We are rocked by disbelief, shocked and desperately sad to hear that Mr Uphilldowndales running partner and our dear friend Daz H, also know as Darren Holloway, collapsed and died during the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay event in Cumbria yesterday. Daz was 42.
Daz was a gifted runner, he could power up a mountain as though jet propelled, and most importantly for a fell runner, he could drop off the other side like a stone, taking the boldest, quickest route down. But that is just part of Daz, he was a competitive cyclist to boot, and some readers will know him as the blogger ‘Laidbackrunner’ but most of all he was a husband, dad and son, it is for his family and their loss that we feel the most.
Daz was a kind, compassionate person, his encouragement of other runners and his sportsmanship are legendary.
Daz and Mr UHDD ran the Bob Graham Round together in 2008, they spent so much time together training, planning, racing, here they are at the finish, at the Moot Hall (some may also remember Daz’s rather special tattoo, to mark the occasion?)
I’ll leave you with the comment Daz made on my post about the Bob Graham, as always with Daz, it was about others, not himself.
Our lives have changed forever for sure. The photos are great, recording a special time in myself and Mr Uhdd’s lives.
The memory of me touching the moot hall and then being told not long after by your youngest son that‘MY DAD WONT BE LONG’ , had me in tears. I couldn’t hold them back and the lump in my throat as Mr Uhdd ran to the finish was unforgettable.
Daz, dear Daz, for us, you are unforgettable too, nor can we hold back the tears. And if there could be any doubt about what running meant to you, this post says it all.
I’m sure in years to come I’ll be able to think of how you died doing what you loved so much, in the Autumn sunshine on the glorious Cumbrian fells; but for the moment I can’t get past the fact that you’ve gone, gone before your race was run, that and the heart ache of those who loved you.
21:59 Edit… I should have included our heartfelt thanks to the emergency services and mountain rescue, and especially those of you who immediately stepped forward to help Daz, fellow runners, people out on the hill for the day, you stepped forward just as Daz would have done for someone else in need. You are special… you did your best, no one could ask for more. Remember that. Take comfort in that.
Uphilldowndale 