Coledale Horseshoe

Having broken up for the holidays, P and I got out on the fells today again in big boots to walk round the Coledale Horseshoe. New fells for P. Set off from Braithwaite, up Grisedale Pike, over to Hopegill Head, Sand Hill, and down to Coledale Hause, up Crag Hill, over Sail, Outerside, Barrow and back to the car. A few people were out on the fells. The snow was thin and icy in places.

Hopegill Head from Grisedale Pike

Skiddaw and Blencathra

A frozen Derwentwater

Less is more

In the last week of so, I've tried to start to make a change to the way I approach my running. I've spent the last two winters doing reasonably high mileage, as big days out. All long days, at a slow pace. While this has been great and got me fit enough for my BG, it isn't helping me in races. So I've been trying to get into my head that less is more. my runs need to be about quality not quantity. This has coinsided with the approach of Christmas (time seems to disappear in socialising and shopping!), very dark nights, snow and ice, and also P wanting to do a bit of running too.

In 5 days I've run only 22 miles (see there I go again), but two of these were structured interval sessions - mile reps and hill reps, one was a tempo fell run and another was a steady road run. Also riden to work and back on a dry non-icy day! Question is can i keep this up and not revert to thinking long is good!

Legs and arms

This morning was a steady run in the valley on footpaths and bridleways, avoiding what is left of the ice. A shade under 10 miles, which with hindsight was a little too far as a recovery run after yesterdays race. Still a beautiful morning. That exercised the legs. In the afternoon, P and I popped over the the Fisherground to exercise the arms and shoulders. I've been working a problem near the Diamond, that gets V6, and every time I visit it, I get a little bit further. However, its close but no cigar at the moment...

Cumbria AA County XC Championships - Fitz Park, Keswick

For a while now I'd wanted to do another XC race - I used to do a few when we lived in the Peak, and really loved the burn of a the fast tough short race. So when I realised I was available for this race, and could also combine it with Christmas shopping in Keswick, the plan was made. As I've done very few short races in the last months, I wasn't expecting too much. I had also drunk a little too much wine at my works Christmas do the night before. Therefore I woke up feeling slightly fragile.

The race itself was painful - as it should be. I'd woken my legs up enough to run really well for 1 and a half laps but the second one and a half laps were best forgotten. As I'd gone off reasonably fast, I'd settled into 4th overall, and 3rd senior lady, but as the pace started to hurt, Catherine who runs for Keswick started closing on me, and unlike fell races where you really have to make an effort to see where the competition is behind you, I could see at every turn in the course that she was slowly winding me in. I dug deep on the last lap saving something for the final few hundred metres and managed to hold her off.

As this was the county championship race it was a real shame to not see more people running. It wasn't the best of fields. I can understand that with the call of the fells so close, XC doesn't have the pull to get all fell runners to race, but its a great laugh and anything that can make you feel that sick in such a short distance has to be good!

More snow, more forest runs

Have been getting out in the evenings in the snow and ice in the forest. Its been too cold to contemplate running on the high fells on my own in the dark, and I've been happy to do more speed work in the snow low down. Also, having recently picked up yoga again at a local class, the dark and cold has been an added incentive to really improve this aspect of my fitness - I can already see the benefits in both mood and flexibility!

Scafell via Great Moss and Foxes Gully

P and I drove up the valley to the bottom of Hardknott to head up to Scafell. Nothing except 4x4's from the farms had been this far up the valley, and we had to dig out our own parking space near Brotherilkeld! With big boots it was a hard slog up the valley through the snow, and we broke trail most of the way, only seeing footprints in the valley as far as Lingcove Bridge. From then on we truly broke trail. There was a thin crust on the foot deep snow, which made it slow going, but as we climbed up away from a frozen Great Moss, the crust hadn't formed and it was just powder.

Bowfell from Brotherilkeld

Foxes Gully was a real swim, and I let P do the hard work at the front! It was thigh deep in places. The views were stunning as always and we met the only people we saw all day -  a couple doing the same route as us in the opposite direction! After a quick lunch of lentil soup we loped down past Slightside, and across the semi-frozen bogs to Scale Bridge and back to the car. My feet were not my best friends by the end as previous injuries mean that my mountaineering boots really hurt after a few miles! Still a fantastic and stunningly quiet day out.

Looking towards Pillar, Kirkfell, and Grasmoor in the distance

Miterdale Snow

With all the snow around, and no Tankys, we decided to stay put this weekend. Got out today for a run in the snowy forest. Ran up the bridleway to the top of the woods and then had real fun letting loose running down the snow covered tracks that zig-zag there way back down. Not far and not fast but fun!

No Tanky's

Well it was not meant to be - Mother Nature obviously had other ideas. The race was cancelled earlier this week. An obvious decision by the looks of things as I think all three mains roads which the route crosses are still impassable. I was toying with the idea of a trog anyway with a few other 'likemindeds' but the extra faff of the drive to the peak in the first place and getting to Marsden etc. just seems a wee bit stupid, especially as we have our own snow clad hills to get out on. Its a shame as I was ready for it, if not as fit as I hoped to be. Next year....

Not managed much this week, the snow we had became pretty icy, pretty quickly. Awaiting my orocs, but hopefully will get out for a play this weekend!

Day Off!

The snow that settled on sunday night meant work was a no go on Monday. Time to play in the hills! First we revelled in the day off, and had a leisurely breakfast (still up early) got some more DIY done and then headed out for a gentle walk up through Miterdale Forest. We checked out some of the boulders we've spotted hidden around and even found evidence of chalk on one! Once out on open fell it was bitter in the wind. We trotted over to Irton Pike which has to be one of the best view points in the area. The fells were clagged to the east, and snow was down to sea level.

Harter Fell

Wasdale

Staying Local

Busy day in and out of the sunshine, on sunday. The snow had all but melted off the lower slopes in the valley so P and I grabbed a few hours bouldering at the Fisherground - 5 minutes from the house. It was beautiful in the sun out of the wind with snow clad fells surrounding us. No one else was out to play, so we had the boulders to our selves. We saw a Green woodpecker sitting on one of the rocks which is an unusual sight! We then returned home for a brew, and headed out just before dusk for a short run, covering 4 miles with some fartlek. I then followed all this up with a good couple of hours yoga. we also got some DIY done.

The evening was then improved by this:

Plan B

Woke up Saturday morning to a dusting of snow and decided to go with Plan A - bouldering at Carrock fell round under the slopes of Carrock fell, Blencathra. The further north and east we drove the more snow there was, and it was obvious that there was too much to go with Plan A. But we carried on, off the A66 and up the snowy road to Mungrisdale, all in order to prove to ourselves that yes it was actually too snowy! A sweet three point turn on the single track to turn around and we headed to Keswick. We had no map or compass or real walking kit, but had enough to see us up Skiddaw and back via the tourist path - plan b.

The top third from the fence below Low Man was clagged in, but we saw glimmers of blue sky above from the top and a few seconds of clearing to see the fields out below. We didn't hang around, and trotted back down again, being treated with this view on the way down over Derwentwater.

Circle of Light

Went for a run up Whin Rigg after the work in the dark, following the circle of light my torch threw out ahead of me. It was mostly frozen up through the forest and well frozen on open ground to the summit. Turned the torch off at the top for a few minutes and watched the moon poke up above the eastern fells. Magical. Wasn't the fastest ascent or descent but felt good and strong.

washed out

Sunday, P and I drove over to the Duddon to go mountain biking. Parked up at the church in Seathwaite, and headed up Walna Scar to the intake wall. The very bottom of the track was scored by a deep trench presumably caused by the heavy rains of the last few weeks. Made the transition onto the track a wee bit trickier than it use to be! Headed through the quarries, between White Pike and Caw (not too much of a bog fest), and down the rutted trails to Stephenson Ground. From there it was up and along to the top of Kiln Bank Cross. We were overtaken by a bunch of lads on scramblers, which made the going a bit tougher! They cut the ground up making it slippier and muddier.

From Kiln Bank Cross we headed over and down to Birks Wood, then back round and up to Kiln Bank Cross, and down Park Head Road. Now Park Head has always been a tough proposition near the bottom with babies heads from hell, but now its impossible unless you're into trials riding I reckon! Washed out is not the word. A shame as now I'll never ride it clean!! Back to the car and home for tea and cake!

Winter running

Woke up to clear blue skies this morning and as I can't climb with this sore elbow decided to head out onto the local fells for a run. I haven't really seen the hills in daylight for well over a week and haven't been up on them for too long. Parked up on the Green in Wasdale and headed out towards Lingmell Nose and round and down to the tourist path up Scafell Pike. As I neared Lingmell Col I could see that there was a lot more snow up there than I had really thought! Still a good new-ish pair of X-Talons was gonna be no match for the snow. I was asked by a group of blokes on the way up if I was climbing the mountain on my own, when I said yes and mentioned they were my local fells I got a stunned silence!

Pikes Crag in morning sun

I was within 50m of the pike summit when the cloud rolled over and that was the last view until I descended back into the valley 3 hours later. After a quick stop on the pike summit, I headed towards Esk Hause passing many groups of walkers huddled around maps looking confused. I have to admit it is very comforting to be able to head out on the hills in cloud without pondering the map every 50 paces. The bowl beneath Great End past Esk Hause was well banked out with snow and the path was well obscured. I was hoping to drop out the cloud by Styhead but no such luck.

Beneath Esk Hause

The climb up Gable was quiet, and I saw very few people. I paid my respects at the FRCC war memorial on the way past the summit. I heard over 600 attended the service last sunday. Only a handful or people up there today. I then dropped off down to Beck Head, and pushed on up to Kirkfell summit, meeting some friends out for a walk with their dog. It was quite cold standing around chatting in the stiff northeasterly, so we headed off in opposite directions and I plunged off down Kirkfell nose to Wasdale Head. I love this descent! Finally a view too.

I just love night riding!

Despite the sore elbow I couldn't resist the invite for a local night ride Tuesday night with a few guys from work. The moon was a beautiful pale lemon crescent in the sky with a thin haze around it. The riding was wet, muddy and cold and I enjoyed every minute of it. Felt really good on the bike despite the lack of riding and general exercise recently. I'd been for a short run the day before in heavy rain and the legs felt heavy to begin with.

We started early so it was not quite dark when we left the house, and rode up to Irton Fell to meet up with everyone. Once the faffage was over, it was a muddy descent down to Sleathwaite, along by the side of the Ratty to Muncaster Mill, over to Fell Lane, up Fell Lane and down to the golf club, along the track to Muncaster Head farm, along Irton road, up Miterdale and back through the woods, quick cheeky trail through the woods and back home for tea.

Followed this with two days on the road bike to work, and a yoga session in the local village hall. Starting to feel a bit trimmer again!

Dodgy Elbow

Whether it was the extreme ceilidhing, furniture moving as we’re going to decorate, or more climbing that has been the norm recently, but my right elbow is decidedly painful! It doesn’t feel like a tendon problem, although I had serious tennis elbow in this joint a few years back. This does feel more like a strain or trapped nerve. Ice, anti-inflammatories and rest are now prescribed. Got to decide whether a trip to George the Physio is a good idea…

Back to normal?

Well, that’s that excitement over and done with! Now its back to earth with a bump: normal house chores, DIY, oh… and getting out on the fells again! Although the weather is doing its best to discourage us. Two days back to back on the bike to work have blown a few cobwebs out, and awoken memories of last winter with icy roads on Wednesday morning. A few tense moments crossing icy patches from the day before’s rain.

Thornthwaite Crag & Hartsop Dodd

Over in the south eastern Lakes for our Ceilidh, P, his Dad and I snatched a shortish walk up on the hills before festivities began. After a large wonderful brekkie at the Eagle n Child, and one aborted attempt at driving to Kirkstone Pass (warning light on in the car!) we set off from Kirkstone Pass, up onto Thornthwaite Crag, down to Hartsop Dodd and then back around and down to Kirkstone again. A clear day with some cloud building in the south and west, which obviously was putting rain down in places. We managed to miss all but a few drops.

View towards Helvellyn from Thornthwaite Crag

High Street

Ceilidh

Prolonging the wedding a wee bit further we had a big party this weekend in Staveley, at the Hawkshead brewery. Wilf’s did the food and Striding Edge provided the dancing. Fantastic night and only one injury reported from one of the extreme ceilidhing gang – a torn knee ligament. Rather a severe injury for a party! Sunday disappeared in a haze of tea, cake and chat. It’s now all over bar honeymoon number two – in the spring/summer. 

Round Derwentwater Run

Timing is sometimes poor. I’d booked the Thursday off work to do a few organising type things with the aim of at least a medium length run in the afternoon. I just happened to pick a biblical rainfall day! Despite the hint of a promise of a drier afternoon, it never materialised, and it just hooned it down all day! I eventually got to Keswick and after aborting my original plan of running up high, and of parking at Stormwater Bridge (the river was looking decidedly close to its banks) I changed to plan B, parked nearer the centre of the town, out of reach of the river and went for a zig-zaggy trail run around Derwentwater. Covered 12 miles in the end, at a slower pace than I intended. I couldn’t cross the top of the lake near the Lodore as the lake and river had made a break for it, so had to run down to Grange on the road. Many of the paths were deep with running water, and the air was thick with rain. It felt good to get out though and loosen the legs.

Bouldering – Wimberry

A slightly curtailed day out at Wimberry Boulders due to steadily increasing amounts of drizzle. Ali came out to boulder with us, and pushed me to do things which is what I needed, thanks lass!! Followed by tea and cake at Jo’s before the drive home!

Tanky's Recce

Saturday morning, Wardy and I caught the train into Manchester and then back out again to Marsden to run the whole of Tanky’s for a recce. Various things have always got in the way for him so he has still not been initiated into the annual bog fest that is Tanky’s. We had good clear weather only slightly spoilt by a southerly headwind for the entire route. We trotted steadily up Wessenden to the Isle of Skye road. It seemed strange to be heading up there at a steady pace, as I have only ever run that section actually in the race. We bumped into two fellow recce’ers Steve and Paul at the road crossing, but as they were still faffing and only heading to the Snake we left them too it!

It was a pleasant trot up to Black Hill and Soldiers Lump. The streams were so low compared with normal December levels it felt decidedly weird! After Soldiers lump, I showed Wardy the direct line down into Little Crowden Brook, along which we found this little monster! 

Wardy was so close behind me he followed me straight in. I managed to haul myself out but he needed a helping hand to extricate himself!! The brook at the bottom of the descent didn’t provide much of a cleaning service to us either!

After crossing the road at Crowden we checked out the Lawrence Edge line. Not sure we got it spot on, but it has to be faster than the Wild Boar Clough route! Up and over Bleaklow and down to the Snake to check the new wooded section out off road. Have to say I’ve never had a problem regarding running down the road, but I’ll go with the decision. The only issue I see is that the path down through the woods is already incredibly eroded due to all the recces. I’m not sure it’ll take the hammering year on year! Got a great line up Seal Stones – its amazing how little tweaks to known routes can still provide gains, and then up and over Kinder. We politely ignored the notices about shooting across the centre of the moor, and came away unscathed, to drop down to Grindsbrook and into Edale. We timed it so perfectly that a 10 minute wait at the Station was all we had to catch the train back home.

I did feel the pace a bit at times, but realised that 3 runs in 41 days was going to mean that I felt the pace! A bit of work to do before the race itself but as my priorities have been elsewhere, I’m pretty happy about that, and it was a great day, peat bogs n all.

Evening road ride

After a day and a half driving back home, and a day in the office sat at a desk we were both desperate to stretch our legs, last night. We missed the small window of day light immediately after work as we had no food in the house and had to get to a shop or two, but at about 8:30 that night, we strapped the lights on our bikes and had a short but very sweet blast up the valley to Hardknott and back. It was dry, clear and cool and a wonderful leg awakener!!

La Foret de Fontainebleau

Following the wedding we've had a week away in la foret on honeymoon number one. Once again we had near perfect weather – surely it never rains in this magical place?! Even the French fuel shortages and strikes didn’t dampen our sprits. We visited l’Elephant, Bas Cuvier, Cuvier Rampart, Gorges aux Chats, Rocher Canon. P had a great week, ticking a fair number of 6c’s and 7a’s, including Orca, La Coeur, and Duroxmanie. I enjoyed myself but didn’t repeat my 6a feats from our last proper visit. Some fairly serious attempts were made on Le Trou Simon and Greve des Mains, among others. We had one day of light showers, which coincided with a national strike, so we walked down to the local town and had lunch and walked back. We treated ourselves to staying in campsites, using both the Gres-sur-Loing campsite and Les Musardieres. Many croissants and pain au chocolat were consumed and I think I put some weight on! 

A Wedding

Well, I’m now a married woman! This hopefully will explain the lack of blogging in a long while. A small perfectly formed wedding ceremony and reception. The important people were there and that’s what mattered to us the most. I even wore a dress (made by my mum), and P wore a suit, proving we can scrub up one in a while. 

Kirkfell Fell Race

Saturday was the Wasdale Head show, and the BOFRA Kirkfell race. I've won this the last two years its been run out of three, and this year it was a dry day! It was also a sunny day with great conditions.  Having arrived in plenty of time to absorb the atmosphere of the show, watch the collie judging, wonder round the sheep pens and enjoy a cumberland sausage roll, it was time to get warmed up. I try and warm up more nowadays for races, especially short sharp ones like this.

I had a good run, being pushed hard on the ascent by a lass from Wharfdale, but when we got to the scree going up I managed to pull away. This gave me hope as I reckoned that if I could pull away on the rough stuff going up then I'd be faster on the descent too. This proved the case. I was faster again this year can came in 1st Lady and 30th overall in 51:26. I have to beat the 50 minute barrier one day!

A view of the show field from high on Kirkfell

Trundling along

To be honest my mind is not fully on the outdoors and training at the moment. I'm trying to get in some riding, running, climbing and ...and....and. But there's a rather momentous occurance in my life next week, as we are getting married. So I'm just a little frazzled by the whole thing. I'm trundling along doing what I can and getting very excited about a week in Font = Honeymoon number 1!

First (semi-) night ride of the autumn

Tuesday evening, after a horrible realisation that both sets of brakes needed new pads and I had one spare set, we set about transferring the entire front break and wheel off P's bike to mine for the evening! Then I dashed off to meet up with friends for an evening ride out and about around Dent. Some trails and tracks in the light, some tracks and trails in the dark. I'd forgotten who much fun night riding is and even rode more of the rooty descent in the dark than I did in the light! All this was followed by some gorgeous home-made ginger snaps courtesy of Fran and a great big cuppa - perfect!

L'al blue Rourkie

My commuting road bike has been in bits since last December. Well it needed some TLC, actually a lot of TLC. I dismantled it in the run up to Christmas, hoping to rebuild it early in the new year. But we had so much ice and snow in January and February that I was riding my old Specialised mountain bike with ice tyres for much of that time. As the year warmed up I leapt on my decent road bike and forgot about ordering new shiny bits. I then ordered new shiny bits, only to find even more new shiny bits were needed like a new bottom bracket! Once those shiny bits had arrived, I then set about doing my BG, so the bike sat there again. P then built it up as a well done pressie, but it still needed one more shiny bit. That's now on and this morning l'al blue rourkie was back on the road! Yippeeeee!

12 days of nowt

Last Tuesday after our long weekend, woke up with the alarm at 6am, got the bike kit on and set off to work on the bike. Felt pretty sluggish but assumed that it was just the excesses of the weekend catching up with me in the early morning, but by mid-morning it was evident there was a bunch of viral cells working their way around my body. I hooked up with P to ride home so I could follow his wheel, got home and crawled into bed.

A sore-throat and fever plagued me for the next 4 days, but by Friday I was feeling a little better. But a pootle around the Eskdale Show on saturday wiped me out again and the next two days were spent in bed! Then a slow recovery as the virus seemed to have taken all my energy. I started feeling better on Friday evening - again, but just in time for P to come down with it!

Managed a slow valley 7 miles on Saturday afternoon, and another 7 miler on Sunday when the rain stopped over Muncaster Fell. Both runs felt like hard work, as i didn't have the most energy, but its started to come back to me.

So it was 12 days of nowt!

Long weekend in the Peak

P and I had a long weekend in the Peak last weekend. On Friday we took advantage on possibly the last day of decent conditions at the Cornice in Cheedale, before the seepage took over. Some parts were already gopping but there was enough dry lines too. Spent the day working Martial Music a 7a nearly getting all the moves, before the energy and arms gave out. P spent most of the day on Powerplant, an 8a.

Saturday was the Hayfield Sheepdog trials and the Lantern Pike Race. This was my first ever fell race back in 2002! At only 5 miles and only 1050' climbing its not my favourite type of race, too fast and runnable!! The show was a good laugh as always and despite the pain the race was fun too!! Managed to come home 2nd Lady and was a good 4 minutes faster than the last time I did this in 2006.

After a very wet day shopping in Manchester on Sunday, on Monday we got out on the mountain bikes and rode all our old haunts around Hayfield in the rain. The brightening up promised in the weather forecast timed itself perfectly to co-inside with us finishing our ride! What timing. Great weekend catching up with friends. I do love this part of the Peak, and its great to go back but somehow it just doesn't measure up against the lakes!!

Lake District Mountain Trial

Wow, what a great event!
I've wanted to do this for a long time, but am often away around this time, which has made it a perpetually missed fixture. As our holidays are all a bit different this year, I put it in the diary early. Wasn't sure about how well it would go given that I don't know Kentmere that well - a lot depended on the weather on the day. Last time I ran in this area is was covered in snow!! I knew I'd have no trouble if I could use the bridleways as these I do know from riding around the area, but somehow I knew that wouldn't help!!

It was an early start as we'd decided not to go over in the van the day before. I felt really nervous but the nerves calmed down the nearer we got the valley. Parking was in a field right up in the village. I got registered early despite my start time being a fairly late one, and slowly got ready. I managed a reasonable warm-up and hung around watching the earlier runners head off. P was taking advantage of the parking to go bouldering up Garburn Pass, although he got waylaid drinking tea with friends for most of the morning as far as I could work out!!

The weather was perfect for an easy days navigation. There were some showers around but they stayed away from us, and the clouds stayed well above the summits. I started at 9:35 and it was a 2 km run across the valley to pick up the maps. I ran fairly fast across the valley, and managed to spot a long line of runners heading up and away out the valley - that'll be the way to go then, picked up our maps at the bottom of the Sadgill track, a quick glance of the map for the first checkpoint to confirm that I was going where I could see everyone heading and off I went.

Passed a few friends on the first climb and settled into a good pace up and over the ridge between Shipman Knotts and Kentmere Pike to the first checkpoint near Steel Rigg. I'm not a precise navigator especially when its clear good visibility and tend to do a lot of it by feel. The first checkpoint was on a stream and was easily dropped onto - especially with other people around, and a dog presumably with the people at the checkpoint running around madly!

After another quick check of the map, it was up Wren Gill and over the east ridge of Harter Fell to drop down to Small Water outflow. The running here was a little tussocky, and I made a slight error in keeping to the left of where I wanted to go, but I'm not sure it made much difference, soon I crested the ridge and dropped down steeply to the tarn and the second checkpoint. I had initially decided to go via the outflow of Blea Tarn and up onto the High Street ridge that way, but at the last minute I  changed this and headed up Plot Crag to Mardale Ill Bell to take advantage of the easy running over High Street. I had passed several ladies by this point who I assumed were doing the womens' course and not the short, which was encouraging, it can be hard to keep the tempo up when its not clear who you are racing or how you are doing!

the climb up onto Ill Bell was fine a bit scrambly which I like, and soon I was trotting along towards and past High Street trig point. Last time I was here the trig point was only 2 inches above the snow! I ran on towards the Knott, being caught by Jackie Winn from Ellenborough who'd been with me at the last checkpoint and had gone the way I had original planned - so good choice then! I skirted around the summit of the Knott and dropped down on a mixed line to the 3rd check on the outflow from Hayeswater. I couldn't face the straight climb up Grey Crag to gain the height and decided to take the long route via the paths to get to 4. This was partly as I had mis-judged my food and water again and so needed easy terrain to catch up! So I avoided the climb up the side of Hartsop Dodd too and headed to Thresthwaite Mouth, and up onto Stoney Cove Pike that way to 4.

I suffered a little bit after this on the climb back up and over Stoney Cove Pike, down to Thresthwaite Mouth and up over Thorntwaite Crag. I had come this way in the snow back last winter and knew the route, was prepared for it to hurt and so got my head down and got on with it. It was again the long way round and with hindsight the route down and across to 5 may have been quicker but at the time it didn't jump out at me and I plumbed for the ridge route. I tried to keep a really high tempo going along the ridge, past Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke but it was more of a shuffle until I got 10 jelly babies down me at Yoke and things picked up greatly!!

5 turned out to be an easy checkpoint to find on the ground and it was soon a fast slippy descent down to the Garburn Pass track, last checkpoint and the finish. I pushed it all the way, enjoying the run down into the village despite the tarmac! It was a bit nerve wracking as I reaslied that I had done well, but it took a while to realise that I had won the womens!! Really happy. The trophy is the Ted Dance trophy, a very distinguished gentleman of the hills, who was one of the first members of the Rucksack Club that I met, and someone who has inspired me for many years. It means an awful lot to have my name on that trophy!

Gosforth 10k

I had a good rest on Monday, ready for Tuesday evening. My first road race in 2 years (exactly) and only a few road runs under my belt in the last 6 months. So I wasn't really expecting too much, well, I knew I was fitter but fitter at running over the fells at varying pace, not the steady running required on the road. I had a good warm up with a club mate Chris, who is much faster than me, which left me sweaty and feeling tired.

After a delayed start we were off, and as usual I set off far too quickly, but it did feel comfortable - well for 2 miles it did! Then it started to hurt ... badly! But I kept relaxed, focussed and tried to keep my speed up. In the end I managed a pb of 42:14, (my previous best was 44:04 on the same course) and came in as first lady. That was a very pleasant surprise. Really happy with the pb, and I know I can go faster still if I put some effort into speed work, run on the roads more and maybe even run a different flatter course!!

Back o' Skiddaw

We had a few errands to do in Keswick, so packed the bikes in the van and did the back o' Skiddaw ride. We were both pretty beasted for climbing on saturday and hadn't really twigged that the wind was getting very blowy and would be in our faces all the way from Bassenthwaite village round the back of Skiddaw to Loughrigg. Doh!! It was very tough going, making the climb to Skiddaw house particularly hard and unpleasant. At least the trails were dry, and the sky blue and sunny! The descent back to Briar Rigg was also slightly ruined by catching up with the tail-enders from the Puma Lakeland Trails race. Still they have as much right to the trails as we do, and I hate being buzzed by bikers myself.

Chapel Head Scar Again and Again

Took thursday off work to make the most of the glorious weather and P and I headed back to CHS for some more bolt clipping. He worked a 7c, and I worked a 6c - Tufa King Hard. Been on it before a couple of years ago but struggled with a move at about half height. This time made steady progress but a lack of fitness really did for me. We went back on saturday and I had a really good red-point go at it but couldn't make the last move to grab the chain. Need to climb a bit more as its fitness that's the problem. It will go though!! P got his first 7c - what a grin!!

1 mile efforts

With the Gosforth 10k coming up soon and only one road run in a very long time, I headed out to see if I could still run at anything like a decent pace. After a 2.5 mile warmup, I did 4 x 1 mile efforts at 7 min mile pace. Not exactly lightening fast but fast enough for me to equal my pb. How's that for 10k training, next run the race??

Great Gable

As it was such a gorgeous evening I wanted to get out high, so decided to head up Gable after work from Wasdale Head. Ran up the old packhorse route to Styhead, and instead of plodding up the tourist path I checked out the grassy lines coming off the top towards Styhead, by heading up them to the summit and then trying to pick them up again on the way back. Have definitely straightened that route out, just need to return up there fairly soon to get it wired properly. Stunning warm evening, I guess this is the last throws on our summer.

Chapel Head Scar

August Bank Holiday Monday - where to go to get away from the crowds? Where best than the sleepy backwater but awesome limestone crag Chapel Head Scar. It was a fairly short lived session as we were both a bit battered from yesterday's climbing and certainly I was really struggling having done very little harder climbing for a long time. Still it was a great day working a 6c, close but no cigar as they say!

Back to Trad.

After having the in-laws up for a few days and an easy walk around the fields and headland of St Bees, P and I decided to get out trad. climbing again, by not leaving the valley. We wondered up to Bell Stand, and had a good day ticking off routes. I cannot remember the last time I led anything on trad. so wasn’t expecting much at all, but hopped on the VS Plumbline and wondered up it with out any dramas. I have done it a couple of times before but it felt very easy this time. I very pleasantly surprised. P had a go at one of the E5’s which spat him off a couple of times. The rock seemed very slippy. Having had a real love hate relationship with trad. climbing I think I'm back in love with it.

Whin Rigg & Muncaster

Two back to back fell runs on the local fells. The run up Whin Rigg was not enjoyable. I felt tired and my legs just didn’t seem to want to work, so ended up walking some of the ascent. It was a long time since I last did that. Next day’s run over Muncaster was much better and I managed under 30 minutes for the first time to the trig. I wasn’t going for it either as this is a run I tend to use as a steady tempo run. After the previous nights horror show up Whin Rigg it was a well needed boost. 

10 miles on the road!

A very busy weekend in the flat hill-less county of Warwickshire meant that I had to go out on the roads for a run. Set out in the only spare time I had in the weekend for a 10 miler on the roads, canal tow paths and river banks of Warwick. Actually I really enjoyed it despite it being my first proper road run in a long long time…! Maybe Gosforth 10k won’t be as bad as I’m expecting!!

Dent Mtb

Tuesday evening headed out with some mates for a ride around the Dent area. Not been around these parts on a bike before and have been keen for ages to check them out. Fortune smiled on us and after a wet day the sun came out for a lovely dry evening, with really clear air. Took the forerunner gps to keep a record of where we went. Some really good riding hidden away in this little backwater, although the rooty descent was not one of my favs!

Crinkle Crags & Bowfell

Walked from 3 Shire Stones to Cold Pike Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and return. Another warm sunny day, but strangely quiet on the tops. Bowfell summit was mobbed with flying ants making it a very unpleasant place to have lunch, so I grabbed a bite to eat just down from the summit.  Had a look at the Langdale race line from Crinkles back towards Pike O’Blisco, just in case…

Wrynose and Hard Knott to finish

P and I got out for a long road ride in lovely warm weather. Route: Birker Fell, Duddon Valley, Broughton Mills, Woodland, Subberthwaite Common, Grizedale, Hawkshead, Langdale, Little Langdale, Wrynose and Hard Knott. Some new lanes and some well known lanes. Stopped at Grizedale for a well earned burger and chips on the way round. 

Day after Borrowdale Bike Ride

P had originally planned to ride with me for this low key sportive the next day, but sore knees meant he was staying off his bike. As I couldn’t climb because of my foot/toe pain, I decided to still ride it. Last time I rode anything like this was the ManchesTour during the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and that was a bigger event. It took me a while to get myself going, but I registered early to stop myself from chickening out.

People were being set off at 2 minute intervals and there was a drive to get teams of 4, so there were only a few of us riding on our own. The route took us from Rosthwaite, down the valley towards Grange, along the side of Catbells and round to Stair, then Braithwaite, over Whinlatter, through Lorton and up Buttermere to Honister Pass, down to Rosthwaite, back along the same route to Stair, but then a left turn instead of a right and up and over Newlands, along Buttermere again over Honister again and finish in Rosthwaite.

It was a fantastic route and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t attack it but rode round keeping the tempo steady, not letting myself slow down to a dawdle. It was amazing to see some of the Honsiter 92 and Keswick Bikes teams fly past on the hills. I hadn’t ridden any of these passes from these sides so it was a little daunting. The first time up Honister hurt more than the second time, Newlands has a nasty kick near the top which would have been good to know about!, and the descent off Honsiter to Borrowdale can heat your rims up if you take it too cautiously!!

The fastest time registered was just over 2 hours. I wanted to finish in under 3 ½ hours and came in in 3:27, so was happy with that, picking up fastest lady.

Borrowdale Fell Race

I last ran this race two years ago in fair conditions. I had no real race plan this year, I hadn’t managed to recce any of the route, and felt a bit sluggish in the morning. The weather was not as bad as Wasdale but the clag was down and it rained a bit during the race. It was warm though which makes all the difference.

I somehow didn’t get away in the front of the field despite trying to get myself positioned to do so, and so on the first turn after the bridge onto the bridleway came to an abrupt stop and it was a very slow walk for the next few 100 metres, after that my frustration levels rose and I worked fairly hard to get past people before Stonethwaite. I felt good and steady as we headed through the farm and along the flanks of Bessy Boot, but as the steep climb started it felt like the wheels started to come off. As this is the first climb I didn’t get too worried, just kept my head down and worked at a steady rate to the summit. This was in the cloud, and the bit I know least well is from here to Esk Hause, so I made a bit effort to keep in touch with the runners ahead. This worked fine until we wondered a bit too low near Glaramara. Just as I started thinking we’re too low I looked up and saw a long line of runners about 100m above us! This lost us a bit of time as I watched people I knew get past me.

I think at this point the fight went out of me a bit, and I just trogged along to Esk Hause, relieved to get the part of the route I don’t know out the way, luckily after Esk Hause I’m happy with the route all the way, even in thick mist. The climb up to the Pike went fine and I hit the descent scree off to the Corridor Route with great precision!! The scree is always warned about and talked of in almost hushed tones, but I have never found it that bad (and I hate scree!). Coming down it this year did mean two cuts to the hand when I slipped but I count that as minor!

I’d managed to skin my leg on a boulder on the Pike and coming down alongside the Corridor Route I found one of the large hidden holes in the grass and skinned my shin again. This hurt incredibly but I couldn’t work out why, as there was little blood. Later I found I’d managed to rip the scar tissue off from where I punctured my shin back in February so that was why it hurt so much!

I caught up an old club mate on the run across Sty Head who was bemoaning the rockiness of the Lakeland races!! I can sympathise as I felt the same when I first moved up here from the Peak, but a few months and you get used to it. I tried to consol him as I’m now pathetic running across peat bogs! On the climb up Gable I finally found my rhythm, and made up a fair number of paces. I guess this is where all the BG training does count. I kept the pace going off Gable and across to Honister, picking people off as I went. I didn’t follow the prime race line as I’m not overly confident in the mist but the BG route (slightly amended) serves very well and also meant I didn’t go wondering like some.

The climb up Dale Head is horrible and never seems to improve. At least I was quicker than in my BG, but it still hurt. I passed a few but was also passed by a few, as it really had started to hurt more by this point, and the final descent of Dale Head finished my legs off completely. It was frustrating as I didn’t feel that tired but I just had nothing in the legs to descend. I was passed by a lass on the final part of the descent that I had last seen ahead of me before the Pike, which was really frustrating, and I couldn’t stay with her to the finish. Finished 7^th lass overall, like last time but knocked 12 minutes of my previous time. To be honest I was a bit disappointed with the time, as I had hoped to go faster, but a lack of longs runs since my BG probably has something to do with it!

Kentmere Mtb

Sunday morning we drove over to Staveley and after managing to only spend a small amount of money in Wheelbase, and narrowly missing a close encounter with Wilfs before setting off, we went for a mountain bike ride up Kentmere, over to Longsleddale, up and over Gatesgarth to Haweswater and then up and over Nan Bield Pass back to Kentmere and then back to Staveley. What a shock to be riding in the dry and staying dry all day. A great ride which I worked out I last did over 6 years ago on a fully rigid mountain bike – oh how things have changed!! I’m not sure the full sus made the carry more pleasurable as my old bike was easy and light to sling over your shoulder. The cruz is a little heavier and much harder to carry – I did manage to perfect a position where the top tube rested between my camelback and me so the shoulder straps took a lot of the weight.

Because of our faffing at the start of the day we got back after Wilf’s had closed!! 

Lingmell Dash

A week last Saturday was the Lingmell Dash race, another local race that was on my list of 'not done yet's'. Its a fundraiser for the local MRT team, and a few of the team were racing. The weather in the morning was cloudy but dry but as soon as I stepped out the door to go round to Wasdale Head the drizzle arrived. This got heavier as I drove round, and the cloud base was about 200m. Still, not much navigation required to get to the top of Lingmell and back.

It's a great little race this, although I'm not so sure its a 'dash'!

To be honest I just didn't get going. My legs felt heavy and unresponsive and I just couldn't get any speed up. So it was more of a plod up and a trot down. Came in nearly 5 minutes down on Lucy, who won. Should have been able to give her more of a challenge. But I enjoyed it despite the lack of energy. A few did manage to go wondering and the rain kept falling.

time to train

Having had good runs at the last three races, I've been having a look at my running to see what I can do to take it up another gear. I have had two winters of a lot of long slow distance work, with minimal speed work. Consequently my endurance is pretty good but I have no speed! While my goals are still dominated by the longer races, if I'm going to go any quicker I need to be a bit more structured! So its hill reps and speed work. It'll be trial and error. Coupled with this I need to work on my flexibility and core strength as its not what it should be, and my running 'style' is poor!

A week in North Wales

After Wasdale, P and I headed off to North Wales in the van for a week. We made the most of the permanent sunshine (!) on the Great Orme, climbing at Pen Trwyn for 4 days. Nearly managed to get Contusion (6c) but the final move to the belay thwarted me! We had one afternoon downstairs before the tides became too inconvenient.

We also had a couple of days mountain biking when it was wet, one at Coed-y-Brenin and one at Gwydyr. What striked me about both is that they still have long fire road climbs and no single track climbs unlike the 7 Stanes routes. Not sure they give you the views that they say and sell these 'sociable' climbs as!

A great week revisiting old haunts!

Wasdale Fell Race

A week last saturday was the Wasdale fell race - always one to get my nerves going for some reason - whether its because its on local terrain and therefore I put myself under more pressure - who knows! Anyway as forecast the day dawned wet, windy and a thick mist covered the fells down to almost valley level. The start was delayed by over 20 minutes which didn't help the nerves! I had no real game plan - I desperately wanted to finish as last time I started I dnf'd at Pillar (I'd just spent 5 12 hour days moving house!) but I also wanted to race, as its not just about getting round.

I started steadily and at the first checkpoint was with two other lasses with one way out in front. The group I was with all took the long way round to get back down the the valley, with not one following me the direct way, so I managed to break away from the other 2 lasses, and that was the last I saw of them. Managed to 'team' up with a small group from Pots of Ashness to Scoat Fell col, the only real bit of navigation needed, and then pulled away.

Managed to trip over coming off Pillar and scuffed my knees a bit. Also managed to drop a full water bottle on the traverse around Kirkfell, which Ros had just handed to me at Black Sail. From then on I was drinking handfuls from streams only! Luckily the fell streams were all very much replenished after the dry spell!

After Sty Head I was on my own until the descent off the Pike, although I passed a couple of runners on the way, and then suffered badly with no grip on the final descent off Lingmell as my old faithful shoes were now thoroughly worn! Finished in 5:31, which was a mildly disappointing time, but the overall winners time was possibly the slowest ever due to conditions! Much more impressed with my overall placing 2nd Lady, 35th out of 167 starters and 122 finishers.

Fisherman's Friend

While I love climbing at St Bees, both the bouldering and the routes, I've never really got on with leading anything much. The climbing feels too insecure and I have a very bad 'head' when it comes to leading even on bolts. I have been keeping myself in my little bubble for a long time.

Well with the BG out the way and the drive to move on, I've started to tackle the demons in my head. So last night instead of just top roping 6's and 7's at St Bees, I tied onto the sharp end and led a route - Fisherman's Friend - a 5! Found the climbing easy, but not the leading. In the end I led it twice and boy did I feel mentally shattered afterwards!! Still I did it, and it marks the first wee chip off the big mental block.

Skiddaw Fell Race

After riding to work and back on Friday and a hard days climbing on Saturday (reaquainting myself with Chapel Head Scar after the lifting of the bird ban) we popped round to Keswick for the Skiddaw Race. The forecast was soo foul I couldn't think of anything else to do!! My legs felt sluggish on warm up - but that may have had more to do with the torrential rain and strong winds than actually feeling tired. As I've done no hill work or fast running for a while I couldn't really settle on a game plan as I didn't know how I'd feel and also as I'm doing Wasdale this weekend, I had that in the back of my mind.

Took it reasonably fast but steady out of Fitz Park and was second behind Pippa at that point. I got passed by a lass going around Latrigg and couldn't keep up (lack of speed on the hills!), but as we ascended into the clag after Latrigg car park, I realised I was gaining on her on the steeper ascents. I kept digging in, but ran out of steep ascent. The weather was pretty appalling, not cold but very strong winds and horizontal rain and hail. It was some surprise when the leaders came past so soon, and I was wondering how badly I could be doing, until we reached the top fence line and found the marshalls sheltering there. So we weren't going to the top then!

As I turned I made a real effort on the descent (not one of my strong points) and soon caught and passed the lass in 2nd. I put such effort in that the final descent round Latrigg my legs has gone completely, and it was a real effort to  keep the pace going. Finished in 1:19:32 in 2nd place, with badly jelly legs. Happy with that!! Even did a warm down my legs felt so bad. Still finished 11 minutes behind Pippa in first!!

Photo courtesy of StuStod - thanks!

The Bob Graham Club

this arrived the other day...!

Mountain Biking

Also been getting out mountain biking again and learning to love it! Its taken me a few rides to feel like I'm getting my groove back. A weekend away in Dumfries and Galloway really helped - Saturday at Kirroughtree and Sunday at Drumlanrig. Fantastic and even better as it was soooo dry.... I didn't go near McMoab thou!

A great weekend with a big bunch of mates all capped by a swim in the River Nith near Drumlanrig.

Bouldering at St Bees

A relatively easy day on Sunday at St Bees. I was feeling quite tired and spent a fair bit of the day sun bathing not climbing. We spent some time at Fleswick bay but a combination of a high tide and strong onshore winds meant the newly developed boulders at the south end were a no go and a fair amount of the older problems were wt, so we headed around to the northern end beneath Apiary Wall. Met some mates and had a good craic. Just pootled myself on a beautiful day though.

John’s BG - Leg 4

Another great day out on the local fells support John on his BG. He was over an hour up on his 23 schedule coming into Wasdale, and continued to go well for the rest of the round. It was a hot sunny but breezy day, although waiting at Brackenclose there was a lot of cloud building up on the higher fells and we watched a stunning sight of Mickledore filling up with cloud. After a good 15 minute rest in Wasdale, we set off up Yewbarrow. I’d agreed to navigate (as much as you need to on a crystal clear day!), and Ann was general food and drink provider.

We made really good time along the leg, with John picking up a few minutes on each split. He had a moderately bad spell around Gable were he was only on split times, but we arrived in Honister over an hour and a half up on schedule. He eventually came into Keswick in 21 hours and 6 minutes – a fantastic effort on another warm day.

60 miles on the road bike

P and I took Friday off and drove around to Loweswater for a good road ride. The Route took us from Loweswater, Fangs Brow, Mockerkin, Mosser, Embleton, Bassenthwaite, Caldbeck, Mungrisdale, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick, Borrrowdale, Honister Hause, Buttermere, Loweswater. A great ride in slightly cloudy and muggy conditions. We had lunch at the Priest’s Mill café in Caldbeck – highly recommended!! Great salads…

It felt really good to be back on the bike and it’s the longest ride I’ve done for a very long time. Ironic to think its still fewer miles that I ran for the BG! Honister felt pretty steady despite being at the end of the ride. I only had one worry – I was support John on his BG the next day for Leg 4 – hopefully the race and this ride hadn’t taken too much out of me!

Langstrath Fell Race

Last Wednesday was the Langstrath Fell race from Stonethwaite in Borrowdale. P wanted a session at the Bowderstone, so I jogged down the valley from there to the start. After a considerable warm up for me, it was time for the start of the race. I loved this race last year and it was my last for a while after my bike accident, so was a bit nervous about what would happen this year. Although undoubtedly fitter, I’m also still fairly tired and have no speed at all!

It was a muggy cloudy evening. I took it fairly steady on the climb up Lingy End, and soon realised I was in first place. It started to hurt fairly quickly and I have to admit to taking the foot off the gas a bit. It also started to drizzle, wetting the rocks very slowly, and I rued my decision of shoes – La Sportiva Crosslites – great shoes except on wet rock where they are the worst of all fell shoes. Still I kept a reasonable pace up slipping and sliding all over the place. The climb back over from Watendlath really hurt, and on the final descent I looked over my shoulder and saw Jo from Keswick seemingly closing in. I put my foot back on the gas and worked really hard to the finish. Slightly disappointed with my time, which was over a minute slower than last year but held on to first place!

BG - Leg 5 - Honister to Moot Hall

Another tin of lentil soup went down really well, and another butty was shove in my hand as I left. Rich and Ros shared the task of washing and vaselining my feet! More new socks and same shoes. Pete was here to fuss over me a bit. Here I found out I had 4 supporters for the final leg, as Nick and Barbara were joined by Paul and Sam. It was really good to have so many familiar faces around supporting. Again quite humbling as many people have said before.

I had been dreading the climb up Dale Head, and it did take me nearly 8 minutes longer than schedule. I knew I was going slowly and for once couldn’t find anything in my legs. Sam was a star again, making me keep taking small sips of liquid on board. By this time, once the butty had gone down, I really didn’t fancy any food at all, and apart from a few jelly babies, didn’t really take much on at all. The descent off Dale Head was hard, and Sam kept talking to me, coaching me in actual fact, and I really responded to this. The climb up Hindscarth went well as I put my head down and pushed hard. Although I knew I was only about 10 minutes down on schedule I just couldn’t relax and accept that it was in the bag. The descent of Hindscarth and the ascent of Robinson (the last one!) really hurt and at this point I have to admit that the enjoyment started to leave me. I wasn’t hating it at all, but it felt more like hard work than a good day out in the hills, which is what it had been like till that point.

Nick did a great job out front getting the most direct line to Robinson summit, reducing any unnecessary mileage to virtually nil. After posing for a quick summit photo, the business of getting off the fell started. There had been some debate as to which way to go. To be honest at this point I didn’t really care, I just wanted the descent to be over. Nick and Sam worked well ahead of us, picking out the best line for me zig-zagging between the rocky sections. I have to admit I was whimpering at this point, as my body did start to really complain. I had been descending in a strange way for 16 odd hours and everything was starting to feel sore. I just concentrated on reaching Little Town as I knew Pete was there with more new socks and my road shoes.

Finally the steepest part of the descent was over and I tried to trot along the track beneath a huge fragrant patch of gause towards Little Town. This proved very hard to do and trying to do anything except walk slowly required all my concentration. Eventually the final descent to the road appeared and I saw Pete ahead. Sam trotted ahead to meet him and get things sorted. Pete had got road shoes for all off us, so we all changed shoes, and I risked a quick sit down in the van to do mine, with Pete helping me!

The final part of the leg was now on us, and it really just came down to keeping one foot in front of the other for 4 and a bit miles. I had never run this road section before, although I had driven it many times. I was concerned that this might be a problem, but with hindsight it was actually a good thing, and I couldn’t picture all the little ups, I just dealt with them when the came. Sam still had me taking small sips of water at this point, not to make a difference between here and Keswick, but to make sure that I was just as hydrated as I could be following it. It did feel like a long way along the road, and I managed to keep a slow trot up on all but the ups, which reduced me to a walk. Both knees were now very painful, and I had no idea how much ibuprofen I had in my system. I had been taking 1 or 2 pills every 2/3 hours since Helvellyn but figured that that wouldn’t exceed potential limits.

Finally the bridge over the River Derwent arrived and we trotted over it and onto the path to Keswick. I slowed here to make sure I had enough in my legs to run up the high street to Moot Hall! It was only here that I finally knew I had done it, and allowed myself to think that. Pete was standing on the bridge over the River Greta, taking photos and ran in with us to Moot Hall. There was a small gathering of people there, friends who had come along to see me finish and I was vaguely aware that they were clapping. I touched the Moot Hall steps after 23 hours and 20 minutes at 6:25pm and burst into tears!! I had finally started and finished my BG!

BG - Leg 4 - Wasdale to Honister Hause

The fifteen minutes here went very quickly. I seemed to do nothing except shove foods in my mouth – a wonderful egg butty. Ros washed my feet – something no one should have to do, and vaslined them again before I put on new socks and same shoes. Again a change of top and shorts and new bandana, slapped on the factor 30 sun cream, and all too soon it was time to leave with another butty in hand for the first climb with Mike and Tracy and Ben the dog. The climb up Yewbarrow was fine, again I knew it so well that I felt mentally prepared for it to hurt. We were spot on time up here and Tracy and I had a great natter on the descent to Dore Head and climb up Red Pike. In fact it was a generally chatty leg and was great at keeping my mind off my knee. Ben has brilliant despite getting under my feet a few times. He was suffering in the heat being a black dog, but seemed to settle down after the first climb, and soon started seeking out puddles and tarns to cool off in!

After Red Pike, Mike picked a soft line off to Scoat fell, where we left Tracy to reorganise the sacs & food, while Mike and I ticked off Steeple. My memories of this winter in the deep snow coming back to me. No problem with rotten snow today, and we were soon back and trotting along dropping down past Black Crags and down to Wind Gap. The climb up Pillar passed quickly and soon we dropped off the main path to the good grassier trod towards Black Sail. At this point Mike heard on the MRT radio that one of the P&B guys had fallen and injured his face, it was thought potentially a broken cheek bone. Mike was busy keeping up to date with what was happening, but they must have been on the main path above us as we reached Black Sail without seeing them.

Here we caught up with Larry from Macclesfield Harriers who had just sat down and had finally been persuaded to get up and carry on. Chris C was supporting him, and we caught up with the day so far with him as we climbed Kirkfell together, up Joss’s Gully. Larry seemed to be suffering badly in the heat which I just wasn’t noticing. I still felt really quite good! Food and water were going down well, and I still felt really strong on the climbs. At the top of Joss’s gully, Annette was waiting for Larry and team, and passed a segment of orange to me which tasted soo good! We reached the summit just before Larry and headed off down to Beck Head, as he went for a dip in the tarn near the summit. They over took us on the descent down to Beck Head, but again we pulled ahead on the climb up gable. It was somewhat distracting to have this to-ing and fro-ing going on, and made me worry about my descending speed, but I was moving so much better up hill I figured that it was something to worry about too much. Also Larry had started 30 minutes before me which did help my mind.

After Gable, we worked as one team on the descent to Windy Gap. After Green Gable Larry and team seemed to find a second wind and off they went, as I was still struggling to maintain a good pace across the undulating terrain after Green Gable. However, Brandreth and Grey Knotts arrived and went quickly, as the ground was very dry and easy going. Mike sought out a great soft line off Grey Knotts to Honister and it was a great feeling to run into Honister. Rich ran up to find out what I was craving most and Pete wondered up taking some photos on the run in. I even got a round of applause from people in the car park, including the Macc. Harriers support!

BG - Leg 3 - Dunmail to Wasdale

Ros set me off with a cheese sandwich and all refuelled and re-clothed (I decided to put on ¾ length tights and a long sleeved merino), we began the tough climb up Steel Fell. I’d taken more painkillers and put a new tubigrip on my knee. I decided that I didn’t feel bad enough to quit, and therefore Leg 3 would be make or break. If I could maintain my pace and maybe make back some time with my knee as it was, then all would be well. If my knee prevented me from doing this then I would by badly down by Wasdale and the decision would be made. One thing definitely in my favour was the fact that Leg 3 has a lot of big climbs and steady climbs and fewer descents. That was if I could maintain a pace on the ascents!

Having decided to go for it, and basically to ignore the knee pain, it felt like a weight had lifted from my mind. As we set off on Leg 3 up Steel Fell, we kept the pace steady. The only major navigational error occurred on the climb up Steel Fell and it was my fault, as I headed towards the wrong gully (the right and not the left) and by the time Rich had realised John and I were to the side of him, it was too late!! What a fool, what did I have supporters for if not to navigate and way find for me!! It was not the worst of things to happen probably just took us a minute of so longer, a bit of a grassy scramble got us onto the ridge and soon we were trotting along towards Steel Fell and Calf Crag.

The torches were put away as dawn spread across the fells. It was a good pace across to Calf Crag, it’s a route which I find very hard in thick mist but is so obvious in the clear! I was holding onto time here and not loosing any more. The sunrise was still a long way off, but the lightening sky was a wonderful boost and as the skylarks started singing again, and the dew formed on the grass, it was an amazing time to be out. The valleys were full of cloud, and above us the sky was blushed with a faint blue-purple hue. I kept thinking here that regardless of what happened I was so lucky to be out on these fells in these conditions. It was probably the coolest temperature of the whole round, but it was perfect. As the dew formed, a thin shroud of mist formed on the land around us as we climbed up to Sergeant Man and High Raise. The P&B group ahead left only footprints in the dew before us.

I was eating well again by this point, and managing to drink well too. Little and often as I’m sure many people have said is the motto. John and Rich were doing a great job of keeping me hydrated, and every few minutes offering me a bottle of water or nuun to sip from. They also kept a steady supply of food coming. I’d recovered enough from my aversion to sweet food, to get cake and flapjack down me, and started sipping at Lucozade as well. I normally hate this stuff, but today it was going down well. It was also at this point that I started to pick up again on schedule. I was not having any problems on the climbs and felt strong.

We made the turn at High Raise and the long section down and up to the Langdale Pikes, across Thunacar Knott and on to Harrison Stickle. Here we actually saw someone out who obviously thought they’d have the fells to themselves at that time in the morning. Time was passing really well for me at this point. I felt good and strong on the ascents, although I was conscious that as I neared every summit I started dreading it because it meant I’d have a descent to tackle and these were really painful. I’d almost lost track of the amount of ibuprofen I had taken even by this point. After Pike Of Stickle, Bowfell loomed ominously in the foreground. A huge advantage of knowing this leg so well, was the lack of intimidation that this caused. I was almost looking forward to the ascent, as once on top, it really was home territory! The descent over Martcrag Moor was slow and it still worried me how slow I was being on the descents but I couldn’t do anything about it except try to move as quickly as possible, so I dug in and soon enough the slope of Rossett Pike reared up in front of us. Looking back we’d passed really close to a group of tents without noticing them, but it was still early in the morning and no sign of anyone moving about.

This climb gave way quickly to the top of the Pike, although Rich took us a different way to the one I was used to from the top of the ramp to the summit cairn. Always useful to find better lines! A quick (ish) descent to the top of Rossett Gill and Bowfell was next. We took the climb steady, and it felt really slow. It was refreshing to be able to see the rocks and grass beneath our feet, as the last two times I’d been this way it’s been covered in snow. Rich kept stopping to take photos as the cloud from the valley swirled up and around us, in an eerie way. It was stunningly beautiful. We actually, despite perception, made good time up here and soon I felt like I could still make up time!

Rich also had a great line off Bowfell avoiding the worst of the rocks and rough path, which saved me some pain on the descent to Ore Gap. The climb up Esk Pike did seem to go on for far longer than I remembered it too. I wasn’t sure what this meant and started to get really worried about my pace, but I think at 7 in the morning you’re body and mind can play all sorts of tricks on you. Rich rang ahead to Pete on Broad Stand to let him know we’d just left Bowfell Summit. I realised how important it was to me to see Pete at this point. It gave me a real boost to know he’d be there waiting and I had to stop myself getting too emotional! Rich again zigged and zagged a wee bit on the descent to Esk Hause avoiding the rocks and finding the soft grass. It was great to keep the mind switched off the route finding and just follow.

By now, the day had well and truly dawned and it was obviously going to be a hot one. I was really happy now I was on truly familiar territory and the summits seemed to pass by quickly as we ticked off Great End, Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Scafell Pike. Even at the relatively early time of 8:30am we were not alone up here, and we didn’t stop to take in the view – something I know well anyway! Rich sprinted off in front to get to Pete and get up Broad Stand before I arrived. I had hoped to make up significant number of minutes here but I juts couldn’t descend to Mickledore quick enough. Pete was all set up on B.S. and Rich had got to the top before I arrived at Fat Man’s agony. A quick squirm onto the ledge and step into my harness waist band and I was climbing up the scramble. I had been apprehensive about this bit, hoping I wouldn’t go tharn in my tired state or feel weak armed on the climb, but it was fine. Pete gave me a quick encouraging kiss and I was on and upward to the summit. When I had supported Paul two years previously someone had put a rope all the way from the top of B.S. to the top of the rocks as a guide, so it was quite a shock to have to think at all about the route. Luckily the rocks are polished and worn, so Rich and I picked a route out to the summit, with John following having given Pete the low down on how I was doing.

Now the bit I was dreading – the long descent off Scafell. I took it steady but had to push it mentally to keep a pace up, as it was tempting to walk. I told myself that it hurt just as much whatever speed I took, and those 2 minutes of scree waiting for me would be great fun and pain free. The scree descent was really good fun and a welcome relief from the steep grass and rocks, but all too soon it was over and we descended down through the fields to the west of the main path to Brackenclose and the welcome sight of Ros, the van and Pete.