Cumbria Way Ultra 2019 #3

Cumbria Way Ultra #3

At mile 36 I took my phone out with the intention of asking sharon to meet me at the next available place. It was virtually game over. I had no signal though, so carried on to CP3. Could of been a very different outcome if I'd the slightest of signals.

Despite a result far greater than what I had considered,  I still feel slightly deflated about this run. 

The run itself is 73 miles along the Cumbria Way Path. It goes from Ulverston in the south of Cumbria to Carlisle Castle in the north. It has according to the race notes, 10,000 ft of climb. Though over my 3, its averaged out at 8,000. Either way its hilly, with 2 seriously big climbs. Overall it's a great route but there are stretches not as nice as others. You get everything underfoot,  rocks, gravel, water, bogs, grass, tarmac, it's all there. I do like the run though, I must do if I've gone back 3 times. 

The previous 2 outings results were 2016, 20:19:38 (30th) & 2018, 19:53:13 (44th)

Each time the aim had been sub18 hours. On last years event it occurred to me that if I lost a few pounds I could make this run more manageable and get that sub 18. So I signed up as soon as the entries opened while at the same time determined to lose weight, I did, 3 stone. In the last year running has got far better and produced far better results, but this event was the one I really wanted to crack. 

Beforehand my aims were a sub 18, by any margin, but I knew from previous runs this year, I am capable of doing even better, so if I can get around in 17:30 ish I'd be chuffed. 

The other goal, it's been a failed goal the previous two years is to leave checkpoint 3 (Keswick) by 4pm, that means you get over the highest climb in daylight.  

Was pretty relaxed the night before, we went to Ulverston,  registered and booked into the Premier Inn and had pie, chips & haggis (and maybe a few beers) for fuelling.  Slept ok and woke at 4:15, all the kit was ready and I had malt loaf for further fuelling.  That fuelling is the same on all the events like this I do. 

The kit

Back pack with the mandatory kit and my on the go fuel of sweets, pork pie, cocktail sausages and egg bites. Shoes were New Balance hybrids which I used last year and knew this would be their final swansong. Short sleeved race top. Other than 1 change of socks, I finished in what I started. 

The Run

We all (65 of us) met in Ulverston at 5:30 for our race briefing,  walked to the start and set off at 6am. 

1st leg 

Ulverston to Coniston 16 miles.

The weather at the start was perfect, it stayed that way throughout,  well, did get a tad warm at midday but at the start it was perfect. This leg has never been my favourite but this time it all went well. For the last year I have been training to Heart Rate, though I wasn't running to HR this time I hoped I knew enough to go at a low HR pace. 

The first 1.5 miles are pretty annoying,  loads of gates and Stiles. After that though your welcomed by the sight of a magnificent red sky, this year though I was determined not to take any pictures,  just crack on. There is nothing dramatic underfoot, your feet get soaked but no major climbs. 

All I wanted to do was to get here in a better time than last year. 

Arrived at CP 1 in 3:03:29. Last year was 3:18. Quicker by 15 mins. 

All felt ok, legs, body and mind were in a happy place. 

Met by the super crew of Sharon & Molly. This is Mollies 4th time crewing this event, besides the running bit, she knows it well. 

Didn't want to hang around so change water bottles and food and off I went. Hanging around at checkpoints has been one of my specialities.  

2nd leg. 

Coniston to Langdale 11 miles (ish)

Again, not the most scenic of stretches but better that the 1st. Not long into this leg when higher up you do see a nice valley with a blanket of fog laying in it. No pictures though.  Once leaving Coniston you head toward a little lake which to get to is very boggy and once there its very rocky alongside it, slow going. Then you get some tedious stretches. A long tree route section, then on the edges of an old slate mine then the dreaded campsite which I'm sure is the longest in the country, goes on forever.  Once out of that you have the last few miles which are not too bad till you reach Sticklebarn at Langdale.  

This leg saw the start of my niggle,  the niggle which is the reason I think I should of have done even better. It was a really sharp pain on the outside of my right knee, this surfaced a month or so ago but i thought I'd seen the last of it. Once at the slate mine area though it came back big time, on every downhill i went on. It was painful and was making me pull up and stop. Once back on the flat or uphill it disappeared or at worse was just there a tad. 

Was on this stretch I had a dispute with a dog owner, his 2 dogs, off lead on a busy path, everyone else I'd seen held their dogs back, not him, he just watched them run for me and under my feet, forcing me to stop. I told him they should be on a lead, as I carried on he called me a dickhead. I said I'm not the one who's not got dogs on a lead, not the one who let's their dogs run at people, think your the dickhead so f### off. 

Arrived at CP 2 after 5:12:00 , last year was 5:51 so now 39 mins ahead of last year. 

Met the girls and told them about the knee. Sharon taped it up while i stuffed my face with crisps. Changed the water bottles and food. I also had stones in my shoes so while sorting that out, i changed socks. 

3rd leg 

Langdale to Keswick. 17 miles (ish)

Not a minute after leaving the girls the tape came of, it wouldn't stick. 

This is my favourite leg of this run, it includes the first of the two big climbs. You run along a valley to a big climb, it's a Walker for sure but once up, the view is amazing when looking back at the valley. A little bit across the top then down the other side to another valley. This descent was where my run very nearly came to a stop. Its actually a very nice descent with loads of chicanes taking you from top to bottom. My knee though was killing me, 4 people passed me easily,  I'm not the best at downhill but even i shouldn't be hobbling down like i was. I didn't think the pain would let me continue and i was thinking,  if i do carry on, what damage am i doing. This was mile 36 and for the 1st time I got the phone out with the intention of asking sharon to meet me at the next available place. But I had no reception so thought I'd just carry on as best as I can till I reach Keswick.  

I saw Sharon & Molly about 8 miles before Keswick but obviously never called things off as on the flat the knee was ok. Told them it really hurt though. 

After that you head toward Derwentwater, alongside the lake and into Keswick,  for the first time for me, that stretch wasn't tedious. 

Arrived at CP 3 at 3:20 pm, the quickest I'd ever got there and the first time I'd be tackling the biggest climb in daylight.  

At Keswick after 9:20, last year was 10:35 so that's 1:15 ahead. 

4th leg

Keswick to Caldbeck. 15 miles ish

I had already clawed back a few of the people who passed me earlier and though I'm not in a race with them it is satisfying to gain places, it can spur you on. 

Leaving Keswick after popping some ibuprofen, eating a magnum and putting on a knee support that sharon had bought I was determined that I would finish this run. 

After Keswick its uphill, I really dont like this climb but least it takes me to where the girls will be. Initially I had said dont meet me here as I wanted to crack on, but I'm pleased I asked them to. By this time it was hot so had an extra drink of water. 

Its then 7 miles ish along a valley, though your on the side of the valley and at times, it's best not to look down. I found those miles tougher than I wanted. Again though, I knew the girls would be waiting for me. We have always met each other by here. It's also the first time ever, the head torch stayed in the bag. 

Then comes the biggest climb, High Pike. 

It's a tough climb. At one point I had to cross a boggy bit, so I looked at it and thought, leap from that clump, to that one then that one. My foot landed on the first clump and proceeded to sink to mid thigh. That didn't go to plan. 

The whole of this climb can only be walked, I saw someone way ahead and thought as long as I walk quicker than them I'll catch them. I did at the very top. The descent on this is very very runnable,  even for me, but my knee said other wise, and though better than the first big descent it was still slow. 

Got down though and all was ok for the last 1.5 mile to the CP. 

Arrived at CP 4 after 13:10:03, last year was 15:10, ahead by 2 hours.

Was feeling good at this time and knowing there is no hillage in the last 15 miles I could crack on with a happy knee.

5th leg

Caldbeck to Dalston 10 miles

Left this CP with the head torch still packed away. You go through a wooded section though that got rather dark and after a few miles into these 10 I stopped to put it on. Was pleased because it gives you something to do, just concentrate on your circle of light. Just as well because not much else happens on this leg. Its woods, fields and road sections. All went ok though and I was moving well. 

Arrived at CP 5 in good shape and knowing I'm well ahead of last years time. 

Arrived after 15:25:19, last year was 17:53 so 2:28 better. 

Met the girls and did all the usual things and intended on putting road shoes on for this last leg as there is a lot of tarmac but I was told not to by CP staff because if I wanted to do that then I should of carried them with me, not handed to me by support crew. so I didn't. 

Last leg 

Dalston to Carlisle Castle 5 miles. 

This is the seriously tedious leg, the riverside fields are ok but they lead to a cycle path, and my word it goes on forever. I was trying to crack on with this section but often wanted to walk, each time I slowed to walk I gave myself a talking to and carried on running. This is definitely the best I've ever done this and the previous leg. 

After the cycle path you then know it's not far to go, though if suffering, as I have previously this bit can seem forever.  But this time I just cracked on and before I knew it I was outside the Castle, shining my head torch into the eyes of people leaving a Jess Glynne concert. 

I felt good going up the castle walkway, I was still running relatively well.  Met by Molly, through the gateway where someone rings a bell to warn everyone,  then in the courtyard it's to the finish line. 

Finished in a time of 16:33:50 and 11th place. Last year was 19:54 so a course PB by 3:21. 

We get our medal and a bottle of beer with a specially designed label, nice touch. 

If I had that time aim beforehand I would of dismissed it as daft. As I said earlier,  17:30 would of been very good result for me. 

Sharon had thought I was capable of this time but I certainly didn't. 

Straight after the finish we climb the stairs, get results and pie & beans which I devoured with a beer, after a quick change that is. In 2016 I physically couldn't climb those stairs and missed out. 

All in all as I look back on it and look at the stats,  a week ago I'd of bitten your hand of for a result like that. 

So why am I left a little deflated 

Well, I'm pretty sure I could have ran it even better if it wasn't for the knee niggle, at times it really played up and was making me come to a standstill.  If that hadn't been present I think I could have ran better. Though I know I shouldn't be thinking like that and I'm not totally thinking like that, it's just taken a little of the shine of it. 

Overall I know I ran it very well, but at times it felt I wasn't running that well. Really pleased with the last 2 legs though,  probably the strongest I've been at that stage of an ultra. 

Who knows, I may have to make a return to this one, though definitely not next year. 

I am super chuffed I had no phone signal though. 

Huge thanks as always to the super crew who were superb out there. CP's went brilliantly and seeing them crop up elsewhere gives such a huge boost. Talking of boosts, a chocolate boost is probably the only chocolate I never ate. They surprised me at checkpoints with Mars bars, lion bars, twix,  wispa gold and a santa chocolate lolly, this was because there were no cream Eggs. It was a happy camp out there, despite Sharon standing on my tender toes at one point. 

It's a long old day when crewing, its tiring,  but I thank you both xx

At home now and have had to interrupt writing this to have Sausage, mash, beans & brown sauce followed by cheesecake & bubbles courtesy of Mrs S xx