Lyke Wake Race - 07 August 2007
Race report - Mark Ludiman
This year we were due to set
off at 7.30am as we'd put 8hrs 30mins on the entry form. Last year we'd worked
on 10hrs and set off much earlier. I set off with the same bunch from Quakers
that I'd run with last year and a few other folk. The first half of the race
went well up to the Lion Inn. We'd all reccied the route where we'd gone wrong
last year and were making good time. We knew we had to move quickly on the dry
sections because the moor tops would be very boggy after all the rain. We
weren't disappointed. It was like running through a stream most of the way and
when it wasn't water, it was mud. After the main boggy
section somehow we went wrong. The peat had been eroded so much we lost the
track and footprints and had to make our way across Egton High Moor and some
pretty deep heather. We lost all our advantage and started the arduous task of
trying to make up time, overtaking people we'd overtaken hours ago. This was
soul destroying but we marched on to the bitter end. Given the conditions under
foot and having gone wrong we faired reasonably finishing in 8hrs 40 mins in
20th place. Last year we were 8hrs 32mins and were 28th. There were 100 or so
starters. We'll be back next year for another go. Third time lucky!