Summer to Autumn to Winter.

Suddenly, five months had passed and Simon realised he hadn't actually justified his existence by writing down what he had been doing since the 10 Peaks run finished early one June morning.

So all aboard the Franklin Express, destination November 2013, stopping very briefly at my races and runs on the way.

July 2013

Helm Crag and Steel Fell

The day after my 10 Peaks run I thought I needed to stretch my legs a bit and did a walk that turned into a bit of a jog from Grasmere up Helm Crag and round to Steel Fell, trying not to entertain any ridiculous Bob Graham fantasies.

The Howitzer on Helm Crag. I climbed it, as you have to.

Looking up towards Helvellyn and Thirlmere

The view from Steel Fell

Wasdale Fell Race

In what seemed like a great idea at the time, I foolishly entered the Wasdale race 3 weeks after the 10 Peaks instead of the sensible option of going up to watch and support. A scorching day which saw a large number of DNF's resulted in me deciding I'd had enough at Styhead, after the cutoffs, but before what seemed to me to be an unnecessary 4th ascent of Scafell Pike in 2 months.

Smiling? It's early on. (c) Andy Holden.

Wasdale the day after it broke me.

August 2013

Turner Landscape Recce

After Wasdale I cancelled my plan of running the Borrowdale race and instead spent the weekend at Seathwaite running around the unfamiliar route of the Turner Landscape fell race.

From Seathwaite Reservoir looking down Duddon Valley

The horseshoe including Grey Friar and Swirl How.

Looking towards Little Langdale

The brilliant final section back to Seathwaite

Round Hill Fell Race

The day after this recce I was back in Yorkshire for the Round Hill fell race. I did not enjoy it. I think it shows.

Gargrave Show

Sneaked this in to the afternoon before I went on holiday. A quick trip up to Sharp Haw with river crossings, hay bale jumping and a poorly executed Mobot. 

September 2013

Three Shires

Best visibility of the day (c) Cathy Bradley

On a terrible day for navigating I managed  good climb up Weatherlam, and a perfect descent right onto the checkpoint at the Three Shires Stone (where many others got lost) and then ruined it all by drifting so far off course on the descent from Pike O'Blisco that I was mistaken for the first placed runner in the Langdale Marathon.

Horsforth 10K

Road race. Hated it.

October 2013

Ian Hodgson Relay

Partnered with a runner nearly 30 years younger than me on leg 3, I managed both to slow him down and to offer no help in finding the second checkpoint. We didn't lose any places, but onl because everyone else got as lost as us. Great event though.

The start of leg 1

Our team's leg 4 runners oblivious to the pain ahead for them.

All smiles once it's over.

Langdale Fell Race

Finally a good day in the Lakes, no navigation errors and this time a brilliant descent from Pike O'Blisco to get a new pb on my 4th year running it.

Chasing Martyn to the finish

Heading for the cattle grid

What a car park.

Weekend running on Ilkley Moor

The Burley Moor track in early Sunday morning sunshine

Looking towards Beamsley Beacon

Trail sunset near the Cow and Calf

5Peaks

A promise made back in March to show J around the Wasdale fell race route fitted in quite nicely with a chance to have a last long run out in the Lakes before my 10 Peaks run. I also worked out that I could tick off 5 of them with a couple of little detours while still keeping pretty much to the Wasdale route.

The pictures tell the story.   

Running along the road to Greendale, "Britain's favourite view" behind us.

The long grassy climb up to Seatallen. 

The hazy Scafell Massif from the summit of Seatallen. Another 7 hours and we'll be there.

Scoat Tarn and Seatallen behind as we climb up towards the main Pillar ridge

The Scafells again from Pillar (Peak 9 of the 10 Peaks).

A rest at Beck Head before the climb up Great Gable. Ennerdale behind.

Wasdale, Wastwater and my car somewhere down there from Beck Head. 

Skiddaw, Blencathra and sunshine from the summit of Great Gable (Peak 8 of the 10 Peaks)

J gets away from me on the descent of Great Gable with our path to Esk Hause far below.

Eskdale from my detour to Ill Crag (Peak 4 of the 10 Peaks)

Looking back to Pillar, Kirk Fell and Great Gable from near Broad Crag (Peak 5 of the 10 Peaks)

Scafell Pike (Peak 6 of the 10 Peaks) from Ill Crag.

J gets away from me yet again descending from Lingmell in the late evening.

My feet's reward for eight and and half hours on ths hills.