It had rained hard for most of the previous week. The fells were wet and the cloud was low. Perfect for a day out in the hills and my third time at the Scafell Skyrace, which is part of the UK Skyrunner National Series.
Kit check and registration were on Friday evening and coincided with the Stickle Grind 650 – a flat out ‘sprint’ from the race HQ at the new Dungeon Ghyll to the top of Harrison Stickle. The race organisers also hold the Scafell Sky Ultra and the Great Langdale 21 on the same weekend, so there is something for everyone (who isn’t wearing road shoes!).
The Skyrace is c.38km and around 3000m of climbing and ascent and on a wet cloudy day if a full-on adventure. The race starts at the New Dungeon Ghyll and does an anticlockwise circuit taking in Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark, High Raise, Green Gable, Scafell Pike, Broad Crag, Esk Pike and Bowfell. If not for the rain and cloud the views are fantastic and the terrain is technical, risky and (this year) slippy!
This was my first mountain race of the year and I was keen to test my legs and get in the much needed descent that’s so hard to achieve in a treadmill in Kent! After a good winter of training and many metres climbed on the that treadmill I was curious to know if my climbing ability had improved and if I could manage my food, drink and self care on a wet day in the clouds.
I settled into the first climb at steady pace and was happy that I held my position all the way to the top of Harrison Stickle. It was a nice change from previous years where I was passed far more often on the steeper climbs. I felt strong and reminded myself to keep eating and drinking. Visibility on the tops was poor and the rain meant that my Spectacles were constantly foggy, making it tricky to follow the course marking. I continued to move well, but slipped a number of times on the grassy decents and the worn tread on my Prodigio Pros wasn’t quite enough (they were good on the rocks though). Around 2.30hrs I hit the road and ran well around to the aid station at Seathwaite. Good flapjack and water top up and I was off up the next steep climb and around the back of Great Gable to the top of Green Gable. I was still climbing well and passed several people, which was a good confidence boost for the treadmill efforts over the winter.
Once I disappeared in to the cloud on Green Gable, that was it for view until a small parting in the clag on the way up to Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route, which is wonderful and free of people!
I was in great spirts as I submitted Scafell and the lovely Marshall commented that I should be smiling THAT MUCH so far into the race. I was still climbing well (for me) and was enjoying learning the link between my pace and fueling in a way I’ve not noticed before. Maybe I am learning after all! On the run across and round to Bowfell I was still moving well, but was getting tired and had a few smalls and trips. The ground was wet, the rocks were wet and I was wet – but it had finally stopped raining.
I slow but steady descent back into the Langdale Valley and tricky final couple of km on the Cumbrian Way took me back to the Finish in 08:35hr, which is course PB for my over 30mins. I’ll do the race again it falls a good time of the year. I’d have preferred an earlier race in the calendar and hope that the Eryri race returns to its normal timing in 2027.