Scenery: 10

What a contrast in a week. Last weekend we had media hysteria regarding the abandonment of the OMM in Borrowdale

http://www.sleepmonsters.co.uk/racereport.php?page_action=rep&race_id=6846&article_id=5432

This week, we had glorious sunshine and Dempsey looked overdressed to me, wearing gloves!

P.b potential: 0!

Atmosphere: 6

Organisation: 7

Beginner Friendly: 5

Do it again: Yes

Value for money: 7 £6 to pre-enter. Prize Value £3,000 (not that I came anywhere near getting a prize!) Lakes calendar at the finish, but it wasn’t offered (you had to ask for one).

Decided to take Monday off and stay overnight as today was my 52^nd birthday. I met Dempsey up there as she had spent the weekend in Grange-over-Sands with her family. I set off in plenty of time, but got stuck in front of a police car and daren’t take my eye of my speedometer on the motorway and then later I got behind a campervan! I travelled up via Junction 40 and Blencathra looked treeeemendous. I left my car at the guesthouse and wandered down to Keswick School to pick up my number. Bumped into Langdale race organiser, Rod Berry who asked if he could park his car in my garage whilst he went on holiday, (his coach was leaving from Cleveleys although Rod lives in Endmoor). I’ve no room in my garage as Russell Mabbett/Phil Leybourne had converted it for me into a bar! It’s now in great need of restoration, but I said he could use my drive. I then bumped into Alan Appleby of Preston Harriers and I remarked it was nice to see him in one piece as he took part in the ill-fated OMM the week before!

There were 450 in the race, but only myself, Michaela and Dave Preston from Wesham. But we also had runners at New York, ‘Through the Villages’, Guy Fawkes and Mansfield cross-country this weekend.

I’ve done that many races in Keswick, I thought the race started by the school, but it started by Moot Hall (I think the half starts at the school), so Michaela and I had to do a 5:40 mile to the start.

The course runs south to Grange, (in Borrowdale), then back along the west coast of the Lake under Catbells, through Portinscale and back to Crosthwaite.

Quite a lot of teams seemed to be making a weekend of it. One team did a group hug at the start. It was a bit like Dentdale. There were some class runners on the start line. I recognised Rebecca Robinson (Kendal) and Ian Fisher (Otley). But there were also some Cumbrian ‘Johnny Winters’ runners who shouldn’t really have been that close to Fisher and Co.

We ran past the Lodore Hotel (£71 - £175 pp). Maybe one day…….depends if they have real ale!

http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls/current_prices.htm

I remembered canoeing/swimming in this area when I was a child with my parents. I remember panicking when I was swimming and it was that deep I couldn’t touch the floor. I remembered having toasted teacakes at the café at Grange and wonder what my son will remember about his childhood when he’s 52!

Got to half way in about 32 - I think, (not that I could see my watch), (the Keswick runner next to me told me and he also warned the 2^nd half is tougher). I felt OK and marvelled at the number of ladies in front of me - (6). I’ve done the race loads of times and think this is the best way to run round the Lake (as opposed to the half which runs anti-clockwise)

At Swinside, Alan Appleby drew alongside and I stayed slightly in front till 8 miles when he got away (but not to far!). Also got confused for a second as the Buttermere 34K crossed Portinscale Bridge whereas today’s race turns left past The Farmers Pub. I remember racing this bit with Rebecca Robinson……… a few years ago mind! (Dave Waywell, Graham Cunliffe and myself all ran sub 60 on this course in our younger days!)

A policeman marshalled us across the main road and I remembered the media hysteria from last weekend and the alleged police criticism of the race going ahead. I was running on empty for the last couple of miles and couldn’t catch the three Vet 50’s in front of me! (Didn’t know they were V50’s till I saw the results, but I don’t think it would have made a difference if I had known!)

I heard one or two voices shouting a ‘Martin’ on, but not sure who they were – possibly Preston runners as they had a minibus near the finish.

I ran 67:51 and was content. Michaela not far behind in 74:23 and Dave Preston with 75:06

Dempsey and I had a chat with a curious, (in both senses of the word), local who owned a field near the finish. She was telling us it was a foot deep in water last weekend! Then we adjourned to the Coledale Hotel at Braithwaite.

Had a few more jars at night and finished off with a curry.

Next day went for a walk round Thirlmere and a few more jars at The Queens Head, Troutbeck - (offering some good deals for Xmas!)

Could combine with Wansfell??!!

Written by: Martin Bates 5/11/08

Submitted: 7^th November 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor