Disappointed to not be running the Old County Tops race today, KA and I head to Buttermere for the Buttermere / Sailbeck race. This will be my third time, and previous times have not been good, weather issues with very serious and fatal consequences.
It again feels ill-fated, as we pull into Buttermere, the rain is lashing down and conditions are far from ideal, but at least it's forecast to improve; and improve it does. The rain has stopped by the time the race starts and the cloud base has lifted.
We run together, it's hard work over Ard Crags and then we dig in for the climb to Causey Pike. All is going ok until we come across another run who has fallen and banged his head. Others runners are with him, but it is the two of us who decide to stick with him and make sure he is ok. It's surprising just how quickly the cold sets in; we wrap him in his jacket and hat and gloves, and them both need to do the same.
He is definitely dazed and these are not ideal conditions to be left alone. We stay with him and take a much steadier run to Crag Hill, Whiteless Pike and to the finish; we both felt this was the right thing to do, particularly given the past history of this race; it's always there for another day, and it's important that we are too.
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