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Belmont Fell Race Sat May 10th B/S 4.5m/10000ft

This is my first ever race report. Belmont fell race was the first fell race that I did back in 2006, my second was the same race one year later, so I’m quite attached to it as an event.

The day after the race this year was Buttermere Sailbeck Horseshoe (check out You Tube for the short film I made of it), an inter club championship race, so there were only two runners from Preston who entered Belmont, George Arnold and myself, flying the flag with some cracking support from fellow Preston Harrier members along the way.

My family and friends always make an effort to come and support me on this race and, as I do my pre race warm up, I’m getting words of encouragement from them. Two Morris dancers pass me and I enquire as to whether or not they are doing the run “dressed like that!”. Pointing at Bolton television mast I tell them how much I like their May Pole.

The race this year is also an Inter-Counties Championship, so there is quite a turn out. Looking at the results, 252 finish the race as a whole. On the start line I find myself talking to some runners from Scotland North and insist on having my photo taken with them. I tell them that my mother is from Thurso and that I would love to send the picture up to my relatives in Scotland. We have the photo taken and take our spots on the line.

Three, two, one and were off. Running up the road past the Blue Lagoon I’m thinking “I wonder where the Harriers have put themselves on the course?” We take a left past the bridge on the road and head on straight up fell to Winter  Hill.

On this first climb I’m feeling quite good and it’s not long  (not long by my standards) before I can hear people shouting my name. Gordon The Guru, Ash, Steve, Roger and Robyn are all on top giving me full support as I put on my “ I’m trying really hard” face.  After a quick run across the ridge and down  to the boggy land, I find myself thigh deep in mud with people using me as the “avoid the nutter in the mud marker”, desperately trying to pull myself out for what was only seconds, but felt like ages. 

Once the boggy area is cleared, it’s a mad dash down hill to the pebbled road. As I get half way down this road, fatigue sets in all at once and the end begins to feel a long way off. The steep climb is still yet to come and, as I start the slow climb up to its base, I’m aware that I’m slowing fast. My mind keeps telling me that all the other runners will feel the same and that it’s a pimple compared to that horrible thing of a second climb at Pendle Hill, the one that no one warned me about.

As the approach comes to the steep ascent, I can hear my name being called out again, so I dig in, sometimes on all fours. As I get near the top, I hear Ash shout “Pace yourself!”  and Robyn shout out “Smile, Mark”, as a photo is taken by Gordon. A smile is mustered  (I’m sure that the term “it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile” is a load of rubbish) and I run off, panting out loud,  “George is behind me.” Great support from the lads and lassie.

The run is now all downhill, so I set off as fast as I can, maybe a little too early, and pass a few people on the way down. Some of these then pass me on the flat on the way home. I’m spent, but again I can hear people shouting my name, family and friends telling me to dig in and come on. At the finish is my nephew, Thomas, with my traditional Belmont Fell Race can of Boddingtons. As I stand there with the can, I know that my race is over and wait for George to finish first in his category.

Thanks to every one for their support. The encouragement was well appreciated.

Some great action pictures

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.