Grisedale Horseshoe

YC ran the Grisedale Horseshoe fell race today. This 10 miler vies for the honour of being the toughest medium race in the calendar - especially when the organisers added in an extra mile due to a problem with access through a gate. The race is held in Glenridding (Ullswater, Lake District) and takes in Catstye Cam, Helvellyn, St Sunday Crag, and a final heart-break climb back into Glenridding. All in all there's 5,000 ft of climbing. Conditions were pretty good with high cloud, a breeze on top, dry underfoot, and just a bit too warm in the valley. YC made it round in 2 hrs 37 mins, finishing circa 40th out of over a 100 runners. YC felt pretty good until some heel blisters (plus old age/lack of fitness etc) prevented a flat out descent at the end. However it's an excellent way to work up the raging fellrunner's thirst before duly slaking it with beer (John Telfer - NFR's man in temporary self-imposed beer exile - please note).