At just over 13 miles and around 2,500’ of ascent – but on
trail & fell terrain – this race would be a reasonably accurate barometer
of my overall fitness in preparation for Snowdonia.
It was all pretty runnable and navigation was easy apart from
one bit where instinct should have kicked in – but I gave in and followed
someone else. This only continued for a few yards as a spectator saw us back on
the correct route.
I was glad of the Snickers bar (remember they used to be
called Marathon?) I’d brought with me; I had half on the climb out of the
reservoir valley bottom and the second half on the top just after Windgather
rocks. This shows the logic of running your own race; some runners overtook me
as I slowed down to eat the second half of my Snickers, but then I finished it
off and soon overtook them, never to be seen again. Know the route and know
what you’re looking to achieve – unless you’re just out for a fun run, in which
case just enjoy it. Personally I’ve been disappointed too many times in races
that have fallen in the middle of a training schedule and I’ve been too tired
to compete. Don’t get distracted by the detail if you’ve got your eyes on
something bigger.
I think I finished around 2h25, not a brilliant time but
something to take to Snowdonia in a couple of weeks time and a nice reminder of
the beauty of the Peak District in which we live.
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