Grisedale Horseshoe fell race

Race: Grisedale Horseshoe fell race (16.5k/5000ft/AM)
Peaks: Catstycam, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, St Sunday Crag
Time/Position: 2.20.08 (30th from 120)
It looks likely that I will miss this year's batch of mountain marathons, but I always like at least one trip to the Lakes each year: so this was a good opportunity for a late summer 'away day' with Huw and Steve. A classic race and classic hard route, despite the relative shortness of the course. It reminded me of the sadly defunct Carneddau race - only a 'medium' but tougher than many 'longs' due to the amount of climbing. It had taken me a while to recover from Maesgwm and I had no wish to damage myself (with one eye to a possible Pedol Peris next week) so took it easy throughout. As such, we all had a very enjoyable and quite relaxed day. Stuck with Steve for the path from Glenridding, which goes gently up towards the steep climb round the side of Birkhouse Moor taking the most direct line to Red Tarn. After a long, hard climb with the sun peeping through high clouds and the temperatures climbing, the ground flattens out towards the lake but then kicks up dramatically for the full frontal ascent of Catstycam. Superb running along Swirral Edge followed, with some mild scrambling up to the top of Helvellyn with the mist clearing from Striding Edge below. This was my first time up Helvellyn for 26 years: last went up in leisurely fashion via Striding Edge with the University Hiking Club in October 1988! Tremendous stuff with far reaching views over the western Lakes, and it was followed by brilliant easy running south along the ridge line, across the summit plateau of Nethermost Pike skirting Dollywagon Pike to a steep and punishing descent down to a CP at Grisedale Tarn. I took this very easy, not wanting to risk quad damage. After missing a few racing lines earlier on, I got in with a small group of local runners for the route up the fine peak of St Sunday Crag - new territory for me. They knew all the best lines, and we cut one giant corner via a tiny contouring sheep trod. On the main ridge, I felt quite good, benefiting from a relaxed start, so pushed on a bit and gained a few places as the mist skirted the summit, keeping the temperatures down. I then found the crucial scree gully which helps quickly gain the steep grass slopes down to the barn and CP at Elmhow. From here a river crossing leads to a slog through bracken up to a level path with great views across to Place Fell, before the savage sting in the tail up to the Hole in t'Wall. This is desperately steep, rather like the Blorenge at the end of Llanbedr-Blaenafon: hands and knees at times. Because I'd taken it easy it wasn't too bad, but I can imagine blowing completely here. After the stile on the ridge, a diagonal contouring line gained the outward path at Birkhouse Moor followed by an excellent fast and smoothish descent back to the finish in Glenridding. Tea, cakes and sandwiches at the village hall followed by a fine recovery pint at the Water Mill in Ings.