After a week of settled weather it was more of the same as we waited for organiser Bill Allan to get us underway on a warm sunny windless day. First there were commands and insults, some comical, from ex-army man Lou, then when Bill found his whistle he blew it slightly early and we jogged off through the parks and up on to Edgemoor. The weather was hot and so was the pace with Lucy Colquhoun storming along in the lead to the first cp although the leaders were already a blur to us mortals some 10 or 15 places further back. Already ahead of me is Ozzy Kershaw in his regular fluorescent green shirt, level on points after 3 events in the Vasque series so I see my chance to overtake him disappearing into the distance.
The road is hard as we descend down to Fernless Reservoir, which looks serene in the morning light. Its cooler under the trees and I run in the company of Mark McDermott along to cp2 then on to the well publicised diversion section where care needs to be taken to avoid dropping down too early. Marshalls are on hand at pc1 to wave us through and up to Eccles Pike and cp3. The views South are great, with low mist hugging the valley. The cp food consists of water, orange, half bananas, Jaffa cakes, penguins and sometimes flapjack. I manage a selection out of the back of a horsebox!
My cap is now on, and stays there for the rest of the day and I’m glad of the pre-race plastering of sun cream. As last year the route signing is excellent and its impossible to get lost; compliments to the organisers for this. Small lanes lead us to the edge of the Kinder plateau through cp4 at Booth Farm and tracks skirting the moor edge with great views. In fact on a warm day like this it would be nice to stop for a while and take it all in. We don’t of course, there’s a race to be won (or at least finished). Richie Cunningham who’d whizzed by me earlier is now slowing and I crawl past him on the gradual climb to Rushup Edge. Gentle applause is offered to competitors at cp4 – most welcome when you realise there is no one else around so they must be clapping you. I gulp water - taken at each opportunity – and am on my way. Soon more applause from the cp rings out and I know someone else is not far behind.
Its really pleasant going over Rushup Edge towards Mam Tor. At Mam Nic a small chap in white with white cap comes past, going well. There are many people out on the hills, enjoying the superb day. I pass a man with a large rucksack as he descends into Mam Nic and then can’t quite believe it as he overtakes me as I walk up the ascent of Mam Tor.
At the Castleton cp the question is asked “Are you doing better than last year?” to which I reply “I don’t know”, just hope so. A chance to walk a bit up Cave Dale and actually overtake a competitor (180) who may have overcooked it. This section seems to go on too long and it’s a relief to at last get refreshment at cp7 near Bushey Heath Farm and there’s Bill Alan checking on his troops. The usual checkpoint fare is again on offer – getting predictable.
Road and more road through Tideswell. Morris dancers are bashing sticks and hollering and are watched by more Morris men in black with black faces; a loan runner gets no attention. I nearly miss the ‘straight on’ by the river at the end of the road (marked ‘Private Road’), but catch sight of another well-placed sign and also helped by Julian Brown as he catches and overtakes me bouncing along. I remain at a ‘comfortable’ plod pace. The meandering river section is muddy in places and must surely have been impassable a few weeks ago after all the rain? At least its cool by the river in the shade of trees. The weirs and waterfalls thunder down and its good to feel their coolness as I pass by them.
cp9 is manned solo – so good for him in his Land Rover. On to Deep Dale, a shortish section that I’ve been looking forward to as its off the hard track and on to grass – plus walk a bit. Longer than I remember, but eventually, through a field of frisky cows the cp is reached. I make a guess at the food on offer – and sure enough it’s the regular fair. As I take on water someone enquiries as to whether I’ve taken any wrong turnings – to which I quizzically answer “No?” and wonder why he would ask such a question.
My time from last year now looks unbeatable, so I ‘dig in’ and just aim to keep going. At this point point last year I recall the checkpointers saying ‘4 miles of road ahead’ so I know what to expect here. And on this balmy day the route can be seen stretching way into the distance with a few running competitors a mere heat haze in the distance. No chance of catching anyone – just watch out behind. I manage to keep going along here better than last year, keenly looking at the mileage on the sign posts for Chelmorton (3 miles, 1¾ miles etc and eventually a HP40 red arrow sign indicating the turn off. No sign of the fluorescent green shirt of Ozzy K – never mind, he was going well so good luck to him.
I wonder if I’ll get inside 7 hours. The track out of Chelmorton takes us down the incredibly steep gully of Deep Dale; glad its dry here, and on the ascent I see two competitors not far behind. The checkpointers at cp11 accost me at the stile wanting to punch my tally – good for them to be keen and on the ball. Another beaker of water, out of the field through the nettles and onto the last section. A few minutes later Richie Cunningham comes past (last seen just after cp3) saying “Dig in”. I reply that “I have been digging in”, but he doesn’t slow down for a conversation and surges ahead. He remains in sight down Ashwood Dale, past the caravan site (sunbathers in action), and under the viaduct. However, gaining on me is the blue of Rachael Lawrance and I really don’t want to be overtaken by a lady.
Along London Rd (A515) and then sprint (not really) across when a gap in the traffic appears then it’s the last bit through the grassy field and down the road to the school. Those manning the finish along with anyone at all who is milling about clap each finisher – it’s a nice lift and makes you feel that you’ve achieved something. The timer informs me “Oh dear its 7:00:24” (i.e. over 7 hours). I don’t mind, I’ll call it 7 hours and I’m pleased. Rachael just comes in a minute later and is satisfied with her time but disappointed that Lucy C was racing today as she is in such good form.
Massaging, munching, drinking, feeling sick is all taking place at the finish. I’d forgotten to ask my position so I’ll wait and get a surprise when the official results come through. I wonder where Ozzy came? I go and change in the car park, Richie Cunningham decides to lie flat on his back in the car park and explains that he’d taken a wrong turning, then when the mistake was realised had hurried to catch up with the race and over cooked it a bit – hence I was able to overtake him at cp3. Then I hear people shouting “Well done Ozzy” – and there to my surprise is Ozzy K struggling home. It turns out he’d taken wrong turning and done about an extra 4 miles on road (“High Peak 44”).
Surely the organisers don’t have to put out extra signs next year!
Nigel Aston
