15/16 August 2015 – Dig Deep Peak District

DIG DEEP INTRO ULTRA 31 MILES…
Stuart Gregory was the only Strider to head north for the peak district running festival otherwise know as the dig deep weekend.  Having put in a fairly slow time last year, a plan had been formulated to ensure a much faster time and with 134 competitors starting the race there was all to play for. A run/walk approach from Stuart up to check points 1 and 2 and put him 8 minutes up after just over 9 miles, unfortunately due to a wrong turn, at the check point it took 45 minutes to get back on to the right route having ran 2 miles in the wrong direction this had already added 4 unexpected miles.

From there on it was mainly smooth sailing as by check point three Stuart had been joined by two other runners and began to make up time, non the less he was still an hour behind his target at the bottom of win hill, which marks the completion of a third of the route. This section of the course can only be walked due to it’s steep nature at an average of 32% with some section at 50%. From the top of Win Hill check point 4 after a brief stop to look at the cracking views, we started to make our way down towards Hope village and the cement works, such a nice feeling to walk fast down a hill ”too rocky to run” and not use one’s legs.

A little bit of indecision at check point five saw more time lost, as we arrived at check point 6 in around 6hr 30m 15.5 miles, just over an hour behind last year. As check point six marks the half way point this also acts as one of the main emergency contact points and provides food, water, a rest stop and medical attention if required. 20 minutes later we were off again, overshooting the turn for Bradwell Edge of over half a mile added further distance as we reached check point 7 after another hard climb and most stunning view.

At this stage Stuart had given up on a PB, and had slowed the pace reaching check point eight 45 minutes later than planned after having to walk a further 2.5 miles, due to coming out at the wrong bridge. Things began to run smoother again and it looked as if we were making a lot of time up as we easily found check point 9, and headed off towards check point ten in high sprits, as it looked like I would at least match my time from 2014. Unfortunately this did not last long as it conspired that we had got lost, it later emerged that we were only around 500 to 600 metres from where we should have been and after trying to find a route down to the valley for around 45 minutes a decision was taken after a few calls to race HQ to walk to the nearby car park around a mile away.

At this point we had already completed the required 31 miles with around 5 miles still to go a decision was taken to avoid the final two check points and take a two hour penalty to finish in a time of 14hr 44m 52s once a two hour time penalty was added for missing the two check points. A number of other competitors had also lost their way in the same location but had managed to find their way back in better light conditions.  A good day all round but a little ticker tape required here and there…

DIG DEEP 12.12…

After the previous day, the 12.12 route made for lighter work being fully marked and sign posted and with only one check point.  Having completed 31 miles the day before Stuart pace walked much of the route and duly found out where he should have been the day before, confirming his thinking that he was only 500 metres from where he should have been. As Stuart reached check point one he was slightly down on his time from last year, but after picking the pace up on the second half of the course finish in a time of 3hrs 49m 11s, shockingly 16m 41s quicker than 2014. All in all a good weekend was had by all even if we did get lost from time to time… ah well will hopefully do better next year.  [Stuart]