Marathon 30! To the Top of England with Scafell Pike - Cumberland

One of the things we've wanted to achieve with this challenge is to truly run the length and breadth of England. We've already explored the far corners of Cornwall, we'll eventually finish on the east coast of Norfolk, and this week took us right to the very top of the country for our Cumberland marathon.

Rather than another coastal route, this one came with a slight twist. It was time to tackle Scafell Pike.

I'd never climbed England's highest mountain before. I've visited the Lake District a couple of times and absolutely loved it, but I'd never experienced it on foot like this. Exciting? Definitely. Daunting? Absolutely. But that's exactly why this challenge exists.

There was a little uncertainty in the build-up too. Charlie, who was joining us for the week, had picked up a knee injury late in training and had barely run in the week beforehand. We genuinely weren't sure whether she'd make the start line, so a few last-minute messages went out to our community. As always, people stepped up without hesitation.

The route itself was about as kind as you could make a marathon that includes the highest point in England. Around nine miles of gentle running to the foot of the mountain, roughly seven miles climbing and descending Scafell Pike, before another ten fairly flat miles back to Keswick.

Charlie made it to the start, which was brilliant news, and we set off from the south of Keswick alongside Zoe, enjoying a gentle opening through some beautiful countryside. Around six miles in we were joined by Amelia, who had run with us in Worcestershire, and her friend Adam, a hugely experienced Lake District runner. They stayed with us all the way up and down the mountain before heading home again. It was Amelia's first experience of that kind of climbing and she was absolutely brilliant.

By the time we reached the foot of Scafell Pike, the weather was still playing nicely. Cloud cover kept the temperature comfortable and conditions looked ideal for the climb. Molly joined us there, along with incredible local support from Jill, whose aid station was nothing short of professional. Having familiar faces and everything we needed waiting for us made a huge difference.

Then it was time to climb.

It was relentlessly uphill, with rocky sections, loose scree near the summit and plenty of opportunities to question our life choices. But it was also one of the most spectacular places we've visited all year. We climbed via the Corridor Route, surrounded by incredible scenery that just seemed to get better with every step.

Halfway up we were joined by Mark, who appeared almost out of nowhere like a true man of the mountains. His local knowledge and company made the climb even more enjoyable, and he stayed with us for the rest of the marathon.

We reached the summit to find that, although visibility for climbing had been excellent, the surrounding peaks had disappeared into cloud. No sweeping panoramic views this time, but standing on the highest point in England still felt incredibly special.

The celebrations were fairly brief though. I was very aware we still had another half marathon to run.

For me, the descent was always going to be the bigger challenge. Going uphill is one thing, but coming back down as a heavier runner puts far more strain through the legs. The first section was technical and rocky, requiring plenty of concentration, before the path eventually became more forgiving and allowed us to settle into a rhythm.

Apart from a few stumbles from Molly - which, according to her mum, is pretty standard! - we all made it safely back down to Jill's aid station around mile sixteen.

Once we left the fell behind and returned to the shores of Derwent Water, the temperature started to rise. The shelter disappeared, the afternoon heat kicked in and the climbing began to make itself known in my legs. Charlie made the sensible decision to stay at the bottom of the mountain with Amelia rather than risk aggravating her knee on the descents, before rejoining us for the run back into Keswick.

The final few miles were tough. I had to walk a handful of the short climbs as the heat and the earlier effort caught up with me, but the wheels never completely came off. We kept moving well and eventually crossed back into Keswick just over seven hours after setting off.

This was another reminder of just how lucky we are to have such incredible places on our doorstep. The Lake District is breathtaking, and sharing it with people who know and love these mountains made the experience even more special.

It's a marathon I'll remember for a long time. England's highest peak is now ticked off, and another historic county completed. More importantly, we're one step closer to being able to say we've truly run England from top to bottom.

A huge thank you to Charlie, Zoe, Amelia, Adam, Molly, Mark, Jill and everyone who helped make the day possible. We'll be back in the Lakes soon for Westmorland, and after this weekend, I can't wait.

Onwards through the thirties!