With Maxine injured and unable to drive I had to rethink the strategy and plan for the trip. I would drop to a more supporting role from running with John and reduce the amount of driving that Maxine has to do with her dodgy knee. The plan was that on sections that were low level and easy to navigate with the watch John would run and we would support. On sections that are more remote and require more proper navigation and path finding I would run/walk with John and ensure he was safe and stayed on track. Maxine would support in the car. This would mean we could reduce the amount of kit required to be carried in our packs and mean there was more chance of making up the miles lost the previous days.
John started at Shap with his trainers and ran on the roads and lanes as the paths were low level and mostly on tracks and easy to run paths.
This meant he could pick up a good pace and run light with kit. He ran well all the way to Kirkby Stephen where I picked him up and we walked the steep long climb up to 9 Standards Rigg. There were some great views from the top and the 9 Standards were looking fine in the sunshine. 4 days so far accross the lakes and fells and not a drop of rain yet, can’t be bad.
John was feeling it by the time we got to the top and we descended off the hill and called it a day at the main road junction. He had managed to claw back another few miles and catch up a bit of the lost schedule.
He had covered 27+ miles and was now only around 12 miles behind the schedule again.
He is a determined bugger and keeps up a constant effort and puts pressure on himself to push on even when tired.
We then drove off to a lovely hotel called the Burgoyne in Reeth which was just a little upmarket! Bathrobes and slippers supplied! The food was outstanding as was the service and rooms. Maxine even got handrails in the shower and bath for her disability!
As it was Maxine’s birthday she deserved a nice night.
Onto day 5…..
