Barbondale Round

Bags packed, pasta eaten and the dynamic duo are all set for another LDWA outing. This time its the Barbondale Round from Barbon, near Kirby Lonsdale......

It was a leisurely 9am start, with a select few on the start line - probably about ten of us in total. Walkers left at 8am, so were ahead of us. The organiser said 'off you go then' and we were off. We opted for the 14 mile route, as Jenny felt it was just too close to the WHW for 24 miles, and too similar in timings to 'the event which shall not be named' which contributed to her back problems causing the WHW to be postponed in September. But we were more than happy setting off uphill in the sunshine. Then we ran uphill a bit more, then a bit more. The only respite being a small bit of M&S finest fruitcake (yum) and a water top-up at the checkpoint part way up. In fact, it was seven miles uphill to the top of Great Coum at 686m. The weather was perfect and we managed to run most of the way up, chatting away. From the top we had a perfect decent down to the road. It was not too steep (except a short section at the very top), not too bumpy, not too many tuffocks and we were in heaven skipping our way down to the checkpoint. Here, Paula gave her toes a wiggle and Jenny ate a rather crusty jam sandwich, and we were off again, down the road to pick up a most beautiful bridleway through some woods for three miles back to Barbon. This last section was just stunning, running through the woods with bluebells about to open up next to the beck. There was only one problem - where were Glenn and Alfie?

Glenn & Alf were safely back at the village hall having had a good walk but Alf had had a run in with a yellow lab. Thankfully, Glenn had it all under control, for which Alf (and Jenny) are most grateful.

It was bliss to get the running shoes off and lie on the grass for a while in the sunshine at the finish. Then it was pie and peas (well, just pie for Paula and even Jenny picked out the 'marrowfats') then back home.

All in all, it was an amazing run. A steady uphill, and a fantastic downhill. No crowds, no nav problems, just 14 miles of pottering about in the fells in the sun. What could be better? The great news is that we are both feeling strong for Scotland. In fact, three weeks TODAY we'll be off on our way from Milngavie to Drymen! CAN'T WAIT!!

Posted by Jenny