AMBLING AROUND ANGLEZARKE

What a day. Fantastic weather, views and support - but surprisingly glutinous underfoot. A great feeling of camaraderie at the start -with over 300 runners/walkers gathering at the school in Rivington village. Among them our Saturday Posse - YJ raring to go and anticipating a fast round prior to WH fell race the following day, JTE enjoying the weather, scenery - completely chilled and ready for theday, NicO chomping at the bit - if a little apprehensive about the distance, not having covered this mileage in one go before; NLN - wondering if she would keep up with a very 'in form' NicO; EtU his usual efferevescent persona, giving nothing away; FSS (formerly of the Satcrew - but now too fast) let off the leash and hoping for a fast PB again before WH Fell Race Sunday. All in all then - a real motley crew! Good to see TF at the start turning up with copious amounts of delicious home-made cake to spur us all on to the finish.

The usual jostling for position at the start to get through the stiles over Georges Lane and up to the Pike and then a lovely little run off and on and up to the mast before the joyous descent to Belmont. NicO and NLN catching YJ at the bottom of the ramp - this would set the pattern for the three of us for the whole of the event. The recces of the route really paying off over the moor to Egerton and soon the StrawberryDuck is left behind and the trot to Darwent Tower began.

At the checkpoint YJ tells us that a sub-5 hour completion is on - why did he tell us that? We really weren't bothered until that point - but now....Keeping YJ in sight on the climbs kept NicO and I on message and then a hammering on the descents put a bit if distance between us, only for YJ to reel us in again on every ascent. Back onto familiar territory, from our Saturday outings, beyond the checkpoint at Slipper Lowe, it almost feels like the end is in sight but there's still a long way to go.

The climb up over Great Hill again saw YJ powering ahead and then another catch up at the steep cut off from the track down to the Cricket Pavillion at White Coppice. This really does feel like the final leg and it is - almost! Now feeling the distance in the legs along the reservoirs and onto the road, just keep it going until the cascades for a rest on the ascent. I can't believe it! That rascal YJ is RUNNING up the cascades, and so is NicO, the swines I was hoping for a nice little walk on this bit.... press on now and cross the stream and up the steps, minutes to go to get in under five - it's doable!

Final times YJ (I think) 4hrs 52, NIcO/NLN 4hrs53. I put this down to the inherent advantage that John has of twenty year's more experience of this sort of thing!

Post script ~ FSS completed in PB of 4.01 but tearing a calf muscle in the process. Word on the street has it that EtU fell fowl (sic) of the JamButty trap at every checkpoint, leaving JTE in the clutches of two attractive medical students on the climb to Darwen Tower - malicious innuendo I'm sure.

NLN