Lakeland 50 2021 – 24 July

My review of my race day, including lessons learned (official finishing time 12:16:07).

Staying in The Sun Hotel and having a breakfast of teacakes (2) crumpets (2) and corn flakes with tea and coffee I thought was a sensible start. What wasn’t sensible was leaving the hotel at 9.30 getting stuck behind the traffic chaos near Ambleside caused I assume by the event buses, at least I wasn’t on the bus we passed which was broken down!
It was not a relaxed journey to Dalemain, having got there at 11:15 and the start supposedly 11:30. At least I didn’t do what I saw from a few runners, who got out out of their cars in the queue to Dalemain and run to that start. Once there I got myself into one portaloo but had no paper, but the second one did…but me trying to poo fast is like asking Jenson to eat his breakfast fast before school….

So at 11:49 my race started, which I later found out was 7 minutes behind my club and training mates Ben and James. The weather was warm, due to reach 23 degrees or so, but with little cloud cover at this point it felt like it was going to be a real hot one. The loop of Dalemain went well, as I had started so far back in the pack there was a lot of traffic but it was nice to be passing people having the odd word here and there. I walked the odd bump up hill and felt I was making fair progress, there was no thought of trying to catch Ben & James I had resigned myself to the fact I probably would set off slower than them anyway. Seeing Kristina, Jenson and my mum and dad with Coco as I passed Dalemain was nice, also saw Hannah, Alex and Leo and Alex gave me a big Hi-5 which was great. I was told I was 5 minutes or so behind Ben and James at this point, again too far to contemplate catching.

Running past volunteer Gary Forrester at the road crossing was great too and it was around here I got chatting to Danny Brunton from Bridlington, Danny has been my physio previously and having a chat about his running shoes (Inov-8 G300) and my dodgy left knee amongst other stuff was nice. My left knee nearly stopped me starting this event. After having to stop on the Halo race on the 19 June due to a pain on the outside of my left knee, my running since then has been very limited, 4 miles being the longest I have run. That’s 5 weeks of rest but also 5 weeks of losing fitness and belief. Danny did seem to agree though that rest was probably the best thing I could have done. Danny and I drifted apart, I didn’t want to run too much slower at this point and as he was running the 100 it’s important I didn’t make him run faster than he needed to. At that point he will have been about 60 miles in where I was less than 5. Around this time seeing all the 100 runners still strong still progressing at pace is great to see, I just could not imagine being able to do that. As you will read at the end of this review, after 50 miles I’m broken, these runners 60 miles in with 45 to go still progressing at pace I find inspirational.

Pooley bridge was lovely to run through, I saw a glimpse of Jenny Rose as I passed her and Trevor on a balcony in a pub having lunch I assumed. Trevor had been to Keswick to run parkrun, the first day back for parkrun after the COVID-19 pandemic. There are lots if families and supporters in Pooley bridge and why not. On a beautiful summers day it’s an awesome place to be, especially with all the runners running through, what a sight it must be watching having a morning coffee. Out of Pooley bridge the road starts to ascend to the point where walking is sensible. I got my marching legs out and off I was away into the fells. It now feels like you have started proper, over 10% into the event, the crowds are behind you and it’s now just internal desire and willpower powering a runner and not the family and supporter power. 5 plus miles in you know you have started but shouldn’t be tired and as it flattens out it’s time to get running.

There is a nice flat/downhill run into Howtown and looking back at my Garmin trace I seem to have got a wiggle on. It was along this section I could spot Ben in his red East Hull Harrier vest. It was quite crowded around here and took a good 5 minutes to pick my way through and make Ben jump a little as I made him aware I was there. I did make a hash of trying to sing “The Sun has got his hat on hip hip hooray, the sun has got his hat on and he has come out to play”. Maybe showing the spirit I was in at that point, and unbeknown to me James was just a runner or two in front. Great I thought, ‘the band is back together’, the three of us at least were to spend sometime together on this race, but I did wonder if I had gone out too fast. To catch them up around 7-8 miles in after setting off 7 minutes late was surprising, I had thought they would set off too fast as this was there first Lakekand 50 and I know what especially James is like. What was I doing catching them up? This was a bit of a concern in the back of my mind.

Into Howtown we all went, filled up my empty water bottles, grabbed some flapjack and 2 minutes later after negotiating the small queue I was out of there. Most of that 2 minutes was spent queuing for water, all I had to eat was flapjack. The run into Howtown took 1 hour 47 which was 13 minutes faster than 2016 (current PB) so that certainly tells me I set off fast, too fast maybe? Well maybe, I am not sure even as I write this.

After Howtown is the big climb, the really big climb with two sections. The second section I forgot about and having climbed the first it was such a blow to see what was to come, false summits don’t you just love them? That said I was head down and push up as best as possible, James lead the way, Ben just behind, I just followed. Worked hard in the heat, kept on drinking and trying to eat a gel or sweets every 30 minutes. Getting to the top felt good, it’s so nice to both see the views and to know you have mainly flat and down hill to enjoy next. My problem to come was about to become apparent as my left knee did not like steep down hill, this is an issue as this section is mainly nice ground and is runnable as proven by Ben and James who ran out of sight. 12 or 13 miles in or so is not the time to develop knee issues and issues which have been of a long standing nature, I was worried my race was run. I know not everyone will agree with this approach but I took two ibuprofens and about 15 minutes later I took 2 paracetamol. The paracetamol seemed to help more than the ibuprofen. After the downhill where I struggled, on the flat I was able to catch Ben and James back up and managed to hold onto them with James setting the pace around Hawswater. This was one of those times just to follow and hope to keep up, the pace was not traditionally fast for running but it was certainly faster then I ran this in 2016. I wasn’t complaining mind, I felt we were making hay while the sun shined, and it was certainly shining. The last mile into the checkpoint at Mardale Head I took the lead of us three and marched to the checkpoint it seems, as it must have been mentioned about 10 times by different people how fast my marching was, James certainly had a word how fast my marching was! On this section the final scores were posted as far as I am aware, Mark 1, James 1, Ben 0 for number of falls on the whole route. Considering in 2016 I think I had fallen over about 5 times by this point I must be more stable on my feet in my old age!

Out of Mardale head there is the second biggest climb on the route (Gatescarth pass), it was still hot, really hot and the climb is challenging. This is a good point to mention I was still drinking loads but had no salt tablets with me in my bag, I left them stupidly at home and salted crisps were not doing the trick, I was starting to become worried how much I was sweating and knowing I was not replacing the salt. I was also aware how much a lack of salt was affecting James amongst other issues he was having on this climb. On the route up this hill we kept tracing places with a lady 100 runner who just kept to one pace, very slow…but it worked. One foot in front of the other. Just keep moving. Needless to say the top comes, there were 3 Lakeland100 volunteers stood at the top watching all the “runners” not running up the hill having an encouraging word or two which was nice to see and hear. Once we got to the top we got moving a bit faster and headed to Kentmere. I think Ben got some painkillers in James around this point while I got chatting to a lovely lady all the way to Kentmere. Apparently we were the only ones running up the little hill to the town hall. I must have been feeling good. As good as I was feeling that was about to change.

In Kentmere village hall they serve fruit smoothies. This was my downfall, I had been thinking about and dreaming about and salivating over these for miles. I got my cup out in great anticipation and they only filled it half full! This was not what I wanted, I downed it and asked for more, then more, then more. I probably had 7 or so portions, they were lovely and I was thirsty. I also had a small bowl of pasta and more water. This was a long stop, 16 minutes in total, which compared to other checkpoints of a couple of minutes or less, is something I have noted. The band were back together inside the checkpoint and I left with James having a plan to have a pee just while Ben finished off in the checkpoint. We all subsequently got moving again, not too fast but moving. My stomach was not happy. I felt bloated I did not generally feel good at all and at about 27 miles in I was starting to go through a rough patch, possibly due to my over indulgence at Kentmere. That said the body can’t process food that quick. About 1.5 miles after the checkpoint and around 6 miles to Ambleside I needed to ‘go’. This was a serious issue as this is not something I am practiced in and the last time and only other time was 10 years ago. I had spent half a mile looking for locations and it was getting worse. I let Ben know my issue and he pointed out a spot, at this point we were half way between Kentmere and Troutbeck. It was not a great spot! Job got gone and covered, I know it’s gross but I honestly had no choice. The next part of the course was the run down into Troutbeck and try as I might running fast on the rugged ground I could not see Ben and James. I estimated I was around 3 minutes behind them, could have been more or less, I wasn’t exactly timing my diversion but how long did I have to run for to catch site of them, I’m guessing they got a wriggle on. Part of me was happy we had been going quite slow out of Kentmere and this was getting time in the bank, but the tired run down version of me wondered where they were. I passed plenty of people each time thinking….I bet you know what have just done….until I knew I must have passed more and then some of those who passed me while I was diverted. Troutbeck has some walking hills coming into and leaving the village and that’s where I spotted them both and with the use of my marching power I caught them up. That whole section took it out of me, that diversion was costly. That diversion and resulting hard running on the downhill jagged rocky section certainly hurt my feet and knees, both my bad one and good one started to feel it. I’m sure I had some more pain relief around here too but not sure where. The climb out of Troutbeck was hard work then we got moving down and through Ambleside. My knees and feet were now a problem but I made sure to look good for the cameras coming into Ambleside. Tried to line the three us up and get us smiling…..

It was so nice to see Jenson, Kristina and my mum as I walked on after a super short checkpoint stop. I would have loved to have changed my socks into something thicker and change my shirt, something I did in 2014 but I didn’t carry the items this year and I regret that. Seeing Ben in his changed clean shirt, feeling the pain on both my heels where the (blood) blisters where working there way up to bigger than a £2 coin, I regretted my decisions. I carried extra things I didn’t need or use, but didn’t carry things I now wanted. Spare water bottle, Echo Dot ear phones, sweets and gels not used, I’d have swapped all those for a shirt or socks.

After Ambleside we were all happy to go our own pace, even more so than previously. We hadn’t promised to stick together but we all sort of wanted to if it worked. Ben took longer in the checkpoint than I, but soon caught me up and powered by. He said he was fresh and it showed. I wasn’t too bad at all energy wise, but three things were slowing me down:
– Blisters on my heals
– Knee pain on both knees
– Lack of salt and fighting off potential cramps.
I ran/walked from here to Chapel Stile not going too slow but not going as fast as I wanted too. I had energy still but could not use it, the heat of the day had as good as gone but my body was in no state to do what I wanted. It was lovely to see the family again at Skelwith Bridge but from that point on it was me and just me on my own with fleeting words with runners I passed or who passed me.

Chapel Stile checkpoint has nice comfy chairs, soup and other luxuries. I stood on my feet, ate Watermelon with salt sprinkled on it and got on my way. I asked a volunteer to get my torch out my pack as I knew it would be needed before long. This next section I know well, in the past it’s always been done in the dark but this year I could see the stiles and the woods to aim to the left of, I could see the camp site below and everyone having fun and eventually the zig zag climb. This was hard, it was always going to be but had to be done. Head down step by step, not fast but got there to the top, head saying just one last big climb to go now. Head torch went on before the woods as the side of Blea Moss, just as a guy who was running complimented me on my march being as fast as his running. This is my one hope if I ever go for the hundred, can I march fast enough to cover big sections and not wreck my body? Across the side of Blea Moss is never nice, so rocky and so easy to put a foot wrong, which I did do a few times but not costly. Each time you kick a rock though you wonder if it is going to send your leg into cramp or smash a toe, I must say the Inov-8 G270’s look after your toes in this situation….I know they work. A few marshals at the old self dib checkpoint made sure I and others cut no corners and in the thick of night, with a full moon trying to shine through, the light cloud off I mainly walked to Tilberthwaite. It’s got some gradient to it but it’s not severe but there was only the odd shuffle along here mixed with marching. At 45 miles I said to a chap passing, I just want this to be over. I was starting to get properly tired now. I wanted it to be over. Blisters, knees and worry of cramps plus a depleted energy source I was close to being done, but carry on I must.
Tilberthwaite was nice to see, I dipped in for a water fill up and piece of flapjack and away after less than 40 seconds in the checkpoint. £1 into Jacobs ladder fund and up the steps. Asked to pass to other 2 other runners and up I went. I felt so slow, my body was pounding, possibly not helped by the 4 paracetamol and 6 ibuprofen I had taken I earlier that day, with another 2 paracetamol taken at the top of Tilberthwaite I think that’s more than enough but knee issues meant I needed too. The climb up Tilberthwaite was slow, but the decent which really should be faster was I think slower. I was in a mess with my knees and I know if I cramped up I would be in danger of sitting down and not being able to get up. Touching distance from Coniston this had not to happen. I was holding onto rocks and oooowing and arrrrring all the way down. It took forever, I knew I was on for a PB but it was getting smaller all the time. Even the downhill road section I could hardly run on, and when I did it was on my tip toes. My heals had been so painful since Blea Moss all my running was not as a heal striker but on my toes. Maybe this is how to learn how to run like we all do in bear feet, like we were ‘born to run’ without trainers? State of my heals days after the event are proof that I maybe need to practice running on my toes more!

Once the gradient flattened out I could run into the checkpoint, as I passed Black Bull, a young man on the bridge passed me a can of Stella and said I deserved it, what a legend! Random stranger giving me a beer, I thanked him loudly as I ran onwards. Running down the street I dipped my head torch, shouted out Kristina’s name and got cheers back from Kristina, my mum, my dad and Kristina’s mum Jenny. What a great way to finish. Stood over the finish line I was spent. Totally done in. Empty. Finished. Happy,

Escorted into the tent for my medal, T-shirt, photo and then to crack open that Stella. My third and hopefully not my last Lakeland50, but I need to sort out the knees and feet. At this point I want to thank James and Ben for great training over the last 9 months or so. It’s been hard at times, the early mornings most Saturdays and pacey running certainly helped. I think my injury lay-off of 5 weeks before the event helped my energy levels and mind-set going into the race, but obviously not ideal in other ways. Having them both around for over half of the 50 miles was a blessing too. I want to thank my wife Kristina and son Jenson for being there and putting up with all my endless running talk! My mum Carole and dad Keith, Jenny and Trevor Kristina’s folks and certainly Coco too. Her face at Skelwith Bridge as I ran by she looked amazed/confused if dogs can look like that, if only she could run with me, at least she will get to do that at parkrun soon.

Major lessons for any future go:

Salt tabs
Knee issues
Blister on bottom both heals
Having to ‘go’
Stones in shoes x2
Setting off 7 minutes later than those I was running with

2016 vs 2021 analysis

2016 / 2021 / difference (times are time leaving checkpoint)

CP1 2hr00 / 1hr49 / Total time up 11 minutes
CP2 4hr38 / 4hr15 / Total time up 23 minutes
CP3 6hr24 / 6hr22 / Total time up 2 minutes
CP4 8hr17 / 8hr11 / Total time up 6 minutes
CP5 9hr38 / 9hr27 / Total time up 11 minutes
CP6 11hr23 / 11hr10 / Total time up 13 minutes
Finish 12hr28 / 12hr16 / Total time up 12 minutes

Conclusion, I was well up after 2 legs vs 2016 but lost that time, only to get some back later on.

Time spent in checkpoints 2021 vs 2016:

CP1 – 2 minutes 1 second / 2 minutes 13 seconds
CP2 – 7 minutes 56 seconds / 4 minutes 34 seconds
CP3 – 16 minutes 10 seconds / 6 minutes 44 seconds
CP4 – 1 minute 20 seconds / unknown
CP5 – 3 minutes 51 seconds / 5 minutes 24 seconds
CP6 – 39 seconds / 32 seconds

Conclusion, I was generally slower at checkpoint this year, significantly so.