15th March 2025

The Gallop is one of the races I love most. Friendly, great views, nice cakes at the aid stations and good to run a long race (21 miles) at the start of Spring.

Sadly I have had a niggling hamstring injury for a few months so although I had managed to get a place I had to convert to the walking option. Setting off just after 8 it was unusually quiet for the first km, I was probably going at the same speed as usual as normally unless you fly off with a fast start you are walking in a long queue for the gates and stiles.

Up the first hill with some splatters of rain but after this it was beautiful clear skies but not too hot.

I tried to keep a brisk pace all the way round and was helped in this by another walker who could both walk and talk whilst setting a blistering pace, after a while she pushed on whilst I waiting for a checkpoint to open so I could dib and I backed the pace off a little

The front runners started to come past just as I got to the aid station at Hassop and then a bit after I started to see Striders.

My feet needed a little attention coming into Chatsworth but then the climb up to Baslow Edge and along the Gritstone edges felt good, a gentle trot down the last descent as it was easier doing this than walking and I finished in just over 6 hours.

Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed walking it as I suspected I would have been frustrated by not being able to run, my injury held up walking, just goes to show you use your muscles differently walking to running.

Hope to be able to run it next year.

Strider results