I became aware of the Lake, Meres and Waters in 2022 when I supported Alex Staniforth to Coniston on his successful attempt. Even though it’s not the usual mountain round I’m used to, my interest was piqued and the seed fully planted when supporting Sarah Perry on her completion.
The different perspective on the Lake District the route gives you is really special, though the road element interspersed throughout was one aspect I was concerned about. This meant introducing road into my training, and I had a time in mind that was up there. Needless to say, I recced the thing inside out so on the day there would be no surprises.
Leg 1: Loweswater to Wast Water, Saturday, 08:00-12:09
Support: Alex Staniforth, Nathan Ball & Sarah Perry
I’m very lucky to have a core support crew who were assembled to see me off, and although the start seemed a little rushed, it was good to get underway and feel the pressure ebb away within the first few steps. As we headed from Crummock to Buttermere I settled into the pace and those stunning views of the valley opened up. The climb up to Red Pike went well, I pushed the pace and continued in this vein for the rest of the leg as I knew the schedule was tight.
The heat made itself known; it felt warmer than the forecasted temperature as we touched Ennerdale. Alex split from us at this point to circle back round to Loweswater. I always forget what a drag the up and over to Wasdale is and I had to have a chat with myself about the time it was taking as stressing and checking my watch constantly wasn’t helping anyone. Eventually we met the road support where my first stop was. After a couple of minutes, I remembered to quickly head to Wast Water and touch it to avoid a major hiccup right at the start.
Leg 2: Wast Water to Monk Coniston, Saturday, 12:16-17:27
Support: Jake Lane, Jamie Rutherford & Tim Wiggins
It’s a long leg this so I split it in two with a brief stop in Seathwaite. There’s a chunk of road in the first section so after a quick shoe change, I set off with Jake and Jamie who have supported on every round I’ve had a crack at. The conversation flowed on the climb out of Wasdale and the descent cutting through the forest to Eskdale Green was really enjoyable.
Once into the valley the road began with Devoke being the next objective. A surprise appearance from Rob and Diane from the Achille Ratti club lifted the spirits on this section. The pace I had pushed on the first section was now under control and we ticked off Devoke in no time. Now on to Seathwaite for another shoe change and 5 min stop with quick refuel. I said goodbye to Jake and Jamie and picked up Tim, who has a massive amount of experience which includes a winter completion of this round.
The heat was pretty full on, and I was keeping on top of hydration with electrolytes, but the first low point still hit. I used the direct line from near the top of Walna Scar Road to Goats Water and we nailed this compared to some of the recces. Straight up the side of The Old Man isn’t appealing at the best of times and after 30 odd miles it was a chore, but we got it done and sailed down the other side ticking off Low Water and Levers using the direct line there too. All that was left then was down through the mines to Coniston’s throngs of tourists taking an afternoon beer and on to the next stop at Monk Coniston.
Leg 3: Monk Coniston to Waterhead, Ambleside, Saturday, 17:36-20:32
Support: Luke Cook & Robin Leathley
This stop saw another swap of shoes in prep for the road albeit the majority are super quiet and beautiful little lanes. The low point hadn’t gone anywhere, and the last thing I wanted to do was carry on eating but that little voice telling me to keep fueling kicked in and I did my best to get some food on board. I set off in the direction of Esthwaite Water with Luke and Robin who are an awesome pair of runners.
We weaved our way through the initial small paths and then onto the small lanes that take you over Hawkshead Hill into Hawkshead itself. There were a ton of people around as we got the out and back done to Esthwaite Water and all I wanted to do was join them in an afternoon beer. I adored learning this section when training but today it was proving hard work. Both Robin and Luke were having a right old time taking in this lovely section that gives you a different perspective of the Lakes, me not so.
Photo credit: Jamie Rutherford
It was only as we skirted towards Elter Water (Belter Water as Luke calls it!) that my problem solving (read as silence) over the last hour or so finally came up with the answer to why I was feeling so bad, too many electrolytes. I turned to plain water and the last miles ticking off Grasmere and Rydal water became far more enjoyable, and I actually started to talk! We sailed into the next support point at the Waterhead Inn for more shoe changing business and, more importantly, cold pizza.
Leg 4: Waterhead, Ambleside to Hartsop, Saturday/Sunday 20:42-03:29
Support: Chris Welton & Richard Kendall
Another two super experienced runners picked me up here ready for the graveyard shift. We cut through the beer garden catching some baffled looks and I touched Windermere. We were heading for my local fells now and the plan I had was to capitalise on that and the fact this was a mountainous leg and that’s where my strength lies. I’d also managed to get an hour up on the schedule and wanted to build on that or at least maintain it. As we made our way up and over to Troutbeck and then on to Kentmere the most special views presented themselves along with a stunning orange glow as the sun set.
Thank god we had those conditions as the long section out to Skeggles water really eroded my mood. It’s a slog, especially getting yourself out of the other side of the water through bog and tussocks. I feel Chris and Richard won’t be heading back there anytime soon. There’s a really good bit of running now towards Kentmere reservoir and this had to be taken at a decent pace; easier said than done as, you guessed it, another bout of low hit me. I kept reminding myself to look up and realise where I was, still beautiful even though dark and, more importantly, eat.
The direct line out of Kentmere reservoir is brutal and didn’t disappoint. I started to feel better here as we descended the nice technical section down ticking Small Water off to Haweswater. A small out and back and we were on our way back up to Blea Water and then the killer climb up on to High Street. That climb was unreal, it’s as if the orange glow never really went anywhere and it started to get going again as the sun very slowly started the job of rising. As you can imagine this was a true mood lifter and we rolled into Hartsop bang on schedule. I’ll take that after a long night and not really talking much for the first few hours.
Leg 5: Hartsop to Derwent Water, Keswick, Sunday 03:40-07:37
Support: Kieran Hewkin & Richard
This was where the question of whether all the road I’d done training was going to pay off. Yes, there is the final big up and over Sticks Pass but after that it’s all road to the finish. I had a complete reset in Hartsop with a full change along with brushing my teeth; always find it helps. The dry socks lasted all of 10 minutes as I forgot how wet the ground next to Brothers Water is where you touch, the fact it was also a jungle took the shine off proceedings too. Time to get the road legs ticking over.
I feel this is where the training paid off; yes, I was tired but we cruised along the road witnessing the valley around Ullswater being shrouded in the beginnings of a new day. Ullswater done now time to get the big up and over done. Richard is from London and this was his first intro to the Lakes so the climb passed fairly quickly as it gave me the chance to describe to him where the route was taking us, a welcome distraction. The climb was rewarded with one hell of a view, and I’d say was one of those very special moments you only get on these things.
I pushed down the descent as this is what I love, steep and fairly technical, not sure Kieran and Rich enjoyed it as much, but they had the road to pay me back on! Thirlmere done and the head was firmly set on the road and getting to Keswick. It passed a lot quicker than I was expecting and we hit Derwent with a chunk of time knocked off the schedule.
Leg 6: Derwent Water, Keswick to Over Water, Sunday 07:46-09:59
Support: Luke Cook & Sarah Perry
A pastry was consumed here but the more pressing matter was not to underestimate this last section, still 700ft elevation. It was a joy to set out with these two, with Sarah bookending the attempt and Luke finishing every one of these challenges I’ve set myself. Thank you so much my friends; the unwavering support and how far you go out of your way is so special and means a lot.
The run to Bassenthwaite is along an A road without pavement so I was thankful it was earlier than I’d predicted we’d be on here. I was being dragged along here by my support as all I could do was look at my feet and remind myself to keep turning my legs over. And eat Tangfastics. Bassenthwaite was touched and the realisation that one more body of water remained really helped. As we got back on to the road, I could see a discussion about time and dipping under 26 hours, the pace picked up and I’ll not lie it took a chat with myself to start to push.
We reached the quieter lanes that eventually lead you to the last piece of water. There were bits on this that I was still running where I thought I’d be walking but that time was becoming an obsession and every time I got near my support they seemed to drift away again. Super support arrived as I got near the end with Niamh joining me to run it in (this is after being up as long as me and covering all road support). I’m not sure where it came from, but I turned myself inside out heading for Over Water and we picked up a train of people who had supported through the day as well as Rob and Diane from the Achille Ratti club. I was on the grass and the water was in sight, a quick glance at my watch showed 25:59, it was time to sprint. Done, I touched the water and simultaneously stopped my watch, 25:59.58, that was close.
01/06/2024: 25:59:58
Central header image: Jamie Rutherford. All other photos courtesy Ben McGovern
