Imagine this

You've trained hard for 6 months for your last throw of the dice on completing one of the Lakeland Classics (Ennerdale, for example).

Then the weather gods throw a spanner in the works, your ultimate goal is turned into a 20m Trail race!!

Well that's what happened yesterday. The championship race at Ennerdale was deemed too risky for a high level route with lightning forecast, so competitors were given a new route on the day. This took them via Floutern Tarn to the shore of Buttermere, up to Scarth Gap, down to the Youth Hostel. From there it was up to Stone Cove to then contour round Kirk Fell to Black Sail Pass. Back down to the YH, along the track and then wait for it .... the path along the south shore of Ennerdale.

Bet they loved that last bit, it was torture last year in dry conditions!

All credit to the organizers for sorting something out for the runners rather than cancelling, it's a long drive to the start. It has got me thinking whether there's scope for a 'half/short' Ennerdale to increase the numbers for this race, maybe cutting out Green Gable and Kirk Fell, by either dropping into the valley from Scarth Gap or from Blackbeck Tarn.

TF