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Checkers Grisedale Epic

I was already nervous and apprehensive about doing this again, and when Ray turned up with no compass and a map of the wrong Grisdale, the omens weren’t good. I was slightly hysterical with very nervous laughter, Adrian was in his element, he was lapping it all up. This kind of weather suited him typical Lake District Rain and mist. We did a bit of a warm up, the start soon came, the climb up to Birkhouse Moor is always horrible, there is a far better way up via Lantys Tarn and the side of Grisedale although slightly longer. Anyway I soon got going and left Pete and Ray behind.
I had good run along the top to Catstycam chasing a Bowland runner, a good climb up Catstycam.

The climb up Swirral edge was brilliant I scuttled up here like a mountain goat leaving the Bowland runner struggling down below.

On top now NO time for stupid mistakes got my compass out checked my position.

Off I went. Roughly due south 12 to 15 min from here to Dollywagons big end Just follow the edge were the instructions can’t go wrong here!!!. I have done this route a good few times??

Got to the narrow bit between Helvelyn and Nethermost Pike this is where I had brain malfunction all because the route over to the right was a lot easier to run on I thought I would be able go round Nethermost on the western side Durgh in this mist???
What actually happened was that I got gradually pulled down the side although I was still heading south I never even saw Dollywagon. I ended up on Willie Wife Moor I shouldn’t be here!!
Checked my compass East was the direction now soon found a stream to follow, another runner came from another direction we soon found a track and began to follow it as was going in the right direction we were re-assured by some walkers.
We knew we had turn off of it to get to the check point ,easy now!!? or so we thought . But we missed the junction and carried on through the gap into the next valley going down toward Grasmere?? I fell over here hurting my hand which was holding my compass.

Meanwhile the other runner disappeared into the mist while I was checking my position I checked my compass it was pointing all directions I was confused. I knew I needed to go back up!! but which up ??

Seat Sandal one way, Fairfield the other, and the gap was some where in between but where??

I knew I would recognise one or the other but now I was really confused I didn’t no whether or not I was going South, North, East or West.
It turned out that I climbed Fairfield, I soon found the ridge and from there I descended to where I could see the tarn. I got to the checkpoint where I told them I was quitting they recommended that I should quit as well, I stayed there a while just to get my senses back in order as I was still convinced that I was going west. I felt like I had bin spun round on a roundabout for about a Hour.

The run down the valley was complete joy, although not totally uneventful Me being me always like to add a little more difficulty. The route first go’s on the North side then splits into two, I then changed to the south side, although I really wanted to be on the north side I remembered the footbridge from last year and crossed back, but instead of following the correct route which meant doubling back a bit I chose a straight line route which meant crossing a fast deep flowing stream. Instead of finding the track a found a sheep trod that ran along behind a wall behind the woods which brought me back to the race route by the river crossing where I informed the marshall that I was OK and making my way back and that had retired from the race. The run past LantysTarn is simply stunning, It was funny coming into the finish though I didn’t realise Pete was just infront I could of raced him in although it would’nt of be fair, as I had been retired I learned from Adrian that Mike also had a bit of a disaster coming down in Deepdale therefore missing the last two checkpoints and Ray was somewhere still out there he also had DNF, Ray turned up about 10 mins after me he must have been slightly in front of me as he did the climb out of the valley to the other hole in the wall which is longer than going via Lantys Tarn.

All in all not a very successful day for Lostock Fell Runners, but an eventful one with each us with a good tale of adventure in the rain and mist.

The good thing is we all got back safely.