Just heard that Rick Air finished in 22:37, great effort from him!
Originally Posted by MarkClayton
Just heard that Rick Air finished in 22:37, great effort from him!
BGR #2
Firstly, a big thanks to everyone for all the kind messages of support. Really appreciated.
Last night in Keswick I lined up outside the Moot Hall feeling really confident. The mountain weather I’d been agonising over for the past 6 weeks had finally decided to play fair. My supporters all looked strong and ready for anything, I was nursing no injuries or niggles, I’d done more training and recces this year and felt I could run 80% of the route almost from memory.
After the customary posing for pictures we were off. Skiddaw in a comfortable 70 mins, 10 mins up and after a short comfort break off down Blake Hill. Took a line to the left of Hare Crag instead of the muddy slot over the top and initially this seemed the right call. This nice, grassy trod disappeared into a mire of thigh-high heather and tussocky grass, reducing us to foundering in the general direction of the CW path. Gt. Calva still 10 mins up but had to wait a few to regroup. One supporter said he was struggling to keep up so we agreed that he would make his own way back. Approaching Blencathra I could see the clag descending and by the top got separated from my last supporter and spent another frantic 5-10 minutes shouting in the clag. The Totley group had caught up and thankfully pointed me in the direction of my missing pacer. Seeing that the light was fading and the murk was quite thick I decided to descend via Doddick instead of attempting a slippery scramble down Halls Fell ridge. Easily down in under 30 minutes but unknown to me at the time my remaining supporter had a cramp attack and a tumble. I then had to endure an anxious wait of 15 minutes for him to turn up with my kit bag.
Left Threlkeld about 13 minutes down overall but reduced this to 8 minutes by the top of Clough Head. All the tops were by now in cloud which hindered navigation. Bad lines on the Dodds lost more time but no more problems until we became separated coming off Dollywaggon. Regrouped once more and clawed a precious minute back on Fairfield only to lose it with interest after Seat Sandal where we disastrously took a line too far to the north in thick clag and somehow ended up dropping into Raise Beck to pick our way down the boulder path into Dunmail.
27 mins down. Quick stop in Dunmail, change clothes, new pacers and straight up Steel Fell. Quite wet underfoot all the way to the Langdale Pikes where we at last caught sight of the Totley Group behind us after getting well ahead in Leg 2. They were clearly taking different/better lines and had caught us up by Rossett. Remained together until Mickledore where I was torn by the kind offer of a rope at Broad Stand. 8 minutes to the top of Scafell said the guy holding the rope, compared to the prospect of Lord’s Rake and the WWT. “No way” said my pacers so Lord’s Rake it was. Scafell approx. 1hr 45mins down on schedule then ran, stumbled and slid down the scree slopes into Wasdale.
Sitting down, my lower back was now aching badly making climbing painful. Noticed this on the ramp up to Bowfell but by Scafell it was plainly apparent. Taking only 5 minutes of a planned 15 minute stop at Wasdale I was up and off again with two bacon butties and new pacers for company. Worrying from my perspective, the backache aside, I lobbed the bacon butties as I wasn’t able to stomach any food by this point. In fact I don’t think I ate anything of substance since Leg 2. I took a couple of prescription strength Co-Codamol at the top of Yewbarrow to try and nullify the back pain. They didn’t come close. Red Pike, Steeple (two minutes back ), Pillar and Kirk Fell went by but I was losing too much time struggling with the ascents and gaining nothing off the other side. My pacers desperately tried to get me to eat but by Great Gable I did the mental maths and knew it wasn’t going to be so decided to abandon it there instead of hauling my Leg 5 supports around on a probable fruitless journey.
Great news to hear about Alex’s success and commiserations to Paul who looked in some distress on the way up Yewbarrow.
A brilliant effort and time from Rick, never in any doubt given the groundwork he’s put in.
On the positive side I've learned much more this year all of which will go towards supporting and helping others when it’s their turn.
Really tough luck unsafe/Lee.
We were all gutted in Keswick yesterday when we heard your news and reading what you have to say of your attempt I feel doubly bad for you, I think I know how you must feel. Hope you feel better soon.
I really feel for you Lee. You were quite a bit stronger than I was when you paced legs 1&2 for me, & I was sure you'd get round OK. I'm sure you're right to leave it for a while before another go - it's hard to argue with a knackered back. Might be worth finding a good sport physio though.
Thanks for the kind messages posted on here and on Twitter.
Sincere commiserations to you Lee. I was very fortunate to have both an amazing team and perfect conditions. Navigation was only an issue on Leg 3 where the clag was down, but with the legend that is Mike Wardle (a Leg 3 winter round supporter) leading the way the schedule kept getting chipped into, even tho I was feeling really rough on the leg. I'm sure with your back problems resolved and with a bit more luck with the weather you'll smash it. I also noted your comments about not eating. My absolute tip for success was something I heard from Wendy Dodds on an attempt a fortnight before mine- "what you eat in the first 12 hours is key" - bagels, maltloaf, pork pies, flapjack, fig rolls and yoghurt tubes and no gels/sweets - I forced myself to just a bite every 20 minutes until the clock ticked over 12 hours. Coke, Nuuns, coconut water and black coffee + honey also went down well.
Also, there's quite a bit of slack towards the end if you follow a standard schedule so a steady ascent of Skiddaw and sticking to that schedule really gets things off to the right start.
Best of luck on your next go mate.
Congratulations to all of those that suceeded at the weekend, it appears that even though the rain wasn't as heavy or as bad as every weekend in June, but that conditions were still not ideal, so huge well done all!
I am sure that those who never suceeded will be back to fight another day, as you are all strong! Good Luck for next time.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote