Today's poet

[freckle]

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

wot a cool poem nice one...not doing much for my FEAR tho!...although i tend not to head out fast and am one of life's plodders!

[freckle]

Winter Seascape by John Betjeman

The sea runs back against itself
With scarcely time for breaking wave
To cannonade a slatey shelf
And thunder under in a cave.

Before the next can fully burst
The headwind, blowing harder still,
Smooths it to what it was at first -
A slowly rolling water-hill.

Against the breeze the breakers haste,
Against the tide their ridges run
And all the sea's a dappled waste
Criss-crossing underneath the sun.

Far down the beach the ripples drag
Blown backward, rearing from the shore,
And wailing gull and shrieking shag
Alone can pierce the ocean roar.

Unheard, a mongrel hound gives tongue,
Unheard are shouts of little boys;
What chance has any inland lung
Against this multi-water noise?

Here where the cliffs alone prevail
I stand exultant, neutral, free,
And from the cushion of the gale
Behold a huge consoling sea.

[Nathaniel Lee]

HHH i have been looking at previous Anni waltz results and i noticed the name Alistair Dunn come up from the same athletic club as you i think. Is this your good self or some other Alistair ?. If it is you 2nd wow.

[stevefoster]

The Anni Waltz, my first Lakeland race,
Beautiful scenery, a joy to behold
Work permitting, a teen with altitude next

[Brock]

Tonight's Old Peculiar
takes me back many years.
Wasdale Head Hotel
1982 to be precise.
Not exactly Proustian
a pitched battle wth sheep shit

[stevefoster]

I've entered too, thanks for the tip off HHH.

It will give me something to look forward to having just written my car off last night by skidding on ice into a very solid stone bridge. A few hours in A&E and I've been given the all clear, just feel like I've been run over by a steam roller.

Glad your ok Hes, good luck to you and freckle at the waltz

[freckle]

Tonight's Old Peculiar
takes me back many years.
Wasdale Head Hotel
1982 to be precise.
Not exactly Proustian
a pitched battle wth sheep shit

Aw Brock....i like a little bit of old peculiar, i have just had a brakspear yummy! anyhoo, i like your poem!

[Old Whippet]

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,

N.W. get with the times. The modern fell poet could well be sporting a black polo neck under the jacket of tweed. Thick black rimmed specs de rigeur, a beard of course, cordrouys, and sandals (with or without socks). Of course the pipe and satchel remain non-negotiable.

[freckle]

N.W. get with the times. The modern fell poet could well be sporting a black polo neck under the jacket of tweed. Thick black rimmed specs de rigeur, a beard of course, cordrouys, and sandals (with or without socks). Of course the pipe and satchel remain non-negotiable.

I have had a brilliant idea everyone!....why don't we invite Gok Wan (or whatever he is called not sure ages since i watched tv) down to do a "How to look good naked" special for fell poets taking part in the AW?...................................................oh dear, trust me to lower the tone!

[stevefoster]

I have had a brilliant idea everyone!....why don't we invite Gok Wan (or whatever he is called not sure ages since i watched tv) down to do a "How to look good naked" special for fell poets taking part in the AW?...................................................oh dear, trust me to lower the tone!

I can look good knackered.................not sure about naked