Todays permitted exercise!

[Mike T]

10.27 miles, 1,938 feet, 3 hours 28 minutes: Speedwork in Borrans Park, then Wansfell Pike via Skelghyll Lane, Jenkyn's Crag, and the 3 way junction, then down the race route and Stock Ghyll Lane. Cloudier than yesterday, though there was still some sunshine and blue sky. The clouds were above the tops; it was quite hazy in the distance. No rain. Terrain dry, mainly hard, with good grip. Quite a few walkers about; 5 runners seen.
This was my first speed session for ages. After a warm-up I did the usual drills, then 44 minutes of twenty to thirty second efforts, one every minute, the recovery being what remained of the minute. It is amazing how, after doing drills, my legs were happy to run rather faster than I am used to. In that 44 minutes I covered 2.18 miles.

[Mike T]

8.61 miles, 1,846 feet, 2 hours 46 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including the top, from/to Rothay Bridge, ascending via Fox Ghyll, descending via Lily Tarn, Todd Crag, and Fishgarths Wood. Rather cloudy, some sunshine/blue sky; initially the cloud base was at about 2,000 feet, later it was above the tops. No rain, no significant wind. Terrain damp/dry with good grip. The overnight rain has softened the ground nicely. Lots of walkers on the fell, including a group of 18. 3 runners seen.
My hamstrings are slightly sore from yesterday's effort, but only when I run. Walking, even uphill, is discomfort free.

[Mike T]

10.17 miles, 2,682 feet, 3 hours 21 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, ascending the first time from Skelghyll Lane and the 3 way junction, then going down to the upper part of Nanny Lane, up to the true top and Baystones, back along the ridge to the Pike, and down the race route and Stock Ghyll Lane. Thin high cloud resulting in a pale blue sky and attenuated sunshine; also quite dramatic fluffy clouds obscuring some tops down to 2,000 feet. Hazy in the distance. A moderately strong cold wind from the north east. Terrain dry/damp with good grip. Lots of walkers on the fell; 3 runners seen.
I still have mild DOMS from 2 days ago, which does not surprise me.

[Mike T]

10.25 miles, 2,625 feet, 3 hours 14 minutes: Loughrigg trails from/to Rothay Bridge, going to the top twice - ascending the first time from Clappersgate, and the second time from Grasmere shore; descending the first time down the race route to the road at High Close, then through Deerbolts Woods - and the second time down past the old golf club. A mixture of sunshine, blue sky, and fluffy clouds, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet.Still hazy in the distance. No rain. A moderate breeze from the south. Terrain dry with good grip. Lots of walkers on the fell; 2 runners seen.

[Mike T]

10.12 miles, 2,724 feet, 3 hours 28 minutes: Ambleside - Rydal Park - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - Low Pike - High Pike - south west of Dove Crag then back over it, then down more or less the way I had come. Apart from the trod south west of Dove Crag I stayed on the race side/east of the wall. Sunshine, blue sky, and a mixture of clouds mainly above the high tops. No rain. A moderate breeze from the north west - refreshing at times. Terrain dry/damp with mainly good grip. Not many walkers on the fells; 4 runners seen - 2 in the valley, 2 higher up.
That DOMS has finally gone.

[Mike T]

10.27 miles, 2,435 feet, 3 hours 4 minutes: Wansfell Pike, ascending from High Skelghyll and the 3 way junction, having done the Skelghyll Lane - Holbeck Lane - Low Wood - High Skelghyll loop; descending via the race route and Stock Ghyll Lane. Widespread thin high clouds meaning fairly weak sunshine and patches of pale blue sky; some of the high tops were obscured. A moderate breeze from the south. No rain. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Not many walkers on the fell, though there were lots lower down. 1 runner seen.

[Mike T]

10.25 miles, 2,532 feet, 3 hours 17 minutes: Loughrigg trails from/to Rothay Bridge, ascending via Fishgarths Wood and Todd Crag; descending down past the old golf club. Completely overcast - no sunshine/blue sky at all - the cloud base was about 1,000 feet. Intermittent drizzle, a moderately strong cold wind from the south west. Terrain damp and slippery in places, particularly the rocks. Very few walkers about; only 1 runner seen.

[Mike T]

10.6 miles, 3,047 feet, 3 hours 36 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Miller Bridge - Rydal Park - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - High Sweden Bridge - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. Mainly overcast, with the cloud base above the high tops. Intermittent graupel; even more intermittent sunshine/blue sky. A strong cold wind from the south west. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Very few people about - I only saw a dozen or so walkers all day; no runners seen.
According to the mountain weather forecast the wind chill on top of Red Screes was about minus 8. I was certainly glad to be able to put 2 pairs of gloves on.

[Mike T]

10.11 miles, 3,131 feet, 3 hours 25 minutes: Loughrigg trails from/to Rothay Bridge, ascending via Clappersgate,, Fishgarths Wood, and Todds Crag to the top, then down the race route to the road at High Close, left along the road/track, up Sttolly's route to the top, finally down through Fishgarths Wood. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,000 feet. Very little sunshine/blue sky - the partial eclipse was a non-event. A few minutes of drizzle. That strong cold wind from the south west is still present. Terrain dry/damp/wet with mainly good grip. Lots of walkers on the fell, some in large groups. 1 runner seen.
Stolly's seldom scaled steep scrambly Strava segment was interesting - I would do it again.

[Mike T]

10.37 miles, 3,016 feet, 3 hours 15 minutes: Ambleside - Old Lake Road - Blue Hill Road/Lane - Stock Ghyll Lane - Roundhill Farm - The Struggle - south ridge - Red Screes - south ridge - The Struggle - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. Sunshine, blue sky, high fluffy clouds with even higher streaky clouds. Rather hazy in the distance. No rain. A cold strong wind from the south west. Terrain mainly dry with good grip, apart from drainage areas. I only saw 3 people on the fell, but there were lots of runners and walkers descending The Struggle.
The annual female and male car pulls up The Struggle were taking place whilst I was out - the women got to the top as I started to descend - I could just see them in the distance and could hear the supporting cheers. The men had just got going as I approached the pub.