After a year of lockdowns and isolation, an idea started forming in my head of a spring day running with friends, all back together in the hills. Being lucky enough to now live close enough to run across fields to the North Western Fells I had managed to stay hill fit through the winter and a solo Abrahams Tea Round in March persuaded me I was ready to execute the plan
At 5:15am on Pooley Bridge I felt like a cork in a champagne bottle and the first leg with Carol and Paul Nelson passed quickly and easily as the clouds cleared and a sunny path across to the later hills opened up ahead.
A short chat with Rainer Burchett at Kirkstone and I was dragged off with my next pairing of Steve Rhodes and Paul Calderbank. The chance to catch up on three months of chat shortened the miles across to Fairfield and down to Dunmail and with another quick changeover, it was off up Steel Fell. By now it was a properly warm day but Dave Harrison and Tom Lynch fed me all the right lines and food and drink and another leg flew by.
By leg 4 I was well up on the 15 hour schedule but the heat was starting to tell. The multiple big climbs up Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar felt tough and my stomach started rebelling. Martyn Price kept my spirits up while Helen kept herself busy taking photos in the fantastic late evening sun. A final slow shuffle over Seatallan and Middle Fell and it was done with 25 mins to spare.
It was a great surprise to find Joss waiting with my small COVID compliant support crew at the bridge and the elbow bump was really appreciated.
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