High Peak Marathon (Derwent Watershed)
Peak Pursuit
Tim Fairbrother / 14.03.2004
Some hundred and sixty athletes crammed into and out of Edale Village Hall late in the evening on Friday 5th March 2004, just as pubs across the land were beginning to empty. Many had driven long distances to be there. Why? The small Dark Peak community was about to host the thirtieth High Peak Marathon. The night-time event covers over 42 miles around the area on a route known as the Derwent Watershed – a classic of the area (though I doubt whether many attempt it at any other time than the annual race) first completed in 1918 by the legendary Eustace Thomas of Manchester’s famous Rucksack Club. The route puts strong demands on the teams of four as it traverses some of the most desolate and leg-tiring moorland in the country. This is exemplified by the current record of 8 hours 7 minutes, which has stood for 16 years now, an average speed of little more than 5 miles per hour.
The event has become increasingly popular with adventure racing teams over recent years, as they have recognised the event as providing top quality training for early season fitness and navigation practice.
As with every event, the weather plays an influential role. The best conditions come after a week of cold, not too wet weather which freezes the bog on the upper reaches of the route around Bleaklow. This year, the preceding week was quite mild and a thaw of snow from the previous weekend left much of the peat saturated preventing any very fast times from being attained. Mist and low cloud also played havoc with navigators during the early parts of the race.
Two teams were out to defend their titles. The Rolling Stones, a local fell running team, had been overall winners for the past two years and Team SleepMonsters.com, who had raced as Team SWART in 2003, were aiming to retain the mixed trophy with Sonya Clark coming in for Nicola MacLeod. Their main competition appeared to come from Aberdeen Asset Management who gained a late entry into the event. The early pace was quick though navigation was awkward with the thick mist and teams changed places constantly.
The first road crossing at Moscar marks about a quarter of the way round and saw teams start to settle though some were beginning to feel the pace and either lost a member or withdrew altogether. The middle half of the race, from Moscar round the head of the Derwent Valley reservoirs and over Bleaklow to Snake Pass, is the most challenging. This year, the route changed slightly losing height by dropping into a valley near Derwent Reservoir before regaining the moorland edges on higher ground shortly after. See All Event Posts
