A proper fell race was one to tick off the "100 things to do..." list and seemed a good idea when I paid my £5, then I found myself in a windy field full of northern hard men and women. I felt a complete fraud. Bright new shoes didn't help but at least I didn't go for Walsh's. In fact as well as being super fit and hungry for the off absolutely everyone was really friendly and helpful. I chatted to 10s of people, most of whom simply came up to me to offer friendly advice - I think I looked the new boy nobby no mates so they came across to explain everything and were really welcoming. Those I spoke to had travelled from Manchester, Devon, Oxford - all over - really interesting. I loved the fallen tress we had to vault and the wild highland cattle we had to run between: thankfully Elf and Safety haven't got to fell running yet. Race plan for next time is not to cycle for 1 1/2 hours before hand and treat it as a brick.

 

Very hard race, quite mad ascents (I had to walk the last part of the very first hill, very embarrassing) and descents but an exile rating way to spend an hour or so. Advice on descending from one fellow: "just lean into the hill and let yourself go"

Winner:     0:49:43 (course record)

Time:        1:08:21

Place        97 (252 finished)

(Mark Evans)