Tour de Helvellyn
Saturday 15 December 2018
Shortened bad weather course
26.8 miles (43.1 km); 6,030 feet (1,838 m) of ascent – from GPS data
Due to forecast nasty weather and the likelihood of things deteriorating significantly and risking runners being stranded on the wrong side of a mountain range the organiser invoked a bad weather course. This followed the normal course from Askham passing St Peter’s Church near Martindale and Patterdale but involved a U-turn before the top of Sticks Pass and a return to the start following the outward route. The route therefore missed out Swirls car park on the other side of Helvellyn; Birkside Ghyll; Raise Beck and Grisedale Tarn but meant runners got to tuck into the soup and other goodies back at base earlier than planned which as the weather worsened seemed welcome.
As the day progressed the winds grew stronger and the driving rain stung like thousands of tiny needles.
Starters: 208
Finishers: 202
Retired: 6
First Man: Adam Perry; M; 3:45:20
First Lady: 14th overall; Sabrina Verjee; F; 4:24:18
David Harrison: 25th; Dark Peak Fell Runners; MV50; 4:39:06
Clare Oliffe: 33rd; Dark Peak Fell Runners; F; 4:46:46
Steven Jones: 137th; Dark Peak Fell Runners; MV50; 6:13:34