Day 1 - Was feeling good, set off just before 10am but knowing there was going to be rain coming in later. I knew this bit of route from previous attempt and it seemed to fly by as planned. I just about made it to a pub in Parwich before closing but they had stopped serving food so had to have a crisp dinner whilst others were finishing off their lovely hot food. From around 8pm i had double rain over night, i knew of some public toilets at Waterhouses which were generally open so decided to sleep there. The only problem is i always get excited on these challenges and i know from previous spine races to never try and sleep on the first night and push through. So basically i lay on my 'bed' trying to sleep but not also wanting to leave and go out in the rain.
Day 2 - Weather for the whole trip was really good, except that period of rain. Spent alot of time walking through open field with long lush and wet grass. I had semi dried my trainers under a hand drier and my feet were instantly wet again. Started with feet issues too.. I am a size 10.5 but with long distance stuff i like to go a half size larger, i didnt this time and my toes really started feeling it. Progress slowed and I made it to bivy next to a massive wall for wind shelter on the edge of Lyme Park.
Day 3 - I had it in my head originally that i wanted to do it under 4 days. Day 3 i realised that wasnt going to happen. Feet were a mess but kept moving, resupplied in Buxton, it was a Bank Holiday so stalls etc happening in town. Going down Deep Dale was hard slow work but was impressed by some young orienteer he literally bounded straight down the steep hill to the bottom in a few seconds what took me a good few minutes. My progress was really slow around Peak Forest, trying different things for footcare. When I got to Chapel on le frith I had a word with myself so nipped to a petrol station brought some energy drinks and pain relief, changed my head and picked up the pace. I bivyed just after Lantern Pike but in totally the wrong place, on a slope and a bit of a breeze. Felt like too much effort to pack up and move so suffered shivering and got about an hour sleep whilst trying to stop my bed moving about.
Day 4 - Spent the morning and every time i saw a flat spot pointed to it and said aloud "flat spot" because of my stupid choice the previous night. If i just went a bit further i would have had plenty of choice. I kept my pace going all day, I was going to resupply in Marston but when I got there it was a steep slope down, I had time to go further to Meltham which I did to the coop before closing and get a dirty pizza. Managed to carry on for a few hours more and bivyed in a forest after Holme.
Final Day - 2 hours sleep and judgement day.. kept to pace just kept going... When i passed Lady Cannings I wish I started and finished there with the Norfolk Arms to sit down at. Instead I had the sole detroying Roman road, boggy more land, devils elbow to contend before finishing up at a layby. Originally I had intended on going to the Peacock pub at owler bar after but when finishing I just couldnt manage walking a further 1km, it seemed way to much as my head and body had completed the lap.