Race Review: The Maverick Inov-8 X Series: Peak District (Middle - 26k)

Pros

ideal for a first ultra
beautiful location
good mix of terrain
well marked course
medal
high quality free photos
three distances (16km, 26km, 46km – can change on the day)
free parking
well stocked aid stations
nice post race area with deckchairs and food/drink tents

cons

too far till first aid station
inaccurate distances
very small selection of photos available
massive logjam in first km of race

Tips

Take even more water than you think you'll need
take your own photos if you're into that
sprint the start or wait to cross the start line
If in doubt sign up for the longer distance and drop down on the day

I'm training for my first ultra in Sept so I decided to do The Maverick Inov-8 X Series: Peak District to prepare. I arrived with a sprained ankle on a sweltering hot day in July to run the middle distance (26km). I chose the race for it's location, lack of navigation requirements and generous cut off (10 hours), started off DFL but managed come in about 13 places from the end in 5:30 plus change.

The race takes place in the 'Dark Peak' area of the Peak District starting in Hope and climbs Win Hill, descends past Ladybower Reservoir around Kinder Scout, through the village of Edale and up to Mam Tor and Crowden Head before returning to Hope.

The three distances start together and split off, reuniting just before the end. The whole course is brilliantly marked with blue signs or blue tape every 0.5m. It's basically impossible to get lost. The location is stunningly beautiful and varied - lakes, woods, mountains, fields, villages - and covers every type of terrain, from fields, dirt trails and gravel roads, to technical (treacherous rocks and roots), paved paths and steps with even a bit of beginners rock scrambling thrown in.

I picked the middle distance, but everyone was given the option to drop down distances on the day, no hassle, some did due to the heat or injury and I suspect others did to be back in time for the England v Sweden kick off.

For all these reasons I'd say The Maverick Series races are a brilliant first step for anyone wanting to get into trail, mountain or ultra running.

Overall I would recommend this race. However - a few cons.

The distance to the first (and only) aid station on the middle distance was way too far. I took 2L of Hi5 with me and had run out of fluid an hour before I got to the aid station. Now admittedly I am really slow, but I was by no means the slowest and the station was 6k further than was advertised. We were warned beforehand to drink lots, as stations could only be placed where there was road access, but I feel this is a safety problem that the race directors need to look at again.

Stated distances seemed a little vague. I hate 'my Garmin says...” pedantry as much as the next man, but I was running the 26k with an aid station at 11k. When I arrived at the aid station there was a sign saying “17k done. 10 to go”.

The course is incredibly narrow right at the beginning. In the first 0.4k you have a single track path, crossing a tiny bridge, another single path leading to a stile, followed immediately by a second stile. No problem for a back of the pack-er like me, but anyone wanting to set a PB should beat the queues by either sprint from the start or hang back and cross the start line 5 minutes after the gun. This is one of those races that would benefit from a staggered start for each distance.

Along with a medal (nice, heavyweight, identical for all distances) finishers get 'event photography' which is free to download post race. On the plus side these are really high quality artistic photos. But on the downside these are primarily photos of the event. Other event photos are searchable by race number, but the Maverick's are just in a downloadable gallery. You can hunt for photos of you, but you might only find stunning shots of the scenery, the race director, a cowbell, drinks, medals, the ground, legs and of course some of the runners.

This is a great first race and I'd love to come back next year and try the longer distance.