For those of you a little less familiar with Fell races, they are categorised in two ways -
- A = not less than 50 metres of climb per kilometre, no more than 20% on a road, at least 1.5km in length
- B = not less than 25 metres of climb per kilometre, not more than 30% on a road
- C = not less than 20 metres of climb per kilometre, not more than 40% on the road, should contain some genuine fell terrain
- L (long) - over 20km
- M (medium) - over 10km but less than 20km
- S (short) - less than 10km
Having spent some time perusing the FRA Calendar and having developed a reasonable understanding of how it works through Simon's endeavours and marshalling many races, I have identified a number of races I plan to have a go at during this 1000 mile year - fell miles should really count double though.
I started on New Years Day with the Giants Tooth, 5km and 120 metres (BS); Ovenden 13km and 366metres (BM); White Holme Circular, 13km and 366metres (BM); and Stanbury Splash, 12km and 400metres (BM).
This Saturday I planned to run Black Combe, 13km and 1000metres - AM - still an OK distance but a change from a B to an A. It is also a counter in our Club Fell Championship. Up in the Lakes, bound to be beautiful, a good day out! What could go wrong?
I chatted about doing it at a night race on Thursday (4.8miles, 50minutes 53seconds, with Blue the Dog - very happy!) with a few friends. On reflection, nobody described it as 'runnable'. We did talk about the difference in Lakeland races and the sheer size of the fells in comparison with our relatively tame moorland. I wasn't quite convinced I would do it, less so when Caren said she definitely wasn't doing it for some very rationale reasons including - it's 'ard.
The following 48 hours saw a short facebook exchange resulting in Caren convincing her friend, Sharon, that they would do it. All agreed that we'd meet up in the Lakes the following day.
We arrive later than planned (must look at how far places are before we set off) and Caren has kindly already registered Simon and I. Being able to see only a fraction of what lay before us as most of it was covered in low lying cloud was probably a blessing. As we assembled at the start, the cloud cleared and the (almost) mountains loomed before us. Oh my goodness what have I done?!
We walk across a few ridiculously muddy fields, ankle deep in claggy mud before we've reached the start line.
Our club have managed to muster four ladies to wear the red, white and green hoops. But, in the spirit of inter-club co-operation I'm planning to run with the Wharfedale ladies!
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| Left to right Keighley and Craven: Katie, Karen, Camille, Livi Wharfedale: Caren, Sharon |
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Our club has many ladies who run far better, faster and further than me. But what's clear is that most lack confidence in their own abilities - they talk themselves out of doing things before they've thought about the possible and believing that they can. Physically they could all do it and finish way ahead of me.
Our club has many ladies who run far better, faster and further than me. But what's clear is that most lack confidence in their own abilities - they talk themselves out of doing things before they've thought about the possible and believing that they can. Physically they could all do it and finish way ahead of me.
I have an advantage over my limited physical ability - I've spent 20 years living with someone who's always done slightly crazy and extreme things - walking up big mountains, Rogaining, climbing, caving and so on ... always a bit on the hoof, rarely planned and never trained for. If I was pushed I could use the compass and map I carry in my bumbag and I know I'd get out of trouble one way or another. The women I was running with have that same grit and determination, a belief that they can. They are also way fitter and physically stronger than me which is why out of the six of us pictured here I was last - a massive 45 minutes behind Katie who was first Keighley Lady - an awesome run.
Back to the race - we started, away up a lane, through a gate and on to the Fell. A track set off to the right winding it's way up the steep fellside. Rather than follow this inviting looking path, we ran almost vertically upwards straight across the fell. Approximately 1800 foot of height gain in 2 miles. Less than a mile into this climbing - hands and feet tearing into the moorside - unable to see the top but overawed by the string of feet and legs above me trailing away into an unending distance I said "I really don't think I can do this" out loud for all to hear.
A response from above me came down, "C'mon Livi, yes you can, you can do it", Sharon's warm and encouraging words reinstoring a sense of self belief and on I climbed / crawled up the fellside.
At last it levelled out and the way ahead stretched ahead as a 'runable' track steadily climbing up. The track didn't last long before the route took us back off across moorland and the gradient steepened a little. I'd started to get my breath and legs now so was feeling OK when the volley of hail stone missiles began lashing against me. Screams and shouts came out of the mist and fog that had descended in minutes reducing visibility to a few feet ahead, if you could open your eyes enough to see without having your eyeballs pierced by hail.
The post race evidence of just how vicious this hail was - Simon's legs - and as I write 24 hours later they still don't look much different.
Checkpoint 2 loomed into sight and we huddled by the trig point, sheltering from the onslaught and pulling on full body covers to shield ourselves. In the few minutes we spent sheltered from the weather the trail of runners in front of us had vanished from sight leaving only open fells ahead. With no well trod path from this point and no runners to follow a group of four set off, the hail tempered to sleet and the wind reduced to a small gust.
That was quite a scary mile or so. Being on the fells when the weather comes in makes you realise just how vulnerable you can be if you don't know how to navigate. It's very easy to wander off course and soon find yourself completely lost!
The weather cleared and opened up a panorama of Lakeland Fells down through farmland to the sea with it's yellow beach.
Stunning scenery as we ran - yes ran this bit! - across the ridge and round before descending a steep fellside - as steep as it was to get up here the descent was almost equal. This is where you need to let your inner child free and let go - I'm learning but Caren is way faster and crazier!
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| The fell facing was the first mad descent to a stream - I managed to over take two people down that only for them to catch me back up on the hill that was to come! |
I slowed so much on this ascent I lost sight of Caren and Sharon. There was no way I could keep up. This meant I left the last checkpoint alone.
Setting off running after such a long steep ascent, my legs felt like they belonged to someone else. Wibbly wobbly with no strength or control. I bounced over the springy heathers until I hit the shale path and both ankles went opposite ways and I found myself sprawling across the path soaking up the stream flowing over it. After ascertaining I was only bruised and a bit battered but not broken I set off again - feeling safe in the knowledge it was less than two miles of downhill descent to the finish.
Every muscle in my legs, bum and back screaming at me, legs like jelly and completely out of control I fell a further three times before it levelled a bit more and the finish was in sight. A slightly oddly dressed man came into view just beyond a fork in the path - thank goodness Simon had walked up a bit and I knew which path to take to the finish!
Two wonderful ladies checked me in at the finish line, my dibber dibbed at a finish I really thought I wouldn't get too many times during the hardest 8 miles I have ever run. Huge hugs with Caren and Sharon who had finished strongly some 10 minutes ahead of me and cheered me in at the finish - thanks girlies! I finished 191 / 197 in 2 hours 28 minutes and 44 seconds and very pleased I am too (although on reflection I think I could have done better!).
I'll never under-estimate a race with an 'A' in the listing! Would I do another one? Of course! Anniversary Waltz next month .... must get my entry in!
The next couple of weeks will bring The Windmills Whizz and Keighley 10km will feel quite tame after Saturday but both still challenges - not least as I have to attempt to run faster than my 14 year old son who has promised to woop me!
Two things to finish this blog with;
1. A MASSIVE thank you to all involved in organising fell races. The Marshalls and Volunteers at Black Combe were just brilliant. Sitting around in extremes of weather isn't fun (I know from experience) but all of them were so kind, encouraging and supportive; and
2. If you're waiting to see if I'll see this challenge through before sponsoring me I'll just say 179 miles in 2 months, with a rough guesstimate of 15,000 foot of climb (almost Mont Blanc) in total must be worth something at this stage to keep me going?! https://www.justgiving.com/teams/1000miles
Huge thanks to everyone who has already sponsored me or made a pledge - really appreciated and you are helping some amazing causes.
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