From Ben Sheppard…

I don’t know if it is possible to be overtrained for a 100-mile run, but I certainly was not. Praying for the heatwave to abate before the race start (6pm Friday) took my mind off the distance and climb that lay ahead: a cruelly misadvertised 105 miles and barely mentioned 22,000 ft. Slathered in sun cream and waiting to get started, we were serenaded with Nessun Dorma to raise the emotional temperature, followed by some thumping rock music to get us duly pumped up for departing Coniston via streets lined with cheering friends, family and bewildered holidaymakers. 

A beautiful warm evening took us to Seathwaite, Boot, and into Wasdale as night fell. Over Black Sail pass into Ennerdale, to Buttermere, Braithwaite, past Keswick, Blencathra as the sun rose, Dockray and at last the psychological halfway point (albeit at 60 miles) of Dalemain where a bag drop promised fresh socks and top, resupply of foot balm and sun cream, and the start point of the 50-mile race where Kate Archer and Jane McCarthy would shortly be setting off. 

Mercifully some cloud cover took the edge off the rising temperatures as midday approached, through Howtown, the neverending climb up Fusedale, the painfully slow and sweltering rocky path to Mardale Head, another long climb up Gatesgarth Pass, the downhills now becoming painful, into Long Sleddale and then Kentmere, the faster 50-mile racers coming past – including Kate looking brilliant but feeling unwell. Over Garburn Pass on to Ambleside (friendly words from Jane as she breezed past me looking very relaxed), the town thronging with cheering supporters and tourists, where a leg massage and mug of soup revived my body and lifted my spirits. 

Final push now albeit at barely more than shuffle through Langdale, every step on the flat and downhill now quite painful (my uphill legs faring much better). Over Blea Moor to the final checkpoint at Tilberthwaite and one last big climb, relying heavily on my poles, and checking my watch at the top to discover that my arbitrary goal of 30 hours (midnight) was still possible – just. Oh bother, that meant I had to push hard on the final rocky descent into Coppermines Valley and a final stretch of road to Coniston and with a few minutes to spare the finish line, where every finisher is greeted with whoops and applause that felt surreal as the joy, relief and tiredness flooded over me. 

Lovely to see Jane and Kate at the finish and savour that pint of beer that had been on my mind for the past 12 hours. Perhaps the hardest part was the half-mile shuffle to my B&B after my body had shut down. Well done to Jane (6th lady) and Kate on the 50-mile race – one of the toughest 50-mile races around and on a hot, hot day. If you asked me at the finish I’d have said never again. But if you like a challenge and an adventure you should give it a go some day. 

Results: Here