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Edale Skyline 2012

Apr 2

Posted by Haydn in Outdoors | 2 Comments

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

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.

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Peak sunshine

Feb 3

Posted by Haydn in Outdoors | No Comments

Becs and I took advantage of the good weather a couple of weeks ago to visit Edale and run from Mam Nick around to the top of Jacob's Ladder. I then left her to carry on to Edale while I slogged back up the hill to fetch the car. We did well with conditions, as the boggy ground between Rushup Edge and Brown Knoll was sufficiently frozen to avoid us sinking thigh-deep in the swampy sections that normally grab you.

Becs on Rushup Edge. © Haydn Williams 2012

Becs on Rushup Edge. © Haydn Williams 2012

The paragliders were out in force; I counted twenty in the air at one time as I returned to the car (and saw one crash-land into a dry-stone wall, but he was OK!). My entry for this year's Edale Skyline has recently been confirmed, so I just need to recce the rest of the route now. Saturday was spent at the Peak Edge Hotel, a new establishment which seems to be the only contemporary hotel in the entire Peak District! Heartily recommended though, with lovely rooms and cracking food on the room service menu (nothing says post-run recovery like curry with half rice / half chips!).

Ice under the trig point on Brown Knoll. © Haydn Williams 2012

Ice under the trig point on Brown Knoll. © Haydn Williams 2012

On Sunday we returned home via Sherwood Pines. Becs hired a bike and we did a lap of the blue loop, then she retired to the car to warm up while I had a quick blast around the Kitchener trail. It was bitterly cold; the horrible damp pentrating kind that seeps into every fibre of your body, but it did have the welcome effect of making the trails pretty easy going. Despite running the previous day and having already done 10km on the blue loop with Becs, I rode a new personal best of sub-50 minutes, so had a nice finish to a lovely weekend.

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Peak Practice

Jun 8

Posted by Haydn in Outdoors | 1 Comment

I'm currently sat in the pub with about ten minutes until Ben arrives and is sure to lambast me for not keeping this blog up to date. In a desperate bid to fend off his relentless enthusiasm, I figured I'd better put up a little update about a run I did a couple of weeks ago.

In glorius sunshine, Greg, Sean and I set off from Nether Booth for a mini version of the Edale Skyline. We're all doing LAMM next weekend, so this was to be a quick training jaunt. From Hollins Cross we went around to Mam Tor, Rushup Edge, Brown Knoll, the Woolpacks and then down Grindsbrook Clough. FWIW, don't ever consider coming down Grindsbrook – it's way too rough, and I'd heartily suggest coming down from Ringing Roger instead. Injuries and the weather took their toll on our merry party; Sean had to cut back early, and I left Greg feeling the effects of the heat in Edale.

Most of the route - just follow the skyline. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

Most of the route - just follow the skyline. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

The route ended up being the furthest I've ever run, on or off road. At a length of about 23km, it was a good practice for a single LAMM day; I just need to double that performance next weekend, with a sack on my back! Nevertheless, I felt pretty reasonable at the end of it, despite forgetting to put my orthotics in my shoes before I set off (fool). I was also using a new pair of shoes, since my previous pair of Inov8's fell apart (they did replace them without any issues though). I got on OK with those, so everything's looking good. Stay tuned for a LAMM report early next week.

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