Be and run.

Sunday, 11 July 2021

Lakeland 55k

The course is, as said before, pretty challenging! Some scarey terrain underfoot, easy to stumble and fall. I'm not quite sure which was worse: stomping up the mountains or trying not to slip on the way down on the other side. Flat seemed to mean gnarly or rocky, all of which demanding concentration. There were a few tarmac areas... Somehow they are not standing out in my memory.

It seems to be slightly longer than the 55k, we came in at 36.1 miles apparently : certainly value for money with this event. An accumulative 7,000 ft ascent, incorporating three beautiful mountain passes.

I finished in 10.35, which put me at a 226 position out of 311 finishers. I'm sure this is nothing to write home about to anyone else, but I was chuffed. I managed to finish the route still trotting and listening to interesting stories from another runner, : the best way to get in. Fab.

Saturday, 10 July 2021

Lakeland 55k, 2021

Well, just returned from the Lakeland race. Lovely day, lovely course. The hills were challenging and the weather humid. Thankfully the rain held off and the sun didn't shine brightly on us-good running weather.

I finished 10.35, to be honest I was pleased with this. Depressingly, we saw a couple of elites finish the 100k before we had even hit our start line - they were powering in at nine and something hours : how, how, how can they do these superhuman times, incredible.

Loved this day. Many good memories of previous Lake District events came flooding back, was good to be out there today.

Favourite beautiful moment had to be looking back from the top of the longest climb I had attempted for a while, Helvellyn, amazing. Favourite comedy moment was trying to take a dodgy selfie when a work colleague ran past : huge congrats to him, first ultra and a superb finishing time.

Buzzing. Absolutely buzzing.

Friday, 9 July 2021

Lakeland 55k

Arrived in the slightly moody and hugely beautiful lake district for a stab at the Lakeland 55k tomorrow. Stunning, stunning place. Did I ever say that its good to be able to breathe?

Sunday, 13 June 2021

Sunset Ultra 2021

Well. I really enjoyed this race. The event had been postponed, once, maybe twice, due to the pandemic. This version was shorter than the original race length, and a slightly different format from the event we had entered : originally we were to run through the night into the sunrise, instead we ran through the afternoon and evening, into the sunset.

I use the term 'run' quite loosely.... Maybe just propel ourselves forward is a more accurate description.

The course followed the Norfolk coastal path. Flat, a mixture of trails, sand, boardwalks, promenades. The latter third was awesome with the sea in sight and sound to our right, and the gradual sunset over the sea.

The idea of the race was to try and make it back before sunset : the sun went down on us in our last painful 5k.

Meeting up with an old running friend was an absolute blast, to share the day as well as previous running stories. The fact that he had the patience to stick with me and my still-a-bit-injured-very-slow-plod for the whole event was a testament to his level of stamina in itself.

The race incorporated four checkpoints for extra water and supplies on what turned out to be a pretty hot day. The support from the race marshals was phenomenal.

Loved this race, loved this day.