Sunday September 2nd 2012
(Entries planned to open February 1st)
(courtesy Jason Newsome)
 1
mile swim in Ullswater - England's most beautiful lake
38
miles cycle - including the Kirkstone Pass
9
miles run up Helvellyn - 3118 feet (England's 3rd highest peak)
.....(only 75 feet less than the highest)
The only UK based race in Triathlete Europe's
Top 10 Toughest Races on the Planet. Anyone want to argue?
This is a very challenging race, but I think if you
speak to anyone that has done it you will be told it is well worth the
effort. However, I do recommend you check out the race route link before
deciding.
If you don't already know, the area is fabulous and
well worth making a weekend visit for the race.
Map of Run Route
- may be useful to put in plasic envelope for the run
Kit List for run section. The
run section is 90% on rough track and goes onto the highest fells in
the country. Fell running shoes are recommended. For reasons of safety
you must take with you on the run some form of bag containing full body
cover, foil survival blanket, whistle and suitable map of the route.
There are no feed stations on the run so you must also take sufficient
food and hydration with you. THIS IS FAR FROM AN ORDINARY TRIATHLON
RUN ROUTE. This has not been included as some form of handicap, two
people were killed in one week on Helvellyn in 2008. The temperature
on the top could well be close to freezing and it will probably be in
cloud and raining. If you break your ankle in those conditions you will
very quickly become dangerously cold as well as suffering natural shock
reaction. You need something that has the capability of keeping you
reasonably warm in such an eventuality. You must decide what.
Where to Stay.
This link
borrowed from the Glenridding Sailing Centre is a good starting point.
Keswick and Ambleside are both about 20 minutes drive away and have
a many B&B and other accommodations. Keswick has more.
Swimmers Please Note. Throughout
the year quite a lot of people visit Glenridding to check out the course;
and why not? However, if you intend to swim in the lake be warned it
is always cold. Even during a hot spell when it may feel warm..ish at
the edge it will still be very cold further out. Go down more than a
couple of feet in the centre and it will be skull crushingly cold. If
you are going to swim the route don't do it without a wetsuit and get
someone to hire a boat and go round with you. Last summer the Glenridding
Sailing Centre who volunteer to give rescue cover for that part
of the lake had to fish out a number of people checking out the course.
The people at the sailing centre are very friendly, if you have a word
with them they will probably keep and eye on you if they have a rescue
boat out and they will hire you a canoe. Simple and inexpensive
precautions could avert a tragedy.
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