Northern Traverse turns Lakes Traverse

The Northern Traverse - a 300km ultra following the Wainwrights Coast To Coast route from St Bee’s to Robin Hoods Bay, with over 6000km of ascent. With Stu Taylor being no stranger to enduring and thriving on multi-day bike packing events, this was his first step into the world of multi-day ultra-running.

The week building up to the race was good, with the weather forecast looking sunny during the day and cold in the evenings with pretty much zero chance of rain. This made things easier when packing kit and I was able to avoid cramming all the extra layers into my running vest. On Race Day I arrived at the start line, instantly looking around to see what everyone else had or hadn’t packed. I felt confident in my gear, neat and streamline. There wasn’t anything I could remove from my kit other than food supplies. Feeling relaxed as the 30 second countdown was called, I was thinking how you pace yourself for 300km. My plan was to go on how I felt whilst running and to keep my mindset about enjoying the journey.

Setting off from St Bee’s beach, you’re soon running on singletrack, weaving around the beautiful cliff edge path before leaving the Irish Sea and heading in land towards the Lake District. On reaching Ennerdale Water you really notice the terrain change and have a first intro to technical rocky Lakes trails along the water’s edge. Keeping your wits about you is essential, so as not to turn an ankle. Soon we were running along tracks in the majestic valley bottom, with the mountains surrounding us and the sun beaming down. We could have been in the Alps!

Black Sail hut was a welcome water stop and had an honesty café if you needed food. Someone had bought some sweets and left them on the table for all the runners, a nice gesture. I had a quick water stop knowing Black Sail pass was next, the first of the big three climbs on the route. The air was dry, the sun was baking and the sweat eye stinging as I walked briskly up the pass. On the descent we were treated with a super long runnable stretch through to Honister Slate Mine and all the way to the checkpoint at Borrowdale Institute at 47km / 30 miles . By now I was ready for some pizza and cola!

This was also roughly the halfway point of the Lakes Traverse. Lots of runners were milling around and refuelling before the tough kilometres that lay ahead. Two big ascents loomed - first up Grisedale Pike and then from Patterdale up and over Kidsty Pike to the rough trail along the edge of Haweswater, before the checkpoint at Shap.

The setting sun helped ease the climb up Grisedale Pike as the temperature began to drop and the spare layers from the kit list were worn. Another runner had said the challenge is to get to Patterdale before dark. It was going to be close. With squinted eyes I arrived at Patterdale- ok it was dark, but I could just about see!

Chips, chips, and more chips at Patterdale in preparation for one more big up and over the highest of summits - Kidsty Pike. Leaving around 9.30pm it would be another 5/6 hours ahead to reach Shap checkpoint and the next hot food stop on this mobile picnic.

Over those next few hours, I began thinking ‘was this really for me? Was I having fun?

Did I want to carry on walking, jogging, walking for the next three days?’ The answer was no. On this occasion the thought of doing was better than the actual doing in my mind. So, on reaching Shap, the 100km checkpoint and the finish of the Lakes Traverse, I stopped. I tucked into a plate of nachos and chilli. I texted home for a lift out of there. Then I had another serving of chilli.

So why? What went wrong?

I realised my real passion is adventure racing multi day endurance events over 1000’s of kilometre’s, but with my bike rather than on my feet. Being fairly new to ultra-endurance running, I was keen to try all aspects and push the boundaries of both fun and distance to find my sweet spot. On foot, I found it at 100km. Anything more and the fun just isn’t there for me.

I thrive in the suffering on the bike over numerous days but I’m always still having fun- after all its just riding a bike whilst covering the long distances. The ever-changing landscape passes you by quickly, the opposite to this style of running event, where time can move slowly.

I feel guilty and bad that the passion just wasn’t there, that the fight to the finish was missing. It was good to give it a go and scratch that itch, and then go home after a great day out in the Lakes, having covered 100km and with no injuries to deal with. None of these thoughts and feelings reflect on the event itself. The Northern and Lakes Traverses are fanatically well run and organised. I’d highly recommend if your ultra endurance curious. There’s only one way you will find out if it’s for you.

I’m now looking forward to the next event on my agenda, The Highland Trail. A 550-mile bike packing event- now that’s my kind of adventure.