Great Langdale Marathon and Half Marathon
Report by Anita Oldham
Now I realise that to some of you Olympians and demi-gods out there that a half marathon is a mere walk in the park. But to us mere mortals, it is a bloody long way. Hence, I signed up for the half marathon with some trepidation. It sells itself as the hardest UK road half marathon and the distance is somewhat outside my comfort zone.
Why sign up then?
Well, its good to step beyond the comfort zone now and again, and if you’re going to do a half marathon, why not do it in one of the most beautiful places around.
So, having taken the plunge and signed up, I then realised that 13 miles was quite a lot farther than I have been running, so would have to re-think my strategy in order to keep morale up. I decided that miles were not to be thought of as a measure of distance, but as a marker of time – each passing mile would be time for a huge gulp of water and a jelly baby. This way, miles would become something to look forward to, indeed to relish. So with strategy firmly in place, we set off to Langdale. The sun shone, the rain and the wind held off, what more could I ask for..
Coincidentally, one of the pubs in the valley was holding an Oktoberfest weekend. Whilst making for a festival atmosphere, this meant that the valley and all pubs were very full. My plans for a leisurely pre-run bowl of porridge and a gentle saunter to the start line turned into a hastily gobbled bacon sandwich whilst watching England trounce Australia and a dash to the start line. However, I spotted more claret vests! Joy! Company! After a quick chat with Anne, I noticed a couple of other Ripon vests waiting eagerly at the start line, looking like sons of Hermes. Realizing these guys were way out of my league, i stepped well back to a suitable starting position, took a final deep breath and waited for the countdown.
And so it began…
The first mile is a flat(!) and gentle run out of the valley, enough to get the legs going, before the corner turns and the first ascent awaits – the pull up to Blea Tarn. Rumour has it that some people try to run up here – I didn’t see any. At the top, the road descends nicely in places, and there was a strategically placed first water station. However, this is the Lakes, so every down had a nasty little up lurking somewhere afterwards. The stretch from Blea Tarn to Little Langdale afforded some stunning scenery, despite the lumpy road. This is a road race, predominantly quiet country roads and tracks which meant some encounters with vehicles, the drivers of which looked somewhat bemused but very tolerant upon being confronted by a hoard of panting runners. Somewhere around mile 7, I remember the start of another long upwards pull, which lead us across the road at Skelwith and up another track, the steepest part of the entire course, which was a struggle to walk, let alone try to run. The advantage of this – it topped out at the head of the Langdale valley and lead into a terrific downhill section that took us to Elterwater and mile 10.
Mile 10! Only a park run to go!
Through Elterwater, a sharp turn into the Langdale Hotel site and onto the Chapel Stile road – the way home. This road also undulates somewhat, each uphill pull was now achingly leg-sapping but a step closer to the finish line. I was also getting through the jelly babies. Finally, the finishing field came into view.
I have rarely been so pleased to see marshals. These guys had a task though – they took one look at each incoming runner and assessed whether they had the strength of leg and of mind to carry on and repeat the whole thing for the full marathon, or whether they looked exhausted and needed filtering towards the finish line. Or maybe it was our bib numbers that said marathon/half marathon that gave it away. I have immense respect for those who ran the full marathon, as they were sent on their way past the finishing field to repeat the entire course again, knowing just how brutal those hills were the first time around.
And to the finish – the glorious finishing field – the only bit of grass on the entire course. Over the line we went to the warm applause of a welcoming crowd and a welcome rest. And an impressively solid and hefty medal. Suddenly it was all worth it.
So, the results.
For the half marathon
Anne Cheeseman 2:04 2nd in her age category – a remarkable lady and a real asset to RR.
Anita Oldham 2:22 5th in her age category – a fine example of how far bloody-minded stubbornness and jelly babies will get you.
Robert Mundy 2:45 8th in age category – a grand result.
Kim Brown DNF I’m afraid I have no further information here but hope this result was a conscious decision and not an injury.
And for the marathon
Alistair Steele 3:52 Indeed a son of Hermes.