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| View of southern skyline from Mam Tor - picture courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
Intro
This is a fantastic race, in the right weather. Luckily on March 25th 2012 it was perfect - clear sky, dry and pleasantly warm.
It’s a category AL fell race, so previous experience of longer distance trail running with appreciable vertical gain is essential. It’s also a race dominated by fell runners from the peak district. I must have been one of only an handful of ‘soft southerners’.
The first half of the route is relatively straight forward. Apart from a short scramble up to the first checkpoint the paths are well defined and not too technical. In fact two thirds of the southern ‘skyline’ is on a tourist path.
The race really starts in the second half where navigation, quick thinking and dexterity play a big part. The paths are difficult to find, very boggy or rocky and the gradient often severe. Put all this together and after 20 miles your legs, core muscles and concentration are ........ well fairly worn out.
Background
A lingering hamstring and calf strain meant I hadn’t been for a proper run since the Devon Ultra on 16th Feb. A few 8k or 10k runs with the dogs, but I kept pulling up short or going very slowly. I did managed a 12k on the Friday afternoon before the race, without re-occurrence of the calf strain, but it felt tight.
Would the body stay together? I decided to give it a go, get round and don’t push too hard.
The race requires navigation if visibility is poor, so I spent a reasonable amount of time in front of the OS map. I plotted the route, marked on check points, water points and tried and memorize as many route markers/characteristics as possible.
I also read through the Fell Running Association (FRA) forums for current and past Edale Skyline issues and recommendations.
Mandatory kit included:
- Compass. Up on Brown Knoll and Kinder there are no big landmarks and with visibility possibly down to 50m navigation could be a real problem.
- Map - I took two small laminated OS maps
- whistle
- food and water
- hat and gloves
- windproof top and trousers
Day before prep
Spent the morning in the garden pottering about. Started to eat the usual mix of low GI carbs from about lunchtime and drank enough to be properly hydrated by 8pm - pee was completely clear! Just thought you should know.
I decided to stay in Somerset on Saturday evening to watch Liz sing in the White Horse Opera, so packed all my kit and food for breakfast in the car ready for an early start the next day.
Day of the race
Woke up at 4.30, faffed about for 30mins and left just before 5am.
I had breakfast in the car on the way to Edale.
- Low GI carbs for early breakfast - 5.30am
- Porridge at 7am
- 1ltr of water with carb/electrolyte mix
- a small coffee to keep me awake
I drove to Edale, via the M5, M6, Stoke, Leek and arrived at 8.30-ish. Parking was in the Edale station overflow car park. Registration was in the village hall adjacent to the station - 3 mins walk away from the car park.
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| View across the Peak District at about 8.30am - picture courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
Registration hadn’t formally opened when I arrived and I was one of only a handful of competitors in the hall, but at least I could use the toilet without queuing. I could also spend time examining the big route map hung up in the village hall. It was a Edale Skyline map sold by Lakes Runners (http://www.lakesrunner.com) and available via their website for £12, I think.
I then assembled my race kit, got it checked and ‘approved’ before registering and collecting my race number. I also made my way through 500ml of water (with carb electrolyte mix) and a banana.
All suited and booted I stood around outside registration in the morning sun, soaking up the atmosphere and talking to a few past and present runners - “Race starts after Mam Tor”, “Route up to Brown Knoll is difficult, but easier today, due to recent dry weather”, “Route past Kinder Scout is difficult”.
Of course non of this meant much to me, as I hadn’t seen any of these places. However it was good to get advise and hopefully stuff would start to fall into place as the race progressed.
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| Start line before everyone arrived - picture courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
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| Clean, refreshed and itching to get started - picture courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
Just before we set off at 10 for the walk up to the start some marshals handed out bags of jelly Babies. At 70cal a bag they’d come in handy as emergency rations. The start was in a field (Heardsmans Plantation) just east of Grindsbrook Booth.
I met Colin at the start. I was suppose to meet him an hour earlier for a flask of coffee, but somehow we missed each other. He gave me a few last minute fell race tips:
- Get to the front to avoid the bottleneck at the stile
- Don’t be afraid to use elbows
- Don’t be fooled by runners suddenly slowing up. They want you to pass, then take a short cut.
Race
We hardly heard the starters gun. I quickly got into the top 30-ish as we ran up the field towards the stile.
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| Start line in Heardsmans Plantation, Edale - picture and movie courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
We were straight into a steep ascent, which started as stone steps then path, gravel path and finally just rocks. The final ascent up to Ringing Roger was more like a Grade 1 scramble than a trail run. CP1 was perched on top of Ringing Roger at 550m.
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| CP1 - Ringing Roger. Picture courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
CP1 Ringing Roger to CP2 Win Hill
The next section to Win Hill was fast. The path followed the 550m contour for a bit, but was reasonably technical - needed nimble feet and quick thinking. This suited me, so I managed to pass a few runners.
At Crookstone Out Moor the route turned southeast and went downhill towards Woodlands Valley. Down on the gentle slopes adjacent to the woods I ran with a small group in the shade of the trees, then took the racing line from Home Brink to Win Hill.
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| Looking east towards Win Hill © Copyright Stephen Horncastle and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
The final climb up to CP2 at 462m was again a scramble. I glanced at my watch. It’d taken me 55min to reach CP2. I also felt the temperature rising, which worried my a little. I hoped it wouldn’t get too hot as I was only carrying 500ml and there were only 2 water stops.
CP2 Win Hill to CP3 Hope
From CP2 we were immediately into a sharp and fast descent down to Hope. The path was rocky at first, but after about 1k it opened up into fields, but was still very steep.
After passing through Twitchill Farm there was a short stretch of tarmac road before we went underneath the railway bridge and onto the minor road down to Hope and the River Noe.
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Looking down the Twitchill Farm track from the hillsides above the farm.
© Copyright Andrew Hill and licensed for reuse under thisCreative Commons Licence |
At this point I became aware I was running with the 3rd placed lady Laura Gibson from Totley RC. How did I know this? Well, nearly every spectator we ran past shouted “well done 3rd lady”, “Go on Totley”.
CP3 was located on the bridge over the River Noe at 170m. I took a few minutes to have 3 cups of water, some of which i poured over my head - just enough to cool me down. There were jelly babies on offer, but I thought I’d stick to the ZipVit gels.
CP3 Hope to CP4 Lose Hill
We ran up Edale Road for 1k then turned left just before Townhead Bridge onto a footpath. This section of the run was going to be difficult - it was a long slog up to Brown Knoll.
The gradient suddenly increased and after a few 100m’s we turned right at Townhead and joined a footpath that would take us up to the summit of Lose Hill at 476m and CP4.
The footpath started in a small sheltered drove before opening up into heathland. We quickly gained height and got onto a broad ridge that curved west and then north towards Lose Hill. I surprised myself by running some of this.
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Looking south off Lose Hill. Path followed flat ridge.
© Copyright Peter Turner and licensed for reuse under thisCreative Commons Licence |
Over an hour into the race and I still felt okay. I kept going over the things I had to do, i.e. controlled breathing, don’t get too worked up, keep the cadence high, concentrate on what’s just ahead and don’t worry about what’s off in the distance.
CP4 (476m) was right on top of Lose Hill, which was reasonably broad and flat compared to the previous CP’s. A young lad was counting us over the top and told me I was 70th, not sure how accurate he was.
CP4 Lose Hill to CP5 Mam Tor
The path off Lose Hill was rutted and on a gradual gradient down the ridge, so I turned on the gas a bit and passed a few runners. At a small col (Back Tor at 391m) we hopped over a fence and ran along Barker Bank, the southern slope of Lose Hill.
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| Running off Lose Hill, just ahead of Laura Gibson. Picture courtesy of Edale Skyline |
The path passed Hollins Cross and then started the long steady climb up to Mam Tor and CP5. The running surface changed at this point from grass to large stone slabs - massive things. How they were transported up there I’ll never know.
The number of spectators suddenly seemed to increased and Laura (who I was still running with) was clapped and encouraged all the way up the 130m climb.
The summit of Mam Tor (517m) was covered in spectators and Paragliders preparing their kit for flight. There were also a few flying around just off the southern flank of Mam Tor.
CP5 (455m) was 60m down the other side of Mam Tor and on the other side of the road. I met Colin, who told me I was 60th! Not bad for a soft southerner.
I took a couple of minutes to have 3 cups of water, a little of which I poured over my head to cool me off.
CP5 Mam Tor to CP6 Lords Seat
The path along Rushup Edge andup to Lords Seat at 540m was rocky, but well defined. The gradient then flattened as we got to the cain at 488m and ran towards CP6. As this was the last good bit of path before the Brown Knoll bog I could concentrate on chewing my way through a ZipVit gel and catching Laura and a couple of Dark Peak Fell Runners (DPFR) who’d left CP5 just ahead of me.
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| The highest point in the distance is Lord's Seat. © Copyright Graham Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
CP6 Lords Seat to CP7 Brown Knoll
I was told this would be where the race really started. I’m not sure about the racing, but the navigation certainly got tougher. Without a defined path we had to run 3k across peat bogs and up the remaining 90m to Brown Knoll.
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| This post indicates where the path up to Brown Knoll departs from the bridleway. This flat ridge is on the watershed of Great Britain - to the left streams flow ultimately into the Mersey, to the right the Humber. © Copyright Dave Dunford and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
The ground was very undulating, peaty, rocky in places and peppered with small bogs. Thankfully it hadn’t rained recently, so there wasn’t too much standing water, but I still found it difficult and quite exhausting. Not sure how I would have faired If it had been misty and wetter under foot.
The DPFR lads know the route very well. It’s their race. So, it’s good to follow their lead, especially through tricky sections like this one. Rather foolishly I ran ahead of the DPFR bunch for a short while and very quickly wished I hadn’t. I fell into a bog. Left side, shoulder and arm covered in peat bog muck, middle finger bent back and left feeling rather silly.
After brushing off the worst, inspecting my finger and deciding it wasn’t broken I carried on running, but rather sheepishly at the back of the DPFR bunch. Don’t get over confident in unfamiliar terrain!
Running on the heals of Laura and DPFR boys and nursing a throbbing finger we reached CP7 on top of Brown Knoll (569m).
CP7 Brown Knoll to CP8 Grindslow Knoll
A short marked section lead us off the top, down towards a fence and a new stone slab path. By this time I’d gathered my composure a little and was thinking of overtaking the DPFR lads, but I couldn't. The stone path was narrow and the ground either side very uneven and peaty. I had to be patient.
Within 1k we’d reached the top of Jacobs Ladder (530m) and the short climb up to Swine’s Back (600m). The next short section from Swine’s Back to Noe Stool broadly followed the 600m contour and formed the Edale Head. The view down the valley was fantastic, but sadly I didn't see enough of it as I had to concentrate on the path ahead of me.
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View south from just below Swines Back
© Copyright Colin Park and licensed for reuse under thisCreative Commons Licence |
I decided to follow one of the older DPFR lads along a short cut to gain an advantage. It followed a sheep path just underneath Swines Back and joined the main path half way to Noe Stool. Even though the route was shorter the terrain was rubbish. By the time I’d dragged myself through the bracken I ended up back on the main path just behind laura! No advantage then.
Climbing the small Tor at Noe Stool we entered the section from Edale Head to Crowden Tower, which again followed the 600m-ish contour. This area was one big peat bog. The terrain to our right was a steep slope down into Edale and to our left a wide flat plain known as Kinder Scout. Again, had it been misty and wet I would have been knee deep in peat and struggling to find my way.
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| View of Grindslow Knoll from near Mam Tor - picture courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
I followed Laura and the another runner along ‘the racing line’ across Kinder Scout. We stuck to as many grassy knolls as we could but invariably ended up climbing in and out of 2m deep dry peat beds. The main path, which was off to the right, followed the curved edge of Edale Head.
Improving your race position in this terrain is as much about picking the right route as it is about speed. Entering a small gully at the end of this section I spotted a rocky short cut, quickly took it and leaped ahead of laura.
Climbing out of the gully we started on the 2k section to Grindslow Knoll, CP8 and the penultimate section of the race. I was now finding it hard and was looking forward to the finish.
The gradient was relatively flat (580-590m) and the path improved, slightly. Instead of open peat bog we followed a visible path worn into the peat with the occasional rock clusters. I passed another Totley runner on the short 20m ascent to Grindslow Knoll and CP8 at 600m.
CP8 Grindslow Knoll to CP9 Ringing Roger
The path along this section was well defined, but very rocky. I decided to turn on the gas a bit, put a bit of distance between me and Totley runners and try to overtake a few flagging runners.
I quickly overtook a few runners, but then stopped as I climbed out of the small gully at the head of Grindsbrook Clough. The path turned right, but I remembered seeing a ‘racing line’ on the map at reception. I couldn’t see anything obvious, so not wanting to hang about took the main path.
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Path on top of Grindsbrook Clough from Grindslow Knoll.
© Copyright steven ruffles and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
I overtook another runner on a rocky downhill section and then after about 1k noticed Laura and the other Totley runner I’d passed at CP 8 100m off to my left. They’d found and taken the racing line. I arrived at the intersection of the two paths 10 paces behind them!
Sometimes it’s better to hold back and follow other runners, especially when you don’t know the route well enough (didn't I mention that earlier?). Definitely got to recce the course before doing it next year.
The path was still very rocky and undulating, even though it followed the 590m contour. I was getting very tired by this stage. Three hours of running, navigation, concentration, balance and now self imposed pressure of racing was making me feel...... well, knackered. I should have taken another Gel on Kinder to give me a boost.
That said I still managed to pass one of the Totley runners after a few 100m’s and pass Laura on a tricky rocky downhill section. I stayed ahead of her and passed other runners on the way to Ringing Roger and CP9. I climbed up to CP9 (550m) with two DPFR lads Graham Walton (898) and Austin Frost (647).
CP9 Ringing Roger to Finish
Finally all downhill, so time to give it everything I had left, which wasn’t much.
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| Path off Ringing Roger © Copyright Phil Champion and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
We had to scramble off Ringing Roger, so couldn’t move very fast. Once on the path I ‘disengaged’ the brain and just went for it. Well that’s what it felt like. Looking at the Accelerate YouTube vid [see link a the end, min 5:50 to 6:10] it doesn’t look like it.
Can’t remember much about the final descent other than it was rocky, felt very technical, frantic and it hurt. My legs were aching, my core muscles overworked and my brain exhausted from the constant concentration on where to put my feet.
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| Approaching the finish line - pictures courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
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| Approaching the finish line - pictures courtesy of Colin Jacobs |
Not sure how I got down without tripping up, but I did, passing a few runners (Austin, 647) in the process and left Laura behind. Graham Walton (898) though disappeared ahead of me. I thought I was quick on the downhills, but Graham was lightning quick. He finished just over 1min ahead of me in 3:27:59.
At the bottom of the steep rocky path leading off The Nab we entered Heardsmans Plantation and the finish field. I pushed all the way to the finish line as I wasn’t sure if anyone was behind me.
Colin and Ruth were waiting to welcome me back, which was nice. I sat down with them next to the finish and could have laid down on the grass in the warm sun for the rest of the afternoon, but I had to get home. I had a banana and lots of water with a couple of Nuun tablets to get some salt back into my system.
Overall a fantastic race, some very technical trails, a beautiful route, fantastic views, unseasonably clear and warm weather and a decent performance. All in all a great day out.
Here's a link to the Suunto T3 data - Heart rate and speed throughout the 3:29hrs. Suunto Movescount - Edale Skyline T3 HR and speed data
Kit and stuff used, in no particular order:
- 500ml water with ZipVit carb-electrolyte mix
- 1 ZipVit gel
- Salomon advanced skin s-lab vest-hydration pack
- Inov-8 Roclite 285 trail shoes
- Inov-8 mudsoc
- 2XU calf compression socks
- Ronhill shorts
- Tech t-ishirt
Below is a link to the Edale Skyline 2012 YouTube video produced by Accelerate UK, Sheffield.
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