Dark Peak Ultra 30

After the success of the Ladybower Trail Marathon,  the R.O. David Riley asked me if I would like to run the inaugural Dark Peak 30.  One look at the route, and I was sold!

The route starts and finished in Edale, and takes in Lords Seat, Mam Tor, Lose Hill, Win Hill, Stanage Edge, Ladybower Reservoir, Win Hill (again!), and the Kinder Plateau. An epic day out.

As race day approached, some interesting names started appearing on the start list - Paul Grundy (3rd in Lakeland 50 2014), Dan Milton and Richard Bardon from The Endurance Store Trail Team (winners of Grand Tour of Skiddaw Team category), Stuart Walker (Just back from the Alps, and rapid enough anyway!), and Ste Lord (current record holder of the Hardmoors 60).  I figured at worst, there should be at least one of us from Team Mountain Fuel on the podium at the end!

After an incident-free drive up, I arrived with plenty of time to drink my pre-race Mountain Fuel Xtreme, pay for parking (ouch!), have a coffee, catch up with everyone and lay out my best pre-race excuses.  I had everythin packed and ready to go, 1 bottle of Mountain Fuel Xtreme made up ready, 2x sachets ready to make up at the checkpoints and a small stash of jelly babies to get me between feed points.

Ste asked me if I was going to be taking pics on the way round.  Not this time, as I was confident my sports hernia and rib would hold out.  I was racin'!

After the briefing, where we were promised over 7000ft of ascent, we were off.  Stu Walker, myself, Ste Lord, Matthew (Breakall?) and Paul Grundy trotted off out the front.  A steady trot along the road to the start of the Pennine Way, then it's a steady climb up towards Broadlee-Bank Tor before descending down to Upper Booth.  Stu and Ste both made a small gap on the climb, which Paul and myself closed up a bit on the descent.  From there, it's about a mile on the road to the Chapel Gate track up towards Lords Seat.

Chapel Gate track.   Photo courtesy of Rob Graveley.

It's the first proper climb, about 1000ft over 2.5 miles.  Paul and I kept a steady pace up here, not forcing a run, keeping a good power hike going on the steeper bits, running the gentler inclines.  Both Ste and Stu pushed hard up here, with Stu opening up a good gap.  I guess training in the Alps makes a small difference here...

Just before the high point of Lords Seat (second highest point on the course, and only by 20ft or so), I had to stop for a quick wee, and Paul got a bit of a gap on me.  Not much visibility up here, but didn't see anyone sneaking up behind, so pace appeared good.  I wasn't too bothered about thrashing myself to catch up to him, as I thought I'd be back with him before we got to Lose Hill...

View along Lords Seat, with Mam Tor, Back Tor then Lose Hill in the distance.  Photo courtesy of Rob Graveley.

There is some great running along the ridge, so I just enjoyed myself along here, slowly closing the distance between myself and Paul, gaining occasional glimpses of Ste in the distance.  I think I was about 15m behind Paul when we summited Lose Hill, before he got a rush of blood to the head and charged off the side like it was the end of a fell race.  I was a bit more sensible, trying to make my descent as smooth as possible to save my quads for the descents that I knew were coming.

Down into Hope, there is a short road run before the left turn to the road up to Twitchill Farm.  It was at this point that some low-life had removed some race signage, which had temporarily confused Paul - he was a lot closer to me going up the road than I had expected, and when I caught him just above Twitchill Farm (he waited for me at a gate) he filled me in about his minor misadventure.  Onwards, and upwards then.  Literally.

From Hope to the top of Win Hill (our next high point) it's just under 900ft, in just over a mile.  It was mostly a power hike, with little bits of running until nearly the top.  Some amazing views back towards Lose Hill, and over to Ladybower Reservoir, then straight back down Parkin Clough to checkpoint 1.

This bit is steep.  900ft of descent, in half a mile.  Both myself and Paul were restrained down here, to save both quads and faceplants.  Then it was the checkpoint, and feed station!  Sachet of Mountain Fuel into bottle, filled, face stuffed with choc-chip muffin and a few other bits and pieces that I can't remember (careful to avoid the Flapjack of Doom), a small handful of Haribo, then I was on my way again, with Paul following just after, trying to decipher a confusing conversation about the leaders - on his own about 10 minutes ahead?

No rest for the legs as from here it's another 1000ft climb up to Stanage Edge.  The first part on road was great, found some rhythm, then I found a cyclist on a ~£4k Cervelo to trot past on my way up.  It's the little things that keep me happy!  I think I surprised Amanda Riley and another marshal at the car park beside Dennis Knoll, then carried on up on the bridle path towards Stanage Edge.

Just over 3 miles of climbing, and about 900ft of climb later, I made it to the edge.  Here, you sort of turn back on yourself and run along the edge, still ascending to the high point of High Neb.

The path up to Stanage Edge (left) and the path along the edge towards High Neb (right).  Photo courtesy of Rob Graveley.

As I turned the corner, I looked back and saw Paul about half a minute back, along with Ste Lord.  The previous conversation made sense now, as clearly Ste had also taken a wrong turn on the lead up to Twitchill Farm (which he confirmed later).  Now Ste is a much better climber than me, so I put the hammer down a bit and hit threshold effort all the way to High Neb, then maintained it on the descent down to Moscar road crossing.  I was pleased to see I still had a bit of a gap on him.

From the road, there is a 100ft climb, then another short descent down to another road crossing, and it looked like I was holding my distance.  From there, it's a short descent past Moscar House, then a long climb up to Derwent Moor past the grouse butts.  It's about 400ft of up, but I kept running as much of it as I could, not looking back as I didn't want to see how close Ste was!

Descent from Derwent Moor to Ladybower Reservoir.  Photo courtesy of Rob Graveley.

A lovely descent followed, but I was still careful not to go too hard as there was still a good amount of climbing, descending and running to be done, and I needed my legs to be in as good a state as possible.  I still wasn't hanging around, mind, and got on with the job, sneaking a look back at an opportune moment.

Ste was a lot further back than I expected him to be - bonus, looks like I've got the edge (ha!) on the descents.  At the bottom, Ste was nowhere in sight, so I made myself scarce, getting out of sight to try and get some sort of psychological boost on him.  The flattest part of the course it this part, along the side of the Reservoir then back to the checkpoint at the bottom of Parking Clough.  I pushed hard along here, knowing I could refuel soon and have a "rest" whilst clawing myself back up to the top of Win Hill.

Got to the checkpoint, had my powder in my empty bottle ready to go, snaffles a choc-chip muffin, rinsed some salty nuts around my mouth, drank some cola, grabbed a Reeses Peanut Butter thingy for later and a double choc-chip muffin for the climb.  Straight back up Parking Clough.  900ft in just over half a mile.

I was at the top of the first set of steps when I saw Ste heading towards the Cp, so I figured I had about 1-2 minutes on him, depending on how on point his Cp game was - he'd clearly made some ground on me on the flat run in!  Not much that I could do at this point apart from get myself up the hill!

Parkin Clough.  Steeper than the photo looks!  Photo courtesy of Rob Graveley.

I kept sneaking looks back, and couldn't see anyone, so I stopped looking until the top.  I looked back, then there was Ste, about 30 seconds or so back.  From Win Hill, there is a 2 mile descent, with about 500ft of elevation loss, so I figured about here was as good a place as any to try and get a good gap, as I knew there was another good climb from Hope Cross up to the Kinder Plateau.

It was a good idea at the time, but by the time I got to Hope Cross, my legs were feeling a little worse for wear!  There's a steady climb on a bridle path to the path up to Crookstone Hill, which I managed to run, then run/walk up to the edge of the Plateau.  Ste was a way back now, so I let myself start to get a little excited about 2nd place.

Kinder Plateau is not flat on top, however, with another 300ft of climb still to over the next mile, I couldn't afford to let up.  I love running along there though, so it was a really good mental boost and I fell into a great rhythm along the edge, until I hit the descent to The Nab.  I ate the Reeses peanut thingy to celebrate, and then headed down the switchbacks, enjoying the last descent into Edale village.

Across Grindsbrook, then down the road, back to Edale Village Hall, and the finish (5:14).  Stu had almost finished his Pie and Peas, having already been there for just over half an hour (4:41), then Ste arrived 5 minutes after I did (5:19).  It's a massive shame some twazzock moved the sign as it might have made for a great battle at the the end!  Paul Grundy finished an excellent 4th (5:26) with Pete Watson (who looks like he's going to be very good at these, and is from my running club Erewash Valley) number 5 in 5:43.  Dan Stowers achieved his goal of beating everyone from The Endurance Store, coming 6th in 5:46.

And there was a toasty hot Cornish Pastie and Peas waiting for me when I finished....mmmmmmmmmmm!

First lady back was Miranda Singleton in 6:41.

Thoroughly enjoyed my day out, easily the best, and toughest 30 mile route in the Peak District, and one of the best 30 mile races I have done.  Massive kudos to David Riley for yet another event which is destined to become a classic!  Have a look on Facebook for the Peakrunner Trail Series.

As ever, I'd like to thank Mountain Fuel (Link: www.mountainfuel.co.uk ) for fuelling my race, and to TrainAsONE for the dynamic, adaptive online training (Link: www.trainasone.com

Curbar Commotion

To do well in a fell race, everything has to go your way. Some things you can plan for, others, not so much.  Saturday's Curbar Commotion was a mix of both and was the difference between a top 20 and top 10 result.

Everything in the lead up went quite well, with no niggles carried over from the Hardmoors 60 or VO2 max test, and the hernia wasn't really hurting much on the downhills either so I was looking forward to giving it a good test.

We arrived nice and early, I drank my pre-tace Mountain Fuel Extreme and all of the pre race prep went really well (got changed successfully), then we headed into the pre-race briefing.  Usual sort of stuff, but was starting to need a wee.  We were counted out, and onto the start line.  I was having a chat to Chris Perry, when everyone else started running.  Mistake number 1!

Off we went, steady climb up a short road section where I tried to weave my way past the people who were more switched on then myself.  Managed to get clear a little, just in time to stop for a shirt queue at the stile.  My main aim for this race was to beat a club-mate of mine, who was leading our fell-champ series, and he was about 30m ahead of me at this stage.

From the stile, it's a very narrow section until the next short downhill road section.  I made my way past some more people, then it's a short uphill to a long, flat path that runs below the edge.  And I really needed a wee.  Mistake Number 2 (or probably 1, if I'd realised it in time) was not going for that extra wee before the start! It was starting to hurt where the hernia is, but I was closing in on the people in front, so was determined to hold it.

Which lasted for about a mile.  Dashed off the track, instant relief, but my target was now a lot further away, and I was stuck behind some people that were travelling slower than I wanted to.  The flat bit finished, and it was the climb up to Curbar Edge.  I managed to get past the slower traffic, then it was back up to full speed along the edge.

About half a mile along the edge, is a left turn into some fairly heavy going to cross over to White Edge.  I make my way past a couple more people, then up to the trig point.  From here, it's go time.  A beautiful run across White Edge, mixed with some descents, it was my chance to make up some more time on my target up front and I spent the next 1.5 miles at pushing hard.

I was closing the gap, slowly, then it was a quick road crossing, and a slightly uphill drag to Wellingtons Monument.  A chap from Stockport caught me up here, he was moving really well.  From here, there's just under a mile of quality, fast downhill.  I let go, and hoped the hernia would hold.  Just as I let loose though, a bloke falls down just in front.  On go the anchors, check he's ok, he waves us on.  Go time.  I spend most of the descent under 5 minute miling, dragging the Stockport guy along with me, making some good time on my target, who is now only about 30 seconds in front of me.

But there's a hill.  Stockport guy drops me and I push up the hill, until my climbing legs come back.  It's not a steep climb, but after the mad downhill, it's hard initially.  There's about 3/4 a mile of uphill, then it's back to the downhill chase.  These are the bits I love, the technical downhill right on the edge of control.  Or just over the edge of control. Mistake Number 3!  I caught my foot on something, and down I went. cracking my knee, grazing my leg and catching my ribs on a rock.  Managed to keep my face off a large rock though.

Back up and running, adrenaline flowing, grin at the next marshal and angrily fire myself down the next narrow, tricky bracken laced descent.  I'm not quite as close as I was any more, but I still push as hard as I can. There's a short climb, then a fast descent down the road to the finish.

16th place, 1:08:43.

Plan is now to take it steady and hope my ribs recover in time for Windgather, a 13.5 mile fell race from Buxton.

Photo of the leg damage:

Thanks to Mountain Fuel (link here) for the #FeelGoodFuel and to TrainAsONE (Link here) for their adaptive training plan.