• Anna in high viz gloves ( in case she needs to wave in the dark) in the finishing straight

  • The field near the top of Latrigg

  • The start from Keswick cricket ground

  • Anna powers up the finish hill....

  • Mad dash at the start of the Fairfield horseshoe

Fairfield Horseshoe and Latrigg

Someone from Staveley once told me that there was no point going abroad in May, as it was the best time to climb in the Lakes. Well, that was a few years ago, and climate change has since been introduced by the government. Also, in that time, Anna has taken up fell running, which can take place in all weathers. Lucky really. Last Saturday dawned with low cloud and driving rain. Not the best conditions for the Fairfield Horseshoe Race, but this was an English championship race and the 500 or so competitors were not to be put off.
The race was delayed by half an hour with cars struggling to get into the car park field(bog), and this allowed the cloud to lift above the summits and the rain to stop. It was still soaking underfoot and very muddy and slippy on the descents.

Mad dash at the start of the Fairfield horseshoe
Mad dash at the start of the Fairfield horseshoe

Despite the conditions, Anna had a good run, equalling last year’s time.

Anna powers up the finish hill....
Anna powers up the finish hill…..

Not content with one race a week, Anna entered the “sprint” of a fell race, up and down Latrigg overlooking Keswick. This is only 3 miles long but with 950 ft of ascent. The winner only took about 18 minutes!!

The start from Keswick cricket ground
The start from Keswick cricket ground

Anna had another good run, getting another bottle of wine (I think most fell runners must be alcoholics), but I think she is more suited to longer, stamina based races…… bring on the Borrowdale later in the year.

The field near the top of Latrigg
The field near the top of Latrigg
Anna in high viz gloves ( in case she needs to wave in the dark) in the finishing straight
Anna in high viz gloves ( in case she needs to wave in the dark) in the finishing straight

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