Borrowdale

I drove up north last night since I was lucky enough to get to work from 'home' for three days next week before flying away for 2 weeks holiday in the sun.

Mark picked me up first thing this morning since he was entered into Borrowdale Fell Race and I was just tagging along to watch. Not having done too much training this summer and hurting my back the previous week meant I wasn't too fussed about trying to get an entry for the race so I just planned on running some of the route in reverse until meeting up with Mark on his way round and following him to the finish.

It was pouring down before the start but as you can see from the photo it brightened up a bit later on - this was taken on the final climb up Dalehead from Honister slate mine. I'd skirted round Dalehead on the way out, passed through the slate mine and followed the race route round to Green Gable where I sat and watched the runners coming down Great Gable until Mark arrived. It was quite cold sitting there in the breeze.

Mark ran well and seemed happy to get round in about 5 1/2 hours, this was the first time I had supported him on a race, it's usually the other way around.