An Oldham woman has run 46 miles (74 km) across difficult terrain in memory of her father.
Janet Jobey works in Oldham’s Up & Running branch.
The 51-year-old lost her father, who used to run the Pennine Way himself, three years ago.
Now, she’s run the ‘lumpy’ route from Edale to Hebden Bridge in just 12.5 hours – coming seventh among female competitors and 25th out of more than 70 competitors overall.
“It was a pretty personal thing, that’s why I took it on,” Janet explained.
Setting off just after midday on Saturday, January 13, Janet, who weighs just 45 kg (7 st 1 lb) herself, had to carry 10 kg (1 st 8 lbs) of supplies with her – with checkpoints only offering cups of tea and water refills.
This was in stark contrast to the 50-mile (80 km) ultra marathon she ran last year, which had regular feed stations negating the need for heavy backpacks.
The Roytoner said: “My friends and family think I’m mad. My sister knows because it’s close to both of us, she got a bit emotional and my husband was at the end. They were really proud of me but hoped I wouldn’t do it again.”
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Janet said the weather was ‘perfect’ on the day, but the terrain was difficult – with racers having to climb and descend more than 2,000 metres (6,500 ft).
She explained: “It could have been blowing a gale and snow, or whatever, but we didn’t. The evening was really perfect and clear. The terrain is very lumpy, lots of ups and downs and lots of technical – watching your footing.
“Blackstone Edge, I can only describe as jagged rocks sticking out the ground; you’re watching where you’re putting your foot constantly. You’re not only putting your foot down on a loose stone, you’re putting your foot down on something quite jagged.
“Lots of ups and downs and bogs, I was advised to take poles but I’ve never trained with poles. I was told you can measure the depth of a bog – being five-foot I don’t want to disappear in a bog! But I didn’t get them out.
“There were a few muddy patches, and slipping and sliding, and nearly losing my shoe, but nothing major. It is more technical, especially with it being dark.”
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The ‘sprint’ race Janet completed isn’t even the longest – with a 268-mile (431 km) non-stop race also on offer, with a time-limit of 168 hours for runners to reach Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders from Edale, in the Peak District.
Janet said: “It was a brilliant atmosphere. I didn’t know what to expect having never done a spine event before.
“The complete spine is 268 miles; there were four events, you have the full one set off two days after us, and you have the Challenger North and Challenger South which are both over 100 miles, and then you have the ‘spine sprint’ which is what I did.
“The 46 miles of the Pennine Way is a sprint; well, I’m not sure I’d describe it as a sprint, but I can see where they’re coming from, but compared to 268 miles it is a sprint, really isn’t it?”
If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.
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