Racing the sun....
I thought I’d write a little about my fell running/swimming history. And a little about the day itself.
I have lived in Gloucestershire since I was 6 years old, but am originally from Salford, so my childhood holidays were either spent in Blackpool or the Lakes. This is where I have also loved holidaying with my family. Marching/dragging them all up many fells. Being in the mountains obviously had a positive effect on them as one now lives in Keswick having attempted the Bob as a 5 day hike and one in the Swiss mountains. The other 2 children live locally to us. My fell running may be inspirational or what you may consider naive/stupid. My wife and I have run in half a dozen or so events in the last 5 years, but all with the aim to complete and not compete. (Finishing each event, but in the last 10%). We took part in Windemere Marathon May 2022, which we completed in 6 hours. Then a friend of ours convinced us to do a Swimrun in Llanberis last June covering a total of about 16km. I trained hard for this and did quite well coming in the top 20%. (Whilst doing one of the runs, a chap mentioned the Frog). I then did a local half marathon Sept 2022 where I finished in the top 15%. Then my wife and her friend entered the Pembroke Coast Ultra in April 2023. I said I would train with them and then enter if the training went well, which it did, so I entered with them. Then in Dec 2022 they both pulled out with injuries. I continued training including a couple of “front door” marathon distances with 4000 feet of ascent in the snow and rain with the Frog in the back of my mind. In the ultra I finished 8 mins off the men’s podium. I realised that the Frog was actually going to be possible, not just to finish, but finish strong and in a reasonable time. The swims were going to be my bit of respite.... I swam Coniston in Sept 2021 in 3hrs 17mins, and swam the last two winters in neoprene leggings then shorts, including a 500m 4c swim, and am currently training for Windermere in September. So the swims didn’t really phase me (whilst praying for no wind).
So, in short I only started training for distance running in Sept 2022, and have only ever run above 900 foot twice. Once in Llanberis and once in Lanzarote. I had also never been to any of the way points on the Frog until the week before when doing some recces.
The day...my support was my wife (Rachel) meeting at:
Under Skiddaw carpark for a cheer.
Dodd Woods carpark for a cheer.
Out of Bassenthwaite water for a wash with 10 litres of fresh water. Water bottle top up, and a cheer.
Whinlatter visitors centre for a cheer.
Entering Crummock for a water top up and a cheer.
Leaving Buttermere for a water top up and a cheer.
Entering Derwent water for a final cheer.
I carried all my own nutrition, tow float, wetsuit, running stuff etc. and had Rachel there for water as I didn’t want to drink stream water.
Leg 1...
It all started 10 minutes late at 3:10am at Moot Hall in the dark. With a SwimRun wetsuit rolled down my shorts to hold map and phone; t-shirt; vest with leg 1 nutrition and water and my newly purchased bag rammed full with the other 3 legs nutrition, tow float and other kit. A quick flat first 1 km spotting a fox as I left Keswick for the path that leads to Skiddaw. My watch then informed me that my “performance condition” had dropped by 7 points, as I crossed the A66 my bag fell open and all my kit fell out...was this going to be the pattern for the rest of the day? My first encounter with another person was Rachel at Under Skiddaw carpark in a fairly promising time of 28 mins. Then it was the steep ascent to the summit which I timed perfectly, beating the sun to the top of Skiddaw by seconds. I put my hand on the trig point moments later as I caught the sun rise over the inverted cloud. Then a quick descent off the edge of Skiddaw to Carl Side. Then a flatter descent started, passing half a dozen dogwalkers in Dodd Woods just after 5am (mad people). Another quick kiss and cheer from Rachel at the carpark. The down to the church, past the cross, over the church wall to touch the church (should pay more attention to the ratification sheet). At the shore I could see the A66 over the other side so could see my line across; a very choppy arduous swim across Bassenthwaite.
Leg 2...
I got out the lake to Rachel who had litres of water to wash me and kit down with. A water top up and the next nutrition in my vest. Leg 2 has now started 30 minutes ahead of time...A relatively fast trot along the old A66 another quick kiss and cheer from Rachel as I passed the Swan House, and on up to Barf, where I could see where I had been (very satisfying) and a lot of where I was going and finishing (very daunting). An easy run pass Lord’s Seat to Ulster Hill, then down through Whinlatter, on one of the fire roads I felt my left knee go with a pain on the outside, but it felt manageable. A quick selfie with this guy (I think he should be added to the round). Met Rachel at the visitors centre for another very much needed kiss and cheer, and let her know about my knee. Ran/limped off into the distance. Long hike up Grisedale Pike. Then an easy although slower than I would have liked trot across Hopegill Head, I was just able to see Sandhill, through the cloud, then the steep scramble up Eel Crag to Crag Hill. Fairly quick across Wandope hitting 20 miles in 6 hours 37 mins, (I was actually ahead of my predicted 15ish hour round), then Whiteless Pike and a very slow descent to the shallow ridge. Up to Rannerdale Knotts then down to (a very calm) Crummock water as my knee was really starting to be silly painful. I met up (minute perfect on schedule) with Rachel for a water top up, painkillers and kiss and cheer. After a beautiful swim across leg 3 started.
Leg3...
The shortest, but with the most ascent per mile. So up Mellbreak which was super hard as the sun had come out. Then a tiny bit slower than anticipated to Red Pike minutes later High Stile where leg 3 became my nemesis. As I came off the top I kinked left, but didn’t notice until I could see Bleaberry tarn, by which time it was too late to go back up (this was the first moment where the choice seemed to be cry and quit or carry on...(option 2 was decided). I finally dropped down to the NW corner of Buttermere and hobbled back to Horse Close adding about an hour to my time, for a beautiful calm swim across. Once changed and ready for leg 4 Rachel realised that my phone was missing; I had left it on Horse Close beach!! So off I jogged around the lake and back, another hour added.
Leg 4...
Now I could actually start leg 4!!! Robinson, the painful climb up never seemed to end, then I was much slower than I wanted to be across to Dale Head. I checked the map and the contours to Dalehead tarn were so close together that I had a couple of options....cry and quit or find a shallower route! So off towards Honister I went, when about halfway there I headed north, back towards the tarn. High Spy came and went in a cloud of pain, all I could think about was finding a ‘flat’ way off Catbells! There wasn’t one! I had started this day beating the sun to the top of Skiddaw by moments, and now the day was about racing the sun to Catbells, (and more to the point...the other side of Derwent) as light was getting low. A friend had lent me a waterproof head torch so I could swim in the dark, but the thought of a mile ‘heads up breaststroke’ filled me with dread. As I came off the edge off Skelgill Bank I could see Otterbield Bay for the first time. This was the moment for my first proper cry, because that was when I could see Rachel and daughter, Mim, and then I could hear them!! It still seemed a long way down, but I knew I was close. I finally got down to the road where I was greeted with a massive hug from Mim, and another cry from me. Down to the bay we went. A quick kiss and cheer from Rachel. I looked at the choppy waters of Derwent, as bad as Bassenthwaite. Then a short swim to Otterbield which was difficult to spot until the gulls started to get miffed at my intrusion. Out I clambered blowing up my tow float (oops). Now to St Herbert’s where I could see two kayaks on the southern point (a target). Out of the water I got, scaring 2 chaps to death (judging by their language!). I headed around the island to the North East corner to make the next swim as short as possible. So now just Rampsholme. This was much easier at I was getting into the leigh of the hill, so the water was getting less bumpy with every stroke. A quick hobble around the island the a calm swim to the north end of Calf Close. As I was getting changed, I got a moral boost as I got eaten alive by midges (just want I needed). Now was the “quick” jog back to the top of Moot Hall steps, to the sound of applauding and cheering from my family and one or two passersby, just before “The Round” shut, for a pint. Then finally to home...
A quick check of my step count...Gosh 106,498!!
Total distance covered 45 miles!
