‘We Fall Down But We Get Up Again’.

That’s the name of the group I ran with this morning. I try to get out with them as often as possible for my long run of the week, as I really enjoy our outings. I can’t take Ruby with me though as she has a habit of tripping people up when we run with others.

As a bit of background, the WFDBWGUA group describes themselves as:

‘…a small ill-defined group of mostly geriatric runners who share a love of the fells. It also covers a sub-group, best described as drinkers with a running problem, who struggle to combine dwindling athletic ability with an increasing thirst for cheap alcohol. A sort of "Last of the Summer Whine" (sic) in Walshes…’


Along for the ride today were myself, Ed Swift, John Swift, Rachel Swift, John Coope, Kev Latham and Pauline Charters. I feel it’s time to point out that two of these guys are over 70 years old, one nearer 80! If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is! A few weeks ago I ran all the way to Darwen Tower and back, over the tops, with the 78 year old - a total of over 14 miles!

We met up at the ‘UTUP’ and climbed straight up to the Pike. From there we ran back down to George’s Lane, along to the kennels and up to Two Lads. It was pretty fresh up there and you can get cold really easily so I did a few laps around one of the cairns whilst waiting for the group to all get to the top.

At this point John Swift (young John) went his separate way. The rest of us set off toward the quarries and to the Trespass Stone. For anyone not in the know, this is a commemorative stone in memory of the people of Bolton who took place in the mass trespass which took place on Winter Hill in 1896 in the fight to reclaim their right of way. The way things are going on Winter Hill at the minute, history may well repeat itself!

From the Trespass Stone we went up to the trig point on Winter Hill and from there dropped down to Belmont Road where John Coope (John the Elder) and Kev returned to the barn.

Now down to four, we set off along Belmont Road and out onto Rivington Road. We ran along the road a little before turning off at Hordern Stoops and headed cross-country to Lead Mines Clough.

One thought I had whilst running towards Lead Mines Clough was that I really need to work on my strength. There are people I run in the fells with who are much stronger than me and much better climbers but, if I was up against them in a 5 or 10k road race, I would leave them for dust. I’ve never really thought about that before but it has told me that I really need to do more strength training and squats to build up that much needed leg muscle.

Once in Lead Mines Clough Pauline and I decided to go up to Bomber Memorial before setting off back to the barn. Ed and Rachel left us at this point and headed back.

After leaving Lead Mines Clough Pauline took me along a route I haven’t been along before, through a field which brought us out onto the private road along ‘Dean Brook’. From here we made our way back to our cars at the barn, where we arrived just after Ed and Rachel.

It’s such a pleasure running with these guys, they’re so interesting and full of knowledge of the fells and life in general. I learn all sorts of new routes and really enjoy the great company.

Bring on the next one!

Total distance – 12 miles