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Monday, 20 May 2013

Old County Tops - 18 May 2013

Those of us in our advancing years can remember when the present Cumbria was Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire.  Each one hosted at least one of the Lakes highest peaks.  This race visits each of the old counties and makes its way to the top of their respective peaks, Sca Fell Pike, Helvellyn and Coniston Old Man.  This involves a race distance of 37 miles and an ascent of over 10,000 ft.  Andy Hirst loves the Lake District and this sort of race. You have to run it in pairs and he normally teams up with Pete Jackson.  This year, Pete was injured and he therefore joined up Simon Franklin who had also lost his partner through injury.  Below is a link to Andy's account of the day.  For anyone who knows the Lake District, Andy's graphic descriptions take you round those fells and valleys and as you read through it, you realise the magnitude of the challenge that this race represents.

There is also a link to Simon's account who has written his it from the stand point of someone for whom this was his first experience of this race.

Andy's Report

Simon's Account