Back to Back Weekend

Saturday 10th April: Kentmere Horseshoe

2 Dallam runners 2 dogs

Route : Yorke, Ill Bell, High Street, Harter Fell.

Sunday 11th April: Lakes Ridges and Wainwright’s

9 Dallam runners 181 others

Route : High spy, Hindscarth, Robinson, Haystacks, Dale Head.

A week of sickness followed the Manx weekend, that would explain why I had a bad time out there, little food or drink was consumed during the beginning of the week resulting in cramp in the right Calf muscle on Wednesday night, I had to lay off the training and massage it out. An early start on Saturday seeing Mick and I in Kentmere to blue skies over head and little in the way of wind this was going to be nice training session.

We parked at the church and started our climb at a leisurely pace passing numerous average Joe walker’s, as we climbed the views were stunning, its not often we take time out to enjoy them today we did, we climbed at a steady pace chatting and planning about BG times, dates, routes, food, training weekends and teams we covered every aspect during that morning making the summits come quickly. Before long we were starting the descent back to Kentmere, I’d kept my trainers dry all morning when we hit a very wet patch which I tried to tip toe over, big mistake, I lost my footing and slid about 20 yards down the hill we washing ourselves and the dogs in the beck as we passed before heading home for lunch then out for a few hours to round off the day.

Sunday’s alarm was early we needed to be in Rossthwaite by 8am I picking up Stuart on the way. We enjoyed a quick brew and just time catch up to some Dallam runners before the start. This was a LDWA event so no pressure and no times to worry about as we lined up and started Ray stormed away, just to the first gate, we made a small mistake at the start taking the right side of the valley I soon realised this was wrong we needed to cross to the left and to go through the old Slate quarry then up to Dale head Tarn, this climb proving long and hard, before a great descent to Little Town for the first checkpoint of the day with an assortment of Jam Doughnuts and Malt loaf. The next climb would be Hindscarth again proving to be long and hard, this LDWA was going to be a tough day out, at the summit I pointed out the Bg leg 5 to Stuart, as we hit the dip between Hindscarth and Robinson three other runner who were about our pace were taking my usual line to the summit this was a perfect chance to compare routes with me and Stuart keeping to the main path nearer to the fence, looks a little further but no leg draining wet grass, all five of us summated at the same time. We dropped into Buttermere for lunch, Jam butties, rice pudding with Peaches followed by a cup of Tea the Lwda chap’s know how to look after you.

The path around Buttermere is one of the best lake walks going but today we had the added extra’s of picture perfect views of majestic hills reflecting on the still waters below, we climbed to the summit of Haystacks with its recent land slips before dropping into Honister for the final checkpoint before picking up leg 5 of the Bg again. Dale head done on schedule time we just had to drop back to the Tarn then down the old Slate quarry to the finish back at the Village Hall. As we tucked into Pasta and crumble Dr Martin strolled into our surprise, all changed he had suffered a blister at Buttermere and had to catch a lift back to the finish he was gutted that his training was not going well. We sore in Rob H and Penny before heading home.

Overall a difficult week with illness and sore muscles making the weekend’s training pretty hard going but great to be out and about in the sun shine with some great friends, what a difference two weeks makes.

Totals: Saturday, 12miles, 3300ft ascent, 3.9mph ave speed

Sunday, 23 miles, 8000ft 3.4mph ave speed