Fifty weeks running by John Self

were disappointed when I said “No, The Calf is another memorable. As with marathons, the run itself is only mile further on. You can see its trig point from the top part of the achievement: it is the knowledge that one there (Calders)”. They reluctantly turned to re-climb is fit enough to contemplate even tackling such a run Calders. that gives greater satisfaction. One of the reasons that When I reached The Calf, I looked back and I I continue to try to run is the hope that I may become could see them still at Calders, gesticulating with other fit enough to have further days like the traverse of the walkers. I gave them a wave but I doubt that they ever Howgills. believed that they were not at The Calf (it is only two Unfortunately, that seems some way away right metres higher than Calders). At the trig point a small now. The most frustrating aspect of running as you group of walkers was already gathered. Normally I get older is the body’s decreasing ability to recover. pause at the highest point to have a good look around Decades ago, minor problems would evaporate in a day and perhaps have a brief word with anyone else or two but now they seem to linger forever. A couple there. But this group seemed to find me a subject of of weeks ago I mentioned my “slightly sore calf” (no amusement. Maybe the sight of an old guy puffing up relation to The Calf ). I could run for 90 minutes with it to the trig point is amusing to walkers. Maybe they so it wasn’t much to worry about. were taking bets on whether I was about to peg out. I thought that a week’s rest, after my fall in the Maybe I imagined it. beck, would do the calf good. In fact, it is worse. How I left them to it and jogged off on the path to is that possible? It is as though my battle-hardened Bowderdale Head. From here, I expected to be on muscles of two weeks ago, when I was fit, protected my own. The Saturday walkers tackle the path from their ailing comrade, the sore muscle, but have relaxed Winder to the Calf but very few of them walk on the during their holiday and are now leaving it to fend for eastern slopes of Bowderdale. I had to, as I was again itself, which it is unable to do. reduced to walking, on the slopes of Yarlside. Actually, I am on the horns of a dilemma. If I run to toughen I am sure that even in my prime I would have had to up the relaxed muscles, the calf may be made worse. walk up Yarlside. It is too steep and the grassy slopes If I rest the calf, the muscles may become even more too uneven to run on. relaxed - and the calf may not recover for some time. After another scramble up Kensgriff left me feeling exhausted, I was relieved that it should be all running, and mainly downhill, from here to Ravenstonedale. I picked up the path below Randygill Top and ran on to Green Bell, where, as I reached the top, I was surprised to meet a party of walkers arriving from the northern slope. I did not linger in the cold wind. On over Knoutberry and Snowfell End and at last I could see Ravenstonedale ahead. After a wash and some food in the van, I was refreshed sufficiently to join the Ravenstonedale Prommers. I reached the van some 2 hours 20 minutes after I had been tipped out of it. As I’ve indicated, I cannot honestly say that I ran across the Howgills. There were several walking/scrambling episodes. Even so, I Bowderdale in the Howgills, showing the eastern ridge that I ran managed the whole distance in reasonable along. Randygill Top is the rounded peak (all peaks are rounded shape, which was not too bad, just a few days in the Howgills!) to the right, with part of Yarlside to its right. The before my 65th birthday. The probably increasing rarity of such slope of Yarlside is one of the ones that I could not run up. days makes them even more valued and 8/410