know when it's cloudy, so it was no surprise to see the clouds on the hills as I approached Kettlewell. I'm Jinxed!

On seeing the start line and the incline that it started upon, I was beginning to wonder if two shredded wheat were actually going to be enough to keep me going.

Off I went, full of energy, what a slog up that hill, it just seemed to go on and on, then eventually, exhausted, my legs shredded I made it out of the first field . The ground was really good under foot up to Hag Dyke, but then came the boggy ground. My first step into the water and I couldn't believe how cold it was. As I plodded on the leaders were heading back down, a few tumbles too, however it always amazes me the speed at which they get to the top. Luckily only a touch of cloud at the top. I'm afraid I didn't notice Rob Jebb at the top in fact I don't recall having the energy to even lift my head up and just remember somebody telling me to head round the back and back down.

The route down was great even with my brief beauty stop for a waist deep mud bath, although it served the guy behind me well knowing where to avoid. I did take extra care on the rocks coming down towards Hag Dyke (Losing a place here) but then had a cracking run on the good ground of the rest of the decent. Finished 83rd, my body screaming for a pint!

Thanks to the Marshalls. A cracking little race and one that is pencilled in for next year (31st October for those that didn't make it this time).