So this is what it's come to then, the last of the loyal forumites huddled in a corner awaiting their fate. Like a community kitchen where the oven is always warm, down the pub continues to leave a lighted candle in the window.
I began my preparation for Great Whernside today after a deflating run at Crowden where my lower calves were torched after about half a mile. 5m/1750' in the little lumps above the village of Linton; twice up and down elbolton hill including the descent of the big end, once up and down stebden hill and once up and down ravens crag. Thistles everywhere, my shins are now polkadot.
The boozer in Linton misinterpreted my order and instead of 3 yorkshire puddings with gravy for £3, the kitchen sent 3 portions. So I ended up with 6 yorkshires and 3 bowls of gravy, all of which I had no problem eating although I nearly lost some to a hungry dog. Robinson's dizzy blonde was the ale of choice.
9.64 miles, 2,452 feet, 2 hours 47 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, ascending the 1st time via Blue Hill Road/Lane and the race route steps, going along the ridge to the true top, down to the upper part of Nanny Lane, back up to the Pike, and down the race route. Overcast, with the cloud base initially at about 1,000 feet - it was considerably higher later, and it cleared up slightly. Intermittent drizzle; a moderate breeze from the south west. Terrain wet/saturated/streaming/slippery. Lots of walkers about, mainly in the valley; no runners seen.
10.65 miles, 2,614 feet, 3 hours: Rothay Bridge - Stagshaw Gardens - High Skelghyll - Skelghyll Lane - Mirk Lane - Wain Lane - Fell Lane - Robin Lane - Troutbeck - Nanny Lane - Wansfell Pike - race route descent - Ambleside. Overcast, with mist down to the valley floor. Continuous drizzle/light to moderate rain. A moderately strong wind from the south. Terrain saturated/streaming/slippery. Very few walkers about; 3 runners seen - 2 in the valley, 1 on the fell.
Mike, looks like you will be "last man standing" on here 😥
10.11 miles, 2,147 feet, 3 hours 17 minutes: Loughrigg trails: Rothay Bridge - Fishgarths Wood - Todd Crag - Lily Tarn - Loughrigg top = race descent to the road at High Close - down through Deerbolts Wood to Grasmere shore - back up to the top - down past the old golf club to Miller Bridge - Rothay Bridge. Overcast, with mist/cloud initially almost to the valley floor - later it cleared up in places, leaving banks of mist at multiple levels, but no sunshine/blue sky. Constant drizzle/light rain. A moderate breeze from the south west. Terrain saturated/streaming/slippery. Not many walkers about, though the roads were busy; 5 runners seen - 4 on the fell and 1 in the valley.
The rain needs to stop soon - I am running out of dry waterproof kit.