Race report by Josie:
Whilst holidaying in the Lake District, I took the opportunity to do this exciting new race that goes over some areas of the mountains that other races don’t. Organised by Clayton-Le-Moors, the Race is advertised as 12.15mi with 4495 ft ascent. Being the inaugural running of the race made it quite exciting as an optimum route hasn’t yet been established between checkpoints.
Starting from Hartsop there is an immediate route choice to be made to the first Checkpoint on Rest Dodd. Having reccied the route the previous week, I was happy with my choice and stuck to it on race day. I was only one of two people that chose the route I took whilst the majority went a different way, but I was undeterred.
Similarly, there were very few who chose my route up to CP2. I was confident that the route suited my strengths and happy to not follow the crowds. My independence paid off as I arrived at the checkpoint before a number of runners that were initially ahead of me.
Unfortunately, I went on to lose several places when I was determined not to follow on the next section and summited Kidsty Pike instead of traversing it then took a poor line through the outcrops on the descent ending up in thick vegetation, a mistake I vowed not to repeat from my recce yet here I was again!
The run along Haweswater was quite pleasant and an opportunity to recover as we passed through CP3 before a long stony climb up past Small Water to Nan Beild Pass and a short traverse to CP4.
From this point, all the big climbs are done with some runnable ascent to CP5 at Gray Crag before a steep descent down to the finish. Many runners were flagging at this point but I managed to pick a few off in the closing miles and also on the final descent – to the detriment of my feet! This made the run down the track to the finish line extremely painful.
It paid off though as I finished 3rd lady overall!🥉 in 2:54:44 This is definitely one for the Lakes Champs next year! Cracking race 😁
