Big birthday coming up in September, could I complete my 4th crossing before then. Maybe not leave it to the last 2 weeks before, like last time. Brother Steve keen to do a first crossing, how about doing it together?
We’ve run KIMMs, OMMs and LAMMs together (Steve has a ‘certifiable' 30 KIMM/OMMs under his belt). We had the opportunity to run together in the Scottish Islands Peaks Race in May - which we’d last done together in 2000. Great running, sailing and wildlife spotting - and the unsurprising discovery that 24 years older translated into 24 years (or 50%) slower. So we’d better get some more longer runs out together - cue a very enjoyable Abraham’s Tea Round completed in an overall time of 10:30.
An attempt on the JNC seemed even more appropriate following the sad but very moving celebration of Joss at Wasdale Head. So many ‘old’ faces, several of whom had supported my previous crossings, coming together and sharing happy memories. Not least, on a previous crossing, Leigh Warburton, who had materialised unexpectedly out of the dark in Pooley Bridge at 4am, having driven up from Preston that morning, not just to meet and greet but to support me on Leg 1. Friends and stars all!
So what schedule to set ourselves for our crossing attempt. We are 69 and 67 so have the luxury, if that’s the right word, of 24 hours (although on the 3hrs extra each age group I’d expected it to be 21hrs). Our recently discovered ’add 50% rule’, applied to the 12hr time limit for the 50-55 age group, gave us 18hrs. So we borrowed the 18hr schedule from the JNC website.
We agreed that we’d attempt it unsupported on the fells, with crossing support once again provided kindly, capably (and tolerantly) by my wife, Viv. Colin Dulson, regular running companion, who ran with and supported Joss on his inaugural crossing, said he’d love to join us on Legs 1&2 - welcome on board, Colin.
Saturday 26 July - or not, when the weather forecast suggested that we’d be spending the first 12 hours (and the dark) in heavy rain. An advantage of being a small team was that it was easy to shift it to the Sunday and a very promising forecast. A midnight start given that we wanted to finish in daylight (in time for the customary fish and chips, curry sauce and mushy peas….) and Steve rightly said that we wouldn’t be able to sleep on Saturday night anyway.
Arriving at Pooley Bridge we were welcomed by disco music blaring out from the hotel opposite. Photos taken, the three of us headed off. Park Foot negotiated via an inadvertent visit to one of the dog walking areas, Arthur’s Pike a nice warm up. Loadpot Hill, a different route every time I’ve climbed it; this time, in the dark, probably the worst route. Steady away up to High Raise, under clear skies and a half moon, and onto more frequently run and familiar territory. Arrived at Kirkstone, car park packed with camper vans, ours snuggled into into a corner. Unfortunately, Colin wasn’t feeling very well and didn’t want to slow us down (he wouldn’t have done) so he took a lift through to Dunmail.
Refuelled and rehydrated, Steve and I headed off up Red Screes (ignoring Colin’s challenge to break my 18 minute record to the top). Head torches coming down, chat with 4 very lightly clad lads who’d had an evening in Windermere and decided to head up to Red Screes for a very early morning walk. They’d enjoyed it so much that they were planning to invest in some walking gear, - converts! Up to the top, no new records, and an enjoyable run through to Dunmail. Welcomed at Dunmail by Viv and Colin - and unexpectedly and very kindly, by JNC meet and greeter Julie Gardner and her terrier, Lottie (both fellow Kendal Conservation Volunteers). Stocked up with extra rations and Katadyns to get drinking water on route, with no support at Styhead.
Steady away up Steel Fell, more of a Bob Graham support route heading past Calf Crag than the route I should have taken, too deep in conversation with Steve. Then a low cloud covered and not the quickest route up High Raise (my previous schedules have always seemed tight or unachievable on this leg). Steady progress through to Great End and an unusually good line off it down to Styhead. I’d translated No Support into No Rest on our schedule - more sensibly, we took a 7 minute rest to refuel, rehydrate and sort ourselves out. Steve and I very well matched on running speed (slow or walking) and climbing (one foot in front of the other, even slower. We’d already realised and agreed that we were likely to be over our schedule and that we would just set a pace that we both thought we could sustain.
Leg 4 was both tough and enjoyable. Tough climbs and descents on tired legs, resorting to Steve’s proffered jelly babies and my dry roast peanuts, to keep us fuelled. Plenty of running water to refill our bottles. Stunning views over the fells and down into the valleys to remind us what fell running is all about. A light breeze to cool us down on the tops, some clouds to keep the strong sun off us and, not least, Steve’s excellent company. Great Gable and Kirk Fell behind us, we knew Pillar would be the long haul that it was. Seatallan’s ascent always a sting in the tail, Middlefell and we’re nearly there. Steve leading the descent to Greendale - confusing Viv by heading direct to the bridge rather than via the camper van - in the end a good decision because we finished in 18:30, a nice round number, tired but delighted. Nothing that some Coca Cola, crisps and fish and chips at the Bridge couldn’t start to cure.
A very big thanks to Viv, Colin, Julie and Ian Charters for all their fabulous support and encouragement. And a huge thanks to Steve for sharing his challenge with me, for the fun we had preparing for it and for such a memorable (for all the right reasons) night and day out on the fells. Brilliant!
Chris & Steve Lumb
