21 years of the Grouse!

Did this race last year, great race, great people,

A real slog up the hill from the Famous Grouse pub, noted as 5m/1200ft in the Calendar,

With snow sitting on the hill and roofs around Derby, i set off with a slippery start down the street, main roads clear, and was soon hitting Ashbourne, the temperature dropped and my breath was freezing on the inside of the windscreen, even with the heater on full chat! After speaking to Daz Holloway after the race he said it read -16 on his temp gauge, something i don't have in the old Toyota



A cold day in Hafield



Tough climb up to the TV mast and New Allotments. Just in the background of this shot wearing 490.

A great race, not as good as last year, footing was tough, but again the cold air caught me out.

Leg It Round Lathkil - 14th November 7.1mile/950ft

Never done this one before, and to be honest had planned to do the Roaches.

Arrived in plenty of time and saw quite a few faces that i know.

The race billed as a BM 7,1mile/950ft race seemed from the map to be a long slog down the river. Starting and finishing from the Lathkil Hotel, and part of their Children In Need activity.

A real steady start, but after looking at the garmin realised that 7.30's is a little to fast for me, and i soon felt it, Claire Lily and the new arrival Oliver also made the trip to give me a little support.





The last climbs and fields really did ask a lot of my legs, managed to have a final push and pass two or three as i made my way up to the finish. Pleased with the result.

Chevin Fell Race

Well, after a really tough couple of weeks, searching for a new job,

i thought i better get myself to the Chevin Race, a 2 lap short blast that always catches me out.

A nice little route starting at the Milford Social club, hard down the hill and then 3-5 mins of a climb depending on your fitness level.

Nice to see so many regular faces out, from Shelton, Pennine, Belper Harriers and Long Eaton, always nice to see so many like minded folk, also met Jim Paxman from Dark Peak.

Pushed as hard as i could up the hill and then turned right to push again the small climb to the stile gap always catches you unawares, at this stage i noticed that i was in the usual company, and felt quite strong still, dropping down to the back of the golf course i manged to pass a few, as i seem to go down quicker than i go up!

A steady push through the woods and then onto the descent down to the Social Club, lap 1 done in 14.22, which i felt was ok, so continued to push on, the hill said no, my legs said no, but i did grind it out and felt as though i had some left for the last quarter, so tried to get my breathing right and pushed on, deep lung fulls of air and lots of sweat later, i was on the descent,

After a huge push down the hill, and a shout from Daz, i managed to get back, knocking 1min 30 from last years time, something that i didn't expect!

Finished 79th in 28.58 not the best but an improvement on last year, which is always good.

Managed to grab a beer and wish David of, Running with David fame "Happy birthday" before shooting back home to see if Claire was any nearer to giving birth to littleG, from memory i have had a recent discussion with Mandy Moore, who said that a new child born to a Dark Peaker resulted in a pair of knitted booties in the club colours....can't wait for them.

Rugby Rover & Bradbourne Fell Race

Well, not posted in a while, have been away on Holiday and also getting ready for the new arrival of the household, little G, due in approx 3 weeks.

Not been running well at all, been getting out but just shuffling around really with no real drive or intent, training ..... well can it be called that!

:: Belper Rugby Rover ::

I entered the rugby Rover and managed to stick with the pace until the 12th Mile and then i just ran walk the rest of the way in, even though i have been getting out fro distance of that value. After some puffing and panting a finishing time of 3.31 was not the desired result but enjoyed the day out as a ran with a guy called Peter Nolan who was the 164th Member of the Bob Graham club, what a great guy to chat to and to get some advice for the attempt next year.

:: Bradbourne Fell Race ::

A wet, in fact, let me start again, a VERY wet day, got to Bradbourne and registered, nice to see a few folks, you get to see quite a few of he same face but it's one pf the great things about the sport.

Made our way to the start, after a warm up in the rain, sideways rain to be exact, had a warm up on the first climb and felt a little twinge, in my right heel, Achilles i think. I trotted of the first climb and it didn't feel so bad, so decided to start. After dropping my fleece, already wet through onto the fence, and waiting for the start, th rain began again, just tipping it down, great for the water level in the stream.

Set off steady, and just ticked of the first climb, expecting to just kick on after that, but during the second field the signs were there, the heel was giving me a sharp pain, which i didn't need, hobbled to the finish of the first lap and called it a day, not good.

It did give me a chance to see the leaders come into the finish, not a steep descent but long and fast with the stream, and then 20 yards max to the finish, nice to see Daz Holloway ofhttp://laidbackfellrunner.blogspot.com/ fame finish in 5th i think, and a great turn out of Dark Peak runners.

A great day, but wet very wet for August, and in need of some ice....

Burbage Skyline - Tues 11th May - 5.75m/

A little late with this report,

After a frantic day at work and some last min plans we made our way to The Fox in Burbage, Stephen Shaw, Stuart Learmouth and Myself, shared the car duties, and we arrived with plenty of time in hand, good job really as the car park soon fills up.

I have never done this race before, but Stuart was telling us on the way to Burbage that it's a cracker, some deceptive climbs and it can get a little congested at the start.

After signing in and saying hello to a few old and new, had a natter with Daz and Roy Gibson who was organising the event.

Seemed to be the coldest day of May, a real cutting wind, got ready and made our way to the start a Yellow Flag, had a little look round and you could see the route from the start, Motehr Cap, Higger Tor, Burbage Brodge North was out of view, but you son got the picture of what was in store,



The number of soles who had made the trip was a real suprise, a little late starting but that was to be expected with 323 starting, the field had to be moved back twice, and then we were off, a real struggle to get going and soon at the first yellow flag which indicated a left and down and across the stream, some strange routes and lines meant that the field split and then joined for the small climb up towards Mother Cap.

I felt ok, the route meant that the field soon developed into a line, and i settled down to getting the first few miles out of the way, but noticed that i felt knackered early on, the first climb took it out of me, unsure why just felt so heavy, legs wouldn't get going, and found myself slowly going backwards.

The trot up and across the Mother Cap and Over Owler were a pleasure, seeing the sun setting and the line of runners in front, was a great sight, something that you sometimes forget to take in, the views and the whole experience of a new race.

Soon arrived at the climb up Higger Tor and then down the fast and furious descent of the plummet, a great little technical section and into the woods, i stopped fro a jelly baby and some water, and seemed to be really puffing, not good, but just kept grinding it out really,

The next section which i think i made an error, crossed the river twice, when i think if i had stayed left i would have not needed to cross at all, unsure of the route just at that point,

The next small climb up towards Burbage North saw a few peat bogs to negotiate which left me back with peat, ready for the hop across the river below the road bridge, a quick hello to Willy Kitchen then dig in to trot across Burbage Rocks. I did come across a runner she had a really bad ankle, so left my hat and water for her, as she seemed to be getting cold, whilst hobbling back. ( I have since found out that her name was Cheryl Cherdell, and she did finish) Roy Gibson has contacted me to say my hat is being returned in the post, which is cool)

I really did dig in across the top before the drop back to the path, and managed to negotiate the bog that you had to cross to get back onto the path, which from the videos claimed a few runners, John Gunnee to name one in particular.

Finished with a time of 1hr 8 mins, 30 seconds, not great, not great at all, after looking at the results i came 293rd,

Good to see so many Dark Peak out, and to spend an evening enjoying the beauty that is Burbage Skyline with so many like minded people.

A pint of Bombardier and a drive back to Derby, with a quick bath to remove the dried in Peat............ here's to the next one.

KINDER DOWNFALL (9.6m/1970') - Sunday, 25th Apr 2010

After doing the recce and finding it hard, i new this was going to be a hard one,

I had mentally set my sights on a sub 2 hr finish,

After some careful organization we that is Steve Shaw, Steve Burt of Run Forest Run fame http://sbrtrfr.blogspot.com/ and Ray Mansfield all made our way over to Hayfield. Some in car banter was inevitable, and was somewhat overshadowed at times by the nerves i think.



Arriving at the right time we managed to get a place in the Scout Hut car park, booked in, saw my number thought it was 118 but it was 113, and generally had a mooch round, saw some old friends Caroline and Chris from Shelton Striders and also some new faces ....

A couple of kit check items sorted out, thanks to Steve B, we all had maps, and then we got ready to make our way to the start.



As we lined up saw Richard Hakes and John Gunee so introduced myself to them.

A few kit check numbers read out and that was it, off up the road and onto the snake pass, a real slog for the first 20 mins, and seemed to be going backwards really, i had prepared myself to just keep it going and then let my legs open up on the top, but the climb up William Clough just seemed to totally knock me for six, i just kept digging in, but seemed to be going backwards through the pack, never any good going up hill, maybe i should train for it a bit more,

Eventually after 4o odd mins i reached the finger post and still have the final climb up on the the ridge, when i reached the top i took on some water and half an energy bar to give me some back, for the latter parts of the ridge.




From here i was away really, i could focus on the task ahead, and the next runner, and try to pull them back in, i was pulling one guy in, and then he would take off, over to the left and then appear ahead of me, by some 15 seconds, Local knowledge hey!

The Downfall soon came and i managed to nip past two, maybe four by just thinking about my route, from here on in it seemed like an age, but i just kept going at it,

Soon enough Kinder Low arrived and the yellow flags showed the way onto the flagstone path, down that and keep left onto the drop towards Swines Back, the flags stopped and so did my concentration, i was tired, yes, but i just seemed to be moving to fast and that was it, over i went, it's the second race in a row that i have done that, as i picked myself up and did a quick check, the guy i had spent 5 mins overhauling shot past me, gutted, but it made me even more determined to pull him back, which you can see below, this is just coming down from Edale Cross.



I kept on pushing as i made my way down and across the fields with Kinder Low end to the right and then through Tunstead Ho, and onto the road towards the recreation ground, a quick check and i had 10 mins to get to the finish, i was conscious that i had to really try hard to keep it going. As i turned right and then sharp left onto the field i could see the finish i just put my head down, a few shouts of encouragement from Steve S and i was home, checked the watch and 1 hr 58, not great, but i have set myself a marker for next year,

Some post race banter with the guys, Ray had a fall and Steve B was first home, i think, but i will post the results here when they are published and then home,

Steve Burt - 1.40.07 - 154th
Stephen Shaw - 1.44.13 - 185th
Ray Mansfield - 1.44.25 - 190th
Martin Griffiths - 1.58.52 - 260th

A great day out with good like minded folk!

Kinder DownFall - Recce

Sunday Morning got up and went to recce the Kinder Downfall Route, what a glorious day to be on the moors, the pictures don't really show it, i burnt my face,



We took in Swines Back, William Clough, Edale Cross, Edale Rocks etc and Kinder Low Trig point - TP 4126

This is due to take place on the 25th April


The route is as follows,

Start - Royal Hotel - Hayfield Village (037869)
Snake Path (041868)
Finger Post ( 064902) Number Taken
Kinder Downfall (083889)
Edale Cross (083889) Picture above
Stoney Ford, path (073863 - 054867)
Hayfield Recreation Ground (039868) Finish

A great little trot, took it easy really as Steve Shaw has not been up to Kinder before, so took in some stops and generally had a good look round,

Arrived at Hayfiled at 7.30am and was home for lunch so not a bad mornings work,

11.5 miles and 2100ft of ascent

SDRR ROSLISTON RACE - 6 miles

As i dislike crowds, tarmac, smog and the like,

I thought i better not entertain the Derby 10 k at the weekend so i
made my way over to Rosliston Forestry Centre nr Swadlincote to do the
South Derbyshire Road Runners Club event.

It was billed as "Run in The National Forest" a 6 mile 2 lap route,

On track and trail i thought this was a great way to stretch the legs,

I have had a good week covering some 30 miles at a leisurely pace, but just getting back into it, some speed work included, but generally just getting out "Garmin Free" and enjoying running rather than getting so bloody focused on times, even though the cold is still very nasal.

To be honest i am running approx 45 seconds a mile slower than this time last year.

Quote a low key affair really, a lady from Hatton Darts came over to me and said " it's a little flat for you Dark Peak lot!"

I felt flattered and then thought "oh god?" i am so u fit at the moment, maybe i should leave the DP vets at home until i can do the club proud, then i thought no .... get on it...

Saw a few familiar faces, Jonathon Gregson, Mick from Dark Peak, and a few others,

Race started and i seemed to be getting on fine, a little bit to quick from the line but i did steady down and run my own race, i have a tendency to race better paced runners than me, and i burn out, so focused on getting onto my own pace but still pushing along,

I have not been using my Garmin just because i found myself looking to much and not concentrating on shape and technique, so its been left at home for a week.

I felt good even though after about 15 - 20 mins i found myself being overtaken quite a bit, but just kept on with it, a great little route that made you focus on stride length and pace, making the most of the descents but pushing hardish up the small inclines,

Came to the last mile and decided i would have a look, not bad if i could push the last mile i might just break 50 mins, so kept the head down and went for it, pushed to the line, and finished in 49.57 seconds for 6 mile cross country, trail.

Water bottle for all finishers -



Feel really pleased with that...

So i got up this morning and ran the 3.2 mile route i did every morning last week and knocked 1.45 off that as well, might just be turning the corner.

Big weigh in on Tuesday am ...... will see if the new diet and regular gentle running with every 3rd day pace is paying off.

Wirksworth Incline 21st March

Not posted for a few weeks, work and general life has been pressing,

Last race was the Wirksworth Incline, again a well organised race, with the usual suspects attending, fast and furious not really my ideal race, 4 miles, 2 miles up, 2 miles down, turn around trig point, simples.......

I made my way across with Stephen Shaw, who has been running since this time last year, he again had a cracking run, beating his time from last year by at least 3 mins,

Saw lots of new and old friends at this race Stephen Burt who was their with his work colleague and MM friend Ray, a few old friends from Shelton Striders Carolyn Lee and Chris Hopkinson, and Stuart L,

Ran a good solid steady race, and managed to sneak inside the 40 mins, 38.11 from memory, which for a plodder is not a bag crack really,

Mug in hand with tea applied, waited for the presentation, Stuart Bond just missed his record to win,

A great way to spend a morning with like minded folk!

Grindleford Gallop 13th March

After two recces, i arrived in Grindleford to take part in the GrindleFord Gallop 21 miles, of fell running, after leaving a sunny Derby to find it overcast with a chilly wind,



The car parking field seemed to be filling up quite quickly and you could see the walkers getting off across the first couple of fields,

9.10am and 50 mins until we, Steve Shaw and myself galloped around the 21 miles of the Grindleford race,




After registering and checking dibbers we brewed up, and stretched, also saw a few runners from other clubs from around the country, which is always nice see old friends and remember old races,


I am a plodder and will always be a plodder, after doing a recce around this beautiful course, felt that a sub 4 hr race would or should be a possibility,

As the field lined up i could remember how narrow the first 4 mile was, small gaps etc, and narrow paths so was expecting a stop start affair during these early stages,

On the line saw quite a few faces that i had not seen in a while, Colin from Long Eaton and Stuart Learmouth from Dark Peak, nice to catch up,

The start and up until the second check point didnt go according to plan, i seemed to get really bad crap in my lower back and marched up the first climb, not a good start but managed to shake it off before arriving at Eyam, i must say that even though there was a large field of runner the dibbers and marshals were great,

I was running with Steve Shaw, who at this stage would have been gone, long gone, but we agreed to trot this one as a team, i felt as though i was holding him back, good mate, as he stayed with me,

A tough climb around Great Longstone moor, love that part of the race,

Then came the slog along the Monsal Trail, a real grind it out section, flat followed by a tough little reminder up to CP5 on a gatepost, unmanned, maybe next year this could do with a marshal as from the results, it seems to have caused a few issues,

The next 4 miles are easy going which is good because i needed it, through Edensor and then through Chatsworth, dodging the Sunday walkers, through the kissing gate and then cake, and tea, as me and Steve agreed, we ain't gonna win it so lets have some cake......

The atmosphere for the climb up to eagle rock out of Baslow was great, its a tough climb, on the road section then up to Eagle Rock, from here on in it a ridge trot, across the baslow edge, drop down Curbar gap , then back onto the Edge,

At this point i suggested that Steve should plod on to try ad crack the 4 hr mark, he stayed with me until the road crossing at Frogatt,

really enjoyed the last blast through the woodland at the bottom, reached the unmade road and my legs went to jelly, and i managed to run? jog? stumble to the finish,

Finished in 4 hrs 3 mins 22 secs, so missed the 4 hr mark,

A must say that it was a great race, i enjoyed it, and the company around the route,

Soup, tea, cake and chat about the run was also great....