Set off at 10 am intending to start running at 11 but got held up on the A65 by Gypsy Caravans...finally got running at 11.42..........weather though was spot on, warm (about 16 degrees), but overcast and with a light wind.
Plan was to run anything flat or downhill and use the poles on the ascents. Route up Pen-y-ghent was fairly straight forward, a few running sections but mostly an uphill slog. Kept going to the top without a stop, then a quick fig roll, poles collapsed and packed away and map out for the descent and long run across to the Ribblehead viaduct. The top of Pen-y-ghent was cool, but cloud free and the first of many fine views I get throughout the day.
Summit One - Pen-y-ghent
Pen-y-ghent to Whernaide turned out to be the least enjoyable section of the day, it was very wet and boggy with time wasted trying to get round the worst of the degraded peat bogs. Finally hit a good farm track out to the road and then a short section of tarmac to the viaduct.
The fell race itself turns left soon after the end of the viaduct and goes vertically up the side of Wherenside, but this land is not open to the public so I had to stick to the main path on a long sweeping detour north then west. This was good training though for ascending using the poles and again I kept going until I hit the summit. Once more I hit the top clear of cloud, though it was dull and windy with spotting rain. I stopped soon after the trig point to refuel on ham sandwiches and crisps and had to put my coat on to keep warm.
However, the short stop was refreshing and I set off along the ridge (poles now packed away again) before the steep descent and short valley crossing to Ingleborough.
Summit Two, Whernside
The descent off Whernside is very steep and limestone covered in mud gets very slippy. Soon caught up with a crocodile of people (it was very busy on all the hills), including one women who was really struggling to keep her footing while carrying a folded up pushchair (father was equally struggling with crying child...). So I offered to help and ran most of the descent with a buggy under my arm!
Once I'd ditched that at a stile as the path improved I packed my coat away and set off across the valley floor to the start of the climb up Ingleborough.
The route up Ingleborough was fairly direct and though quite energy sapping it didn't seem to take too long to hit the summit plateau. Again, a short rest to refuel, pack away the poles and it was back off the plateau to start the long gradual decent back into Horton in Ribblesdale. The weather now was perfect, high cloud, sunshine and no real breeze with fabulous views.
Finally came off the hill about 5.15, making for a total run time just over 5 hours 30 minutes, slightly longer than expected but happy with the result.
Future plan is to run this route twice.......bearing in mind that one loop is about one quarter of UTMB......
Summit Three, Ingleborough.
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