Training Log Archive: Seamus

Event: Marmot Dark Mountains
 

Was a last minute replacement for a friend, who I ran with last year. could not, psychologically face Elite at the moment, so opted for C as they had spare maps.

After last year's snowy weather, this event seemed so much more mild and not really wintery. It was windy and chilly while hanging out in Glossop on a Saturday night. Feeling slightly over dressed, went to registration to get sorted.

The event itself is picking up momentum and was noticeable in the numbers, although it helped by being more central than last year. For someone who is very lazy (and not as fit as he would wish), the thought of doing only one days rather two was a bonus.

By the time we started at 10:30pm it had calmed down and I only had a windproof and thermal on. Unfortunately, the start headed the wrong way and it took us 400m to realise we were heading to the last control. We had to go back through the start and out the back. The route took us on to Bleaklow Stones, to check point number 2. With visibility down to 20 meters, it was 1.5km on a compass bearing to a trig point for control 3. Missed it and ended up relocating on a cluster of rocks and lost 20 mins. The SE to building where it wasn't the straightest of lines and missed another 15mins.

From there is was crossing Snake Pass over the river and climb up to Kinder in sight of the Snake Pass Inn. Round the edge of Kinder and then onto the Pennine Way back to Snake Pass and down into Glossop on the path.

We were beaten by some stunning navigation by Bertie Goffe for 3 and 4. Maybe he was lucky in the mist to be just 5 meters off the trig, but still he did it and a straighter route to the next control. After that we were pretty even on the rest of the legs.

Got back had a great fry up, as part the entry fee, 2 hours kip in a squash court and then to the prize giving. It says something about the event, when at the prize giving you can only award prizes to 1st/2nd elite, 1st A, none on B as they were the only to finish at that time. All on C/Long Score/Short Score were awarded.

Would I recommend it, yeah, even without the extreme weather of last year it certainly is a challenge. Reviewing the maps of the Elite it did certainly seem to be a long slog in places but I have to say an excellent run by Lucy and Bruce to get 2nd and Tom and Steve for 1st.

Felt good and was hitting around 7 min miles for the first 4 miles, which really surprised me.

run to the station and then home via getting some milk. Need to bring lighst or get there early enough for the proper train.