Running - Trail race (Three Shires) 2:38:39 [5] 18.36 km (8:38 / km) +1479m 6:10 / km
ahr:147 max:184 shoes: Mudclaw G260
Disappointed to be 10 mins slower than last year. It was a much hotter day (not a cloud), but I thought the drier rocks would more than make up for it - sadly not. Slower on every single segment! 61st.
Started briskly along the 3k run-out. Tried cutting the first corner up to Wetherlam just to see if it was faster, expecting it to be the same; if anything Strava shows it was slightly slower that way despite slightly shorter. Similar route on climb up to summit I think; basically just diagonally up, staying with the pack. Stayed away from the path at the summit and just headed W this time which seemed better. Mostly on the path along the ridge bit cut a few corners where the path seemed to know what they were doing. I had totally forgotten about the climb up to Swirl How along the ridge! But not a big one. Then I don't remember contouring around Great Carrs either, but that's a significant deviation from the path and feels it - I guess it was in the clag last time.
No problem finding path down to Wrynose as it feels like that's the main route. Same route up Blisco to last year, but need to remember that when doubling back to come back down, it's not the first turn to the N after the steep down bit, it's the one after that. I've done this both years and staying on until the next one is much better and would also bring you out directly on the right trod. One to remember for Langdale.
Then there was a bit after the obvious stream crossing where there's a significant short descent down a reentrant, which I'd totally forgotten and was unsure we were going the right way. The trod then starts to descent but keeps contouring. I'd forgotten that bit too. But eventually got to the wall/fence crossing before the steep bit and I knew where I was.
After the steep bit, after being overtaken the whole way around up until now, finally started to get my own back - and they came thick and fast. Maybe 5 by the road and another 10 up Lingmoor. Because this is a short race for me but will be long for a lot of people, they were definitely fading.
Looks like I took a similar line to last year down, but this year I was less nervous as I knew would come out in the right place. Passed at least another 5 on the way to the finish.
I think this wasn't a bad run, it's just last year was particularly good; particularly for the conditions. I didn't feel like the head was affecting me, only drunk maybe 300ml/500ml so nowhere near running out. Clif bar up Blisco was a good call as per.
Pasta Bolognese at finish was worse than the pasties last year, cutbacks I guess. It's probably a Brexit thing.