Blisco Dash
Info: New entries for this event closed on Thursday 25th July 2024 at 15:00.
£12. Please note that this is a British Championship race. Anyone with suitable fell running skills can take part but to qualify for the British Championships you must be a member of the FRA, WFRA, SHR, NIHR or a member of club which is affiliated to England Athletics, Scotland Athletics or British Athletics. In England you can support the sport by joining the FRA for £16 here |
British and English Championship Race
Please read full event info on Ambleside AC website here
Women start 1pm, Men start 2.45pm
AS 8km/5m 650m/2133ft
The Blisco Dash is usually an informal, low-key Wednesday evening summer race with a £1 entry fee and featuring a Selwyn Wright prizegiving where prizes consist of miniscule bottles of cheap French beer and, as a general rule, the slower the runner – the more beer they receive!
This year, however, the race has ‘hit the big time’ with a prime time Saturday slot as the final English counter and the British Short Champs one-off race. Separate mens’ and womens’ races and large fields should make for a great day of racing and spectating.
As an up and down route, the race is pure perfection. Matterhorn-like, Pike of Blisco rears up from the Langdale valley like a challenge, asking: How fast can you climb it and return?
The race route begins on the road which starts flat and fast, then slowly rises towards Blea Tarn. As the steep switchbacks are gained, the route breaks off right on to the rough path up the side of Redacre Gill. This pitched path steepens towards the top of the Gill which is crossed and the summit comes in to view and here the gradient briefly eases. The final part of the climb to gain the ‘crown’ of the mountain requires scrambling and some route choice. An exposed, rocky summit is tagged before the complexities of the descent are tackled.
As with all the best races, the optimum line is in dispute and on a claggy day is frought with navigational peril. Whichever line is taken, the aim is to hit the top of Redacre Gill before taking the treacherous descent down the greasy pitched path at full tilt. Emerging onto the tarmac gives a punishing extended sprint for the line.
Once the race is done, tales can be shared over a pint or two in one of the greatest pubs in Lakeland – the Old Dungeon Ghyll.
Navigational skills required and local knowledge are an advantage.
Please note that the FRA do not allow the use of GPS for navigation in their races. To do so is cheating.
Records
- Male: J. Maitland – 00:36:01 – 1987
- Female: Hannah Horsburgh – 00:44:34 – 2018
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