On Saturday I took part in the 2016 Fellsman, a 61 mile ultra marathon across the Yorkshire Dales taking in over 11,000 ft of ascent. It was a brutal but enjoyable event, with some of the toughest terrain I have ever run across.

My full race report will follow in due course but in brief I was extremely pleased to hit a few of my pre-race objectives and finish the race just before 4am Sunday morning, after in 19 hours and 25 minutes out on the course.

I was totally exhausted by the end and as I write this a few days later my legs are slowly coming back to me and I’m piecing together my disjointed memories of the race. As always I had my camera with me and managed to grab a few photos during the race, until Middle Tongue at least when darkness finally fell.

I’ll be back later this week with my usual war and peace digest of what happened. In the meantime hopefully these photos form a nice photo diary of the first 42 miles of the race?

The legendary Fellsman Tally ready and raring to go
The legendary Fellsman Tally ready and raring to go
Sun comes out for the pre-race briefing at Ingleton
Sun during through on the initial climb towards Ingleborough
Wintery scenes on the summit slopes of Ingleborough
Approaching check point 1 on the summit of Ingleborough
Descending towards checkpoint 2, with Whernside (CP3) and Gragareth (CP5) in the distance
Descending from Ingleborough and checkpoint 1
Descending from Ingleborough and checkpoint 1
Approaching Hill Inn (CP2) with Whernside (CP3) beyond
Climbing Whernside and looking towards the challenges that await us later in the day
Looking back to Ingleborough on the climb up Whernside (CP3)
Andy happy to reach the top and clip check point 3 (Whernside)
Steep ascent onto Gragareth (CP5) with Ingleborough in the distance
Pushing on towards Great Coum (CP6) with Gragareth (CP5) and Ingleborough in the distance
The sun is out and clothes are coming off as we leave Dent (CP8)
Blazing afternoon sun on the climb out of Dentdale
Clearing skies on the climb towards Blea Moor and checkpoint 9
Running at last on the climb towards Blea Moor and checkpoint 9
Clearing skies on the climb towards Blea Moor and checkpoint 9
Striking a pose across Blea Moor
Clearing skies on the climb towards Blea Moor and checkpoint 9
Water, water and more water on Blea Moor
Arriving at Blea Moor (CP9)
Flying down towards Storehouse and pasta (CP10)
Bellies full of pasta as we head under the Artengill Viaduct
The Artengill Viaduct
Climbing away from Storehouse towards Great Knoutberry Hill (CP11)
Onward to Redshaw and checkpoint 12
Approaching checkpoint 12 with Dodd Fell (CP14) beyond
A warm welcome and sausages at Redshaw (CP12)
More bogs and water on the climb towards Dodd Fell
Andy and Matt still smiling on Dodd Fell
Storm clouds sweeping into Widdale
Sneaking bit of Spine recognisance on the way to Dodd Fell (CP14)
Climbing again under gathering clouds towards Dodd Fell (CP14)
Climbing again under gathering clouds towards Dodd Fell (CP14)
Sunset approaching on Dodd Fell
Checkpoint 14 appears on Dodd Fell
Checkpoint 14 on Dodd Fell
Racing the sun to Fleet Moss
Sunset approaching
Leaving Fleet Moss (CP15) in the race to Middle Tongue (CP16)
Let the race commence across Fleet Moss
Sunset is on us on Fleet Moss
Sunset over Fleet Moss
One final push as we approach Middle Tongue (CP16)
Stunning sunset over Fleet Moss
Stunning sunset over Fleet Moss
Last light on Middle Tongue
Checkpoint 16 on Middle Tongue, time for head torches
Checkpoint 16 on Middle Tonuge, time for head torches
Departing Middle Tongue and heading into the night
The morning after the night before. My first Fellsman finished in 19:25, very happy with that!