Borrowdale Fell Race

Results

Photos: Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3| Set 4

This was my first Borrowdale Fell Race since 2004 when it was a British Championship counter in stinking heat. I remember that year slumping on the ground at Honister and almost dropping out of the race, but eventually shuffling round in 3:59:51.

I didn’t want a repeat performance conking out badly towards the end, so this time took it all very steadily and didn’t really treat it as a race, but more as my first long hill run in a very long time.

After much issuing of poor weather warnings and instructions to carry hat and gloves, it turned out to be a scorcher, with most of the front runners running topless.

I felt more or less OK over Scafell Pike and Great Gable until approaching Honister, when as to be expected I started feeling pretty jaded. I made a mistake at Honister by not filling my bottle enough, which was frustrating for the climb up Dalehead when dehydration was really kicking in. With a good drink I felt like I could have run up that slope, since I’d just been pottering along. I did pass a few folk, most of whom then passed me on the lower part of the descent back into Borrowdale.

I was starting to panic that I might be cutting it fine to get under 4 hours, but then the river crossing arrived sooner that expected, where I saw Ellie and Benjamin which raised my spirits to up the pace for the final run down the stony track to the finishing field at Rosthwaite where I crossed the line in 3:52:50.