Sunday morning took us to Langleeford, at the base of the two highest peaks in the Cheviots. Guest scribe Matthew Scott was our man in the pack to give us this first person account…

For those of us new to fell running, the word pendulum is most commonly associated with an Australian drum and bass band. But for those in DVRC with longer memories, it is the name of a rather stupid fell run in the Cheviots that takes in its two highest peaks in order: The Cheviot itself, and then Hedgehope. A bit like Chevy, but with the relatively non-stupid bits missed out.

It was last put on in 2017 (I think), but revived for 2024 by Cheviot Trail Events and Northern Fell Running. Starting in the Harthope Valley at Langleeford, it is as simple as it hard – go to the top of Cheviot, then straight back down, then go to the top of Hedgehope, then straight back down.

And so, at 7am on Sunday morning, Peter Storey collected me and Chris Aspinall from our beds and whisked us north to take part in the challenge. As the race started, both Peter and Chris were quickly out of sight as we grinded up the long, slow excuse for a path that leads up to Scald Hill. I managed to run some of it (well, a bit). The bogs between Scald Hill and the Cheviot were on good form, licking my left knee cap as I misjudged a step for the first – but not the last – time. Soon, I followed the lead of many others and leapt the fence, continuing to the summit in the glorious sunshine and cooling breeze.

Usually, reaching the Cheviot summit is followed by a bobsleigh style experience off the side, but today we turn and head back along the flagstones and down the way we came. It is a glorious descent, clear skys all round, and I skip joyously off the hill. As the gradient smooths out, I eat a Toffee Crisp and suddenly taste mud for the first – but not the last – time, misstepping round a bog and losing my balance (the Toffee Crisp was, thankfully, unharmed). Soon I’m back in the valley, on my up to Hedgehope via Housey Crags.

The climb up to the crags is steep, and painful. There is a brief reprieve in the relatively flat plain leading up to Hedgehope, and then I am dragging myself up its side. It is horrible. My legs ache, despite the Toffee Crisp and the Soreen bar I’ve just had. My knees refuse to lift. And this way up Hedgehope is the epitome of lonely endlessness, step after tortured step getting smaller and smaller and seemingly moving me no closer to the summit. Peter and Chris pass the other way, flying. After what feels like a geological period – the Horrorcene – the summit cairn swims into view. I fully plan to walk the last few steps to the trig, only to see two camera lens pointing towards me. Determined to look like a proper fell runner in any photos that emerge, I summon a jog, reach the trig, and turn back.

The Hedgehope descent terrifies me. It’s like leaping off the edge of a world. I make decent progress today though, feeling more nimble than I have done on previous attempts. I taste mud again on my way back to the crags, my pink gloves coated in peat and my right knee grazed and stinging. But soon I am up and over the crags and hurtling back into the valley. I am informed on returning that I am an AM finisher, coming in 2 hours and 27 minutes after the 9.30am start. Great, that means lunch. Peter and Chris have been back a while, finishing 19th and 24th respectively. I’m a bit further back in 33rd.

I reunite with them for a can of pop and a bit of quiche. I dip my feet in the stream and let out a (hopefully) inaudible yelp. God it’s cold (I am reliably informed Peter ‘Wim Hof’ Storey went for a full dip). Before long we are back in the van, and I’m back home, so tired I leave the van door hanging open as I say bye and hobble to my front door (sorry Wim). The dog kicks off big style as I try the door and realise I don’t have my key. My better half is at the garden centre. So I sit with my back to the wall, stretch out, and listen to the sound of his barks as the sun hits my face, grateful as always for another day spent in the punishing, breathtaking Cheviot Hills.