Songs for the uphill.

Cold breath First light Feet down Head high Stone underfoot Fire in my chest Every climb Puts courage to the test Loose dirt Hard turn Feel the legs Feel them burn No shortcut No easy way Just the trail And the break of day One more ridge One more line I came out here To burn the climb When it gets steep I lean in When it gets hard That's where I begin Burn the climb Hold the line One more step At a time Through the dust Through the pain Up the mountain Down again Burn the climb Chase the sky Leave the easy road behind Heart on fire Feet in time I was made To burn the climb Wind on my face Sun on the stone Miles from traffic Miles from home Creek crossing Mud and rain Every mark Becomes a name Breathing hard Vision clear The higher I go The less I fear No crowd needed No finish sign Just another chance To burn the climb When it gets steep I lean in When it gets hard That's where I begin Burn the climb Hold the line One more step At a time Through the dust Through the pain Up the mountain Down again Burn the climb Chase the sky Leave the easy road behind Heart on fire Feet in time I was made To burn the climb Maybe I'm tired Maybe I'm slow But there's only one direction When the trail says go Up through the silence Into the wind Every hard mile Pulls something out from within So lift your head Breathe in deep The summit never came To those who sleep Burn the climb Hold the line One more step At a time Through the dust Through the rain Find the rhythm In the pain Burn the climb Chase the sky Leave the easy road behind Heart on fire Feet in time I was made I was made To burn the climb One more step One more mile Burn the climb

Lace them up, hit the ground No more walls, no city sound One deep breath, one more mile Run it wild, run it wild Morning light on a dusty trail Heart beats fast and I chase the gale Over the rocks, through the trees Nothing but the mountain breeze Every climb, every turn Feel the lungs, feel the burn Leave the road, leave it all Hear the wild when the mountains call Higher, further, one step more I know what I'm running for Run wild, run free Trail beneath and sky above me Run wild, don't slow down Feet on dirt, no city ground Up the hill, through the fire Every step takes me higher Run wild, run free This is where I'm meant to be Mud on shoes, dust on skin Every trail is where I begin River crossing, rocky climb Forget the clock, forget the time Left foot, right foot, find the flow Follow the path wherever it goes No finish line inside my mind Just one more trail I need to find Higher, further, one step more I know what I'm running for Run wild, run free Trail beneath and sky above me Run wild, don't slow down Feet on dirt, no city ground Up the hill, through the fire Every step takes me higher Run wild, run free This is where I'm meant to be When the road ends, I begin When the climb hurts, dig within Breathe it in, let it go There's always one more trail to know Hey Run wild, run free Mountain air is calling me Run wild, don't slow down Chasing sunrise over the ground Up the hill, through the fire Every step takes me higher Run wild, run free This is where I'm meant to be Run wild Run free One more trail is calling me

Cold air, first light Trail ahead, morning bright One more climb, one more line Leave the world far behind Dirt beneath me, sky turning gold Every mile makes me feel bold Past the pines, across the stone Out here I'm never alone Heart beats hard, breathing deep Promises I came to keep Every summit, every bend I don't need to see the end Keep moving, keep climbing Let the silence pull me in The higher the mountain The stronger I begin I'm chasing the ridge, chasing the light Running through the morning into the wild No road, no walls Just the mountain when it calls I'm chasing the ridge, one step at a time Dust on my shoes and fire in my mind Let the whole world fall behind I'm chasing the ridge till I touch the sky River below, wind in the trees Nothing out here comes easy Loose rock, steep climb Every struggle worth the time Sweat on my face, mud on my skin This is where the day begins No traffic lights, no crowded streets Only the rhythm under my feet Keep moving, keep climbing Let the silence pull me in The higher the mountain The stronger I begin I'm chasing the ridge, chasing the light Running through the morning into the wild No road, no walls Just the mountain when it calls I'm chasing the ridge, one step at a time Dust on my shoes and fire in my mind Let the whole world fall behind I'm chasing the ridge till I touch the sky When my legs say stop My heart says go When the trail gets steep That's when I know Every climb, every scar Reminds me how far we are So breathe it in And take one more There's always something past the next contour I'm chasing the ridge, chasing the light Running through the sunrise into the wild No road, no walls Just the mountain when it calls I'm chasing the ridge, one step at a time Dust on my shoes and fire in my mind Let the whole world fall behind I'm chasing the ridge Till I touch the sky One more climb One more mile Chasing the ridge Running wild

Six in the morning, the car park's bare Tie my shoes in the cold, still air Leave the keys tucked above the wheel Start out slow till the legs feel real Fire road ends where the pines grow thick Duck that branch, let the feet move quick Last night's rain running down the track First climb hits and I settle back Shorten the stride, let the shoulders drop There's a long way up to the rocky top Hear my breathing over everything Then the trail turns and I lean in Round the next bend, out on the ridge Over the roots where the rain washed in Taking the line as it comes to me Loose on the downhill, light on my feet Mud on my legs and a mouthful of dust Some days it flows, some days it's tough The town's somewhere past the southern end I'm still out here, round the next bend Catch my toe on a buried stone Throw out a hand, keep rolling on Walk ten steps where the slope gets mean Drink from the flask, let the lungs come clean Someone passes with a quick "All good?" I nod and follow them into the wood Their shirt disappears where the switchbacks start I find my pace and let the gap get large No use chasing on a climb like this Salt on my face, watch loose on my wrist Wind comes up through a break in the trees One more turn and there's space to breathe Round the next bend, out on the ridge Over the roots where the rain washed in Taking the line as it comes to me Loose on the downhill, light on my feet Mud on my legs and a mouthful of dust Some days it flows, some days it's tough The town's somewhere past the southern end I'm still out here, round the next bend Thought about turning at the creek Bad night's sleep and a heavy week Sat on a rock till the feeling passed Watched the water moving fast Now the climb is behind my back And the afternoon opens across the track Round the next bend, down from the ridge Over the roots where the rain washed in Taking the line as it comes to me Loose on the downhill, light on my feet Mud on my legs and a mouthful of dust Some days it flows, some days it's tough I see my car through the fence again Come back next week, take the longer end Shoes in the boot, shirt on the seat Still feel the trail underneath my feet

Engine ticking in the dark Only car in the car park Coffee gone cold in the cup holder Frost on the roof and the air's gone colder Lace the left, then lace the right Double knot by the dome light Key on the tyre, out of sight Last look back at the one street light Gate swings open Gate swings closed The trail starts here Where the tarmac goes Car park, five a.m. Nobody's up but me and the hill Car park, five a.m. The whole day's out there and it's still First step's heavy, second's fine Body remembers the old incline Owl on the fence post, the stars go thin Somewhere out east the light gets in Every song I'm gonna need today Starts right here in the first grey Mile one quiet, mile two warm Mile three, there's a hint of a storm Gate swings open Gate swings closed The trail starts here Where the tarmac goes Car park, five a.m. Nobody's up but me and the hill Car park, five a.m. The whole day's out there and it's still The whole day's out there The whole day's out there Go

Top of the col and the wind's gone cold Gate on the left where the path turns old Eight hundred metres and it all goes down Scree on the shoulder, then the valley, then the town Arms out wide like I'm holding the air Eyes three steps ahead, not here, not there Quads start talking but I don't reply Gravity's got me and I'm letting it fly Don't brake, don't brake Quick feet, short steps, light weight Trust it, trust it The ground knows where I'm going Let it run, let it run Loose stones rolling in the low gold sun Heels light, heart up, don't look back Dancing down the edge of the switchback track Let it run, let it run Everything I carried up is coming undone Fall forward, find your feet Let it run, let it run Roots like ladders where the beech trees grow Mud on the corner, take it wide and slow Hear a shout from somebody behind Step to the side, "Go on, you're fine" Stream at the bottom, cold to the knee Laugh out loud 'cause there's no one to see Legs like jelly but my head is clear An hour to climb it, ten minutes down here Don't brake, don't brake Quick feet, short steps, light weight Trust it, trust it The ground knows where I'm going Let it run, let it run Loose stones rolling in the low gold sun Heels light, heart up, don't look back Dancing down the edge of the switchback track Let it run, let it run Everything I carried up is coming undone Fall forward, find your feet Let it run, let it run Up there I was counting every breath Bargaining with every step Down here there's no time to think Just the next stone, the next line, don't blink Let it run, let it run Loose stones rolling in the low gold sun Heels light, heart up, don't look back Dancing down the edge of the switchback track Let it run, let it run Everything I carried up is coming undone Fall forward, find your feet Let it run, let it run Gate at the bottom, hands on my knees Looking back up at the line through the trees

Blue sky at breakfast, forecast said fine Left the good jacket on the hook at nine Cloud on the ridge like a lid coming down First fat drop and the path turns brown Hail on the hood like a snare drum roll Water in the ruts and it's starting to flow Asked my shoes how they're doing, they said "We were dry for a mile, now we're soaked instead" Squelch, squelch, there it goes Cold creeping up through all ten toes Squelch, squelch, nothing to lose Can't get wetter than wet in these shoes Wet feet, wet feet Rain coming sideways, I don't care Wet feet, wet feet Nothing left to keep dry out here Straight through the river, straight through the bog Laughing like a kid with a soaking wet dog Wet feet, wet feet Keep moving, keep warm River's up to here where the stones should be Rope on the post that was dry last week Unclip the pack, hold the poles up high Step one, step two, cold up to the thigh Middle of the current, someone shouts my name I turn round grinning and they do the same Out the other side with the rain still coming Steam off our backs and we're all still running Squelch, squelch, there it goes Cold creeping up through all ten toes Squelch, squelch, nothing to lose Can't get wetter than wet in these shoes Wet feet, wet feet Rain coming sideways, I don't care Wet feet, wet feet Nothing left to keep dry out here Straight through the river, straight through the bog Laughing like a kid with a soaking wet dog Wet feet, wet feet Keep moving, keep warm Can't get wetter (can't get wetter) Than wet (than wet) Can't get wetter (can't get wetter) So don't stop yet Wet feet, wet feet Rain coming sideways, I don't care Wet feet, wet feet Nothing left to keep dry out here Straight through the river, straight through the bog Laughing like a kid with a soaking wet dog Wet feet, wet feet Keep moving, keep warm Keep moving, keep warm Who's got dry socks?

Smoke from the chimney round the last of the bend Hut on the saddle like an old good friend Kick off the mud on the step by the door Pack hits the bench and my legs hit the floor Flask of tea that's been waiting since six Squashed jam sandwich and a bag of trail mix Stranger at the table slides the sugar across Talks about the weather and the shortcut he lost Ten minutes, that's the rule Twenty if the tea's not cool Halfway hut, halfway home Nobody up here is on their own Hands round a mug and the windows steam Boots by the fire and a half-dried team Sing it loud, sing it slow One more cup and then we go Map on the table with a ring from a cup Old boy points to the way we came up Dog by the stove doesn't lift its head Twelve miles behind and twelve miles ahead Laugh off the rafters, somebody's song Everybody's humming it before too long Pull on the jacket that's still damp at the seams Back out the door with the warm still in me Ten minutes, that's the rule Twenty if the tea's not cool Halfway hut, halfway home Nobody up here is on their own Hands round a mug and the windows steam Boots by the fire and a half-dried team Sing it loud, sing it slow One more cup and then we go One more cup (one more cup) Then we go (then we go) One more cup And we're back in the cold Halfway hut, halfway home Nobody up here is on their own Hands round a mug and the windows steam Boots by the fire and a half-dried team Sing it loud, sing it slow One more cup and then we go One more cup and then we go

Saw the top from the second gate Twenty minutes, maybe less, I can wait Saved the gel for the summit cairn Phone in my hand for the photo, then home Rock band, scree band, one more lip Hands on my knees for the final trip Crest the edge and I lift my eyes And there it is: another rise Who put that there? Who moved the sky? The hill's been lying And so have I False summit, false summit You got me again I gave you my last breath At the top of the bend False summit, false summit I'm not done yet There's always one more hill Than the hill you expect Ate the gel at the wrong cairn Told my legs it was over, now they're up in arms Couple coming down say "nearly there" Same thing they said on the last one, I swear Wind in my teeth and a grin I can't hide The mountain's a liar, but what a ride Head down, count fifty, don't look up Fifty more, then fifty more, then that's enough Who put that there? Who moved the sky? The hill's been lying And so have I False summit, false summit You got me again I gave you my last breath At the top of the bend False summit, false summit I'm not done yet There's always one more hill Than the hill you expect Is that it? No One more! (One more!) One more! (One more!) Every top's a door To one more! False summit, false summit You got me again I gave you my last breath At the top of the bend False summit, false summit I'm not done yet There's always one more hill And that's the one I came for Okay, that's the top

Watch says six and the sun's gone west Zip the jacket up to the top of my chest Click the switch and the world gets small One white circle and that's it, that's all Fence post, cairn, a sheep's green eyes Breath like smoke in a cone of light Seven miles to the car below Only the beam knows the way I go Battery's at half Legs are at less Keep the circle moving Let the dark do the rest Headtorch, headtorch Burning through the black Ten feet of daylight Never looking back Headtorch, headtorch Every step I see Is the only step that matters Let the night follow me Moths in the beam like snow in June Somewhere a farm dog howls at the moon Stile, then the stream, then the long wet grass Shoes full of river but the cold will pass Switch it off at the top of the rise Ten thousand torches up there in the sky Switch it back on, put my head back down Orange in the valley, that's the edge of town Battery's at half Legs are at less Keep the circle moving Let the dark do the rest Headtorch, headtorch Burning through the black Ten feet of daylight Never looking back Headtorch, headtorch Every step I see Is the only step that matters Let the night follow me (Is anybody out there?) Just me and the hill (Is anybody out there?) Just me and the hill And it's still, so still Click Breathe Go Headtorch, headtorch Burning through the black Ten feet of daylight Never looking back Headtorch, headtorch Every step I see Is the only step that matters Let the night follow me Let the night follow me Click

Sun's on the shoulder of the far hill now Long gold shadows and I don't know how Ten hours went like an afternoon Legs full of sand and a rising moon Walking the flat bits, nobody minds Stone wall leaning where the old track winds Put the watch away at the last stile Nothing to measure on the last mile Slow now, slow now Nothing left to prove Last light, last light Stay a little while Paint the whole valley For the last mile I've been running all day From the dark to the bright Now I'm walking home slowly In the last light Thinking of people I'll tell this to The hut and the river and the false summit too Wind's dropped off and the birds go quiet Breath comes easy and I don't fight it Every song I needed came along Now there's only room for this one song Shadow ahead of me, twice my size Walking me home with the sun in my eyes Slow now, slow now Nothing left to prove Last light, last light Stay a little while Paint the whole valley For the last mile I've been running all day From the dark to the bright Now I'm walking home slowly In the last light Thank you, legs Thank you, hill Thank you, light For holding still Last light, last light Stay a little while Paint the whole valley For the last mile I've been running all day From the dark to the bright Now I'm walking home slowly In the last light

Back at the car and it's dark again Same frost settling where the day began Peel off the socks and they peel off skin Mud to the knee, I don't care, I'm in Phone lights up, "Are you home yet, mate?" Send back the summit, "Yeah, running late" Engine's cold and the heater's slow Map on the seat and I already know Same gate, same climb Same hill, different time Same trail tomorrow Same mud, same rain Same false summit Gonna fool me again Life begins where the tarmac ends Lace them up and run it all again Same trail tomorrow I'll see you up there, friend Burned on the climb, ran wild from the start Chased down the ridge with a drum for a heart Let it run on the way down, wet to the bone Tea at the hut and a headtorch home Fooled by the summit, I laughed it through Last light gold on the final view Body says "never", head says "when?" Alarm's already set for five a.m. Same gate, same climb Same hill, different time Same trail tomorrow Same mud, same rain Same false summit Gonna fool me again Life begins where the tarmac ends Lace them up and run it all again Same trail tomorrow I'll see you up there, friend Where the tarmac ends Where the tarmac ends That's where the good stuff starts, my friend Where the tarmac ends (where the tarmac ends) Where the tarmac ends (where the tarmac ends) Same trail tomorrow Same mud, same rain Same false summit Gonna fool me again Life begins where the tarmac ends Lace them up and run it all again Same trail tomorrow I'll see you up there, friend Same trail tomorrow I'll see you up there, friend