Burbage Skyline (May)

Burbage 2016 Write up - Rob Pearce

My First Fell Race- A write up of my experiences at The Burbage Skyline Race.

To say I was nervous was an understatement. I decided at the weekend to do the race but as Tuesday wore on the nerves built. Arriving at the venue it was packed- reassuringly with all types of runners- I'd expected the lean, lithe fell whippets to be in the majority, conversations about 50 mile training runs up mountains and "saw you at the Grim Reaper Hill Murderer- heard you lost a leg but still managed a PB"! But no, just normal stuff like any run really. The weather was great- spectacular Peak District scenery at its best.
I quickly found my Belper buddies, who did their best to dispel my nerves- thanks folks! So with number on and chip attached it was off across the moor to the start.

And what a start- 400 souls on a narrow path, then all plunging downhill. I had runners from every direction- if you've seen the Monty Python sketch "100 yard dash for people with no sense of direction" it was kind of like that- or lemmings down a cliff. I picked a route and held steady.

At the bottom was a stream crossing- the quickest way was a big leap but my confidence faltered- back and forth I went looking at my options as the field passed me by. Eventually I chose the get wet option, with added peat bog!

On the other side was a good climb, I began to make up ground and by the first "big" climb I caught up with Laura and a friend from Redhill. The going was tricky- rocks, bogs, grassy hummocks so I spent most of the time staring 3 feet in front of my shoes picking a route.
Some wickedly steep climbs up onto the Tors reduced most people to a walk- Alan Billington seem to appear with his camera whenever I was about to collapse, I guess that spurred me on.

The Plummet- ah, yes, they named it well. A just about vertical descent on peaty grass. I decided that bum sliding might be the best option- never been elegant! Just when I thought it levelled off down we went again, more slipping and sliding. I have to say that despite my nerves I was starting to enjoy some of this. More stream crossings- I must have got a bit better as I got no wetter.
Turning at Burbage Bridge we got the best of the evening light- a pale golden glow lit up the moor and it was a (relatively) easy run from rock to rock for the next mile or so- this was technical but fun, I was tired but getting a bit of a flow now. A drop down to a well surfaced track an a steady run to the finish- didn't have a sprint left but was happy to cross the line in 1:11, not bad I think for 5.5 of the hardest miles I've ever done.

I was a bit overwhelmed by the end- tired, adrenally depleted and starting to get cold. Sorry I wasn't more enthusiastic at the end everyone, I don't think I knew what hit me.

So, reflecting back now with a pleasant ache or two did I enjoy it? It's got to be a yes. I think nerves almost got the better of me but a bit more experience and I could see me taking to the rough stuff. Now where's that flyer for the Calver race...

Yay - we've got smilies!!! Did you do them from a laptop Claire ?

Think it was on my laptop, just tried on my phone and doesn't seem to work