Wasdale Ironman

Fantastic Dowell is first lady

Mellissa Dowell produced a fantastic performance to win the Wasdale lake District Ironman advertised as the deepest, steepest, highest, hardest marathon in the world . Dowells start time was 3 in the morning for a 2.5 mile swim in the deepest  coldest water in Britains lakes Wasdale screes . Then a cycle of 112 miles through all the toughest passes in the lake averaging out between 25% and 33% on the climbs, this was then concluded by a full marathon off road which included moorland and vast hills with 1835m of climbover Wasdale Head, Irton Pike and Scafell.

Dowell who won the European ironman in her category recently used this event for a warm up for the World event in Hawaii. Dowell was 15th overall and first lady in 15-00-11, Dowell had the second fastest swim of the day  35-53 with only the runner up male faster, then 7-40 for the bike and 6.44 for the Trail Marathon.