Fell running with Claire

photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/102361192587557786751/MungrisedaleFellRun#

It was lovely day in the Lakes - spring is certainly here with some VERY small baa lambs in the fields as we drove via Greystoke to Mungrisedale. We walked/jogged up the path that winds round the side of The Tongue before stopping for a lovely sandwich - it was nice and warm in the sun. Fully refreshed we climbed onto the plateau before heading up to Bowscale Fell. From there the running started...onto the next top and then all the way down the ridge - leading to a brutally steep descent into Mungrisedale; your thighs get a serious workout here - far betting than back squats!!

Energy levels still feel low - however being out in the sunshine definetly helps - looks like it will a long road back to anything approaching full fitness though....on the plus side its now 7.30pm and its still totally light in North Cumbria; the clocks have changed and after work potential for running/cycling has increased.

Not quite sure what 'oooomph' actually is....

but I have certainly lost mine for sure at the moment - might ask Claire if there is a medical term for it...

I feel tired; in soul as well as body; it was a real effort to decide to get out and do something today (Claire and I are going for a walk tomorrow) in the lovely springlike weather that we now have in Cumbria. The flowers are out and the seasons seemed to changed overnight...and running actually felt good when I started; but it took a lot of effort to even get out. I think I was faster on my circuit today than I have been - certainly pushed hard on the first part of the run which is good.

I just seem to have so much to do but so little time to do...or inclination to do it; knowing where to start is difficult....

This is Arjuna the road bike; with a hire car I used for the Etape du Dales when mine was off the road. Today I rode him for the first time in about 6 months.....a lovely spring like day it has been in Penrith as well.

Claire and I drove back from Newcastle (much slower than I had driven TO the East yesterday!!!) with a lovely drive over the Hartside Pass....

Arjuna and I did not go very far today - only about 16 miles in just under an hour. This is simply because his owner feels unfit and lardy - however it was lovely to be cycling on the back lanes again and feel the bike glide along on some of the sections.

Bolts Law

The above is Bolts Law; usually home to a biting wind despite a relative lack of height. The photo is taken from the top of the Rookhope Incline - the last big climb of the C2C cycle route (the one I did in a day with Liz a while back).

We actually come in from the other side - a road that leaves the infamous Crawleyside Bank, which climbs out of Stanhope and is the scene of many British Hill Climb championships for cyclists. Claire and I had left early from Penrith and driven over Hartside and (far too quickly in Claire's opinion) down Weardale and then up Crawleyside before meeting Mum and Peter at the cafe which is at the end of the Waskerley Way (and is a place all cyclists should know about). A rather nice breakfast later (I would say shame about the mushrooms - Claire wouldn't!!) we set off on the 7 mile circuit.

The first section is usually a very pleasant gentle climb to the top of the Rookhope Incline on a bridelway that is part of the C2C. What on earth they have done to it I don't know; it seems that some kind of heavy trucks have been on it - it was NOT a pleasant experience at all. From the top of the incline the usual way is to strike across the heather onto the summit ridge; however Peter had discovered a contouring route that takes us round the hillside until a path is met which leads to a gate in the fence. This rather neat variation took us to the trig point where hot cross buns and tea were consumed.

The descent to the road is via a couple of reservoirs and old mine chimneys - again the path was boggier than usual (or boggier at least than I call recall); before a final hike UP (very much so) the road to the car - at least for those with the sense to stay on the road that is!!!

https://picasaweb.google.com/simon.bigair/BoltsLaw#

will be the pictures