Report By: Jim Rangeley

Race Date: 10^th  September 2022

The 9 Edges – Derwent, Stanage, Burbage North, Burbage South, Froggatt, Curbar, Baslow, Gardom’s and finally Birchen Edge before heading down to Robin Hood and the finish line. The 20 miles and 700ish meters of elevation takes you across some of the best running routes in the peaks and with views across the aforementioned edges and valleys, the day out is highly recommended. Coupled with a reasonable entrance fee of about £1/km with most of the money going to Edale Mountain Rescue (many of whom were out marshalling the route), it’s not too expensive of an affair either.

After kit and route checks are completed ahead of the start time, along with the obligatory toilet visit, we set toward the start funnel. A pleasant bustle of bodies clad in race packs and a few waterproofs just holding off the drizzle. Pausing in the still shadow of the Derwent reservoir dam, the midges descended on the 140 or so of us waiting for the start of the race.

We set off up to the side of the damned dam wall, climbing steeply and tightly up the steps aside the Victorian structure. Up ahead from where I started mid pack, a fight for the lead was happening already, with racers knowing how the race can be almost won or lost in the first few kms if you are stuck behind the series of gates and single file steep tracks that form the first section of the race.

For those with no expectation of finishing “fast”, we could languish and take the push up to Derwent Edge at an easy pace, trying not to burn those quads before we got going properly.

Reaching the top of Derwent Edge and the first check point I was able to start moving with aplomb, catching a batch of walkers on the same route (these were able to set off any time they liked from 6.30 rather than 10.00 for the mass start for those running).

The edges, all of which I had run before a number of times but never in succession, are some of the most varied in the area. Soft and spongy peat, thankfully the weather didn’t turn these into shoe stealing bogs. Technical hopping with a deceptive climb along Stanage up to the trig point overlooking Hathersage before some nice easy track to get those legs moving below Burbage and similarly through Longshaw.

There were well marshalled check points along the route at most of the road crossings checking the runners and walkers through, many heavily laden with bananas, jelly beans and water refills.

I was unsure going into the race how fit I was having not done enough miles, and the usual excuses about tight calves or a hamstring with a niggle. But as I got to Mile 15 or so I started gaining on people, perhaps they were just slowing down. But overtaking a handful of runners and still with plenty of walkers out on the route I had little goals to aim for and people to chase down along Curbar, which kept me going along the final leg or two.

Overall the race is a corker, well organised, friendly and with a complimentary pint to close off the day.

147 runners completed the course, plus many walkers and a few climbers too. The race was won by fellow Striders – Danny Bent in 2:39:13 and Gillian Allen 2:54:15 as winner of the ladies race.

Full results here.

Striders results