Training Log Archive: Mal

Marmot Dark Mountains Long Score 1st

After eventually getting my arm twisted in to running I decided to ignore the idea largely. I was already a bit apprehensive when the time limit got increased by a further 2hours. Though I did a few longer runs but nothing constituting proper MM training. Then as it drew closer I started spending more time being glued to the forecast, thinking I'd lucked out a bit when it got warmer only to be dashed on the day by a cold front moving in.

Set off with our agreed tactic of looking at the route on the run out, given the forecast we planned to go anticlockwise to try get some shelter on the way back in whilst the winds were forecast the strongest. Planned to tick off the north and move south towards Loadpot Hill then work out what next, we hit the fells and promptly bombed our first control by a good few minutes just to rattle ourselves. The next hour or so passed uneventfully before the clag rolled in and the drizzle began before what could be described as rain arrived. After Loadpot Hill we dropped down and I got very cold for the first time, running straight in to the wind and rain caught me out a bit, luckily there was a reasonable structure at the next control to cower behind and put my waterproof on. As we dropped towards Howtown I was still getting more and more cold and my morale was dropping further I was quite happy to drop out at the manned control but willed myself on telling myself if needed we could trot back.

Hallin Fell circled, after decided it wasn't worthwhile traipsing up and down for a measly 25points, it was time for the Place Fell bonanza with nearly 100points to tick off. As we climbed up towards the second control the rain turned sleety then verged on blizzard conditions. "This is a bit interesting" I said, in the hope my mood would have been appreciated and we could leave as I was concerned how cold I had just been. It was not, we continued on. The snowy fells in the dark is a weird place where features just don't seem to fit even with a Mila headtorch beam at your disposal. Some off the controls were much steeper, larger and rockier than either of us were expecting!

As we descended off Place Fell there were a few brief periods of calm out of the wind which was beginning to whip up. We kept telling ourselves a sheltered spot is around the corner to put on our waterproof trouser to be continually greeted with gusting blasts. We eventually caved around Angletarn Pikes, hunkering in some sheep hollows whilst overcoming numbing non-pinching fingers. As we got moving again I realised I had cooled down a lot and was shivering uncontrollably. "I'm not enjoying this" I tell Mark, he laughs a bit and agrees. Whilst I thought of quitting here I never really voiced it, I'm not sure I wanted to really. My mind wandered to watch Bear Grylls of all people who did star jumps and pushups after jumping in icy lakes. Whatever I managed, it seemed to work as the shivering had abated by the time we were climbing Rest Dodd despite the crazy gust.

Circling around past Rampsgill Head was mentally a high point, we were headed back towards the finish now. But first a dog-leg down to get the 40pointer in Randale. As we dropped in to the control through knee deep snow drifts another competitor laughs at my milk bottle waterbottle and asks me if its frozen. I dismissed it without really thinking about it. I hadn't bothered to eat or drink whilst it was cold and super windy but as we climbed up to Low Raise I realised she was right and it was solid. As we approached the next control I remembered the valley. Lewis and I had a control here on my first MM in 2009, I couldn't remember exactly where but I remembered the climb out. We reached the control with no concerns and hit another of our decision points, given the time we opted for the more ambitious route of heading down towards Haweswater to clear up the points around Burnbanks.

It was definitely getting lighter but dawn was still a way off. Another mental win was reaching the first Haweswater control at 8hours in, 2/3rds down 1/3rd to go. Burnbanks passed uneventfully bar a few smallish navigational errors. After a stop in another well placed ruin to catch up on food, water, switch headtorches and clothing we were off despite the temptations to stay. We clambered upwards and reached the next control but no beep, my SI had died! Luckily Mark's was, so we hoped that Shane and GG wouldn't mind too much and continued on. Dawn was definitely arriving at this point but we still had another few big climbs and descents to muster before we could feel comfortable and warm again.

Crossing Cawdale was one of my weakest points, the ascent next to the plantation felt like a wall and my legs had had enough. But as the gradient lessened I got moving again, and dropping towards the next I was confident we were upstream, I'm fairly sure we'd gradually been drifting off my bearing to the right and in fact we were too low. As we ran downstream I began to realise in vain that it wasn't right. I was becoming acutely aware of the timing, trying to calculate our rough pace and route. I didn't want to risk the climb back up and so we agreed to head back towards the finish picking up our last two controls. Though as we climbed a third began to appear do-able, in hindsight we probably had the time to go back though I didn't want to risk it. Dropping in and out I hastened, it took a while for Mark to catch me back up, I noticed the 'sneaky' #201 hidden near the finish to salvage some of the points lost. As it was we ran most of the last two controls with little break and using a little orienteering knowledge chose the unmarked path route to the fell gate.

In spite of having 30mins to cover the last 3km or so, Mark was moving well on the road section. Leaving me suffering in his wake. My feet were sore, 11hours of numbness had saved me till now. My energy levels were also beginning to fade and tiredness was setting in. A photographer seemed to arrive just as we were approaching the last control and proceeded to run with us along the avenue, I assume for promotional footage, so I had to keep moving and keep up despite being rather spent.

We finished and downloaded, my SI hadn't registered at the last several controls so we were missing 140points from our tally. The results showed we were 2nd. A bit frustrating and annoying after all the effort though GG said he'd check the trace and sort out the scoring accordingly so we had more points coming enough to take us in to first hopefully. However, on chatting to Steve Birkinshaw, who won the Elite, he said the current leaders also had points to add so it was a bit nerve-wracking and tense to see who had the most points to come.

We won in the end, but I was happier to make it off the hill to be honest. I 'enjoyed' it in a very much type 2 sort of way. I don't think I'd like to run it again unless I find the key to staying warm.

12hours to run it, 12hours to read it

C • Warmer or colder.. 6

Gibside Parkrun
Set off easy then got bored so tried to chase down the leader, got close but wasn't making much headway on the hill so eased off waited for Anna and ran with her including extra hill. Trying to get the cold moving.

Lungs seemed better today though not perfect. Looking forward to tonight, maybe?

To and from the car

Testing out the body before tomorrow night
It seemed to pass though my lungs are largely AWOL.

Slept abysmally last night with a headache, temperature and sore throat. Luckily my partner for the Dark Mountains also came down with something similar but hopefully be fine for next weekend.