Kentmore 17k Trail Race
9th May
2015

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Official Results

Ian Hammett 1.23.12 16th


 

Having booked a few days up in the Lake district for some hill/trail training I took the opportunity to take part in my first ever Lakeland Trails event, the Kentmore 17km Sting in the Tail.
 
I arrived in Staveley (4 miles outside of Windermere) in plenty of time before the unusual start time of 1400, this was due to their being a 10km race and a 17km Challenge event prior to the 17km race. The Challenge event went off 45 mins before us, meaning we had the luxury of chasing the walkers and less competitive runners over the course.
 
I tucked into some porridge with chocolate and cranberries before the race, not my usual pre race routine but the lure of the local vendor stalls tempted me in and I was glad I did, as I was soon going to need the fuel. Having chatted to a few locals prior to the race and been advised not to go off too fast as it was hilly (strangely enough!!), I heeded their advice and settled into the pack. The first 4km was on the tarmac gradually climbing out of the village towards the fells, and then we left the familiar comfort of the road for the stony trail and grassy boggy fells. After 5km the course flattened out and we dropped down into a valley, just long enough to pass through a feed station in a random farm yard and then we began climbing again. As there had been a significant amount of rain the night before, the footing was tricky and there were some large puddles to plough through as well as some treacherous downhill stretches that had been churned up by the Challenge runners. 
 
After about 11km the first two climbs were out of the way, and it was an undulating run across the exposed fell side, negotiating gates, styles, brooks and by now the tail enders from the Challenge event who were all very encouraging and I tried to return their enthusiasm. 
The infamous 'Sting in the Tail' was still to come though as with the thighs beginning to burn and the finish within touching distance (2.5km) you have to climb Reston Scar, which was taking it's toll on several people. A steel band greeted us at the top, as did the view of Staveley, which was now only 1.5km of downhill negotiating away. I say negotiating as using the term running would be very tenuous. It was steep and slippery and overtaking was proving tricky. I think you needed to have a blatant disregard for your own safety as you hurtled down the hill before joining the riverside walk footpath to run back to the finish, where you were greeted by a large enthusiastic crowd. 
 
It was a tough challenging course, but by no means impossible, and you get a fantastic technical t-shirt. The village/event atmosphere is excellent and if any of you are in the Lake District when one of these events is on then sign yourselves up for it... Certainly makes a nice change from running through the streets of Bedford!! 
 
Ian.