Brathay Windermere marathon 2014

After the Keswick Mountain Festival marathon Melanie spent some of the evening looking at youtube videos about how to tape up her knee. I tried not to get cramp, but failed at this...

I woke up feeling much better and ready to run, it is amazing what a good night's sleep can do. Melanie wasn't too bad, but she wanted to try the K-tape. We went to Brathay and found some tape to buy and I tried to put it on as per the video. It wasn't as easy as it looked to avoid getting kinks in the tape, but I got it on with some minor kinks. Neither of us had a great deal of faith. As it turned out her knee was fine all the way round. Could have been coincidence, but you never know ...

We saw the awesome 10 in 10 runners including Rentboy and Kaz and lots and lots of Fetchies and one other clubmate from Durham. It was clear it was going to be another hot day, but at least the route is pretty shady.

We decided to run separate races for this one as we knew we would probably run out of steam at different places. Melanie gradually pulled ahead but I found myself catching her gradually after Hawkshead and I caught her at about 6m when she had stopped to stretch. We then ran on for about 5m together. After that I slowed a bit and she disappeared and I didn't see her again.

The traffic was much lighter on the way down to the bottom of the lake which was good. The third quarter I always find hard, not just because of the undulations, but because of the traffic. There is no pavement, the road is narrow and two way traffic means that cars are passing very close to you. It was slowed down by convoy cars going up and down at 20 mph, but it still felt risky. However, this year the organisers had made it largely one way (though there was less traffic going south so maybe that was restricted as well), which made an enormous difference. Not sure how they achieved this, it must have affected lots of people, but hats off to them, it was great.

My running of this section was poor though, the after effects of the previous day, poor training and the heat were taking their toll. It thought I might try for sub 5, but I missed out by just under 2min. I wasn't disappointed, on Saturday afternoon I couldn't even see myself starting ! Melanie had a much better second half than I did and came in with 4hr 38min, a great performance on her first double 

My eighth time at this one and I will definitely be back, it has such a lovely atmosphere and it is beautiful 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/okVHndszceVtUmqa6

2013 blog : Lisrun: Brathay Windermere marathon 2013

Keswick Mountain Festival 42K 2014

As usual we had entered the Brathay Windermere marathon for this weekend. Then we came across this event and we looked it, ferry across Derwentwater to start, all off road, up to Honister, down to Buttermere and then up the Newlands valley back to Keswick. Melanie was keen, but I pointed out that is was a day before Windermere. And then I said, well we could do both ... and as it was some months away and I think Melanie quite fancied doing a double, it was agreed !

It's almost three years since I did four in four days and maybe I was a little overconfident. Melanie had better preparation than me, we went out for longer runs the day after our last three marathons and I didn't manage the last one (half marathon distance) because of too much work. Ah well, nothing else to do but to give it a try.

It was a fully marked course and we obtained a GPS of all three routes (there was a half and 10k), redrew it, downloaded it to our Garmins and we were ready. We arrived at the landing stages at Keswick and there were thirty eight runners (fifty had registered). There are thirty nine people in the results and I think the last person started late. The vast majority of the runners were under forty, male and looked very fast. I could see us being at the back and soon after the start we quickly lost sight of the main field. We did overtake one runner, but I don't know whether he finished. We did come across some of the main field who took some wrong turns, but they soon quickly disappeared again and after the first checkpoint we didn't see any other runners.

The route was marked every 200m with red flags (an enormous effort for so few runners) and we ran down the lovely east side of Derwentwater and on to Grange. Shortly after the campsite at Grange we were presented with a dilemma. The main path clearly went away from the river and that is what I had plotted and downloaded to our Garmins. However there was a flag showing the way alongside the river and further along, another one. Okay, its that way. However, no more flags, so we decided that someone had moved them and cut back to the main path. A little later a group who had gone much further than us along the river and got wet feet, caught us and went onward. Just outside Rosthwaite there were more moved flags. The organisers had warned us this might happen here, so we followed the route on our watches and started the long slog up to the slate mine at Honister and the first checkpoint.

Then it was another slog up the dismantled tramway (it was a clear day and the views were great) and then down into Warnscale Bottom. We had hoped for a runnable descent, but it was rocky and full of loose stones. It was beyond our capabilities to run down that and we got to the bottom with shaky legs from having picked our way down. Then a lovely run round the west side of Buttermere, into the village. It was very warm by this stage and it was starting to take its toll.

Then another climb away from the road round the shoulder of Rannerdale Knots (fantastic views of Crummock Water !) and then a plunge downwards to the road again just past Hause Point and the second checkpoint and halfway. We were carrying two bottles of water each and with the heat and scarcity of checkpoints, I am so glad we decided to do this.

Then we went up into Rannerdale. The organiser said there was a surprise here and it turned out to be thousands of bluebells. I normally expect bluebells to be in woods, but there were none here, they were just out on the fell. Amazing.

We continued upwards alongside Squat Beck and then contoured round Whiteless Breast. Although this was downhill, the path was slanted down the hill so it made for very uncomfortable running, especially for Melanie who had sore ankles going into this event.

Then it was another contour round Bleak Rigg. At the start of this is a steep climb and at this point I realised I was in trouble. I had to stop walking to recover. I have never had to do that before in an event. It was probably the heat with no shade. We had caps on and had re-applied sun cream but the relentless climbing and heat had got to me. Melanie suggested dipping my cap into the becks we were crossing and that worked well. However, at that point my mind was saying to me - it would be crazy to do Windermere tomorrow, you will be lucky to come out of this without heatstroke.

We continued up the totally deserted Sail Beck Valley, no roads, just birds and the sound of water. Just lovely.

Got the top of pass between Sail and Ard Crags and then another testing descent into the Rigg Beck valley. This time there was less rocks, but it was steep and loose rock. I managed to lose my footing once and ended up on my ass, but no damage done and finally it became more runnable and we came to the third checkpoint near Birkrigg. Then some quiet road and southwards down the Newlands Beck valley (between Maiden Moor and Hindscarth) down the east side and back up the west. Then along the base of Catbells towards Skelgill and after that the final checkpoint. Most of this was runnable, but I had very little left so it was run/walk for this section.

Then Silver Hill, Fawe Park, through Portinscale and the Cumbria Way and back to the finish at Crowe Park in Keswick. Seven hours. I have never broken that barrier before ! Definitely the toughest marathon I have done. Beautiful route and I am so glad we did it, but I am not sure we shall be there next year ...

My legs were cramping most of the evening and Melanie's knee was very sore, so it wasn't looking good for Windermere the next day, but I have been like that before and I know a good night's sleep can make the world of difference. Melanie's knee was a little more worrying.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/dx4VNgLQjdJjMxpG8

Valleys and Views 26m 2014

After running the inaugural Hartlepool parkrun on Saturday, we then drove down to Stamford, a place neither of us had been to before. What a lovely place. We wondered around, drank coffee, ate a meal and just relaxed. Definitely worth a visit.

Then on to Corby to spend the night before the main event of the weekend, the Valleys and Views, an LDWA event. This had three different distances and we had opted for the 26m route. This event was a little unusual because there was no route description issued before the event and no map available either. So we had no idea where we would be going. On arrival at registration at Wilbarston Village Hall, we received a route description and there was a map on the wall with the route marked. We marked up our map (which we hardly used) and waited for the start (runners weren't supposed to start until 10). However, we found out that the reason for runners not starting until 10 was to ensure that the checkpoints would all be open for the runners. As we wouldn't be running fast, we set off at 9.20 roughly - our starting time was recorded and off we went on our own. A lovely way to start.

The course wasn't marked at all and we largely navigated using the excellent route description. It was a very undulating route, almost all off road. Sometimes the path was indistinct and sometimes it went straight through fields of crops. One particular field was full of oil seed rape about a metre and half high. As we approached it we could see the bobbing heads of runners in a mass of yellow. Quite a bizarre sight. We assumed there must be a wide path, but it turned out to be very narrow and you almost had to brush aside the rape to get through. Melanie loved this section.

There were three checkpoints. The event details said there would be basic refreshments, but there was more food than we expected. Also each checkpoint had lollipops which Melanie could not resist (this was definitely an event in which to discover your inner child)

It took us a bit over 3 hours to get to halfway, but we speeded up in the second half and finished with 5hr 48min. Often you get a meal at the end of LDWA events, but this time we had to pay extra for food. The entry fee for this event was only £4 so this seemed more than reasonable ! Egg on toast was available for £1. The bar in the village hall at the end was also open which was a bonus. There were a few people I knew from the marathon circuit running this event and it was good to chat

A lovely run and well worth the drive down from Durham.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/M3ZMHoXBXDS7Y9sc8

Hardmoors Wainstone marathon 2014 - my 100th

It was great to see so many Striders at Chop Gate on Sunday for this event. The weather turned out to be better than forecast with only a couple of light showers while Melanie and I were out there. Without a doubt, this was one of my toughest marathons. The first twenty five yards from the village hall were flat, then it was straight into one of the steepest climbs on the route. It took us 23min to cover the first mile. The first half was very tough, with six biggish hills. At halfway it felt like we had run a marathon already. The second half was a little easier, two biggish hills and two long drags upwards. The drags would have been runnable if our legs had not been so trashed from that first half.
 

There was some great performances, particularly Paul coming in third overall having started near the back with the rest of the Striders. Jules and David were next in, followed by Andrew Thompson (who has hardly run at all in the last four months). Then Melanie (completing her 25th marathon in less than two years !) and myself (gaining my age category prize as there was no other v60s running). Then Sue showing her usual determination and grit. George and Anne came down to watch and Phil was marshalling and Anna was helping with registration and giving out the medals. Anita and Mark did the 10k although they arrived after we had started and finished hours before we got back.

People had gone to a lot of trouble to acknowledge that it was my 100th marathon and I was very touched. Somebody had put notices around the village hall, it was acknowledged at the briefing and I was given race number 100. Somebody also arranged a card and got people to sign it. It was all a bit overwhelming.

Running wasn't a major part of my life until 2003. When I joined the club in 2005, I was of the mindset that at the age of 54, I was too old to contemplate running a marathon. However, I soon realised there were members of the club who were older than me and running marathons. I also started to learn more about running marathons through the running website fetcheveryone.com where I record my training and races and have met many of my running friends.

I heard stories of the London marathon but as I had completed the Great North Run many times, the thought of a crowded race in a city did not appeal. Then a club member, Colin Blackburn I think, sent round an email about a marathon that was being revived, the Windermere marathon. I think this was in October or November 2006. The thought of running round a lake was much more appealing and May 2007 seemed a long way away, so I entered. May 2007 came round and I was on the start line having completed a training plan ! It all went amazingly well until 22 miles when I started to struggle, but I made it to the finish. My children were there to watch and I uttered the words 'Never again'. I saw a few people with 100 marathon club tee shirts at that race and could hardly believe anybody could run that many marathons.

I didn't run any more marathons in 2007, but once 2008 dawned I forgot the pain of the training and those last 4 miles and entered Windermere again, plus one or two other marathons. I also got a last minute place in London with ten days notice. And since then, it built up to 2011 when I did 30 marathons or ultras. I have cut back a bit since 2011.

I aim to keep running marathons and short ultras. Achieving 100 marathons to me is just passing a milestone by the side of the road, I want to keep running long distance events - I enjoy them, they keep me fit and I don't have to train for the events if I do them regularly. I am a poor trainer. I probably won't get great times doing it that way, but I am not motivated by obtaining personal best times. I have done one sub-4 marathon (Blackpool) and I am happy with that. Our next marathon is in less than three weeks and we have a double planned for May, so there is lots to look forward to !

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/pf5SuGjdGnFSzhve9

NEMC Handicap marathon 2014

The North East marathon club specialises in cheap marathons. When they were being formed about five years ago, there were no marathons in the North East. There are now plenty of marathons in the area, but the club survives as its prices are low for its no frills events.

George Routledge

The cost of entry to the club itself is just £8 and included in that is a discount for entry into the club's races and today's marathon was for members only and was free to enter. There was also a free buffet afterwards and all finishers received a medal. A bargain !

Today's route took us from the South end of South Shield's promenade and up onto the Leas (familiar to many people as that is the finish area for the GNR). The route followed the coastal path past Marsden Grotto and Souter lighthouse to a car park where there were drinks. A slightly different way back across the Leas and back to the start, where there were more drinks and bit of food. Repeat another three times.

I was expecting it to be pretty flat as I have run round there before in events such as Pier to Pier and the South Shields parkrun, but on shorter races you don't notice the undulations. Melanie and I were fine with them on the first two laps, but I noticed them more on the third lap and I was very aware of them on the final lap !

The weather wasn't great, fairly thick fog which never lifted. It was also pretty cold as Phil Owen found when he came to give us some support - thanks Phil !

I tried out some baby food in sachets as a new approach to fuelling. Not a success, I felt a bit sick after the second one. Melanie also didn't like them.

A small field, but everyone was very friendly and waved as they went by. The route wasn't marked, though we had written instructions, but many people weren't looking at these and managed to go wrong. We made one minor error on the first lap, but we still ran more than marathon distance.

Melanie did well on her first marathon since her stress fracture on 1 January and as she was feeling fresher than I was, she went on ahead on the final lap and came in with 4h 33min. I did 4h 51min.

Shame about the weather, it would have been great to have seen more. This was my 99th marathon, which is hard to get my head round. My 100th and Melanie's 25th will be next Sunday at the Hardmoors Wainstones event.

There will be more than just gentle undulations at that one ...

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/9cpGxUM5d1T3XSDr6

Golden Fleece 27.5m 2014

Melanie and I did this one last year and quite enjoyed it. I say 'quite' because there seemed to be a few long straights which I usually find a bit dull. However, apart from that, it was an enjoyable day out. Typical LDWA event, lots of friendly people, cheap, lots of food at the checkpoints and a basic meal at the end.

Last year I struggled a bit, I think I was just tired. I also didn't know the route and the last two or three miles surprised me (it surprised a friend this year and he has described it as like going through a portal to Switzerland!). This year, I was going to be on my own as Melanie didn't want to risk her recovery by doing too much too soon. Also my longest run since the Hardmoors 30 on 1 Jan was 15m, so with both of these things, I expected to struggle again.

It started cold and misty, but villages, attractive churches and checkpoints appeared regularly. 

There was no pain in my calf, so all was good. I managed to rescue about eight people who missed a turn and ran and chatted with them to the next checkpoint where the 17m route parted from the 27.5m route. They all went off on the 17m route and suddenly there were very few people about. In the mist this was a bit eerie, but after about two and half hours the sun had burnt off the mist and it started to warm up.

I was remembering the route well and I was enjoying it, the long straights didn't seem as long as I thought they might be. There was hardly any mud. I was walking the long uphill stretches but that had been the plan all along, I didn't want to risk doing any damage to the calf and I was after time on my feet.

Switzerland arrived and went by without too much difficulty and I was soon back in the village hall. Nowhere near as exhausted as I had been last year and much to my surprise, only a minute slower.

A lovely way to spend half a day !

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/6aRnNo3UeDpVjLg2A

Hardmoors 30 2014

I have done this route four times, three times as the Hardmoors 30 and once as the Hardmoors Princess Challenge. The Princess Challenge was run in September and I enjoyed it much more than the January version - the weather was better and there was no mud.

The route is not all mud by any means. There is a fairly flat four miles (apart from a steep descent at the end) south along the Cleveland Way followed by another four miles back to the start at Ravenscar along an old railway line. However most of that is uphill which has a draining effect. But this section has only a little mud.

From Ravenscar, you then join the mud free railway line on a mainly downhill stretch to Robin Hood's Bay, then still on the railway line a climb upwards before a lovely descent into Whitby. Then you navigate your way through the crowds at Whitby, up the steps to the abbey, join the Cleveland Way and follow this all the way back to Robin Hood's Bay and then onto Ravenscar.

It feels like a race of two halves, the first 20m to Whitby is a bit testing but nothing too serious. I usually go past the Abbey at about the four hour point. Then the difficult bit starts. The Cleveland Way undulates a lot as it follows the edge of the cliffs and in the January version there is lots of mud. This usually has an awful effect on my race time, it has often taken three and a quarter hours to cover the last 10m. I managed to shave almost 30 minutes off that in September.

Yesterday, surprisingly the mud felt different from previous years. It seemed it was more of the liquid variety and fairly hard underneath, so it was possible to make reasonable progress through it.

What made yesterday so hard was the weather. The forecast was that the wind would pick up and it would rain heavily from about 1. This started as we approached Whitby, but the wind was behind us and we were sheltered so it didn't seem so bad.

However, once we got to Abbey and were on to the cliffs, we realised how hard it was going to be. The wind was very strong and directly into our faces. The rain was stinging our faces, so it was hoods up, head down and battle onwards. Not a lot of running happened on the stretch to Robin Hood's Bay. As we got close to RHB the wind seemed to increase and there was one bit where it was particularly bad. Melanie was attempting to shelter behind me to get a break from the wind when we crested an undulation and felt the full power of the wind. I grabbed a nearby fence pole and attempted to get traction through the mud. It was hard I wasn't making much progress. I turned around to check on M and she had been blown about twenty yards backwards ! I went back for her and made her hang on to me as we made our way from fence post to fence post. Flanker and KinkyS who were just catching us at this point had similar issues and another runner had to get on all fours apparently. I am not sure what geographical features led to that point being so bad, but it didn't feel like a gust of which we had had plenty.

We got to the RHB's bay checkpoint and were told we were going back via the railway line rather than the cliffs. As we were seriously cold (in spite of a waterproof and two layers) this was a relief and we warmed up as we made our way to the finish and warmth and food In 2011 after finishing I said never again. After the 2013 race Melanie and I certainly said 'Never again' and we have done so again since finishing yesterday, so will we back next year ? Who knows ...

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/41pNsdGZ2r2P8UUV6