I last did this around 20 years ago with a pal as a walk and recall getting back to Biggin just as darkness fell.
So on Saturday I decided to give it another go as a runner. I had to scrape frost off my windscreen for the first time this autumn so it was a chilly start to the day. It had warmed up a bit by my 0830 start time. There were around 20 runners among the 160 entrants with those walking having set off earlier.
Clockwise this year, on a very scenic route over varying terrain which I know like the back of my hand so no navigation issues. A great deal of mud and many flooded footpaths, some of which have suffered great damage with sections having been washed away. In the sunshine it was very warm but chilly in the deeper, narrower dales and there was still frost in Lathkill Dale at 11am.
There were three checkpoints, Hartington, Monyash and Middleton by Youlgreave. I stopped briefly at Hartington but took 5 minutes or so at Monyash, where a delicious hot cheesy oatcake was consumed and similarly at Middleton where a cup of tea and jam sandwich was eaten. All was kept down and no digestion issues whatsoever.
I was the first and fastest finisher, but not the winner as it wasn't a race, in 4hrs 29min. I was pleased with that time given the underfoot conditions and as it included the checkpoint stops. My Garmin told me I had covered 26.13 miles, a little further than the stated 25.5 miles, but might be accounted for by a lot of zig-zagging to avoid flooded paths and muddy fields!
A delicious Sausage Casserole and Rice Pudding at the end in Biggin Village Hall. A very well organised and great value event. I must re-join the LDWA
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