Roger Smith (M65) – 22 June 2014

 

It was good to have a resting week, leading up to the big day, but I got so rested that, by Saturday, I was also getting nervous, thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Of course, nothing did go wrong. The weather was perfect and I could have asked nothing more from my support team. Its humbling to know what people will do for you.

 

Pooley Bridge

 

We left Pooley Bridge at midnight, Pete Kidd supporting me and Iain Smith-Ward supporting Mike. After half a mile, we found ourselves stumbling around in the wrong field, in the dark, trying to find our way out, but this proved to be the only navigational error of the whole trip. We hit every summit on Leg 1, within a minute or two of the schedule, arriving at Kirkstone after 4.39 hours to be greeted by my daughter Jo and her infectious enthusiasm. Well navigated Pete. And thanks to Mike and Iain for the gentle chat and company through these hours of darkness. The experience of daylight slowly developing in the sky to the north of us, the moon rising to the east, the hills slowly emerging, first as silhouettes and then in detail, will all remain in memory for a long time.

We had got a bit ahead of Mike and Iain after Stoney Cove Pike (where we debated whether or not to wake up the inhabitants of two tents so that they, too, could enjoy the sunrise. We decided against it.) I expected to see Mike reappear later in the day, but, as it turned out, he finished a little later than me. But it was good to meet Tony and Pauline at Kirkstone, waiting for Mike.

Breakfast of cold pasta and Complan and the onward, with Pete and Jo supporting me through Leg 2, over the Fairfield group and down to Dunmail Raise. No problems. A beautiful sunrise and clear horizons. There was a large group of people at this pit stop. Mke’s support team were here plus others, unknown. Dick Towler, very competently took over the management of my food and kit. We took leave of Pete and continued with Jo, Dick and Barbara, leaving at 7.53. Halfway in distance and 40% of the climbing completed. 24 miles and 10,000ft still to go.

Steel Fell went easily, but then I started to feel nauseous. Finding it hard to eat or drink anything. This lasted over 2 hours and was the only time in the trip when real self-doubt set in. My support were excellent, gently encouraging me, keeping the pace steady and drip feeding me. We met Selwyn and Lecky at Stake Pass, waiting for Mike. Cheerful as always, they were a great boost and then Cliff and Izzy on top of Rossett Pike. Cliff gave me a magic tangerine and, suddenly, I felt good again. I climbed Bowfell much faster then I had scheduled and then everything suddenly got easy.

 

Great Gable

 

We reached the next pit stop at Sty Head 45 minutes up on schedule, to be greeted by Dave and Helen Neild plus Mike’s supporters. Dick again managed the changeover and he and Ann organised my needs for the final leg. We left Dick, Jo and Barbara here and continued with my wife Ann, and friends Rosie and Robin in support. Solid, reliable and made for the job. I was drinking well and taking in plenty of energy. This, coupled with the end being in sight (well, 13 miles and 5000ft away), seemed to invigorate me and the last leg was a delight. Apart from a bit of cloud on Great Gable (the only cloud we met all day) the weather and the views were superb, and the company was good.

I got to the top of the final hill, Middle Fell with 17 minutes to go before 18.00hrs and thought I would try to beat the 18.00. Suddenly, there was no pain or tiredness. Just the joy of running downhill to the finish. And I got there with half a minute to spare!

 

Greendale Bridge

 

Heartfelt thanks to all those who supported me, and particularly to Ann who has put up with quite a lot over the last few weeks/even months.

Carol McNeill (W65+) – 13th June 2014

 

When I was 52 (14^th June 1996) I went for the challenge which had to be completed in 14 hours. It all seemed quite feasible having done the Bob Graham a few years before and a tankard to aim for. However it was such a lovely day I suffered from the sun and heat, I was sick going up Gable and lost too much time but finished in less than 15 hours. I threatened to do it again when I had 24hours. Now aged 70, 2014 was the perfect opportunity with Dick Towler whipping us into shape with his training plans. – No time to stop to eat and drink, - reorganise yourself Carol. I had a new left hip in 2008, I had reluctantly given up fell running but thought I should manage the JN with a good steady ‘plodding’ walking pace.

I recruited Jenny Helme to join me and keep me company while the ‘lads’ made off ahead. Jenny was pretty fit and could easily keep up at the front but was always there to keep me going.

We planned a 23 hour schedule, starting at 10pm so we would finish in moral lifting daylight if we were cutting it fine. We both organised our own support and sorted food and drinks for the day.

 

Under a Full Moon

I had Jo Cleary on Leg 1, Natalie Beadle and her mum Rebekah on the sunrise leg - Leg 2, Mike Pearson on Legs 3 & 4 and Mike Walford on Leg 4. Mike P had done the whole round with me 20 years before encouraging me along so I needed him this time too. Clare Evans was my efficient Dunmail and Styhead support. The week before I was becoming really motivated with some good camping/bivvy trips and leg recce’s with Jenny and thought I could do it as long as my hips held out and it wasn’t too hot.

 

Natalie, Carol, Jenny & Rebekah on Leg 2

High points: – an absolutely magnificent full moon, seeing Selwyn Wright on Rossett (and coming with us to Styhead), coming off Great End via our reccied route, the top of Gable which had been a bit of a brain block, the hot sun going behind some cloud, jelly babies dished out by John Helme, meeting Ian Charters & group below Pillar and having time to stop & chat knowing that we would make the 24 hours.

Low points: - getting up Steel Fell with the hot sun coming out, struggling through the long grass going up Raise then wondering how I would get home when I gave up!

 

Carol, Joss & Jenny at Greendale Bridge

Jenny and I were delighted to arrive at the bridge in 20 hours 20 minutes to be greeted by Joss and lots of supporters. Joss reminded me that our friend Chris Brasher had been an initiator of the challenge and would have been proud of me finishing. That was my training done for the GR20 in Corsica (completed 2 weeks later). I celebrated by having my first ever tattoo on my ankle – something to jog my memory in later years!!

Geoff Briggs (M55) – 05 July 2014

 

I had my first attempt at this run back in 2009 when I was a spritely 50 year-old. Unfortunately I wasn’t really that spritely; it was at the start of my ankle problems and the training hadn’t gone well. To cut a long story short, I missed out on the 12 hour limit by about 3 minutes, but Ian Warhurst had found the strength to keep going strongly at the end and finish with about 10 minutes to spare.

Fast forward 4 years and after 2 lots of surgery on my right ankle (including a tibia – talus fusion) and I was back running again, despite what the surgeon had said! On Easter Monday 2013 I had a great day out with Lee Langdon and Howard Whittaker, running around the Dark Peak 4 Counties Tops route in 12 hours. It was this outing that persuaded me I was perhaps ready for another go at the JNLC.

September 21^st 2013 was the chosen date, but things didn’t go too well. A combination of mist, rain, wet rocks and a couple of painful falls slowed me down somewhat, and by the time we reached Great Gable it was clear that the 12 hour limit was out of reach, so we took the direct route down to the valley.

Although I’d had my 55^th birthday in February 2014, I still fancied my chances of getting under 12 hours, so on April 12^th I set off again, knowing that if things didn’t go too well I could always fall back on the 15 hour schedule. As it turned out the weather was much worse than expected, with heavy rain and very strong winds. After struggling to stay upright on Bowfell and Esk Pike we decided it wasn’t safe to continue over Great End and the decision was made to call it a day and come back another time.

July 5^th, and finally the weather was good, I was feeling reasonably confident and I’d discounted the thought of a sub-12 hour crossing. Anything under 15 hours would be fine, but the schedule I worked out looked comfortable at 13 hours 30 minutes.

I awoke at 5.15am to the lovely sound of rain on the tent, but I had every confidence in the forecast; the rain would clear and the worst we’d get during the day might be the odd shower. Sure enough, we were stood on the bridge at 7am in fine weather with just the hint of a breeze.

 

Bruce, Geoff and Ian

 

When we (Stefan Bramwell, Bruce Owen, Dave Ward and me) arrived at the first summit, Arthur’s Pike, Dave pointed out that we were actually ahead of the 12 hour schedule, let alone the 14 hour one. I decided it was time to slow down a bit. The rest of the leg went pretty much to plan and we arrived at Kirkstone 15 minutes early.

Ian Warhurst was waiting with the kettle on, so we had a decent rest. Larry Day arrived to run the next section with us, somewhat surprised at how good the weather was. In fact I changed into a short-sleeved t-shirt here. Bruce was tempted to carry on with leg 2, but with his BG only 7 days away he was persuaded to leave it at that.

So, as the sun shone pleasantly, I headed off up Red Screes with Stefan, Dave & Larry. At the top of the climb from Scandale Pass, as we contoured below Dove Crag, we saw a runner approaching us. Dave thought it looked like Ian Charters, and sure enough, with camera in hand, it was indeed Ian.

Ian joined us for a few minutes, but then went his own way as we headed towards Hart Crag.

The next section, between Hart Crag and Fairfield, is always an emotional time. We paused for a minute at the cairn and plaque in memory of our great friend, Daz Holloway, who tragically died at this spot during the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay in 2012.

 

Stefan, Dave, me and Larry

 

Fairfield – so many cairns to choose from, and I’m still not certain which is the highest point. It’s usually dark and misty when I arrive here on a BG support, so it makes a great change to have superb views all around. It’s not long before we’re down at Dunmail with Ian’s van waiting and a new set of pacers. We’re 19 minutes ahead of the schedule, so plenty of time to enjoy a coffee and some food. Larry and Stefan leave us here to do some shopping and head home for the TDF respectively. Not surprisingly Dave has decided to stay with us all the way to the end. He needs a long day out in preparation for August’s UTMB, and he was never going to have a 13 hour training run by himself!

We’re now joined by Lee Langdon, Howard Whittaker, Hanno Torn and Sienna – Hanno’s collie. If ever you need some jovial company on a long day out, you could do worse than invite Lee and Hanno along; they’d make a great double-act! Almost at the top of Steel Fell and Howard looks over his shoulder “You’re making great time up here, Geoff”. I point out that he’s at the front setting the pace; all I’m doing is sticking with him. He’s right, though, as we take another 2 minutes off the schedule. It’s good to make the most of the run over towards Calf Crag, which we don’t need to visit today, as this second half of the route is going to involve plenty of walking. The climb up Birks Gill to High Raise is probably my least favourite of the route. It seems to be a long, slow, grassy plod. But there’s no comparison to the April attempt; this was where we all donned every item of clothing we had to try and keep out the weather. However, High Raise is a hill of contrasts as we now have the delightful run down to the top of Stakes Pass. We pass another group on our way down here – they are doing a recce for a future JNLC attempt. Good luck guys!

Water bottles were topped up from the spring below Bow Fell and then we had the long, steady climb to the rocky summit. Dry rocks and a gentle breeze this time – perfection! I didn’t pick the best grassy line down to Ore Gap, but I wasn’t too concerned; we were soon up and over Esk Pike and on our way to Great End. The descent down the Band to Styhead always seems to be a bit of an adventure (I almost went head first down a gulley on my September attempt), but today’s went ok.

 

Descent from Great End

Ian Warhurst and Neil Walker had come up to Styhead for the final leg, and they’d brought food and water with them. 5 years ago when Darren Dunn came to meet us here he’d had to shelter under the stretcher box, the weather was that bad. Not today, though, it was perfect. We were 26 minutes up so I sat down and enjoyed the situation – excellent weather and a great bunch of mates together in the hills. What could be better?

The original 12 hour schedule that me and Ian had been sent all those years ago suggested 20 minutes for the climb of Great Gable from Styhead. I think not! 34 minutes was comfortable enough for us today. As usual, the summit was pretty busy, so Ian quickly led us off down the scree slope descent. Looking behind me, half way down, it soon became apparent that most comfortable member of our group was Sienna with her 4 paws. Kirk Fell was next, with another rough descent. This gully seems to have been really badly eroded recently, presumably as a result of the recent snowy winters. On reaching Black Sail Pass, Dave went to retrieve the stash he’d left for the recently rerouted Ennerdale race and I spent a couple of minutes removing all the scree from my shoes. Should’ve worn the debris socks after all! On a 12 hour schedule you really need to run quite a large amount of the Pillar ascent, but I was happy taking it steady. There are a few useful ‘racing lines’ to remember around here and with all the experience around me there was no problem picking them up.

Once we’d left Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple come and go pretty quickly, especially as I could leave my rucksack behind for the out and back to Steeple.

We have a pleasant run round towards Haycock now, and for the first time today the steep descent feels a little uncomfortable on the tired legs. Not surprising really, but we’re half an hour up on schedule. Who cares? Lee points out that if we crack on a bit there’d be a good chance of getting under 13 hours. I decide I’d rather just enjoy myself.

 

Steeple summit

The run across Pots of Ashness is delightful; lovely soft grass in contrast to the jarring rocks we’ve had for the past few hours. All of a sudden I remember that High Raise is actually my second least favourite climb on the route. Seatallan always used to fill me with dread. The thought of this ‘in-your-face’ ascent when you’re battling against a tight schedule and the legs are tired was always a bit of a worry. But today I could take an hour over it if I wanted, and still have time to spare! Eventually the trig. point comes into view and the ground levels off. There’s only one more climb to go, the friendly Middle Fell.

We reach the summit and I change into my Pennine vest. This means a lot to me. Daz wore his Pennine vest for the last bit of his BG, and one of his sayings was “Proud to be Pennine”. And so we should be, it’s a great club with fantastic camaraderie.

Hanno takes a few photos and then it’s time to head off to Greendale to see Joss.

As we approach the bridge we can see Joss with Dave and Margaret Jones waiting for us. It’s probably fair to say that I had a pretty broad smile on my face as I ran up to the bridge. It had been a long time coming, but I’d finally made it.

 

Middle Fell - the final top

 

 

Arriving at Greendale (Hanno, me, Neil, Lee, Dave, Howard & Ian)

We had a long chat with Joss, but eventually we had to leave as we were being eaten alive by the midges!

It’s just a short walk to the parking area, and I’d had the forethought to leave plenty of beer in Ian’s van. This went down very well. Then it was back to Keswick for fish and chips at the Old Keswickian and finally the campsite in Pooley Bridge for a well-earned sleep.

 

 

Lee, Joss, Sienna, me, Dave J., Margaret, Howard, Dave W.

A small postscript to the story comes in October, when there is the presentation dinner for new members of the ‘club’. Existing members are also invited, so quite a large crowd of over-50s gathers at the Bridge Hotel in Santon Bridge for an evening of good food, fine ale and pleasant chat. New Pennine member, Steve Watts, is the only the person there younger than me. Not surprisingly he is asked to produce his birth certificate to prove he is actually over 50!

Joss presents us all with an inscribed pewter tankard. As I shake his hand, Joss congratulates me on eventually achieving my goal and asks me if I intend to return for another, even more leisurely, crossing when I’m 60. All being well, I’ll certainly give it a go.

Geoff Briggs

Peter McNulty (M55) – 31 May 2014

 

May 2011 a cold sad figure is helped up off the floor at Greendale after failing on the
Challenge. A runners rather than mountaineers decision to delay putting on warmer clothing
meant the onset of hypothermia and with only one hour left when standing on Haycock the
attempt ground to a halt.
 
Fast forward to May 2014 and after starting the year from scratch following an ankle injury,
I am again standing on Pooley Bridge with my supporters Mick Bull and Peter Potter waiting
for Sheila to wave me off on another attempt.

The weather conditions were perfect and Mick had been asked not to let me go off too fast
and he managed the pacing perfectly with him and Peter delivering me to Kirkstone a few
minutes up on schedule. When Mick completed the Challenge I arranged for wild horses
below Loadpot Hill and a herd of deer on Kidsty Pike and I expected the same. Unfortunately
all he could provide was a solitary deer on Rampsgill Head.

Sheila was all prepared for me at Kirkstone along with my Leg 2 support Carol + George
Critchley, Brummy John (Mayall) and Mark Walker. After a brief stop my hill support took
me off up Red Screes and kept me fed and hydrated to Dunmail. The leg passed without a
hitch and as we dropped off Seat Sandal I could see the gathering at the side of the road.
There was Monica Shone and Mike Langrish undertaking “meet and greet” duties. Sheila,
with my food, Leg 3 hill team of Gerry Dewhurst , Dave Garner together with Wendy Dodds,
an unexpected but welcome supporter. Also making a first appearance were Michelle Fuller
and Derek Dewhurst before driving to Wasdale and meeting me at Sty Head.

 

I always feel that the challenge starts at Dunmail with the pull up Steel Fell, and long drags
to High Raise and Rossett Pike but this time everything clicked into place, hills were ticked
off on schedule and the team ensured that I kept eating and drinking. Gerry then organised a
game of who can keep a fruit sweet in their mouth the longest that was won by Wendy.
Time seemed to fly by and we were soon dropping to Sty Head where Sheila was again,
this time again accompanied by Derek and Carol Makin. Rachael Stoney who had been hill
support on my previous attempt had also come up with Mike + Bethan Kelly to offer their
encouragement.

 

Gerry and Dave were continuing along the final leg with me and we were joined by Linda
Lord, Michelle Fuller, Steve Foster together with Jem and Dexter the Patterdales. Things
continued to go smoothly and even the never ending grind up Pillar went to schedule.
Gerry arranged another round of keeping a sweet in the mouth while Dexter provided some
entertainment by “grounding” himself on a boulder ascending Scoat Fell.
Seatallan was reached exactly on schedule and I saw no reason to rush to the finish.

My aim had been to have a day in the hills enjoyed by me with a group of friends and that is exactly
what happened. The handshake off Joss at Greendale is the icing on the cake.

 

Sheila, Joss and Peter

Caryl Hartwright (W65) - 21st June 2014

I decided to go for it on Saturday June 21st to maximise daylight and after my final recce decided to go for a 21-hour schedule.  

I hated the taper.  Not enough to do.  Too much time to worry - was I getting a cold?  Had I forgotten anything?  Would it rain? I needed to be well rested but couldn't sleep.  I made lists and fretted.

Saturday 21 June:  after very little sleep, up at 2am, breakfast etc then at Pooley Bridge by 3am with runners Steve D & son James wearing our head torches.  Waved off by the long-suffering Archie, Steve T & Barbara.

We ran steadily, didn't push the pace and chatted up the first few hills to Arthur's Pike.  We were able to turn off our torches less than an hour later and it was clear that the weather would be good.  James kept a log of times and kept telling me that we were getting ahead of schedule.  We stopped for me to put more vaseline on my feet at High Raise and set off again at a nice pace over Kidsty Pike, High Street, Thornthwaite Beacon and several others, continuing to make good time until we got to checkpoint 1 at Kirkstone Pass 49 minutes ahead of schedule.  There were worries that we had gone off too fast and I would pay for it later.  Also there was a bit of a panic as one of my pacers for Leg 2 hadn't arrived and my cup of tea wasn't yet brewed and my bacon sandwich was still in the bottom of a plastic bag somewhere. 

I spent longer than planned at the checkpoint then set off with Jeremy & James hoping that Janet would arrive soon and catch us up.  She did - and after legging it up Red Screes she arrived smiling and joined us for the rest of it, going over Hart Crag, Fairfield, Seat Sandal and so on down to Dunmail Raise and checkpoint 2.  We were now 1hr 16 mins ahead!  But all the team were there, including Lucy and my youngest supporter - the very cute baby Molly.  With too much chatting and faffing, again I was longer than planned at the checkpoint but not worried as we were now so far ahead.

So, up Steel Fell next with Paul, Pat & Andy Mac.  Again we did a nice steady pace, chatted a lot and enjoyed the fine weather and great views.  We found our way over High Raise (yes, there are two of them) over to Rossett Pike and then for the first time straight up Bow Fell on a good line known as Billy's Rake after the great Billy Bland.  There are some big hills on Leg 3 but we continued to make good time, I was reminded to eat and drink a lot and I think we all had a good time.  Pat took over the notebook duty and we continued to get further and further ahead.  Surely this couldn't last?  Surely I would hit a wall (or at least a very big hard rock) and run out of energy after 30-odd miles after a week with not enough sleep?

We got to Checkpoint 3 at Sty Head an unbelievable 2hrs 29mins ahead of schedule and I now realised that this really messed up the plans.  There is virtually no mobile signal in Wasdale but Archie had managed to get word to people that I was about an hour and a half ahead - but not two and a half!  Neither of my Leg 4 pacers were at Sty Head.  Jeremy had arrived to meet Pat & he had some food & water for me.  James had also legged it up and he had clothes, food (and the emergency tent in case of cold wet weather!!) so I was able to eat, drink, change my shoes and socks again, slap on some more vaseline, but after all that there were still no Leg 4 pacers and I was stiffening up.  Arch & Steve T arrived - the dicky ticker team - and Andy Mac said he would start off up Great Gable with me and we hoped that others would catch up.  Steve D did soon after and then Colin too legged it up to join us and Andy was able to return to Lucy & Molly who were due to arrive shortly.

I found Great Gable hard, particularly on the way down when I started to get wobbly legs and we went slightly wrong (my fault!).  However, maybe the food kicked in and I began to feel better again going up Kirk Fell.  I then realised that if I could just keep going steadily I would definitely make my time limit with lots to spare and I might even do it all in daylight.  This encouraged me to keep at it.  Steve D was a big help talking me step by step down the tricky top part of Red Gulley and over the big rock wedged half way down.  Then the long slog up Pillar just came and went and some sort of weird elation came over me - the classic runner’s high I guess -  and I started not only enjoying it even more but I caught myself actually grinning like a maniac as I plodded and ran on out and back to the lovely Steeple, then after another bacon sandwich and some flat Coke, on up to Haycock, a trudge up Seatallan and finally the final absolutely final peak of Middle Fell before dropping down to Greendale Bridge, where a bunch of the support team and the wonderful Joss Naylor were standing on the bridge to meet me.  I was just over the moon, hugging everyone, laughing and crying and just loving every minute of it.  Steve T took lots of photos (including ones of me sitting on the river) and produced some bubbly.  Without a doubt it was the best running experience of my life.

Massive thanks to the team - my pacers and recce helpers were fantastic - Steve D, James, Colin, Pat, Jeremy, Janet, Paul & Andy Mac who not only ran with me but carried all my stuff whilst on the move.   My road support had a tough job with tricky logistics and timing but they were also just wonderful - Steve T, Barbara, not forgetting Lucy & Molly and a special big thank you to Archie who has put up with a lot all year.  What a team! 

A hug from Joss for Caryl

Don Talbot (M60) - 6th September 1991

Don Talbot was the first to take up the challenge although this wasn't his intention. When Joss announced the details Don was a couple of months short of his 60th birthday and didn't fancy his chances of completing it within 12 hours, (In those days there wasn't a category for 55 year olds) so he decided to wait until the extra time would be available, after his birthday.

This delay caused Don some anxiety and he confessed to his wife Marjorie that he was concerned and that, "If I am not careful I could miss out on getting a tankard." This turned out not to be a groundless worry as Don was the only contender in 1991.

In his own words, Don recalls his day thus - 

A sprained ankle had delayed my attempt from 28th August until Friday 6th September and having decided on a 05:00 start from Pooley Bridge, it became neccessary to camp overnight near the start. Fellow club member Phil Taylor came to the rescue by providing his caravan and the loan of his son Jonathon as pacer/navigator. Len Farnsworth was also on hand to provide assistance on the early leg. He dropped Jonathan and I at the start and after the customary photo-call we daeparted on the dot.

A clear, starlit morning augured well for the rest of the day. As we climbed Barton Fell the sun began to break through and I found it neccessary to stop occassionally and view the landscape to the North, East and West; it would have been sacrilege to have ignored such an ideal morning.

Arthur's Pike was reached 13 minutes ahead of schedule and the deer were out to greet us on Loadpot Hill. Inken Blunk, a Rucksack Club lady, met us at Kirkstone with a very welcome brew, which was an unexpected pleasure as she wasn't due to join me until Dunmail. Jonathon cut back to Pooley Bridge at Fairfield as we pushed on. At Dunmail, after another brew, Len moved over Inken and then he took the car round to Wasdale. Where would we be without such stalwart helpers? Len had remarked earlier about the lack of people out on the fells on such a fine day; this pattern continued throughout the rest of day. The afternoon passed pleasantly, with an ever changing scene and, as Gable came nearer I reflected on how, in the early morning it had looked miles away. Peter Cockshott, another Rucksacker, was waiting at Beck Head with fruit, rice pudding, cake and drinks, wonderful sustenance to see me to the end of the route. Peter stayed with me to the end, occasionally plying me with drinks and flapjack.

Atop Haycock it was especially satisfying to sit awhile and reflect on the day; a most invigorating trip in wonderful country with marvelous friends. This was living, with a capital 'L'.

Len was waiting at Greendale Bridge and Joss had come along to welcome us in. It really was such a wonderful day. Thanks to all.

Joss Naylor M50 1990

 

Arriving at the workshop at BNFL one back shop, Peter Todhunter was there poring his map, saying that he had one of the most spectacular runs in the Lake District for me to do. On inspection, I had to agree with his view and said I'd look it over. There was no real time to train - with 2,000 sheep to shear and a job outside farming it's difficult to fit everything in. I agreed on two training runs and a day on which we could do the whole run.

We went after a first shift, with Peter as driver and collected Colin Dulson on the way to Pooley Bridge. It was overcast, but the fells were clear along High Street and I decided to include Kidsty Pike. It gave great views of Haweswater and Riggindale and is well worth the extra five minutes. Running with Colin is always a battle; we have to test each other. It was great!

At Kirkstone, Colin needed sweet tea, so goes to the Inn. He came out with two tine plastic cups and had had to make it himself, at a huge price. Not a happy man! The rest of the run goes well to Dunmail and Peter reckoned about 5 hours in all.

The next free night, I arrange with Ken Ledward to collect me at Dunmail, after I had started at Bowderdale via Lad Crag under Haycock and then reversed the route to Dunmail. It was a long pull out of Sty Head to Great End, but then (it) went well to Dunmail - 5 hours.

On the day of he run from Pooley Bridge, Colin Dulson would do all of the pacing and his brother Peter, from Australia, would start off with us. It was a cold, damp, windy start and I used Colin as a wind shield - size is handy sometimes - but is was still very hard work abd we really had to dig in to keep the pace. Dropping off Thornthwaite Beacon we lost the wind in our faces and felt much happier.

Ken and Chris were camped out on Stoney Cove Pike and Bill O'Conner had driven through the night from the KIMM to take pictures; we had a welcome cup of Bovril. Here we dropped Peter, who had been suffering with the pace and he enjoyed going to Pooley Bridge with Chris, Ken and Bill for a full English breakfast - it made his day!

The run goes much better now and I feel good at Kirkstone. Quick refreshment and away on the nice, easy section to Dunmail for a quick coffee and a bun. Colin struggles up Steel Fell, but soon picks up and away we go. We made good time to Raise and then the heavens opened, with gale force winds; it was a nightmare. Thank heaven for Ken Ledward's hooded cags. They were down to our knees and a bit on the heavy side, but we were dry and warm. We could never have survived without them. A nice climb on to Bowfell, at least in shelter. Leaving Bowfell I mention to Colin that John James and Peter Todhunter are to meet us around Esk Pike, and yes, there they were, behind the cairn. I was quite pleased to see them. The first thing they ask is "Have you any sweets?", so I dish out the sweets. Then we make for Great End in thick mist. We didn't get a good route off. Having turned off too soon amongst big, greasy stones, slabs come out of the mist.. We head for the top of Skew Gill and now we are OK, arriving at the stretcher box. The weather worsens, if possible, rain spraying off the stones and Peter and John decide to carry on with us. After a few hundred feet Peter drops off the pace and goes down to Wasdale Head.

The top of Gable was a nightmare; we were holding on to stones with water cascading off them. I decide to bear left to miss the stones and take the fast run down the scree beds. I was looking forward to tea and buns at Beck Head, but feared that Chris and Ken had got stuck into the ale in the Scafell pub in Borrowdale. In fact we had been too fast and they missed us. John James was feeling the pace and I sent him round the back of Kirkfell, just Colin and I taking the Wasdale Head side of the crag for shelter up on Kirkfell. We were just pleased to get off the top OK.

We catch John James at Black sail and, finding him becoming hypothermic, send him down into Wasdale Head. I give Colin my last sweets and begin to wonder if he will make it, but he climbs well over Pillar. The mist turns day into night as we leave High Crags and it worsens as we come down onto the Scoat. Colin is losing body heat so he dons another cag. Even the sheep didn't run away, they stayed glued to the wall. Colin said very little; he needed all his energy to keep going. It was a fight to reach the top of Haycock, even with the wall breaking the gale. Leaving the top, the wind forced us to go left, down the scree. Soon we were out of the mist, which was nice and we had a clear run to Seatallan. We had to keep to the back side and below the ridge until the very last moment, to make any headway into the wind before climbing to the cairn. We could now see Middle Fell and the wind appeared to moderate as we climbed to its summit, the last top. We shook hands and jogged gently to Greendale Bridge. I lay in the river for 5 minutes - the water felt really warm - and then it felt good putting on clean, dry clothes. Mary had brought plenty of nice food, including a trifle and bottles of Guinness; it was great!

Why were all the visitors to Lakeland not on the fells today? We had seen very few on this trip.

Thanks to everyone who turned out to help. It was a day I shall never forget.