Saturday the 8th of February saw Castleton host Endurancelife Peak District 10k, half, full and ultra Marathons. Originally rescheduled from November following this winters first snowfall, weather conditions threatened to further scupper plans with last minute changes made to the Marathon and Ultra courses, but thankfully myself and my fellow 79 10k runners were good to go. Ample car parking very close to the start line was a bonus along with toilets and baggage drop off literally next to it- woefully underdressed in my usual shorts and vest combo, I was able to ditch extra layers last minute whilst nervously eyeing fellow runners sensibly wrapped up and sporting stuffed back packs and poles. Gulp.
After a five-minute briefing we were off. An unpleasant grass start soon gave way to a brutal climb up Winnats Pass. Boggy, marsh like conditions enabled wet feet to be firmly established by the 3km mark as we continued to climb Mam Tor. At the top, a peppering of snow and fog gave way to stunning views. The sharp downhill sections proved equally challenging and it was relief to get back on terra firma for the final downhill sprint to the finish line to collect our medals and post run snacks. The coffee van in particular was a sight for sore eyes. Official finish time was 1.26.35
This race isn’t for the faint hearted. A total of 1877 ft elevation, harsh weather and gnarly terrain made this a real challenge but an enjoyable one. A small and friendly event in a beautiful part of the Peak District, its definitely one I’d recommend- certainly not for a fast time but as a great training opportunity and a lovely day out. Thanks for hosting us Castleton, it’s been a pleasure.
