March 7th - Eildons

Events, dear boy, (i.e. taxi-ing Ellie home from school) contrived to have me in Melrose in the afternoon, so I downed tools early and scheduled a run in the Eildons beforehand. Legs still very heavy, so rather than plod over the tops as I usually do, I crafted a cunning 45-minute circuit around the base of the hills. Muddy as you like on the north and western slopes but much drier on south and east. Took in the third and smallest top, which I’d never conquered before. Finished absolutely plastered in mud, and carrying about 5lbs of clay on each shoe and another liberal splattering up my legs and back, with which I clumped into St. Mary’s to the obvious embarrassment of Ellie and the amusement of her Pals.