I had managed to secure a room at the pub which sits next to the start field. We'd watched the portaloos being dropped off the day before as we had dinner (nice). As I was now running on my own, I decided to get up early, do all my life admin (dog walking, car manouvering, etc.) and register as soon as it opened. The weather in the UK has been a little suboptimal of late, feeling more like autumn than summer with rain and now very cold air. I was glad to have dipped back to the pub before the start as it monsooned about 30 minutes before the ultra was about to go off. I felt worried rather than excited. My Mum commented I lacked any 'hype'.
There are three events on the day: a ten mile (one way down the lake from Pooley), a 20 miler (a lap of the traditional Ullswater Way loop) and new for this year was the ultra, adding two extra loops out to Lowther and Dalemain to the traditional 20 mile loop. I've run or walked a lot of the route in the past so I wasn't expecting too many surprises, but some bits stuck better in my head than others.
Knowing precisely one person on the start line, I said hello to them and then we were off in to the start pen. It didn't feel as busy as I had feared, with 700 people due to run across 3 races. But it had atmosphere. We were in the pen whilst a road closure was sorted (I was pleased with this as other races using this first section of the route use the path and its chaos as it is narorw so quickly). And then we were off with a dash of up beat music and a chipper MC on the mic, as per the usual Epic Events set up.
Out of the field and on to the road and there was lots of room for people to move up and down as required, as we trotted down towards Patterdale. I can't say I felt amazing but that nothing was immediately hurting was a relief. I took off may waterproof top at Side Farm campsite as it was now dry, and getting warmer. There was still a lot of to-ing anf fro-ing and I walked up the ramp as a lot of people continued to run. I reiterated to myself to take it slow; there was a long way to go and to say I was under trained would be an understatement. We entered the lovely undulating first section of the race which is mostly grass lined path with stone walls and the odd peak of Glenridding on the far side. There were lots of foxgloves, as well as thick bracken up the fell.
Silver Crag came quickly and the next wooded section separated people out a little bit more as it became slightly more technical (not amazingly) under foot. The Scalehow Force waterfall was lovely, with a cuckoo sounding in the background. I hadn't yet put my headphones one. As I reached the end of the trees, the first 20 mile runner came past, having set off 30 minutes behind. I had wanted to get to Sandwick before this but this guy was incredibly far ahead of the rest of the race, and after a quick wee going in to Sandwick a few more people passed me. The problem was the most rooty, gnarly section (Hallinhag woods) now came up and people were trying to over take. I just stood aside and let people over take but some people were clearly less amenable. I think I dropped back a bit here anyway.
By Howtown I was warm and took off my top later. I had lots of 20 milers coming past now, and the odd ultra person but position in the pack was a bit irrelevant to me, particularly at this stage. I walked the steep section out of Howtown but wanted to run at least some of the 4 ish mile drag up to Cockpit that came next, so aimed to run and walk where I could. Still lots of people came past. THe path is a bridleway and well made, with other walkers and the odd biker coming past. It wasn't all bad, but I was aware I was not fast. I waved at my friend's husband whho I hadn't realised was racing, which was a a mood lifter. I had popped my head phones on. I wasn't even 10 miles in and I was aware I could feel my legs. I tried not to think about it.
Eventually we turned past cockpit, approaching the top of the fell. Around us now was moorland. I think this part of the Lakes is glorious despite the fact it probably isn't that Lakeland-y. It makes for amazing running as its more rolling and you feel you can go for miles. It was here we separated from the 20 mile runners. I was pleased that the ultra front runners had not yet come through this point, though over to the left I saw two of them making their way down the fell. As we were now on the flat part of the fell I wanted to keep running but it was variable, and very slow. It was good to start tilting down the other side. We were on wide grassy bridleway now, with the odd squidgy section, but generally nice underfoot. We turned off on to a road heading down to the Helton.
By now the sun was out a bit more, and whilst it was still cool, Helton was charming. The aid station had been set up at a bit of green in the village centre. It was a traditional gazebo with table affair, with a selection of biscuits, crisps and sweets, alongside water. There were also two chairs set up, and a portaloo. So nothing worth hanging around for, but people generally were. I did a quick water top up (as quick as you can with a bladder) and headed off continuing the down hill past picturesque cottages and then a sharp left on to a footpath headed for the river.
I was still running here, and ran to the bridge over the river Lowther then on to the road where I suddenly questioned if I was going the right way. Fortunately, a nice couple were coming down the road and hailed me in the correct direction. Then I was at the turning in to the field to the swim spot at Lowther and knew exactly where I was agin. I was still running but not fast. I made it to the bottom of the ramp towards the castle (we turned left pretty soon actually) and went to get out my poles. One pole opened up fine but the other would just not extend far enough to click out. I kept fiddling with it, walking along until I reached the turned and managed to jog down. I was annoyed, hoping someone whuld stop and magically fix the problem. I hadn't checked them before the event which was a massive error. But no use crying over spilt milk. I had thought to do the road climb through Askham without poles but I was feeling weary all ready (only just approaching half way) so figured I might as well do what I could. I took my one pole and slowly ascended the village, with several people going past me. I am usually okay on ascent so this was a bit embarrassing.
At the top, another runner and I went past some horses blocking the path together |(safety in numbers with those fickle creatures) and gladly started the descent in to Pooley Bridge. As we hit the main track, there were now a fair few more people not in the race around. It was nice, and most people were very positive and helpfully moved. Its a broad track in to Pooley and whilst loose in places, very runnable. I enjoyed the run in, allowing gravity to take over from my tired legs. I enjoyed the shade as we dropped past the campsites and then spotted a bin to empty some sticky wrappers in to, causing one woman to give me a funny look as I pulled up short and started emptying my trash. Then I jogged in to the checkpoint which was tucked behind the Sun Inn. It had a long entrance and exit (it might have been part of the 10 mile set off) and was of similar set up to the last, minus the chairs. Martin and I had our prewedding family dinner at the Sun in Pooley, so happy memories.
Pooley was busy but not manic in the way it can be. Indeed, the last time I ran through it (going the other way), was the Lakeland 50 when it was crazy. The bus to Glenridding did pull up next to me and part of me did very much want to get on and call it quits but I WAS 'running', not walking. It wasn't yet a death march just an ultrashuffle. The next course split happened just after the bridge, and several runners were coming back in the return leg to head on to the final stretch which was depressing. I had around about 5 miles between me and there. And a lot of it would be runnable. I was on the Lakeland 50 course again, but going the other way. I was mostly running, bar the odd gate and sludgey bit. But I was moving forward.
The Dalemain loop is beautiful in a very non-Lakeland way. We ran next to the river a while, then off through pastures to the road, and then crossed to enter the Dalemain park proper. I think the official Ullswater Way route goes out on to the road, but the ultra went straight across parkland and the small bridge to cross in front of the house. The grassland was lovely, peppered with sheep and buttercups. The house was quiet, seemingly closed for the day. I was sort of dreading the next section which is a long straight path. I stoppped to take a stone out of my shoe, losing yet more places, before getting on with it. I didn't run it all; I just rand and walked. I also stopped to wee in a bush, got cramp and then fell in the stingers I was hiding in. It wasn't a fine moment. Fortunately, the lady who was gaining on me was very polite about it and stopped for a quick chat as we went up the next little gradient towards the beautiful Dacre tower. I rummaged for salt tablets. Fortunatley the cramp had been a warning shot and not the full thing.
There was then a road section that 'undulated' or rather went down a dip and up a bit dip and several more people went past me. Gosh I must look slow. I walked the up hill. The road was quiet but there was a large milk truck at one point. We turned right to Soulby and then I spied Dunmallard hill in Pooley and knew we were on our way back. The left turn in to a grassy field was a lovely run down to the water point where I stopped for a cup of water (no squash sadly) and a brief dog chat with the lady and her spaniel, before crossing over a road and stile to run across the fields and up to Dunmallard hill.
I was actually running in the woods around Dunmallard hill which was a bit of surprise. The route doesn't go over the top but winds over the shoulder back to Pooley then around with the lake on the left to cross the A road and head in to a campsite. I got my one working pole back out and tried not to think of the hill to come. Things were about to get a bit more Lakeland-y.
I was dreading the next hill but actually it went okay. Someone started talking to me on the way up a field (about my single pole technique- not a choice I pointed out) and soon we were at Bennet head and I managed to run a bit, even if people then came past me more. It was also nice to get the right route through the farm here for future reference , having gotten it wrong previously and ended up jumping a gate. I noted the Ullswater way tuckshop and the little temporary tea rooms had both disappeared after the post covid exuberance. I wasn't running as much as I ought to be here.
Then we started climbing over Watermillock common and I hit a real low. I wasn't managing to run even the runnable bits and I had sore feet and increasingly a sore back. In hindsight, the single pole may have exacerbated this. I couldn't rememeber how this next section went in my head- how long were we amongst the trees? I met a few walkers coming the other way, probably a bit annoyed at the runners. I looked for bench to stretch my back on but it became apparent there wasn't one but a boulder appeared and I took two paracetamol and stretched my back a bit, only for a group of walkers to be startled by my appearance and then be very impressed how far we had all run. That was abit of a boost and I got going again.
The climb up to Gowbarrow was painful. I was overtaken by a few people again, feeling like I was falling right to the back of the pack. I was sort of glad we didn't have to do the rocky summit of Gowbarrow when it came. It was busy on the descent below and initially quite steep, with a series of different paths and lines. I picked some good ones and bad ones but was moving down hill. Then it got a bit less steep and suddenly I was moving well again. I had a good run through Aira Force, startling tourists as my large bulk hurtled down hill at them.
Photo by Mick Hall
At the bottom, the little check point had a few people waiting for water, but I wanted some squash so waited. It took longer than I expected but then I managed to get running on the last section. 3 miles to go, and mostly on very good path. I'd like to say I ran all of it but I definitely walked it. I was over taken once or twice, but also managed to catch up on some people. I could see the rock that causes the route to pop out on to the road, and then the green. I crossed that road, and followed the up and down path through the trees next to the lake, definitely walking the stairs sections.
I put my pole away on one flight of stairs, and then bobbed up on to the road to run through the village. Goodness, that last bit seemed a long way. My parents appeared at the corner in almost perfect timing, my dog going ballistic when he saw me, and I ran on to the end, crossing the road (again, its a busy road and it felt we crossed it a lot towards the end!) and then past the first gate in to the field (humph!) and in to the field by a slightly arcing route to run across the grass (and a bit of mud) to cross the finish line.
8hrs and 11 minutes. It was a 50k PB by my watch but put me just inside the bottom third overall, and just outside the top half of women. I was relieved to have finished but annoyed I hadn't had a bit more fight in me at the later stages of the run to push up a few more places. I was hurting in all sorts of places and did that thing where you can't sit comfortably in any position for a while. Oscar played in the Lake and I told my parents in weird frantic phrases about the adventure. They were impressed.
The next day I was okay. I wans't about to do another 30 miles but I could walk the dog up to Lowther castle from Askham, and bar a bit of blood sugar trickery, felt okay. Clearly I still need to learn to get in that pain cave and stay there to push a bit more. When I got home from the Lakes in the afternoon and on to my own sofa, I suddenly felt knackered. A whole load of stress suddenly released from the past few months and I was very glad I hadn't elected to not run. It had been beautiful, surprisingly runnable for the Lakes but also, without the requisitie training, a bit brutal.
