A little later than planned due to a minor week long hiatus in computer access (Spine race safety team stuff)-
As long as I completed the Buttermere Sailbeck race, it would be the first time I have ever completed enough races to be elegible for the English Champs. So off we went to Buttermere. The race itself is about 14k long with 1500m of ascent and descent. Having not recced it, I was going off a very limited knowledge of the hills, looking at a map, and attempting to be sensible.
The weather was grey, intermittently damp, and generally wet underfoot. With a lot of grassy ascents and descents, a pair of shoes with decent grip was going to be fairly important- (in comparison, say, to a pair of shoes with a bit less grip, but that gives you more connfidence on wet rock).
Having had a torrid time on the last race- Pendle cloughs- where I really didn't have a good day for a number of reasons, I decided to take it very much at my own pace. Go out easy, bimble along on the way out, try to enjoy the climbs, and then trot back along the northern ridge and back down into Buttermere. It helped that it wasn't too hot and that I've been doing a LOT of cycling recently- so I was hoping for a much easier day of it than at Pendle.
(yes, I know its a race, but really... it makes more sense to me to enjoy it).
So I started off mid-pack, and there is a long run out along what is ostensibly a single track with a lot of bracken on each side of it. There isn't much opportunity to overtake, so you tend to shuffle along at whatever speed the people around you are at. Ok, so the guys at the front stretch out the lead, but I'm not going to be troubling them for places anytime soon. On the occasional section where you could skirt around, I gained a couple of places, but wasn't going too mad about it. The going was soft underfoot, and the pace was very ameinable.
Down a bit of a muddy section to the start of the first climb which went on for *quite* a long time. I pushed on a little here, gaining a number of places on the climb up into the mist- which was a bit of a surprise. Climbing is not a strong point for me- but I was keeping things under control, steady breathing, and not going into the red, and as a result, I was able to run across the first section of ridge, gaining more places on the way down the steep section- opting for the heather, rather than the slippy path section.
I think places were maintained up to the next checkpoint, whereupon there is a rather delightful downhill section into the valley- plenty of mud, plenty of grip needed, and a decent level of lead was gained over those behind. Across a massive muddy/boggy patch and then onto a single track where I was held up for a time behind a slower runner from the ladies race. Not a problem for me in the slightest, and I certainly wasn't about to muscle through with limited space. Runners caught up behind me, and I could see the start of the ascent up Causey Pike just around the next corner. Through the check point and there was a little opening up where we overtook and started the monster climb to the top of the Pike.
Considering the number of people behind me, and knowing there were some pretty decent climbers in the bunch, there was a hint of a thought of stepping aside to let them lead up the hill... but then, no-one else would have done that for me- thinking back to having to overtake through heather and bracken uphill on previous hills, so I settled in to tap out a decent rhythm. To begin with there was a lot of heavy breathing close behind- but this is a LONG hill, going out at a crazy pace would simply end up with me going into the red and having to stop... the same rhythm just kept going, and by a couple of hundred more metres, the breathing receded and I was (somewhat astonishingly) off on my own.
Passed a few more of the slower ladies from their race, bypassing into the heather (less of an issue on the way up than on the way down, it has to be said), taking care not to impinge on their lines or their race. The hill is indeed a long one, with a decent scramble at the end. By now, the mist had turned to rain and the rock underfoot was really rather slippy with mudclaws on. Making sure that I was placing my feet well, having hands on rock where necessary, and taking a gel or two on the way up meant that I was maintaining my pace and place.
The fun part about Buttermere Sailbeck is that everyone thinks that once you hit the top of Causey Pike, the climbing is done- but oh no- you still have to get up Sail and Eel crag- and there were runners smattered all over the hillside, working their way up either the direct line, or up the zigzag path. I opted for the direct line, thinking that there wasn't too much in the way of ascent after the top.
A bit of fog was down, but no-where near enough to need to bother with a compass to find the way off towards Whiteless Pike- perhaps one of the best sections of any area of the Lake District... a beautiful ridge with excellent views, and fabulous descents. Through the checkpoint, and off down... though not really sure of the race line. I took the path for a short while til I spied runners below and to the left, so dropped down to join them, and from there could see a decent descent line. I thought that not going all out was probably the best plan, and, although not bimbling, certainly didn't do the whole "drop like a stone" finish that I might have employed in days gone by.
A lovely descent, with a final run in- and a final placing of... oh, I don't know. Still, I've done enough to be in the English Champs. No- I wasn't nailing it, but had a decent day out.
As Im writing this in retrospect, I must also add the DOMS from the descents was somewhat epic... monday and tuesday were HORRENDOUS.
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