Running - Trail race (Tour of Pendle) 2:51:31 [5] 26.73 km (6:25 / km) +1411m 5:05 / km
ahr:147 max:174 shoes: Mudclaw 275 (blk)
Two minutes nine seconds faster than two years ago - 42nd.
Disappointed to not be more up than that to be honest, after putting in so much training on the longer hillier stuff - but in fairness it was muddier today.
Raining before the start but cleared to drizzle for start itself, so just baselayer and shorts. I would've worn 3/4d but they were both in the wash - luckily as it turns out, since shorts definitely the right choice.
50 seconds slower than last year to the trig, and ran the whole thing again - last years' time was definitely set to be epic without the spike. Similar times on the road, so lost it on the climb proper - I blame increased mud. The climb felt tough but made myself run the whole way since I knew the other climbs weren't runnable.
Terrified as expected going down to Ogden; extremely muddy here but I was very much keeping to the worst line to avoid the spikes. Relieved once got onto the awesome descent to #2. Clif bar on the climb to 3 and kept walking for too long; passed by quite a few here. Unfortunately passed by people who were old and terrible at descending, so were taking Geronimo very carefully which made my treat it more tentatively than if I'd been surrounded by fast people. So lost a bit of time here.
Feeling ok though, but much worse on most of the later climbing segments surprisingly - hopefully conditions related. The second to last climb definitely felt the hardest, and the wet rocks made it slow going.
At #8 the marshal told me I was in 50th place. Had to check my map as it was very claggy and couldn't quite see the guy in front, but memory from 2 years ago was very useful. Got past a couple down to 9.
The last climb felt very steep but it was over very quickly; 15 mins very short compared to a Lakes ascent. Passed another 3 or so who looked pretty dead; keep forgetting 17 miles is a long race for a lot of people ;p
Slightly faster on the lovely grassy downhill to the track (passed 3 more) and slightly slower on the track to the finish (no-one to chase and no-one chasing me, as there was 2 years ago) but overall similar.
Pleased to be 9 places higher even if only a bit faster; does support that overall conditions were slower. Unfortunately means I have to do it again, which sounds like pushing my luck with the spike thing!
Kirsty spent the whole drive trying to persuade Emma and me to join Pennine. Tbh if Macc runners don't get their acts together and start entering more races, thing I may well do so!