Rat Race Run Britannia - Week 3, day 4 - Penrith to Carlisle

The shortest day


Distance: 39.22km (total so far 834.59km)
Total climb: 308m (total so far 15,410m)
Steps: 43,615 (total so far 1,004,163)

After the rain of yesterday, this morning was a bright and sunny day, and also by far the easiest day we have had - it didn't technically even qualify as an ultramarathon. However, we weren't complaining - we were running to the accommodation we were already staying in in Carlisle, and all we really had to do was run up the road there.

There were only two feedstations, excitingly named "roundabout" and "service station", so it was never going to be a day for expansive views.


The minibus took us back to Askham (no time for a swim this time) and we started out heading past the castle we had seen from the hill (once we were below the cloud layer) yesterday.


For all that Rat Race seem to be good at finding castles for feedstations, expecting one in the first km was probably too much, so we kept going after taking a couple of photos.


The route out of the castle took us into Penrith, which was a quiet enough town at that time in the morning.

After that, it was simply a question of plugging along the fairly quiet road between Penrith and Carlisle - fairly quiet because most of the traffic goes up the motorway that parallels the road. It wasn't unpleasant, and it certainly gave our feet and ankles a rest after yesterday, but it was a little monotonous.


It did, however, give us our first sight of Scotland, or what I assume were Scottish hills.


The feedstation locations, as mentioned before, were not at their most exciting, but they did the job as always - and, even on a short day, kept us hydrated.


We diverted off our endless road just short of Carlisle and came in past the racetrack and into the centre of town, right up to our hotel - and ready for a late lunch. Job done, and nice to have a little more time to ourselves in the afternoon.

So, there we were. In the Last Homely House on the Edge of the Wild - otherwise known as the Crown and Mitre, Carlisle. Tomorrow would take us into Scotland, where there would be tim'rous beasties, funny shaped sausages and scary wild haggis to worry about. The adventure continues!





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