Just got out of the bath after a wet day on the hill.
18 runners from Dark Peak, Penistone and Totley set off this morning at 6.00am on a cold clear windy start to run the annual Bradfield Boundary Run. We had a glorious sunrise on Broomhead Trig before pushing on to the traditional Bacon Sandwich at Langsett. The run up the Little Don was clear and Breezy but once we got on to Howden Edge via Near Cat Clough the going became very tough. Running(Walking) directly in to extremely strong winds whilst pulling our feet out of various wet bogs sapped the legs and ran the clock down.
From Swaines Head we were able get out of the wind and bash across the heather and down in to West End in the Derwent Valley. 26 mile down in 6 hours meant we were behind schedual by approx 45 minutes then it started to rain.
By the time we left Fairholmes and started the Climb up to Back tor the horizon was looking distinctly grey!
The group had now started to split up with a faster group determined to claw back the time. By the time we reached Moscar rain had become torrential, (for those that were there I would say it was alot worse than the second downpour on Tankies.)
Walking up Stanage Edge with the rain and occasional Sleat blowing up and over the edge straight in to our faces was awful.
We got back most of the time but still had to put in a big effort to come in under the 12 hour limit
We waded across the River Loxley with 18 minutes and 2 miles to go before 10 weary runners touched the Loxley School sign with 3.30 to spare.
the other 6 ran in about 35 minutes later.
The Garmin gave the distance as 47.6 miles and 5,500ft
A big thank you to Dave H for organising the run again and to John S's support team.
I'm off for a beer now