June 2009

[glaconman]

Saturday 6th June - Wharfdale Half Marathon 13-14 miles.

This was my first experience of a fell race. It wasn't the traditional up-down fell run that purists might favour. But at 2300 feet there was plenty of ups and downs to negotiate.

My training thus far has been good but sporadic. I'd only managed a 40 minute run over the previous 2 weeks. So standing in-line for my chip amongst an array of finely-tuned thoroughbreds and gnarly old-timers did generate a little anxiety about how I would deal with the event.

As it happens I managed to run comfortably for the first half of the race, including the major climb up Mastiles Lane. The wheels gradually began to come off the longer the race went on, with some of the interspersed ascents in the final stages proving to be really difficult. As was the final stretch through the village.

My time of 2:13 was never going to win any prizes (the winner came in at 1:30) but I'm not sure I should have expected any more given my lack of preparation.

Upper Wharfdale, around Grassington and Malham, really is a beautiful part of the world. And, even though the weather was pretty atrocious for much of the race, running in this kind of environment really lifts the spirits when you're digging deep.

A great event.

http://www.wharfedalemarathonevents.com/