SILVA Northern Traverse™

Saturday 5th to Wednesday 9th April 2025

A 300km ultra following Wainwright’s Coast to coast route from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay

number-counter
Distance

300 km

Height gain

6500 metres

Days to complete?

5 days

The SILVA Northern Traverse™ is a 300km ultra following Wainwright’s coast to coast route from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay. The event has a strong adventurous ethos and culture of self-sufficiency.

Beginning at St Bees on the west coast, the route crosses the north of England through three National Parks finishing in Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast. Taking in iconic mountains, valleys, moors and ~6,500m of ascent, the SILVA Northern Traverse™ is one of the most spectacular journeys in the UK.

We want to make this the best ultra you have ever done! We can’t take credit for the route, this is down to Alfred Wainwright – but he got it right, which is why it is Britain’s most popular long distance path.

The Route

Wainwright got it right when he devised a route across the country taking in the three National Parks. The mountains of the Lake District define the first section but also provide half of the ascent. Although Kirkby Stephen is less than 130km in to the route it is often thought of as halfway.

The remote paths off Nine Standards in the Dales provide a stark contrast before crossing the relatively busy Vale of York which are followed by crossing the quiet high plateaus of the North York Moors. The final run along the coastal path is a fitting finish to an amazing journey.

Tip: click/tap on "Learn more" then expand the map to get more route details.

Average Terrain Type

  • The race route is not marked but it is usually straight forward to follow because it is a well established national hiking trail. Each year, more of the route is waymarked with official Coast to Coast signs.

    We provide the following options to assist participants:

    1. An official waterproof race map collected at registration.

    2. A digital version of the race map via the Avenza app, which displays your location in realtime on the race route.

    3. A downloadable GPX file of the race route to use with your preferred device (watch, phone) or mapping software.

  • We recommend using the Avenza App which can be downloaded HERE.

    Participants will be emailed prior to the event when the Avenza digital mapping is ready.

    It is available free of charge to participants.

  • The draft route dated 04/12/2023 is available to download HERE.

    Please be aware that this is a provisional route and subject change. It does not entitled you to any special access and if you are recce’ing the route please ensure that observe The Countryside Code at all times.

    A GPX file of the final version of the route will be emailed directly to participants about 10-days before the event.

  • There will be discrepancies between the GPX download, the Outdoor Active and Avenza digital mapping and the information on this website.

    The distance and height gain of the route change one year to next, because the route varies from one edition to the next, which is due landowner permissions and consultations.

    The headline 300km is a slight over estimation of the route distance in 2024, but the estimate height gain of 6,500m is accurate.

  • The route is mandatory and defined by Checkpoints and Support Points. Checkpoints are virtual (i.e. not manned) and help participant gauge their progress between Support Points and generate meaningful results.

    We do have some generous cut-offs in place, based on roughly 4km/h, and allowing extra time for ascent. These times roughly allow for ~5 hours of breaks at support points.

    You must have left the respective Checkpoint or Support Point by the following time:

    • Ennerdale Bridge (Water only)

      Distance from start: 24km

      Height gain since start: 482m

      Cut Off: N/A

    • Borrowdale Support Point

      Distance from start: 47km

      Distance from Ennerdale Bridge: 23km

      Height gain since Ennerdale Bridge: 525m

      Cut Off: Saturday 23:00

    • Patterdale Support Point

      Distance from start: 69km

      Distance from Borrowdale: 22km

      Height gain since Borrowdale: 1,015m

      Cut Off: Sunday 10:00

    • Kidsty Pike Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 77km

      Distance from Patterdale: 8km

      Height gain since Patterdale: 683m

      Guidance time : Sunday 13:00

    • Shap Support Point

      Distance from start: 94km

      Distance from Kidsty Pike: 17km

      Height gain since Kidsty Pike: 267m

      Cut Off: Sunday 17:30

    • Kirkby Stephen Support Point

      Distance from start: 125km

      Distance from Shap: 31km

      Height gain since Shap: 418m

      Cut Off: Monday 06:00

    • Nine Standards Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 132km

      Distance from Kirkby Stephen: 7km

      Height gain since Kirkby Stephen: 488m

      Guidance time: Monday 07:30

    • Tan Hill Road Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 142km

      Distance from Nine Standards: 10km

      Height gain since Kirkby Stephen: 18m

      Guidance time: Monday 10:30

    • Ruin Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 152km

      Distance from Tan Hill Road: 9km

      Height gain since Tan Hill Road: 490m

      Guidance time: Monday 13:30

    • Dales Bike Centre

      Distance from start: 162km

      Distance from Ruin: 10km

      Height gain since Ruin: 72m

      Guidance time: Monday 17:00

    • Richmond Support Point

      Distance from start: 178km

      Distance from Dales Bike Centre: 16km

      Height gain since Dales Bike Centre: 314m

      Cut Off: Tuesday 04:30

    • Danby Wiske Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 200km

      Distance from Richmond: 22km

      Height gain since Richmond: 47m

      Guidance time: Tuesday 09:30

    • Lordstones Support Point

      Distance from start: 227km

      Distance from Danby Wiske: 27km

      Height gain since Danby Wiske: 554m

      Cut Off: Wednesday 03:00

    • Lion Inn Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 246km

      Distance from Lordstones: 19km

      Height gain since Lordstones: 549m

      Guidance time: Wednesday 06:00

    • Glaisdale Support Point

      Distance from start: 261km

      Distance from Lion Inn: 15km

      Height gain since Lordstones: 53m

      Cut Off: Wednesday 13:00

    • Hawsker Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 285km

      Distance from Glaisdale: 24km

      Height gain since Glaisdale: 473m

      Guidance time: Wednesday 19:00

    • Robin Hood’s Bay Finish

      Distance from start: 290km

      Distance from Hawsker: 7km

      Height gain since Hawsker: 90m

      Cut Off: Wednesday 23:59

  • You must have reached the finish in Robin Hood’s Bay by 23:59 on Wednesday – this is the course closure time and anyone arriving after this time will finish ‘non-competitively’.

  • It is only possible to retire at the Support Points.

    In an emergency, our professional event Response Team will assist participants whilst they are on the course.

  • The SILVA Northern Traverse™ is worth SIX ITRA points and THREE mountain points - find out more here.

Where and when?

  • FRIDAY

    13:00 - 15:00 Car park open (Robin Hood’s Bay)

    15:00 Bus departs (Robin Hood’s Bay - 3.5 hour journey)

    17:00 Campsite opens (St Bees)

    17:00 - 21:00 Registration and bag drop open (St Bees)

    SATURDAY

    06:00 - 08:00 – Registration and bag drop open (St Bees)

    08:15 – Briefing (start line - allow 20 minutes to walk between registration and the start line)

    08:30 – START

    MONDAY

    08:00 First finisher expected in Robins Hood’s Bay

    WEDNESDAY

    23:59 Course Closure Time

    THURSDAY

    10:00 – park and ride car park closes. All vehicles must be clear of the site by this time.

  • A ‘Park and Ride’ option is included in the entry in your entry to the SILVA Northern Traverse™.

    Park and Ride Location (and Finish):

    Robin Hoods Bay (HERE)

    The parking fields is at Hooks House Farm Campsite.

    Departure time:

    Friday 15:00

    The bus will leave exactly on time. Please don’t be late!

    Not using our bus transport?

    Please just head straight for the registration venue in St Bees.

  • Registration Venue

    St Bees School: Wood Lane, St Bees, Saint Bees CA27 0DS (HERE)

    Parking

    Temporary parking (only to register) is available at St Bees School. It is not possible to park for the duration of the event at St Bees school; please use the public pay and display car park on the beach.

    Useful information: the school is a 20-minute walk from the race start.

  • Optional camping at St Bees School (on the school playing fields) on the Friday night before the race start Saturday morning.

    Cost: £10 per person

    • Maximum tent size: 3-person tent.

    • Additional ‘Camping Bag’: Maximum weight is 10kg

    Please book this in advance on SiEntries. For those who book and pay for camping we will transport one additional ‘camping bag’ (maximum weight 10kg) direct to the the finish in Robin Hood’s Bay. There is no access to this bag during the event.

    Camping will be open from 17:00 (same time as registration opens). Arrivals are welcome until 21:00.

    Camping includes access to school toilets, showers and changing rooms between 17:00 and 21:00 on Friday evening, and 06:00 and 08:00 on Saturday morning, and overnight access to portable toilets.

    Please note that there is no parking available at St Bees school. Campervans and caravans are not permitted.

  • We will also be serving an optional Friday night meal and Saturday morning breakfast for an extra cost at St Bees Schhol. These will need to be pre-booked on SIEntries:

    This menu will be updated for 2025. This is an example from the 2024 event.

    Friday Night Meal

    Served from 17:30-21:00

    Starter - Mushroom soup served with a sourdough roll

    Main - Lasagne (Vegan and GF options available) (Contains Soya)

    It's cheesy, creamy, and so delicious. Layers of lasagne sheets, a vegetarian Bolognese sauce, all topped with a ricotta and mozzarella sauce, and you have yourself one of the best ever vegetarian lasagnes!

    Pudding - A classic apple and rhubarb crumble served with cream

    Saturday Morning Breakfast

    Breakfast meal served from 5:00 - 7:00

    Cold options: Cereal, muesli

    Hot options: Eggs, beans, hash browns, vegan sausage, porridge

  • The start is at 08:30.

    There is a 20-minute walk between St Bees School (registration) and the beach (start).

    Friends and family are welcome to join you at the start on the beach at St Bees. There is a large public car park that they can use.

  • The finish is on the shoreline at Robin Hood’s Bay (HERE)

    There will be a small group of the Event Team ready and waiting on the shoreline finish to welcome and congratulate all finishers. Once toes have been dipped in the North Sea, and a pint drunk (optional), finishers will be escorted back up the hill to the Fylingdales Village Hall where all the post race admin is completed.

    Fylingdales Village Hall, Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby YO22 4RA

    Friends and Family

    Specifically, on the Silva Northern Traverse we must stress that attempting to drive down to (never mind park at the bottom of) the steep hill to the shoreline in Robin Hood’s Bay is strictly prohibited.

    Fylingdales Village Hall becomes very busy with participants and therefore, friends, family and spectators are not allowed in this building.

    Returning to your vehicle

    There is 1km / 15 minute walk to return to Hooks House Farm Campsite where the event parking is located. We will provide a MPV shuttle service between these locations for finishers.

  • We strongly recommend booking some accommodation in Robin Hood’s Bay. There are a range of excellent hotels and B&B’s to choose from.

    For those who finish late in the evening, and do not have accommodation booked, we may be able to help with a hostel space.

    It is not possible to sleep overnight in Fylingdales Village Hall.

Support Points

You can expect a warm welcome from our Event Team at each Support Point. A combination of our professional staff and volunteers are in attendance at each Support Point. There is almost always a medic at these locations to provide advice and emergency care. If you need to retire, the Support Points are the only place on the course where you can do this. Most importantly, you can expect food and plenty of it at each Support Point.

Here is the kind of food you can expect at the support points on the SILVA Northern Traverse:

  • A selection of hot and cold drinks including tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, squash and water, with milk alternatives available.

  • Sandwiches with various fillings such as cheese, hummus, egg, salad, peanut butter, or jam.

  • Hot and cold savoury snacks that might include chips, vegetarian sausage rolls, vegan bites, crisps and nuts.

  • A selection of cakes and traybakes, fresh fruit, porridge and a variety of other hot and cold breakfast options.

There is a variety of food at support points ©No Limits Photography

Please see the menu below for the hot meal and soup options at each support point.

The below menu is an example from the 2024 event. This will be updated ahead of the 2025 event.

  • There is almost always a medic at these locations to provide advice and emergency care. However, the medics may be called away to deal with an emergency and they will always triage participants based on clinical need.

    Whilst the medics will endeavour to provide blister care at each Support Point this is not their priority and you should come to event ready to manage your own blisters in the first instance.

  • This location is a Water Point and not a Support Point. There is no indoor space. At Ennerdale you’ll be able to refill water bottles, soft flasks and bladders after the section from St Bees when there are few opportunities to access drinking water.

    Facilities: Toilets only

    Drop Bag: No

    Sleeping: No

    Snacks: No

    Drinks: Water only

    Hot meal: No

    Soup: No

  • Facilities: Indoor space, toilets

    Drop Bag: No

    Sleeping: No

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: An assortment of cheesy, vegetarian, and vegan pizzas.

    Soup: A hearty Lakeland vegetable soup

    NB. This was previously the Rosthwaite Support Point. It has been moved for the 2024 edition.

  • Facilities: Indoor space, tents for sleeping, toilets

    Drop Bag: Yes

    Sleeping: Yes

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: Deliciously filling burritos with refried beans, a fiery salsa and cool guacamole

    Soup: Warming minestrone soup

  • Facilities: indoor space, toilets

    Drop Bag: No

    Sleeping: Yes… but participants do not have access to their drop bags and floor space in the village hall is very limited. There are no tents at this location.

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: A flavoursome vegetarian chilli 'non' carne served with boiled rice

    Soup: A filling leek & potato soup

  • Facilities: Indoor space, toilets, showers and tents for sleeping

    Drop Bag: Yes

    Sleeping: Yes

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: A creamy carby classic Mac n Cheese

    Soup: A classic tomato soup

  • Facilities: Marquee space, toilets, showers and tents for sleeping

    Drop Bag: Yes

    Sleeping: Yes

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: A tasty and flavoursome vegetarian curry served with chips

    Soup: Yorkshire vegetable soup

  • Facilities: Marquee space, toilets, showers and tents for sleeping

    Drop Bag: Yes

    Sleeping: Yes

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: A rich and hearty vegetarian Bolognese served on a hot jacket potato

    Soup: A filling leek & potato soup

  • Facilities: Indoor space and toilets

    Drop Bag: No

    Sleeping: No

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: No

    Soup: Yes TBC

  • Facilities: Indoor space and toilets

    Drop Bag: Yes

    Sleeping: No

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: An assortment of warm vegetable and/or cheese & onion pasties, served with creamy mashed potato, mushy peas and gravy

    Soup: Creamy tomato soup

  • As well as the food provided by us at support points (i.e. included in your entry), we would like to highlight a number of venues along the race route who will be able to provide you with additional food options from their regular menu. Of course, these are subject to the respective venues’ normal opening times:

    *** By special arrangement we have organised for the Dales Bike Centre and the Horseshoe Hotel to provide Northern Traverse™ participants with a free hot drink if you are lucky enough to pass during normal opening hours. At both locations, there is usually a range of excellent snacks, sandwiches and cakes available to purchase as well.

  • For all meals, there will be gluten-free and vegan alternatives available.

  • Any allergies/intolerances you tell us about in your entry will be noted, but we are otherwise unable to give special dispensation for participants with personal dietary preferences that fall outside our menu, with the exception of being able to provide gluten free options.

    We will of course do everything reasonably practicable to accommodate the requirements of the participants within the boundaries of the menu being offered.

  • Sustainable food is a fundamental component of our sustainability strategy. It affects everyone because our staff, volunteers and participants rely on the food we provide to fuel them through our events.

    We have served a meat and fish free menu to participants since our first event in 2012. Over the years, we have worked hard to develop the menus we provide for our participants, to ensure the meals are nutritionally balanced for their needs.

    A meat and fish free menu is the cornerstone of reducing the environmental impact of our event catering, because livestock production takes up around 80% of the world’s agricultural land and is one of the leading causes of deforestation, biodiversity loss and water pollution.

    Our ‘Food Sustainability Policy’ (HERE) covers this in more detail.

Kit requirements

Please download the following clothing and equipment checklist. The items listed are mandatory and must be worn by the participants or carried at all times for the duration of the SILVA Northern Traverse™. Your kit will be checked at registration. If we determine that your kit is not sufficient, you will not be able to start.

DOWNLOADABLE CHECKLIST

The current Downloadable Checklist is version 7, dated 11/04/2024.

We know that kit and clothing requirements can be a bit confusing and we hope that the downloadable checklist will help you select and pack the correct clothing and equipment. We would recommend that you read our comprehensive guidance article on clothing and equipment.

Comprehensive Clothing and Equipment Guidance

Support Point Drop Bag

A ‘Support Point Drop Bag’ will be transported from the start to certain Support Points for Northern Traverse™ participants to access during the race. The maximum weight of a Support Point Drop Bag is 15kg (they will be weighed!) and the maximum size is 80L capacity. Support Point Drop Bags can be dropped off during registration hours at St Bees school or on the start line on Saturday morning (see timings above). This bag must be robust and waterproof to withstand handling and outside storage. At registration, we will attach a sticker to this bag so that we know it is yours.  Please carefully check the Downloadable Checklist to confirm that your Support Point Drop Bag has the mandatory items.

Kit Recommendations

We are fortunate to work with a great brand, SILVA, and would like to recommend some of the excellent items they make that are well suited to the Lakes Traverse™:

A common mistake we see at kit check is participants bringing a survival blanket rather than a survival bag. A survival bag is far superior in an emergency and is mandatory. We recommend the SOL survival bag available for purchase in our shop.

Whilst the built-in whistle on your rucksack or vest is acceptable we do recommend a purpose-made device such as the Lifesystems Whistle.

Finally, if you want to enjoy a warm drink at our Support Points, you’ll need to be carrying your own mug. We recommend the Lifeventure mug.

Exceptional Weather Kit

We are prescriptive about the clothing and equipment that we will mandate that participants carry in the event of exceptionally cold and/or wet, or hot weather. When notified, these additional items must be carried in addition to the standard mandatory kit, and are included on the downloadable checklist linked above. Please ensure that your vest pack or rucksack is large enough to fit everything in!

We will notify participants at registration before the start, or we will notify the Northern Traverse participants at a Support Point that they will need to carry this kit with them on the next section. Northern Traverse participants must pack their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ in their Support Point Bag for the duration of the event unless carrying it in their vest pack or rucksack.

Additional recommendations

Finally, we would like to share some further recommendations and insights, which we have seen participants successfully employ over the years. These items are not mandatory but might help you to critically appraise your clothing and equipment choices.

RECOMMENDED COLD WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

  • Heavy-weight mountaineering-style waterproof jacket. Especially if you are likely to be walking rather than running.

  • Waterproof cap. Brilliant for keeping driving rain off your face - worn under the hood of your waterproof jacket.

  • Second waterproof jacket. Layering two lightweight waterproofs is an old trick that keeps you drier whilst adding warmth.

  • Winter underwear. Windproof and/or insulated underwear for staying comfortable in very cold conditions.

RECOMMENDED HOT WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

  • Sunblock. Factor 50 and waterproof. We recommend the Lifesystems Sports Suncream

  • Long-Sleeve Top. A loose-fitting and lightweight long-sleeve top to keep the sun off your skin, and reduce sunburn risk.

  • Sunglasses. Helps reduce fatigue in bright conditions.

  • Headband. Salty sweat running into your eyes is seriously unpleasant.

  • Thin socks. In hot weather, your feet will swell, and swapping for thinner socks helps with comfort.

EVENT RULES

We are keen to keep these simple. If you have any questions about these rules please query them before the event rather than after you have broken them. It is the participant’s responsibility to understand and follow these rules:

  • Participants must follow the >> UNIVERSAL EVENT RULES << applicable to all events organised by Ourea Events.

  • • Retiring: if you retire, you must inform race control (the number is on the race map).

    • Race numbers: participants must display one race number (supplied at registration) on their front at all times and a second race number (supplied at registration) must be attached to their rucksack. Race numbers can be obscured by waterproof clothing only. Race numbers must not be folded (or cut) to obscure any logos or information.

    • Route safety: the route, within a corridor of 200m, is mandatory, but we understand that sometimes the safest course of action might be to deviate slightly from the prescribed route, such as at a river crossing. Please prioritise safety and then return to the route as soon as safely possible.

    • Sleeping: strictly no sleeping inside any of the venue buildings.

    • Headphones: participants must NOT wear headphones or listen to music on any road sections/crossings along the route.

    • SOS button: the SOS button on participants’ GPS trackers is for true emergencies only (e.g. a life or limb threatening incident) – if it is pressed in order to alert us to a participant’s condition, then it will be assumed that the participant in question will not be able to continue with the event.

    • Race briefing: the briefing given before the start is compulsory – a register will be taken and any participant not in attendance will not be allowed to start.

    • Healthcare professionals: the event medics must maintain oversight of the health and wellbeing of everyone on the event and keep accurate records of all medical treatments. Therefore, unless it is an emergency situation, any healthcare professional alien to the event’s medical team that provides prescription-only medication (or any other significant medical intervention) to another participant will be disqualified from the event. The participant receiving the medication is also likely to be penalised for having accessed a service which is not available to all participants equally.

  • • Participants may take advantage of certain facilities that are available to all participants – this means that you may make purchases from shops, hotels, pubs, bars, cafés (where they might occur on the route, and are open). The exception is that you may not purchase or negotiate for showers / accommodation / cleaning / laundry at any facility.

    • Participants may not access any services that are not commercially available to all i.e. you cannot take any support from supporters, public, and stores by friendship, arrangement, bartering or coercion!

    • Participants may not leave (or arrange to have left for them) equipment or food along the route.

    • Participants are not allowed support runners. Any person attempting this will cause their officially entered associate(s) to be disqualified immediately and all the runners involved may receive life bans from Ourea Events Ltd. events.

  • We encourage participants’ supporters, as long as they and the participants follow all of the event rules – i.e. they may not run with the participant, carry any equipment for them, or give them any food, drink, kit or other supplies.

    Supporters must not enter Support Point buildings and facilities used exclusively by the event.

  • Size and weight: participants may only use a drop bag with maximum 80 litre capacity and weighing maximum 15kg for their equipment to be transported between the overnight camps. Oversized / overweight bags will not be accepted at registration.

    Identification: ID stickers/tags, provided at registration, must be attached to participants’ drop bags for the duration of the event. Any other stickers that may cause confusion must be removed.

    Handling: participants must never move or collect other participants’ drop bags as this is an important visual safety check that everyone is accounted for at the end of each day.

    Contents: no glass bottles or breakables are permitted in drop bags.

Ready to enter?

What Are people saying about the SILVA Northern Traverse?

“It's always about the journey, not the destination, and that was a journey I'll remember for the rest of my life.”

- Jackie

“I had moments when I questioned my life choices but the magic moments and amazing people shared the journey with more than outweighed those. What an event!”

- Kevin

“I made memories that will last a lifetime and had a mega journey through some of the most beautiful parts of England with my brother. It doesn’t get much better than that!”

- Bev

@thenortherntraverse on Instagram

 
 
View fullsize &quot;Turns out you can create a lot of memories in 100km - but if I had to pick one, it would be looking at the headlights going up the hill out of Patterdale while eating burrito and chips and thinking 'that will be us in 30 minutes - wow!&quot; 🌙
View fullsize &quot;The volunteers were amazing, nothing was too much trouble for them. The best I have experienced at any event. Overall organisation was excellent from pre event info, registration, checkpoints and finish. The variety of terrain was something I e
View fullsize &quot;I've discovered I'm mentally stronger than I thought I was. The team have been absolutely fantastic. I've never known support like this on a race, ever. The medics, the physios everybody. The attention I've had to my feet I'd have to pay a fort
View fullsize &quot;The absolute best event I have ever done! The volunteers were on another level&hellip; helpful and kind. The organisation was phenomenal&quot; 🤩 Thank you Siobhan! She finished the epic Northern Traverse last Wednesday along with Dave and Cr
 

"I made memories that will last a lifetime"

"I made memories that will last a lifetime"

"...views to set your heart alight!"

"...views to set your heart alight!"

"It's always about the journey, not the destination, and that was a journey I'll remember for the rest of my life."

"It's always about the journey, not the destination, and that was a journey I'll remember for the rest of my life."