Race report by Tony Marlow:
The day before the race we received and email from the organiser saying that the hot weather course would be used, reducing the race route 16 miles and 6000 feet of climb. Josie and I chatted on the way up to the Achille Ratti hut on the Friday and decided that we could always do some extra after the race. Just hold that thought!
When we arrived at the race parking the temperature according to the van was 29 degrees and it was only 9.30am. Ladies and old boys (men over 60) start 30 mins before everyone else due to the tough cut offs. As soon as the the climbing began it was pretty obvious that it was going to be one of those ‘non racing, happy to finish’ days. We had been intending to run together but I appeared to pull ahead of Josie. Not only the heat but the lack of oxygen in the air made the run along Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (Wasdale Screes) very difficult. A steep decent back into Wasdale and across the valley led to an interminable 1800ft climb mainly off piste to Seatallan. This was where I really began to struggle. I slowed significantly and had to stop with hands on knees numerous times. At the summit I decided that the wise choice would be to dnf as i recognised the first signs of heat stroke….so of course I pushed on! The subsequent decent and crossing of the Pots of Ashness just got worse and worse. I had several sit downs and a long dip in a stream which seemed to help as I managed to put one foot in front of the other and gained the ridge at Scoat Fell. Round the ridge via Pillar and a long decent from Black Sail Pass saw Josie pass me as she had judged the required pace much better than I. Then the final climb, a cruel 500ft back out of the valley across the flank of Lingmell. By this time Josie was out of sight and I was reduced to walking 15 steps and stopping, such was the effect of the day on my body. Down into the finish and free beer and sandwiches. There is no hiding the fact that I found this one of the toughest days out in the fells for a long while….but on to the next one!
Josie Greenhalgh 76th place 4th F50 in 5:17:21 Tony Marlow 82nd 4th M60 5:23.40
