Having run canicross style at a few races (and parkrun when it was allowed), it is a bit bizarre that I haven't yet done a proper canicross race... until today!
Lakeland Paws are in the second season of holding canicross events in the Lake District. They started out with the Whinlatter course but rapidly expanded to use Grizedale forest and Dodd too. These are all Forestry Commission sites I have previously visited, and I love them for their mix of path and forestry tracks, as well as things like parking and loos. They have marked walking and running trails, including a half marathon trail at Whinlatter (a discovery I made this weekend; previously it was just the 5km with a 10km pending). However, it is worth noting that for the next few months, several of these trails will be closed or rerouted due to forestry works; this is a working forest after all.
In order to be in Whinlatter bright eyed and bushy tailed at 9am, I opted to stay at Penrith Travelodge. The staff at this Travelodge are usually very polite, and its cheap by Lakes standards, but it isn't always the quietest with the A66 running right outside, usually several dogs and also the Burger King/Gregs next door. I might have made use of the latter but the dog isn't allowed in so after a not great night's sleep, I made do with awful UHT milk in tea and some fruit for breakfast and head up to Whinlatter.
It was foggy as we pulled out on to the A66. The wet weather has finally abated for a time and left colder air in its wake. I'd had to scrape my car windows twice to get the thicker ice off of them. But as we went past the Dacre turn we suddenly popped out of the fog in to a beautiful, clear, frozen landscape. Emerging from the cloud inversion, the Lakes stood in absolute beauty ahead of us, with just a smear of cloud clinging to the side of Skiddaw. I had to force myself to keep my eyes on the road; it was just stunning.
We arrived at Whinlatter forest without incident. They had asked for dogs to be kept in the car during registration and also for briefing and Oscar is not good at this. Fortunately he did not widdle in the car at either point and it was very quick to register; this is not a mass participation event! We were handed a dibber, and then it was kit phaffing, loos etc. until brief. The brief was quite brief (mercifully as I was worrying about Oscar in the car) as most instructions had been emailed out before hand. There was a note about ice on the course and not going out too mad due to the risk of slipping. As far as I know, there were no major incidents.
The next section was an uphill on forestry track along side a ghyll. It was runnable but mostly because the dog was doing a fair bit of work. We were passed by two men with their dogs, but that was fine. There was then a lovely long forestry road descent before a right hand turn and gradually up another ghyll. At this point I think we got some lovely views but it may have been later.
We then descended to a car park where we dibbed. It was more rising forest track after this but I still felt pretty stong. Nothing had been very technical and we were undulating. Views came and went and the dog was mostly quite happy, apart from trying to chase the odd squirrel. We were over taken by two more people at this point. Eventually we dropped off on to a lovely section of single track that twisted and turned, rising and falling but was never too technical. The road appeared below us and I was bit worried I'd gone the wrong way but a sign appear at just the right time. I was enjoying this section but my legs were starting to tire, as was Oscar. As we hit the four mile mark, I realised I might have burnt a few too many matches early on. This thought was compounded when we were over taken again!
We had been told about the grassy bank at around about the 9km mark, which was bit of a weird description. It was less a bank and more a narrow strip of grass with a narrow path and had my legs been less dead, it would have been chance for me to shine. This was my slowest mile when I looked later, as I had clearly gone out a bit fast. At the top of the grass bank was the photographer again; this will be an even less flattering photo!
But then we were back on forestry track and there was less distraction for Oscar apart from needing to stop for a drink. You have to let the dog do its thing occassionally, it doesn't understand the race concept and needs to enjoy the experience. So we stopped by a puddle and Oscar drank and we carried out, arrving at a junction that confused me but fortunately I took the right way and saw some marshalls in the car park below to reassure me. We were very near the end I sensed. It was uphill on a forest track and I felt a bit pathetic pace wise, but then the marshal to direct us back on to the mountain bike track to the start/finish was there and we managed to put on a spurt of speed through the forest section to dib in at the finish.
I have no idea where I came but it was a reasonable performance (if not well paced). It was just under 6 miles in 54 minutes, which given the elevation is fine. I was very proud of Oscar for behaving and mostly listening when I asked him to steady, as well as for doing the distance.
I walked back to the car chatting to a chap with a lurcher. I must confess, people weren't that talkative, neither before in the car park, nor after in the car park or cafe but maybe that was just me projecting. After a change of clothes Oscar and I headed to the cafe which has been done up since I was last there and had a bit more breakfast before a nice walk up to Lord's Seat and Barf (thank you to the lovely lady in the shop who told me directions whilst I was still being a bit chaotic).
I would definitely do this again, and fancy trying their other venues too. It would be nicer as a group and I might try to organise this with some of my dog running friends. Being a 10k/5 mile event, you still have energy to go do a bit more after so its worth building in to a day/weekend and not doing in isolation if you have to travel. Thank you Lakeland Paws!
