I am turning in to a trail runner. It is an alarming fact. I now even use poles and might even consider a fancy cap and some sunglasses..... But actually I have had some issues at home which mean I have limited options for running as its hard to fell run with a dog in tow, especially if said dog chases sheep. It is also hard to train for an ultra with a dog in tow, but poor Oscar has done a twenty miler on Arnside the other week so when the Maverick race popped up, and their races are dog friendly, I thought we would give it a go.
I raced the Maverick Peak race twice when it was over at Castleton; once the short route and once the medium route. Both times I walked away thinking how blooming hard they were but that was some years ago and I have done a bit more running and exploring in the meantime. They have also moved their event over to the White Peak but retain the cool trail running vibe with flags and music and an excellent selection of finish line goodies. The course looked nice, I needed a longer run (though perhaps longer than this route, sorry coach), and dog could come too: in summary, perfect.
Pulling in to the carpark at Bakewell after a wiggly drive over the hills, I had to immediately let the dog out for wee which is fine when you are parking in a field. The field was also the event field which made all the logistics so much easier; no trekking back and forth. A lovely man then offered to hold the dog whilst I had a wee and all the worry from the night before about managing the dog at the event (getting there, toilets, barking, lots of people) ebbed away. Sometimes its nice to be around people. Especially when they are nice (dog friendly) people. I have been getting stressed about people recently, and its stopped me going places, especially with the dog.
At registration I bumped in to Nick from my club who I really didn't expect to see as he is a really good fell runner, but it was nice to say hi and have a quick team photo before the start. Racing with a dog involves a lot of phaff and extra kit including his travel bowl and extra water, poo bags, snackos etc. So we phaffed and stayed out of the way of other runners and had a quick hello to the other dog runners. A few people came over to stroke Oscar and he was a bit shy but mostly behaved, with no growling which was a mega relief.
After a brief race briefing, there was an uncomplicated start. The plan was for the dogs to go off at the back which was good except Oscar then wanted to pull us to the front. We crossed a field which wasn't too bad as we could stay wide, then on to a quiet road which was okay but we had caught the steadier paced marathon and ultra runners, before on to a grassy path where I was very aware I was potentially irritating other runners with the bungy, and pulling Oscar back. Plus we had a few other dogs around which meant non-dog runners might feel encroached on. I spotted a hawthorn bush I could have another wee behind and Oscar and I left the race for a few minutes which took us out the crowd then back in to a quieter stretch for the first fill which started on a good tarmac track, and we jogged up, with room to go round people now it was quieter and the field was starting to stretch out. The course then narrowed to a footpath again and Oscar tried to run with a man who was not a dog fan but fortunately did not say anything. Oscar likes to run right next to men, especially using them as a wind break or a shadow for shade.... think its an alpha thing.
As we rejoined the quiet lane/track, there was a lovely view down the valley to out left. Then we climbed up through some woodlands that Oscar would have loved to run riot in but I kept him on the harness (it seemed fairer to others and the race director to keep him on all race). It was nice to be in the shade! Having gone off too fast Oscar was panting a bit but not unduly and the woods gave way to a lovely field descent. At some point the 10k route diverged too, but I can't remember where. I would have smiled for the photographer but the dog was taking a lot of attention. On the track to Calton Lees, we were running near a Spaniel who Oscar had taken a shine to, but we stopped to let him drink out of a water trough and they passed ahead of us. This was a lovely long ascent that joined the road at the bottom and took us in to the Chatsworth estate, and the only aid station on the course. Oscar got a biscuit and a bit of my banana and I topped up water bottles as I was aware I needed enough for me and dog all the way round now.
Its funny, running with Oscar I was so focused on him not over heating, especially as the weather was warm. I really didn't race so much as be led by Oscar wanting to walk/run. And I decided this was the safest way, time be damned.
The run across the Chatsworth estate was amazing. It was a lovely grass path to start, going right in front of the house and over the drive bridge. Then we joined a rocky pathy the other side and ran through the deer park next to the river (Oscar had a stop for a drink and a swim) and could see various bits of art glinting in the sunshine. I need another trip over there to look at them properly. Despite it being about 10am, there were already plenty of people about and the spinning gate at the end of the estate in to Baslow required a little politeness (which everyone I saw did admirably).
In the beautiful village of Baslow we did a wiggle down a ginnel then the marathon and ultra route split off to head to Baslow and Curbar edge. The middle route on the other hand wiggled through the village and then along the river on a mix of road, track and footpath to Calver. Oscar stopped for another swim as the river bent towards the path. In Calver we went round the edge rather than through the village, going over the shoulder of a small hill before beginning a very gentle climb up though Coombs Dale. Initally it was a very unremarkable footpath but eventually the chunks of limescale began to appear and soon we were in a proper dale where we climbed a bit more steeply. At this point, the crowd had thinned and a few people chatted about Oscar and their dogs which was really nice. At the top of the Dale, a nice man helped me get Oscar through the dog hole of a stile which was really good of him. I was glad to get out in to the open greenery of the top of the Dale even if Oscar was eyeing up the sheep.
At the top of the Dale we joined a well made track that served the farms and some quarries. Here Oscar really started to flag and I tried to give him some water but we just had to walk and jog when he felt better. Treats were also involved. I did feel a bit of a bad dog mum at times. We soon lost the people we had been jogging with and the top of the hill and the quarries felt beautifully quiet if a bit hot and exposed. We dropped down Longstone edge and through some fields, where I found another (pretty icky) animal trough for Oscar to drink from. I was a bit worried about the water situation for us both as I had drunk a lot of mine and Oscar had done a chunk of his. But it was down and flat from here, and we might be able to get water at Hassop on the Monsal trail. Oscar didn't like the road descent but notably picked up on the lovely descent through the crop field and at the road crossing nearly jumped over the wall and in to the field (not strictly the footpath) to chase down some runners just ahead of us.
And then we were on the Monsal trail which is an old rail line converted to a cycle way. It was reasonably busy compared to a lot of the course, and also initially very exposed. Oscar would sometimes be pulling ahead and sometimes hanging back. At the cafe at Hassop we came off the course to try get Oscar a drink but he didn't want any so we rejoined the race and confused a few people who we had over taken before. Then it was along run in to Bakewell (about 2.5 miles I think). We managed to find one or two more muddy and wet ditches for Oscar to stop in but mostly we just jogged it in. I was very aware of keeping Oscar out the way of cyclists and families, even with the harness, as people do get aggie, and one woman and her son decided to ride right at us despite us being well tucked in (no idea what that was about). At the end of the trail we descended back to the road but i felt bad as there was a wheel chair user going in zigzags across the path with his family and I didn't really want to ask to pass.... they did notice me and let me pass but I did feel awkward.
On the road we had left on, I could see one or two runners ahead and it felt a bit longer coming back in. We caught up with one man who looked very warm, but it was actually drizzling all of a sudden as we crossed back across the field and in to the event village to the finish. A lovely lady tried to give Oscar his medal and he growled and backed away so I found myself apologising but she took it quite well. Oscar got a treat selection to take home along with his medal, and I got my medal, an alcohol free beer, a ginger shot (blooming love these), a protein bar and a Jimmy's iced coffee. Juggling all this I put Oscar's medal on and he freaked out so we ended up in a tangle on a spare deck chair (everyone was dodging the rain and under the gazebos at this point). I got Oscar some water and I got some electrolyte drink (Precision Hydration so I knew I'd be okay with it) and we managed to detangle and get to the car where Oscar had his lunch and I got out of my trainers and in to my recovery sandals.
The rain stopped and we went back to the deck chairs for a bit. Oscar was clearly very tired however, and was trying to burrow under the deck chair. I gave him a bit of bagel and this settled him enough for me to eat the rest of the bagel but it was clear I wasn't going to get any peace so we went back to the car and he jumped on his bed and went to sleep whilst I drove us home.
It had been a lovely experience all in. I get so worried about running with Oscar but people had been so helpful and friendly where they could, and Oscar had done well. It had actually been good to have the dog to make me steady my pace at times, and something else to worry about other than achey legs. I I didn't feel too horrendous at the end but the thought of doing twice that in two weeks does scare me. Maverick races are expensive but I really appreciated their dog friendliness. And it is nice to be able to top water bottles etc up. It would have been great to have just one more water stop on the 17 mile course, especially at was hot, but I think they reserve more outposts for the marathon and ultra routes. I'd definitely recommend them for the medium to marathon as the whole route was very runnable (assuming it continued in a similar vein) whilst offering some stunning views. I can't comment on the cut offs for the ultra but got the feeling this was generous too. Maybe next year I'll save my pennies up and come back without the dog to do the ultra? Let's see how the one in two weeks goes first....
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