Race report by Checkers:
Coniston Fell Race
Early at Marks this morning forgot about the loud door bell and promptly woke everyone up including me😮 sorry. Waited for Tom to arrive. We arrived nice and early. So time for a natter and loads of cake and be quite chilled out.
Josie and Rachael came up the day before.
Race time?
The weather was good not too warm and breezy
Now for the hard work the very looong climb up Wetherlam. This goes on and on forever. You begin to lose the will to live🥺. I arrived at the top in 1hr 4 mins. There was a 90 mins cut off at Swirl Hause, didn’t need to worry I got to Swirl Howe in 93 mins after a scramble up the Prison Band avoiding a large group of Irish trekkers. The views off the top were fantastic looking towards Morecambe bay with The Old Man of Coniston directly in front. I had a good steady run along the ridge staying on the western side contouring round Brim Fell avoiding the hard stoney path. Had a good Hiya Checkers from Sam who was Marshaling. I arrived here in 2hrs 7 mins. Thinking I can do this in well less than 3hrs.🤔The sensible way down is to follow the Quarry path. However the runners way down is just anyway down. And the route off the top is not straightforward lots of boulders small crags and tussocks and very steep. Quite difficult to negotiate. I was enjoying this although a little slow. Eventually you come off the steep slopes. Not far now just follow the Quarry path???!!!! 🤔 Typical me I have my own ideas, I know I’ll just follow the walkers over a stile? On a nice trod away from the stoney path. Thinking it would run parallel, it didn’t??😮 Soon had to come off it, by now in my Parallel universe. I could see where I needed to be. All I can say is I like bluebells and bracken .🤔🤔😅. Eventually after a little bit of trespass I made the finish from the wrong direction trying to sneak in behind team green still waiting for me. Amazingly I wasn’t last😅😅😄 finishing in 3hrs 7mins
Once back at the carpark looking back at the mountain I could see the exact route I had taken🤔😒. The good thing was I felt good and no horrible aches and pains 😄. I think Tom had the best race pipping Josie on the run in. Mark complaining that none of the race was enjoyable, too much sun, food and ouzo😄 days before. Don’t know about Rachaels race but did learn a lot about her and Stephens dog Loki. Josie got 2nd WV50 she’s so good.
