Lakeland Trails Pentlands 10km

 This has been a funny old year. It feels like there has been no races at all but yet when you glance over at my race portfolio for 2020 I have actually been quite busy! Then there was the injury that kept me out of action for a few months after the Scurry to the Sea. But now after several trips to the physio and a lot of you and physio exercises I am finally getting back out onto the trails.

I'm still very slow but my leg hurts less and less with every run. Monday 2 November saw the start of my 26 week training plan for my 5 in 5 challenge next May. It felt good to be able to start on it, albeit slowly. Onwards and upwards!

Yesterday, Yvonne and I were all signed up to go and run in Glenridding and up Helvellyn for the Lakeland Trails 10km. But as with all other events this year, it was postponed until next year. But we decided that we have our own hills to run up so planned our very own Lakeland Trails Pentland 10km. Yvonne had never run up Carnethy before so it felt like a real adventure! I must admit when we stood in the park (at our start line tree) I looked up at the top of Carnethy and thought that I wasn't altogether sure I would make it that far and back but put my brave pants on and we set off!

We toddled off up towards Coates Farm. It was a beautiful sunny morning. After a fairly flat start the hills kicked in and suddenly it felt like a proper Lakeland Trails 10km! We reached the main road with the hills resplendent in front of us. 

My leg has still been quite sore running on the pavements but the minute I got off the road and onto the trail I felt great. We immediately came across some mud and streams! This is the life. Yvonne was in her element. It is so lovely to see someone else fall in love with trail running. It is so good for the soul!

We trotted our way up to Charlie's Loup, the first point before the proper climb up Carnethy. Beautiful views from here back over Midlothian.

The trail from this point cuts through the heather slopes towards the steep hill heading up to the saddle between Scaldlaw and Carnethy. This is a really steep bit of the climb and there is a perfect resting spot where you can take in the most beautiful view. So that was what we did! Not because we needed a rest at all...

After our short rest we finally reached the saddle and got a bit of a rest as the hill levels off a bit. Although the peat bog was very boggy after all the rain we have had. We had a right laugh when Yvonne pointed to the top of the hill and said "is that a cow?". I replied "no it is a sheep!". She laughed saying it was a big sheep. Yvonne is building a bit of reputation for muddling up farm animals :)

Edinburgh shrouded in cloud

To reach the summit of Carnethy you need to climb up the steep slope which takes you to the huge stone cairn at the top. There wasn't much running at that point, but that is what I love about running in the hills, you don't have to run up the hills, it is the downhill that is the fun bit! There is no pressure to run the whole way - running the ultra taught me that!

So finally, we reached the top. Garmins were paused for a short time to allow us to take in the stunning views and of course pose for our summit photos! 

I took my lakeland trails buff up the hill with me so we posed with that as a flag at the summit. I love these photos as you can see the mist in the background floating into the valley. It looks like water creeping into a bay at the coast!

It was amazing. We took some more stunning shots of the views before we began the fun bit - the run down the hill!

Yvonne is fairly new to hill running and understandably running down a scree slope can be quite scary but she was brilliant. She even managed to lift her arms above penguin pose! 

I couldn't believe how great my leg was feeling (and as I write this the day after, it still feels great - I reckon the effort of hill running really eased things out). I was properly in my happy place, I felt free again. Running down the hill with no pain, and complete abandon was brilliant. It is the best I have felt in months. I reckon I was grinning the whole way down. Yvonne managed to capture my delight!

Running in the hills is just wonderful. It is hard work and rewarding all at once. It is different from walking in the hills. You have less clothes on for a start and no big clumpy hiking boots. You can throw yourself down the hill or carefully pick your way down through heather. Whatever you feel like. There is mud, bogs, rivers and streams to pick your way though. No matter whether the sun is shining or the snow is falling, running in the hills is always so much fun. 

Finally, we made it down the hill again. The fun wasn't over though. Yvonne decided that she was going to embrace the mud and streams and went straight though the first boggy bit she could find. There was a family picking their way around the boggy bit, with the parents lifting their children over the worst bits only to hear two mad women screeching with delight as they got muddier and muddier running through the mud. Then we got to the stream we had carefully picked our way over on the way up the hill, Yvonne shouted "it has to be done" and through she went! Trail running really is the best fun!

On our way back to Coates Farm we had a quick stop to see Dionne and her horses! Then we headed back to Cornbank. The trail looked beautiful in the sunlight. It might not be the run we planned in the Lake District but it was a beautiful run. 

Our finish line was back at the tree in the park, where had started. What a brilliant run! I am so glad we decided to do it and that I was fit enough to do it. It wasn't the fastest but I think you can see from the grin on my face it was so much fun and I am back in my happy place. 

Last word, running has been the thing that has gotten me through the pandemic and all that the restrictions on our lives has brought and to not be able to run for the last two months has been the worst for me. 

But today I have sore legs, not because of my injury but because I ran up a big hill yesterday with my running buddy 😊

Namaste

Don't worry, be happy 

x