Toughest? Most scenic? Who cares - I did it!
8:11pm, 19th Oct 2019 | Great Langdale Marathon | 9 Comments
Blog by ♪♫ Synge ♪♫
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I entered the Langdale Marathon by accident. I had a place for Windermere in May and a diary mess-up meant I was unable to free up the weekend for it. I enquired about about a refund and they said that was not their policy, but offered to give me a place in any other Brathay Running event in 2019. The Langdale Marathon looked like the only real option, as I’m reluctant to drive 300 miles for a shorter race, and we agreed that. Into the diary it went.
The event has been going for 33 years and this is the second year that Brathay have been the organisers. Apparently numbers were up on last year, so I would guess that having their name attached to it is a good thing. (The only exception to this would be for anyone who didn’t plan to arrive at the New Dungeon Ghyll at least 90 minutes early, as there was a long queue of cars stretching some way back down Langdale trying to get parked as the clock ticked down.)
Smooth registration and a Pete Bland clothing stall at the start. There is a marathon and a half, so just pick one lap or two! The route goes up to the end of Great Langdale then follows the road up the biggest climb of the day to Blea Tarn, then drops to Little Langdale where the Wrynose Pass road comes in (thank goodness we didn’t have to go up there!). Down through Little Langdale joining the Coniston Road, then a loop southwards and back to Skelwith Bridge. Then the second major climb up past Loughrigg Tarn and past Red Bank YHA, dropping into Elterwater village. About ten miles done at this point, a little detour through the grounds of Langdale Chase and then along the main road through Chapel Stile and up to the finish. And repeat.
A few pics here in chronological order. I won’t label them all, but we did see the Langdale Pikes, Crinkle Crags, Pike O’Blisco, Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike, Wetherlam and the Fairfield horseshoe. Fantastic (and I am sorry to say it makes the Windermere Marathon, which I always rave about, seem like an ever-so-slightly poor relation).
I knew this was going to be tough, so I had in mind something between 4:30 and 5:00. This meant time to chat and that helped the miles pass. A couple of miles around half way with Anna (formerly of this parish) who commented on my Fetch vest. She’s done 310 marathons, so some of you might know her! Oh yes, this was the first outing for my very colourful 15th anniversary vest. So colourful that the chap on the PA gave me a name check as I passed the halfway mark. Apprarently I am “of Westbury Harriers AND Fetch”! 😀
The second lap was, as is the way with these things, a bit less crowded and the grey roads a bit less colourful (but I was doing my best with that vest, Mr Fetch!). Talked to a lady wearing a t-shirt saying something like Britain’s toughest marathon. When I asked her which one that was, she said Halifax, but admitted to having doubts about the veracity of the claim. I told her she might have to change the words on the t-shirt!
And the promised rain held off! A brilliant final mile with net downhill to the finish and another name check from the ever-attentive PA. Great event!
Driving out of Langdale, I waved and hollered at another Fetchie (who I suspect may have been snogard?). [Sorry not to meet you properly and hope you had a good run!]
A grand day out.
The event has been going for 33 years and this is the second year that Brathay have been the organisers. Apparently numbers were up on last year, so I would guess that having their name attached to it is a good thing. (The only exception to this would be for anyone who didn’t plan to arrive at the New Dungeon Ghyll at least 90 minutes early, as there was a long queue of cars stretching some way back down Langdale trying to get parked as the clock ticked down.)
Smooth registration and a Pete Bland clothing stall at the start. There is a marathon and a half, so just pick one lap or two! The route goes up to the end of Great Langdale then follows the road up the biggest climb of the day to Blea Tarn, then drops to Little Langdale where the Wrynose Pass road comes in (thank goodness we didn’t have to go up there!). Down through Little Langdale joining the Coniston Road, then a loop southwards and back to Skelwith Bridge. Then the second major climb up past Loughrigg Tarn and past Red Bank YHA, dropping into Elterwater village. About ten miles done at this point, a little detour through the grounds of Langdale Chase and then along the main road through Chapel Stile and up to the finish. And repeat.
A few pics here in chronological order. I won’t label them all, but we did see the Langdale Pikes, Crinkle Crags, Pike O’Blisco, Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike, Wetherlam and the Fairfield horseshoe. Fantastic (and I am sorry to say it makes the Windermere Marathon, which I always rave about, seem like an ever-so-slightly poor relation).
I knew this was going to be tough, so I had in mind something between 4:30 and 5:00. This meant time to chat and that helped the miles pass. A couple of miles around half way with Anna (formerly of this parish) who commented on my Fetch vest. She’s done 310 marathons, so some of you might know her! Oh yes, this was the first outing for my very colourful 15th anniversary vest. So colourful that the chap on the PA gave me a name check as I passed the halfway mark. Apprarently I am “of Westbury Harriers AND Fetch”! 😀
The second lap was, as is the way with these things, a bit less crowded and the grey roads a bit less colourful (but I was doing my best with that vest, Mr Fetch!). Talked to a lady wearing a t-shirt saying something like Britain’s toughest marathon. When I asked her which one that was, she said Halifax, but admitted to having doubts about the veracity of the claim. I told her she might have to change the words on the t-shirt!
And the promised rain held off! A brilliant final mile with net downhill to the finish and another name check from the ever-attentive PA. Great event!
Driving out of Langdale, I waved and hollered at another Fetchie (who I suspect may have been snogard?). [Sorry not to meet you properly and hope you had a good run!]
A grand day out.
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♪♫ Synge ♪♫
PBs are a thing of the past.47 marathons completed (and 14 ultras). PB of 3:12:58. Love Berlin, dislike London.
70% WAVA is an occasional thing and still much desired.
South Devon is better for trail running than road running.
Standards (before the 2020 devaluation):
2024 Wahoo (68)
2023 Tunny (66)
2022 Wahoo (68)
2021 Quarter Horse (67)
2020 Cape Hunting Dog (64)
2019 Quarter Horse (67)
2018 Springbok (69)
2017 Wahoo (68)
2016 LION (72)
2015 THOMSON'S GAZELLE (71)
2014 Quarter Horse (67)
2013 Wahoo (68)
2012 Springbok (69)
2011 Springbok (69)
2010 Wahoo (68)
2009 Springbok (69)
2008 Swordfish (57)
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