Borrowdale Fell Race

[FellShoeShuffler]

Thanks. Soo many too, well done.

Thanks but, apart from having a good run, all I did was paste the link

[mudlugger]

Thanks but, apart from having a good run, all I did was paste the link

Oh I thought you were the photographer, thanks for the link then eh.

[Trossachs?]

Thanks to all the organisers, marshals and fellow runners. Didn't enjoy this at all!

Walshs lost a line of studs on both shoes just where I land, so scrapped them just before the race and swapped to the Mizunos. BIG mistake!

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.

Today Ankle sore but not too swollen, but stomach and inner thighs sore from trying to keep standing while my feet wanted to separate.

Jason

[invalidpassword]

Great organisation. Well done to all.

Any results out there.....?

[Fleeter]

well that was fun,a great experience,i also got lost coming off gable but that was bound to happen when i got the map out,went to far to the right and had to climb back up to windy gap again,oh well that's what it's all about eh ,thanks to everyone who helped put it on

[GordonS]

Yes it is meant to be hard.
I knew that when I started and knew that it would challenging for me to make the Honister cut-off but I have done it before so why not.
Although my fitness has improved this year over the last couple, it was soon obvious that I was going to struggle. I normally make good progress up Bessyboot and on the more runnable stretches towards Esk Hause. When I realised that I was finding it hard work where I ought have some speed, I decided I would make a decision at Esk Hause. It got there in about 2hrs 5, a time I would hope to be at reaching Scafell Pike if I had any chance of making the cut-off. My clubmate, who has never be timed out at Borrowdale in 12 starts, had just passed me but I realised it made no sense to keep marshals and MRT out longer than necessary so made the decision to retire despite marshals and another training/travelling mate (who was not competing, having done the South Downs ultra the previous weekend) trying to convince me to go on.
I knew what lie ahead - the wet rocks en route to Scafell Pike - and having run across them in the race at least half a dozen times in the past I had no desire to do so again unless I was going to have a decent end result. I wanted to live to fight another day.
So retire I did, joined up with John (travelling companion) and we headed down to Sty Head to support the many runners both from my club and others. Eventually Ed came through and although he had no chance of reaching Honister in time he continued up Gable whilst we took the shorter route to Windy Gap where another clubmate was awaiting us and then cheered the fellow back of field runners through and ran with Ed to Honister and back to the field.
I got my good run out in the Lakes but doubt I will ever run the Borrowdale Race again (unless the mooted alternative shortened route is brought in for vets). It's not a course that I enjoy - I'm not suited to it - but it is something I am drawn to. I would have to return to the fitness of 10 to 15 years ago - and there's about as much chance of that as my beloved Huddersfield Town adding to their three League Championship titles.
Thanks Ian for posting the photos - presumably from much later in the race - finishing field?
Thing is - will I have another debacle at Sedbergh - I think I need to get out this weekend on a suitable AM or BM - enough to test but still able to recover within a week.

[IainR]

Enjoyed the race and the whole day. Felt strong throughout, strangely after feeling knackered all week after Snowdon. Went off quite fast and was lucky in having people to follow at the right sections which was defintly the key. Got to Styhead and then started to push on and passed a few in the last half. Finished in 3:14., just inside the top 20 so a nice chunk of points.

Apart from a few k over scafell and a small section on Gable it was all good underfoot. Mentally I found it a much easier AL than the Peris or Jura as once you get to scafell you only have 2 more climbs to go. Loads of short cuts to be had though. Inspired me to do the Classics next year.

[bill]

Iain... so it was you that I followed up Great Gable & led off down the nearly-the-best way to Windy Gap. Heading off Green Gable I was thinking "big path... good, iron fence posts... even better" but was still a wee bit relieved when the cloud cleared to reveal Brandreth.

That's the first time I've done Borrowdale & felt like running on the last half mile to the finish.

[Begoodenough2]

Has anyone any knowledge of where to find Borrowdale '08 results ?

As usual, speedy publication of race photos on Borrowdale website but alas no results yet. The anticipation is killing me

[IainR]

Iain... so it was you that I followed up Great Gable & led off down the nearly-the-best way to Windy Gap. Heading off Green Gable I was thinking "big path... good, iron fence posts... even better" but was still a wee bit relieved when the cloud cleared to reveal Brandreth.

That's the first time I've done Borrowdale & felt like running on the last half mile to the finish.

Were you in the Cheshire Hill Runners Vest? If so yeah, thanks for that, also saved me the climb up green gable as I didn't know about the traverse around the side.

I recced it and followed the path of Gable which was a lot worse than your route, so thanks for that.

Perfect running conditions only the clag and wet rock to deal with, but rather that than the heat and humidity of last weekend anyday!