Lakeland Classics Anyone?

by Lynne Hume and Gill Atkinson 

Ever flicked past the Lakeland Classics Trophy page in the FRA handbook and thought ‘that looks a bit daunting’? Never seen the FRA handbook and have no idea what we are talking about?  That was us not so long ago. Neither of us started fell racing until after the pandemic and we certainly wouldn’t have predicted back then that we’d be taking on the biggest of fell races.

The series consists of seven races: four super long (Duddon, Ennerdale, Buttermere and Wasdale, which all happen within the space of about 7 weeks) and three long (Borrowdale, Three Shires and Langdale). The best three performances count and must include two super long and any other one race to qualify. 

To most people (ultra runners aside) these are really long races (18-23 miles/6000-9000ft of ascent for the super longs) and very few women complete enough races to qualify each year; just 10 in 2025 and 15 in 2024.

So why on earth did we decide to take on such a mammoth challenge? Well, we certainly didn’t enter for the prizes, although Gill brilliantly scooped up 3rd fv50 and 1st fv60 and most improved female! It was really just the perfect excuse for lots of long runs with lots of laughs, some dubious picnics, and a few coffee shop treats whilst getting to know the fells pretty well. And we got to do that most weeks of the year!

We both like to be prepared, so multiple recces of each route were on the cards, but we also wanted to improve our map reading skills to make sure we really did know how to use our mandatory kit properly should we need to. We threw ourselves into night orienteering with WCOC over the winter months and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, so much so that we carried on into spring and summer and entered two mountain marathons. These were great days out, a long treasure hunt if you like, and whilst there is still a lot that remains a mystery on an orienteering map, we both feel much more confident navigating the fells and it undoubtedly helped with our Classics quest.

Duddon clashed with another event, so Ennerdale was first up, with the Kirk Fell descent top of the list for a recce. Having read on the race website that the descent is ‘dangerous’ and having climbed up the gully some time ago thinking ‘surely they don’t come down this way’, Lynne was having nightmares that it could be game over before it even started. Perhaps not the wisest decision then, to time our first Ennerdale outing with snow still on the ground. Tentatively peering over the top of the gulley, common sense prevailed and the nightmares continued until a better opportunity came along a few weeks later. Like many of our pre-race anxieties, of which there are a lot, it was really nothing much to worry about.

In the weeks that followed we got to know Ennerdale pretty well, daunted by the sight of the entire route from Green Gable, but come race day, we had done more recces than we care to count, had our long-suffering husbands in position with fresh supplies, and were ready. 

Well, we were until we sat in Ennerdale Scout Hut on 7^th June looking at the torrential rain falling from the sky. Anyone who has witnessed our pre-race faff would understand the degree of dithering this caused over what kit to take, or not. We each carried two waterproof jackets that day (yes two!) along with copious amounts of food and fluid that would make some laugh, but when you’re going to be out for seven hours you get hungry! Gels just don’t cut it. Turns out pouches of porridge (Gill) and avocado sandwiches (Lynne) aren’t much better, but we made it round. One super long on the board.

Buttermere came just three weeks later and after months of beautiful weather we were in for a shock. It was one of the worst days of summer. A clag fest, with a lot of rain. Having trained together, we’d never really intended to run the races together but in these conditions we just naturally decided to team up and look out for each other, and we were so pleased we did. Gill took a tumble, saved from serious harm attempting not to crush the packet of crisps in hand at the time, and when we reached the beck below Dubs Quarry there was nothing for it but to crawl across, elbows submerged in the flow, much to the astonishment of some onlooking walkers. It was lonely on those fells that day and we’re eternally grateful to the marshals cowering in shelters, stoically waiting for the tail end runners, giving us the chance to chalk up super long number two.

We haven’t talked about cut-off times yet, which is odd because they have never been far from the forefront of our minds all year. Front runners don’t need to give any thought to cut-offs, but for those of us near the back of the pack it’s a huge pressure. You might think you can make it round, but if you’re just a few minutes over that cut-off, that’s it, race over, back to the finish by the quickest route. Thankfully, the cut-offs for Ennerdale and Buttermere turned out to be fairly generous and didn’t cause too much stress on the day, but we knew Wasdale was going to be tighter.

And what could add to the pressure of tight cut-off times? Only the hottest day of the year. Yes, in the space of a fortnight we had gone from a cold, wet Buttermere to a heat wave at Wasdale. This was not ideal and once again we paired up in an effort to look after each other. Heat stroke was a real possibility and every trickle of water involved a hat dunk or a vest dunk, slowing progress that was already slow. We made the first two cut-offs but time was slipping and as we approached Pillar we probably knew we weren’t going to make it. We pushed on but even with a five minute extension we’d missed being allowed to carry on by just two minutes. Heart-breaking after four hours in the heat, but when 60% of the field were in the same position the tears were short-lived. More important was contacting Stan who was on his way to Esk Hause with a very heavy pack full of water we would no longer need (sorry Stan!). A first DNF for us both but it was all made better by a good cup of tea from Wasdale Head on the long trek back to the finish field.

That concluded the super-longs, and with the benefit of hindsight the rest of the series seems less eventful. That’s not to say the other races aren’t hard, they really are, but having done them the previous year, maybe they seemed more manageable a second time around. Perhaps the hardest part was keeping the motivation going over a long period of time. We both had our moments, but mostly we’ve just had some really good days out. 

So if you’re looking for a challenge, why not have a go. Get the maps, grab a likeminded friend and have an adventure.