Baslow Boot Bash – REPORT OF 2023 EVENT – 17th JUNE
This year’s event was the 17th Baslow Boot Bash. There were 149 finishers on the 26 mile course and 132 on the 14 mile reversing the trend in recent years towards favouring the 14 mile. Obviously people are getting fitter. Only 10 people retired which is a credit to the fitness of all the entrants. The weather was pretty much perfect for walking and running, especially in the morning, cloudy and not too hot. The sun came out in the afternoon after most of the runners had finished.
The choir volunteers on the checkpoints appreciated the fine weather and they were relieved not to have to put up the gazebos despite a short shower at one or two of the checkpoints. It is always a pleasure in the car park in the morning to watch happy and appreciative people getting ready for their day in the Peak District, it makes the whole thing worthwhile. As usual we thank the Chatsworth Estate for permission to use Chatsworth Park for car parking without which it would be impossible to hold the event.
As you all know, this is not a competition but there is always interest in the times so this time we are publishing the first 20 home on both courses, male (M) and female (F). The first three home on the 14 mile were all ladies which I’m pretty sure hasn’t happened before. Danni de Simone finished in 2 minutes under 2 hours just outside the record of 1:54:00. But the run of the day had to be Kurt Fitch on the 26 mile in a new record time of 3 hours 29 minutes, over an hour in front of the next runner. It had to be a record because we’ve shortened the course by omitting the checkpoint on Wheatlands Lane. Most people seemed to appreciate the more gentle finish from Froggatt Bridge following the River Derwent down to Baslow rather than negotiating their way through Calver and then climbing up again to Bank Wood. Some though regretted that it had lost its ‘marathon’ status! But it did mean we finished a bit earlier.
Congratulations to all the runners and walkers who completed the courses, we salute your fitness, tenacity and good humour, an example of which is the photo taken at checkpoint 2 at Over Haddon.
Thanks once again to both Raynet, who handled communications, and to the Kinder Mountain Rescue team who provided first aid cover although the first aiders were thankfully hardly used this year. We must also thank those members of the Mountain Rescue team who sweep the route ensuring that we always know where the tail-enders are.
Thanks also to the Baslow choir volunteers who cheerfully provide the refreshments and keep everybody going throughout the day, those who man the checkpoints, the car parking and road signage. Finally thanks to Glyn Herron and his team for supervising the event from the village hall and making sure everyone is accounted for. It was Glyn’s second year dealing with the onerous job of dealing with the entries throughout the year and a special thanks to him.
Date for your Diary: June 15th 2024. Booking opens September 2023.