Also this weekend was the Humber Bridge abseil on behalf of the RNLI, The Daisy Appeal and Dove House Hospice. Saturday and Sunday were both stunning and hot. Well done to all the abseilers!!
Pictures are here: http://richardlycettphotography.co.uk/Events/index.htm
Another busy weekend just gone with the Aberdeen Whole Hog at Crathes Castle taking place on Sunday. It was a super hot day so lots of water was in order! Times below and more pictures to follow on facebook.
| RaceNumber | Name | CourseClass | RaceTime | Position |
| 54 | Team Chaos | Female Team | 01:40:57 | 1 |
| 55 | Team Stix 1 | Female Team | 01:42:28 | 2 |
| 58 | The 3 little pigs | Female Team | 01:57:58 | 3 |
| 17 | Dianne McKay | Ind Fem | 01:17:07 | 1 |
| 704 | Helen Nicholl | Ind Fem | 01:19:25 | 2 |
| 29 | Laura Hopkins | Ind Fem | 01:22:37 | 3 |
| 42 | Talitha Shepperson | Ind Fem | 01:23:52 | 4 |
| 11 | Clare Russell | Ind Fem | 01:28:49 | 5 |
| 30 | Lisa McKean | Ind Fem | 01:38:49 | 6 |
| 10 | Claire MacKenzie | Ind Fem | 01:39:20 | 7 |
| 44 | Zara Herderson | Ind Fem | 01:43:26 | 8 |
| 8 | Chloe Sangster | Ind Fem | 01:43:28 | 9 |
| 25 | Jean Cowie | Ind Fem | 01:49:21 | 10 |
| 32 | Louise Thomson | Ind Fem | 01:49:26 | 11 |
| 34 | Margaret Mooney | Ind Fem | 01:53:47 | 12 |
| 15 | Debbie Neill | Ind Fem | 01:54:22 | 13 |
| 19 | Fiona Paterson | Ind Fem | 01:59:07 | 14 |
| 31 | Louise Bremner | Ind Fem | 02:11:32 | 15 |
| 3 | Alana Argo | Ind Fem | 02:11:36 | 16 |
| 9 | Claire Auton | Ind Fem | 02:11:48 | 17 |
| 36 | Nicola Eyre | Ind Fem | 02:21:20 | 18 |
| 26 | Joanna Braggins | Ind Fem | 02:21:37 | 19 |
| 39 | Sandra Innes | Ind Fem | 03:35:26 | 20 |
| 33 | Lynn Beck | Ind Fem | 03:35:28 | 21 |
| 24 | Heather Bain | Ind Fem | 03:35:29 | 22 |
| 18 | Fiona MacBean | Ind Fem | 03:35:30 | 23 |
| 4 | Andrew Blackhall | Ind Male | 01:04:27 | 1 |
| 21 | George Jamieson | Ind Male | 01:05:49 | 2 |
| 16 | Desmond Neill | Ind Male | 01:06:16 | 3 |
| 22 | Gordon Laing | Ind Male | 01:06:22 | 4 |
| 6 | Andrew Shepperson | Ind Male | 01:07:15 | 5 |
| 7 | Ben Churchman | Ind Male | 01:09:24 | 6 |
| 703 | Paul Cameron-Mowat | Ind Male | 01:21:53 | 7 |
| 14 | David Robertson | Ind Male | 01:26:36 | 8 |
| 23 | Graham Snedden | Ind Male | 01:27:43 | 9 |
| 43 | Thomas McKean | Ind Male | 01:38:48 | 10 |
| 12 | Darren Moore | Ind Male | 01:39:01 | 11 |
| 38 | Rory Machray | Ind Male | 01:39:30 | 12 |
| 13 | David Mooney | Ind Male | 01:53:42 | 13 |
| 28 | Kenny Paterson | Ind Male | 01:59:15 | 14 |
| 37 | Rob Burnett | Ind Male | 02:11:11 | 15 |
| 20 | James Taylor | Ind Male | 02:11:39 | 16 |
| 46 | Cant Deesiders | Male Team | 01:18:34 | 1 |
| 57 | Team Stix 3 | Male Team | 01:19:35 | 2 |
| 49 | Hilton Heroes | Male Team | 01:25:58 | 3 |
| 52 | Men of Steel | Male Team | 01:29:15 | 4 |
| 45 | Bag of mixed nuts | Male Team | 01:55:46 | 5 |
| 60 | The HogGErs 2 | Mxd Team | 01:38:31 | 1 |
| 56 | Team Stix 2 | Mxd Team | 01:50:10 | 2 |
| 59 | The HogGErs 1 | Mxd Team | 01:52:41 | 3 |
| 702 | Walkie Talkies | Mxd Team | 02:01:47 | 4 |
| 48 | Curly Wurlys | Mxd Team | 02:04:28 | 5 |
| 51 | Jane & the tarzans | Mxd Team | 02:05:36 | 6 |
| 50 | howiedidyerhair | Mxd Team | 02:07:17 | 7 |
| 701 | The Percy Pigs | Mxd Team | 02:07:37 | 8 |
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adventure Races, Whole Hog, whole hog races
Sunday was equally busy (426 people) for the Mc Donalds Housing Charity Whole Hog in Alton. Pictures are now on our Eight Point Two and Whole Hog facebook pages. Results below:
| Name | AgeClass | StartTime | FinishTime | RaceTime | Position |
| S.G.P.R on tour | 09:05:23 | 10:25:44 | 01:20:21 | 1 | |
| RMHC Titans | 09:17:12 | 10:40:42 | 01:23:30 | 2 | |
| Salford 353 | 09:12:40 | 10:37:57 | 01:25:17 | 3 | |
| H&K Team 1 | 09:12:02 | 10:37:25 | 01:25:23 | 4 | |
| Edge Lane | 09:26:48 | 10:57:26 | 01:30:38 | 5 | |
| Agri Cymra | 09:16:25 | 10:48:06 | 01:31:41 | 6 | |
| XXXY | 09:05:50 | 10:37:49 | 01:31:59 | 7 | |
| Awesome Sauce | 09:09:59 | 10:42:29 | 01:32:30 | 8 | |
| Dantec 2 | 09:19:28 | 10:56:01 | 01:36:33 | 9 | |
| Dantec 1 | 09:19:07 | 10:55:56 | 01:36:49 | 10 | |
| Agri Foreign Legion | 09:16:45 | 10:57:22 | 01:40:37 | 11 | |
| Band on the Run | 10:32:27 | 12:13:27 | 01:41:00 | 12 | |
| The Laceby Aces | 09:45:14 | 11:26:31 | 01:41:17 | 13 | |
| The Fugitives | 10:07:25 | 11:49:13 | 01:41:48 | 14 | |
| Mickie’s Angels | 09:04:02 | 10:47:54 | 01:43:52 | 15 | |
| Racing Snakes | 09:30:37 | 11:14:41 | 01:44:04 | 16 | |
| 1007 Blizzards | 09:34:11 | 11:20:14 | 01:46:03 | 17 | |
| The McAvengers | 09:27:08 | 11:14:33 | 01:47:25 | 18 | |
| The Avengers | 09:15:56 | 11:09:09 | 01:53:13 | 19 | |
| Dewsbury | 09:07:18 | 11:00:49 | 01:53:31 | 20 | |
| B/field Massive | 09:32:09 | 11:29:05 | 01:56:56 | 21 | |
| Elite Regiment | 09:20:39 | 11:18:26 | 01:57:47 | 22 | |
| MUD WARRIORS | 09:10:21 | 11:09:36 | 01:59:15 | 23 | |
| LACEBYLADIES | 09:43:43 | 11:45:15 | 02:01:32 | 24 | |
| Big B Trotters | 09:06:23 | 11:09:33 | 02:03:10 | 25 | |
| Frankie Says… | 09:14:37 | 11:18:04 | 02:03:27 | 26 | |
| lgtb | 09:15:25 | 11:19:00 | 02:03:35 | 27 | |
| Sian Lewis | 10:05:10 | 12:09:34 | 02:04:24 | 28 | |
| HOG IT’s | 10:02:26 | 12:13:36 | 02:11:10 | 29 | |
| Four Big Lads | 09:21:52 | 11:33:32 | 02:11:40 | 30 | |
| Fantastic Four | 10:24:45 | 12:36:34 | 02:11:49 | 31 | |
| the mincers | 09:06:45 | 11:20:22 | 02:13:37 | 32 | |
| The Drop Outs | 11:19:12 | 13:32:51 | 02:13:39 | 33 | |
| The hogmiesters | 10:09:18 | 12:23:14 | 02:13:56 | 34 | |
| Team Haringey | 10:00:18 | 12:15:47 | 02:15:29 | 35 | |
| Where’s the pub | 10:20:40 | 12:36:30 | 02:15:50 | 36 | |
| Aryzta-crats | 09:46:13 | 12:02:29 | 02:16:16 | 37 | |
| Subby Wechurchyard | 10:08:56 | 12:25:18 | 02:16:22 | 38 | |
| Agri Liverpool | 09:30:30 | 11:49:05 | 02:18:35 | 39 | |
| GulliTravellers | 09:47:08 | 12:07:54 | 02:20:46 | 40 | |
| Team Slough | 09:29:06 | 11:50:15 | 02:21:09 | 41 | |
| MKU | 09:46:43 | 12:07:59 | 02:21:16 | 42 | |
| CarlisleWarrior | 09:03:50 | 11:25:37 | 02:21:47 | 43 | |
| The Snipers | 09:21:03 | 11:44:31 | 02:23:28 | 44 | |
| HBN ROCKETS | 09:54:39 | 12:18:27 | 02:23:48 | 45 | |
| Ewood | 10:35:30 | 13:00:51 | 02:25:21 | 46 | |
| The Dirt Bags | 09:13:35 | 11:40:41 | 02:27:06 | 47 | |
| Team Oaks | 10:15:26 | 12:44:22 | 02:28:56 | 48 | |
| Wii Not Fit | 09:04:56 | 11:34:19 | 02:29:23 | 49 | |
| Bredbury Oldies | 09:26:20 | 11:57:54 | 02:31:34 | 50 | |
| Oakenshaw | 09:52:18 | 12:25:21 | 02:33:03 | 51 | |
| Neville’s Army | 10:17:00 | 12:50:08 | 02:33:08 | 52 | |
| No nuts! | 09:46:06 | 12:19:35 | 02:33:29 | 53 | |
| Dukes of Hazards | 09:04:27 | 11:38:23 | 02:33:56 | 54 | |
| Hednesford Hogz | 09:18:29 | 11:52:56 | 02:34:27 | 55 | |
| Team 175 | 09:18:00 | 11:53:17 | 02:35:17 | 56 | |
| Rochdale Kingsway | 09:53:42 | 12:29:17 | 02:35:35 | 57 | |
| fosse foxes | 09:54:48 | 12:31:38 | 02:36:50 | 58 | |
| Hogs in heaven | 10:08:15 | 12:45:06 | 02:36:51 | 59 | |
| Daisy May | 09:27:44 | 12:06:21 | 02:38:37 | 60 | |
| 189ers | 09:17:59 | 11:57:00 | 02:39:01 | 61 | |
| terry goodship | 10:38:44 | 13:19:14 | 02:40:30 | 62 | |
| B21 Crew | 09:25:42 | 12:06:14 | 02:40:32 | 63 | |
| Duchess of Disasters | 09:04:16 | 11:45:25 | 02:41:09 | 64 | |
| Team Capitol | 10:34:20 | 13:16:52 | 02:42:32 | 65 | |
| HR and Pete | 09:50:43 | 12:33:28 | 02:42:45 | 66 | |
| MAC | 09:23:52 | 12:08:29 | 02:44:37 | 67 | |
| #502 Team 3 | 09:09:39 | 11:54:21 | 02:44:42 | 68 | |
| #502 Team 1 | 09:09:19 | 11:54:19 | 02:45:00 | 69 | |
| #502 Team 2 | 09:08:45 | 11:54:44 | 02:45:59 | 70 | |
| Charlotte Doyle | 10:33:09 | 13:20:39 | 02:47:30 | 71 | |
| 869 Girls | 09:40:01 | 12:29:49 | 02:49:48 | 72 | |
| Chris’ angels | 09:11:33 | 12:02:10 | 02:50:37 | 73 | |
| Daniel Skutela | 09:11:18 | 12:02:02 | 02:50:44 | 74 | |
| honey badgers | 09:33:37 | 12:24:28 | 02:50:51 | 75 | |
| Rising Dead | 09:33:20 | 12:24:15 | 02:50:55 | 76 | |
| ooossshhh! | 09:31:48 | 12:23:47 | 02:51:59 | 77 | |
| The Unlikely | 09:10:40 | 12:02:48 | 02:52:08 | 78 | |
| The Dirty Divas | 09:14:10 | 12:07:12 | 02:53:02 | 79 | |
| McScousewives | 10:41:36 | 13:35:53 | 02:54:17 | 80 | |
| Rambi’s | 10:38:35 | 13:34:58 | 02:56:23 | 81 | |
| Scouse 4 Play | 09:29:40 | 12:26:34 | 02:56:54 | 82 | |
| Wednesfield | 09:22:23 | 12:22:28 | 03:00:05 | 83 | |
| Piggin Crazy!!! | 09:06:11 | 12:07:47 | 03:01:36 | 84 | |
| Jeffs & Freds | 09:19:36 | 12:21:55 | 03:02:19 | 85 | |
| Team 101 | 09:07:44 | 12:10:24 | 03:02:40 | 86 | |
| WYVERN | 09:28:30 | 12:31:42 | 03:03:12 | 87 | |
| Fuddy Muckers | 09:04:43 | 12:08:58 | 03:04:15 | 88 | |
| DBB | 09:24:50 | 12:29:08 | 03:04:18 | 89 | |
| CLK | 09:24:27 | 12:29:11 | 03:04:44 | 90 | |
| To Dare To Do | 09:22:59 | 12:27:56 | 03:04:57 | 91 | |
| TSA | 09:22:38 | 12:27:59 | 03:05:21 | 92 | |
| Chunks Chums | 09:23:01 | 12:29:00 | 03:05:59 | 93 | |
| Ronalds Rebels | 11:07:59 | 14:14:41 | 03:06:42 | 94 | |
| Phillip Sloss | 09:14:11 | 12:20:57 | 03:06:46 | 95 | |
| The Rockstars | 09:32:50 | 12:41:04 | 03:08:14 | 96 | |
| Ruff and Tumble | 09:14:48 | 12:23:43 | 03:08:55 | 97 | |
| MudRats | 09:42:32 | 13:17:46 | 03:35:14 | 98 | |
| H&K Team 2 | 09:13:29 | 12:51:24 | 03:37:55 | 99 | |
| The Full Monty | 09:44:10 | 13:28:37 | 03:44:27 | 100 | |
| Team 908 | 10:00:31 | 13:48:48 | 03:48:17 | 101 | |
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Whole Hog
Saturday was a busy day up in Balfron for one of our favourite Whole Hogs! Pictures to follow.
Results as follows:
| Name | CourseClass | RaceTime | Position |
| Steele, Fiona | Individual Female | 01:29:37 | 1 |
| Mazzara, Daniela | Individual Female | 01:29:42 | 2 |
| Helmore, Kristina | Individual Female | 01:30:54 | 3 |
| Sims, Camilla | Individual Female | 01:30:54 | 3 |
| Olliffe, Sarah | Individual Female | 01:46:22 | 5 |
| Noble, Ruth | Individual Female | 01:46:31 | 6 |
| Skowronski, Ingrid | Individual Female | 01:59:49 | 7 |
| Paton, Laura | Individual Female | 01:59:50 | 8 |
| Hall, Lynseyk | Individual Female | 02:01:24 | 9 |
| Wilson, Fiona | Individual Female | 02:03:18 | 10 |
| Irvine, Carole | Individual Female | 02:06:48 | 11 |
| Denton, Wendy | Individual Female | 02:10:27 | 12 |
| Currie, Tanya | Individual Female | 02:10:28 | 13 |
| MacKay, Julia | Individual Female | 02:14:14 | 14 |
| Carrigan, Lisa Theresa | Individual Female | 02:16:04 | 15 |
| Ginty, Fiona | Individual Female | 02:19:55 | 16 |
| McColgan, Amie | Individual Female | 02:20:04 | 17 |
| Winter, Laurie | Individual Female | 02:22:22 | 18 |
| Grant, Rachel | Individual Female | 02:24:32 | 19 |
| Robertson, Lucy | Individual Female | 02:24:34 | 20 |
| O’Neil, Carrie | Individual Female | 02:28:28 | 21 |
| Baird, Kirsty | Individual Female | 02:28:29 | 22 |
| Cowan, Susan | Individual Female | 02:29:50 | 23 |
| Shema, Lee-Anne | Individual Female | 02:29:52 | 24 |
| Adams, Nicola | Individual Female | 02:33:15 | 25 |
| Houston, Caroline | Individual Female | 02:41:02 | 26 |
| Adams, Nicola | Individual Female | 02:50:02 | 27 |
| McDougall, Joanne | Individual Female | 03:28:31 | 28 |
| MacKenzie, Amanda | Individual Female | 03:28:33 | 29 |
| Christie, Emma | Individual Female | 03:28:36 | 30 |
| MacKenzie, Jennifer | Individual Female | 03:38:59 | 31 |
| Wonfor, Karen | Individual Female | 03:39:08 | 32 |
| Morrison, Linzi | Individual Female | 03:43:12 | 33 |
| Sharkey, Kirsty | Individual Female | ||
| Taylor, Adam | Individual Male | 01:10:12 | 1 |
| Liam Lanigan | Individual Male | 01:11:53 | 2 |
| Fielding, Richard | Individual Male | 01:13:32 | 3 |
| Cuinu, Lawrence | Individual Male | 01:24:25 | 4 |
| Cowan, Paul | Individual Male | 01:24:48 | 5 |
| Taylor, David | Individual Male | 01:26:27 | 6 |
| Wilson, Alan | Individual Male | 01:28:17 | 7 |
| Faulds, Iain | Individual Male | 01:28:25 | 8 |
| Bryant, Robin | Individual Male | 01:29:50 | 9 |
| Cumming, Andrew | Individual Male | 01:29:54 | 10 |
| Jackson, Andrew | Individual Male | 01:33:12 | 11 |
| Cowan, Scot | Individual Male | 01:36:09 | 12 |
| Thain, Greg | Individual Male | 01:40:43 | 13 |
| Walker, Michael | Individual Male | 01:41:52 | 14 |
| Simpson, Graeme | Individual Male | 01:42:50 | 15 |
| Kerr, Chris | Individual Male | 01:45:05 | 16 |
| Baikie, Alan | Individual Male | 01:49:33 | 17 |
| Clark, Alan | Individual Male | 01:50:13 | 18 |
| Hedley, David | Individual Male | 01:50:13 | 18 |
| Miller, Thomas | Individual Male | 01:51:15 | 20 |
| Graham, Brendan | Individual Male | 01:51:43 | 21 |
| O’Donnell, Mark | Individual Male | 01:51:53 | 22 |
| MacGregor, Peter | Individual Male | 01:51:55 | 23 |
| Jack, William | Individual Male | 01:52:55 | 24 |
| Brincat, Edgar | Individual Male | 01:54:38 | 25 |
| McKiernan, Michael | Individual Male | 01:55:32 | 26 |
| Miller, Darren | Individual Male | 02:01:06 | 27 |
| Porter, Gerrard | Individual Male | 02:03:12 | 28 |
| Wilson, Craig | Individual Male | 02:03:16 | 29 |
| Aidoo, Francis | Individual Male | 02:04:19 | 30 |
| McGillivray, Ross Andrew | Individual Male | 02:11:30 | 31 |
| Rattigan, Stephen | Individual Male | 02:11:37 | 32 |
| Woo, Tim | Individual Male | 02:11:45 | 33 |
| Porter, Thomas | Individual Male | 02:19:37 | 34 |
| Donegan, Phil | Individual Male | 02:19:49 | 35 |
| Patrick, William | Individual Male | 02:19:54 | 36 |
| Cowan, Billy | Individual Male | 02:29:55 | 37 |
| Lambie, Andrew | Individual Male | 02:40:54 | 38 |
| Desperados | Team Female | 01:50:16 | 1 |
| British Military Fitness Rouken Glen Rockets | Team Female | 01:58:15 | 2 |
| Fancy Forties | Team Female | 02:06:06 | 3 |
| Dumpling Divas | Team Female | 02:28:11 | 4 |
| The Wolf Pack | Team Male | 01:29:01 | 1 |
| Richard Nisbet | Team Male | 01:45:02 | 2 |
| Team GC | Team Male | 01:46:39 | 3 |
| Team IGI | Team Male | 01:52:45 | 4 |
| British Military Fitness Rouken Glen Rascals | Team Male | 01:58:18 | 5 |
| Peaches & Cream | Team Mixed | 01:51:39 | 1 |
| Regatta Renegades | Team Mixed | 02:03:09 | 2 |
| Tortoise & the Hares | Team Mixed | 02:05:42 | 3 |
| Scrambled Legs | Team Mixed | 02:13:20 | 4 |
| RBO Pilgrims | Team Mixed | 02:22:17 | 5 |
| Who Ate All The Hogs | Team Mixed | 03:11:05 | 6 |
Filed under: Uncategorized
Id originally aimed to do legs 3 and 4 today but the weather was forecasted to be grim and Im still pretty knackered form rigging last weekends race in Brecon!! Armed with those excuses I headed out for the 3rd leg recce!
The 3rd leg is undoubtedly the toughest with 3 significant climbs. The 1st is Win Hill from Bamford:
Followed by the summit and its spectacular views
Its then a long run then climb up on to Kinder. Easy navigation around the plateau then lead down to Edale before starting the 2nd climb of the leg up to Hollins Cross
The initially rocky descent to Castleton is all too quickly followed by the climb up and out of Castleton on the Limestone Way. You will notice that the geology changes here from gritstone to limestone and this means slippery under foot if wet!
Fortunatley its not now far from Bradwell and the 3rd feedstation which is in the Bradwell sports club.
The story of this leg is the 3 climbs which are going to hurt after the previous 30 miles. Navigation is fairly straight forward but conditions can get very bleak on Kinder so dont take it for granted that its a walk in the park… If its hot there will be suffering on the track up the Limestone Way out of Castleton!! Its sheltered, long and steep..
4th leg blog to follow soon.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adventure Race, Charity abseil, Whole Hog, whole hog races
Weve just had one of the busiest weekends we have ever had with 2 abseils and 2 Whole Hog races.
Saturday started well with the Brecon Race for Marie Curie. The sun came out and we had a glorious day. There were 150 competitors who enjoyed the delights of the hills and bogs of Brecon.
Also on Saturday were abseils for both PDSA and the Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse. The PDSA abseil was at the Walsall New Art Gallery and the Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse one was, unsurprisingly, at Leasowe Lighthouse. Both events went really well and were bathed in the sunshine!
Finally, on Sunday, we had Marie Curie competitors running the East Grinstead Whole Hog at Hindleap. The hilly course was shorter than most of our others but the short course hid the steep hills and certainly packed a punch!
More pictures to follow.
Filed under: Uncategorized
As I have already blogged earlier on in the week I spent a very warm and pleasant day on Monday running the first two legs of the ULTRA route.
Well, here goes for leg 2..
Starting from the aid station at checkpoint 1 the route heads along the road for a 100m before joining tracks to go past Moscar House. Usually there would be a few route choices here but we have been asked to keep to the public right of way which joins Derwent Edge at the 454m spot height marked on the map. Its good running again but, again, slightly up hill all the way.
Its then a long and beautiful run on a mixture of track and gritstone flag stones up to Back Tor and then Lost Lad (checkpoint) before an equally stunning long descent down to Wellhead (checkpoint). Believe me, the footpath is the best way down there as the descent via Far Deep Clough is slow going.
Its then a steep grind back up to the 454m spot height before returning to feedstation 1 via Moscar House.
Navigationally this section could cause you problems if the weather is poor but if its clear the route is obvious. The route then crosses the A57 again before joining Stanage Edge which you follow all the way to the trig at High Neb (no dropping down here to the car park!) and then on to the top of the footpath leading to High Neb buttress car park where you will find Feed station 2 and the second changeover. Personally I found this short section the worst of the whole first two legs as the running is very stoney and rocky – not pleasant! Luckily it only lasts for about 1/2 km but tired ankles will feel this bit!
I really enjoyed the first two legs but I certainly felt the heat (it was a very still and warm day) so carry plenty of water and drink lots at the feed stations. Navigation is fine in good conditions but Derwent Edge can be grim and exposed in bad weather.
Legs 3 and 4 to follow in a few weeks.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adventure Races, Big Running Weekend, ULTRA race
Yesterday was a grand day spent running the first two sections of the ULTRA tour of the Peak District. The route is the ‘main attraction’ of the Big Running Weekend (www.bigrunningweekend.co.uk ) in August. I ran the first 30 odd miles, ie the first two stages, and the following is a bit of info about what I found out on the 1st leg! Ill blog about the 2nd leg later this week..
Stage 1 – Whirlow to Moscar 15.4 miles (dependant on route taken)
It was a beautiful day but, as you can see from the picture above, the ducks had found new homes thanks to the ridiculous amounts of rain weve had over the past few days (weeks!). This meant that conditions were a bit mushy under foot but in August you can expect the first section to provide a fast start to the ULTRA.
From Whirlow the route winds its way up towards Burbage and then Stanage through the outskirts of Sheffield. Runners wont need to worry about navigating the first few miles as it will all be signed ready for the 12.12 race which follows part of the route.
Funnily enough the first part of the ULTRA (shared with the 12,12) is probably the steepest section of the first leg and will provide the ULTRA competitors with the ultimte question… to run or not to run… Its barely ever too steep to have to walk but often steep enough to make running hard work. I ran at a steady jog and walked only the steepest sections but felt that if I was to have carried on for the full 56 I would have probably have paid for my early enthusiasm.
The picture above shows the views as you drop down in to the Burbage valley – stunning!
The footpath from Lady Cannings Plantation all the way to Burnage Bridges and the road section alongside Redmires are probably the fastest section of the first leg and provide the flatest sections.
The picture above shows the route back along Redmires and will be a checkpoint on the ULTRA.
After Stanage pole and then Redmires the route takes you through the beautiful Wyoming Brook and then over the A57 and up towards Moscar before finally dropping down to the first feed station and 1st leg changeover! This section is again very obvious but worth a recce if you have the time before the race.
To summarise, generally good under foot, easy navigation and long and steady uphill sections! Feels hot if there isnt any wind!
Eight Point Two 