Garburn Trail Race

Sunday 3rd June 2007

The conditions were hot and humid for this really tough 13 mile off road race in the Lake District. The race starts at Stavely, where you run all of 0.5km before hitting the first climb of the day(the hill pictured here), this first hill is rather steep and you very soon feel out of your ¨comfort zone¨. The views at the top are stunning as the lakeland mountains open our before you and its hard to take your eyes off the view, but you must because otherwise you will fall over as the path is uneven and there are lots of stiles! After a lovely descent and a rather nice flatish section you arrive in Kentmere and the start of the dreaded Garburn Pass. This is one tough hill, about a mile and a half ascent of unrelenting scree and boulders. Unbelievably the downhill feels even harder with even more boulders underfoot its hard to stay upright!

By 15km I was really suffering and knowing what was to come wasn´t helping. By 18 km you hit the last hill which isn´t that big, but it is steep and by this stage of the race it feels like climbing mount Everest. Downhill to the finish and some well earned soup.

Top Panther of the Day
Diane Powell time 2hr 28min

Panthers in disguise
Paula Rivas time 2hr 14min
Jane Woodburn 2hr 19min
Yvonne Wyke 1hr 41min