Ennerdale: A 32 mile jog around a Lake
All talk in the Scout Hut at Ennerdale was about the rain and whether to wear a waterproof or brave the conditions without. Having borrowed a club vest I was determined to run round this lake proudly as a Humbug even if it meant wearing it over my waterproof jacket! It was forecast to be quite mild so I decided to wear the vest over my long-sleeved top and carry my waterproof with the rest of my kit.
Nerves jangling, adrenaline pumping as we walked to the start this was my first view of the valley that contains Ennerdale lake, having arrived in the dark the night before, and it took my breath away. What an awesome setting for an ultra-run, the anticipation was almost too much and I was ready to go.
After a very brief pre-race talk we were off and at quite a pace as well, the adrenaline carrying me forward with the leading runners and I quickly realised I needed to slow down and so I backed off the pace a little. The lakeside track was a little uneven but fairly solid underfoot despite the amount of rain that had fallen recently and the going was quite good. Running with the lake to the right the views of the surrounding hills were inspiring.
The first few miles went by quite quickly with the stone track offering good purchase and the steady uphill slope was very easy going, the pace quicker than I had planned but I felt good. There were very few other runners around at this point affording me very little chance to have a natter as I am prone to on the long runs. The sun came out and the temperature increased and was glad I had chosen not to wear the waterproof so the day was turning out good.
The course left the wide track and veered right up and down over a couple of small hillocks towards Black Sail Scout Hut, the first water/feed station about 8 miles into the run. A quick toilet break and a shouted hello and away again, as I was carrying enough water to get me through to the halfway point no need to waste time refuelling here. The path became slightly muddy just before the small bridge that carried me across the river at the head of the lake and I was heading back towards the start. Across another muddy field, through a gate and, after greeting a small herd of cows, onto a stony path leading gradually downhill.
A runner in front gave me a point to focus on and as I followed his lead I realised I was running about 1.5 min/mile pace quicker than I had planned but still I was feeling good and again the ground was solid so my confidence was high. Wanting to take as much as I could from this experience I looked around as I ran and could see across the lake at the runners on the path that I had been on a few miles back. I was marvelling at the beauty and serenity of the lake with the forest growing up the hillside. It doesn’t get better than this.
All of a sudden the terrain changed and the track changed to field and the field to rocks and tree roots. This was tricky, bouncing from rock to rock and up small stream beds, avoiding the exposed tree roots. This was fun. Bounding like a child, quickstepping looking for the next rock. Then up a small scree slope and a quick shuffle round the edge of the rock and down. The half-way point was in sight just as the sky began to darken.
As I approached the checkpoint I unfastened the straps on my bag in readiness to fill my water pouch. Quick fill up and away for the second lap struggling slightly to reposition my bag as I was on the move. Bag resettled I tried to regain my rhythm for the second lap but as the sky darkened so did my mood and rain began to pour. The slightly gentle slope on the first lap suddenly felt like a hill. The solid ground underfoot became soft and hard going. The rain was heavy now, the hills shrouded in grey and the lake dancing with the wind and falling rain disturbing the serenity of the day. This was tough, where did this hill come from, how far to go. But I knew how far there was to go as I had already run one lap and couldn’t kid myself that it was that far.
There were 13 miles to the finish and at this point I would normally be telling myself “less than a half marathon to go” but now I was thinking “...still got a half marathon to go”. Legs heavy, rain soaked and wondering if I would make it all the way when I heard a shout of “Well done Trawden!” this from a passer-by walking their dog. I realised they were shouting at me and lifted my head and shouted back “Lovely day for a walk” and we both laughed. Spirits lifted slightly I started heading out to Black Sail again this time taking on a small drink and thanking the volunteer, I left to the call “Good luck Trawden!”
Across the bridge, over the muddy field past the cows and onto the downward slope, I had my second wind and started to pick up speed. The sun started to fight its way through the clouds and the darkness lifted. I was going to be okay. Only 7 miles to go and I was gaining some time back. Then disaster! Cramp in the back of my right leg. This has happened before I can walk this off. A quick walk for a minute and I was off again at a more sedate pace then BANG cramp in my left leg. Quick walk, holding the back of my leg, stretching starting to go now and a slow steady jog. A runner passed my asking if I was ok and I said I would be fine.
All about survival now, no going back. I had to finish even if I had to walk. A slow run, regrets of my early fast pace and wondering why I had gone so far off my race plan. No time to think about that now. I had to get to the end. Change of terrain again, across a field, along a path over a small bridge and onto the rocks, tree stumps and stream beds again. No bounding from rock to rock this time round. This was no fun. Slipping from rock to root it was like running down the street in your football boots. Agony, my calf muscles were throbbing, my hips were aching and I couldn’t lift my legs high enough or they would start to cramp. Remind me again why I was doing this?
Walking now as I approached the scree slope and runner came past. It was a chap from Derby I managed to talk to early in the race and we had discussed race plans (haha what plan) and we both were targeting a sub 5 hour finish. As he pushed on he shouted back ‘come on we can still make it under 5 hours’. That was it. That was my target. Less than 10 mins running left I can do it. Slowly up the scree slope and across the rock down to path with less than a mile to go I could almost see the finish.
Everything focussed now on the target 5 hours as I left the slope and the ground levelled out my left leg jerked at the groin and as I lifted it to take a step involuntarily swung to my right and I had to force it down before I fell. Next step was the same, I had no control as I lifted the leg up it just spasmed at the top and swung across to the right and it took everything I had to force it down again. This happened about 5 or six times before easing up and my stride became normal again. Panic over I quickly looked around to make sure no one had seen my entry into the Ministry of Funny Walks, and pushed on to the finish.
Nearly there now and the sponsors flags were waving in the wind rejoicing my arrival when I heard a call of ‘nearly there Trawden’ and this was from a fellow I recognised from Colne so I knew wouldn’t lie to me about how far there was to go. And he hadn’t, round the corner and I was there to applause and cheers and a medal round my neck all the pain had gone in an instant. Not forgotten, just gone in the euphoria of crossing the line.
I had been caught up in the excitement of the race and my surroundings and gone totally off my race plan, nearly at the expense of the whole race. I don’t know how much truth there is in the ‘go faster stripes’ effect of our club vest but the cries of “Trawden” during the race certainly put more miles in my legs.
A proud day to be TAC watching Kerrie-anne Bretherton finish her first ultra as second lady finisher and hats off to Andy and Matt Howarth for finishing this deceptively tough course.
I also had the pleasure of meeting David McCabe for the first time. He had run and finished second in the 10km race the same day. This was only topped by meeting and having a photograph with the legendary Joss Naylor (sorry David).
