Fiona Marley Paterson

It started with an email heading: ‘Slightly Mad Idea’. Find an amenable landowner with some sort of boat house; get funding; buy boats; get coaching qualification; single… Read more “Letting Go”

The Lakeland 100 I’m shuffling, not running. This has been the case for several miles. Runners doing the Lakeland 50 are overtaking me with demoralising frequency. Both… Read more “Three Crazy Months”

“You have a place on the reserve list of the Fred Whitton.” The words that filled me with so much excitement, followed by extreme self doubt, disappointment,… Read more “I’m in the Fred!”

We all need to get lost sometimes. It reminds us to respect the mountains. It’s humbling to remember how small you are and how easy an adventure… Read more “OS Locate”

“I love darkness” a light blue night sky silhouettes Kendal’s castle. Stars wait patiently above for us to spring into action when our relay partners hurtle downhill signalling… Read more “Getting Stronger”

My last run didn’t quite go to plan. I set out late in the morning to do an out-and-back recce of part of the Lakeland 100 route.… Read more “Navigating”

“There’s a wall up there. Believe me it’s there. You’re running up to that, any further and you’re chasing rabbits.” I’m sure what Sean actually said made perfect… Read more “Running Hard”

There’s a hum as ultra runners mill in Ambleside Parish Hall. There’s a lot of squeaky clean new kit. Salomon has done well. I look a little… Read more “Lakeland 100: Recce 2”

A whelp escapes my breath as cold peat envelopes my knee. My heart absorbs my frustration at being a ruddy girl. Defeat spreads from my swamped ankle towards… Read more “Helm Hill Winter League”

My friend Will is clambering over a landslide. I’m still picking a path across the previous stream, avoiding rotting trees brought down by an angry bloke called… Read more “Helvellyn in the snow”