25/26th April 2015- The Fellsman

After a night in Threshfield, it was an early start to catch a bus to the start in Grassington. It was a wet start at 8:30 so i decided to start with full waterproofs.

Wet start in Ingleton

It took about 50 minutes to scale Ingleborough in the clag and to be welcomed to the summit by strong winds. The decent followed and then shortly after the ascent up Whernside in the wet clag and back down the ridge and then down the west slopes to the Kingsdale checkpoint with a steep climb to Gragereth after. It was still wet and visibility limited over Great Coombe and down into Dent.

Ascending Great Coum

After a feed at the Dent checkpoint, it was a slow ascent up to Blea Moor and nearing the top the weather changed for the good. After Blea Moor it was down to the Stonehouse checkpoint for another feed before ascending Great Knautberry Fell and at the top was rewarded by great 360 views of the Dales and over to the Lake District to the west. 

Descending to Redshaw. Ingleborough to the right

It stayed clear with little winds for the rest of the race which made conditions ideal.

It was down to Redshaw, then up Snaizeholme and then Great Dodd trying to continue the pace to get to Fleet Moss before they starting grouping runners. We managed to leave Fleet Moss checkpoint before the grouping time and avoiding the horrible trog through the bogs followed every other racer along a path just down from the bogs which went all the way to Middle Tongue checkpoint. It was a tough slog across moorland to Hell Gap and then easy down to the Cray checkpoint for another good feed.

Wharfedale

It was about 8:30 and all runners we're  grouped up, a couple of groups went off and then I was grouped with 3 others, with almost 20 Fellsmans between them including Tony who was on his 9th and 65 years old.

Head torches came on during the ascent up Buckden Pike and at the top a beautiful nights sky awaited. It was along the top and down to Top Mere checkpoint and then along to the Park Rash checkpoint for a feed and strong coffee. 

Checkpoint at Cray, Buckden Pike behind

The last ascent up Great Whernside was followed down to Capplestone Gate and then to Yarnbury checkpoint where we were split up for the last 1 1/2 mile road run to the finish, where i gave it the beans as i had some energy left in the tank. I finished at 1:45am, completing the 60 mile tough course in about 17hr10mins. I really enjoyed the race and was impressed with the organisation and all the marshals including the ones on the summit checkpoints and accommodating staff at feed stations.

Me somewhere about 30 miles in.