The Lakeland 50
After 7 months of hard training, the day has finally arrived.
As I’m stood in the never ending toilet queue, I look across at Penny and Simone and we all have the biggest of smiles on our faces. We are all a bit nervous as this is a first for all 3 of us. I can’t quite believe it – I’m about to start the Lakeland 50 and I’m feeling great, even the weather looks like it will clear up. The 3 of us say our goodbyes to our loved ones and friends and head off to the start area. Me and Simone have already lost Penny! I feel guilty as I haven’t wished her good luck but I know that Penny (another BG Widow) will be fine as she has been training loads in the Lakes this year while she has been busy supporting her husband, Simon, on his Bob Graham adventures.
As me and Simone are stood in the start area ,I do my usual of checking out what gear people are wearing and I’m shocked about the size of some people rucksacks. Some are overfilled with gels, shot blocks and the kitchen sink by the looks of them! So glad I have Chris for advice as I have gone as lightweight as possible. I’ve used most of his gear and he convinced me to get rid of the family size picnic I wanted to take. I then check out everyone’s footwear and I can’t see one pair of Adidas so that’s when I start to panic and I wonder if I have made the right decision.
About 3 weeks before the race I got a message from Keith at The Lincolnshire Runner to tell me that Adidas have sent me a pair of Adidas Terrex Skychaser trail running shoes to try out, and if I get on with them perhaps I could use them on the Lakeland 50. The big problem was that all my long runs were now done. I told myself that it was too late to chance changing such an important piece of kit so close to my race. But after popping over to The Lincolnshire Runner to collect them, I couldn’t help but get a little bit excited when Mark brought them out as I noticed they had the Boost Cushioning.
My last long day out was a 26 mile walk, not really the same as running but I knew I would get an idea of how they would feel.4 miles in I could feel a bit of hot spot on my right heel so a quick stop to put a plaster on and sort out my laces and I was off again. The weather has been very dry so I have no idea of how grippy they are but with a continental sole I’m hoping that they will be fine. It was the longest walk I have done so far and my feet were feeling great, but how would they feel after running for 50 miles when they are wet? I always suffer with my feet when they get wet. Even if I tape them up I still get blisters and seem to loose several layers of skin. So could they be any worse? Or would they be better?
The race horn blows and we are off. The first part of the race is about 4 miles around the Dalemain Estate. It’s very hard not to race off, but I know that run hard now and I will pay for it later. Before the start everyone would ask me what time did I wanted to do. I didn’t have a clue! It has always been just about reaching each checkpoint and not spending much time hanging around and reaching Ambleside in one piece, as I know from there if I was totally done in I could just walk to the finish – that really was my only plan.
I hadn’t planned on running with anyone else, but to the first checkpoint me and Simone are running together. Time passes very quickly as we get on really well. We are both in really good spirits and so far we are both really enjoying our adventure. We reach our first checkpoint, which is full of lots of happy marshals dressed as cow boys, quickly re-fill our water bottles, grab a handful of crisps and set out for what I think is the biggest and hardest climb on the course, Fusedale. Simone is by far the strongest runner out of the two of us. She is much stronger at climbing and I always thought I could descend quite quickly but Simone is a speed queen and has no fear of running very fast down a tricky rocky path. I know deep down that we won’t be finishing together and half way up Fusedale when I start to feel cramp in right calf and I have to stop to stretch it out, I look up and watch Simone climbing very strongly and passing other runners on the way. In my head I wish her well and I know that she will absolutely smash it. (She did!!)
I enjoy descending down into Haweswater and running round the lake to Mardale Head. I decide to take about 10 mins at this checkpoint as I was feeling very thirsty and just wanted to take it all in whilst getting ready for the next monster climb out. I feel much stronger on this climb and even manage to go past other runners on my way. I know that I have some great running ahead of me so that gives me a right buzz. You can’t beat a good bit of downhill running to make your heart skip a beat and the views from the top are breath taking! I can’t help but think about Penny and Simone and wonder how they are both getting on. Since the first checkpoint I haven’t really spoken to anyone apart from the odd ‘hello’ and ‘is this your first time?’ kind of small talk. I start to feel a little bit lonely and wonder how the hell Chris can go out in the hills all day or night on his own. I think I would go crazy and start talking to myself!
After leaving the checkpoint at Kentmere I start to feel really excited and pick up my pace as I’m now heading to Ambleside and I know that Chris, Archie and Ellie are waiting to see me there. I have noticed that even though the paths have been very wet, I’m not slipping about on the wet rocks like I would be normally in my other shoes, so with that in mind I feel a little bit braver and let myself go a bit faster downhill. I also noticed that even running hard over loose rocks it’s not hurting my feet which is due to my shoes’ boost cushioning. However, they still feel responsive enough to be able to feel the path. No hot spots so far and I haven’t had to take my shoes off at any of the checkpoints to re-tape my feet, so I’m glad that I decided to change my footwear at the last minute.
As I reach the White Lion Hotel in Ambleside, I can see our Ellie stood at the side of the road waving cow bells as loud as she can while she waits for me so we can run into the checkpoint together. I’m already starting to feel emotional but once we cross over the road and see all the people cheering us all in, I’m struggling to hold back the tears. I see Chris, Archie and a group of our friends in the crowd and my boys join me at the checkpoint with my best BG Widow, Debbie. It feels like the finish and I wished it was. Chris and the kids walk through the park with me. Chris says all the right things – ‘You’re doing great babe. I know that you can finish this. Only another 16 more miles and even if you feel bad you can walk to the finish – you will do this!’ I should be feeling on the top of the world, but I’m starting to feel a little bit sick. I say my good byes and look at how excited our Ellie is. Archie is busy taking lots of photos. It must seem strange to them as it’s normally Daddy they are cheering on through the checkpoints. I know one thing, I won’t let them down – I will finish this!
So another checkpoint always means another climb. It’s not that big but feels worse than it is, and I’m really starting to have a little wobble now. To be honest, I have not been able to eat that much. Everything that worked well in training has been a struggle to get down, and the 2 gels I had just make me feel sick – never been able to have stuff like that. I find myself running with a guy called Jamie and after 24 miles of running by myself, it feels great to be able to talk to someone. It helps me take my mind off feeling rubbish. We arrive at the Chapel Stile checkpoint and I feel so much worse. I know that I need to eat but I just don’t feel hungry. At the checkpoint I see Dave who I know is just walking the race and has caught me up already. I know Dave is very experienced and we first met about 7 years ago on another friend’s Bob Graham round (Dave is also a member of the most exclusive club in the world!) I tell him how bad I’m feeling and he tells me just to get some soup down me and get moving. I take his advice and set out for the final checkpoint at Tiberthwaite.
It’s dark now so I put on my head torch and I’m pleased that even in the dark it all looks familiar. Mind you, I’m glad Jamie is still keeping me company as he has the route downloaded onto his watch so that means I don’t need to mess about with my route notes and map! As we climb up Side Snake Pass, I now feel very sick and thinking about that veggie soup makes me feel a whole lot worse. I have slowed down loads as quite a few other runners have gone past us now. It’s not long until I’m stood at the side trying my best to be as lady like as possible while I empty the contents of my stomach in front of strangers. I felt terrible and was very dizzy and was struggling to even walk in a straight line. Jamie was great but I told him to push on as I was slowing him down and, to be honest, I was feeling very sorry for myself and just wanted to be on my own. I remember the words at the race briefing – ‘No one quits at Tiberthwaite.’ The way I was feeling I was thinking I would be the first!
As I arrive at the final checkpoint 2 marshals ask me, ‘Are you Tammy?’ I think Jamie had told them how poorly I was feeling, so they sat me down and looked after me. It really hit me how bad I was feeling. I try and drink some coke but it made me feel worse. They wanted me to have a lie down by the camp fire and have a rest before I carried on so I must have looked bad, even in the dark. As I sat there I remembered Chris’s very wise words – No matter how bad you are feeling, just keep moving and don’t stay at the checkpoints.’ So, with those words in my head, I said my goodbyes and crawled up those awful steps on my hands and knees out of the car park for the final 3.5 miles to the finish. As I’m on my hands and knees I felt something soft under my hands. I look down and with the light from my head torch and can see that the steps are covered in slugs, which is enough to make anyone feel sick, but I have couldn’t have cared less.
The last section is a little bit tricky in the dark. You have a bit of a steep scramble up the side of a small waterfall. To the right is a sheer drop, so you don’t want to get that bit wrong! I find a 100 mile runner who is attempting to climb round the side as he thinks that’s the right way. I try not to panic him when I tell him he’s going wrong and point out to him about the sheer drop to his right. He looks like he’s on the same planet as me, so that’s not a good sign. Two other runners help him to scramble up and I notice they also have the route on their watch. I decide to dig in and follow them so I don’t make a wrong turn this close the finish as I’m still away with the fairies.
I start to feel a bit better and I have a little chuckle to myself about staying on the right path out here in the dark with the sky full of stars. You see it’s been a bit of a joke between me and my best friend, Jo, as we both used to watch American Werewolf in London loads as kids. So Jo’s very wise words to me before my adventure was, ‘Whatever you do, stick to the path, don’t stray from the path!’ I almost wanted to start making howling noises but I think the guys I’m with will think I’m stark raving mad!
For the first time in ages, I start to feel so much better and very excited about getting to the finish and seeing everyone. I know where I’m going so I decide to press on ahead. With about a mile and a half to go, I hear a voice behind me shout, ‘Is that Mrs Rainbow?’ I turn round to Alix behind me. We say hello and I tell her how great her husband Dave is doing and that I saw him at Chapel Stile. I still can’t believe how amazing he is doing as he’s beating both of us and he’s walking!! That’s enough to give anyone a kick in the balls! ha ha
After not speaking to anyone who I knew since Ambleside, it felt pretty fantastic to be running with Alix ( another Bg widow). It really did lift my spirits and I felt great. As we were running down the road to the Black Bull, I saw Chris and the kids waiting to run the final part of my adventure to the finish. I couldn’t stop smiling as we crossed that finish line. I did it! A few cuddles with Alix and a few tears from me, as after feeling so low, I couldn’t think of a better person to finish the Lakeland 50 with!
It took a few days for it all to sink in, and to stop feeling poorly, but I learned so much about myself. Always knew I was tough, but what kept me going was the love I had for Chris and the kids. I just wanted to make them proud, I didn’t want to let any of them down. Would I do it again? No! I have told everyone that I will stick to 5k’s from now on and I’m just looking forward to putting my spikes on for the cross country season… but never say never!
I finished in 13 hrs 27 mins, so not too shabby for an ole bird eh? So what do I really think to the Adidas Terrex Skychaser Trail Shoe:
The shoe is lightweight and has a supportive mid sole which helps keep your feet stable and secure. The boost cushioning is a favourite of mine and you can still feel the trail underfoot but without any of the discomfort of running on rocky terrain. If you’re planning on running an ultra, believe me, your feet will thank you for that extra cushioning! They come up a bit higher round the ankle than my other off road shoes, but that helps to stop all the loose stones from getting into your shoe, which is great as it saves you time from having to stop and take them off. The continental studded fell sole is very good and by far the best I have ever worn. Anyone that really knows me will know I’m like Bambi on ice when running off road but I didn’t fall over once on race day, even though the paths were very wet. The upper is made from a Gore-Tex waterproof fabric, which helped to keep my feet dry – not once did I think about my feet, no hot spots or rubbing, no messing about at checkpoints sorting out blisters or re-taping Lots of other runners were sat down doing theirs, which is not a pretty sight! No swollen feet the next day – as you can see from the photo taken 2 days later my feet survived, so I guess that’s all the proof you need. I’m not very good with all the technical jargon, so I’m sure if you pop into the Lincolnshire Runner or your independent running store, the experts can give you all the details you need. But from a runner to another runner I believe that this shoe is by far the best on the market and you can’t go wrong with the Adidas Terrex Skychaser.