Race: Heart of the Lakes Rydal Round (16k/3300ft)Time/Position: 1.55.27 (40th from 108)
You don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and it was pure fluke that my end-of-leave-year micro break coincided with the famous 'Ambleside Sports' on the last Thursday in July. I only found out about it at the last minute, just before I left home: a special day that celebrates traditional Lakeland events like Cumberland wrestling and, of course, fell racing. So although I was planning three relaxing days in the hills as a break from all the recent road running, I couldn't let up the opportunity to do such a classic race. This was partly also because one the few gaps on my 'classic Lakes race CV' is the Fairfield Horseshoe, which this is a version of. I've walked and jogged it a lot, in fact I first went round it way back in 1988! Normally, I wouldn't have done 11 miles in the hills the day before a big race, but I wasn't bothered as the last thing I wanted was to hammer a hard fell race given all my current road running priorities. After a full breakfast at the Grasmere hostel, I enjoyed the leisurely bike ride down to the sports field and had a coffee while I waited for the race, the first event of the day. A great atmosphere, and more or less perfect conditions, warm but not too hot with a light westerly over the tops. We left the field and headed to a level track that leads to Rydal and from here the main climb up and over Nab Scar begins. This was a bit hot and stifling, and is steep and hard throughout. I felt fairly good, however, although I was inevitably miles off the pace given the obvious fact that I have been focused on short, flat road races for several months. From Heron Pike, I really enjoyed the entire ridge up to Fairfield. I got all the right lines, the views are superb, and I felt comfortable, reaching the summit in a little over the hour. The descent was a different story, sadly, tricky and rocky over Hart Crag and then fast running down to Dove Crag led me to think I was on for a decent time. But the descent then becomes awkward over High and Low Pike. It's been decades since I did this bit of the ridge and I had forgotten it. There are a few tricky rises and some awkward ground, including the bad step and some rocky tracks. I was also caught by a familiar face, Neil from Warrington, and we had a grand old battle down to the sports field, which I lost! We had a pint in the sunshine as the other events took place, and I then cycled back to the hostel for a relaxing evening. A great way to conclude an eventful month.