Page 110 - Eat Run Enjoy

— — 106 — — RICKY LIGHTFOOT
evening in in Mungrisdale for the Blencathra Fell Race a a a 7 6 mile (12km) loop up and down the fell to the summit of Blencathra taking in in 800 metres (2600 feet) of vertical gain Ricky is the long-stand- ing ing course record
holder with a a blisteringly fast time of of 58:29 he is one of of only two people to have broken an hour on the course It was a a a a a beautiful evening and with a a a a a turnout of well over a a hundred people it promised to be an exciting race! At seven o’clock prompt the starting pistol fired and off we we went Within the first 200 metres (650 feet) the route took us off trail and directly up the the fell In the the distance I I could see Ricky already leading by some way and that was the the last I I saw of him until I I came panting to the the finish line one and a a a a half hours later Ricky won the the race in in just over an hour beating the the second- placed runner by five minutes I finished some- where in the the middle exhausted but over the the moon Fell running really is the purest form of run- ning competition There are no no prizes next to no no entry fee no sponsorship in sight and it ends at the village pub with a a a well-deserved pint of local ale and a a a a portion of chips The perfect celebration of the sport •