Another big one today, I know myself, Neil, Little Rob etc all wanted this one the most now, way more so than the FRAs just because it's eluded us so long. My 7th year trying.
But, this year we finally got a really good team together, so we knew we could do it but everything needed to go right for once!
I was on last leg with form man Kris Jones, and I was excited about what beautiful music we could make together - he's been in the Alps on a running holiday recently so I was expecting a good pasting - and I got one!
Previous 3 legs were excellent, Rob and Pete (not raced since May) kept it solid and gave Jonny and Matt a good position which they continued with some excellent descending on display. Matt looked particularly white at kirkstone. Neil and Sav rolled in 30 seconds down on Borrowdale so it was game on!
Jonesy set a pace too fast for me along the track but I clung on without going into the red and waited for the climb. Caught Borrowdale early and nipped round asap. The just dug deep and hung onto Jonesy uphill before taking control on route finding and descending! Remembered to give Daz's cairn a nod. Pushed each other the whole way, and could enjoy the wet steps at the end and high fiving the rest of the team on the run-in, job done! 19 year winning streak by the purple fell-gods broken!
http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2016/HBMR/HBMR...
We were 40 seconds off the leg record in less than ideal underfoot conditions, and set a new course record by 3 seconds so that was a nice bonus. Would be keen to do leg 4 with Kris again on a drier day (and hope I could feel a bit better on the climbs as I can climb better than I did today), and we might stand a chance at the leg record. Who knows.
Chuffed to finally win it!