White Peak Trail Run.

Today saw Dani and myself in Ashbourne to compete in the Dark & White Events White Peak Trail Run. Luckily the rain held off and we had a slightly overcast but warm morning which made for good running conditions.

There are two races running simultaneously of differing lengths, we chose to do the shorter 10.5k loop rather than the full 25.7k distance. Each distance had a staggered start, which avoided the problem of 70+ runners (in the short race) trying to leave the centre of Ashbourne at the same time. We chose to start as late as possible. This meant that we could chase people down, good for pacing and morale.

3 other folk started at the same time as us, two girls right behind us that we didn't see again and a man who quickly placed himself ahead of us, holding a good pace for the first few kilometres.

The race started on the Tissington Trail, a disused railway line, heading north out of Ashbourne. After 4.5k there was a drinks station, I slurped down a cup of cordial, and the route left the trail and headed towards the tiny picturesque village of Thorpe. By now I'd left Dani and the chap in front behind. After a short road section we finally went off-road proper, across fields and along the banks of the River Dove. Just before the first field I overtook 3 lady runners, then held a gate open for them (along with the two long course runners behind them, the only two that overtook me) before overtaking them again in the first field. At this point in the race I started to catch more runners, many of which were happy to step aside and let me past along the tight riverside singletrack. Crossing the road at Mapleton led us to the first and only hill, not too steep that I couldn't run it but steep enough to slow down many others including three ladies who seemed to be treating the run as a social get together chatting as they walked (which is fair enough!).

I passed through a campsite, keeping a wary eye out for kids on bikes and other wheeled contrivences, then whizzed down a hill and up some steps which took us back the the Tissington Trail. A short sprint back to the finish and it was all over. Dani came in after me, neither of us had been overtaken apart from by two whippets running the long course. The chap that started at the same time as us, who must have been ten years younger than me, came in behind Dani.

I finished 13th overall (out of 71 finishers) in a time of 59.46, 3rd fastest in my age group. I also set a new 10k pb of 57.57. Dani finished in 17th place, and was in the prizes as she was fastest in her age group bringing home a smart glass trophy and a bag of energy gels and sweets.

Paul.