Ian Hodgson Relay 2011

Leg One – The Foundation leg by the Comeback King

Its 2:46 pm Saturday, the week after the IH relay. Have just munched down some delicious Lindt dark chocolate, which sums up my problem, I'm a greedy sod, too heavy, some would say fat! However, after detailed analysis I can claim that our position of 29th on the section from Angle Tarn to the 'Bottom of the stream' proves that all the old magic is still there... on the downhill bit at least. You see, weight does have its advantages.

I was determined to run the relay after missing it for two years, Gary kindly put me on leg one (normaly leg 2/3) with my 17 year old son Ben. Three weeks before the race I had lost no weight but figured I could drop half a stone in two weeks, just ease back on the booze and cut out some of the restaurant meals, a bit more training and that would sort it. You know the next bit, all complete b*******! We did reccie the leg twice, it took 65 mins both times so I readjusted my objectives. Firstly to finish in one piece, secondly to get under the cut off time of 55 mins. And I stayed off the booze completely the week before and still lost no weight; life gets harder with age doesn’t it?

The week before I become a nervous paronoid wreck, have had a cold then it gets sinusy, try and get Ben to accept it's a stroll for him, just bear with me until the downhill bit and we will pass a few teams.

In the end that's what came to pass, I shuffled up the hill like an ageing decrepit sloth, but managed to get to Angle Tarn on schedule, thanks Beano, you were very kind. Then we turned the burners on, steady climb catching a couple, getting in touch through better route choice on the flat, and then, Yeee haa! Steep grassy downhill, we ripped through the b******s, thigh muscles rippling, holding firm, shoes gripping, great route choice, perfect balance, fearless! Slicing and dicing through at least 12 teams on the descent,. Ben still whupped me but not by that much, OMG (as they say), I’d forgotten how much fun a steep descent can be, just like skiing a black run on perfect snow with that 'soft feeling', maybe better even.

So, big thanks Gary for the place and putting me on the easy leg, its special to run in this race with my son, Im sure all parents will understand, and thanks Ben for bearing with me, next year I'll have lost that weight and the comeback will be complete! Oh and to the other son, its still the best fell race event ever!

The view from Leg 2

If you're a veteran of the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay you'll be thinking …. “Ah yes, leg 2. The shortish leg from Patterdale to Hartsop.”

But if you're a bit more up to date with all things Hodgson relay you'll be remonstrating and shouting out …. “Wrong mate. That's the long downhill leg from Kirkstone to Hartsop.”

Well, you're all wrong!

Cast your mind back to about 20 September. The Lakes had seen about one dry day in the whole month; Sykeside campsite was already waterlogged; the long term forecast didn't look good. So the organisers took the brave decision to move the whole caboodle and race control to the playing fields at Patterdale. This meant starting the race from Patterdale and running the whole event in a clockwise direction and with an earlier start time of 9.00 am. Confusing or what? Michael Hodgson and elder son suddenly found themselves on leg 1 running backwards. Didn't make much difference to Michael, but Ben had a cracking run.

Also meant that John and Christine found themselves running uphill from Hartsop to Kirkstone. That did make a difference! Fortunately the Hodgson duo made it to Patterdale within the cut off time so Fellandale had company as they set off on leg 2. But not for long.

We'd done some serious reccieing (but hadn't admitted to Captain Burns exactly how long it had taken us!!). Yep, we'd been over the route twice. And done two different routes. And did a slightly different third version on the day. Got overtaken by Sarah Rowell and partner not far up the track to Hayeswater. Bit surprised to be anywhere near Sarah Rowell but a few others followed her so we refused to be daunted.

Uphill and uphill and uphill we went. And despite the fact that Shirley Hodgson had laughed out loud when we told her which leg we were running, we did run some of the uphill section. Not much chatting going on but plenty of heavy breathing.

Eventually made it to High Street. Third time we'd been up there in just over a week and it was still in clag. But we were still with other runners. Bit of a surprise really. Did another different contour from the main path to the wall down to Threshwaite Cove, but probably our best line yet. John lost a lense out of his glasses on the way down but even with reduced vision could make out that runners were coming from every direction. We're not good descenders but we got some of them on the climb. Well two runners/one team. But that's good for us.

The checkpoint on the tarn on Caudale Moor was always going to be a conundrum as it seems to move. But John took me … and a few other teams … straight to it. Phew ….

Now for the good bit of running. Did enjoy this bit. Only marred by being overtaken by the local Mountain Rescue Team on the last section (but rumour is that they didn't clock in at the tarn). And the big surprise???? We were within the cut off time. Which explains why we sauntered across the A592 not expecting to see Chris and Adrian raring to go up Red Screes. And we finished ahead of Sarah Rowell. You what??

And the eternal question …. Where was Mr Prendergast? His name had appeared on early emails. It looked like he was going to be a key member of the Fellandale team. It was just a question of which leg would best suit his abilities. And then …. Whoooosh ……he disappeared into the ether when his Club needed him most. Answers on a postcard please.

The view from leg 3

So through the mist they appeared, leaping gazelle-like down to Kirkstone Pass. We'd been expecting to be in the mass-start but the Patterdale locals were having none of it and beat the deadline by nearly 2mins.

Feeling the additional expectation that this stellar performance brought upon our shoulders we set off into the mist and up Red Screes. Having reccied the leg in fine condiotions a week earlier we stuck to the directissimo ascent, scrambling up the gulley's and scree and got to the top at a good pace.

Preparations, a bit like the paper they were written on, started to fall apart here in the wind andrain as the compass bearings emerged with biro beginning to run and paper splitting like some wet soggy bog roll (we've all been there). It turned into something akin from the Krypton factor with each remembering 2 bearings for the rest of the route as we shot off on the direct route towards Scandale Pass. More teams floundered across to the left who were following the wall & path.

Well matched in fitness it was feeling good to pass teams, but the climb up to Dove Crag was hard work, wet under-foot, navigation very difficult. En-route we picked up the P&B Mixed Team who decided we were their best option of safe route-finding(fools!) and another team heading in the opposite direction... they'd been running around like baaaaing sheep for 10 mins or so.

Less than perfect routes eventually brought us safely to Pile of Stones before a rapid hair-raising, bum-sliding, knee twisting descent towards Brotherswater. Knackered legs is always a good sign I feel and it felt like we had had a decent enough run as we met Gary and Brian at Hartsop Hall. My thanks to Adrian for a good partnership, it was great to run on the Lakeland Fells again. Same time same place next year?

And finally the view from leg 4

Brian Kenny and I had leg 4 this year. We decided to reccie the leg about 10 days before the race and got confirmation hot off the press, on the drive on the way up via a phone call from Christine to Jon Broxap, that we'd be going clockwise - Sykeside to Patterdale. So getting sorted at Sykeside with the rain rolling in sideways and the clag very low down on Hart Crag we felt a bit of trepidation - and this was only the reccie!

Anyway after Hart Crag the gale force winds then became an issue as well and we had some debate about calling it a day but ploughed on over Fairfield down Cofa Pike and then it was ok all the way in. So we were fairly confident for race day having navigated in those conditions. And then the heatwave set in and the concerns then were how could we carry enough water round! Needn't have worried on that account as, apart from the gales, the conditions were pretty similar.

So there we were at Hartsop Hall with a good number of other teams as Chris and Adrian came hurtling down the track and Brian and I sprinted round the corner - and then out of view settled into a more manageable pace. So, after 3 stellar performances, we had also managed to avoid the mass start. Arriving at where we'd struck up the, very, steep flank of Hart Crag on the reccie we had a mini debate as another team went straight on. For once stuck to our guns and went the way we'd reccied. Glad we did as we found the checkpoint fine in really poor visibility (at which I was asked by another runner if this checkpoint, a big flag with Hart Crag checkpoint all over it, was Fairfield. Amateurs).

We got round to Fairfield fine and then scrambled down the delightful Cofa Pike. Back up in the clag again to St Sunday before the long descent back to Patterdale. At the checkpoint I reflected on what a joy it is to run downhill on rough ground with speed and agility - which is exactly what Brian did as I stumbled and tripped along behind him.

But made it down in 1 piece and into the playing fields in Patterdale to be greeted over the tannoy to welcome Horsforth Fellandale and Brian Kenny and Gary Burns. Good to finish 'out of the bunch' as you then get a namecheck! All the team members were there and it was great to see everyone. Great stuff and a truly top event.

All those who have read this from the start cannot fail to notice how much pleasure is gained from running in this event. Horsforth Fellandale really should keep entering a team in this for as long as is possible.

One year to go and we'll be there again

Gary