Race Report by Shutters:
This race is organised by Ambleside AC, is an AM category race, is 10 miles long, 3100 ft of ascent and takes in the peaks of Nab Scar, Great Rigg, Fairfield and Dove Crag.
I ran this race last year in scorchio weather and suffered on the final few miles as the heat ramped up especially on the 1k flat stone track from the base of the last descent to the finish. I did enjoy the race but it was too hot.
Fast forward to this year and last week i ran the Coniston race in good but not too hot weather, i did suffer but that was due to me not running very well atm and returning off a 9 day holiday in Cyprus on the Wednesday and attempting to run a 8 mile fell race 3 days later. Not the best preparation. It was after the Coniston race sat at home at about 10 o’clock that i spotted the Fairfield Horseshoe race had 10 entries left and i had 2 hours before entries closed and there are no entries on the day, so i entered not knowing if something would come up inbetween preventing me making it. On Wednesday night at club i ran with Evan and James roughly around the 2 Lads route, again i was suffering as they trotted on upwards and i had to keep stopping struggling to maintain any running ability, not filling me with any confidence for Saturdays race.
I had a tough week at work and late on Friday the planets aligned and i packed my rucksack and bag all set for an early start at 8am the day after. I knew Andy Ginty was going but there was no answer to my Messenger ping so i settled for a drive up to Ambleside on my own.
However, as i got up on Saturday the wife decided to join me and make a day of it. There was lots of traffic at J36 and it was stop start to Ambleside arriving 3/4 hr later than planned at 10:15. It was a quick jog to the kit check/registration, toilet trip, quick photo with Andy then we were off. There were more runners than last year making the run to the base of the 1st climb congested and slow and again up to Nab Scar it was slow going. Once on the tops i started to pick runners off using tried and tested run the flat/downhill and walk/run the climbs, i seemed to be running better than the week before and passed Karen Moorfield going up Great Rigg. There was a slight cooling breeze but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and we were treated to great views all around. At Fairfield i saw Warren Moorfield (a good runner from Wigan Phoenix) slightly ahead and caught him up (he had a slight problem). The return leg undulates then is all downhill from High Pike where the breeze seemed to stop at this stage i was feeling the heat and only just hanging onto an Ambleside runner who was just infront of me. As we hit ground zero we turned right onto a stony track that was like an oven, the heat hit you and the breeze was non existent. I ran/walked the 1k or so to the finish being overtaken by a few runners on the way, at the finish i was doused in a cold water spray and given a cold can of lemon/lime which i slurped, sat on a very uncomfortable boulder in the lovely shade. After a few minutes i felt better and had a chat with a few runners waiting for Andy to finish.
It was a great day out and i ran well for me, a big improvement on last Saturday at Coniston and i would recommend this race, however, next year lets have it a tad cooler.
210 Mark Shuttleworth 02:15:34
292 Andy Ginty 02:34:03
328 finishers
