the battle of shap

Not a battle that you have learnt about in history lessons at school, but rather the slog up Shap Fell which lasts around 15 miles. This is on the A6 as we head north, going through the Lake District. At it's worst it's a 1 in 8 climb, but mostly the gradient isn't that tough, it just goes on, and on, etc...

We started the day as usual with a flat run to Carnforth for the first water stop. The going was good, and everyone made it to the water stop pretty quickly. I got delusions of grandeur and decided to crack on to Shap for the lunch stop with Ben and Blackburn Andy. We made good time to the bottom of Shap taking turns to pull eachother along from the front. We stopped for gels and bananas, and then cracked on to Shap Village. Ben just took off as he floated up the hill. I tried to stay with him, but this was a pointless exercise, although I did manage to close the gap at one point, he just kicked again and was gone. I seemed to have lost Blackburn Andy by now, and as this was local territory for him, and he is very fit for 55 years of age I was thinking I was doing a good job. However, I'd pretty much blown my legs by the time I got on the final climb to the top of Shap, and consequently was in the granny cog just grinding out the last few miles. Andy caught me, but stayed with me for the ride into Shap village for the lunch stop. En route a car passed us and took photos of us as we were descending to the village. I found out that these were some of Andy's friends just here to give support, not just random members of the public!

We were at lunch pretty much one hour before pressing on for Carlisle, around 30 miles down the road. Still thinking I could hang with the fast boys, I lead us out, now with Hunter joining the group. I first realised my error when Hunter got to the front to pull us along, and started motoring away from me. From here on in I was racking the miles up outside my comfort zone. I managed to stay with the guys, but I was having to work very hard to keep the pace-we were averaging over 20mph down the Roman road into Carlisle. The road rolls as well, dipping, then climbing, and then dipping again, so it really saps the energy from your legs.

We finally got into Carlisle town centre at 2.30pm-very early indeed,and decided to head for a coffee. We hung around the coffee shop for around an hour or so before heading to the hotel, getting in before 4pm.

I felt pretty pleased to have got over Shap and hang with the fast boys, but I think it might have taken its toll a bit, so I'll hang back tomorrow for the 100 miles to Kilmarnock. It looks like more dual carriageways and not particularly interesting scenery, but we get into Scotland inside off 11 miles in the morning.