A poor weather forecast, a looming string of “away fixtures” and a desire for a long slow run combined to convince me to go no further than Winter Hill for a second week. Up and over to Belmont, along to Darwen Tower and back over Great Hill, where I met Pauline and her running partners. The forecast was something of a curate’s egg and the bad parts were very bad but for the first time since this year’s Wasdale race I enjoyed the miles. The last fortnight’s 100 or so miles have been a real struggle but I found my mojo again and I am looking forward to next week’s Ben Nevis race.
Looking north west from the climb out of Horwich
Looking west as low clouds pour in
Three of the masts and a suggestion of better weather
Belmont Reservoir in a patch of sunshine (which will be gone by the time I get there)
Darwen Moor with Pendle Hill in the distance
Darwen Tower still without its “hat”
After Darwen Tower the previously light and intermittent showers joined up and got quite intense and when I met Pauline on Great Hill my camera was securely stowed in its dry bag, safe from the rain. It eased eventually but rarely for long but the cloud cover remained complete.
Anglezark Reservoir in the rain
The forecast for next Saturday in Fort William suggests this morning’s running in the rain might just be good practise.