Dusk ’til Dawn: Sunlight

After the resounding success of Dusk ‘til Dawn in 2012, an event which participants described as “the best ultra they have ever entered”, The Grim Sweeper will be back to claim more souls in 2013.  Who is the Grim Sweeper? Read on…

The challenge is just as simple for this May “Sunlight” event, but this time you start in the morning at 06:51, and run all day, but you must finish the course by 21:02 (exactly the stroke of sunset).  The course, however, is 50 miles long and rises and falls through the Peak District; accumulating over 9000ft of ascent. The course is the reverse-direction of the October Dusk ‘til Dawn course.  You get to enjoy the full beauty of the picturesque Peak District course, and your leg muscles will enjoy the full height of all of the hills too.

Sunset You will be supplied with a custom Ordnance Survey map.  You’ll need to bring your own compass and be confident to navigate in all weather. There will be limited course marking for this daylight course.  An interactive online map, and a GPS/GPX download is available.  There will be 4 checkpoints on the route, stocked with a variety of hot/cold drinks, and snacks.  There are also interim Marshall points, one roughly halfway between each checkpoint.  Waiting for you at the finish line is warm welcome and a some food.

 

 

The race starts and finishes at the recentley refurbished Victorian Gothic Mansion Losehill Hall (YHA), in Castleton, Derbyshire.

So, you have exactly 14 hours and 11 minutes to navigate a very challenging 50 mile Peak District course, that follows parts of the Limestone Way, and takes in well known peaks such as Shining Tor and Mam Tor.

Grim Sweeper

Oh, just one more thing…  It was all beginning to sound a little too cosy wasn’t it?  There’s one character you need to keep looking over your shoulder for.  Timing his progress along the whole course with the passage of the sun to dusk, is the Grim Sweeper!  If the Grim Sweeper catches you up, then you could be facing retirement for an early dinner (we did ask if he’d leave his scythe at home but we’re not convinced he will…he brought it along in 2012!).  All we can say, is don’t let him catch you up!  Only 65% of competitors escaped his scythe in October 2012.  Will you be one of the lucky ones in 2013. If you think you’re up to more, you could try the DtD Double in 2013!  See the event News.