The High Peak 40 was a test. Could my dodgy shins survive intact and would I be able to race at the Caesar's Camp 100 in 2 weeks? I've had Anterior Tibial Tendinitis in both shins on and off since the GUCR. Over the summer it was fine, but in the last month it resurfaced and has been pretty painful during and after long runs. So I packed the ibuprofen and lathered on some Volterol gel and set off from Buxton not really expecting anything quick but hoping I could last the distance unscathed.The first 10 miles or so passed without note, in fact I barely noticed I'd been running (that's what a 5:30am get up does for you) and before I realised it I was pacing up Mam Tor with Ian from Dark Peak for company. The Edale valley looked fantastic as we raced along the ridge at a fair pace, dropping down from Hollins Cross into Castleton (easier this way than in reverse - see the Long Tour of Bradwell report). Ian's wife met us at the bottom of Cavedale with some food and we started up the rocky path refueled. It was a slog to the top, but we were rewarded with miles of downhill along tracks, road and then more tracks through Tideswell and into Tideswelldale - one of the most beautiful areas in the Peak District. The problem was, my shins didn't see it as a reward and by the time I joined the Monsall Trail I was feeling a bit shot. Fortunately I joined up with Rich Clark and between us we kept up a good pace and after a bit my legs were feeling a bit less delicate. In fact we were doing okay in terms of time and we were on for a 7hrs 30min finish. Thoughts of this and a post-race massage (what a good idea, I'm hoping other race organisers will take note!) spurred us on and we trotted home just over the 7hrs 30min mark.
So did my legs pass the test? Not really. I told myself they had but I was hobbling round for days after, kidding myself that I'd be fine to run 100miles in less than 2 weeks. So I pulled out of Caesars, more concerned with missing out on 3 qualification points for the UTMB 2010 than the race itself which could have been a grueller - 10 laps of a 10 mile course weren't too inviting. But wait - bonus! It turns out that my Fellsman finish from 2007 (!) counts as 3 points, which added to the 1 point for the HP40 gives me my qualification after all. Caesar's wasn't even needed! Well, it would have been today that I was in Aldershot for Caesar's and instead I'm sat typing this - shin-pain free and ready to top up my fitness in preparation for The OMM in 3 weeks. Could I have planned this to work out so well? Probably not. But it seems 2009 could turn out to be ending okay...
