What a day!
After all the planning, recceing and preparing it finally arrived. Luckily I was fine but the few days before and the day itself were not without concern particularly regarding the support crew. Two supporters were allocated to each leg, totalling eight, but just before the event I lost two to injuries and even my two reserves were either injured or having to work. So I was down to six instead of eight. However, one of the six agreed to run 2 legs and another 1 ½ legs. Then as we drove up to the Lakes there was a phone call with a further problem so another one down. I had just 5 running supporters with a road crew of 4.
Never-the-less, my partner, Jeremy, woke me with a cup of tea at 2.15 and I set off at 4.00am on a cold but clear morning from Pooley Bridge with two supporters. It was so light we didn’t even need head torches. This is a lovely runnable leg and I really enjoyed seeing the sun come up. I was well wrapped up so didn’t suffer with the cold. However, one of the guys wasn’t feeling great so wouldn’t be able to do leg 3 as planned. We arrived at Kirkstone 3 hours 12 minutes later, 24 minutes up on my time schedule. I had decided to run on the women’s 55 schedule, to try and do less than 16 hours although I was allowed 18. There I was fed porridge and coffee and went off 10 minutes later with Janet, eating a sandwich as I went.
It was still chilly on the tops although bright and clear. We walked and chatted up to Red Screes then set off running towards Hart Crag. It started to warm up a little but suddenly I realised that Janet was dropping back. She had suffered a cold for a few days but thought that she was better but now she felt weak and dizzy. She needed to sit down. She decided to ring her partner, Paul, who was at Dunmail Raise ready for the next leg and he set off up Seat Sandal to find us. It was a worrying time but it all worked out in the end. There I was met by Mike Langrish. Despite the problems I was still 25 minutes ahead of schedule. This time it was rice pudding and coffee.
Paul and I set off up Steel Fell. It’s a long drag up to High Raise, a lot of it over boggy ground – a nightmare when the clag is down but it remained clear for us. Then Rossett Pike and up Billy’s Rake to Bowfell (a daunting prospect the first time you do it). Next along to Esk Pike and Great End and then down The Band to Sty Head. What a joy to be met at Sty Head by 7 Totley AC members. Drinks of tea and more rice pudding but I drew the line at being fed it while still eating a peanut butter sandwich!
I set off 10 minutes later with two supporters and I was still 20 minutes up on my schedule. Up Great Gable then down and up Kirk Fell and down Red Gully. Steve left us as planned to make his way down Black Sail Pass. I found out later that he had developed a tight calf after leg 1 but still did those two peaks with us as my chief navigator. Just Colin and I now and I was slowing down. I had taken one painkiller for a tight muscle in the top of my right leg and I was struggling to eat but I did not get grumpy. I knew I would finish but could I break 15 ½ hours? Colin was very encouraging even as I slogged up Seatallan, the cruel penultimate peak. Then as we came down from there I spotted Jeremy’s bright yellow hat (this had been my beacon at several points throughout the day). Just Middle Fell to go and the final run down to Greendale Bridge was great to be met by 5 friends….and, of course, Joss himself along with his wife, Mary. I was very happy with my time of 15 hours 19 minutes. Huge thanks to the whole team – I couldn’t have done it without them.
I have to give special thanks to Jeremy for the time spent planning and worrying about all this, I know that he’d rather have been running down a road somewhere than being led down scree gullies or over boulder fields.
As I say, what a day! And I raised well over £1000 for the charity Reverse Rett.
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