Race Date: 21 September 2019

Report by Nick Kirk

Due to limited parking at the start parking was at Hodge Close quarry about a 30 minute walk along tracks.  This was a pleasant walk and helped loosen the legs after driving up from Sheffield.  The weather was incredible, not a cloud in the sky and in the low 20’s, ideal weather for a mountain fell race.

The race starts and finishes at the Three Shires Inn in Little Langdale.  The first 3 km of the race was along tracks gaining about 100 m of ascent, then it left the valley track and straight up the side of Wetherlam 700 m of ascent in 1.5 km just to get the legs started! Then onto rocky ground and a descent down to Swirl Hawse, with a craggy ascent of Swirl How.  The decent was along crass and occasional scree down to the Three Shires stone and up the valley to Pike of Blisco, this was runnable section.  Followed by a long ascent over rough ground and intermittent paths to Blea Tarn.  The final ascent was Lingmoor Fell, at this point my legs felt heavy for the first 100m of ascent, then I recovered for a great descent over mixed terrain ground.  On the final steep descent I thought I knew a short cut and ended up in thick bracken followed by 10 other runners! Where I lost a few minutes.

At the finish there was plenty of food and drink, then a pint of beer to aid recovery at the Three Shires Inn.  Excellent race and highly recommended.

First man was Gary Greenhow of  Ambleside in 02.00.45, first woman was Natalie Beadle of Oxford Uni AC in 2.32.06. Full results and information here.

Striders’ Results