The Outdoor Warehouse

Race Report: Lake District Mountain Trail, Kentmere 2010

So I competed, or should I say took part in yesterdays Lake District Moutain Trail. It was held in Kentmere this year & as always, it was a tough day. This is the first time I have run in this event & I wish I had been a bit fitter. But hey, ho, I completed it & for my money my time was quite respectable considering I haven't been running much. The field of runners was the mix of usual hard core with the lower echelons of the fell running community battleing it out amongst themselves. It consited of Ian Barnes, Jon Deegan, Steve Birkenstall, Joe Mercer,  etc and some of the older generation of hard men where there too, like John Brocksap, Joe Faulkner, Mike Walford & even Joss Nailor was there for the shorter version.

The day was perfect for running & conditions under foot, although there had been alot of rain the night before, were excellent too. In one part this was great, as I needed all the help I could get, but I never got to wear my Montane Spektr top (on test for a few weeks), but there'll be plenty of wet weather to give it a go, plus the Rab MM is on the 25/26th Septmember... so it maybe needed then. I was given an early start time, an indication of not being up with the top runners, good runners are given a late start time, so they have to catch up. The route went from Kentmere Church, up onto the side of Shipman Knotts & over to the quarry at the head of Longsledale, then up over Harter Fell, descending down to Small Water. From here there were 2 choices, of which most people, including myself, went up towards Blea Tarn & up the ridge to top out north of  High Street.

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The other option was to run down & along the west shore of Haweswater, but this meant losing alot of height. From the top of the ridge we turned north to run to Low Raise, just N-E of High Raise, then back on ourselves to the Knott over-looking Hayeswater. Down from here to Hartsop & then staight back up onto Hartsop Dodd & up the ridge to Caudale Moor. Ian Barnes & several other passed my on the ascent, looking strong.  This almost killed me, it was a major slog to reach the top of Hartsop Dodd & I was on jelly legs for the next few miles. Over the top of Caudale Moor & down the other side to the valley between Troutbeck & Woundale, from here there was a couple of chioces again. The fittest (and I have only heard of a couple who did this - Jon Deegan & someone else) ran down into Troutbeck & straight up the side of Ill Bell to drop over the otherside. I opted for a hard traverse round to Threshthwaite Mouth holding my height through the crags at the head of the valley (I may have been the only one to take this option), others ran back up onto Stonecove Pike & down to Threshthwaite Mouth. From here we headed upto the Beacon, where Steve Birkenstall came marching past, and down the ridge of Froswick & Ill Bell, passing them on the west-side.

Here was my final straw. I hadn't realised the next check point was 500ft from the top of the ridge line. A cruel twist of fate. So dropping down the nicely position scree, which took the sting out of it, we then had to climb straight back up onto the side of Yoke. Its was straight forward from here, as we did the start of the Kentmere Horse shoe in reverse (the original way). From halfway round I was struggling with cramping calves, jelly legs, banging head & lack of fitness. But I managed it & true to form, got good adrenaline rushes in the last mile, which carried me falsely, but quickly over the line to a typical sprint finish. Amazing course, excellent day out, just wish I had been training more & as usual I have come out of it saying.... I will train harder... lets see if I do/can...

The results for the 2010 LDMT can be viewed here

Kit used:

Charlie