Gibson Grind Trail Race (Kendal) Saturday, 24^th June 2006 8.5mile/1200’

Do it again: Yes

Scenery: 10 Great views of the South Lakes Peninsula. (Dave Waywell said I wasn’t running fast enough if I took in the scenery!) (There was no snow today!)

Atmosphere: 8 – a bit low-key; only 60 odd runners (double last year though)

Organisation: 9 ½ - Drink station half way round and the off road bits were well marked and marshalled. I just struggled slightly when I came off the fell back onto the road! I think two or three may have gone wrong. The guy in front of me seemed to disappear and 2 guys appeared in the corner of the School field behind the finish!

Value: 10 (£5 on the day or £4 to pre enter). Only received two pre entries, Kath and Dave. I think runners must have been hanging back to see how the World Cup panned out? It looked to be an expensive and generous prize list and I would have thought Peter Cruse, Dave Waywell, Kath and Dougie will have all come away with something.

Beginner Friendly: 10 (I was talked out of wearing fell shoes and just wore normal trainers). This is classed as a BM Fell Race – should average not less than 125’ climb per mile and should not have more than 30% of the race distance on the road and it’s medium (6 miles – 12)

This is an 8-mile trail race over Scout Scar Fell and at School Fete, which has stalls, a barbecue, games, a bouncy castle, face painting and a brass band etc. I wanted to have an England Flag painted on my face, but Michaela and Pete wouldn’t let me! I thought it would have looked great in the Gazette during the World Cup!

We arrived in good time and I had a bit of trouble parking when a brick wall jumped out! One all to me and Michaela!

We posed for a team photo and we were off. I had a massage last night and I was hoping for better things, but Dave Waywell passed me straight away as if I wasn’t there. After running through a housing estate, we climbed over a stile into a field, which used to house Kendal Racecourse. Do any of our Wrinkly runners remember this?

Then along good wide paths, but on parts had to watch for stones and sheer drops to the right! (I think rock climber use this bit!)

Just before we turned round, I lost my footing on a downhill bit. I took my eye of the ground for a split second to figure out how the route went over a wall and was looking for a stile/gate. I went flat on my face and lay their stunned for a few seconds, thanking God nothing was broken. The guy behind shouted, “Are you alright”. I was; it just knocked the wind out of my sails. I reneged on a drink at the drink station and set off climbing back up. I was struggling and walked a bit, but then I didn’t want the guy behind to catch me, so I set off again through a wood with a sign over 1 branch saying watch your head!! (They must have known I was coming!)

I looked at my watch, (40 minutes). I thought “Christ, how much further is it!” (Sorry Rev. Warren). I hadn’t run at all yesterday. I didn’t have time at lunch because my flexi was shot at and I missed my night time run because I forgot my kit! The enforced rest/massage weren’t helping any! I remember Kath saying there were three climbs and we’d only done two. Sure enough, she was right; it was just around the corner. Gradual and runnable, but when you are knackered……..

We eventually joined the uphill route going down and fortunately I had stored it as runners were spread out! I just got slightly confused on the housing estate. I made it to the finish in 70:54. Levon wanted to play football, but I was dead on my feet. I recognised one or two from Aggie’s Staircase, (Thursdays Run). I think the first two homes broke the course record. (Craig Roberts was 1^st and Paul Muller was 2^nd). The record had stood at 58:04.

I forgot there were refreshments laid on and we adjourned to the nearby Kendal Arms. At first I thought it must be their equivalent of the Fleetwood Arms, but it wasn’t that bad and appeared to do a roaring food trade.

I had to stop on the way home for a coffee at the garage at Churchtown where a very helpful counter assistant patronisingly showed Michaela and me how to work the coffee machine……..but why did he put his sweaty greasy paws inside my cup!

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 25^th June 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor