scrambled up Lords Rake, having met some runners who showed me the way. There was lots of cloud on the summits, but Wasdale was waiting underneath.
13.03.2026 19:51
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scrambled up Lords Rake, having met some runners who showed me the way. There was lots of cloud on the summits, but Wasdale was waiting underneath.
Partially snow covered ground between two hills in the Lake District
Sun on a hillside while the sky is full of clouds
View down Wastwater a lake in the Lake District
View up Lords Rake, snow and ice covered rocks. Cloudy
I returned to Langdale Valley for another go at the 2nd half of leg 3 of the Bob Graham. The weather wasn't very promising at the start, cold,rain, hail & gusts of wind. However the forecast was for the wind to drop and when I got to Esk Pike it had & it stopped raining! Mickledore was OK so I...
I ❤️ a spreadsheet to organise a race! I have an open one planning my route splits over the BG round, pacers & training.
This is the exact same Guy you could find 2,000 years ago as a Roman senator gleefully listing the number of Germani slain and sold into slavery, 900 years ago exulting in the sack of Jerusalem, or 100 years ago celebrating 500 yards taken on the Western Front. Timeless chickenhawk scum.
I have a few more opportunities to get up to the Lakes, so not too disappointed. And will pack better next time!
Guess I'd thought about icy conditions underfoot but not anticipated the heavy rain and needed to have had my waterproof gloves and a heavier jacket. Will pack better next visit!
Well, day 2 of exploring leg 3 did not go to plan 😑. I was on my own for this run, & after finding the tricky but fast route up Bowfell the weather became very wintery & after Esk Pike I got desperately cold despite layering up. Had planned to look at Lords Rake route up to Scafell but bailed out.
Pike O'Stickle (hill) surrounded by cloud
Snow on a hill with a mix of cloud and blue sky
Mountains in the Lake District with a cloudy sky above them
Looking across towards Scafell and Scafell Pike mountains
First trip to the Lakes for a recce trip for leg 3. Leg 3 starts in Dunmail Raise near Grasmere & ends in Wasdale. It's the longest & toughest leg with 2000m of ascent. We had mixed weather with snow, rain & sun. We did about 2/3rds of the route today, plan to do the 2nd half tomorrow.
2 people in ski clothing and equipment standing on a viewpoint on a snowy mountain
A view across snowy mountains in the French Alps
A view across snow covered mountains in the French Alps
A view down a ski slope across to snow covered mountains with a cloudy sky
Just returning from a fantastic week of ⛷️ in the French Alps.
There were massive amounts of snow.
PS Ignore the mention of 300-500 miles for shoe life. Regular readers of our posts will know that the advice is out-dated, misleading and used by manufacturers to drive over consumption. Love the shoes you own.
Lots of good advice in this article on how to reduce the cost of a marathon.
Supporting your local marathon is great for reducing costs, reducing carbon emissions (over 90% of emissions for events arise from travel) and supporting your community.
Great to see recommendations re preloved kit.
Joyce Carol Oates @JoyceCarolOates how is it possible to cram so much ignorance--"English-Scott-Irish origin" -- into such a small space? miracle of a person said to be "world's richest man" has no more grasp of US history than a crumpled paper tissue underfoot in a men's restroom not recently cleaned.
joyce is going after elon again
Black and white photo of a man (me) being hugged by a woman with a hat on and curly hair
It's 24 years today since I got married to this amazing person.
I appreciate all her support & encouragement for the irrational challenges I do.
Snow covered rooftops from a window, looking up to ski slopes on a mountain. Church belfry on the right
Made it!
Briefly touched foot in Italy before we got here.
The 2026 Barkley Marathons began with one of the strongest fields ever. The starting field came from 15 Counties as well as 15 States, and included ten women. The course seemed not to care. Over 70% of the field is done. #BM100
St Pancras Station view looking towards the station clock. A train on the platform with the sun shining through the metal roof
Some sunshine at last!
We are off skiing ⛷️ in France this week. Travelling by Eurostar, spending a night in Paris, then a TGV to the Alps. Just waiting to board the Eurostar with a short delay on the way down to Euston. Love travelling by train.
High time shoe manufacturers* moved on from the myth 🐂 💩 that trainers need to be replaced every 300-500 miles.
And Strava need to do the same.
Over consumption is bad news for the planet 🌍
* the big brands are the prime culprits
Agree, particularly in newer versions. I have on old pair of Mudclaws that have outlasted a newer pair 😳
Agree, I've had the same pair of shoes since 2018 (although I do rotate mine).
Have finally got rid of them but have replaced with another pair bought 2nd hand which were worn once.
Off road shoes take more of a battering but intend to repair the soles once the lugs wear out.
On my first go, I just didn't eat or drink enough, and ran out of energy. Also made some expensive navigation errors over leg 3.
A black and white photo of Bob Graham wearing shorts with his hands in his pockets
Planning & training for a 2nd Bob Graham Round attempt has started! I will (hopefully) set off at 6pm on Friday 15th May up Skiddaw. Got a few recce weekends between now & then planned, mainly concentrating on legs 3 & 4. Support crew also taking shape. Feeling a lot more confident than last time.
A tower of a hill
First race since the Spine CS today, Pendle Way in a day (a 45 mile circular trail finishing up Pendle Hill). Felt good despite the bog & mud. Hoped to finish by sunset but had to a foggy, dark climb up Pendle with v. poor visibility. Pleased with my time (10h 18). Finished 42nd & 3rd MV50.
My first thought was "it would pass kit check for the Spine Race" 😅
Yeh it was amazing. Still on a high!
Good luck!
Snow capped mountain seen beyond pebbly burn
Path through rugged landscape towards a sea loch, with dead tree and several young saplings
Old cottages lining a beach
Bench overlooking coastal cliffs
The ever-popular West Highland Way is leading the rankings, followed by the Cape Wrath Trail, the John Muir Way, the Scottish National Trail, Great Glen Way and the Skye Trail.
Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.
White. Hot. Rage.
