29th/30th July 2023

The Peak District 100 is a figure of 8 loop centered on Buxton. This year, the northern loop came first taking in 50 miles of the Dark Peak before returning to Buxton – with 50 miles in the White Peak making up the southern loop. The route takes in Shining Tor, Mam Tor, Lose Hill, Win Hill, Cave Dale, Deep Dale, and Shuttlingsloe (along with every possible piece of elevation in between!). Most of the well known peaks appeared in the first 50 miles, but it was the 2nd 50 that did all the damage, with Check Point 8 to 9 being particularly hard going – repeated climbs and descents along the same ridge line, with head-high ferns, and ankle deep mud (not what you need 75 miles into a race) made it both mentally and physically challenging. The high rate of attrition for this race says a lot about how hard it was – 50% of the field didn’t make it to the finish line, but it’s amazing what the mind and body will go through for a belt buckle, and there was no way I was going to give up those all important long distance Strider miles!
This was the hardest race I’ve ever done, and not one I’m keen to tackle again any time soon, but if you hate yourself, enjoy pain, mental torment, and sleep deprivation then maybe this is the one for you!

1st across the line was Tom Vickery, in 21 hours, 33 seconds. 1st lady, and 2nd overall, was Lucy Gossage in 23 hours, 39 minutes, 50 seconds.