No more greenies.

Today was the 1st day in about 2 weeks that I didnt cough up any phlegm. Not pleasant I know but it marks the end of what has been a stagnant period in my training.

Last week, after my leg 1 recce on the Saturday, I started all guns blazing but after my poor run last Monday I decided to totally hang up my running shoes till Thursday so as to give my body time to get rid of cold. I went out on Thusday & ran Askham fell race route and felt strong for the first time in ages, so I decided to plan a big run on the weekend.

Not being that familiar with Leg 3, I decided to run out to Rossett Pike from Seathwaite and complete the 2nd half of Leg 3, and maybe a bit of Leg 4.

I set off very early leaving Seathwaite at 6.15am in the dark on my own. I was very surprised at not being the first to park their car up with 2 cars already there. So off I went head torch on looking forward to 6hrs plus on the fells and perhaps a good 20 miles under my belt. I got to the foot of Great End via Ruddy Gill by day light and realised why I hadnt been first to park up. There were 3 tents located at the foot of the ice covered gullies which the occupants of which must have been the drivers of the cars parked down by the farm.

With what looked like a good morning I pushed on through Esk Hause towards Angle Tarn and on to Rossett Pike at 7.55am. From here I set off up towards Bowfell. I must have spent 30 mins trying to carefully pick my way up the ice laden "Hanging Knotts". I decided it wasnt safe to carry on so I turned back down and ran back to Esk Hause. I had almost given up on my long day out until I saw Great End staring at me. I decided to press on up to the summit of Great End by which point the clouds were starting to come in and winds were picking up.

From Great End I ran on to Ill Crag & then Braod Crag with the intention of picking up Scafell Pike. After Broad Crag I ran down hill into a dip before being faced with a very steep ice/snow covered slope on the NE face of Scafell Pike. As I was totally on my own in sub-zero temperatures and poor weather I decided to re-trace my steps all the way back to Esk Hause and drop into Styhead Pass.

On passing the tents I had spotted earlier in the morning I came to realise why the crazy campers had slept out over night. I must have counted 12 pairs of climbers either on or about to climb the gullies on Great End. I had a quick chat with a couple of climbers about "who was the most crazy". Them with their crampons and ice axes about to climb one of the steep ice covered gullies or me on my own, in my running tights & trainers? The jury is still out I guess.

With a bit of time left I decided to drop into Styhead Pass and push on up Great Gable. I have never been up there before and it has, since my childhood, had a mystical appeal about it. I pushed on up the steep SE slope which was totally covered in snow & patches of slippery ice. Once again as I reached the heights the visibility dropped to below 30m. I reached the summit at about 11.15 am and decided to call it a day. I had pushed my luck enough on the ice and in the bad weather and so decided to drop back down to Styhead pass via Aaron Slack and then back to the van at Seathwaite for about 12.15 PM.

All in all had a good morning out covering 16 miles and 5500 ft of climb. A quick visit to Keswick saw me become the proud owner of of some Kahtoola micro spikes, to fit over my fell shoes, and £45 lighter. They will keep me safer on the ice and should last many seasons.

Today (Monday) I have been doing my half term , parental duties and looking after my eldest, Louie (6). We had a good 4 hr walk up to Kidsty Pike from Mardale Head in attrocious weather. Again he made me really proud to complete the walk relatively easily and without too many Jelly Babies. All good stuff for BG. Perhaps Louie might pace a leg for me..............