High Peak Marathon

Chris Morgan - Top Bananas AR Team / 27.03.2009

Two years ago we did the High Peak Marathon, we were fit, and thought we were prepared, but got horribly lost on Bleaklow Moor (aka. \'Bog Hell\') in the dark, got rather cold, and were very glad when the finish line came around. This year, bad memories (Bog Hell) forgotten, we were back for a second attempt.

To prepare for Bog Hell Jon and AJ recceed the bog leg (going out on Boxing day, to work off some of their Christmas excess!), and came back with lots of useful knowledge, crystallised into notes on the map.

So we were prepared, and hoping for a cold snap, to freeze Bog Hell and avoid the energy sapped by sinking ankle deep in bog.

A few days before the race Jon went out for a training run to test out some new toys (kangaroo style pouch and drinks bottle holder). Unfortunately, so engrossed was he in his new toys, he forgot to concentrate on the task at hand (where his feet were going), and twisted his ankle. The morning after his last hopes of racing were quenched when the ankle was the size of a small melon, and the colour of a rather rotten apple. AJ also informs us it smelt pretty unpleasant as well - although that may be the natural state of Jons feet. Losing our star navigator 2 days before the race was not the ideal preparation, but the call went out, and Super-Sub Elle came in to fill Jons size 12s.

Arriving in plenty of time we registered, got through kit check, and went and had a good doze in the car. It was good to catch up with friends, and start priming ourselves with tea and coffee for the long night ahead. Unfortunately although the weather forecast had promised clear skies, by the time our start time came around drizzling persistently and distinctly chilly.

So 11:10 came and went, and we set off up to Hollins Cross and the start of our lap of the Derwent watershed. It was slightly misty on top, and the light reflected from the mist made seeing slightly harder. Taking the headtorch off and carrying it helped â€“ but carrying head torch and map was slightly awkward. We envied the teams that came past seeming to know the route well enough not to use a map.

Unfortunately Super-sub Elle tweaked her knee on the steep and unpleasant descent off Win Hill, and we slowed down as we went past Bamford and along the end of Stanage edge, in the hope that it would improve for the rest of the evening. After a little bit of confusion we arrived at Moscar in two pairs. Anna and I had been sure that the configuration of lights behind us was AJ and Elle, but on arrival there were a couple of minutes of worry when we realised the lights belonged to someone else, and AJ and Elle were in a bunch behind.

The friendly faces at Moscar offering flapjack, sandwiches and coffee were very welcome, and we fuelled up and headed off down towards Derwent edge. There were a few minutes of confusion as Chris spent too long eating (as normal), and the once again the team split into two as Anna and AJ headed off down the road leaving Elle and Chris at the checkpoint. Swift deduction from Super-sub Elle suggested that they were as they were no longer at Moscar, they were presumably halfway down the road toward Derwent edge. So we followed post-haste.See All Event Posts