Leg
2 - Jasmin Paris / Kim Threadgall
01:33:54 (94th)
This was my first outing on a Carnethy weekend and I really enjoyed it so I can't
for the next one particuarly if the sun shines on every trip!
I must
admit I can't say I was jumping for joy when they told me I would
be running my leg with Jasmin, I had seen her times this year
and knew that I would be miles behind her. My legs weren't particularly
fresh after doing Kielder marathon last weekend but even if I had
focused on this race and been as fresh as a daisy I was still no where
near
as fit as her....it was an interesting experience as I knew that no
matter how hard I pushed I still wouldn't be able to keep up! I tried
to enjoy
it and just plodded up the hills enjoying the weather, the great
course and the views but it was quite demoralising watching Jasmin bound
ahead
of me making it look so easy!
It was a great route though and Jasmin
kept me going by feeding my jelly babies every so often :-) The
highlight was obviously catching
Willie and Neil on the final stretch to the finish...out of the
190 teams entered who would have thought the only 2 carnethy teams
entered
would
finish at the same time! We handed over to Helen and Joanne who
did a really good job on their navigation leg although they weren't
so
pleased
to see us finish at the same time as Willie and Neil as it meant
they had a race from the start with Adam and Andy.... The rest
of the day
was spent washing our legs in the river, lying around in the grass
watching the others finish and sitting around outside the pub while
we waited
for the prize giving to start. The night was spent in the pub and
the following day we spent a good few hours running around the
hills in the
Dales which was a fantastic way to end the weekend.
It was a great weekend
spent meeting new people, swapping race stories and planning
more trips and races for the year ahead which
I am looking forward to!
Kim Threadgall
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Leg 2 - Neil Campbell / Willie Gibson
01:42:48 (137th)
The weather was great and that made for a hard and hot climb out of Kettlewell.
Once at the top there was a good descent down to Starbotton with a welcome
drink from the burn at the bottom. One more hard climb up and then a
very muddy crossing of the top of the fell followed by a fast descent
down a track. With a nasty we sting in the tail there was a sharp climb
just before the finish where the Ladies caught up with us. This led to
the spectacle of the two Carnethy teams racing it out to the finish line.
A very enjoyable leg. Neil Campbell
I was a little apprehensive as I stood at the start, my weight loss regime had
gone astray in July and my bum bag was sitting on my spare tyre. But
the weather was great and the scenery was fantastic.
The first climb was tough an Neil and I stayed close together on the
stoney track, the descent was different with Neil running ahead and
after the river crossing the next climb dragged on. I was chasing Neil's
kilt up the hill.
Along the wall on the ridge the mud was deep and I managed not to fall
in unlike the girl in front who face planted.
The last descent was sore on the old knees and the words of the marshal
struck fear in me. "You are being chased by some girls".
I tried but it was impossible, Jasmin breezed past me on the last climb,
could I hold off Kim, could I hell, she breeezed past in the finish
field (sorry Neil), but it was great to come in together.
A great race and a wonderful weekend.
Willie Gibson |
Leg 4 - Hilary Spenceley
01:06:16
(171st)
Great weekend away in the Yorkshire Dales. Lovely weather on race day meant waiting
to run last leg was a pleasure rather than the chilling experience it
can sometimes be.
After watching the start, Keith (on leg 4 for our crack men’s
Over 50 team) and I went off to recce the lower part of our leg, basically
a figure of 8 up Great Whernside, billed as 5.5 miles, 1600ft. On a lovely
day, we had fantastic views which later on I’d be too focussed to appreciate!
We got back to the field in time to see great excitement as
Jasmin and Kim on leg 2 caught up 9 mins on the men and passed Willie
and Neil as they entered the finish funnel. Helen and Joanne also finished
strongly maintaining our position, and although as expected it was downhill
from there I enjoyed my run, climbing strongly and not doing too badly
on the descent, and with a strong finish. Some good banter with competitors
who passed me going down, and a nice lassie from Shettleston even held
a gate open for me. Some of those fast merchants miss out on the social
aspects of being further down the field!
Hilary Spenceley
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Leg 4 - Keith Burns
57:30 (129th)
Picking up from Adam and Andy
I started the climb on a good stony cart track
that Hilary and I had reccied earlier as far
as the scout hut. From here there was a steep
boulder strewn scramble over the shoulder of
Great Whernside. It kept me well awake, with
warm sunshine on my back. The field was well
spread with no close competitors to focus on.
A little lad with his mum and dad were on their
way down the hill. The kid had just gone on
strike, sitting on a boulder and shouting to
his parents that tomorrow they should do what
HE wanted to do. I gave him some support bawling
out his parents, but I hadn’t time to explain
how it’s good for him. I empathised because
my day had also been prescribed for me; I had
received a late order from the boss to turn
out for the team at Kettlewell, but I wasn’t
cursing because I was climbing well in warm
autumn sunshine as crucial anchor for the team,
hauled out of retirement, re-tyred, and refuelled
for battle.
The boulders led to a slope easing and some
entertaining bog hopping before the summit.
I had lost two and gain one on the climb. The
descent avoided the boulders and gave a very
fast bog trot back to the hut, and a place
recovered. The descent continued as a very
fast and perfect sheep mown fairway back to
the valley bottom. I lost another place to
an Eryri girl who I couldn’t hold on the short
cruel re-ascent before the finish. A great
run with only one face plant in the bog.
The circuit of Great Shunner Fell and the Buttertubs
next day was a rewarding second course to a
feast of a weekend.
Keith Burns
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