This journey began in the spring of 2019, when my running consisted of 4 miles along the River Mersey on a Saturday morning and the odd ride to work, still pretending I was the person I used to be…..which I very much wasn’t.
I missed the hills so much, but more than that, I missed being around my friends and the lovely people in Pennine. I took pleasure in scrolling through people’s adventures on Facebook and thinking how lucky they were.
Fast forward to October 2019, I had lost weight over the summer, (as my son had pointed out, “you were a bit bigger than normal, Mum”) moved to Macclesfield and hit the hills, hard. I had started going out with the club again on a Thursday and had met a whole new bunch of reprobates that had joined while I’d been away. I felt like a real newbie but by God did that first run over Lantern Pike and back over the moor bring me back to life. Chatting to Rob and Roly, on a blue skied, crystal clear late summer’s evening, stood at the Shooting Cabin whilst JoBo snapped us all, it was the perfect start back with the club.
I decided that having a goal would keep me going through the winter. Whilst I was still a proper runner, the Joss Naylor wasn’t talked about much, or maybe it just wasn’t on my radar because I was still fairly “young”, but it seemed the perfect thing to aim for and when I realised that it involved raising at least £100 for a charity, the obvious choice was the fund set up in memory of Margaret Jones to raise money for some stroke rehabilitation equipment. It was Margaret who converted me from a walker to a runner with those now precious 8 little words “if I ‘an do it, Von, you can”. Maybe that should be my next tattoo?
Speed work, hill reps, bike rides and longer runs straight from the door obviously brought on an injury. Why wouldn’t it for goodness sake?
Recovery runs, Covid and a slightly less “full on” approach lead me to the start of the summer of 2022. A magnificent summer of longer races (we won’t speak about the trip to Jura in that particular year), many van trips the Lakes with Emma and the dogs, running and also recceing each leg (apart from Leg 4) and some fabulous long runs from home and then the date was set - Saturday 10th September, 5am start.
A motley crew of eight friends for on the hill and campervan support by Dave & Emma was arranged and the date came around quickly. With one eye on the weather in the week before, and the feeling of fighting off a cold, before I knew it I was sat in Emma’s van, with a strange feeling of chilled anxiety, heading up the M6 towards the campsite at Cross Dormant on the Eastern side of Ullswater.
The forecast was for a misty start but the promise of better visibility as the day passed - and it was spot on. Drinks bottles filled, hill food and spare clothing handed to Martin. A delicious plateful of pasta lead to a fairly early night and the hope of some sleep.
The 4am alarm came round quickly and after a breakfast of yogurt, homemade granola, bananas and honey we set off to Pooley Bridge and the 5am start. I felt fit and healthy and ready for the day but had a nagging doubt that the pace wouldn’t be fast enough to keep up with the schedule. Go steady over the runnable leg 1, eat on every climb and drink as much as possible and just enjoy it - that was the plan.
Leg 1 - Pooley Bridge to Kirkstone Pass
After the obligatory photo shoot on the bridge, stood between Ian and Martin, we set off over the car park to pick up the footpath leading towards the road and Park Foot Campsite. It was at this point I realised that I’d left the water bottles on the back seat of the van! It was too late to go back so Ian offered to share his Vimto with me. After an unplanned tour of Park Foot campsite, which does look remarkably different in the darkness, we reached the path up to Barton Fell and on to Arthur’s Seat.
The clag was down and it became obvious that the September sunrise was not going to be visible on this day.
It wasn’t cold but there was the chill in the air that comes from running in early morning mist.
The first leg starts with a real Peak District feeling of peaty moorland running gradually building up to High Street and Thornthwaite Crag where the proper Lakeland running begins.
The headtorch lighting and misty moorland running were taking its toll on the supremely fit but visually challenged Martin and he dropped ever further behind unsure of his footing on his pinned ankle. Unfortunately, Martin had all of my food and spare kit, so the plan to eat on every climb, no matter how short, couldn’t happen. So, two shared bars from Ian and a most of his Vimto, and hands up my sleeves to keep the chill off, and all was good.
The misty conditions before sunrise made the nav a bit tricky for Ian and myself but we made good progress and before we knew it we were on High Street in the light. Still misty, it made the going over Thornthwaite Beacon and round to Pike Howe very atmospheric. With a great line off St Raven’s Edge, thanks to Ian & Martin’s recce and several Hodgson Relays, we came out of the mist and saw the vans and people waiting at the Kirkstone car park. 14 minutes up on the planned 15:40 schedule and feeling really happy, it was heart-warming to see so many lovely people waiting for us. I was feeling really good and after the pre ordered toast and coffee and a change of thermal, I was ready for the climb up Red Screes and back into the mist.
A chap who had successfully completed the JNLC had made the effort to get to the Kirkstone car park and his enthusiasm was so encouraging he made me even happier than I already felt.
Leg 2 - Kirkstone to Dumail Raise
I’d never used poles to run with until the Fellsman, and I found they helped with a metronomic rhythm which helped to keep me moving and I’d decided they would be really useful from Kirkstone onwards - and they were. The friendly chatter of Richard and Roly made that daunting climb from the car park pass quickly however towards the top of Red Screes I had a couple of bouts of cramp. The next mile or so had me force fed electrolyte sachets and water as Richard and Roly displayed a masterclass of navigational skills through the thick mist to reach each of the 4 summits with such precision that we had gained another 5 minutes on the schedule and as we descended off Seat Sandal, we left the mist behind for the last time and headed down to Dunmail in the sunshine and more smiley faces.
Leg 3 - Dunmail to Sty Head
After a ready made pasta pot and another coffee, a change of top (green to match Andy & Ellie) and a smothering of suncream from Ellie whilst doing all of those things, I was ready for the next leg with the promise of cold pizza and flat coke as well as my peanut butter and jam sandwiches - the latter much to Andy’s disgust.
Apart from the climb up Bowfell later on this leg, the drag over to High Raise was the only part of the whole day that I didn’t quite enjoy - the trudge over from Codale Head seemed to go on forever and High Raise, whilst it was another tick, is such an indistinct mound however the chatty company, excellent menu choices and astounding navigation had my spirits back up in no time.
Rossett Pike came and went and then we were plodding up Bowfell. Whilst this was a bit of a tough climb, the top was a welcome sight and the run over to Esk Pike and on to Great End was possibly the best I felt during the day and Ellie’s nav, backed up by Andy, was spot on. I had in the back of my mind that this leg would be a bit of a make or break. I thought I’d have a good idea of whether I would be successful or not by the time I got to Ore Gap, I felt like we were moving fairly well and to be in amongst the big mountains just felt so good. At Great End we were 30 minutes up on the schedule. All discussions leading up to this day seemed to focus on the descent off this top and I can understand why. I’m not the greatest of descenders but I was determined that this small part of such a big day out wasn’t going worry me! Well, it was particularly horrid and I was particularly pathetic and by the last changeover at Sty Head I was 20 minutes ahead, losing ten minutes on the descent!
The first two legs had me running with old or familiar friends and I hadn’t really spent much time in the hills with these two youngsters, but what a dream team they were. Such absolutely gorgeous, selfless friendly human beings - they set me up for a fantastic final leg.
Leg 4 - Sty Head to Greendale Bridge
Geoff, Sue, Emma, Laura and Gwen were a very welcome sight with their smiley faces, each of them fairly sure that this would be an enjoyable time in some fairly quiet hills.
Andy headed off down to Wasdale with Gwen and Ellie stayed with us on the climb up Great Gable. I’d been up this climb on the Borrowdale race a few weeks earlier, but it was in the mist and I really couldn’t see too much but what a B@@@@@d of a climb it is, especially harder when you can actually see it! To be honest, the chatty banter had this over fairly swiftly and the appearance of Jack (Mr Ellie) as we reached the top was a nice surprise. Ellie headed off with Jack, Emma headed back down to Wasdale which left myself, Laura, Geoff and Super Sue. Once again, the astounding navigation ability of Sue, backed up by Geoff had us take the best lines and Sue’s epic descent to get water and climb back up to meet us will never be forgotten. On the little detour up Steeple we bumped into Allen Bunyan from Macc Harriers who was supporting a speedy looking chap on what proved to be a very successful BG. It was good to stop for a very quick chat however the sherpas were soon on my case to keep moving.
I hadn’t recced this leg, I was going with the element of surprise! Although I had spent a fair amount of time in these hills as a teenager doing the Duke of Edinburgh with Dave, so had distant memories of them. They did used to be a lot flatter, I think!
The banter continued and before we knew it the sun was setting after a truly amazing day of perfect weather, from Seat Sandal at least.
Laura managed to combine encouragement and photography skills and the photos of Sue, Geoff and me, heading over towards Seatallan, with the sun starting to set are to her great credit. That view is etched in my memory forever and the photo is on my wall – it makes me smile every time I look at it and will do so forever.
It wasn’t until the descent of Seatallan that my knees started to ache and I was glad that this was the last real descent. On the trot over to Middle Fell I felt so happy knowing that we would be successful, even though my knees had started to hurt, the end was in sight.
Ian and Andy came up to join us for the last mile or so, and the sight of headtorches waiting at the bridge – it’s a feeling and view that I will never tire of remembering. Neither Joss, nor Postman Pat were amongst those headtorch wearers, but I didn’t miss them.
I was feeling quite tired but still relatively strong – until I stopped at the bridge - then I think I fainted standing up! Sweaty cuddle, a very hot shower and a good night’s sleep followed.
I was going to call this article A Princess For a Day, because I was looked after so well, and everyone involved was so enthusiastic and encouraging, from the moment they so readily agreed to be part of it, until I reached Greendale Bridge.
I had a fabulous summer and really enjoyed the build up to my Joss Naylor. I wanted to have a really enjoyable day out in the hills with friends, and that’s exactly how it turned out. It was truly the best day!
So the moral has to be, do the training and with a fair wind, you will be successful. If I can do it, you can!
The Cast and Crew
Executive Director/Logistics – Dave Jones
Best Supporting Actor/Chief Feeder and van driver/company for the reccies – Emma Beveridge (& Lola)
Leg 1 – Martin Mavin & Ian Warhurst
Leg 2 – Paul Roland & Richard Topliss
Leg 3 – Andy Campbell & Ellie Johnson
Leg 4 – Geoff Briggs, Laura Iredale & Sue Johnson (plus Em Bev and for a bit)
Extras – Karen, Janet, Mrs Roly for allowing use of Mr Roly, Helen & Emily and everyone else who donated.
£700 was raised by some amazingly generous people which was split between Margaret’s Charity and MND Assoc.
THE END
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