Wasdale Fell Race, 9 July 2005

20.58 miles, 9000 feet, 4hrs 57 mins, 40/238. Results

A tough race as all who tried it will verify. On the hottest day of the year in the Lakes so far, 238 set off and only 133 completed the race. All went okay for me until Pillar when the exertions of the past month caught up with me and my toes started to make me wince with pain. I lost sight of the few runners in front and tried a lower route under the path to Sail Pass which was a mistake and lost me a bit of time. I fared okay on the traverse up to Beck Head and on to Gable, but then things started to go awry. My toes jabbed with pain at each step down the Breast Track and instead of overtaking the two in front as I would have expected on this sort of ground I struggled to stay with them. From then on was an unremitting slog in the heat and I just couldn't manage more than a shuffle. The heat and the two 24 hour runs over the last month just reduced me to a sorrowful pace and my poor toes which were black before the race couldn't take any more on the downhills. I lost it going up Scafell Pike and instead of being able to enjoy the last run off, it was a trial of pain with my toes and I was overtaken by 3 more runners coming down. Still I finished in under 5 hours and given my lethargy of the previous week was quite pleased with that in the conditions. 25% of the starters were timed out! Cramp struck with avengence at the finish and I struggled to get my shoes back on due to the cramp. I was supposed to be supporting Gary on a BG attempt later that evening so was not looking forward to the pleasures of Yewbarrow to Gable in the dark in my decrepit state. Fortunately Gary had given up much earlier so I was not subjected to a night of pain after the days' exertions. What joy is fell running1