The Edale Skyline

Hester and Gav were running the Edale Skyline fell race today, a stunning 20 mile lap around the top edge of the bowl like ridge line that surrounds the beautiful  Edale valley in the Peak District. As fell races go its always a tough one too - its not just the 20 miles itself or even the 3,800-ish feet of climb but its the notorious Peak District mud and bogs, that do their best to suck every ounce of energy out of the runners, that makes this route such blinking hard work.

I had been down to race too but, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was on Harry care assistant duties today so, instead of racing, me and Hazzer decided to run the Skyline route anti-clockwise. We set off about half an hour before the race and, rather than go up Ringing Roger, the first climb of the race, we climbed the opposite side of the valley up to Hollins Cross and proceeded anti-clockwise from there. This meant that we ended up passing all of the competitors of the race twice as they were running in a clockwise direction.

The weather was mostly sunny but with the odd squall of snow and hail thrown in. There was also a cutting wind which made the going harder still, especially as we were running straight into the teeth of it for at least half (and what seemed like most) of the distance. 

Anyway what a cracking run. Me and harry loved it. Hester and Gavin did well too, although I think their climb through the swamp and bogs to Brown Knoll took its toll on them (and all of the other runners to be fair). Me and Harry running down (rather than up) from Brown Knoll found this bit easy and, having timed things nicely to meet the race for a second time at this very point, felt obliged to smugly pass all of the runners struggling in the opposite direction, smiling our smuggiest smiles and smugly telling them to 'dig in' and 'for Christ's sake make an effort". (Not really).

Me and Harold finished at Edale Village Hall just in time to wander up to the race finsh and see Gavin and, a few minutes later, Hester romp home. Then it was meat pie and mushy peas in the village hall and a well earned cup of tea.

Looking back towards Edale not far from the top of Lose Hill

Hester, with Gav just behind, coming the other way on the 'Roman Road'

Looking back towards Win Hill

The Peak District 'rocks'

More Peak Districts rocks, this time with walkers in for scale

The grind to Brown Knoll

Hester patting Harry when we passed for the second time

Just behind me out of shot a lady runner was stuck in a bog (haha)

Beautiful eh?

Hester's sprint finish

Mine and Harry's route