Last week was a bit funny as I ended up having to look after P as his back went. He was laid up in bed for two days and then couldn't move around every well since then. So I've had all the house duties as well as keeping up with the training. Tuesday I went out with the local running club for a speed session, which got me working very hard, especially after the big run on Sunday which had left my legs feeling a little tired and unresponsive to speed. Wednesday disappeared while looking after my patient. Thursday I rode to work and back, and Friday I fitted in a very short run of 2 miles. Hardly worth it!

Saturday I had wanted to get out on Leg 1 of the BG, but fresh snow had fallen on the tops, and the fell top conditions report for Helvellyn suggetsed that fell shoes alone wouldn't be appropriate on the tops. I didn't fancy the heather bash of Great Calva and up Belncathra in big boots so picked a route in the Coledale area, based on the Coledale Horseshoe but extending it into a monster munch shape by a couple of out and backs. Totalled just over 13 miles in big boots. In hindsight it would have been OK up the these tops in fell shoes, but I was glad I had my crampons and axe with me, despite not needing them. The route went from Braithwaite, up Grizedale Pike, Hopegill Head, out to Whiteside and back, over Sand Hill, to Grasmoor, across to Crag Hill, Sail and down over Causey Pike, and back around to Braithwaite. It was stunning on top, with a light but cold wind. Really nice to be out on fells I'm not too aquainted with and some new tops to tick off.

Sunday I spent some time with my patient (!) who was up and about a bit, but nipped out in the afternoon for a run over Harter Fell. It actually turned into more of a fast walk as it was very slippy underfoot, with melting snow and quite a lot of ice. There wasn't enough of each to wear my new microspikes. If I'd been with others and not on my own, then I may have pushed it more, but being on your own off the beaten track always makes me slow a bit more. Headed up from Brotherikeld to Harter Fell, via the Grassguards bridleway, dropped down into the Duddon Valley to forest track at Birks, then back up towards Hard Knott pass, before cutting back up to the summit of Harter Fell and back down the way I came up. 7 miles.