Esk Hause from Windy Gap

I left last night with Forrest to return with him to his pitch at the campsite at Chapel Farm in Rosthwaite. The plan was to do a full reccie of the Borrowdale Fell Race today, the event held at the beginning of August. It was once the highlight of each running summer for me, a stern test of fitness and fell craft. I ran it 13 times in total, only once getting everything right to record a time I'm truly proud of. That was 3 hrs and 21 mins. It doesn't seem possible that I was once able to get around that quickly. 

My aim this year is for sub 5 hrs and that's not going to be easy. Forrest will be well over an hour ahead of me. It's only when you're fit enough to get around in that kind of time that it's possible to truly appreciate Billy Bland's record of 2hrs and 34 mins. Anyone who knows this terrain will understand how it's almost inconceivable. The route goes straight up Bessyboot, follows a meandering line to the north of Glaramara and then the south of Allen Crags before reaching Esk Hause. From there it's across to Scafell Pike, down a long way and back up a long way to Great Gable, then over to Honister and an ascent of Dale Head before returning via Rigghead Quarries and back to the start. Officially, it's 17 miles and 6,500ft of climbing. I persuaded a fast road runner friend (sub 2.45 marathoner) to do it once, telling him that he couldn't call himself a proper runner until he'd done a fell race. He arrived well after the prize-giving in close to 5 hours. He had no idea. He still hasn't forgiven me!

I let Forrest go at Esk Hause, enjoying being then able to idle (relatively) on a stunningly beautiful day. I missed out the high point, joining Sprinkling Tarn directly with Styhead Tarn, expecting to see my boy somewhere around Honister. As it happened, he was quicker than I expected and overtook me out of sight, taking the optimal line over Brandreth, far better than mine, following local knowledge downloaded as a GPX file to his watch. Crafty! 

The Borrowdale Race has caught Forrest's imagination and I have a feeling he may end up doing it on more than my 13 occasions, and most likely faster too - eventually. It's going to be fun for me (and him) to find out. If I get around myself this year, I may hang up my boots on this one. Much as though I love running in these mountains, the descents are just too damn hard on my knees. I might get some poles for future expeditions.

This shot is from Windy Gap, between Great Gable and Green Gable, a companion shot to this one taken last September, looking in the opposite direction. That day was equally clear and sunny and beautiful, the light just a little softer, the temperature a little warmer. There can't have been too many much better days in between.