Running 35:43 [5] 7.02 km (5:05 / km) +417m 3:55 / km
ahr:169 max:191 shoes: Inov-8 x-talon 225 Pink
Ilam Fell Race (English Champs counter) - 3rd, 1st u23.
Nervous before this! Down to this race between me and Max for the u23 title and it's on his backdoor, plus a cold this week meant I just didn't know where I was at. Just tried to treat it as any other race. Moving well on the first climb and felt comfortable hanging at the back of a pack with myself, Elk, Si, Steve Hebb, Lamby and John Battrick. Summitted feeling good and the descent went well much to my relief after Grisedale! Comfortable along the bottom them dug in to a nice rhythm walking the 2nd climb. No real dramas other than everyone taking a line too far right and losing a few seconds. Felt good along the ridge and moved past Matt to chase the others who had made a tiny gap and was closing at the top of the last climb as Jebby came up on my shoulder. Hit the descent well and heard the sound I'd been waiting for of a flying Waino steaming down the hill behind me! Had been expecting it so didn't panic and when we hit the flat began moving through the gears and managed to get a bit of a gap. Felt pretty good and over the course of the undulating run-in managed to move past Steve and Si and come in 3rd!
Best champs result so far and happy with how I ran, felt pretty strong throughout! Delighted to win the u23 English title, big aim this season and happy to have had a great battle with Max for it. Thoroughly enjoyed the fells this year!