11th October 2014- Lakes in a Day

Start- Cartmel

I slept in the car at Cartmel and was woken early by the rain. After registration we we're taken by coach to Caldbeck. We got there at 7:50 and we all set off at 8. It started off dry but as we got higher up the first fell it started to rain. After a slight mishap navigationally off High Pike we crossed the river crossing along the temporary bridge set up by the race organisers and then up Blencathra.

Crossing Caldew

After the slog up Blencathra it was the tricky (slippy when wet) descent down Halls Fell Ridge and then to the well stocked aid station at Threlkeld. 

Descending Blencathra

The hard grind up Clough Head followed and then after the Dodds to Helvellyn and over Dollywagon Pike and down to Grisedale Tarn for the ascent up Fairfield. The summit is followed by the long descent to Ambleside.

Descending Fairfield

After some food and coke it was back out to the second half of the race which felt completely different as it was less hilly and more runnable trail. The route follows Lake Windermere for a quite a bit and through mostly woodland area. I ran with a few others and we ticked off the miles together until coming to the final checkpoint at Finsthwaite. After a feed at the check point it was into the dark and a group of us navigated our way to the end at Cartmel the finish after about 13 and a half hours running. A very good route and with great company along the way.

Job done

Credit to Haglofs Lakes in a Day for photographs.