Hardmoor’s Scaling Dam 10

 

Hardmoors Saling Dam 10 mile is actually a little over 11 miles. I thought it would be nice to do a new (for me) route and see a different part of the moors. However the weather was not conducive for views. Thick fog and rain blocked the views. I registered and went back to shelter in the van for a while. I went to the start in time for Jon’s race brief. Met and chatted with friends and at 9:30 the race started.

There were lots of skinny heather trails, my favourite-NOT. I find these tricky with wide feet.

It was good to make it to the Beacon at around 6 miles, it marked the highest point of the course and was followed with a lovely tarmac descent.

Unlike the loose stone path that had led us up there, but at least watching my feet and the fog had meant that I had not really realised I was headed upwards, I just thought I was tired and had more nutrition.

Yellow tape and flags kept me on track so I did need to worry about navigation.

The finish was where we started, by the reservoir.

I finished in 2:21:19.

64/103 overall

25/53 F

10/21 FV50

Thanks to Jon and Shirley for putting on the race, and to the Marshalls, who were out in the misty, murky chilly weather to keep us safe and on track.

Sessay Swift 14 August 2024

 Having not really run since Endue 24, 5 weeks ago, I planned to go and support at Sessay Swift. As I was leaving home, some places came available. I took one.

It was a bit warm for me, but it was road and only 6 km, so worth a run out.

I took it easy till the first km was done, it was slightly uphill and now it was down, I let my legs get a rhythm and tried to maintain it for the rest of the race. 

As expected the last half mile was tough, I wanted to walk but pushed it out. 

3.76 miles in 35:58. Slower than previous attempts. But not bad after a longish break.

It’s all been a bit busy

 What a mad month, I have not managed to write it all down 

Since Burton Leonard 10 km I have cracked on with my Lakesman training and done a few races too.

Dalesrunner Stately Trails 10 km 23 May

A 2 lap trail race, it had rained all day and the ground was wet and slippery.

HDSRL Ripley

Just short of 5 miles, mainly tarmac and some trail, but dry.

Hardmoors White Horse Marathon

The dry weather recently helped me to decide to wear road shoes on this mainly hard trail 29 mile race. The weather was cool which was a good help too, previous years have always been about surviving the heat. I felt ok For most of the run

Lakes-swim

A terrible day

I always get nervous for a swim, but last year doing the Lakesswim on Friday evening really settled my nerves so I entered it again. This year however was an utter nightmare, I couldn’t catch my breath and then could not get into any rhythm. I was all alone for most of the swim/flounder with a lovely canoeist keeping me company. I was torn between giving up and slogging it out. I fought with myself and did complete the 1.2 mile swim, but it took me an hour and 5 minutes. 

The next day, I felt rough and could not get my heart rate down. I went to Keswick rugby club and enquired about dropping to bike-Run. I was told I could decide in the morning.

Lakesman Half

Yes I finished. YEY!!! But it was tough, right until I got in the water, my brain was screaming at me with self doubt. I did not want to have an incident an become a casualty in the water. I was told I could drop to bike run before I entered the water, but if I started the swim and quit, it would be a DNF. I wanted my 7th finish so went for it. The swim was nothing like Friday, I got into a rhythm and completed the 1.2 miles in 46 minutes and 46 seconds. A far more normal time for me. So then it was out on the bike. The 56 mile bike section went well and I was onto my safe section, the run. It wasn’t fast or pretty, but I cracked on and completed the half iron distance tri, and earned my 7th Lakesman finish, 5 x full and 2 x half. 

Taking it a bit steady due to being unwell the couple of days before got me round. I was happy to complete in 7 hours 24 minutes and 57 seconds, 2 hours after Billy. 105/118 female 5/6 F55-59.

HDSRL Thirsk

At Sutton Bank, 4.7 miles, road and hard trail, a lovely evening finished with sandwiches and cake.

Time 49:17

Next up was 

Ilkley HDSRL race 27 June 2024

 5 miles 50:14

Endure 24 

24 hour race on a 5 mile lap.

This was my target race for 2024. I wanted to run 21 laps. As it was I felt tired, my glute and left leg were sore and after midnight, I knew I could not make 20 laps, let alone 21. So I just ran. I managed to complete 18 laps/90 miles finishing 17th female solo. Not too bad.