The Old County Tops 2014

The Old County Tops Fell race May 17, 2014

The Old County Tops fell race is a circuit of the highest summit in each of the old counties of the English Lake District. The race starts outside the new Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in the Langdale Vally and takes in the summit of Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Coniston Old man before finishing back in the Langdale Valley after 37 miles and 10,000 ft of ascent.

Dave and I at the start

I decided I wanted to take part in this race just a couple of weeks before it was due to be run, luckily I was invited by a friend to join him as we had similar results from previous years. The race is run in pairs so finding someone of a similar pace is quite important for a good result, I had met Dave 2 weeks earlier on the Fellsman race and we ran together for about 10 hours.

Dave and I set off in blistering heat with the rest of the runners at 8 am looking for a steady start, as usual I struggled for the first couple of hours and was almost dragged up Helvellyn by Dave but started to feel better as we neared the summit. I was concerned about staying hydrated after my incident a couple of weeks previously when an ambulance journey to A & E revealed hydration was apparently quite important for the heart.

Resting Heart rate 50, not bad for an old bloke apparently

On the descent of Helvellyn I discovered that Dave’s strong area was descending, bloody hell he was fast and it was all I could do just to keep him in sight. The first chance to eat and refill water bottles is at the foot of Helvellyn and I was ready for a drink.

Wythburn

From here we crossed the road and followed Wyth Burn up to Green head, this is a long hard slog, climbing steadily all the way through bog and over slippery crags. The route continues its way towards Scafell Pike passing some old favourite from the Bob Graham Round, Sergeant Man, High raise, Angle Tarn, Great End, Broad Crag and Ill Crag before arriving at the highest point in England, Scafell Pike.

Although Dave and I were going really well it was very hot and I was doing my best to take on enough fluids. Refilling my water bottles in any streams and trying to cool down a little.

From Scafell Pike summit we take the direct route off the back avoiding as many crags as possible, Dave had a cracking route winding its way through the crags and staying on good ground most of the way, he was also very fast again. From here is the slog over Mosedale and down to Cockley Beck for the last feed station.

Setting off from Cockley Beck we were approximately 18^th but the early pace was starting to show and the climb up Grey Friar was a slog. 6 teams passed us on this climb as we both struggled to keep going, it was not fun being passed by Jim Mann and Helen Skelton who were moving really well and making us look like we were running in the opposite direction.

The drag along the top to Coniston went well and we managed not to lose any further places, it hard to tell but we may have made up a place or two with good route selection on the Climb up Grey Friar.

So after Coniston its virtually all downhill and we made another couple of places by taking a direct route and hammering the descent down to the Three Shire Stone. A road descent follows and neither Dave nor I are any good on road so we were re-passed by 2 teams.

The final couple of miles are a steady jog on good track and we finished in 8 hours and 50 minutes, 24^th overall, second in our class (Vet100). It was also a personal best for me and only the second time I have won a prize, it’s a pleasure to have another Old County Tops mug.

  

Dave and I at the finish

Old County Tops Mugs