YC was back for another crack at the Old County Tops Fell Race on Saturday. However after 6 years of successful completions, YC is obliged to report that all four wheels fell off the attempt to make it seven in a row. It was an incredibly hot day and YC's running partner Graham felt the strain on the summit of the first county top - Helvellyn - and threw up. After wobbling down to the road crossing at Wythburn, we had no option but to retire. Graham got a lift back to the finish at Great Langdale, whilst YC went for a trot over Steel Fell and Sergeant Man in the company of Richard (from Bowland Runners) whose partner had also retired. Nick Wild and Paul Myers got much further round the course, but in the end called it a day at Grey Friar and so also chalked up a DNF.
Hats off to all those finished in tough conditions, including John Telfer and Stewart Barrie (read John's report on the NFR website). Readers will be relieved to hear that YC did find time for some training on beer in The New Dungeon Ghyll in the evening where the Cumberland Corby Ale was on fine form.
Elite athletes apparently swear by ice baths as a restorative for tired limbs. YC doesn't possess an ice bath, but he has the next best thing - the North Sea on his doorstep. He took a quick dip this afternoon. Readers can probably guess the temperature of the water (hint - not warm).