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Mind, Body and Spirit

Tom Gibbs - Team adidas Terrex / 14.09.2010

We would be forgiven for thinking that it was Midwinter when the torrential rain lashed down on us at the top of the Langdale Pikes. All our kit was on, and as the deluge continued, we were starting to think that it might force us to shorten the section, or if an accident befell us, end our race. It was proving to be the crux of the event.

Only 30 hours earlier we were on the start line at the Bolton-le-Sands, with the whole of the National Park before us we had some idea of the scale of the 400+km course. The first stage was something none of us had ever done before – a run across the treacherous sands of Morecombe Bay, an area that infamously claimed the lives of 21 cockle pickers. Luckily for us, the tide was out and the local guides had marked a safe route.

At just after 7am the race started and we established a steady pace, chatting with other teams. For me it was a very unusual, as it’s not often I run over 15 miles without any climb at all. Coming into the transition at Holker Hall we were in 4th spot, however at this point, teams had to serve penalties from the previous evening’s prologue. We had a few minutes to sit out and enjoyed a cup of tea and some banter before getting out on the bikes in 3rd about 10 minutes behind the leading team, Accelerate.

This stage was the hardest bike of the race, over 100km with a lot of up and down. The route took us across the southern regions of the park to Ravenglass on the coast, before heading back to Eskdale for a short Orienteering stage. After a couple of hours we caught over rivals and tried to build a bit of lead before the Orienteering.

Local running god and my ex-SAAB Salomon team mate, Steve Birkenshaw had joined us as a last minute replacement. Steve took ownership of the foot navigation, whilst I concentrated on the other disciplines. He quickly got his head into the Orienteering and we skipped round the tussocky ground. I acted as team motivator, handing out sweets as we found each control.

From here the bike got tougher, with 2 big hike-a-bike sections, the second over the famous Walna Scar Road. We pushed on to try and get over in the light, nearly making it. Soon we were at the canyoneering section in Coniston. Stripping down to just waterproof’s to keep our bike kit dry we thoroughly enjoyed the short but spectacular section, including the best natural slide I think I have ever done.

From here it wasn’t too far to the end of the bike, especially as the organisers dropped the MTBO section.

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