I chose to start Kinder Loop in Hayfield, near where I live, as Covid restrictions mean excessive travel is not ideal. I elected to run the exact route and direction as previous holder, Max Driscoll. Max has been super helpful and even ran the middle section with me - thanks Max.
I started with Dan Asbury and Jim Harbord at 8am at Sett Valley Cafe. This gave us a couple of kilometres to warm up along the Sett Valley trail to Hayfield. We chatted about pace and quickly realised that my modern (and completely correct) method of using kilometres bared little relation to Dan and Jim's preferred (and incorrect)... miles was it? fathoms maybe? Anyway, I like to run on feel. This first (split into thirds) leg would end at Ladybower after about 29 kilometres of running. My start/finish choice places the more technical and 'ascenty' terrain in the first half, but they're trails I know super well. The run past South Head, down to the Roych and alone Rushup Edge felt easy. I was aiming for 11 hours, 45 minutes under the current FKT, although I had printed a 10 hour 'silly stretch goal' onto my laminated guide too. At this point I was under my 10 hour pace... oops. Jim had to stop at Mam Tor as he's left the iron on. Dan and I continued down to Edale road, up past Jaggers and onto 'check point 1' at Ladybower. I picked up my pace to make Dan feel bad about his fitness and impress the missus Hannah who was waiting in the van. I met Max, we elbowed each other, and refilled flasks, swapped out of the Inov8 TrailFly and into the G270 and off we jogged (me and Max) and rolled (Steve). Steve was on his bike.
Leg 2 started with a section alongside Ladybower that I hadn't recce'd but turned out easier than I feared. Continued up Cut Gate that was drier than when I was there last. Running into a headwind that was milder than I expected. The day was being kind. I was drinking well and food stayed where it belonged (stomach not running vest). The descent to Langsett was fast and fun and I was moving well. Not bad at that's about a marathon. Max had to leave us as he'd left his hair straighteners on. Steve and I ran-rolled onwards to the most North-Easterly point of the route where a pointless loop seems to mock progress. But this route was designed by horses and stick to the horse route we must. The Trans Pennine Trail took us west, slightly uphill, all the way to Dunford Bridge where Hannah magically appeared in the van. My pace had been dropping although the hill-less nature of this trail meant I hadn't lost much time. Somewhere between 10 and 11 hours should be the result. Maybe. I stopped for longer this time, ate and drank more, swapped back into the TrailFly shoes, removed a layer and was ready to tackle the final third. Hannah gave me an egg, "what, a Cadbury's Creme Egg?", nope... a hard boiled egg. An actual egg.
Richard Dixson, my long-suffering running wife bloke, had the job of coaching me to the finish. A 'me' that was quickly losing his trademark snarky wit and banter. Although about 30km felt like a long way to go, the most critical part was some more of that Trans Pennine Trail delightfulness. I'm a fell runner at heart and the flat stuff is not my jam. This was about 10km and slightly down-hill - so no excuses, "if I can't run this, I'm going to lose all the previous hard work". With some wise words from Rich we ran it all and I started to feel sub-11 was properly 'on'. A baking afternoon sun became my only weather complaint of the day and was, in truth, quite pleasant. The Hadfield / Padfield area was fine. The Charlsworth road climb has tough but was always going to be a walk. I'd managed to maintain a policy of jogging all the flats and running all the downs. I needed some encouraging from Rich to start running but I was moving well and still enjoying the running. Actually managing decent speeds on anything that pointed down. The kicker up Lantern Pike was nothing but a mole hill. We then ran quickly down the track toward the finish and had to overtake some mountain bikers! The track meets the the road just near Sett Valley cafe where I managed a sprint finish. Hannah was there again! Thanks Hannah. This time she was brandishing a Coke - not an egg in sight.
I finished in 10:19:04 - faster than I'd realistically hoped for. I'm well aware that some elite fancy-pants athlete could knock two or three hours off this time but, for now, an FKT is mine. And that feels good.
Thanks to all the helpers - runners and support (Hannah)