Captain Greg Hopkinson reports
Lakeland 100 – This weekend I returned to Coniston to take on my nemesis, the Lakeland 100. Last year this race defeated me, finishing in a sorry state at Howtown checkpoint 70 miles into the race.
But as we all know, Matlock AC members aren’t to be defeated, so i returned to take on this epic race again, this time alongside Alaina Bond who was also on the start line. The Lakeland 100 is one of the biggest ultras in the UK and covers 105 miles (because doing 100 just isn’t enough) in the Lake District, with around 22,000 feet of ascent.
Starting in Coniston at 6pm on Friday night, we were treated to perfect weather conditions for the whole race. The first section takes in some of the more remote parts of the lake district, and includes some of the biggest climbs of the route from Wasdale, over to Buttermere and then Keswick. I managed to make it over to Ullswater just as the sun was rising before heading over to the main checkpoint at Dalemain at about 60 miles. This was the point where the wheels really started to fall off last year. This year, a pot of warm porridge and a less ambitious pace meant I felt marginally better and managed to keep trudging along. As the miles trudged on, I got the final couple of big climbs out of the way through Fusedale and over Mardale Head. By this point my quads were starting to give up, but I was pushed along by seeing Megan and Baby Annie in Ambleside, and with just 15 miles to go from there I realised I was actually going to make it.
The last few sections were pretty steady going, but I managed to make it round finishing in 25 hours 19 minutes, and I was chuffed to finish in 19th place!
Alaina Bond also had an amazing run, getting all the way to Mardale Head over 75 miles into the race before unfortunately having to call it a day. A fantastic effort, and all the best runners DNF on their first Lakeland 100!!
An amazing event with fantastic support!!
