Wolfspit

No lift share for this race, so naturally I set off 15 minutes later than planned in a car with no petrol, so another 5 minutes lost means it’s a sprint across the tops to get to Bamford in time.   I tend to avoid the A6 if possible, even if it does mean a few extra miles.  From Crich onwards, above Tansley, on to Beeley Moor and Eastmoor, between Big Moor and Totley moor, past Longshaw and through Hathersage its great views all the way, on what was a fine, sunny morning.

The car park at the Hope garden centre is already full, so it’s a quick drive further up the road to park and then have a warm up run to the start, past the lovely houses that make up Shatton  village.  Son no. 1 was there to meet me and show me to the registration forms. 

There was a queue for registration and I stayed pretty much at the back as it got shorter and shorter with not many turning up after me.   Very well organised registration with chip timing on the wrist and some random kit checks being carried out.  It turns out I’ve arrived in good time after all, and the Bradda dads have got everyone nicely sorted for the start.

There’s clearly some weather coming as the clouds are gathering in the west but the sun is still shining as we set off. There’s a good charge across the field for the start and I’m determined this time not to get too carried away and manage to pace myself across the ford and onto the bottom of the main climb.  I’ve got fellow Harriers Chris and Dave to swap places with up the first field and the gradient picks up. 

As this is farmland there is no clear footpath to follow just good running across the grass, though the running soon gives way to walking and as we approach the top it just occurs to me that I could just whip out the phone for a quick photo without losing much time at all.  I had no idea until then that a fabulous rainbow was hovering over the trail of runners.  Very pleased with the result, but no time to review it there, but a right turn means a great view of the rainbow as we start to make our way round to Abney Moor.

Very windy up the top but what rain there is, isn’t too heavy and it’s a very pleasant anti clockwise circuit of the moor to a good descent before climbing back up to complete the loop.  Really feeling the effort at this point but once the final bit of track is complete it onto the fields again.  Lovely downhill back across the grass, feel like I’m not letting myself go still, but don’t lose any places and then back to the finish.

What a terrific race, really enjoyed it.  Laddo back at the finish is looking quite pleased with himself as well.  I have to hang around for the prizes as he’s only gone and finished 5^th overall and 1^st U23.  Horizontal rain by the time we move away from the marquee and back to the car, appreciate that it waited until after the event.

Would I do it again, yes, hopefully next year.

Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt Edges and the Grindleford Gallop

Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt have become one of my favourite and most accessible places in the peak district, having previously only visited on the rare occasion, and in fact, I hadn’t even been on Baslow edge, or not that I remember, until last year.  The edges offer fabulous views, varied terrain, great running and walking, and are in easy reach.  I can take a long lunch from Chesterfield and with a 15 minute drive be parked up at Curbar Gap or the Clodhall Lane, Sheffield Road Crossroads.  

From the national trust car park or the free spaces just over the brow of the hill you can do a great 6 miles along Curbar and Froggatt edges, past the Grouse Inn and on towards the White Edge Lodge before cutting back along White edge.  Or, from the crossroads, start towards Curbar on the road, then take the path to the left giving a flatish run to Wellington’s monument and Eagle Stone before running along Baslow edge, Curbar, up to Froggatt and then cutting across the moor onto White Edge for a nice 5 mile circular.

The views both over the edges and across the moors are terrific, but on my last visit I was in no state to appreciate them or even take them in.  The only view I remember was when straining to see the Grindleford playing fields in an attempt to make them seem closer that they were.  This was the end of the Grindleford Gallup and my legs had already told me they’d had enough.

The Gallup is a race you have to be very sharp on signing up with on registration day, with entries gone in under 20 minutes.  Having never run 21 miles before, signing up early did at least mean I had plenty of time to try and work up to the distance.

Race day sign on was smooth and thanks to a lift with Meg and Rachel I wasn’t running late for a change.  Plenty of time for a kit check and warm up.  Kit didn’t seem mandatory but I carried my back pack as I wanted to have my drink and food with me anyway.

Having crossed the road to the starting field I was quite surprised by the speed of the pack as it raced away from the start line.   A number of early stiles probably the main reason behind this but as I had tried to go with the early pace I wasn’t queuing for too long. Plenty of early mud on the first few fields showing fell shoes were the only sensibly option.

The fields continued up to Yam and the first checkpoint came and went with Ed Goober easing past and a guy from Ripley asking me if I was ok, bit early for that I thought. Best part of the run, up and over Longstone Moor with plenty of stiles and good moorland running.  

After a long downhill it’s a 20 minute stretch on the Monsal trail broken up by a feeding station at Hassop station.  This did seem a bit of a drag but is soon followed by the steepest climb of the route.  Bit of walking here before turning into the Chatsworth estate and a lovely run down to Edensor. 

So far so good but on the path that takes you over to Chatsworth it was like someone has flicked a switch and I am all of a sudden struggling to keep any sort of decent pace going.  I just about keep the running going through to Baslow.  After that it’s a stumble up Baslow hill onto the edges where the cramps set in and the numbers of people going past me reaches a steady trickle. 

With Baslow edge ticked off, it’s a treat to see the wife and son number 1, out on a run of their own, waiting for me near the highest point of Curbar.  Very good of them also, to hang around for a bit, cheering the other runners on, before setting off after me, for fear of overtaking me. 

After the rocks on Froggatt, it’s pretty much, a very welcome, downhill all the way to the finish, but not something, with the state of my legs, I’m able to make the most off.  But still I manage to roll in to the finish, just under three and a half hours.  A very reasonable effort.

The Grindleford Gallup is a well-established event, really well organised and they do look after the entrants.  Route finding was not a problem for a middle of the pack runner such as myself, but even if I hadn’t had other runners around me the map, directions and video on the web site give you plenty of opportunity to get to know the route enough without a recce.

The water and feed stations were well manned with plenty of goodies on. Picked up a few Jelly Babies early on, and a piece of marshmallow pop at the fantastically well stock tables at Baslow.  Surely they did not get through all that cake.

And back at the sports ground all runners are provided with hot soup, bread, bread cheese and more cake which was fantastic.  A great event to do once for sure, would I do it again, yes, but maybe not next year.

Bit of an absence of photos on this blog, despite all the great views, me having my phone with me and plenty of opportunities for some nice pics, I completely forgot and the phone stayed in my pocket the whole way round.  So here’s a lovely picture of the cows that roam around near Eagle stone taken earlier in the year and a view from Curbar Edge at the top.