Wasdale Fell Race

Last year was great with a number of big event type adventures. I am immensely grateful that I was able to travel as much and share some amazing experiences but this year, was keen to get back to basics with a few hard traditional hill / fell races.

On the cards was Stuc a Chroin and Jura back in May, Wasdale for July and Borrowdale for August. The new race in that wee list was Wasdale which had captured the imagination years back but for one reason or another I'd never gotten round to getting south !

Drove south to Nether Wasdale after work on Friday and after getting the tent up, rambled over to the local pub for a pint and some food. Always enjoyed the ale you get in the Lakes and The Strands lived up to expectation. Toasted my daughter and Mum with a couple of drams then sat watching the moon for a bit before crawling into the sleeping bag.

Next morning was a lazy breakfast before the short drive up registration and the start.

Quick race brief and we were off. With 27.1 miles and 8540ft of ascent to do, a steady pace seemed appropriate although it quickly became clear the cut off times were going to be more challenging than first expected. Went through Whin Rigg with only five minutes to spare. Deciding to try and make time on the descents opened up a bit only to go "base over apex" then get snarled up with a steep gully. Finally emerged from the undergrowth with another few runners to see folks far to the left skipping down the path !?!?

Through the valley and the second long ascent to Seatallan began. The heat was getting up a bit and I tucked in behind ma pal Carrie who was just above comfort pace. Now well ahead of the cut times I relaxed a bit as Carrie disappeared into the distance. The run over to Pillar was simply beautiful.

Quick glance to the right showed the tasty section of the route with Great Gable and Scafell Pike in the distance.

The climb up Great Gable went okay and whilst I'd lost some time, happily checked in with the marshalling team and started the descent towards Esk Hause. The start of cramp was kept at bay with a gel or two and a pile of water. Starting up Scafell Pike was sore and not much more than a power walk with a short run or two where the terrain allowed.

Over the summit and there was only the long descent to Brackenridge and the finish to go. Usually the downhills are fun but my quads felt trashed and on the steep grass it was all I could do to stay upright.

Slower than maybe I'd have liked but happy to have recorded a finish and what must be one of the toughest fell races on the calendar.

Lovely touch was seeing "Iron" Joss Naylor giving out the prizes ...#brawtimes indeed.