Wharfedale Trail Marathon

Entrants (1) Club PB SB Pred Time WAVA
emmilou First time at this distance althought the climbing not as bad as a recce done last week but NO IDEA how long it will take I WILL finish but it could be some time!! ....................UPDATE.................................. I decided to do the Wharfedale off road marathon on thursday! It just came to me in one of those random idea type ways. I'm training for Borrowdale on the 4th of August which is a 17 mile 7000ft fell race taking in peaks and summits named Scarfell Pike (englands highest peak) great gable, bessy boot, alan crags, dalehead and so on. So - I figured after recce-ing the run 2 weeks ago I need to keep the long mileage runs in. Not always so easy to do on my own on the fells round Lancashire so I though a marathon in the Dales would do the job! I had the map and coordinates emailed to me so had had a look at the route and it did look stunning, some climbing involved but no where near the same as Borrowdale - just the ticket then. I arrived and registered along with Dave my dog and a friend Jaqui who decided to do it too (a mara vet and a very good runner so a walk in the park for her!!) it was a record turn out this year - a MASSIVE 90 runners had turned out! We lined up and were soon on the off. Some of them shot off like rats out of a hole but Dave and I decided we would take a more leisurely approach to the task in hand! I'd had to take full kit and also took nearly 2 litres of water in my hydration pack so was carrying a fair bit of weight but have to say the back pack as oppose to bum bag has been a revelation - no more back ache! 8 checkpoints in all - 6 manned the last 2 self clipping. I set myself a target of half way in 2:30 - slow and steady was the aim of the day I was thrilled to get to half way - 13 miles in 2:10 so was way ahead of target I'd got lost Twice up to this point too and it had cost me a lot of time but nothing I could do other than to put it to the back of my mind and keep on going. BUT - *que thunder noises and disaster noises* it all started to go wrong! I set off from the filling station to continue the next 5 miles to the following checkpoint but made the BIG mistake of following a lad in front of me. We missed a crucial right turn - ended climbing way too high for far too long. We both studied the map and made a decision than rather go back down all that way but to carry on up for a short distance then take a right and head off south west and we should pick the path up further on. We tried this and had to cope with various obstacles as it wasn't an easy trod and there were walls to negotiate! but we DID eventually find the path! Eventually being the operative word as it took ages! It cost us both dear as we were by this point running with the last runner - she was a lovely lady a Vet 50 who had done the race 5 times and turned into our personal sat nav! We stayed with her for the rest of the run chatting and enjoying it really as by this point the various sub 4:30, sub 5:00, sub 5:30 had gone right out of the window!! It was SO SO HOT - I've raced in the heat before but this WAS Hot! Breezes up top but not enough to cool you down - I drank at every water station and drank the full 2 litres in the hydration sac then refilled it! My feet were on fire - blisters on blisters and I could feel myself getting burned from the sun on my neck and shoulders The route itself was fabulous - very runable indeed -some climbing yes but on the whole a fantastic course. The post race food was brilliant - pie, peas, spuds, gravy - apple pie and ice cream etc Sadly I could only manage a few mouthfuls as was shattered and all the energy bars/gels liquid etc had given me stomach cramp! I only fell over once - which was great! however - it's the rules on a fell race to get to the finish with some blood on you so I had to oblige! My calf just completely cramped running over some tussocks. It was a strange feeling it was 21 miles in and it just decided to stop! A tumble followed but a quick stretch and a dust down and we were on our way again! For all said and told Dave and I had a Great day - no not the time I'd hoped for but at the end of the day it was a last minute decision and certainly hindered by my inability to stay on the correct course!! I'd recommend it as a race to anyone - the half is equally as spectacular * off to go and read my mountain navigation for runners book* Brilliant organisation - excellent marshalls and well worth every mile! Lostock AC 5:40:00 5:40:00 5:00:00 5:40:00 37.61

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