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 Buttermere 2008    

Buttermere Sailbeck 2008

Report from Robyn. Most pictures from Chris Nash    Picture at bottom from Mark (Mick sleeps it off).

Sunday 11th May starting at the  Bridge Inn Buttermere with  checkpoints in order at: Ard Crags 207198; Quarry Rowling End 228202; Causey Pike 218209; Crag Hill193203; Whiteless Pike 180190 and the  finish 174172, totalling 9.5 miles with 4650 ft of ascent.

What a promising day. 250C predicted, along with blue skies and amiable company and the odd thunderstorm and lightning. Despite this, there were grumbles on the bus as we rumbled along... too hot! What? No Never!

Ben managed to sleep the entire duration of the journeys there and back, while Joe H. navigated Mick Mac to Buttermere; John R. gazed pensively out the window; Jon G sat ignoring the weather and Mark B (having already had two hairs of the dog by 10h00 in the morning) entertained Roger and me with his fell filming plans for “You Tube” (very good plans actually).

After meeting up with Joe’s Paul, Steve B., Karen, Bob and Chris N., we all huddled in the shade waiting for the start of the race. Steve (having recovered from his frightening ordeal in Rivington Reservoir on Friday) even dared to get wet and dip into the stream to cool off before going under starters orders. These came very rapidly, and left John G. still fumbling with his laces and looking confused.

The start of the race was on the road and despite being up hill, was not too bad and we were soon heading our way on the fells with the sweat dripping from our brows while climbing steadily up Ard Crag.

At the top of Ard Crag, I was having a fantastic time; perfect temperature – legs hadn’t burned on the up and I was flying on the down. I could even see Mick and Karen ahead and thought I might catch them, till a slow coach hogging the narrow path forced me into the heather on that first big down and I went over on my ankle. I shall have to follow Mick Mac’s example from previous races and make sure that offending slow coaches are elbowed over the edge!

I sat for a bit, and then hopped down to the stream at the bottom of the valley where I sat for 5 minutes with my ankle in the water (which was surprisingly not very cold!). I thought Joe (who has a nasty chest and had to retire) and Bob might catch up, but I eventually decided to hobble on to the next checkpoint the quarry at Rowling End where I was offered a lift. I thought that I may as well hop the rest of the way, as it would be better than sitting sulking at the finish, waiting for everyone.

I never realised how many people were behind me until I slowed down. I wanted to cry as they overtook me. I felt like telling them they weren’t allowed to overtake me because I would have beaten them, so they should stay behind me in rank order, like in grand prix when the safety car comes out! But everyone was so sweet and encouraging, so I didn’t trip them up and I let them pass.  I got to meet Alan from Keswick fell runners who organisers the Helvellyn race. He was very sweet – all the important people seem to be at the back!

The next climb up to Causey Pike was steep and along a narrow trail though heathery stuff– but not being able to run hard from Ard Crags, the muscles still felt good, and I actually overtook people on the up! This was a first. Then came the down... I sobbed here, this was very sore – for my ankle and my pride, as I had to walk, down hill, and more people came running past.

The climbs up Crag Hill and Whiteless Pike followed the same pattern. Lots of energy and overtaking (sore ankles seem less sore going up hill than down), then slow and careful descents.

The descent off Whiteless Pike seems AWESOME and I did actually shed a frustrated tear along here. I still felt full of energy and had no where to put it. I even resolved not to have a beer at the end as I didn’t feel like I had burned off enough Kjs. Then, in the distance, through the rain and thunder (which had started up on Whiteless Pike), I saw a silver lining – Mark standing in his underpants at the approach to the finish – ever jovial despite being slightly hungover from his previous day’s success in the Belmont Winter Hill race.

The Marshal who had offered me a lift from the Quarry at Rowling was impressed to see me finish (I think he was relieved to not have to go and look for me in case I had given up). Ironically, the man who forced me off the path and to my demise finished just after me and came to apologise when he heard me slagging off slow coaches who hold up the fell – I then felt very guilty as well as sore, as he (like most fell runners) is a really ace bloke and hadn’t meant any harm.

I didn’t get the other’s result as I headed straight for the bus for a strapping and ice (strapping of the ankle that is!). But it sounds like the heat scuppered everyone except Karen who wandered around with a huge grin. EXTRA HUGE well done to Ben, who did really well to finish his first fell race – not an easy one.

Further down the road I gave in to a beer at “The Sportsmans” which was good (especially after surviving Joe’s u-turn on the A66 in home time traffic). The bar manager even brought me an ice cream tub of ice to stick my ankle in while I sipped on my bitter and listened to the post race banter.

On the return journey John R. took the wheel and delivered us back to Preston while Mick Mac and Ben dreamed innocent dreams in the bumper to bumper traffic.

Mick sleeps it off on the Buttermere bus. Picture from Mark.

Lots of fell runners break away from their original running clubs, mainly because they have no interest in track & field, fell running being their main interest. The fell running section of our club decided to have their own website, probably for the same reason. Now a V70, George Arnold is our oldest active fell runner. There are a few more of us close behind! One of our top female road runners, whilst marshalling recently at Chipping Show Fell Race commented on just how friendly fell runners are.