Langdale Mountain Marathon And Half Race Photos By Stevie Lewis

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Great Langdale Mountain Marathon And Half Marathon

Steve Prentice wins Great Langdale Marathon. photo from last years event, Steve No 195
Steve use to train with Southport Waterloo A/C a few years ago before moving to Scotland, so it was good to see him get a well earned victory,
Steve's progress has been impressive running 3.23 in 2009, 3.15 in 2010 and a very impressive 3.04 this year for the win!
Bear in mind this is the 'Hardest road marathon in the UK!' Quote from Ron Hill no less.
In the Half Marathon Rob McGrath had an amazing comeback with 1.32 [after a serious knee operation last year].
I had my worst run ever [ I blame a heavy night shift and no sleep, thoughts of retiring from the sport many times crossed my mind as I suffered my way round the many climbs on dead legs for 1.34!
Paul Cain had a good run for 1.39, also running was Andy Hudson, Vicky, Paul and Rachel.
Photo's link here tomorrow.

UPDATED RACE REPORT< GREAT LANGDALE MARATHON

I decided to re-write my race report for the Langdale Mountain Marathon for the club website. I wrote my first report when I was feeling very tired. I hope this gives a better essence of the race. One thing is sure; With time to reflect I feel really proud of taking part and finishing this race. Sometimes its NOT always about the finishing time or placing, it's about finding out about yourself and how you deal with situations!

Great Langdale Mountain marathon and ½ Marathon

They call Langdale the gateway to heaven, as I would find out latter this was more my gateway to ‘heaven and hell!’

Paul Cain was doing the half and me the full distance after getting a taster with the 1 lap ½ last year.

Rob [2nd^] in the marathon last year] Sarah and Eddie were our support crew, cheering us on and taking some breathtaking photos.

The weather was ideal, sunny with a cooling breeze as we lined up for the start.

Both the ½ and marathon start together, so it was hard to know how many were doing the full distance and who would turn off after ‘just’ one lap and finish the 13.1 mile race.

I got talking to a guy called Steven Prentice, he use to live in Southport before moving to Glasgow. He said he would run with me as we were looking at about the same pace.

Away from the start we headed along the only flat section of road on the course for a mile, soon we turned left and started the fearsome 1 in 3 climb that zigzags its way straight up the mountain.

Near the top Rob, Sarah and Eddie cheered us on, not far behind Paul leaning forward with his nose almost grazing the road surface tackled what most have been his toughest challenge of his short running career so far!

Rob had told me “never get out of breath on the first lap and you’re be ok”, I tried to follow his instructions and at last made it to the top. The reward was spectacular views of the green valley below and the bare rocks of the mountain ridges that reached high into the cloud and glistened in the bright afternoon sunshine, this was ‘gods country’!

Now, a steep suicide descent that pounded the legs followed by short steep hills and more crazy downhills. The legs and body would be tested in every way, even a car would find this a challenge.

I was now running with Steve and two girl’s running the ½, I was spot on target pace [ I was trying to equal Rob’s time of last year, 3.11] but my legs felt empty and not strong and full of energy as I’d hoped!

On to the next climb at 6 miles I took my first gel, over the top and more downhill pounding, at 10 miles we tackle a 1 in 4 monster climb, very steep at first before a series of more gradual rises and hairpin corners. Steve pulls away; I reach the top and then make my way down yet another descent.

Now follow a couple of quite undulating Lake district roads [I think they class this as flat in this part of the world!].

I pass quite a few ½ marathon runners who must have set off too fast. Another gel and I reach the end of the first lap in 1.35, just on target but my legs still feel empty like a car about to run out of gas, leaving me with a feeling of impending ‘DOOM’ as I take on the 2^nd and final lap.

Paul grits his teeth and gives his all over the last miles, finishing in 1.39. A great first performance at the world’s toughest ‘road’ half marathon.

I ask him after, “would he ever do the full Marathon”, he just looked back at me with blank staring eyes!!!

LAP 2

Steve had stopped for a drink and waited for me to catch up, I said he should have kept going; I’m not on a good day.

Once again we reach the first climb again; thankfully there is a good tailwind which pushes me along.

I pass two runners half way up this murderous 1 in 3 climb.

I reach the top with great relief, I smile as I take in the surrounding views; AWESOME!

Steve pulls away on the next downhill, I don’t see him again until I cross the finish line. He finishes 7 mins faster than last year and a new P.B. for the course with 3.15

Footsteps behind my get louder and a guy from Harrogate catches me up, we run together up to 20 miles.

20 miles, THE WALL

We cross the main road and turn left, the 1 in 4 climb feels much, much worse this time , the last of my energy drains away and I have to walk.

Once over the steepest section I force myself into a shuffle and just think to myself ‘keep moving’.

I run to the next tree, the next corner, I’m in survival mode now, each second seems like a minute, each mile like two.

I bang down more gel blocks and at long bloody last emerge through the trees and the top of the mountain.

The legs take a hammering again as gravity pulls my down, a guy comes flying past, all I can do is watch.

I’m at the point of not caring about any body else, this is my own private battle just to finish.

On to the final two miles of undulating road, someone’s playing a cruel, cruel joke. The road seems to by far more uphill than last time and the road seems to go on for ever, I’m trapped in time, neither moving forwards or backwards, an endless uphill convyor belt of hell!

The ½ marathon finishes returning home in there cars beep there horns and shout encouragement as they pass by, I pull myself around cracking a smile as I crest the last hill and flow down a beautiful sweeping descent, I get faster and faster as I pass the car park and the crowd looking on.

I savour every last moment, I’m about to finish the ‘world’s toughest road marathon’!!!

I cross the line in 13^th place in 3.19.

One thing for sure, I will never ever forget this race it’s been ‘HEAVEN AND HELL’

THE WORLDS TOUGHEST ROAD MARATHON and MISTAKES I'VE MADE!

Writing a report after a good race [I've had plenty of them this year] is easy, but after a race where things don't go to plan can be quite hard. Looking back I can quite clearly see my mistake, after the London Marathon I ignored Marius's recommendations of 3 weeks very easy and raced within a week [my downfall!] and started back on hard training straight away. End result was nine months of hard training and racing, last month I started to notice I was struggling in the last hour of my long runs and I was having to work with increasing effort to hold the correct pace in my fast sessions [I'd gone past my peak and was just plain tired out! I was still hopeful that after a taper I'd be fresh again and could still pull off a good result at Langdale, sadly this was not to be.
Langdale Mountain Marathon Report
THE START
The day dawned bright and sunny with a cooling fresh breeze. A big prize list had enticed double the normal numbers this year up from 100 to 200. I'd have to run really well to get inside the top ten this year. The half and full marathon start together so it's hard to know how your doing until the second lap. i set off easy on the first and only flat mile on the course, soon after we turn left and head straight up the 1 in 3 climb that zigzags it's way up the mountain.
THE 1 IN 3 CLIMB!
Rob who finished 2nd here last year told me to never let myself push to the point of getting out of breath on the first lap, so I ran within myself to the top.
We were rewarded with some stunning views of the beautiful landscape all around. Over the top and down a crazy descent, down into the valley before the second climb.
My legs did not feel great, they had an empty kind of feeling to them, not fresh and strong like I was hoping for. I banged down my first gel and started to feel slightly better.
I was running with a guy called Steve, he use to live here in Southport but moved to Scotland a few years ago, also there were two girls in our group who were doing the 1/2.
The second climb was not too steep and after cresting the top we sped downhill onto the next challenge a 1 in 4 climb at 10.5 miles, you hit the steep section straight away before the climb gets easier, each corner has you thinking you've reached the top only to have your hopes dashed yet again as the road rises into the distance.
Steve pulls away and I find myself on my own, over the top and down a suicide descent. 3 miles of Lake District undulating roads follow, I take another gel and once again start to feel stronger as I pass quite a few half marathon runner who set off to fast.
HALF WAY
Past the start finish area I'm bang on target with my hoped for pace with 1.35 at half way. But I feel a sense of impending doom as my legs are not responding like they should and still have that empty feeling in them, like a car about to run out of gas!
Steve had stopped at the side of the road for a drink and decided to wait for my, I say to him he should have pushed on as I'm not at my best. One mile latter we hit the 1 in 3 for the second time.
I pass two guys and with the tail wind behind me the climb does not seem as bad as I'd been anticipating. Reaching the top I felt a big sense of relief as I smiled and looked around at the gorgeous scenery.
Steve pushed away on the next downhill and that was the last I saw of him until the finish [ he finished in 3.15 a massive 7 min improvement on last year] I heard someone catching me up , so eased back until he caught me then ran with up to 20 miles.
20 MILES, THE WALL !!!
I got back on target pace by the start of the final 1 in 4 climb. My new friend from Harrogate pulled away as i felt the last of my energy drain away like water flowing down a drain. I had to walk the first section then got into a slow run, the hill seemed so much longer and steeper.
Another gel block, I just keep moving the best i can. After what seemed like a very long time I reached the top, another crazy downhill, I was shocked to see only 8.5 mph on the Garmin, how could I be so slow! A guy flys past me and now I faced the final 3 miles alone.
My contact lens starts floating as my eyes got irritated by the bluster wind, my vision became cloudy as I made my way along the now busy road back to the finish, I keep blinking my eyes and at last I can see well enough to navigate my way into the finish without running into a car!
These last 3 miles were endless, someone was playing a cruel, cruel joke with me, why had each undulation suddenly turned into a mini mountain that got steeper and steeper? why was I running more uphill than down?
THE FINISH
The half marathon runners returning home in their cars gave a lot of support, beeping and waving, which carried me onwards. At long bloody last I reached the 1 mile to go, over the final rise i was rewarded with a glorious sweeping downhill that swept me along to the finish,
I push all out to a sprint, finishing in 3.19 and 13th place.
I finish with mixed emotions, on one hand I knew I could have done much better if I'd been on form, on the other hand I'd just finished the hardest road marathon in Britain.
Amazingly 5 runners got under 3 hours, I think only 5 people in the history of the race had managed that before and the guy who won broke the course record with 2 hours 41 min !!! I spent the next hour feeling really bad, sitting down with my head on a table feeling dizzy and sick, I gave it all I could.
On last years results my time would have given me 6th place! RESULTS
Time for some rest, I'll follow Marius's advise this time for sure :]

Contemplation before todays Langdale Mountain Marathon

Eating my breakfast and thinking about todays challenge!
I'm looking to it as an exciting adventure, last year my friend Rob finished second in this race, an amazing achievement.
I know I can not control who turns up to race, so all I can do is give it my best shot:]
I'm setting my Garmin for Rob's finishing time of 3.11, it will give me a rough idea of how to pace myself. 7.20 pace does not sound fast but believe me the route is very demanding with almost 5000 of climbing.
I hold Rob's achievement with the uppermost respect and do not take on this challenge lightly!
Held over two laps it will be really important to control my effort so I'm strong for the second lap.
I've trained for it, with weekend after weekend in the hills, so I feel the course is to my advantage!
The hills maybe tough, but everyone else will have to climb them too!
As Scott Brown said before his Marathon last year 'BRING IT ON!'
Enjoy your weekend :]

REPORT ON THE GREAT LANGDALE MONSTER MOUNTAIN 1/2 AND MARATHON

2386ft of climbing in 13 miles!

Its was kind of a late decision to do the Langdale 1/2, Team mate Rob McGraph was doing the full marathon [ you can read about his amazing performance below-in his own words] and it seemed like a good excuse for a long weekend in the Lake District and meet up with some of Niz's friends. The day dawned with a perfect blue sky and light winds [ideal race conditions], Rob drove us all down, setting off at 8.30 in the morning for the 12 noon start. Once parked up in the field close to the start we got out and took in the awe-inspiring views, we were in a lush green valley with volcanic looking mountains erupting up all around, Their summits reaching high into the fluffy white clouds above. There was about 500 runners at the start [ 100 including Rob running the 2 lap marathon], my plan was to start easy then take the first mountain climb steady before pushing hard to the finish, well it didn't quite work out like that, as from the start I had heavy unresponsive legs which never seemed to let me push it to the max! The first mile was slightly downhill and I let the nutters shoot off to self-destruction and melt down. As we approached the first gruesome climb I slowly made my way through some of these fast starters. Once onto the climb proper the narrow road zigzagged madly with lots of hairpin bends into the distant horizon, I tried not to look up too far, but one could not but stare at the incredible views across the valley. Once at the top there was no time to relax and recover as the road plunged downhill at a suicidal angle, the legs took a hammering as I tried to run as smoothly as possible, it seemed to help to concentrate on picking your heels as fast as possible using the hamstrings. I went past a few more runners and slowly got onto the back of a small group of runners as we approached the next hill at 4 miles. The second main climb was not to bad and before I knew it we were into the next crazy descent, more undulations followed before the next shock, we crossed a main road then turned down a narrow lane round a corner and the road climbed up a 1 in 4, a girl I'd been running with shot off into the distance as my legs refused any more effort! Round another corner thinking I was at the top of the hill only to find another section of road climbing into the distance, more corners and more climbing through the tree lined road followed, I took a wrong turn and headed back letting a guy who was a good 30 sec behind catch my up, finally we came out on top of the mountain to be faced by even more crazy suicidal downhill running, it was At this point I was thinking of Rob having to run this lap twice 'CRAZY'! The last couple of miles were an endless series of undulations back to the finish, the guy I was running with pulled away, I concentrated hard trying to imagine that the finish line was pulling me in on a magic elastic band, finally the welcoming sight of England flags flapping in the wind, came into sight as I reached the finish line, I finished in 11th out of over 370 runners, feeling a bit pissed off that my legs had felt rubbery and heavy from the start of the race, but man that scenery was 'priceless'!
Rob came through the first lap only 3 minutes behind me looking happy and relaxed! and you can read his amazing account below. In the evening Niz and me and friends Linette and Andrew went night clubbing in Kendall, dancing into the early morning [ how many 25 YEAR OLD'S let alone a 48 year old can run the hardest 1/2 in the country and still be able to dance the night away] it was a great weekend and I want to come back for the full marathon next year- shit did I just say that!





NOW READ ROB'S REPORT'
He had to endure over 4770 ft of climbing on his way to 2nd place in the Marathon, AWESOME!
Report by Rob McGrath
A very sunny Sunday morning in September and Rick Bowker and Rob McGrath went to the Lake District to take on the challenge of the Langdale 1/2 and full marathon respectively. The marathon has been described as the hardest road marathon in the world. The weather was ideal for long distance running, and the setting just beautiful.
With a fairly flat first mile to start with before starting a very tough 2nd mile which even saw some of the leading runners walking. I settled into what seemed like a very gentle pace on a downhill section as Rick ran off into the distance. The course was never flat and some of the undulations would be described as hills in other races.At 8miles we were greeted with a sign that said 1 in 4 hill ahead, and that was followed by another couple of uphill miles. 10miles down and 72mins gone, perhaps a little too quick.
The 1/2 marathon runners began to peel off to the finish, with Rick taking 11th place, and 1st v45 in 1hr 29min. A cracking result.
For the marathoner runners it suddenly became the "loneliness of the long distance runner". I was in joint 4th place, with a man called Steve who used to live in Southport. As we went up the first big hill for the second time he managed to walk alongside me as I ran! We could just see the 3rd place man ahead and w e gradually closed him down by mile 17. I increased my pace on the downhills and found myself running very much alone. 20 miles and 2hr 25min on the clock and a 1 in 4 hill to take on. As I approached the hill a 2nd place came into view, struggling ahead of me. Into 2nd place at 22miles and only a killer downhill section and 3 undulating miles to go. Legs aching after the downhill, I surprisingly found myself with enough energy to make the finish in 2nd place and in 3hr 11m 25s to rapturous applause from a large pub crowd.
Put this one in your diary as even the 1/2 is well worth doing.
PHOTO, ROB finishing the marathon
RESULTS
Great Langdale Half Marathon
Great Langdale Marathon