Time/Position: 1.03.43 (28th from 291)
A very well-known and long-established race on the edge of the Peak that I'd never got round to doing before, so it was nice to put that right today - although the heat and humidity made life difficult at times. With a mid-afternoon start in a picture-postcard location, that heat was always going to be a problem and after a fast start from the fete down to the Dane and along fast, flat tracks, I started to struggle a little. Fearful of a repeat of Ras y Gader, I consciously eased off and the shade of woodland helped. At the far end of the course, the route headed through Lud's Church, a gritstone gorge, as cool as a fridge, which I had heard of but never visited. It provided brief but wonderful relief from the heat, after which the race climbs again to gain a high open ridge: the end of the Roaches. This gave some superb running, some breeze, and views of Danebridge and the finish far below. A steep descent down steps led to the second river crossing of the day, through the Dane, and then a brutal final climb up to the finish at the fete. A beautiful location, almost like a Disney image of rural England, and a great race. I was quite glad I had opted for a cautious, pedestrian approach in the weather and actually finished higher up the field that I had expected to.
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