Report by Jennie Stevens
Race Date: Saturday 15th January 2022
The Wildest Peaks Trail Race is put on by Dark & White Events. They offer a short (6 mile) race and a long (16 mile) race. I did the short version in 2019 as my very first trail race, and the long version in 2020. Like many races, it didn’t run last year.
For anyone interested in running the race, I did a more comprehensive report for the 2020 version, but I’ll keep this one short.
I wasn’t supposed to be doing it this year as I was running the Trigger just 6 days earlier, however for reasons too boring to go into I ended up getting bumped onto this race after having to move off another of theirs in late 2021. Nevertheless, it’s only up the road, and I had a good excuse to take it easy this year!
Like last time, the weather didn’t disappoint. It was (quite literally) freezing, and an absolutely glorious day to be running in the Peak. It’s a nice route – along Burbage and then back over to Grindleford via Higger Tor, along Curbar Edge, Baslow Edge, then back across Big Moor and Totley Moor.
The last 5 miles, for me, are a bit disappointing though and such a slog. By mile 12 the sun had gone in, the ice was melting, and I was done in. These races always have staggered starts so you never really know how you are doing. I really had to dig deep and was happy to reach the finish!
It was nice to bump into a few friendly faces – Jessica Brooks along the way, then Fran Marshal and Anne Hegarty at the finish. And some guys I’d been running with for a while – one of the DNF-d as he hadn’t dibbed in at the checkpoint (I did tell him to go back at the time but he just laughed at me!).
Unbelievably I managed to put in a good time and came 2nd (female) and 22nd overall, in spite of being 3 mins slower than 2020 when I came 3rd.
Dark&White races are always nice, well organised events and highly recommended if you want to venture off-road, but less hilly and more organised than fell racing!
The long race was won by Andy Harding (Belper Ten Twenty Tri Club) in 01:51:47 and first woman was Anna Blackwell (unattached) in 02:17:02.
Four Striders ran the long course with great results:
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Cat Pos | Award |
| 22 | Jennie Stevens | FV40 | 02:28:17 | 2 | Gold |
| 58 | Naomi Tuckett | F | 02:50:47 | 6 | Silver |
| 78 | Jessica Brooks | FV40 | 02:57:26 | 7 | Silver |
| 123 | Alyson Evans | FV40 | 03:46:02 | 18 | Bronze |
The short race was won by Francis Cram (Fat Boys RC) in 00:56:38 and first woman was Kate Shaw (unattached) in 01:06:56.
Two Striders ran the short course, again with great results:
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Cat Pos | Award |
| 21st | Rachel Cholerton | F | 01:23:16 | 4 | Silver |
| 27th | Paul Shelton | MV60 | 01:27:54 | 3 | Bronze |
Link to full results here.
