dusk til dawn

One thing I’ve learned from running in the dark is that distances seem a lot further…perhaps it’s just my mind playing tricks!

I woke up on the Saturday morning feeling quite apprehensive about the race. I’d prepared my bag the night previously so all I had to do was fill my water bladder and make sure I ate and drank sufficiently during the day. Darren had left the house at around 10.30am to run to Castleton, taking in the some of the route in reverse along the Limestone way that I would be covering later in the dark. It was a bright day, the sun was shining and although it had given out showers I was hopeful that the weather wasn’t going to be too bad for the race, at least the temperatures were not going to be cold.

I had a bit of a headache though, why? Was it stress…was I dehydrated…had I drunk enough? I took an ibuprofen as I didn’t want it to continue and hinder my preparations. What should I eat…the race started at 6pm and didn’t want anything heavy lying on my stomach. I had carbo- loaded the previous day, so I  decided to have some toast with marmalade for breakfast. I was meeting Darren at Losehill hall around 2pm so I was able to shower and relax for a short period before making sure that I had everything I required in my overnight bag for the stay and eating two more slices of toast for lunch before I left.

Arriving at Castleton,  I met Darren and was able to check into my room. Darren then had to dash off to the Marshall’s briefing so I had a short snooze and at 3.30pm, went to the kit check. This was was the most stringent kit check I had had come across in any race, each of the Marshall’s had a tick list to make sure that you were carrying or wearing all the required kit and you had to pass this before they would issue your race number.

I had decided to wear a pair of Ron Hill 3/4 tights that I’d had for a few years so I knew they were comfortable. In the past few races I’ d suffered from some chaffing on my lower back, which wasn’t noticeable on the races but had made me hit the roof as it stung like hell when I’d jumped in the shower afterwards! So I decided to smother my lower back with Vaseline before putting on my top. Over this, I wore an Adidas high-viz climaproof gilet that I’d  bought just for the race as I knew we had to wear something reflective and thought I would try a  gilet to give me that little extra bit of protection from the wind as I was often too warm running in my long sleeve waterproof.

In the mesh pockets on the side of my rucksack I put my hat in one side and my torch and gloves in the other side so I knew these were accessible without taking my rucksack off. In the waist pockets I carried a small supply of food; chocolate raisins, a trek bar and some tiny cheese and cranberry sandwiches, made from  Warburton’s sandwich thins. I have found these to be ideal for running on because they are small and light. I was running in a pair of trusty woollen Running Bear socks together with a pair of purple Saloman Speedcross 3 trainers. I’ve worn Running Bear socks (not the same pair!) for over ten years now as I’ve always found the wool prevents my feet from blistering but I’d never raced in these trainers before.

I then waited for the briefing prior to the start. The room was now very busy, heaving with runners doing last minute kit checks, stretching and any other weird and random rituals runners seem to do!  Richard was very thorough providing good advice on various sections of the route which having undertaken the recce a few weeks earlier, I was visualising as I traced the route on the laminated map we were provided with.

I met Ode in the room before the briefing and a few other runners that I knew. Following the briefing we made our way to the start line, which was about 10 minutes walk from Lose Hill hall. I said goodbye to Darren had a few photos taken and before we knew it, we were underway heading up the road towards Lose Hill itself. Towards the summit of Lose Hill was the first control and as I had my head down for the climb, I almost missed it on the fence. Some others seemed to have done the same as a few minutes later several runners were retracing their steps. Up and over the summit it was now getting dark as we started heading back down towards Hope. On a steep grassy section though, I went over on my left ankle which made me swear to myself and left me hobbling for a few moments before I pulled myself together. It prompted me to swiftly pull out my headtorch as the darkness was now looming.  I felt annoyed at myself momentarily but the pain didn’t last long and I was able to catch up with those that had overtaken me as we snaked along the paths back towards Castleton.

Heading up Cavedale it was wet underfoot and I was glad I was going up rather than descending as the limestone at the entrance to the dale is very slippy. The runners were starting to thin out a little now and the wind was beginning to pick up as it started to drizzle. I felt warm and was reluctant to put on my water proof as my gilet was keeping me relatively dry. We picked up the Limestone Way and followed this for sometime. This was the part of the course that I was least familiar with as I had undertaken the recce for this section in the dark but there was still plenty of other runners around at this point so I was not concerned. A quick stop at checkpoint 2 for some juice and a couple of pieces of chocolate brownie and I was on my way again heading towards Miller’s Dale.

Crossing the bridge over the river Wye was a poignant moment as this was a spot my beloved collie, Jed, always liked to have a quick swim to clean up after we’d had a run together around Miller’s Dale. This was followed by a steep climb at Priestcliffe, where there was a sign by the path which said something like ‘almost there’ then not long after that there was another one that said ‘just kidding! …that made me smile.

Heading towards the Marshall point on the road crossing at the Waterloo Inn the rain got progressively heavier. The sleeves on my top under my gilet were now starting to get wet so I crossed over the road and pulled on my waterproof smock as I ascended the track. The rain was heavy at this point and as I ran along the road and track sections the rain was horizontal and being blown straight into my face. I had put my gloves on earlier and pulled my waterproof jacket sleeves over my gloves to keep them dry. It’s a  good job  I’ve only got short arms!

Heading along the road, my head torch was now starting to blink a red light and I knew that this meant the battery was running low. This was going to be good test for my new Led Lenser torch as I’d only had it for less than a month and was unsure of the battery life.  I was on the track section when my headtorch completely died but was able to continue running in the pitch black before getting my back up Petzl XP torch out of my rucksack. I find it easier to carry a back up torch for a quick switch over rather than struggling to replace the batteries in the dark.

Arriving at Earl Sterndale it was good to see Darren there who was on marshall duties. I found my drop bag and quickly changed into a dry top. I also swapped over my headtorch for Darren’s. After two cups of tea, some malt loaf and a quick toilet stop, I was off again only to turn around and run back in to the hall as I remembered I’d left my wet clothes in an unnamed carrier bag on the floor rather than place them in my drop bag. Take two! Hood up with my hat on underneath, I felt a little chilled after stopping but running down the road I soon warmed up again. The path on the right climbed through the cottage’s rock garden and over a stile onto to open fields where I was met with a short but steep climb up to the quarry. Then turning left onto a a very rutted track where care had to be taken and concentration was required on foot placement before crossing the road and several fields to gain the country lane that led to High Edge Raceway.  It was on the lane I turned off my headtorch, not as a race tactic…I had recently read Scott Jurek’s ‘Eat and Run’ and the top ultra runners employed this technique at times so that the opposition couldn’t see them catching them up in the dark. However, mine was to conserve the battery life of my headtorch!  There was now no one else around and it was enjoyable to run this section with the dim moonlight reflecting on the  road surface and as I approached the raceway it was well floodlit anyway. I could see that I was catching some other runners up ahead in the distance with their headtorches.

I jumped over the stile and headed across the field and by now I had caught up with a guy and recounted my story of when I recced this section on a dark, gloomy night with Darren. Four horses had come galloping straight out of the out of the fog towards us, scary!

After crossing the A53, the route picked up at old track before crossing the infamous A537 known as the ‘Cat & Fiddle’ road, renowned as the most dangerous road in the United Kingdom! Before joining Macclesfield old road and heading upwards towards the Cat & Fiddle Inn.

It was a delight to walk into the pub and to be clapped and cheered on arrival and to receive such a warm and friendly welcome. The log fire was burning and and I was offered a cup of tea and grabbed a bite to eat before another quick loo break, having my photo taken and returning back outside. I checked the time and it was now 12.30am and I’d completed 27.6 miles.

Heading over Shining Tor, clipping the checkpoint on the summit, the weather was now clear,  the moon was out and the twinkling lights of Macclesfield and beyond were quite mesmerising. Picking up the flagged pathway from the summit and heading down over Cats Tor to the road, I opted to turn left here and then take the road on the right heading towards Wingather Rocks. I gained a lot of momentum as I ran down the road but it did seem to take a lot longer here than what I’d remembered from the recce. Eventually, I arrived at the quarried area and scrambled up to join the main path over Windgather rocks. I’d pulled ahead of some other runners at this point and was back on my own again but felt comfy with this as I was familiar with the area.

Arriving at Taxal, I remembered what Richard had said about the church yard being dark and spooky so as I ran past the cemetary I made sure I kept my eyes well focused on the path! After crossing the river and heading up to the road,  I thought it was another glow stick pointing the way but  as I got closer it was a skull with green glowing eyes!

At the top, I was greeted by a nice friendly welcome from Wendy, had a quick slurp of coke and headed across the A5004. Crossing  over a number of fields and clipping the checkpoint at the ‘difficult to find stile’ which I had no difficulties with tonight as there were glow sticks and reflective tape a-plenty, I then headed towards Tunstead Milton.

The next section was a steep ascent on the road heading up to Eccles Pike. I was starting to feel a little sickly here and on the descent felt I wasn’t giving it my best. A quick clip at the checkpoint on the gate, I had now been caught up by another runner as we headed past the Works and over the railway line on the outskirts of Chinley and another short section on the road before a sharp right turn up to Checkpoint 9.

I was greeted by the Marshalls and it was nice to see Darren had also made it here to meet me. I wasn’t sure whether he would make it as he was on marshalling duty and had previously let me know that he may have had to drive some of the non- completers back to the start.  There was a large tent & one of the guys was cooking burgers but being vegetarian and also as I was feeling nauseous, the smell wasn’t nice.  I knew I had to eat something and Darren had bought a cheese sandwich and although I didn’t really have the appetite for it I made myself  eat half of it as knew I needed the sustainance to keep going. Two cups of tea & a quick swap of the headtorch, which Darren had put new batteries in for me, I could see the headtorches of other runners approaching so I knew it was time for me to bid farewell.

I set off up over Cracken edge and followed the detour due to a collapsed path and soon found the notable bench, which a few yards further on, I had to turn right then zig zag down the fields. A quick wee stop behind a wall and I was off again, crossing the A624, passing the rusty plough and ascending Mount Famine to join up with the Peninne Bridleway and to clip checkpoint 10.

The next stretch seemed to take forever! It was on a track, which was undulating and the going under foot was rocky and uneven.  I was beginning to get tired now and my throat felt sore, not sure why. I was focused on getting to the road Marshall at the start of Rush-up Edge. In my mind, I knew I would finish now, my feet were in good condition and I could expect to be tired at this stage. At one of the gates, it had a sign indicating the path was closed but I ignored this as there was no alternative to where I needed to be. The track was undergoing restoration work and although it was more uneven with the works it wasn’t an issue.

I arrived at the Marshall point, and was glad to see another person as I had been on my own without seeing another sole, apart from distant headtorch beams, for what seemed quite a long time now. Turning left along the path, it had now started to rain again and I felt chilled as the wind had picked up too. I was too tired to run the gentle up hill sections which I would have done normally and because of this it seemed to take forever to make any progress, however, once over Lord’s Seat I was glad to be able to pick up the pace and to run the grassy descent and arrive at the road just below Mam Tor. I’d now been joined by two other runners as we made the short ascent up to Mam Tor summit. The rain had eased but the paved path was slippy with the wet conditions so on the descent to Hollins Cross I kept to the side, on the grass.

A quick clip of the final checkpoint and it was now all down hill to the finish. Little did I know how tricky this would be. I was aware from the recce that the path was blocky but under such wet conditions it was treacherous. So my progress was hindered as I slowed down to concentrate. The other two guys had now pulled significantly ahead and this made me despondent that I couldn’t keep up with them for this final stretch. I soon hit the gate that I’d passed through earlier on the way up to Lose Hill and knew it wasn’t far to the finish.

I ran down the road and continued past the start line and into the village turning left and and then eventually left again into the grounds of Lose Hill Hall. This section seemed to to take ages but not far to go now even though the road was very slightly up hill so was hard going on tired legs.  I trotted past the YHA and under the arch and into the mews at the back to the finish. I was happy and arrived just in the knack of time to complete the route in the darkness. The next runner in after me was now in the twilight zone!