The Lakeland Trails Ultra 55km had two Wilmslow members taking on the gruelling challenge.
The expected cloud cover was replaced by full sun and 26°C
Rob, concentrating on style and not show was 5th overall. As he said – First old man (v50).!
Markus found that the scenery was unbelievable and it was a very nice race.
331 runners finished 30 starters didn’t!
The Ultra 100Km race was won by a lady – Katie Kaars-Sijpesteijn! She finished in 11:27:23 the next finisher [2nd place!] was almost 3 and a half hours behind!! 85 finished that race – 23 didn’t!
Urgent race report just in from our on-the-spot fell-runner: Rob..
Lakeland Trails put on a series of popular races across the Lake District. They are great introduction to offroad running in the region. The routes are marked and marshalled and all on paths of some description. So not as hardcore as fell running; which can all too easily involve getting lost running over some desolate summit before sliding steeply down a scree or mud slope. So, runnable but not a piece of cake.
I somehow missed Markus at the start in Ambleside. It was 10.00am and the sun was already beating down as we sweated up to Kirkstone Pass. It was a pleasant run down to Glenridding where we could load up with flapjack etc. at one of several feed stations. We then tackled the long steady climb all the way up to Grisedale Tarn. Fairfield and Dollywagon Pike towered above us as we crested the hawse and descended towards Grasmere and more cake. This felt quite a long haul … but we weren’t even halfway! A long loop of Langdale, Little Langdale and Elterwater finally brought us back over Loughrigg to Ambleside. Nearly 58km and 2000m of ascent.
Despite the long distance the race was remarkably well organised and because of the multiple distance options and start waves there always seemed to be runners to chat to and overtake.
Rob
Well done Rob! Quite an achievement.
Markus appears to have far too much energy!