'A brilliant but bonkers race in the Peak District'.
Stats
Distance: 4 and 3/4 miles
Position: 35 out of 1342
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| The Belper Harriers out on force- 28 in total |
Over 1400 runners line up at the start line waiting to be given permission to stampede down Thorpe pasture towards the famous Dovedale stepping stones. It was just a bonkers start; everyone was sprinting to get in an excellent position to prevent being stampeded on by a herd of charging hooligan runners cheering at the top of their voice like gladiators in a battlefield. The atmosphere was incredible, some running for fun wearing fancy costumes, (one even ran in full cricket pads) and others were hardy fell runners battling for the top position for the historic silverware (This was the 62nd year the dash had been running for).
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| 1400 runners charging like gladiators! |
Once we got to the River Dove, the crowds were cheering and had their cameras at the ready to capture the numerous runners who were more swimming that running through the water as they tripped or found the wrong running line.
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| The famous river crossing |
Fortunately for me, I had a lucky escape and crossed the river with ease and continued to run at a silly pace towards Ilam. This is where the runners began to spread out as the terrain started to get tough. All I had to do was hold my pace, keep my lungs in my body and prepare for the slippery section that traversed the river dove and then the final long grueling hill back to the finish line that was surrounded by cheering spectators.
It was only 4 3/4 miles, but it was leg zapping. Race strategy and pacing goes out of the window from the start line as it is a full sprint for over a mile and the rest of the race is just trying to hang on for dear life without blowing up along the side.
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| Pushing our bodies to the limits over the finish line |
