marathon - PageSuite

DUSK ‘TIL DAWNRoss Lovell runs 50 miles in a challenging race in the Peak DistrictArace from Dusk ‘til Dawn - intheory it sounds simple - startrunning at sunset and finishbefore sunrise. Add to themix that the event is in the Peak District,with 9000ft of ascent, is 50 miles andrunners must carry a selection ofmandatory equipment and this starts tolook like a formidable challenge. Wewould be given a thread of assistancethanks to the end of British SummerTime – the changing of the clocksdonating an hour to the cut-off.BAD CONDITIONSI’d studied the weather from 10 daysout, and typically winter was wastinglittle time in stepping in as summerofficially departed. As road saltprovisions hit the headlines and theevent drew nearer, so the meteorologistsseemed to agree – Saturday nightwould not be good for running.Still, following a thorough andexcellent race briefing, as we stood onthe start line there was an air ofoptimism about the conditions. The skywas clear, the wind was light with aslight chill and the moon almost full.At precisely 17:42 (sunset) we weresent on our way, initially without theneed for a headtorch. A short tarmacsection led us to the steady climb up awet and slippery track to the summit ofLosehill. The views from the top of theclimb, which forms the spur of anexposed ridge, were exceptional. Thesky blending seamlessly from lightpinks, through a spectrum of blues toblack, hills silhouetted, and below usvillages and towns began to light up.MIND THE COW PATSSoon we were dropping back intoCastleton and after a small stumble andone giant cowpat, the headtorchbecame a necessity. The long climbthrough Cave Dale further fragmentedthe field, and at times I couldsee no other runners, whichwas surprising so early inthe race and was not helpingmy plan of ‘tagging along’with course-savvy locals.We were running alongthe Limestone Way, whichmade navigation easy, butmeant I was able to focuson rumblings of discontentin my stomach. At ninemiles we reached thewell-stocked supportvehicle of Checkpoint 1.Uncharacteristically I didn’t feel likeeating, and shortly after continuing wasforced to hop a stonewall and take anemergency moment in a field. Feelinglike this so early on in a long race is notgood – this would be a fight to thefinish. I slipped down the field a bit, buttried to maintain a comfortable pace.In spite of one particularly steepclimb (assisted by handrail andencouraging signage) the terrain wasrelatively forgiving and conducive tomaking good time, such that, by thetime we’d necked a bowl of ricepudding and stepped out ofCheckpoint 2, our gap over The GrimSweeper was over an hour.HEAD DOWN AND KEEP GOINGThen the wind began to pick up, themoon became hazy then disappeared,and fine grains of ice started reflectingin our torchlight. At Checkpoint 3 (30miles) I put on waterproof gloves andrunning trousers and within minutes therain was lashing across us. Properstinging rain, mixed with sleet and ice.Exposed skin went numb and my nosebegan running uncontrollably. Runningnorth from Shining Tor was a gritty,head-down experience and for a fewmiles we had little respite from theelements. The cold and wet wereparticularly penetrating, and Iwas thankful for appropriate kit.Some slippery off-camber fields –long grass saturating our trainers –followed by country lanes, brought usto the chipper marshals and relief ofCheckpoint 4 (40 miles), and it wasn’tlong before we were squelching alongthe Pennine Bridleway.SPRINT FINISHThe weather was now hideous.Headtorches reflecting off the fog andrain reduced visibility to the immediatesteps in front. At the final marshal pointwe had a choice – take the low route tothe finish along the road; or, continueup into the weather and complete theoriginal course over the final climb.With just 4 miles left, it was an easydecision to face the hardships of theweather for just a little longer.Mam Tor is the most exposed sectionof the course. As we climbed onto theridge the wind buffeted us around andit felt like the rain was being blown upfrom underneath. Time on high groundwas mercifully short, and after findingthe final token drop at Hollins Cross weheaded off the hills, via a particularlyslippery descent, for a sprint to thefinish, which we reached just 7 minutesbefore sunrise.38 www.runningfreemag.co.uk