The year is wearing on and it's September already. There were a lot of deferrals for the Bullock Smithy and I wasn't sure I was going to get a place, but everything came right in the last couple of weeks. That was handy as I had a load of Runfurther stuff to transport over.
The pre-race info clarified the hi-viz requirement that has caused so many first timers concern - the new wording is 'reflective patches' or a hi viz jacket. I stuck some retroreflective tape on my pack (which didn't stick that securely, but lasted out the race) along with some reflective wrist bands, and wore a hi-viz/reflective buff.
 |
| Reflectives |
Saturday morning I got up at a civilised time, had some breakfast and set off around 9. Nick had already set up a lot of the banners and the Runfurther spot prizes when I arrived, with the additional tall flags we had a good display.
 |
| Saturday morning |
 |
| Outside the gate to greet the returning masses |
I picked up my tally around 11.30, then at 11.45 a chance comment from another runner reminded me of an important oversight. Cheese! I trotted back to the park and ride to collect my missing cheese, and got back just in time for the briefing. Just a note on the tally - this year I remembered to carry my own tally with the miles translated into km, so I knew where to expect the CPs!
 |
| Miles? Oh bugger. |
We got moving on the stroke of noon, and I headed out of the north corner of the park. I was aiming to maintain a fairly brisk pace during the daylight hours. After my cock up at Earl Sterndale in 2019 I didn't know if strict grouping would be a thing. More on Earl Sterndale later.
 |
| Briefing |
As often happens it took a while to get properly settled, and I was on the climb from Lyme before I really felt comfortable. I chatted with a runner carrying a heavy pack as Spine training on the climb up to CP1, and we leapfrogged for a while as our paces varied.
At the roadside drinks point at Chinley Churn I scoffed down some crisps as quick as possible and got going again. Crisps are one of the very few things I can eat confidently from checkpoints and I would normally pick up a couple of packets. The BS organisers very sensibly decant crisps into little bowls to reduce waste, but that means I had to stop to eat. Note for next time, carry a freezer bag to dump crisps into. Actually a few plastic bags in a pocket are probably a good idea in general.
Somewhere around here I faffed a bit getting my phone to share my location. I'd tested this out with Claire earlier in the week, but I knew it needed re-enabling and had forgotten to do it. After that she was able to track my progress & send encouraging messages which cheered me up constantly.
Dropping into Coldwell Clough I paused to take a photo and took my eye off the route while I put my phone away. In the process I missed the turn and had to contour back to the path, which made it apparent that my shoes were far too loose so I stopped on the climb to tighten them. I wasn't convinced by the Altra Lone Peak's the whole day. I'd have preferred King MT, but was trying the Lone Peaks ahead of White Rose.
 |
| Looking towards Edale Cross |
Up, up and up again to Edale Cross. Feet were on my mind as mine had taken a battering here in '19 in barefoot shoes. The Altras were definitely an improvement there. But not so much on the descent, where they felt less positive and stable. I overtook Nick as we approached Edale, then battled my way through impatient traffic on the narrow lanes towards the village.
I risked a slice of malt loaf (with no ill effects) at the CP, then headed up to Hollins Cross. At Castleton I cut between the houses up to the gate then took the low path before backtracking up the reverse path, then struck straight up. In retrospect it would have been better to head straight uphill from the gate for the good path on the very top (which I'd forgotten about).
 |
| Old lead mining above Castleton |
Reaching the Limestone trail I encountered someone I later learned to be Colin, joining the route from an unexpected angle after a slight unplanned diversion. He soon disappeared into the distance, although I was to see him quite a few more times before the end. There was also another event going on, and we met a lot of runners coming the other way.
 |
| Tiny moos! |
At Millers Dale I was tempted by the soup. This was a mistake as I lost quite a bit of time and didn't digest it that well. Chelmorton I just filled up with water and cracked on to Earl Sterndale.
At Earl Sterndale it was still well and truly daylight, a big improvement on '19. I was well ahead of pace. I spotted the track to the right just before the village that I'd taken last time (after some discussion with another runner) and ignored it. Crisps at the CP, and onwards.
 |
| Approaching Earl Sterndale in daylight |
A couple of nav failures soon after. I was chatting and didn't take the line above the trees at Stoop Farm which meant a bit of faffing about. Then at Booth Farm it was starting to get properly dark and I didn't spot the path after the 2nd stile. I tried to cut across the bog, and quickly gave up. There were a few of us on the climb up to Brand Top, where I wolfed down a hot dog (more digestive issues, when will I learn?) and headed on out.
 |
| Pointy stuff just after Earl Sterndale |
Colin had rejoined us after missing the turn round Booth Farm and having to backtrack, and I think Ian and one or two others. We mostly stuck together through Three Shires Head and down to the new CP at Clough House Farm, replacing Cumberland Cottage.
Cheering and bells and a blazing fire welcomed us in. If anything I like this setup better than the barn, although if it had been cold and raining it might have been different. I grabbed some crisps, refilled bottles and got going again. Most of the others pulled ahead of me on the road section to Macc forest, and Ian caught me up as I battled with the rocky path down to Walker Barn - note for next time, take the nice smooth path to the left in the woods!
A quick refill and more crisps at Walker Barn and on down the road. In '19 people were backtracking up the road and taking a path across the fields, which looked like hard work. As before, we dropped down the side of the road, before taking the right hand turn then the left path down to Kerridge Hill.
At this point Ian suggested a route off to the right to contour round the hill instead of going over the top. I took a punt on his route and, apart from a slight misturn as we entered Bollington it was OK. I think on my own I'd have gained a few minutes going the direct climb, I still had plenty of climb in my legs, but I'd got quite settled chatting with Ian, and anyway he'd promised (and later delivered) a very direct line through Poynton.
The final dreaded run in along the canal and the old railway. Colin had rejoined us at the final CP, and shot off along the railway. Rather than bridge 14 we dropped off at 12 and cut through Poynton (Ian's direct route, which turned out to be similar to the route I'd been led in '19). At some point I joked that Colin would probably reappear from a random direction and overtake us in the last hundred metres, and just as I said it, Colin reappeared - the route from bridge 12 is definitely quicker.
We summoned up some energy for the final run in after walking for a couple of miles, and finished in 13:07. 70 minutes quicker than '19 for me.
As often happens I had bad shakes for a while, a combination of cold and hypoglycemia. Once I'd eaten that wore off and I headed back to my van for a few hours sleep.
Sunday morning I walked steadily up to the Tesco Express (note for next time, there's a Sainsbury's Local near the entrance to the park and ride) to get some pain au chocolat (switched into French at the till which was entirely accidental and probably made me sound like a pillock), then walked up to the Scout hut for the prize giving & to take down the Runfurther gear.
 |
| Breakfast 2 |
The things that stick in my mind from this year.
- Appalling chafing from having my mug in the back of my race vest pocket.
- I struggled with food and digestion. I need to rely more on my own food I think.
- There are things about the Bullock route that are not that much fun - especially the tarmac. What makes it a great event is the atmosphere. The CP and HQ volunteers are amazing, there is so much enthusiasm and support.
- I swore several times that I wasn't going to do it again, but I probably will.
Thanks to the fantastic organisers, and to the Runfurther sponsors for providing prizes & goodies.
Runfurther sponsors: Tentmeals, Ultimate Direction, IceBug, Injinji, Mountain Fuel and Romney Mint cake
https://www.strava.com/activities/5906777886
Kit list:
On:
- raidlight base layer
- drymax summer socks
- altra lone peaks
- Omm flash 0.5
- yellow Montane hat
- hi viz buff
Carried:
- Montane Gecko VP12
- hi viz ron hill gloves
- Awdis hi viz long sleeved base layer
- regatta waterproof trousers
- montane minimus waterproof jacket
- silicone mug
- garmin 20x
- compass & maps
- foil blanket
- glasses
- facemask
- phone
- socks
- FAK
- spare batteries & zeb h53
- zeb h600 & spare battery
- mint cake
- food: 4 mini cheeses, 2 squeezy-snackers of mash/tartex/walnut oil mix
- drysac with keys & tissues.
