Forward Bipedal Progression: November 2021

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Short stop in the Lake District

Last weekend I drove my wife’s step dad and mum back to Scotland after they were here visiting. We left Sunday about lunch time, got to Prestwick early evening, had dinner and some beers. I crashed out early in anticipation of a stop in the Lake District National Park to get in a long run. It’s about half way and surprisingly only 5 miles off the motorway! I never realized that I was so close when running Lakeland 100. I had a 20 mile loop planned if weather permitted and was really psyched.

Old Jeep at the services.

Scottish border

I woke about 345am and hit the road, easy driving early, and arrived in Pooley Bridge and parked the car. It was about 7am and still dark. I quickly got ready to go and headed out following the route on my watch and following along on a map. I was on a portion of the Lakeland 100 race course and all I recognized were the pubs on the water over looking Ullswater, the rest wasn’t familiar as I had such a poor race, this was about mile 50.

Up I went into fells following an old Roman road labeled High Street. It was easy climbing in classic fells, grassy, soft, wet, with occasional rocky sections of trail and path. It looked to be a decent day, partly cloudy, but that was too good to be true. The wind was strong and cold and after a while I was in the clouds. I had initially planned to stay high in the fells but at the furthest point I decided to descend to Ullswater because the views were crap and I wasn’t really having fun. Running in shit conditions is fun with other people, alone, no thanks!

Old Roman Road

My last bit of sun

It was the right decision. The views were better and following the Ullswater Way, a circle around the lake, was fantastic. Excellent trail running right up from the shoreline. I ended up running 24 plus miles and getting around 4500 feet of vertical so very pleased. These places are so cool, wish I had more time to explore.