Tim Clegg – Coniston Half Marathon 5th June 2016 or Five Have Plenty of fun in Coniston
“It will be great – we can stay at the Drunken Duck and have a wonderful weekend – and you three can run your race and we’ll picnic by the lake – go on sign up now”. It was October 2015, my birthday, and we were staying in Otterburn with our oldest friends. Sat in front of the log fire with my second glass of MacAllan, my wife Judith’s suggestion seemed perfect. Andrew and Marcella had run the race that June with Marcella’s sister Mel and her husband Guy and were enthusiastic that we should join them for 2016. It was only after I had signed up for the race that Judith realised, to her dismay, that she was already committed to working that weekend and couldn’t come.
So it was five that gathered on the eve of the race at the Drunken Duck in fabulous sunshine. I carefully considered carb-loading, abstaining from alcohol and going to bed early, however, this was a race that I entered to enjoy the company of good friends. Having got my excuses lined up, I quaffed a couple of pints of Catnap – “well balanced bitterness leads to a long dry finish, with a fruity zesty character” (sounds like me). Gin cured salmon & wasabi followed by lamb and a glass or two of Talisker completed the pre-race preparations.
The Lakeland Trails Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K is a big event with two marathons and two half marathon races, a 10K and a children’s race all on the same day. The first of the marathon races set off at 07.00 which meant that enthusiastic runners were stomping about the hotel demanding fruit juice & porridge long before I wanted to get up. I suspect that they were the diners abstaining from alcohol & going to bed just at the time when we were contemplating pudding.
Andrew was the only one of us running in a marathon and his race started at 09.00, so we all got to the start in time to cheer him on his way, before registering and queueing for the portable toilets.
At the start of our half marathon at 10.00 the sun was already high in the sky. The course took us through the fields up Lake Road towards Coniston village, across Church Beck and past the Ruskin Museum. We were soon out of the village and left the road for the Cumbrian Way footpath and into the woods. The tree cover provided welcome shade, but the narrow path funnelled the large group of panting runners into a tunnel of trees, rocks and ditches. The field had not had time to spread out and as the uneven, rocky path climbed up the valley side faster competitors had frustratingly little opportunity to pass the many slowing runners.
Low Yewdale brought the first drinks stop and it came at the foot of the steepest most rugged climb yet. The need to take on water stopped us dead in our tracks. This was not bottles of mineral water handed out by local Scouts, but big camping holiday canisters from which you filled your own water bottle or grabbed a plastic cup and a welcome square of flapjack.
Running up the hill that followed proved too much and everyone stopped after a few strides and walked. I tried to run (I’ve never walked in a race before), but the combination of the steep incline, loose surface, tired legs and trying to get past other people defeated me.
The path took us through Tarn Hows Wood and then out into the sunshine again with fantastic views of Tarn Hows below us. This brought the challenge of the official photographer and I did my best to smile and wave. The circuit above Tarn Hows brought lots of welcome support from walkers and families.
The descent to the lake side was steep and rugged and it was a relief to stretch your legs and run fast. When we got to the lake it felt that we must be nearly there. We weren’t. The run in was long and hot. It took us on a path along the shore, past the pier for the Steam Yacht Gondola and back into the fields of Coniston Hall and within touching distance of the finish line. Then frustratingly we veered away from our destination and into the next door campsite, round the lake shore and finally back in a big loop to the finish.
This was the second of three hilly half marathons on consecutive Sunday’s for me. I thought Buxton was challenging, but a trail half is quite different to running on the road and with temperatures in the mid 20s it was tough as our finishing times showed. Ice creams and a bottle of Jennings Bitter helped the post race recovery. The Potters Arf this weekend should be easier (?) but will it be as scenic?
We had fun, but will we do it again next year? I think Judith has cleared her diary already!
Buxton’s reputation certainly goes a long way and everyone that I spoke to remarked me about the killer first 3 miles up hill. Now there lay a quandary “to warm up or not to warm up”. We got there in plenty of time to allow for number and t-shirt collection, the usual 40 toilet trips and then a possible little jog to loosen the legs for the ascent. It was so lovely in the gardens that I really didn’t want to leave it. Thankfully I bumped into Bryan Dale and Ann who told me that the first mile wasn’t too bad and although it was a gentle pull it allowed you to get into a stride before the first hill.
It felt as though we were back on the Coast to Coast run again. At 4m I got chatting to another runner and our thoughts turned to the next ascent at 7m which was another 1.5m of climb. He’d heard that it was awful but I was working on the basis that the first part, which I’d survived, was the worst. At the foot of the hill we stopped talking and the climb began. It must have been the massive block of chocolate that I had yesterday that kept me going because I got up there without any problems. The views from here were well worth the effort and you’re then treated to a lovely downhill past the cement factory. Everyone that I’d passed on the uphill seemed to glide effortlessly past me on the downhill – can some please help me with this as I just don’t have the technique! The mile from 9 to 10 was probably the most difficult as was quite boring and I noticed that lots of people were now walking but not me, Lynne Shepley would have been well proud of me. Just the last climb to do and whilst I was wondering where it was I realised that I’d probably just done it, so the hill work had paid off. At the top of this hill we then weaved down through back streets until wow you were entering the back of the Pavillion Gardens. It was really nice running down here with the sound of people having fun in the park and yay I spotted the 400m to go sign then double yay I spotted my son, then joy of joys I saw the rest of the family and I was so quick that there was no time for a photo. I finished feeling fresh, satisfied and happy, today was all about getting round and that’s what I did in a time of 2:04:30. I would absolutely do it again and would recommend it to anyone but you’ve got to do the hills in training. Tim finished with 2:23:10 which was impressive as he’d not run for a fortnight due to illness – well done Tim!
I decided to enter this half marathon as a few of my fellow runners who I run with locally were looking to enter a race in Wales to celebrate Jason’s 47th birthday which was on race day and Snowdonia fitted in perfectly as it was only a stones throw away from Llandudno where Jason’s family lived.
Race day arrived and weather forecast was cloudy with rain early afternoon- how wrong they were. We decided to walk/jog to the start from B&B and as we arrived at Race HQ the heavens opened and it rained all morning from the moment the gun went to crossing the finish line some two hours later and then we were blessed with hailstones jogging back to our accommodation getting even more soaked from head to foot!
As we turned off Dartmouth I had forgotten it climbed a bit more but on the steady climbs I tend to keep my pace even and usually pull away from people and although it was only a mile in we were starting to get stretched out. From what I could gather at this point there was possibly only 1 or 2 D’s ahead, one Rugeley runner who gained 50 points at Uttoxeter and A.N Other but couldn’t really see the letter as they were way out in front….at time of writing still don’t know if this was the case as I thought I knew all my rivals and it wasn’t anyone I recognised.
At this point Paul, Tom and Tim H were already home in some cracking times (37,38,40 mins respectively) so we cheered the remaining Bats home one by one with some great performances again – especially as some had raced Market Drayton, I believe Clare Irving PB’d. Peter Jeffers in his first competitive race for the club came home in an excellent 48:26 and Ellie Evans who joined this week managed 67:27, so brilliant efforts all round.
slower runners to try to hit my target pace. All the London sights amaze, as you’d expect – full on drum bands bashing out beats, huge crowds and finally some awe-inspiring landmarks. For me the Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge were highlights, the latter being simply mesmerising. I remember looking up at it as we crossed with a tear in my eye thinking “I just can’t believe I’m doing this!” I still well up thinking about it now!
She moved us up two positions and knocked 34 seconds off her time from the Midlands (38.19). She was also possibly the most glamorous runner out there.
y is that I am truly proud to be a bat. We were the only local team to run today and our team spirit is as good as I can ever remember. We all raced our hearts out for each other. Ang nearly did a Paula, Pip was retching, Sam felt like stopping but didn’t, Anna moved a spa day so that she could race, Amanda pushed herself out of her comfort zone, and me? I got to take part in the best road racing team event in the calendar thanks to these girls.
