Ultimate Trails 110km - 27th June 2015

Preparation

The preparation for this race after the Fling had worked out really great.

I had 5 big runs planned which took in tons of elevation and worked out well for spending lots of time on my feet. 

1. 24 miles - The WHW Training weekend where I did an out and back from Tyndrum up to Rannoch Moor and back. 
2. 21 miles - From Glencoe to Kinlochleven and back - Double ascent of the Devils Staircase in bloody horrible weather which was mentally draining, urgh!
3. 23 miles - Four of us went down to the Lakes to do a course recce of the route I was doing. We got lost multiple times and only made it a quarter of the way up Nan Beild Pass before turning to go back. 
4. 22.2 miles - Balmaha to Beinglas along the tough lochside section, to give time on feet over speed.
5. 6 hours starting at 7pm - The final and most beneficial training was support running with Alan as he did the WHW race. I got to spend almost 2 sleepless nights with the crew, and ran with Alan with a headtorch - Probably the most beneficial because the Ultimate Trails starts at 12am.

Supporting Alan during his WHW race

Gear

I wore my Salomon Hydro vest but this time used the 2 soft flasks knowing there would be aid stations every 10km to quickly re-fill the water/nunn/coke combinations.  Deciding to wear my trail shoes was a gamble as I hadn't put many miles into them before this race and they kinda rubbed my feet. For the headtorch I had borrowed our friend Lesleys Silva Ninox II torch which ended up being a lifesaver during the early dark hours over Garburn Pass and Ban Neild Pass.

Other than the shoes and the bottles everything else remained the same, apart from having to take sun cream - Really glad I did too!

Pre-Race

I drove my wife Victoria (running her first ultra the Ultimate Trails 55km), and our supporter Astrid down to Kendal on the Thursday. We went sightseeing round the town and ate a good hearty meal in the Wetherspoons with a Guinness! We got an awful sleep because some idiot was stomping round at 5am :(

Kendal calling!

The Friday morning I drove us 3 to our cottage in Ambleside and struggled to get parked on the street.

Firstly we went to Rothy Park to see the layout of the area (visit #1), but it was too early to register so we headed back into the town and into the local coffee shop where I was to meet Andrew and chat about the race and our plans for it. Andrew went on to finish 3rd overall in the 110km race, wow!

Ambleside

Our room in the Cottage

After we checked into the cottage we had to go back to Rothy Park to register (visit #2) and go through the kit check. Vicky decided to bring all her stuff too and save time from registering tomorrow for the 55km.

I tried to get some rest upstairs but just ended up playing through the race and my expectations in my head over and over again. After dinner we went down to hear the compulsory safety briefing at Rothy Park (visit #3) before coming back and trying to get 3 more hours sleep/rest.

Race bib with handy elevation map

I think I ended up going downstairs to get all my feet taped up and kit re-packed around 11pm and by then Rob and Steph had arrived. (Rob and Steph were also running their first ultra at the 55km on Saturday morning). Once I was all ready, I got escorted down to Rothy Park (visit #4) by Vicky, Astrid and Rob to see me off. The place was buzzing,  I hung around with friends as long as possible before they ushered me into the starting chute. At the pre race briefing it was noted that the distance would be cut by about 4 miles and the race would start 15 minutes later, and off we went at 12:15.

Race

Ambleside to Kentmere (7.70 miles)

I can't really remember how the race started but I remember everyone going off around me at a pretty fast pace and I thought, uh oh best not get sucked into this and I just hung onto my own pace and kept quiet going through a silent Ambleside and into the woodland hills.

The first climb (Garburn Pass) I had luckily recced earlier in the month so I knew what to expect. I took it nice and easy going up there making sure to keep turning around and see the headtorches snaking up behind me. The ascent wasn't even that bad it was the descent I was worried about. Having done this section before I knew it was slow going because of all the loose stones but ended up running down it with my tractor beam lighting the way!

Got into the Kentmere aid station and went straight to re-fill my water in my bottle, take some jelly babies, some crisps and a cup to Nunn :)

Headtorches snaking up Nan Bield Pass

Kentmere to Mardale Head (6.10 miles)

• 13.80 miles total

I knew there was a pretty tough climb coming up so was ready for it and excited to see the sunrise coming up! (See above photo)

After a few uneventful miles we found ourselves snaking up Nan Bield Pass. Here is where I totally underestimated the elevation of the race, it really kicked my ass here! Nan Bield Pass went on forever!!! It was cloudy and I remember seeing all those fake summits before finally seeing the real summit way in the distance, argh!! I had some Honey Stingers I had packed *just incase* - Good job I packed them too!

The top of Nan Bield was a great welcome sight with 2 marshals here and a union jack, I was hoping it would be getting light around now to offer spectacular views of the lakes but not yet, I must have running too fast (aye right lol).

The descent to the carpark at Mardale Head was brutal, it was really wet, really loose stones, I had to use my hands multiple times to get down some of the stones. There was a group of guys infront of me and one twisted his ankle pretty badly. I got to the checkpoint around 3.30am which was in a car park, I filled my bottles with water and Nunn, grabbed loads of Jelly Babies and a mini flapjack and headed on.

Woop, finally at the top!

Mardale Head to Bampton Memorial Hall (8.05 miles) 

• 21.85 miles total

I started out still with the headtorch as it was not really light enough to take off yet. The route now ran the full length of Haweswater Reservoir and by 4.20am I got the most amazing view of the day and took Some photos:

Haweswater Reservoir

Haweswater Reservoir

This is where the route changed and we had to run a few miles on tarmac which was tough going on the ol' legs especially in my low trail shoes as we had to avoid one of the villages. I really wanted to quit now because I wasn't enjoying this and I was bloody knackered!!! So that turned to be my first downer of the day, a sign of things to come?
A sharp right turn before heading into Bampton Memorial Hall for breakfast bacon rolls.. Or so I thought!

There was no bacon when I arrived but I saw some of those instant porridge pots and settled for that, took a little cup of coke, refilled my Nunn bottle and my water bottle before having my first seat of the day while I ate. I wasn't really rushing at this checkpoint, mainly loitering waiting for these infamous Bacon Rolls. As I was just about to leave a marshal came out with bacon rolls cut into quarters, I took one as did everyone else (like flies round shit they went straight away), and I devoured it in 1 bite.

Road section towards Bampton Memorial Hall

Bampton Memorial Hall to Howtown Bobbin Mill (14.95) 

• 31.14 miles total

I ran out the same way I ran in, having a chat with Anne Cook who I met at the Fling so that passed a few of the road miles, again chatting to Ozzie before we headed up a tough gradual climb onto Askham Moor where I got chased by a very nasty sheep! It was before 6.30 so maybe thought I was breakfast, I dunno...

Askham Moor with the sheep on the right

Got a wee view of Ullswater before making a nice descent down to the checkpoint, this Checkpoint was a cottage with some books about running kicking about, I refilled with Nunn and water, ate a fair few jelly babies, a cup of coke and some mini flapjacks before getting out of there, it was also good to have a proper toilet to try and use.

Ullswater Descent

Howtown Bobbin Mill to Glenridding (6.17 miles) 

• 37.31 miles total

Pretty much this full 10km section was running through a valley with a mountain pass way in the distance and a sharp wee descent to the checkpoint.

I think this section was in the 55km so as I was running though the valley I was thinking "Fuck, why did I get Vicky to sign up to this for her first ultra, she'll hate it".... And me!!!

The valley before the huge climb

Nearly there

Looking back down where the valley photo was taken

 

I'd been running for just under 8 hours before I started a really tough climb, my legs felt good, I was hydrating well and the jelly babies were going down a treat so far, I felt physically good for now and just took it easy. Got a few photos of the views which were stunning and was chatting to a few people including Ozzie who I ran into pretty much all day.

Start of the descent

The descent was great I loved running down at a pretty fast pace picking my route (so much for taking it easy), the only issue was near the road before Glenridding there was no sign and no marshal, but we needed to take a left turn which a few of us in our group did take, luckily. There was about a kilometer along the paths by the road into the centre of Glenridding. I called Vicky as she'd be up and getting ready for her race at 11am, but EE = nae signal! Luckily when I got to a checkpoint, a guy I ran with let me use his phone (Vodaphone) to call. I said "It's great!! You'll love it but I'm due to finish in 20 hours now because the climbs are pretty hard" - I thought saying she'd love it was a great idea rather than worrying her.
This checkpoint was nice because I filled up on Nunn and water in my bottle again, had half a mini pork pie, a cup of coke, some salted nuts and jelly babies before heading out for what would be the toughest climb of the day.

Glenridding Checkpoint

Glenridding to Dunmail Raise (6.77 miles)

• 44.22 miles total

At 9.20am I had a tough little climb out of Glenridding what I thought would be it...

The sun was shining so I kept reapplying the 'ice cream' smelling sun cream and had to whip on the sunglasses for a while now - Wooo!!!!

Initial climb out of Glenridding

Finally some use out of Primarks 50p sale Sunglasses

I got to one of the many valleys and was looking for the pass in the distance but wasn't sure where it was, soon enough it appeared and GOD DAMN it was so far away! The climb up this was brutal (this was in the 55km), I remember thinking I was near the top but then there was loads of huge rocks and loose small rocks to navigate - Grisedale Hause.

Looking up at the climb through the mountains

Rough terrain

At the top? Naww!

Once at the top there was a stunning view of a loch - Grisedale Tarn. I thought FUCK because there was a huge mountain which had marshals on and the runners appeared to be going towards. Turns out that was for a peaks challenge and we had to run all the way around the loch before a really tough descent down, argh! Surpringly my spirits were quite high at this point.

Just hit the loch, gotta go round it

Finally at the other side

Start of the descent

The descent

I spoke to a guy about Lakeland 100 for a while going down here and had to use my hands to climb down the big boulders. Once we got to the road we thought great we can see all the cars and the checkpoint was just there, but it wasn't, it was another 15 minutes further along the trail.

Finally, I got to the checkpoint and Ozzie was not long behind me, I was so thirsty. I got 1 bottle filled with water and the second bottle half filled with NUNN, they wouldn't fill it properly and said the next checkpoint is 10km away, I had a jelly baby and went on my merry way - craving real food and drink now.

Checkpoint

Dunmail Raise to Borrowdale Institute, Rosthwaite (6.77 miles) 

• 51.39 miles total

I dispute the official distances between these checkpoints as it was way over 10km because I'd ran out of liquids at 10km thinking the checkpoint would be there but it was probably another half hour run away.

Anyway, the climb out of here was bloody tough again but through a dense forest so I never really knew how high we were climbing until we reached the top and got a look back, I was with Ozzie at this point again and got to use his walking poles for a wee bit, fantastic!

By 43 miles in we had reached the top of his climb out of the woods and got a selfie.

 

Stunning views

Me and Ozzie

Top of this climb

Had trouble navigating this bit

There was a long stretch of moor land but not many flags so I took what I thought was a path with about 5 guys following me, after a few miles I stopped dead to look about and saw a flag a few hundred yards up a small hill, oops! I rejoined the correct path for some running before I thought I felt my little toenail rip off, OUCH! I stopped, assessed the situation, took my shoe and sock off, taped it up and had to just run on. When I thought we got to the checkpoint it wasn't, I had to dip my feet in Watenlath Tarn and splash water all over my face.

Can't be arsed with a sore toe!

There was a short wee climb before another fun descent into the Rosthwaite checkpoint. This one was more well stocked and I had a few glasses of coke, filled my bottles and took a plate with some cornish pasty, chocolate shortcake and some salted nuts. There was meant to be pizza here, I have no idea if it had been eaten and they'd cut up a cornish pasty but I wanted some real food! We all sat eating in silence then a huge crash next to me, some guy had totally flattened a wooden chair lol!

Inside the checkpoint after sorting the foot

The best thing about this checkpoint was the guy I met a while back when I almost ripped my nail off, he offered me a toe cushion for my toe with some gel inside, this was a LIFE SAVER!

The checkpoint

Borrowdale Institute, Rosthwaite to Stickle Barn Tavern (8.52 miles)

• 59.92 miles total

I'd heard that this was actually the toughest climb on the route and there was tons of switchbacks, they weren't wrong! - I know i've said that about a lot of the climbs, but this one was actually the toughest for me.

First valley before the climb

A very smug black lamb

The route started with a long valley before taking a right turn over the river and into a huge long valley as usual.

This was a great run, I was super excited to cross over 53 mile mark and step into new unknown territory! I ran consistently alongside the river, constantly looking for where we would pass through the mountains before a nice descent into the final checkpoint. I saw it way up to the left off in the distance, finally we crossed the river again and started the ascent up the hundred and fifty bloody single track switchbacks, damn I was done in! This really took it out of my legs, I even sat down thinking "Fuck that", that was the general thought of the day when I saw these climbs :D

The valley with Stake Pass at the top left

Just starting the ascent and looking back

So many switchbacks

At the top (or near)

I said "Hi" to the marshal and 3 of us descended down quite an nice easy going descent, not overly technical but plenty of switchbacks...

The descent down to the final checkpoint

Ouch what the hell, my armpits were chaffing! How is that even possible? I ran though it for a few miles as I didn't really have many options without any sort of cream to use. I took both my tops off (taps aff) and didn't put back on the base layer because I thought that was the culprit and just put my normal T shirt back on. There was four of us running together now, Ozzie was one of them, we ran hard into the final checkpoint.

I didn't want to spend too long in the final checkpoint as I really wanted a seat but figured I could just run hard to the finish and sit down there.

I took a full bottle of coke, a bottle of Nunn, some jelly babies and a chip before heading out through the pub and cheering crowds all sat out on the picnic benches in the sun.

Stocking up?

Stickle Barn Tavern to Rothay Park, Ambleside (7.28 miles) 

• 67.21 miles total

I was running well with a guy I'd spoken to a few times from Blackpool, as I crossed a field of cows I heard someone shouting my name, it was Rob who was doing the 55km route which crosses the path, so good timing all round! I got stopped by an Asian couple asking for directions, I felt bad but had absolutely no time to explain a route to them I have no idea about so I pushed on....

My plan was to run the final 10km really hard, like I ran the final 5km of the Fling hard. I struggled on some of the climbs but managed to keep running good for the official photographer lol, classy.

Trying to making things look easy with my ASBO anclet timing chip

I left David from Blackpool and carried on running super hard and passing tons of runners who were walking. I ran really good all the way up until the last climb, I suddenly saw David again who felt great too so we hiked the final climb as hard as we could and agreed to run down together and finish together which was nice, after a long day. The final descent was glorious, I knew it was in the bag from here and it felt great to run this hard so late in the race.

Just before the finish chute his family were calling him over so he said to me, on you go I'll be a few minutes and I took off like a rocket, sprinting as hard as I could! I didn't even see Astrid cheering or taking photos but just sprinted to the finish.

I managed to get under my 20 hour goal in 17 hours 45 minutes 50 seconds.
Finishing 71st out of 194 finished. 
Strava has it at 63.5 miles (I was expecting 64 since the change so thats fine)
Elevation of 12,994ft.

Post Race

After I collected my medal, stopped my watch and grabbed a T shirt, I walked outside the tent to find Andrew there with a big grin on his face waiting to see me, Astrid had come over too and we all chatted for a while.

With Andrew

I sat on the grass with Astrid for a while telling her all about the race and drinking my protein shake. We went to claim my free meal of vegetarian chilli and after that went back to the cottage for a shower before heading back down to the park.

Once back down at the park we sat and waited for a while and then Rob came in from the 55km, after he came in we did the same, went and got food and also changed.

Finally, back down to the park and we saw the girls come in together with their headtorches on, we quickly limped to the finish and gave them a hug. I look raging in the photo but I was just tired having not slept since Thursday night.

Vicky and Steph running in

We'd all finished :)

The girls went and got some food and we all headed back to the cottage for some Cava!

Both the Medals

Impressions

Great race route

Good company during the run and friendly marshals

Ambleside is a beautiful place to stay!

Perfect race strategy
Not enough food and drink at the checkpoints for the entry price and description

No tummy issues considering I lived off Jelly Babies, coke and electrolytes

I wouldn't do it next year because I'll have my eyes on West Highland Way race (if I get in), but will sign up for the Lakeland 50 later in the year which I think uses some of the same route. 

Would love to get back out to the Lakes for some running!

Next Race: Devil O The Highlands Ultra (42 miles) on Saturday 1st August