Sad loss for fell running

I was shocked to hear this morning that Darren Holloway of Pennine Fell Runners who are based in Hayfield just 3 miles from me died while particpating in the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay Race at the weekend.

Darren was running with Steve Knowles between Hart Crag and St Sunday Crag (marshaled) when he collapsed near Link Hause on the way to Fairfield. He received prompt CPR assistance, including from runners who selflessly stopped to help him, until the Air Ambulance arrived to take him to Barrow Hospital. 

He was only 42 and was having a brilliant season coming 5th at the Three Shires and 1st MV40 at Scafell Pike.

Our thoughts are for his wife Amanda, his family, friends and club-mates.

He’ll be missed by all who knew him and I think that the end of his final blog post sum him up, how much he loved his sport and how he lived his life.

“I quickly realise that I am first vet 40 back. It means little. A statistic.
The main fulfillment has been the battle against the fell-side and my fellow runners and as I walk back to the beck to wash my legs I applaud other runners coming in. 

We all have worked equally hard, we all have our reasons and we all have just made history.

There is a bucket of flapjack at the finish and some water. It is like nectar and, just like at the Three Shires the week before, I have to smile to myself on an amazing day.

So another race done and yes you all should do this race. It is a gem. Someone is telling me about the Wasdale Head show in a couple of weeks and I wonder if I can do that as well. So many events and so little time.

We are so fortunate to have this wonderful sport.

Only 99 runners today but I did not see one unhappy person and as I drive away I wonder where next. Where will this sport take me.

After hundreds of fell races the sport still has that magnetic pull that it had the first day that I wore a set of fell shoes.”

http://penninefellrunners.co.uk/wordpress/?p=1926