R*n 172: Thornton-in-Lonsdale

A beautiful early morning in the Yorkshire Dales was abruptly halted by the members of LVH3 sporting their token gesture tartan regalia for the 2006 Burns Night Run.

The Marton Arms became the Tartan Arms, when the two Hares for the day emerged from their car like contestants from a celebrity TV show; "Och tonight Cat, we're going to be the Krankies!!!"

The ran began with plenty of up, more up and more up. Shortly we were running along with amazing views back down the Lune Valley, and behind us back to stately peak of Ingleborough.

Road gave way to pasture, and of course pasture gave way to shiggy. Running along on the side of a hill in mud gave much needed skating practice prior to the Winter Olympics. Most managed to glide across the hillside with comparative ease. Some, however were not so lucky; ThunderDick fell flat on his arse.

Onward to the FRB's worst nightmare; the Fish Hook marking. A successful Fish Hook depends on two key factors; one being a bunch of front runners who actually take it seriously, and secondly having the back markers in the same county as of the front of the pack. On this run neither of these factors happened, with the exception of SlackBladder who gamely ran to Ingleton and back eventually finding the backmarkers who had taken the wrong turn earlier on.

However, the video referee later provided evidence why it took Slackbladder over 10 minutes to rejoin the main group. He was caught on camera in a very uncompromising position with a sheep. The camera never lies!!!

Eventually, onwards to the beer break amongst delightful hamlet of Masongill where whisky was the order of the day. The runners were greeted by a strange florescent orange haired Krankie character trying to pass off some inferior blend as Talisker. The whisky, whatever it was, was greatly appreciated.

Downwards and homewards on a really pleasant run through fields and tracks back to Thornton, passing a dead mink on the way.

A great run in fabulous scenery. Pity about the wigs.