What a day in the fells - definitely one of the best experiences ever since I've started running!
After I had to cancel a first attempt in May due to sickness following a three weeks stay in the Lake District to get to know the route, the people and learn about fellrunning and its history, this time everything came together. Despite the short notice given the uncertainty in the weather forecast, we managed to assemble a great support team and decided to give it a go. The weather proved to be (almost) perfect - a cloudy, dry and not too warm day. Apart from some strong winds and low clouds on the tops of legs 1 and 2 as well as some wet rock around Scafell Pike it was certainly great running conditions.
I had a superb team that I'm overly grateful for. Most importantly, I want to thank Martin Stone, who got in touch with me at the beginning of the year and introduced me not only to many of the runners, but to fellrunning and the Lake District in general, and who was the silent "mastermind" behind this project. Furthermore, a huge thank you to Gavin Dale who both times managed to assemble a grand team of runners and crew and was just overall insanely supportive.
Thank you to the amazing people that accompanied me as pacers: Leg 1: Doni, Gavin, Rowan; Leg 2: Beth, Jacob; Leg 3: Barney, Harry; Leg 4: Scott, Poppy, Arthur, Grace; Leg 5: Arthur, Emma, Hannah. I'm also very grateful for the rope support of Karolina and Juliet who made sure I safely got up Broad Stand in sub-ideal conditions! The outstanding road support was managed by Charmian who made sure all the transitions went super smooth and that there was always a Fanta ready for me at the road stops!
Also thank you to everybody else who met me along the way and at the finish - cheering, taking pictures and giving me words of encouragement. A wonderful day in the fells that I will remember forever - a grand challenge accomplished together/shared with a great bunch of people.