Cressbrook Crawl 11-05-13

This race started at the Cressbrook Club in the lovely White Peak. There were only myself and Lee from GVS present as the Mt Famine race (too fast, too steep, too hard) was on the same day. Lots of runners came from the Eastern areas of Derbys and Notts but I didn't feel isolated as these races are always so friendly. The race itself is 6.5 miles 1100ft and I had deluded myself that it was a category C but it appeared to be upgraded to a B. The weather was ideal for running, cool and damp.


After a short road section the run drops down to Litton Mill and as we know in fell races, an early downhill preceded a very stiff climb up the other side of Millers Dale then across through fields to High Dale and along to Monsal Dale. The White Peak scenery provided a lovely contrast to the gritstone of the Dark Peak and the fields were full of cowslips and violets. However I didn't have chance to study them in detail as I was actually trying to run. Many walkers looked on in awe and wonder as idiotic middle aged people in vests bombed past them on Monsal Dale. The final section was a killer and not because of any hills, the Monsal trail is flat as flat and drained my little legs. The final climb up to the club in on road and very horrid uphill all the way. However there was a warm welcome and a lovely pint at the end which made it all worthwhile.