Marathon 28 - Hathersage to Theo's Burns Unit Party in the Park

Massive bonk on route on hot day. Ended up running out of water and food and really slowed over last section. Took a total time of 4:31. Run time of 4:14. Screwed up on nutrition and struggled after a long day in the car yesterday driving back from North Devon, via Cardiff. If they were all like this then I would never run again.  With this run I wanted to complete all the classic edges of my local Peaks and despite a late night after our long drive I woke ready to go and looking forward to the exploration. Yet again the weather didn't disappoint with sunny spells and the odd cloud. The Peaks at its best. Warm dry and the vivid colours of Autumn.

So the route started by heading north out of Hathersage on the slow ascent up to Dennis Knoll and continuing further on up the freshly laid causeway to break the horizon at Stanage's lowest point. Then some technical running along Stanage up to the SE Trig before heading down to Fiddlers Elbow and descending under Burbage North and then Burbage South. This provided great fast running on a bone dry path with a great gradient for fast running. This track pops out just above Toads Mouth where a quick cross of the road leads into the Longshaw Estate and along Lady's Drive to the Grouse Inn. From here I cut right down to the NT car park at Nether Padley and back up to cross the A625 and onto Froggatt Edge.

With only a small break in the rocks this lead straight onto Curbar Edge and after Curbar Gap Baslow Edge past The Eagle Stone and then turning left at The Wellington Monument.

This was then followed all the way to the road and after crossing headed NW back along White Edge but just before the plantation turning right to head East past Lady's Cross and on down to the road. I continued NE up to the Trig on the back of Flask Edge and then headed back past the Totley Tunnel Air Shaft to cross the road and head down to the Fox House.

It was then a long slow climb up over Houndkirk Road and then left at Lady Cannings Plantation trying to not get knocked over by the quad bikers and motor cross riders. The fat guy on the quad bike had his young son sat on the handle bars! The path continues past the plantation to cross the road and head down to Porter Brook via Brown Edge. At this point its great to know that it's downhill all the way to the end in Endcliffe Park. 9 classic edges covered. (Maybe cover the more Northerly Edges on Wednesday!!)

It couldn't have come soon enough. This days was made by the scenery and the weather. Everything else needs forgetting. Today was hard. Sore feet, aching everything and with a strong desire to never run again. I spent hours craving Jelly Babies.

Everything in my body was saying stop but I couldn't and despite a few wobbles and sit downs I kept going. It wasn't the running it was my preparation and nutrition, all variables that I can modify for the next one. And their will be a next one!

Tarka Trail Marathon - #27 Moor Running? and Coastal ups and downs

Today was EPIC! The capitals do it justice. The route showed promise, the idea of starting high and ending low was great but felt a bit of a cheat marathon. However what it lacked in total altitude gain it made up for in total metres of ascent.

This weighed in at 1728m! So JC and I got dropped off at the start high on Exmoor just outside and East of the lovely village of Brayford.

From there we headed up on top of the Moor. It turns out however that this trail is not so much of a trail in part of Devon and more of a faint indistinguishable boggy sheep track (in the best bits).

This made slow going and in places quite deep going so we were behind on our timings. As the Moor plateau came to an end at about 13k we started to descend and picked up a decent runnable trail which we followed all the way to the road crossing with the A39 at Hillsford Bridge.

After a lack of signs and few errors we headed up through Myrtleberry Cleave getting great views over Watersmeet before dropping into Lyn Cleave and Lynmouth.

Here we entered into the second part of the journey and picked up the coastal path which we followed all the way to Coombe Martin.

To get to it you start by ascending out of Lynmouth to promptly be sent all the way back down into the coastal car park. Here it was raining and so we were keen to get back on a trail and under the trees.

It was a brief climb but one that brought us out onto dramatic scenery and great varied running with the odd detour due to the changing nature of the Coastline and some intense uphills! First of note about from the path shoved into the side of a steep cliff was the Castle Rock.

We were tempted to go up it and did start but 3/4 of the way up sacked it off and came back down to concentrate on the matter in hand. A wise decision and here we jogged on road for a ball ache section down the toll road past Lee Abbey. In the valley we were met by an inviting lady from the little cafe who asked us in for a break, but even though everything in our bodies was trying to take up this offer at 28k of up and downs I didn't think we would leave! Next up was Crock Point where there had been a massive land slide and so a really slow detour redirected us back up onto the road which we followed for the next mile or so. Next up was joining the steep sided coastal path again before rounding the corner and dropping down into Heddon Valley.

After a brief pit stop I was following JC down about 100 yards behind and was met with moans and groans when he realised that we had 8 miles to go and not the promised 8k that I had told him.

Oops, but to be fair, the detours and altered signage were not on my OS map when I worked out the route! Just after this my GPS cut out and whilst I had started my phone GPS that didn't record either. Blooming technology.

Still round the corner and one last decent until the final climb up to Great Hangman. I defy anyone to run up here!

Well run up faster than you can walk it. I'm not sure whether it was the steep quad breaker descent or the fact that we had completed our hardcore trail marathon distance or a probable combo, but the minute the gradient kicked up on the initially very steep climb my legs went to jelly. About halfway up the gradient eases and we were ready to go again. Once at the summit it seemed mandatory to climb the cairne to point the direction home. The Great Hangman has the acclaim of being the highest sea cliff in England.

Only one way to go now. DOWN! There is something quite special about making that last brow of the hill on a long run and then knowing that gravity will bring you home. This descent gave an opportunity to enjoy the last almost 4k.

The descent goes past the Little Hangman and then the great sounding Wild Pear Beach on the way back into Coombe Martin. One thing that is noticeable about this route is that the paths and signage started as being non-existent and luckily as we got tired and with the patience running short things improved.

 Maybe we should have gone the other way! I wonder if there's time to another one from the other direction before we have to go home?

Shoe Choice: Freet 5.1 Muddy
Stats. Distance: 47.5 km  Elevation: 1.26 km  Total Dist: ?? km  Total Elevation: ?? km

The Forthcoming Tarka Trail Marathon

So, this week we have driven down to Devon for some R+R and enjoy the last of the Ehrm.. Summer prior to the start of term. The Route and Marathon this week is the Tarka Trail from high up on the moors or Exmoor and down to the sea and then along West on the brutal Coast Path. We were scheduled to run this on Bank Holiday Monday however due to a severe weather warning and the exposure of the route we are delaying the run by 24 hours. I have the pleasure of running the route with JC and potentially being joined by LS for at least half to assist with her distance training. This Tarka Trail Marathon will be Marathon number 27 still ahead and on schedule for 40 marathons in 40 weeks. So not many left if you want to join me. I am more than happy for any company so feel free to drop me a line. If you fancy sponsoring me for this fantastic cause then that would be gratefully received and can be given here for the Burns Unit at Sheffield Childrens Hospital where our middle child was as an inpatient for 2 weeks and then as an outpatient for 18 months. Thanks for reading.

LE down to Belper to run the Belper Rugby Rover. My Marathon 26

So I was excited to be doing this run. A good opportunity to be running on some lovely unfamiliar hills tucked way further south in Derbyshire. Also the weather forecast again was due to be good. Too good?

It was, more importantly, also a chance to catch up with the Smiths over the standard: Pizza, Beers, Pie and Cream! Trouble is the family had a weird vomiting bug thing in the run up and whilst I had got away scot free, the appetite the day before was plummeting and the indigestion and queesiness was intensifying. Oh dear. I had organised with the Race Director to pick up my number the night before so I didn't have to register on the day and he kindly met me at the start, but by this point I was wearing my down jacket! I left the car at the start, so it was there at the finish and got a lift home with Ben. Sat round the table, I was intermittently shivering, managed to pick at the odd bit of Pizza and managed 3/4 of a small bottle of beer. The Apple Pie went untouched (well by me) so I knew it was going to be interesting.

Following shivering to sweating to shivering all night, breakfast was much of the same and even water was a challenge, but I managed enough to have my second load of paracetamols. Still the sun was shining, it was warm, I was in good company and Ben was even reasonably confident on the route up to Belper. So we set off.

We had a beautiful run in over the quiet back hills on route down to the A6 and arrived in good time for the start and added a small loop up to Belper North Mills and back to make up the distance. At the car and changing the shoes before the run proper I noticed that Ben was hardly sweating and I was drenched and still struggling to drink, still I felt reasonably good thanks to the paracetamols and the general excitement of the start of a race so I headed off down to the start, sipping all the time.

Its an odd start to this race and I couldn't figure it out as instead of heading into the meadow or out on to a footpath we started in a trading estate running along a road straight up to a roundabout and back again to the start. Then we peeled off down to a narrow bridge crossing the river and the first of about 5 bottleneck gates.. Ah! I see. So basically if you're being competitive in this race you have to give it beans from the start to not get delayed in the gates. So this route gently winds its way up through open fields of the first climb and then descends through the woods which is all great trail running before turning onto the road and undulating slowly on route up to the midway mark at Alport Height. Halfway through this climb I think I started to hallucinate as I don't seem to have much recollection of the run other than really struggling to process the terrain quickly enough to come down hill at any reasonable speed and being really angry at having to slow down. Oh yeah and then on the last section up to Alport Height, the most exposed section of the course, getting soaked by a passing squall! Brilliant I was now freezing as well. I also spent rather too long trying to work out how many calories there were in 4 paracetamol.

Still from that point on it is downhill all the way barr a short uphill section in Shining Cliff Woods. It was cold in the forest and from my hazy recollection I walked most of it occasionally looking left or right for a nice place to have a sit or lie down. It was a strong urge but I was able to fight it until I popped out of the woods for the last checkpoint at the Holly Lane crossing. Here the course bursts out into the sunshine and tucked in under a marshal's car on the grass triangular junction I found a small suntrap to lie down on and try to warm up. Ben, earlier had asked me whether I intended to finish regardless of feeling rubbish. When I said I did Ben said that I could always give him a shout later on and he would come up and run the last section with me. Prior to having a snooze in the sun, I called Ben and whilst he came up I fell asleep waiting. On arriving the race organiser also came up to pick up a lad who had hurt his ankle. It was a good opportunity to thank him for helping me last night and to chat about the challenge. On having something as consistent as this the hard part is not the running but everything else that takes place through the week and in the evenings and then running on top of it. So regardless of how tired, or in today's case ill, I really appreciate the opportunity to be out running(well sometimes walking) enjoying the scenery in quietness, tranquility even, and where temporarily I can focus on one thing even if it is a challenge. The wife makes this possible. Supportive even when she is knackered. Thanks Dear, today was hard I would have happily swapped places! And I dont say that readily.

Shoe Choice: First 12k in Nike Icarus Stealth then swapped for 30k in Freet 5.1 Muddy
Stats. Distance: 42.2 km  Elevation: 0.70 km  Total Dist: ?? km  Total Elevation: ?? km

Ben's 13k to the start of Belper Rugby Rovers 30k. Marathon 26

So, Ben is coming up with a route for tomorrows run into the start of the BRR. This race is one of the prettiest on the planet. So I'm looking forward to Pizzas, Beer and a late night chat with me old mate then jog to the start of a cracking run. What could be better?? If you would like to sponsor me on my quest please do so here. It would be greatly received and help a cracking cause. Many thanks for all those who have already. DT

Long Tour of Bradwell - NE Derbyshire at its best !

Yet again, met by warm sunshine. Not too hot and with nice cool breeze this was perfect running temperature for the hills. This time of year is stunning in the Peaks with the heather becoming a vivid purple colour that suddenly brings this moorland into spectacular colour. So this is a tough run, elevation from the start which doesn't let up bar a short stretch on the old construction railway from Ladybower and a brief follow of the river near Hathersage, until the end. The sting in the tail being the descent into Bradwell. I remember it well from last year.

So the running has not being going particularly well of late, so this was started very much with the idea that in all probability it wouldn't be finished, however as it weighs in at about 56k ish (with the deviation due to the closed Bamford Clough) as long as I completed the marathon distance I would be happy. Especially with this elevation!

The initial climb up through quarries is not the greatest running really and is just a dull drag but as soon as this tops out the fun begins and the fantastic views start with dropping straight into a great descent down into Castleton following Cave Dale. This descent is excellent whether you're on 2 wheels or 2 legs but its not for the hesitant and the faint hearted. Its steep in places, its wet in places, its loose in places and the bits that aren't loose are polished to a shine. To enjoy it: ya need to beast it. I've come off a bike twice down here, once smashing my helmet into a spike of limestone and once smashing my knee into a chunky of limestone, but I put these down to my errors! I like downhills, no effort just let yourself go and hope for the best! Strava has a link to the segment which shows it having been run about 140 times in total. I was pleased to get an overall 4th place on it and more importantly overtake a lot of the people who had overtaken me on the previous hill.

After pottering through Castleton its straight on up to Hollins Cross before another great descent down into Edale via the affectionately known descent (on Strava) called the Ankle Snapper. Here out of 160ish descents I managed a creditable 3rd overall place! I was enjoying this. Fell/Trail running is great apart from the uphills! Then its on up to classic Dark Peak Moor climbing under the might Ringing Roger up to the Druids Stone before dropping like a stone back to the road and heading back up to the ridge.

This climb up to Back Tor is a ball ache and just goes on and on, too steep to run and not enjoyable, but once there you're met by amazing views on the way up and down Lose Hill. Again straight over the road and up and round Win Hill. I came a cropper here on the right camber on the traverse into the Plantation. (The old ankle does not like rightward cambers!) Ouch. It then took a long time to get down to the old railway line at Ladybower and a meet up with the family, who had given up hope and we starting to head off along the Dam. I had a little sit down but after some stern words from the Wife, something like 'man up and stop messing around' and one of my sons saying 'daddy why are you sitting down when other people are running?' and the other one saying 'you need to tell the marshalls if you're going to stop running' I changed my top and did indeed 'man-up' and cracked on.

The next section was flat and pleasant and gave my ankle the rest it needed to then go up and down some more hills. I helped a few runners with navigation around the altered route out of Bamford and headed on up to Dennis Knoll and headed up the freshly laid Stanage's Long Causeway. Here I almost got run over by a fat aggressive quadbiker who was caning it down. After abusive angry shouts from him in keeping with this type of selfish b@astard and me gently pointing out that he was actually wrong and he was not in fact meant to be on this route due to the temporary TRO whilst repairs were carried out and then a permanent TRO would come into force, we parted company, him to destroy more of the Peak and me to enjoy the rest of the climb satisfied with my smugness.

It was a windy traverse of Stanage before dropping down to Fiddlers Elbow and the long descent down to Hathersage. Here after a long painful descent on my ankle and about 46k I decided to chuck the towel in and do the 1k home. Happy with my day out and looking forward to running a bit more frequently this week. What a great day, on a great route in a great part of the World. I feel privileged to live and run here. Without a shadow of a doubt this run was head and shoulder above any I have done this year. Quite simply stunning. I probably should have been running a bit harder than I was, but I was enjoying the views too much.

Shoe Choice: New Balance 101's
Stats. Distance: 47.2 km  Elevation: 1.58 km  Total Dist: ?? km  Total Elevation: ?? km

Dovedale Dipper Marathon 24 of 40. Hot sunny day again!! Raising money for Sheffield Childrens Hospital !!

Another hot sunny run. Struggled as not run for 2 weeks and tired from long journey home last night from dan safff.

Ran ok for first 10 miles but with increasing hip pain. Struggled on to 30k but pain not easing so walked the rest as it was a nice sunny day. This was a stunning run in great running conditions.

Walking gave me the opportunity to really appreciate where I was and stop and take lots of photos. In between the stops I tried to walk as quickly as possible and by the finish felt but in my legs and with the hip pain eased off.

It was the sort of pain that in heat of competition you could easily run through but that there would probably be considerable time off afterwards to get over it. I cant do that with this challenge and so the tactical walk was implemented.

Next weekend is the Long Tour of Bradwell and I really enjoyed it last year so hoping to go a little quicker, but last recovery is pretty good my general fitness has dropped and I'm not enjoying the joint pains.

So we'll see what happens. If I am planning on doing any long runs late on next season then this one is one that I need to come back and prove a point in. Unfinished business with this!!!

Shoe Choice: Brooks Cascadia
Stats. Distance: 42.6 km  Elevation: 1.06 km  Total Dist: ?? km  Total Elevation: ?? km