The Swinside 6 Wednesday, 26th July 2006

When I ran the race last year I promised myself I’d be back because, as I said last year, this is ‘God’s Country’ – stunningly beautiful scenery wherever you look.

We left The Fairfield Arms late afternoon with Martin in the front this year. Last year, as we approached Penrith, he asked if the back seats in my car were meant to slide back and forwards. Despite me assuring him that I’d made sure they were secure this year, he wasn’t taking any chances!

On paper we had a strong team out tonight, but this is run on roads – steep roads – so being good on paper would count for nothing!

We arrived in good time, though Graham thought otherwise when he was given number 118!

Time to get changed and warm up. Martin brought two vests with him and now had to decide which one to wear! He made the decision by smelling each one! I’m not sure whether he wore the ‘really smelly one’ or the ‘not so smelly’, but I wasn’t about to ask!

A field of around 130 lined up at the start at the bottom of the valley. This gave the organisers a choice of steep hills to send us up from the start. As we made our way to the start we got chatting to a chap from Bristol, whose daughter was running as part of her comeback from glandular fever. Later she would be 5^th lady overall and first junior female.

We had to move to the road side just before we started to let three cars through. One was a taxi whose driver asked what we were all doing - (as indeed most of us were!) I couldn’t help but wonder about whether he would have stopped to ask if the meter hadn’t been ticking!

As we moved to the sides for the cars, an Ellenborough runner ended up in a large clump of nettles, leaning against a barbed wire fence. “Don’t worry about me lads,” he called. “We won’t,” came the reply from his club mates.

The only instruction from race organiser, Alan Ritchie, was to stay on the left. It occurred to me that I could hear every word of the pre-race briefing. This could only mean one thing – I was too near the front!

Off we went. Up hill, down a little, up a lot more – you’re getting the picture.

Something was wrong, very wrong!! I could see Martin and Graham ahead and I was catching them both. I passed Graham at 3 miles and reckoned I would get Martin before the 4 mile mark. Graham told me later he’d given blood today. Clearly he thought that 6 miles on hills didn’t count as the “strenuous” exercise you are supposed to avoid after giving blood!

Just before 4 miles, Claire Conway of Bristol AC, (getting over glandular fever), passed me with her dad following in the car. Her dad encouraged me with a shout of “Go on, stay with her, she’s an ex international.”

“So am I,” I replied. “I’ve been to the Isle of Man!”

I didn’t catch Claire but I did catch Martin. I knew it was too soon. He would accept a ‘below par’ run but, being beaten by me would be too much to bear, and off he went.

Another shout from the Bristol posse as I headed towards 5 miles: “Come on, stay with me.”

“Yeah, right! You’re in a bloody car!!!”

Not only did I enjoy this race but I also got “competitive”. Sharon Halliburton of Keswick caught me and I felt strong enough to go with her. We were catching Linda Hardy of Border Harriers. It doesn’t matter where you finish in a race, you can still have your own races and battles. As she saw the finish, Linda pulled away but I managed to get Sharon and finished 1 minute 24 seconds faster than last year with 44:12.

Off to a stream for a wash for me. As I was closing the boot on the car, the words “£100 policy excess” sprang to mind as I noticed I was about to slam the boot lid onto a Garmin Forerunner 305!

Beer is very much the order of the day after a race like this and The Swinside Inn know how to treat good beer. So, next year I’m taking a tent and, instead of driving, I’m going to do this race then get a few pints down me.

The car park with the Newlands Valley below made a superb setting for the presentation on what was a beautiful evening.

Thank you Alan Ritchie and everyone at Keswick AC for another excellent evening. The 25^th July 2007 is already in my diary. This is one of the best £4 you will ever spend.

Written by: Brian Porter Wesham Road Runners.

Submitted: 27^th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor