• Sarah and Ian checking the map on Nab Scar - but actually this bit of the walking route is not part of the race

  • Washing cow poo off my feet after the race

  • Under the trees at Rydal Hall after the race: Dave, Andy, Anna

  • There were 291 starters

Fairfield Horseshoe 2012

A couple of weeks ago we went to recce the Fairfield Horseshoe race route: 9 miles/14.5 kms and 3000 feet/914 m. I’ve walked this horseshoe before but only anticlockwise, and the race is clockwise. The weather was perfect, sunny but cool and breezy as Sarah, Sabiene, Andy, Ian and I set off.

Sarah and Ian checking the map on Nab Scar - but actually this bit of the walking route is not part of the race due to erosion

It was a lovely day for views.

As the day was so good there were lots of walkers about. One of the best aspects of the day was the walkers’ admiration: “Good grief, look at them, they’re running!” etc. – it was a real ego trip πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

Astonishingly, last weekend’s weather was just as good so there was no excuse to duck out of the race.

There were 291 starters

After a short run up from Rydal Hall the track ran through a farmyard covered in a deep deposit of cow poo and mud. I decided to outflank this, many went through it – one unfortunate person ended up face down in it πŸ™ After that the ground was mostly firm.
Obviously I couldn’t take pics whilst running, so here is one of Sarah and Andy outflanking the Bad Step on the recce descent.

I really enjoyed this race – usually it is only in retrospect that I think I have had fun! The only bad bit was the hard track from the bottom of the fell back to Rydal Hall.

Under the trees at Rydal Hall after the race: Carl with Dave, Andy, Anna, pre-cake
Washing cow poo off my feet after the race

The race was followed by a quick recce of the shops in Ambleside where we discovered a new cafe. We thought we would give it a go, and when we were presented with vouchers for free cake that settled the matter. Unusually for these days it does not appear to have a website so here is a relevant illustration:

3 thoughts on “Fairfield Horseshoe 2012”

  1. A great run Anna and a good time πŸ˜€ …….. I think you were 5th in your class which is amazing !!
    I know I was knackered after the recce :alien:

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