runners newsie january 2014 a note from the editor I wasn’t really sure what to write for my first newsie editorial, but having recently returned from a muddy slog around Brikrigg Common, I think I’ll use the opportunity to pick a fight with my husband and set a new year’s resolution or two! So, Tim… before I joined Black Combe Runners, you told me that ‘the greatest thing about is that it’s ok to walk up the hills!’. I’m not entirely convinced that you were telling me the whole truth Mr. Ripper! I reached this conclusion today, after hearing taunts of ‘I can see you waaalking!’ through the Birkrigg woodland and, upon crossing the finishing line, receiving the rhetorical ‘Did I see you walking up those slight inclines, Beth…?’. Fortunately James made me feel slightly better, kindly saying that I ‘could be dangerous’ (though with the unsaid caveat of ‘you could be dangerous, if you actually pulled your finger out and tried running up the hills’!) Photo taken after my very first attempt at … a super soggy jaunt So… I’ve got the message now that around Bethecar Moor! this fell running thing actually If only I‘d known that joining Black involves some running up hills. Combe would lead to all this abuse! (What terrible news!) I suppose this brings me on to my new year’s resolutions… after a super fun first year with Black Combe, now’s the time to face up to my phobias and to set myself some goals for 2014. Firstly - don’t believe anything Tim says! And secondly - don’t freak out when you see an uphill (this is defined as anything steeper than flat!). As Hazel says, swing those arms, lift those feet and take it steady…wish me luck hey! Here’s hoping we can all be dangerous in 2014!!

Beth xx

What is it ?What ?

5 miles, 1800 feet ascent, 38 min winning time, Answer: 253 runners, 506 runners feet, 33 helpers, Dunnerdale Fell Race: 09/11/13 300 pies (50 veggie), 1,012 safety pins, 4 loos, 5 gates, 1000’s of hailstones, 1 sun, some sheep, 48 clubs, 34 Black Combe Runners…

The Two Passes

In early December I take the train to Windermere, then link back to the train home, some six hours and 30 miles away. It's a route that takes me from the station, along the main road joining the Windermere route, through to Clappersgate, then on via Skelwith Bridge and to my first stop, a watering hole - the Three Shires Inn (nine miles done, 21 to go). Here it's a nip into the gents, drink some water and carry on. 10 miles is soon passed at the cattle grid, then the real fun begins as I hit the Wrynose Pass, a 1 in 4 seemingly endless hill. I struggle on and usually fast walk it...past the Three Shires Stone, down the pass with the for company to Cockley Beck and a short stop for a nibble. I now head up the Hardknott Pass ('s steepest road hill) but it's fairly short. One of the main reasons I go this way is the good long section of downhill into the Eskdale Valley. The next few miles is quite flat, certainly for this area, as I pass Wha House (where BCRs annual summer picnic run to starts from), Boot, the La'al Ratty terminus at Dalegarth, Beckfoot and finally the King George pub bring me to Eskdale Green.

Sellafield workers A short break here and with 8 miles still to go I'm feeling it already, as I plod on through the village, up another steep hill passing forest before a are speeding descent takes me onto the Gosforth 10 mile road race route, as I pull up outside the pub at Santon Bridge with another quick stop and nibble. home, not looking The next 5km follows the aforementioned race route before a stop at the village out for a very shop to restock the bumbag with Lucozade and nibbles for the train home. The last 2.7 miles took over half an hour as the marathon point was passed a mile tired, but brightly outside Gosforth. The B5343 is not a good road for running on a Tuesday teatime, when Sellafield workers are speeding home without a care in the world, dressed Karl not looking out for a very tired, but brightly dressed Karl making his way to catch the 4:47 train home.

making his way to The train pulled in as I was 100m away, but thanks to the guard taking his time catch the 4:47 to open the doors, my run ended as I boarded rather than on the platform. It would have been a 79 minute cold wait for the next one…

train home. A good day with favourable weather brought 2013’s last long run to an end.

Karl Fursey Cumbrian TraverseTraverseTraverse

The Cumbrian Traverse we agreed I had 4 hours to complete the traverse of the familiar ground of Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, is a high level traverse of , Great End, Esk Pike, , Crinkle Crags and Cold Pike. Now without the company of Fleck, I 21 peaks between Keswick realised just how much I talk to myself when I’m out on my own on the ! Progress was good until I and Broughton Mills, hesitated on which way to approach Great End. After a bit of indecision I decided to have a look at the direct covering around 35 miles route up Great End Gully. It was a good call; nice and shady and a trickle of water down the rocks. By the with 12,000 feet of ascent. time I got to the top I was freezing and I’d scared myself. The route can be completed in either direction but I like I was very pleased to see the sun again. the sense of heading for home so kicked off at the Moot After the descent off Bowfell I was ready for the Hall in Keswick. Crinkles and I was starting to dehydrate again. I could Having decided to do it on the spur of the moment, my not remember how many Crinkles there are. I was not road support was thin. A phone call to my son, Mike, sure which were the tops and what I was supposed to the evening before, established he was free and visit. There were spiky little tops all over the place. I delighted to drive me to Keswick on Saturday morning. went to every last one of them. I was glad to put them By the time we got to Keswick I had negotiated road behind me for the nice ground across to Cold Pike. support at Honister. So at about 9.30 am I set off from the Moot Hall on what promised to be a warm sunshiny day. The first leg takes in Cat Bells, Maiden Moor and High Spy. After a bit of low level map navigation to get me on the right route to Cat Bells the rest of the day was done on sight. By the time I reached Cat Bells it was already too warm for Fleck who was seeing out the shade at every opportunity so I decided on leaving him with Mike at Honister. At a quick refuelling stop at Wrynose, about 2 hours in, I negotiated road support for Three Shires. Mike mentioned something about needing to get to a ”do” so

I arrived at Wrynose bang on schedule and after being My elapsed time was 10h20m (ish). It’s a cracking route, licked back to life by Fleck I was quickly on my way. That which I would definitely do again. was the end of my road support. Next stop Broughton Mills. I’d figure out how to get home once I got there.

The final leg ascends Great Carrs, Swirl How, , Dow Crag, Brown Pike, White Maiden, , and Great Stickle. Very familiar ground now and surprisingly quiet for such a beautiful July day. I hardly saw a soul. Fatigue started to set in on the ascent of Caw. I was carrying minimal food and could have used a bit of an extra boost but I wanted to keep something in reserve. The unmistakeable sight of Stickle Pike and the cracking view back over the lakes in the evening sun brought me back to life and the rest of the route in passed in a flash. I ordered two pints in the Blacksmith’s, one for me and one for my road support, but as he was not there I had Pat McIver them both.

! A view from the rear 1. You don't get your heels trodden on going up the hill. As one of those people who never sees the front of a 2. You don’t have to suck in anyone's garlic breath! fell race I thought I might share why I still enjoy taking 3. You enjoy the same views as all the other runners, part. Benefits of being at the rear of a race are many: just with more time to see it. 4. There is a lovely track of stud marks to follow… 5. ..and once the other runners have gone you can enjoy the silence. 6. You get 'individual' attention from the cheering crowds. 7. And even if you are last, you’ve always beaten that person on the sofa!

So to anyone who is afraid of being at the 'rear of a race', give it a go and enjoy the 'taking part'…

Claire

P.S. And you don't have to queue to leave the car park either! ☺

t orth – grey, grisly, gritty…dark. The months came and went, training continued and Darker than Mordr. Rain that falls side soon the date of the main event arrived. I’d enlisted the ways, showers upwards and seeps to help Sarah Ridgeway, a running guide from Nant Peris, N the very core of your being. Trudging to assist my first leg. Sarah advised me to take the first over mountains, brown stained with road section solo to ‘get in the zone’...this was sound collapsed and dying bracken, bogs and slithery wet slate advice. I set off at 9pm, the sky still bright with the everywhere… black dank crags and whole mountains warmth of the summer sun and met Sarah for the disemboweled by man, exposed, weeping into the dark section over and the Nantle Ridge. lakes of ‘beris, making it such a somber place. This was my experience of as a teenager. My view We climbed steadily up was to change on my return to in 2013… over the tussocky rough ground, the light slowly I revisited Wales twice last year. On both occasions my tiring and turning to an childhood dread memories were dispelled. A ‘training amazing indigo dusk that camp’ and recce at Easter in preparation for my Paddy remained until the very Buckley saw the mountains fully cloaked in all their icy depths of night descended wintry glory under arctic blue skies. as we arrived at the first Scott Young, Jamie Baron road crossing. and Anna Lupton all I was met by my balaclava and ‘buff’ clad support crew, joined me at different all resembling mercenary freedom fighters in their total points that week to view body cover to avoid the midges. I was pleasantly different sections of the shocked to be met by two ‘surprise’ support runners – route. The Glyders were my friends Simon Lahaney and Ian Barnes. The three of particularly exciting and us set off in good spirits up Craig Wen and the fell running blurred leg… laughter carried us up the slopes onto the magnificently with . , running I felt strong here and we moved well over the ridge over bullet hard neve in leading to the summit of Snowdon itself. I have an ‘Katoolah’ microspikes enduring image of seeing its peak silhouetted against a and wielding a light sky that was now showing faint signs of light. By Moel weight axe, which was an Ellio, the next day had arrived as a blood red sun crept absolute necessity! above the horizon in a haze that would soon give way to searing heat.

Llanberis Breakfast. Hazel had done a super job of sorting the supporters and laid on a spread that would ready me for the scorched stones of the Glyders. Here Mike McIver and AJ Chewter took over.

Progress was good, but on the slopes of water was scarily low…then I remembered a spring I’d used on the GL3D race back in 2007. AJ scooped the aqua vitae as Mikey and I continued on our way. Eventually AJ rejoined us and we made our way on to - so rocky and rugged. Mike McIver put it well when he said our descent was like parcour on a mountainside - the scrambly nature and athleticism …until we reached that superb quarryman’s path required to make a quick descent was like free-running. that runs below . It was deep in the We were joined by Mike Jones for the penultimate shade of the hill and the cool air was refreshing. The section over the range. The climb up Pen yr mountains had taken on that wonderful empty quality; Ole Wen was roasting as the midday sun reflected from no one else seemed to be about. the bare rock. A light breeze over the plateau of the Time passed. The going was slow, steady and the Carneddau gave me a surge of strength to claw back challenge was nearly in the bag. The light was softening time down to . again upon reaching the summit as it had done on Moel Hebog the evening before. The final section of the challenge down the track is a blur now...

In the shade at Capel, I struggled to eat tinned fruit and I had finished. 23 hours and 31 minutes. The support rice pudding…already time to go…where did those 10 crew had been beyond magnificent. I still feel I am minutes disappear? Jamie and Anna had agreed to seize indebted to them. A fitting finale was the descent into the glory leg; only and the mighty over Penyr Pass. The sun was setting, Moelwyn range stood between us and the finish. drenching the land in a dazzling golden glow like a The Moelwyns were the one section I’d not recced. The proverbial gold medal. going was tough. Cramp began to set in. I felt tired, hot Thank you Hazel, Mike Jones, Mike McIver, Jamie, Anna, and angry… Jamie seemed to be running away from us – AJ and Sarah. A special thanks to Nik and Ro-ro for their he was recceing and navigating, but I wasn’t in a good encouragement and who let me have so much time in place and Anna was magnificently patient in listening to the hills to make this round successful. my incessant grumbling. I hurt. I was sore. This had Mike Vogler stopped being fun… Stopwatch Challenge

The Stopwatch Challenge was an old fundraising run to raise money for the club to buy stopwatches. The route is now a great personal challenge, covering nearly 50 miles from Haverigg to the top of and back...

2013 was a significant year. It was the year in which I down I had a few more twinges in the knee, but it didn’t would reach the age of 60, which meant that the develop into anything serious, and we reached the road following year I would have 18 hours in which to do the in Eskdale an hour ahead of schedule. Joss Naylor Challenge. The question was, would it be I set off alone, but soon met Sue, who had sprinted possible? down from Birker Fell trying to link up with my early It had been a long time since I’d done anything that sort arrival in Eskdale. The path up to Birker has been badly of length. So, when summer came I decided that the neglected and in August was totally obscured by tall Stopwatch Challenge would be a good trial; if I could do bracken. It was thanks to Sue’s dog that we found a that in less than 15 hours, without much training, then decent route and so the JNC should be possible… didn’t waste much time – a bit ironic, as An appeal for supporters got a good response, so it was I have a reputation all set for 3rd August. At 6 am Keith set me off on a for complaining cool, dull but dry morning, and with support from Dave about dogs! P and John P I made good progress over Black Combe and to Eskdale. It was then goodbye to Keith, At Birker, Cynthia and the ascent of Scafell Pike with Pete T. We reached was ready with the the summit (busier than usual due to the Borrowdale kettle on, so I had Fell Race) faster than I expected, but on the steep quite a good feed. ascent I had a few twinges in my left knee. I had had James hadn’t yet these before, but only when descending with a heavy turned up, but Sue load on my back, never when ascending. On the way stayed with me for a Plan for the Day

Leg Route Start time Miles Total Companions

1 Haverigg to 06:00 3.7 3.7

2 Whicham to Corney Fell 06:45 5.2 8.9 Dave P

3 Corney Fell to Birker Fell 08:30 5.8 14.7 John P

4 Birker Fell to Whahouse Bridge 10:00 3.8 18.5

5 Whahouse Bridge to Scafell Pike and return 10:50 10.4 28.9 Pete T

6 Whahouse Bridge to Birker Fell 15:20 3.8 32.7 Sue

7 Birker Fell to Corney Fell 16:30 5.8 38.5 James

8 Corney Fell to Whicham 18:20 5.2 43.7 Jo

9 Whicham to Haverigg 19:50 3.7 47.4 Dave, Kath

Finish Haverigg 20:40 couple more miles. I was suffering from a lack of From Eskdale back to Haverigg was a energy and feeling sick as I traversed Whitfell for the bit of a struggle, with various problems second time, but kept going steadily and met James looking for me at . coming and going – lack of energy, aching legs, a sore knee and feeling sick, but with At the Corney Fell road we were joined by Jo, who kept me going with words of encouragement as I struggled encouragement from supporters I kept up Black Combe, feeling pretty bad. I comforted myself going and finished strongly. with the thought that even if I had to walk the rest of the route I would still be close to my original target. I So what about the Joss Naylor Challenge this year? The needn’t have worried, though, as I soon felt better on Stopwatch Challenge showed I’ve still got the stamina, the descent to Whicham and had no trouble keeping up and the club never seems to be short of willing with Kath on the last leg. There was a good reception supporters, but the knee has continued to be a concern, party waiting at Haverigg (Cynthia, Val, Keith, Dave) and more of an irritation than a serious injury, so I still don’t I finished in 13 hours 50 minutes, well inside the target. know… Thanks to all who supported me! Pete Grayson

black combe runner profiles

dave

How long have you been fell running and what inspired you to start? I've always dabbled in running. When we first moved here (1984!) we were attracted by and we did that for years. It became harder to read the small print on the maps, and inspired by my uncle (who was a fell running champ in Yorkshire) I started fell running!

What's your favourite local run and why? ... not the race route as such but the area - the views are fantastic. North you're looking up into the Lakes, west across to Black Combe and Isle of Man on a One word favourites! Do you prefer… good day, east across to Yorkshires 3 peaks and Uphill or downhill? UPHILL Howgills and south over ! Also there is Long races or short races? LONG brilliant bird life up there. I've often seen red kites To chase or be chased? CHASE (probably waiting for me to drop down dead so they Routes you know or routes you don't? KNOW can pick my bones!). It’s brilliant up there! Wind or rain? WIND

Describe your running style in six words or less! Slow steady competitive plodder

lizzie

How long have you been fell running and what inspired you to start? 7 years. My first race was in the Peak District when I What's the best thing about fell running? ...and what's was at university in Sheffield I went a long with a group the worst thing? of friends and really enjoyed it. Best thing for me is the views and the freedom! The worst thing is when the weather closes in and it rains and my specs are useless! .. and I can't even see the ground! My feet give me a lot of grief sometimes too 

What do you wish you'd known when you first started fell running? How to choose a good fell shoe! And how to keep weight down to a minimum! black combe runner profiles

One word favourites! Do you prefer…

Uphill or downhill? UPHILL Long races or short races? SHORT To chase or be chased? TO BE CHASED Routes you know or routes you don't? KNOW… Loughrigg and Silverhowe, Fairfield, , Coniston, , , Kentmere, Black Combe, Coledale, Dunnerdale, Peak District..... Wind or rain? Wind and rain?! I prefer it when it’s sunny to be honest! It wouldn't stop me going out completely, I would just run somewhere a bit less

exposed (like up the Hoad). What's your favourite local run? Out of my front door, through Ulverston, up the Hoad, Describe your running style in six words or less! down the Hoad and back. Like a girl!

What's the best thing about fell running? ...and what's the worst thing? jamie The best thing is...... it’s all good when you’re feeling good. The worst thing is being injured and not being able to go out running with your friends.

What do you wish you'd known when you first started fell running? To tape your shoes in a race! I did a race once and my shoes came undone seven times - that was pretty annoying!

How long have you been fell running, and what inspired you to start? I've been fell-running about 3 ½ years now. I started running at the beginning of 2010, training to do the Coniston 14 (which turned into the Coniston 14+ because the bridge had been washed out at the end of the lake …that extra 2+ miles was a lot!).

black combe runner profiles

I had just started doing yoga and met Will and Sue there, they encouraged me to come along, which I did eventually and was 'hooked' completely after my first social run from Duddon-forge. Caw was my first race the following week and I won a large bottle of beer (that was all the encouragement I needed!) ☺

What's your favourite local run and why? I love the Coniston range but my favourite training run is the Coniston race route. It has it all, condensed into a couple of hours hard work (long hard climbs, ridge running, steep technical descent). I love to stop at Swirl Howe and take in the views of the central lakes. And What do you wish you'd known when you first started you don't get your feet too wet! fell running? I wish I'd known to start earlier. What's the best thing about fell running? ...and what's the worst thing?! One word favourites! Do you prefer… It's a bit of a cliché but the best thing is the friends you Uphill or downhill? UPHILL make and the inspirational characters you meet. I love Long races or short races? MEDIUM-LONG the humility that some of the world's best athletes To chase or be chased? BE CHASED seem to have....an attitude which seems to hold strong Routes you know or routes you don't? ROUTESI KNOW right throughout the whole fell-running Wind or rain? RAIN community. The worst thing is meeting (the very odd) person who isn't so humble. Describe your running style in six words or less! I like to go for it!

London Marathon 2013

It took me four attempts to get into the 2013 London challenge of getting below 3 Marathon. Main ballot – failed, BCR ballot – failed, lost hrs 30. If I achieved that, she to Helen Gee in the BCR run-off ballot, but then (just as would donate double the I had convinced myself that this was no bad thing), money! In 2008 I’d managed Helen phoned me and said the place was mine if I 3 hrs 25, and in 2010 had run wanted it! So training began… 3 hrs 31 - I would have my work cut out!

I decided to run for WellChild again, a charity that looks On the day after sick children in their homes. On the day of the Stocked up on pasta and porridge, I collected my 3:30 marathon, WellChild give you great support and there’s target wristband (Michael was very gung-ho and said I even a buffet and sports massage at the end! should be aiming for a new PB - so I also picked up a Preparing for the marathon 3.20!)… …and off I went!

Training was off to a good start with a boost of warm The support for the weather (on our Christmas holiday to Egypt!), before London Marathon is I was beginning to back to the Lakes for the winter training league. ‘That’s fantastic, hundreds of suffer, consistently Lyth’ followed - a fun 23 miler with checkpoints stocked people cheer you as going over my 8.00 with snacks, cakes and drinks! you pass. I felt really minute mile pace. good approaching I suffered my first niggle at the Roanhead WTL and had halfway and was I really had to get to pull out. I couldn’t then risk the Keswick – boosted by the huge Buttermere 22 mile run, which had previously been my head down… numbers at Tower really good preparation. The harsh winter also made Bridge. It was great to see Michael and Philippa around training difficult, with cancelled races, icy tarmac roads 18 miles, but four miles later I was beginning to suffer. I and snow drifts blocking the bridleways. On one outing, was consistently going over my 8.00 minute mile pace. I sunk to my chest in snow and trudged home, unable to For the last couple of miles I really had to get my head carry on. I just had to hope the training I’d managed down and with just under a mile to go I spotted the was enough… 3.30 runner ahead - this was it!! I made a determined Amongst those who kindly sponsored me was Sue Ross. effort to close him down towards the finish… Now Sue does like a bit of sport and she set me a At the end, the steps to the Sports Café was agony because of cramp - the post-run sports massage and buffet couldn’t have been more needed! Then I found that, despite my last ditch attempt to catch the 3.30 man, I had finished in 3.30.11. Failed by a miserable 11 seconds to achieve my target! However, on reflection, I have to recognise that I am getting older and applying the BCR handicap system of 1% for each year over 40 this 2013 run was arguably my best. Good luck to Richard, Karl and Andy – and don’t put yourself under too much pressure by setting a tough a target time! ☺☺☺ UK Fell & Hill Relays 20th October 2013 Llanberis

Get your race face on!

This year’s UK Fell & Hill Relays were held at Llanberis, North Wales. Despite the (very!) autumnal weather, the Black Combe teams put in great performances… we had 18 runners, many spectators, various dogs and a well broken gazebo!

Leg Total Position Category Runners Leg time Place Time (in Category) Ladies Leg 1 - Jo Francis Nichols 59:49:00 35 59:49 35 Ladies Leg 2 - Jackie Casey & Lou Lyness 02:06:23 26 3:06:12 28 Ladies Leg 3 - Anna Lupton & Hollie Orr 01:42:53* 1 4:49:05 13 Ladies Leg 4 - Hazel Tayler 01:14:22 26 6:03:27 14 Vet 40 Leg 1 - Jamie Baron 47:30:00 20 47:30 20 Vet 40 Leg 2 - Peter Tayler & Mike Jewell 01:49:47 22 2:37:17 21 Vet 40 Leg 3 - Pat McIver & Nick Sebley 02:08:04 19 4:45:21 21 Vet 40 Leg 4 - Phil Clayton 58:24:00 13 5:43:45 20 Open Leg 1 - Richard Watson 41:37:00 32 41:37 29 Open Leg 2 - Michael Jones & Harry Stainton 01:32:11 26 2:13:48 28 Open Leg 3 - Mike McIver & Tim Ripper 01:42:54 18 3:56:42 25 Open Leg 4 - Gareth Brown 58:10:00 48 4:54:52 29 * Please note that this is one whole second faster than the Open team’s Leg 3. ☺

Winning Teams

Ladies (39 teams) - Bog Trotters - 5:02:26

Vet 40 (26 teams) - Borrowdale - 04:29:25

Open (101 teams) - Dark Peak - 04:02:00

And of course, no account of the 2013 UK Fell & Hill Relays would be complete without this photo!

Many thanks to Karl Wooffindin from Totley for capturing this moment!

SkyrunningSkyrunningSkyrunning

Natalie White, Team Manager at inov-8, first mentioned The International Federation officially Skyrunning to me in 2012. She talked about the World defines Skyrunning as: “the discipline of mountain Skyrunner series of races, how inov-8 were going to co- running up to or exceeding 2,000m where the incline sponsor the series and how they’d need a tight band of exceeds 30% and the climbing difficulty does not exceed athletes to represent them. That’s great, I thought, all II° grade. Ski poles and hands may be used to aid very interesting. A few months later, I find myself progress”. I’ve not yet tried poles myself for fear of running up a mountain in the Pyrenees in the first crippling someone (probably myself) with them, but I Skyrace of 2013 with a Team inov-8 vest on. You just might have a go next year. Imagine turning up at never know what’s round the corner, eh? Middlefell with poles? You’d be laughed out of town!

If you’re thinking “What’s skyrunning?...Sounds a bit To qualify for the Sky series, I had to do a minimum of 3 like marketing hype for fell running to me”, well there is races. I planned to do 4 to give me the best chance of quite a lot of hype and marketing, but in essence the scoring highly. First up was a trip to the Pyrenees in races are exactly like Black Combe races: running up May for the Zegama-Aizkorri Maraton (distance 42km, and down beautiful mountains as fast as you can. ascent 2,736m, descent 2,736m, max. altitude 1,551m), a beautiful course in Spain’s Basque country over the The difference is that Skyraces happen in places like the Aizkorri-Aratz mountain range. I absolutely loved this Alps and the Pyrenees; they include runners from all race. I got three-quarters of the way round feeling over the world; they are raced over good, well- strong in 6th place but unfortunately my knee became maintained tracks and trails; the routes are marked troublesome on the steep descents so I had to drop out (controversial, I know!). Skyraces are also run at very to avoid serious high altitudes, so oxygen deficit is a much bigger issue injury. than up Caw; they have big brash names like the Mont Blanc marathon and Matterhorn Ultraks; they usually Disappointed and have very nicely-stocked food and drink stations rather humbled by because the races are often stupidly long; the entry fees the severity of are extortionate but the goodie bags are excellent; they Zegama’s descents, have helicopters flying overhead to capture images of I returned home the bedraggled runners below; finally and best of all, and got physio they often have pasta-parties the night before and just treatment on my plain party-parties the night after the race. We should knee like my life introduce these into Black Combe races! depended on it. A month later it overall. I was gutted to have let the team down and was time to head to concerned, as my knee was now swollen and sore. Chamonix in the I had an ‘interesting’ week spent icing my knee and French Alps for the experiencing a broken down campervan… and then a Mont Blanc broken down hire car! I finally made it to Zermatt the marathon (distance day before the race, in time to carb up on pizza with the 42km, ascent rest of the inov-8 team. The race was the Matterhorn 2,511m, descent Ultraks (distance 46km, ascent 3,600m, descent 3,600m, 1,490m, max. max altitude 3,100m). It was longer and the altitude altitude 2,201m). higher than anything I’d ever done before. The views The marathon went well; it was much flatter and more throughout the race are unbelievable; you have to runnable than Zegama, with a lung-busting 2km climb pinch yourself to check you’re not dreaming. I fared to the finish at 2,000m. I was cautious after my well, despite the dodgy knee, finishing 4th overall. experience at Zegama, and ran very conservatively for 4 hours. I remember ticking off the last 10km thinking, I’d been joined in Zermatt by this race is running out too quickly, I’ve left it too late to Jamie, Fay, Pete and Hazel. It catch up. I was around 37th position in the early stages was great to have their and finished in 7th. I like to race that way, but in company after a few weeks on hindsight think I could have gained 6th place if I’d paced my own. Jamie and Pete ran more confidently and attacked sooner. the race too. Jamie unfortunately had to pull out There was a two-month gap until my next Skyrace and, halfway with various niggles with unpaid leave, I drove my campervan to the Valais (it’s the kind of race that finds in the Swiss Alps to train. It’s the sunniest valley in your niggles and brings them out with a vengeance). Switzerland with great trails and steep mountainsides. I Pete did great despite a fall which left him with an did some low-key mountain races and travelled over to impressive cut cheek and black eye. We celebrated by Poland to race in the World Long Distance Mountain having a beer in the poshest hotel in town, which cost Running Championships. The day was over 35◦C, so the same as a small house in Barrow. training in the hot Valais had prepared me well. I was chuffed to come 5th and with Helen Fines, Holly Rush I spent the next six weeks training hard for the last Sky and Jo Buckley, we won team bronze, making the race and trying not to lose the form I’d built up over the cobbled ground and stifling heat worthwhile. summer. Before I knew it, it was time for the finale, Limone Xtreme in Italy (distance 23.5km, ascent After Poland I had a for GB in the Italian 2,002m, descent 2,002m, max. altitude 1,621m). The Dolomites. The Dolomites are my favourite place in the race is on the beautiful shores of Lake Garda; it takes universe; the mountains sweep up into the sky so you up the steep cliffs next to the lake, around in a loop dramatically with such sheer rock faces that you and then plunges you back down to the finish at the wonder how they don’t fall down. The trails are dry and shore. At the top of the final steep descent with 5km to runnable, the weather is generally hot and settled, go, three of us were in joint 8th place. We descended there are places to get a cappuccino everywhere… like maniacs on the rocky path and I couldn’t believe a 3 At the relay our mission was to win, despite strong hour race had come down to such a close finish. I international competition. Mary passed to me with a was really pleased to finish in 6th place, meaning I was ten second lead over the Italian girl. I was going well 5th overall in the series. until I bashed my knee on a boulder, leaving me So a summer of hard effort, brilliant experiences, lots of doubled over and swearing under my breath while the lessons and some great memories. I can’t wait to do it pain subsided. Frustratingly, two girls overtook me and I all again this summer. If this has whetted your appetite hobbled the rest of the race, handing over to Helen in to try a Skyrace, or any mountain race, in the Alps, all I third position. Helen is a demon descender and got the can say is go for it, you won’t be disappointed. fastest time on her leg that day, putting us in 2nd place Caw DownhillDownhill!!!!