BRUTAL AT BARBONDALE

Having heard the howling wind during the night, I thought I knew what awaited us – but it was much worse. Leaving the well appointed village hall at Barbon found us trotting up Barbondale in relative shelter before crossing the river and beginning the long ascent to Great Coum. This is when the full ferocity of the wind really kicked in. Heading straight into the onslaught made the going extremely difficult, this was borne out by comparison with last year’s time at the summit – a full 18 minutes slower! As expected YJ caught us (Ian obviously going at my pace) just before the summit and it will be interesting to hear how his times compare. Even the descent saw us buffeted by the elements, passing YJ at this stage brought back memories of the Amble.

The flat between the two big climbs saw YJ racing ahead, those miles in the legs really paying off. Checkpoints came and went and then the long, hard slog up to Calf Top. Unbelievably we were once again being hammered by the headwind before the path turns three quarters of the way up, but no respite, as we get buffeted from the right. YJ could be seen pulling away from us on the climb, but despite Ian’s encouragement I was finding it increasingly difficult in the conditions. The wind was so bad going up that it was hard to keep to the path and make progress. Gaining the wall gave a little shelter and spurred me on but I suspect I hadn’t eaten enough for the energy expended. Ian talking to a runner from Newcastle who said he felt he had run 20 miles already. The times tell it all - at Calf Top Summit we were 30 minutes down on last year’s time. It could have been worse… we could have been on checkpoint duty at the summit. These poor souls looked completely battered but were still encouraging us on.

Just as you think the climbing’s all over a brief descent before the final pull over the shoulder of a beautifully cairned little summit and then it really is all the way down to the village and finally, some respite from the wind in the shelter of the bulk of Calf Top. Trying desperately to make up lost time and incorporating the ‘windmill’ style of descending seemed to work. We finished 4 minutes up on last year – so a PB, which given the conditions I’m really pleased with – 5:18:18. Was hoping for a sub-5 but not a chance in those conditions, at least not for me. John about five minutes ahead of us, will I am sure confirm his time and thoughts.

NLN