⛰️Dig Deep Ultra Marathons⛰️
On Saturday 28th September myself and fellow MAC Harry Holmes towed the start line of Dig Deep 30 and 50 mile Ultra Marathons. Harry was taking on the 30 and I was going for my first 50. Harry was no doubt there to compete, whereas I was aiming to simply complete.
Starting at Clarks Farm near Ringinglow in Sheffield, both routes take you on a grand tour of well known peak district vistas – Stanage Edge, Win Hill, Cave Dale, Higger Tor. The 50 mile race loops a bit (20 miles) wider into the dark peak to include Jacobs Ladder, Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Back Tor. Race rules mandated self-sufficiency with no crewing or pacers.
The 50 mile race started at 8am and the 30 mile race started at 9am. We shared the same outgoing route for about 10 miles so I was looking forward to seeing the faster 30 mile racers eventually catch up with me before I branched off.
There were about 6 “big” climbs in the 50 route. The first one was the most punishing – the climb from Yorkshire Bridge to Win Hill. This was the point where Harry caught up with me, he was smiling and looking completely unperturbed by the horrifically vertical ascent. At this point he was leading the 30 mile race with 2nd and 3rd male hot on his heels. I let them pass with a quick exchange of encouraging words and then went back to crawling up the hill and not dying. Unsurprisingly this was also the point where people started thinking about dropping out.
I continued ticking off all the climbs one by one, eventually completing the last one at mile 45 by Owler Tor near Hathersage. Everything after that was a literal slog, dragging my tired legs through soupy bog in the darkness. The mud tried to swallow my shoes a lot. I could do nothing but swear back at the bog, alone in the dead of night. About 7 million years passed (slight exaggeration) and then I finally got to the finish line – greeted with humble fanfare and the sound of a cow bell.
I returned to find that Harry won the 30 mile race in 4h29m. What a phenomenal performance! I finished the 50 mile race at about 10pm, delighted to have completed my first “big girl” ultra. A grand day out for all involved.
