A WARRINGTON athlete has spoken of her ordeal becoming ‘really poorly with hypothermia’ while racing up and down Snowdonia peaks.
Cinnamon Brow 47-year-old Louise Blizzard, a 28-time conqueror of the London Marathon, was competing for Cheshire Police in the Snowdonia 7s when severe weather conditions knocked her for six.
Blizzard, a deputy quality manager in forensic investigations, is a veteran campaigner of long-distance road running, representing Warrington Athletics Club, but it was the first time she has tackled this challenging fell-running event and ended up requiring help from Mountain Rescue.
The traditional police team event, going back to 1973, involves seven peaks over approximately 22 miles and is considered a significant achievement for those who complete it.
“I was asked a couple of months ago if I’d step in to replace one of the team,” said Blizzard, who finished first in her age category at the Warrington 10K last month.
“I’d realised it was going to be a tough challenge but the fact it was a team event made it a bit special and different to all my other races, which is basically road racing and aiming for times.
“The ladies set off at 7.30am from Llanberis, the weather was overcast but ok.
“We ran most of the way up (Snowdon) but after three-quarters of the way up the weather turned and conditions became severe very quickly.
“We all had our extra layers on – I had four layers on and a waterproof - but at the summit it was just brutal and the wind so strong it was tough staying upright.
“I was struggling to catch my breath and wasn’t able to concentrate or coordinate my legs to get across the rough terrain.
“I was shivering uncontrollably and wasn’t able to get up when I fell.”
Blizzard is truly grateful for all the support she received after getting into difficulties in the hostile environment on July 1 before being medically withdrawn by Mountain Rescue after the second of the seven peaks, Crib Y Ddysgl.
“I was so lucky to be helped my other members of the Cheshire team and also the Hertfordshire police team,” she said.
“I was suffering so badly by this point and was lucky to be helped by Mountain Rescue and their volunteers for the event.
“They told me after I was really poorly with hypothermia. I was treated for about an hour and half, lots of layers, something called a Blizzard blanket and even more layers as well as lots of sugar and hot drinks.
“I don’t remember a lot of what happened for a part of the race.
“A couple of hours later Mountain Rescue helped me back down the mountain to the top of Pen y Pass and back to race headquarters.”
She plans to show further gratitude for the help she received in the best way she knows.
“I was very lucky to have such wonderful support and caring people around me,” she said.
“I have already said I’ll go back next year, to volunteer as I can’t thank everyone enough for what they did for me that day.”
Blizzard’s Warrington AC clubmate Jack Pilkington came down the mountain range a winner.
He was a member of the Cheshire Police A men’s team that won the event in 5hrs 40mins, five minutes ahead of the next team.
“Jack was an integral part of the team having completed it three times previously and being extremely strong on the climbs and rough terrain,” said Blizzard.
“He has done incredibly well with the team to win this event.”
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