It's fairly rare that I get to recce any race routes but, alongside the dog Toby, I'd had a chance to scope out some of this new race in the week leading up to it. In terms of route finding it was of some use but mainly it served to prepare me for the considerable climbing on the course. I took the first few miles fairly steady after suffering on the Osmotherley Phoenix in the heat. The conditions were fairly hot and having come down through Cavedale it was a series of ups and downs - Hollins Cross, Ringing Roger (including a kamikaze decent!) and Lose Hill - before a nice trot into Hope. I was running with Steve Baker who was a similar pace and helped with route finding (his recce was a little more comprehensive than mine!) and we made it to the halfway point at Ladybower just 45mins behind the leader. We made excellent time up around Bole Hill and onto Stanage Edge managing to pick up the elusive CP13. Several runners didn't but the organisers seemed happy not to penalise people, probably fair enough given it was the first time the event was run and some of the controls were a little obscure. Navigation was tricky on our way down the valley from Upper Burbage Bridge into Grindleford as several sections of the path were completely overgrown. I was gasping for a drink by the time we arrived at the last water stop just outside Hathersage but, refueled, we made good time over the last 9km(managing to find the control located under a footbridge) and clocking in at the finish in just under 7hrs and 17th position. Dark & White Peak events have a reputation for putting on good events and this one was no exception.
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