Fell running, also known as mountain running

Fell Running, Also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty. The name arises from the origins of the English sport on the fells of northern Britain, especially those in the Lake District. (Thank you Wikipedia).

Good morning horse

Sunday morning and Debbie and i woke early in the car, the windows covered in condensation and grumbling about stiff backs, i remember a time when i could sleep in an office chair with out ill effects, oh how times change. As usual, coffee was my first priority so i rolled out of the car into my running shoes and sloped off to the camping barn.

Dale Head

It was 7 am and I was the first to rise but it didn’t take long for the 13 people sleeping in the barn to come to life, as you would expect it was the children first closely followed by the adults. The night before I had convinced Denis an early run was a good idea but walking hurt so running was out of the question for him. Breakfast, more coffee and its soon 8:30pm, an hour and a half of good running time already gone so I was quickly on my way. 

Robinson

The plan, head up Robinson and follow the BG route over to Dale Head, return back across High Spy and Cat Bells. Keen as mustard and excited to be in the mountains again I rushed through the first couple of road miles and was soon ascending Robinson, 737 metres. I could feel the previous days training in my legs but pushed on to the summit feeling good and probably looking pretty good as well. :-)

Looking back

The view from the summit was astounding, stunning Lakeland hills draped in mist and a gentle breeze pushing the cloud through the valleys, life really doesn't get any better than this. Revitalised i set off on my way picking up the BG trod towards Hindscarth and over to Dale Head. At 753 metres Dale head is the high point of the run and presents great views of the whole horse shoe shaped route. The path winds down to the valley bottom and Dale head tarn before crossing the stream and heading off up to High Spy. At 653 meters i am back into the clag again. I take a few minutes to eat and drink whilst soaking up the atmosphere, i know what lies ahead of me and i want to be prepared.

High Spy

Over the next 2.5 miles i gradually descend nearly 200 metres, past Maiden Moor to Cat Bells, with copious amounts of peat bog and rocky crags to negotiate along the way. This is where the real running starts.

Derwent Water

I start tentatively, feeling my way, gradually getting faster until my legs are burning, my vision blurs and my eyes water, leaping over crags and landing on muddy paths i slip and slide all the time trying to maintain balance, trying not to twist and ankle or do the splits. Each step becomes a blur. My head in spinning and i feel out of control but i can’t stop, i push harder taking greater risks, I can’t process each foot placement, it seems to happen naturally.

Walkers step aside and let me pass; i wonder what i must look like, some mad man bounding across the fells apparently out of control, sweat running from my head into my eyes, arms flailing around trying to maintain balance. I twist my ankle but the pain blurs and i push harder. There is no control anymore it just madness and I realise i am hitting that runners high again. Now i am floating and it all makes sense, i begin to feel at peace with the world, i ease to a slow jog, smiling, high as a kite. Drugs were never this good.

Rocky bit

Cat Bells is full of tourist and reality creeps back in, today i found nirvana again and one of the many reasons i run. I jog slowly back to Keswick and meet up with my friends and partner Debbie for a walk along the banks of Derwent Water.