Today's poet

[N-dubya]

No problem Tri

Heres one I wrote donkeys years ago

I have learnt more on the backs of
Banknotes than I ever did at school
Shakespeares birth and death
And what Stephenson used for fuel

I have learnt more on the backs of
Banknotes than I evr could have thought
The wards Florence was Walking
And the battlles Wellington won and fought.

i've entered the Waltz.

[Harry H Howgill]

A pipe is a perfectly acceptable accessory for the discerning fellrunning chap or lady..? Hope you are OK hes. I have complete permission from the commander in chief to attend this event i'm going to enter very soon now i'm off to write some verse

I knew it would be fine for the ladies, just wasn't sure about us chaps.

[Stolly]

Hope you are okay Hes.Having never run in the lake district although familiar with some areas of it. I've read the distance and the ascent and it reads quite hard as far as these things go. Have any of you guys done this before ?. Is it hard. I know that might seem like an odd question but you know sometimes where you do 2 or 3 different races supposedly all about the same in distance and ascent and 1 seems so much easier than the others or in fact harder. I know fitness comes into it but even then sometimes when fully fit this happens. Cheers Matt.

Tri I've done it the past two years. And yes Lakeland races are always harder than they should be in my experience . My first time, there was a bitterly cold 100 mile an hour wind blowing on the tops and that was horrendous. Last year was much more kindly on the weather front. The route is a nice long run out along a track for a couple of miles or so which then turms into a 2,000 feet straight climb up the side of Robinson. A fabulous descent after that on rubbery legs to the top of the Buttermere Fell ridgeline. Then its up Hindscarth and down, up Dalehead and down before cutting homeward bound over High Spy and Catbells. A humdinger of a descent to then finish. My route map. You'll love it.... honest.

[Harry H Howgill]

Hope you are okay Hes.Having never run in the lake district although familiar with some areas of it. I've read the distance and the ascent and it reads quite hard as far as these things go. Have any of you guys done this before ?. Is it hard. I know that might seem like an odd question but you know sometimes where you do 2 or 3 different races supposedly all about the same in distance and ascent and 1 seems so much easier than the others or in fact harder. I know fitness comes into it but even then sometimes when fully fit this happens. Cheers Matt.

I've done it once before, in 2007. It is a hard race, but it is all in the pacing on the day. Most of the climbing is done to Robinson, then there is some good running through Hindscarth to Dale Head. There's a big drop off Dale Head, but there is a grassy way down if you can find it. After then its a bit of a slog up High Spy and across Maiden Moor, which is where you pay if you've gone off too fast. There's a last bit of climb to Catbells, then a magnificent descent to the finish and cakes. You'll love it TM, but the more miles in preparation you get the chance to do, the better.

[Harry H Howgill]

Tri I've done it the past two years. And yes Lakeland races are always harder than they should be in my experience . My first time, there was a bitterly cold 100 mile an hour wind blowing on the tops and that was horrendous. Last year was much more kindly on the weather front. The route is a nice long run out along a track for a couple of miles or so which then turms into a 2,000 feet straight climb up the side of Robinson. A fabulous descent after that on rubbery legs to the top of the Buttermere Fell ridgeline. Then its up Hindscarth and down, up Dalehead and down before cutting homeward bound over High Spy and Catbells. A humdinger of a descent to then finish. My route map. You'll love it.... honest.

What a lovely romantic route map; a heart-shaped (bit wonky but hey ho) route!

[Nathaniel Lee]

Thanks everyone so a tough but lovely day at the office. I'm glad everybody didn't think i was going crazy with this similar races harder than other speak. By the way looked on website how far is my u10 running cause i can't find it. My guess round a mile ?.

[Old Whippet]

I've done it once before, in 2007. It is a hard race, but it is all in the pacing on the day. Most of the climbing is done to Robinson, then there is some good running through Hindscarth to Dale Head. There's a big drop off Dale Head, but there is a grassy way down if you can find it. After then its a bit of a slog up High Spy and across Maiden Moor, which is where you pay if you've gone off too fast. There's a last bit of climb to Catbells, then a magnificent descent to the finish and cakes. You'll love it TM, but the more miles in preparation you get the chance to do, the better.

ah yes....the pacing. Last year, feeling fine, I did the first 2 or 3 miles up the valley at around 6:30-7:00 mins/mile pace (the leaders still disappeared into the distance), got to the top of Robinson with 3/4 of the pack behind me, and for the rest of the race watched about 10,000 runners pass me.
Bringing shame on the House of Whippet and the Vest of GLory.
Oh...and I thought I could do that distance without weighing myself down with a drink.......wrong!
A fine learning experience.

Bounding up Newlands on a sunny spring day
Morgan Donnelly (who had cycled there) showing the way
Clawing up Robinson, eyes stinging with sweat
Onwards to Hindscarth and a pattern is set
Runners with sense come cruising by
Over Dale Head and across High Spy
On reaching Cat Bells, dazed, dehydrated
The plight of this runner is not understated
The last dizzy descent, weak with thirst
The Whippet came in 10,000 and 1st.


anyway, as I was saying, pace yourself and take a drink

[freckle]

The anniversary waltz
is a dance with death
or so you'd think
crawling up Robinson

Good luck Hes and Freckle - its a great great race

Thanks Stolly...judging by my performance at the running club tonight I'll need it ....just looking forward to the experience are you doing it this year?

[freckle]

fell poets should be allowed to wear different running attire for lakeland races (as is is home to many great poets may I suggest:

teflon coated tweed and breeks this will will suffice as full waterproof body cover

tweed cap, dachstein mitts

country brogues resoled with a fellrunning style sole

leather satchel for various notebooks, pens,

this is soooooooooooooooooooo funny, love it !

[freckle]

A lady poetess from the North East
Thought the Anni Waltz could be a bit of a beast
But she dashed around real fine
After a night on the Jennings and wine
It must have been the Snecklifter yeast

Awwwwwwwww, shucks....thanks DT!...............