Race Report: Lowther Trail Race

 Lowther Trail race is one of the few cateogry C races  (those of less steep gradient) on the FRA calendar. It is also the unofficial dog race of the FRA in England. I am not sure the FRA know that though. Not to keen on dogs are the FRA... 

I have run this race a couple of times and I love the route. To my mind, it offers a selection of the best bits of trail and fell running. To be honest, I guess it is more of a trail run as there is nothing overly technical in the whole race. But there is a mix of fast descent, long steady up hill, boggy and bouncy footpaths across moors, a river crossing and some views that will tkae what little breathe you have away. Oh and it starts with a decent cafe and toilets. I have reviewed it before in 2020 when it was one of the first races to try and make a comeback. This was the day after we got out puppy and life changed for the chaos, but even then I said we would run it together one day. But then I missed the 2021 race, it was too hot on the 2022 race for the dog and finally I came back this year. And this time, dog boy came too. 

There were a handful of dogs on the start line among just shy of 120 starters. There were also the usual smattering of very serious runners, though with Burnsall Classic and Sedbergh hills on the same weekend, I didn't spot too many big names. However, neither were there a lot of proper fun runners. It was a selection of the moderately to quite committed. We'd had a cup of tea in the cafe, parked nice and easily and used the clean and sensibly numbered loos multiple time. Oscar had made a few friends and someone was chatting serious labrador chat with me. Funnily enough, the race organiser didn't mention the river crossing, which given the recent rain, I'd have thought was going to be key. 

But then we were off, dogs baying, legs tramping the springy grass on the gap between the trees down the hill to the road. It was longer down the hill and then along the river than I remembered and I tried to control the dog in the crowd though he kept running right next to legs and I kept having to apologise. I was falling towards the back but that was fine. I still don't feel super fit after Lakeland 50 and I am struggling to hit my training stride in the week. Oscar was pulling like a good 'un though so we were making reasonable pace. The river at the bottom of the slope was looking pretty full and I was quite glad I wasn't planning a swim. The rain was letting up though. 

Climbing through Askham there were a few more cars than normal. Most were patient as we were still quite bunched. I was mostly surrounded by older people but this is normal for me. I tried to keep the dog out their way. We gradually climbed past the pubs and idyllic houses of Askham to a few cheers of marshals and supporters. At the top of the village I noted they had put rocks in the space we used to  park and marked it private, that was annoying but oh well, i suspect someone does indeed own it. 

The climb to Heughscar hill was done at a run walk. The wind was picking up even if the rain had stopped. People wriggled out of waterproof jackets and clutched caps as we climbed through the fields and towards the trees. Oscar freaked out at the noise the trees were making and the roar of the wind so there was some fussing to keep him going. He'd probably follow me anywhere, which was in fact tested later in the race. 

Eventually we reached the very windswept marshal on the top of the hill and circled the cairn diligently. The views across Ullswater here rarely disapoint though it was difficult to see Blencathra in the cloud. 

Then the first little decent was fun, though it is more tricky with a dog and I am nowhere as good on the down as I used to be. But we wiggled down towards the cockpit on slightly greasy mud and stone paths  before dropping past several tourists and joining the upper part of the Ullswater Way for a short period. Oscar stopped for a wee and the man i had just over taken laughed. Ah the joys of the dog run! 

We soon departed for a smaller track undulating across the open upland.At times the puddles were big and at times they were boggy. The wind was less down here but still noticeable.We skipped and tripped through long grass, puddles and mud, Oscar and I often disagreeing over which way to go. I was running almost in a little group with us all stumble tripping over different bits. But I was jsut so grateful to be there with Oscar. I am not sure he felt the same.... I corrected one competitor as he nearly missed the gap in the fence as we went down to a slippery bridge and then back up the otherside on equally slippy mud. 

Towards the water station I think the rain came in a bit again, not much but noticeable. I didn't take water as I was carrying some. As we turned off the road after though we hit the boggiest section and my shoes were now filling with water. The unfortunate thing was they are goretex lined and so once full of water tend to stay that way so I was sloshing through most of the rest of the race. We managed the bogs fairly effectively but the decent in to Butterwick was pretty slow as I was worried the dog was going to pull me over on the mud and grass. Oscar also wasn't loving the thistles and was trying to run next to me on the single track path. Safe to say, it was not my fastest descent in to Butterwick and I think we moved behind a few people. 

There was a little cluster of supporters at Butterwick, one of whom offered water for the dog. The fact he'd been drinking out of the puddles meant he wasn't fussed but I thanked her anyway and set off across the field towards the river. The first year I did the race, this  field was pretty much flooded but this year the path was mostly in tact but with a few deeper puddles and streams. I could see the river marshal ahead and people both on the bridge and climbing the opposite bank. Knipe scar isn't that high but I remembered it being horrible when we ran it before in the heat so i was dreading the next section. The two people ahead of me headed for the bridge but I asked th emarshal if the dog and I would make it across the river. 'Yes,' he said,'but he'll have to swim'. Oscar loves swimming so we veered left to the river and the rope set across it. My feet were swimming anyway...

The river was deep but the cold didn't bother me. Oscar splashed in next to me and was immediately picked up by the current. I pulled on his bungee and his harness bagged up around his ears (its not very tight fitting). We began walking across, Oscar drifting a bit and paddling like a nut, me fighting to stay upright with the water up to my thighs. At one point I tried to grab  the dog a bit closer by letting go of the rope and using two hands but I think nearly couldn't get hold of the rope and the river was pushing me down stream. Fortunately I got it again and we made it across the river in one piece. One person said I was brave going over the river; foolish maybe more accurate. But its part of the fun. 

We climbed the first ridge in the mud towards Knipe scar but the descent was very slippery. It was all coming back to me but Oscar was back pulling and we ascended the scar relatively well. The zig zag path didn't feel as long and the climb in to the nick was easier given I didn't have heat stroke this time. On top of the scar the route had been changed so we ran along the edge to get the views which would have been marvellous if it wasn't for a really strong wind blowing us across the top of the scar. It was running but it wasn't fast and I was tiring. The shelter of the guaze and the wall was gratefully received.

The next bit was longer than I remembered. Also the pastures felt less kept though the path was fine. There had been a second water stop before the turn which felt new too. MAybe I had been a bit sunstroked last time I did this. We just kept trundling along, trying to keep up with those in front but Oscar was getting a bit tired. I was tired too. I wondered if we could run all the way to the end which was less than a parkrun away. Hmmm

Eventually we hit the top farm and began the long descent to Whale. This is mostly on track then road which was fine except I had to keep going around the cattle grids for Oscar and a few people over took us as I diverted, stopped, opened the gate, brought Oscar through and then closed the gate, and they just trotted over the cattle grid. This would continue until very near the end. Oh well. The track above Whale farm seemed eternally long and I think I bonked; perhaps a banana was not quite enough to run on. But we pushed on to the farm, through on to the wooded track and then along to the riverside path that would take up to the final hill and the castle. 

It was probably a jog, with both Oscar and I knackered. There was the odd family of walkers coming down from the castle but more importantly, the sun had come out! The river slowed by so fast next to us, and I could see the walls of the gardens up the steep slope to the right. The last climb is always a cruelty but I ran some of it and marched the rest. It wasn't as long as I rememeber and flattened out a bit at the top. And then we popped out the woods (another cattle grid gate situation) and were on the final track around the castle walls and in to the gate to finish. Martin waved and encourage the dog towards him and Oscar gave a last little wiggle and pull to take us to the final dibbing post. I had a PB by over 5 minutes! Dog power! 

Then it was results, check in, chatting and time to head back to the car for dry clothes. So often I wish for beautiful days in the Lakes when the reality is that it is going to rain, but you can dance in the rain with your dog and the sun might come out later.