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On the 12th April 2025 KAD Luke Jones completed the 35km Peak Running Birthday Bash, finishing in 6th place overall and winning the men's V40 age category. This is Luke's report from the race, along with a few cracking photos, enjoy!   A sunny warm Saturday the peaks were on beautiful form, although it made for tough racing conditions. With a sub 4 hour target in mind and a time I'd been talking about openly I felt the pressure on the start line. I started with purpose, pushing harder for the first 6 miles. By the 1st check point I was already feeling the heat impacting my energy. I was happy with my check point transition, straight in refilled a bottle and straight back out. Heading out from Hayfield legs started to feel a bit heavier, and found it a real slog up from Kinder reservoir to join the Pennine Way, I got through a lot of my water on this section. Trying to find a rhythm in my pace from Kinder Downfall along the top of Kinder was a non-starter. I clipped my feet numerous times before finally stacking it, my hands taking the brunt of the fall and calves instantly cramping. This stopped me in my tracks and knocked my confidence, after a mini wobble I tagged in at the Kinder. I've had a few of these falls lately, my legs seem to lack the speed to catch my falls in the later miles, frustrating! Starting the decent from Kinder Low I got my head down and gradually got back into a steady pace although descending Jacobs Ladder much slower than previous efforts, got down in one piece and pushed the decent down to Upper Booth legs feeling super heavy. I was out of water by this point and started to cramp a little on the climb out of Upper Booth. No cramp running back down all the way to the Edale check point but I was ready for water. Took a minute here to wash down 2 electrolyte tablets and refilled 1 bottle. Out of Edale and back up to Hollins Cross, felt like I was walking more than running just trying to keep pushing forward. I hadn't been watching my time and had decided I would wait until Hollins Cross to check. In my mind of was already over the 4 hour mark but to my surprise the timer read 3.45. This gave me a pick up although my legs were threatening to cramp up the whole way down the last road section. I was now checking my watch every 10 seconds with 4 hours getting closer, when I saw Chester and Anna just before the carpark. I high fived Chester before checking my watch a final time, and knowing is was done I pushed on for the finish. Nutrition wise I went with 6 beta fuel gels, 1 every 40 mins roughly. Just over 2 litres of water (not quite enough). Luke Jones  |