After many years of marshalling the event to get a guaranteed place and several false starts - or several DNSs to be more accurate - 2024 was the last ditch attempt to complete the Fred Whitton Challenge. Previous attempts had been scuppered by a global pandemic, my own dose of Covid and other illness and injury. If it didn’t happen in 2024 I was going to give up trying, the roller coaster of emotions with preparation, anticipation and failure to start was far too stressful.
But this year the gods were with me and after some warm weather training in Lanzarote and Mallorca and a very early start (0345!!) I finally found myself on the start line with Ian by my side. I felt confident in my physical ability to complete the course but was still concerned about other things that could go wrong such as mechanical failures or a crash. With nice weather but thunderstorms forecast later in the day, it seemed like everyone had the same idea of an early get away and we queued to get to the start finally setting off at 0620 rather than the planned 0600. Looking confident at the start despite the early hour:
The first climb of the day up Kirkstone Pass was very busy and tricky to navigate with many other riders of varying speeds, but soon the 10km (Troutbeck 4.9km, average 5.5%, max 16%) climb was over and we were speeding (well as much as I ever speed on a descent) down the new smooth tarmac into Patterdale and onwards to Glenridding. The views across Ullswater were stunning in the early morning weather. The second climb of the day (Park Brow 2km, average 7.7%, max 11%) and the stretch through Matterdale End was likewise uneventful and even the dreaded A66 stretch into Keswick was not as bad as remembered.
Kirkstone Pass above, stuffing our faces with banana loaf in Keswick below!
We met Lel in Keswick and scoffed some banana loaf before setting off down beautiful Borrowdale. Here our problems began. The road was busy with tourists in cars and slowed our progress and a sprint to pass three cars before the start of the climb left the legs full of lactic even before the start of the climb and a big motorhome practically blocking get route didn’t help either. But eventually the 2.4km (average 9.9%, max 25%) climb was over. It wasn’t pretty and it was slower than previously but it was done. The steep descent was slowed (thankfully!) due to a car that had crashed into the bridge at the bottom and soon we at the chaos of the first feed station at Buttermere and had completed 74km.
After the feed station, there were some undulations before tackling the next climb - Newlands (1.9km, average 11%, max 25%). Again with the traffic (bikes and cars) this was slower than previous attempts but we were soon over the top and into the long descent towards Braithwaite. The lower section was once again slowed by many cars who had chosen to ignore the warning signs of 2,500 cyclists using the roads that day and we had to navigate through gridlock at times. There was good support at Braithwaite and we were cheered on to the Whinlatter climb (3.3km, average 6.4%, max 15%). Unfortunately this climb was also marred by by motorists and we were forced off the road to a stop by a van overtaking a car who had stopped to allow cyclists to pass. We met Lel at the top for more food and ditching the gilets and arm warmers before a delightful descent into Lorton celebrating that we were now over half way.
Loweswater was lovely and the short but sharp climb up Fangs Brow (1km, 7.2%) wasn’t too bad considering. Through Lamplugh and onto the noisy but very supportive Team XIII crew at the Leaps where we found our names chalked on the road despite not being members of our local cycling club - thanks guys! The climb up Cold Fell (3.75km, average 4.8%, max 21%) was also surprisingly ok. However the head wind that hit us as we reached the open section wasn’t ok. The descent to the feed station at Calder Bridge was very bumpy (we usually ascend this) and marshals warned us about the potholes on the hairpin. We had a quick bite to eat at the feed station and a brief catch up with Lel noting that we were over 1.5 hours inside the cut off time.
Heading off after Calder Bridge we were still fighting a lively headwind, but were envigorated by cowbells at Lel’s and having climbed Bowerhouse Bank (1km, average 8.6% and usually the last climb of our long rides) good support in our home village of Eskdale. As the route passes by our front door, we had taken the decision (in true CrushPod style) to do a bike change and we swapped to our trusty Topstone gravel bikes for the last 40km. This proved to be a wise decision with the tricky descents and poor road conditions in the final part of the route.
Setting off from home (still into a stiff headwind), there were “only” three climbs left. Unfortunately these are the toughest three climbs of the route, the only good news being that they were closed to cars for the day. I was never under illusion that I would make it up Hardknott (2.3km, average 13.3%, max 33%) and sure enough the first ramp forced me off the bike. My lower back had been cramping on the climbs and I had hoped that pushing would help ease the pain. Sadly pushing exacerbated the pain rather than easing it and Ian gallantly agreed to push two bikes up the initial 25% hairpins. We were urged on by our good friend Kirsten, her Isle of Man “cape” and homemade sign that is a brilliant work of art. Kirsten even shared some of the pushing duties while I took an ibuprofen - I hope this doesn’t constitute cheating!! I did manage to remount and ride the middle section past the Roman Fort (there is photographic evidence of this - see below) before having to walk again up the 30% hairpins. I have never done the Hardknott descent into Cockley Beck and knowing how steep it is, I had warned Ian that I may need to walk down. However, I remounted, gritted my teeth and made it to the bottom (very cautiously) in one piece surprising myself and even commenting at the bottom that it wasn’t as bad as I had expected.
The head wind didn’t let up along the Duddon valley towards Wrynose Pass. This is a shorter climb (1.75km) but with a steep pitch at the end (average 8%, max 25%). With around 150km done, the legs once again said no (slightly disappointing as I got up it the last time I was there) and there was a short push to the top before the long and lumpy descent (the Strava segment is called “the faster you go the worse it gets”) into Little Langdale. Then there is the steep gravel strewn left hand turn which takes you to the sting in the tail climb of Blea Tarn (1.7km, average 7.2%, max 25%). With hindsight I really think I could have got up this one. If only I had remembered that I had the extra gearing of my gravel bike and if I had remembered how short the real steep bit is, I am sure I could have done it. But at this point my mind was playing tricks on me and as soon as my eyes saw the 25% signpost my legs stopped turning. At the cattle grid the marshals assured us that really was the last climb of the day and there was only a little over 16km to go.
The descent into Great Langdale was sublime, but the final stretch to the finish was still into a headwind and seemed to go on forever. And whilst there were no proper climbs, there were still a few little undulations to remind your legs that it wasn’t over quite yet. At Ambleside you think it is almost finished, then there is Under Loughrigg, then you hit the main road and you think it is almost finished, but there is still 5km to go. The last 5km was a huge mix of emotions, I couldn’t believe that I had (almost) done this, then didn’t want to count my chickens - I could still fall off and not finish, right? Smiling but tired, it all felt like a dream. I eventually did cross the finish line and the sun was still shining. After an emotional reunion with Lel and a much needed pie and peas, it still hadn’t really sunk in that I had done it. The thunderstorm hit on the way home in the car and can’t have been pleasant for those still out on the course.
A few days later and I am not sure that has sunk in even now. I still can’t believe that in seven years I have gone from being so scared on a bike that I didn’t want to do even the easiest of rides to conquering the Fred. Putting the house on the market and a trip to the Isle of Man has somehow prevented me reflecting on this achievement. When I do reflect, I know I couldn’t have achieved this on my own. I had a great team around me; my sister Lel and good friend Kirsten have joined me on training rides and were great support on the day. Lel even got up super early to see us off at the start and then ensured that we had access to supplies on the way round and met us at the end driving lots of miles around Cumbria in the process. Kirsten’s beautiful sign, cowbells and IOM cape were a welcome sight on Hardknott and help with the pushing even more welcome. K’s words on my Strava feed made me cry (in a good way of course). Both Lel and Kirsten believed in me despite my numerous failed attempts to get to the start line. My CrushPod team mates were also there for me especially Tabatha and Maddy who gave me huge moral support, and Sabine who provided the jelly bar fuel for the final stretch and balm for the legs afterwards. And also the CrushPod Cotswold crew who I was with the weekend before my big day and gave me huge encouragement.
But most all I couldn’t have done this without my fabulous hubby Ian. He was there with me by my side all the way, pushed my bike for me when I was in pain, carried all the tools and accompanied me on every single training ride that I did. Although to be honest it wasn’t too difficult to persuade him to do the warm weather training in Lanzarote and Mallorca!!
The statistics:
Chip time: 10.19 (well within cut off time of 12:30 assuming a 0600 start)
Moving time: 9.25 (well within my target of 9.30!!)
Total distance: 181.72km (my longest ever ride)
Total elevation: 3,753m (most elevation ever)
Position:
1739/2037 overall
88/124 women
17/25 women 50-59
Stoppage time (54 mins): We had four stops, the two official feed stations and two more with support crew Lel. And also a brief chat with Kirsten on Hardknott. Of course the bike change at home took a bit of time. There were a couple of other places where we had to stop or slow due to the amount of cars on the road.
Would I do it again?
No absolutely not! I am so glad that I finally achieved this cycling goal, but it was definitely a one off for me. I was blessed to have such good weather, I certainly can’t imagine doing it in the rain (or worse). I’ll be back on my usual marshal post next year.
Would I recommend it to others?
Difficult to say, it is obviously a huge feather in your cycling cap. Most UK cyclists will have heard of the Fred Whitton Challenge, it is one of the toughest sportives in the country. But it’s also local to me, the route literally passes my front door and I have marshalled on the course many times (usually on Hardknott Pass). It was physically tough, but I wasn’t broken at the end. It was also tough mentally especially in the last 40km. I did find it difficult with all the other cyclists around me, especially as it was mostly men and not everyone had good cycling etiquette. Only 6% of finishers this year were women. There were a few alpha male attitudes and more than once, I overtook a guy who obviously didn’t like this so he then overtook me and pulled in front of me but slowed down. I was also felt that fast moving groups of guys passed far to close to me and even cut in front of me causing me to brake. There was a bit of “red mist” and testosterone around at times. But if that and the route itself don’t put you off, then it is an amazing challenge with superb scenery (if the weather gods smile on you) and it a huge sense of achievement when you finish (or a few days later when it finally sinks in what you have done). Note that the event is very oversubscribed with over 5,000 applications for the 2,500 places.
A few days later
Not sure that the magnitude of my achievement has still sunk in. It’s all a bit of an anti climax, but that is probably normal after such a long time of trying to do this? It was just another bike ride, people do it all the time don’t they? But the number (and nature) of comments on my Strava feed and the number of people stopping me on the street to congratulate me are slowly making me realise that perhaps I have achieved something special. Someone estimated that perhaps only 2,000 women have ever achieved this over the 25 years the event has been running, so I am in quite a small group in that respect. I try not to take offence when people say to me incredulously “you did the Fred Whitton, really??”. Perhaps this is a comment that illustrates that the majority of people who do the Fred are young men not middle aged women!!
Kirsten’s beautiful words: There are really no words for just how incredible this is. To witness the dreams, the overcoming, and the achievements of our friends has the ability to inspire us and give us courage to overcome ourselves quite like nothing else. So, so glad I got to see you and Ian out on the roads. A thousand well dones! X