No body has mentioned this race ,
Over 250 runners on new years day great conditions and a good course.
North Yorkshire at its finest.
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No body has mentioned this race ,
Over 250 runners on new years day great conditions and a good course.
North Yorkshire at its finest.
Thats because its a cross country/stroke road race not fell - did it last year, not sure why its on the fell calendar :)
I did it this year ,what time did you do last year ?
I suppose it is on the calendar as it is part of the "Winter series" of races organised by the NEHRA.
It is one of the shortest climbs in the series.
The climb is quoted as 885ft and race distance 5.3 miles.
Out of interest at what heght of climb does a race become a fell race?
Hi, hoping to do this for the first time, and wondered how much is on road, and whether full on fell shoes are best, or more of a trail shoe. Looks to be a fair bit of tarmac bashing. Ta.
Hi
Its essentially a trail or cross country race (or a poor man's fell race I supppose) . If it thaws there will be some mud, especially on the climb up to the monument but you should be ok with a reasonable trail shoe. There is a fair bit of road especially after you descend from the monument (and as this is downhill it will be slippy in studs if icy). Depending what you like its a nice event and atmosphere but i am not sure why its on the fell calendar:)
I did this race last year and really enjoyed it - short and straightforward with a good New Year atmosphere. I wore Roclites which were a bit slippy - think it will depend on the snow this year. There is a bit on road, but if it's wet I'll be wearing Walshes.
The race is in the calendar for the same reason every other race is - it is registered with the FRA.
The first 1/2 to 3/4 mile is tarmac, then there is a 1/2 mile section in the middle that is also tarmac. I completed in mudroc 290's in 2007, will use roclites this time around most likely but have some walshes in reserve, there is a section of steep descent which is worthy of studs, but you need a reasonable tread in any event. If its not frozen then it will be wet with all the snow melt.
Nowt wrong with it being on the fell calendar, nice christmas new year social, bit of everything for the variety of people who do the race and a nice intro for people new to the sport, plus plenty of local spectator support.
And signing on is in the Royal Oak pub.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the race or the people who take part, I enjoyed it when I did it apart from wearing down my studs on all the tarmac, just that is erroneously described as a fell race, like all the North York moor races which are essentially trail events.
(There you go Brett, that's your Xmas present)
Why is it "erroneously described as a fell race" and shouldn't appear in the fell calendar?
Is it because it's like a trail race...like the Ilkely Trail and the Puma Garburn Trail?
Is it because a section is on tarmac...like 3Peaks and PYG?
Is it because it doesn't have that much climbing...like Oakworth Hall organised by KCAC?
Or is it because you are being deliberately controversial...like Antisocial?
Did feel abit of digression coming on along the lines of what defines a fell race, but that thread is well unravelled elsewhere.
Had a walk over parts of the course yesterday, but not to the top, hopefully the snowmelt will continue, there's still quite abit of snow about and some ice.
Anyway onwards to the Gisborough Woods later this morning, another in the North East Fell Series!
Its been raining this afternoon/Evening, there has been a major snow melt, fell shoes a definite as it stands.
Definitely an interesting race and a good candidate for the North Yorks Cross Country series, if it wasn't for all the road. Could you not start a new category " the cross tarmacstry series" perhaps, or possibly "the slightly bumpy series" for all NYM races? You could develop a new style of shoe, a road one with retractable spikes - perhaps Q from James Bond could design them :D
bah humbug :rolleyes: open your mind :D
Your comments were boring earlier in the thread
Nothing has changed
Oi, Antisocial. Go pick on another race.
How about the Giant's Tooth run on the same day? Not only is it a category C but they are even recommending trail shoes! What's the fell world coming to.
Mind you I think this is the most postings ever for a North York Moors race.
I thought the retractable spikes comment was quite good and I even used smileys to denote humour.
I tend to avoid or ignore boring things, but they obviously appeal to you - or are you "biting" ;), alternatively are you a train spotter? :D (note smiley and cue abuse from trainspotters) enjoy your "race"! (is there a water station half way round this year? :D)
Its also in my family interest to deride this as a non fell race but that's another story.
Happy New Year in advance
not dissing the race , especially as many people believe road running is harder than fell.
Might pick on GT if I do it (and I should at some point as it is only 5 miles away), but I know what you mean, the three peaks is even down as a cat A fell race and some people even wear fell shoes to do it in - honestly :D
oh and welcome to posting on the forum, I feel honoured that my "thoughts" :rolleyes:have inspired you to comment:)
Dear Antisocial
I can only surmise that your comments throughout this thread are motivated by hate, jealousy or fear.
These are three of the most negative thoughts that can hinder not only your passage through life but your athletic performance.
On New Years morning around 200 happy souls will race, run or jog around the local area of Great Ayton and feel invigorated at having done so.
I think deep down that you would like to come and join us. Come on be brave the first step is the hardest; despite your previous ramblings you will be welcomed.
With Love
Trog
Dear Trogsy
Possibly the other 2 , not fear.
My brother and I occasionally compete against each other, he beating me on the road and I beating him on the fell. 2 years ago just before he was posted away from Redcar and the "fell" area of the NYM, we entered the CC race, I was ill (like now, why do I always get bugs at xmas) and coming back from yet another prolonged bout of injury, however as I am a better climber and descender than him I fancied my chances. Imagine my shock and horror then when the race commenced on road, then miles of flattish track with a couple of bits of muddy uphill, then a plateau of flagstones, a short descent on good track, miles more of downhill on road and then a cross country route through woods and fields.
He beat me by a long shot and has since retired from fell racing on the grounds that now he has beat me he never needs to fell race again and moved to the challenging hills of Oxford. I of course protested that the race bore no relation to a true fell race (which he damn well knows).
Therefore it is in my interest to vilify said race cos there is no way I am going to allow my brother to get away with CC as being his last "fell" race.
All I need is for a few forumites like yourself to say nice race but not really a fell one then I can get my rematch hopefully sometime in the next 3 weeks when he comes back on leave from Afghanistan (if his wife lets him).
If you really loved me you would do this for me
Love as always
Anti
xxx
Hi Anti,
I hope your brother gets back safe and sound, and I say that as a former career soldier myself.
Now that you have provided a little more background information I can see your point.
As a social run out and to see in the New Year, yes the Cooks race is a great event, but not a purists fell race. If it started up the road at the station and went up to the monument and back it would be better from a fell runners point, but lose some of its appeal as a New Year Gathering.
Peace to all
Trog
A heavy snow flurry just before the start but it stopped for the run itself.
It looked to be quite a good turnout despite the bad weather overnight.
Not much tarmac this year as it was all covered in snow and ice :D
I for one enjoyed ‘blowing the cobwebs’ away
Pictures at:
http://kath22.fotopic.net/c1798552.html
It was a beautiful morning for the race as the snow fell, making the veiws all the more breathtaking, I never tire of looking across to the wainstones ridge whilst gasping for breath from near the top of the monument :) unfortunately had a stinker of a performance, but even that couldnt dampen the beauty of such an event, all the best to everyone :cool:
It is my preferred mode of running then I can't see the hill climb in front of me, I did wake up for the downhill tho.:D
The conditions were brilliant,soft snow to fall on, Misty and calm on the top, dare I say a little icy on the (covered with ice and snow)tarmac, made it interesting for tired legs.
Met up with Trog (in pony vest) and DJ (not in pony vest). Great atmosphere for the first run of the year.
Didn't manage this one. But what's that about NYM races being all trail races? I've done Rivock Edge, Stirton, Beamsley Beacon, James Herriot, Weets, Cragg Vale, Crow hill, Arant Haw, Ilkley Moor etc. What's the difference? Borrowdale and Langdale felt altogether bigger outings but that's reflected in the grade I'd've thought. I do agree that the NYM is a good place to get an introduction to fell racing as they are not as serious as big mountains, but they're fells alright.
My race, "Spofforth Gala", is a trail race if you want to compare.
Guick Dotto, well said, there are two good NYM series Winter and Summer.
Why is Ilkley Moor not called a fell?
What's the Long Mynd called?
Black Hill? Kinder Scout? Bleaklow? You won't find a single "fell" in North Wales.
There are loads of dales, riggs, pikes, stangs, becks but I can't find "fell" once in the NYM. I'm guessing that "fell" is Norwegian Norse rather than Danish Norse as it was vikings from Norway via Ireland who settled in the west of the country rather than Danish norsemen in the east.
I ran from Staithes to Whitby On Thursday along the Cleveland Way, it was the most invigorating thing i've done for a long time.
The run was virtually all off road, and must have been between 11 and 12 miles of high coastal clifftop running, with the pull from Runswick Bay upto Kettleness having more climbing in it than a lot of the 'fell' races i've done in the South Penines.
For me the FRA calendar is full of anomalies and inconsistencies, which apart from providing food for wrangle and debate on here are actually all very unimportant.
To be honest I'd swap a lot of the FRA races for a race along coastal clifftops any day of the week.:cool:
Good point - I've run loads of coastal stuff on holidays over the years (as I'm sure we all have) and there are some great routes.
Best was was Westward Ho to Clovelly along the N. Devon cliffs (then three buses back!) - I seem to recall it was about 14 miles with some flippin' serious climbing.
It's not 'fell running', mind.
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