The Edale Skyline race was held the weekend before last, and I took part. A number of factors meant that I had done approximately zero training beforehand, and so it was with some trepidation that I approached the start line with Greg under a clear blue sky.
The start of the route at the start of the day. © Haydn Williams 2012
I hadn’t found time to recce the first half of the route, but felt OK as far as Lose Hill. From there – on the part of the route I did know – I fell completely to pieces. Greg passed me on the summit of Mam Tor and ripped off down towards Mam Nick at a hefty pace. I got progressively slower, and ended up walking from Brown Knoll all the way to the end. Despite downing several energy gels and an entire pack of jelly snakes, I just couldn’t get my legs working.
Approaching the finish, I knew it was a poor result. I generally like to get in the top third or quarter of a race: for the Skyline I came 258th out of 299. Ouch. It was entirely my fault, because I really should have done some training, and a nice wake-up call that proves I can’t just assume that everything will be OK come race day. Nonetheless, at least I now know the route! Greg had a great run and narrowly missed his four-hour target (by four seconds!), and we both enjoyed the unseasonably lovely weather. Next year I’ll be back on track.
