Yes, game over, I got it wrong again. Mind you just shows that regular 5 mile local walking sprints as your main training is not really adequate for events like this!
Only two pints of Guinness the night before and a decent sleep in Edale YHA, once the student group had quietened down.
My main focus for the first stage was not to arrive at CP1 as late as last year, however I overdid it some.
With the best ground conditions including dry slabs, that the race has ever had the going was good, apart from a messy diversion before Bleaklow summit.
Just outside of my best at Crowden, I struggled up Laddow rocks (insufficient hill work this year) then the usual cramps started, inner quad muscles, very difficult to stretch out. Freqent spasms and walking slow on semi rigid leg muscles, being overtaken all the time. This bad patch lasted for around 10 miles, by which time a group had formed.
Quite suddenly with around 20 miles to go to CP1, my legs fired into life and I took off dragging the group behind me. They were suffering but they didn't have to follow. At Stoodley Pike Rob, Al and myself stopped to don waterproof leggings as the bad wet windy conditions were setting in.
Two others went ahed as they already were wearing theirs. We never saw them again.
We all struggled on the ascents from Charlsworth and we had to leave Al who was slowing. I arrived CP1 after around 16.5 hours a good 3.5 hours faster than last time.
I tried to get some slepp but couldn't with all activity going on, so got ready and left around 5.15ma.
Legs stiff straight away, but eased some after a few miles apart from ascents and descents. The wind and rain was unrelenting, my expensive Columbia Goretex gloves filled with water. All paths became streams, fields waterlogged, and numerous couses had to be waded so shoes were full of water too, apart from that I was well protected from the weather.
Eventually I met up with Alan Cormac and Michelle Payne and we walked a good few miles together before they pressed ahead.
The pain in my legs was becoming a problem. I could quite a pace going on the flat but anything else I was struggling.
With trying to raise funds for Prostrate Cancer Uk I was pushing myself harder than ever, but the last two descents were so slow and painful I feared being stuck in the middle of nowhere unable to move.
On reaching the Hare & Hounds in Lothersdale I reluctantly decided to retire.
The team were very busy collecting other retirees so I got a taxi to Hawes CP2.
There I discovered that all those in that group during the first stage had also retired. One of them suffered a seizure upon entering that CP and was ruled out by medics.
My pal Chris, came to collect me later and take me home.
Watching the trackers and the moving time etc of Alan and Michelle, I doubt I would have made the cut off at Malham Tarn and there was no way I would have reached there anyway.
To all those who kindly donated to my Just Giving page, thank so very much. I hope I haven't let you down, I really did give it my all.
Dave.