High Peak 40

 A revisit after several years. I did this race in 4 consecutive years thanks to Runfurther. Then it was no more until Chris revived it last year. I have to say my memories were not totally favourable. I loved the dry summer weather; was that always so or am I just dreaming. I love the section from Eccles Pike to way beyond Castleton and the top Bradwell Moor.  Also the section through the Dales on nice paths and with some lovely views of climbing crags. I do not love the long stetch of tarmac through Tideswell and even worse the section uphill on tarmac to Chelmorton.  Goyt valley is a joy despite being on an old railway bed and the valleys there are attractive.

I was returning so that I can complete my Finale Grand Slam; if not for this I doubt I would have entered.  In the space of a fortnight I have been to the Peak District twice and each race has had more tarmac and hard surface than I have run on for the rest of the year. In the week leading up to the race the forecast was pretty dire with a weather warning of heavy rain all day. Perhaps the roads won't be such a bad choice after all!

We drove down on Friday and I set off to explore whilst it was still dry and sunny. I have become involved in a Turf competition and taking some new and extra zones would help the team. It gave me a sense of purpose as I explored the older parts of the historic town and admired the architecture and general feel of the place. I ventured up onto the hill around Poole Cavern too. 

There looked to be some interesting eating and drinking places and it was a shame not to be taking advantage of these. I did bump into a friend on my travels- apparently he follows our van adventures to find new and interesting places to visit.

Back at the van I found Bob chatting to Ken and Jenny. I also spotted an email from the RO. He had at 3pm before race day been told by United Utilities that he could not take us through Goyt Valley. Given that the route mostly follows the big track and there would not be that many of us anyway it is hard to understand their decision. He had found an alternative but must have been super stressed by this. Sadly it also meant that the first 6 miles would be on tarmac. At least the race was still on. It would be about a mile short so perhaps I could complete in the same sort of time that I did a decade ago.

I slept quite well and there was not much rain in the night Up at 6 and soon dressed, fed etc I wandered up to registration. I was in time to help Nick put up the flags and banners. We stayed dry but it is always nice not to have to do this alone. Registration was swift with just a number to pin on and a tally card to get clipped. No kit check and there was precious little on the compulsory kit list anyway. I was carrying a spare long sleeve, hate gloves, a spare cag given the forecast and certainly over trousers and wearing a light cag.  In case the CPs were basic I was also carrying my own food. Before long the Gothic Hall was getting full and I moved outside to get used to the temperature. 

At around 7.30 I joined the procession of runners heading down to the Broad Walk on Pavilion Gardens. It started to rain a little and we sheltered under tress. I found friends to talk to and then Bob appeared to wave me off. He was hoping to see some of the town before the worst of the rain arrived at 11am. At 8am promptly we were off through the park, across the road and past the Serpentine. Then sadly it was up roads  steeply at first and then a bit more undulating.  I knew there were women ahead but I refused to chase. I needed to finish, was very unsure what the weather would do and have a longer harder race in a weeks time.  

Once off the main road the scenery improved and there was no traffic at all. It was dry despite the forecast but oh so humid. I considered stopping to remove my cag but decided that if I did we would almost certainly then get rain! Instead I undid it, tucked it all behind me and pushed the sleeves up. By the first CP at a road junction we had all settled into a steady pace and would see the same faces off and on for miles. From here we turned east and had some lovely off road for a short while. Sadly it was all too shortlived and we were back on quiet lanes below Eccles Pike, under the A6 and under the railway. The time passed quite quickly as the tarmac made for faster running but also I was chatting to 'wheelbarrow' man. He had recently done some crazy challenges as he ran pushing the barrow and he was very smiley and positive.

Sadly I lost sight of wheelbarrow man as we twisted through the village of New Smithy. Instead I hooked up with Essex man and as we were chatting away, being thankful for the sunshine and looking to be off the tarmac we went wrong. Out lovely little path was not to be. How neither of us heard our watches beeping is a mystery but we had to backtrack and regain our places. We had added perhaps 600m or so. It was annoying to try to claw back the places as we climbed to CP2 at the Beet Farm and joined the stone track.

Knowing how much I was sweating I made sure to drink and refill by soft flask. It looked like I would be fuelled by Mountain Fuel powder and bananas today. From this CP there are some wonderful miles. The stone track has quite a few trip hazards and I am a bit of a wuss on the descents but I had 'regained' my place by the time we reached Rushup Edge. I had planned to try to multitask and Turf on this section and so turned my phone on. Mam Tor was busy with tourists but I took the time to take a Zone and get a breather. I was hoping for two more Zones en route to Hollins Cross but they were on flat or downhill sections and I passed through too quickly; sorry team.

The descent to Castleton was a repeat of the Bullock Smithy Hike except this time it was very busy including an enormous party of Cubs who all wanted to High5 me. They were very mindful of us runners and stood to one side and were happy and encouraging. I quickly bobbed in to the CP before the village where I topped up with water, grabbed some food and in doing so overtook some folk. A little line of us left the village up Cave Dale. It was a bit greasy and so good to be going up not down. Around here the drizzle started and got steadily worse. It's nice for quite a few kilometres here until you guessed it- you meet the tarmac again. They are quiet roads but it is a long way to Tideswell and then out the other side. This was one bit that I remembered well from all those years ago and I knew exactly where to find the CP. I nipped to the loo, topped up my water and grabbed oranges and a banana. Again I overtook runners taking more time.

A pleasant run on in places muddy paths led us south through Tideswell Dale at to Cressbook and then up onto the Monsal Trail. Old railway lines are great for cycling but not so great in my opinion for running or walking. I passed a group of charity walkers and concentrated on a runner about 500m ahead. After a short distance it was back on smaller paths through Monsal Dale and then the first of the Deep Dales. Somewhere between Cressbook and here I overtook and left Jane with her cheerful chatter. A male runner caught me as we reached the CP at High Low; weird name! Now we were not in the Dale the rain became more apparent but it was still an irritation rather than the full on torrential rain that had been forecast. We commiserated about the steady upward climb on the road to Chelmorton and I was surprised that by a run/ walk strategy I slowly pulled ahead. I was tired but oh so keen to get the tarmac done with. There were more vehicles here and some large puddles as well as water just running down the road.

From Chelmorton it was back to tracks and paths and more scenic. All I could remember in advance was stiles and having cramp in one very hot year. It turns out it was a very pleasant few miles. Deep Dale was steep and the rocks and mud made me wary but my shoes were awesome and I did not slip once. (love my VJ Ultras). I also caught other runners here as they had been even more timid. I ran with one guy from here to the end. He moved to the area about 5 years ago and we talked races, favourites etc. The time and km went fast and we kept each other running. Once I saw the railway viaduct I knew we were close to the end and on the final path I realised it was where I had walked just yesterday. We crossed the line pretty much together. 7hrs 15 which is not so different to my previous times of  6.59, 7.01, 7.04 and 7.20. Bob thinks I was about 5th or 6th F. Rory was 2nd and I know Nick, Jenny and Steve all finished.

Thanks to the rain we quickly moved inside once we had been presented with medals and our finish time. Inside they wrote our certificates and I collected my 1st FV60 trophy. Bob came to meet me and I sat with several cups of tea and biscuits. 

Luckily the van was close by and a short walk as the rain was getting even worse. I stripped off all my drenched layers and got into dry warm clothes. The journey home was eventful with the M6 being quite scary with spray, sudden queues, standing water and some very unpredictable motorists. I was glad that Bob was driving and that we were in the van and not my little car.