Race date: 21st  September 2019

Report by Jane Evans

The Dig Deep 12.12 was one of 3 events taking place as part of the Accelerate running weekend at Whirlow Hall Farm.

When I arrived to pick up my number, in good time for the 9.45am run briefing, it was eerily quiet in the barn. The ultra runners were long gone. There were very few people about and very weirdly for a Sheffield event, no Striders. Time to go and look at the horses and find a sunny spot to wait for the action to begin. Just before the briefing I was pleased to spot 2 Striders. We had a quick chat as we waited on the start line and then we were off.

The route takes you UP from Whirlow, Up Ringinglow Road, sharp left across fields with stiles, down steps into Limb Valley and then UP Limb Valley, across and UP along Houndkirk and then off into Lady Cannings. After that the route was a blur to me but it was well marked with tape and there were enough runners that there was always someone to follow. Friendly Striders SallyAnn and Matt were a welcome site at Burbage Bridge as they handed out water and cheered us on. After that there was Higger Tor and Carl Wark before somehow ending up back on Houndkirk and then the lovely downhill Limb Valley. A field of cows meant there was a slight diversion on the way down, resulting in more of an Uphill finish than in previous years.

It was a gloriously hot, sunny day and the scenery was magnificent. A fantastic local run, low key and good for the soul.

Once back at the barn there were t-shirts to pick up and various food and drink vans to revive us before heading back to the finish to see the amazing Fran Cummins completing her ultra.

Out of a field of 91 runners, first place was Harvey Martin, in a time of 01:36:41. First female was Clare Oliffe, 9th overall, in a time of 01:48:33.

Running clubs weren’t listed so please let us know if you ran and we’ve missed you off.