Coniston 10k

Bob on the Coniston shore

'Tomy's' My First Race Number!

Well the day finally arrived and this was the setting for my first event - not too shabby for a location really. After ran early start for the hours drive we were pretty much one of the first there to get parked up. 

A quick registration process and then some sitting around waiting for others to arrive and things to get moving. A little wandering around the field to stretch (and some proper stretching of course) a quick peek at the Pete Bland Sports Stall, 3 nervous loo visits and  before you know it is 10:45 and you're being called to line up.

The banter in the holding area was good and it soon dawned on me that there were plenty of others that had never run this course before too, the countdown begins and we're off. Now, having run to the Windmills on Caton Moor a number of times on different routes I felt prepared for the looming ascent - damn fool I hear you cry! Steep doesn't even touch it!

Thanks to James Kirby - http://www.jameskirby.me.uk/

So after 4k you hit the summit of the course and the bloody knees have given out on the uphill, bony, bouldery, muddy, slippy, awesome trail but what goes up must come down. The next 2k would be interesting on the descent to Torver and relatively level ground. Leaping from point to point rather than running whilst trying to absorb as much of my surroundings as possible proved quite difficult as the knees got worse, so a gentle walk ensued whilst I had a good look around too but not before I was captured on camera.

AJ handing me my finishers goody bag

So the last push from Torver onto the lake side and back to the landing point at Coniston Old Hall started and it was back to more comfortable terrain. The sub 1-hour mark had gone out of the window so I was just hoping to finish before the knees exploded. Plenty of encouragement from those around me saw me end up finishing in 69 minutes.

Overall a great trail but never again will I under estimate the Lake District mountains! A massive thanks to Lakeland Trails and all the Marshalls - see you next year!