Thinking of entering this and doubt I will get chance to reccie it in advance.
Any serious nav issues on this and is there water anywhere on route?
Looks tough?
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Thinking of entering this and doubt I will get chance to reccie it in advance.
Any serious nav issues on this and is there water anywhere on route?
Looks tough?
I did a lot of the 'big ones' for the first time last year and can safely say it's the hardest race ive ever done.
Not to put you off though. I think the cutoffs are very generous, particularly in comparison to some of the other lakeland classics. The first half of the race is tough going, but the 2nd half is very tough.
Nav. - the section around grasmoor could be tricky in the mist, but you may have people to follow at that early stage. And there are different lines around/over Robinson, but I dont think its too nightmarish otherwise.
Think there's water at the bottom of grassmoor, just before the climb to newlands, and haystacks, but can't remember much else... Oh yes , the bottom of red pike.
Good luck - its an epic and id love to be doing it again, but 10 Peaks this year on the same weekend instead.
Done Borrowdale, Langdale, Peris, Welsh 1000. I was still learning my pace at Buttermere (and still learning now) and I went off too hard in the first half, that is possibly why I rate it so hard compared to say Peris, where I ran well by my own meagre standards.
But I found it a step up even from Peris and Welsh 1000, and significantly harder than Borrowdale. I was timed out at Wasdale in the mist so can't compare those two.
There's nothing immediately scary about it, unlike Peris or Wasdale for example, its just the sheer size of it, but it is a fantastic route.
Still taking entries for these two races. Details at https://fellrace.org.uk/races/daz/
Counter in the Lakeland classics as a super long.
Hoping for better weather than the Ennerdale...............
Apparently it's rumoured to be an English Champs counter next year so this could be a good opportunity to get a recce in.
It's worth doing the race just for Amanda's cakes at the end, anyway.
I concur. It's the best post race spread I've been party to. Scores high on quality, quantity and variety.
there are couple of bumps in the second half you can go round, remember a fenceline on the left side of one of them. Cut left on the way to Mellbreak through the heather to cut out a fair bit of climb (from the bottom of the path to the bottom of the climb up mellbreak. Also a mate told me of a line going straight on past Mellbreak which avoids the path round the edge (you can see the path coming down through the heather it is towards them left of the top ridge).
Dan
looking forward to racing this for the first time since its reincarnation back in 2013. Marshalled a couple of times but its proximity to the solstice have meant other things were prioritised between then and now.
Thankfully looks like weather will be cooler than last weekend!
Expecting a fair turn-out considering rumours of championship status next year and chance of a last big day out prior to Wasdale!
Hopefully your expectations will be fulfilled.
First sub four tomorrow.......
And the men's record could go too
Bring your best cake eating form
Here are my photos from yesterdays race. A good day out.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/980116...57682398380642
well done everyone. Results here:
http://www.c-f-r.org.uk/content/darr...race-results-0
and photos galore somewhere on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/cumberlandfellrunners/
Many thanks for the photos Mark and others.
I enjoyed my more relaxed outing on the short course…. loved the descent into Buttermere. I had the pleasure of being overtaken by Carl Bell near the top of Mellbreak….. he was absolutely flying with nobody else within sight of him. He even engaged with a bit of conversation with me, also giving me some words of encouragement…. just as Daz would have done. How fitting. He didn’t even sound out of breath…. but went on to go sub 4 hrs and set a new course record!
Rob Jebb finished 2nd, nearly 15 mins behind and was nice to see his descending skills as he came hurtling passed me on a scree section off Mellbreak.
I wasn’t taking my day too seriously and stopped for a cheeky pint at the Kirkstile Inn before the final small incline to finish at the village hall ;)
A very well organised event and really nice atmosphere to it. Catering at the end was epic….. never seen so much cake!!
Entries for this year's race open on Friday the 20th April, through the sportident website at 6 p.m.
We are conscious that championship races have often had a "rush" of entries, with people worried about missing out on a place.
We are hoping this isn't going to occur........
Firstly - with the relatively late opening date, hopefully people will have greater confidence in judging their likely level of fitness, reducing the number who enter and then decide several months later that they can't run.
Secondly - we have an increased the limit to 400 runners - the evidence suggests that this will be enough. Last year at Wasdale for example had 230 starters, Castle Carr had 210 ( both Long English champs races )
Whilst not wanting to deter people - please don't enter just in case.........enter because you are coming.
Sadly, we are not running the short race this year, because of the championship status. It will be back next year.
We are keen to encourage runners of all ability and there are generous timeouts - only one person has ever been timed out in the previous races. The last checkpoint closes at half six. Last finisher should be back by 7p.m.
But make no doubt about the seriousness of the undertaking of this classic race route. Details on the CFR website under "CFR race" tab at the top http://www.c-f-r.org.uk/ .
Looking forward to welcoming everyone to what is a rather fitting tribute to such a great set of hills and a great character.
Thanks Andrew
I've never done a fell race before but some of us from work are giving it a go as part of charity stag do. I'm four stone overweight but am confident I can lose that by the date, so am entering good and early as an added incentive to increase my weekly mileage - currently I'm doing 2 laps of the park twice a week which works out at 8k. ;)
But seriously... that all seems very sensible and hopefully should avoid people entering "aspirationally". I'm really looking forward to this one. It will be my first time doing this race, which is long overdue. It's great to have Daz remembered so appropriately, given his penchant for and ability in long Lakes races.
It's a proper beast this.... I did it in 2016, after doing a lot of long races elsewhere, Langdale, Welsh 1000, Trigger, Kentmere, etc.... with a raft of reasonable top half finishes... Buttermere Horseshoe, finished 5th from last!
Admittedly it was the first Lakeland super-long I'd attempted, and I had the Welsh 1000 still in my legs from the previous weekend, and I got lost and made a terrible hash of my route on Haystacks, costing me serious time and mental anguish... but still, it's a different league and it just keeps coming, from the first climb to the last, it's "a bastard"
I think in excessively hot, or poor weather, it could cause carnage in a champs race.
Despite all that I can't wait. Ennerdale and Buttermere in June, lovely.
Noel,
Nicley put.........
We are happy to encourage genuine aspiration from fell runners, and reduce the excessive optimism sometimes demonstrated .....having said that I have entered the Ennerdale and the training is going..........Well still 7 weeks to go.
No one panicked then......
I guess it was inevitable after the rush for the Edale Skyline...
Was rather surprised that there was no entry criteria, or qualifying races required... but I guess that means extra work for the organisers to check through.
I'm in, and saw several forumites on the start list.
MrRTS is in :-) 302 already entered!!
We have been keen to encouraged participation in the past. Allowing runners 8 hours to finish. We have taken the view that we are happy to be there all day.
At some stage people have to get some experience.
There are two opportunities for dropping out at road crossings.
This doesof course perhaps alter with moderate, or poor weather. There will be bad weather provision
Three entries left in less than 24 hours. Some going👌
Booked a b&b in Lorton...
Close to the 5 'Lords Seat' Wainwrights that I've not done, so they'll have to be climbed at some point.
Also right at the foot of the north ridge of Hopegill Head. I wonder if i'll be allowed to start the race there instead of Loweswater...!
I ran the Lorton Fells the day before Eskdale Elevation looking to bag new Wainwright summits. I managed to miss the top of both Graystones and Ling Fell according to that SummitBag app. Graystones is a really innocuous top with no obvious summit in the clag, but bit a mystery with Ling Fell as it has a great big trig on the top. Nice running there though.
Think I got up Ling Fell from the other (north) side, in a double with Sale Fell. I remember one had a decent path up, and the other was just a climb up open Fell. Can't remember which was which though.
For me it's linking up Whinlatter with the likes of Barf, Lord's Seat and Graystones, hopefully in one logical route, without putting too many miles under my belt the day before such a monstrous race...!
I did a 22 mile reccie of a Snowdon Ultra route I'm doing in May on the Thursday, 18 miles of 7 Lorton Wainwrights on the Friday and then Eskdale Elevation on the Saturday. Was goosed before I started the race. Surprisingly, I didn't run brilliantly :-)
I started up Sale Fell, Broom Fell, Lords Seat, Barf, Whinlatter, Graystones, Ling Fell. Some steep stuff, climb up Graystones from Scawgill Bridge was pretty miserable and the Whinlatter bit was a little dull IMO, but the Vale of Lorton v good.
Why are we contemplating the Aitkin Skyline the day before the Darren Holloway Race? Isn't it big enough? Go the day after.....unless you eat too much of the food after your run........
On a more on topic update.
Clearly the limit was breached some time ago, with now a waiting list of some 50 odd runners.
The evidence would suggest that in the past a good number of entrants change their minds / don't turn up.
Below is a copy of the email that all entrants are about to receive
We hopethat we can sort an entry for everyone who wants to run, but this is going to depend upon a level of co-operation from those who have entered and who mayhave, or are about to, change their mind about running. This may be because ofa clash of commitments, an injury, illness or perhaps upon reflection realisingthat the entry was based upon a certain degree of unfounded optimism abouttheir potential for raising their fitness to the hoped for level by the backend of June.
In thepast, for some oversubscribed events, the organising team have been able tomanage the entries and get everyone a run. We would like to achieve this.
There aretwo ways that you can help, if you find that you are unable to run.
Firstly- You let me know that you wish tocancel your entry. I then invite the person that is top of the waiting list,they have 7 days to enter. Once they have confirmed their entry, I cancel yourentry and am able to refund you £12 of your entry fee – we have to pay an admincharge, so can’t give a full refund. This is perhaps, the fairest way as I canmanage the waiting list on a first come first served basis. We won’t be able togive refunds unless we can move someone from the waiting list onto your entry,as we have already incurred costs based on the number of entries.
Secondly –substitutions are allowed. These work independently of any input from the eventmanagement. You can go to your entry and edit it, substituting your name withsomeone else’s – hopefully you know someone on the waiting list. We think thatthis will remove the person from the waiting list automatically.
If you findthat you are unable to run and are able to return your entry and want me to tryto arrange for someone from the waiting list to have your entry then pleasecontact me, Andrew Bradley, by email at ..............
If you know of anyone who has changed their mind, then please encourage them to do the decent thing and let us know.
We don't want no shows - when there is still a waiting list.
thanks
I wonder what the response to this was. I know someone with a history of competing in Lakeland classics and will likely be looking to count for a team competing for the championships who is currently sitting on the waiting list feeling a bit antsy.
I wonder what the pre-entry would have looked like if form/cheque/postage was still the mode of entry - though obviously online entry is a much easier, hassle-free method for organisers to use (and saves a few trees).
I found it refreshing to see a gentle nudge to entrants to not waste their space in the race and I quite agree with this (though I suppose for ease of life agreeing with my girlfriend's father is an easy choice to make!). If it works would other oversubscribed races implement a similar course of action, or could it be perceived as a bit teaching your grandmother to suck eggs?
Response so far......four returns of entry, with three substitutions made. Still waiting for the last invite to respond ( Paul Crabby Crabtree - if anyone knows him, can you continue to remind him to pay his entry fee - very soon ). One person has withdrawn from the waiting list.
Big thanks to those who have returned their entry already.
Probably a bit soon to take these numbers as a reflection of the final outcome. I suspect most people will withdraw closer to the date? Hopefully not too close though.
I note that at Clough Head there were 376 finishers. I know there will a number of runners travelling from outside of England, but I am still not convinced that all 450 odd who have entered the Darren Holloway race will run. Especially when you look at recent fields of Lakeland championship long races. Apart from the 400 plus who raced the Edale this year.........
There will be more gentle reminders as time goes on. Sport ident entries allows you to email everyone. So an easy option.
I would like to contribute towards building an ethos of returning entries if a runner can't make the race. There will be disappointment all round if we have runners still on the waiting list, and no shows on the day.
Thanks for your excellent approach to this Andrew. :)
It worked for me anyway - I was on the waiting list but now have been moved up to an actual entry.
A copy of the email sent to all entrants / waiting list people today.
"Regardingthe Darren Holloway Buttermere Race. An update on entries – with three and ahalf weeks to go.
Firstly,thanks to all those who have returned their entry to me. This now stands atnearly 20 runners, so 20 people have moved off the waiting list, or have anoutstanding invite. This is very encouraging and reflects well on the fell runnerswho have acted with such generous thought of other runners.
We wouldlike to not have any runners on the waiting list at the start of the race.
To improvematters either further, it would help if everyone on the waiting list wouldkeep an eye on their emails, and act upon the invite as soon as possible. SomeI have been able to turn around overnight, some are taking nearly a week and itis becoming a challenge keeping track of these.
If youreceive an invite and don’t want it, then please let me know. This would bebetter than just leaving it – it then takes a week before I can invite someoneelse.
Whichbrings us to the next prompt………
Either yourtraining is going well……or since the last email, your promised training has yetto start – in which case, now is the time to email me and return your entry. Thesooner the better – I could do with sorting entries out in the next two weeksor so.
If you are onthe waiting list – keep the faith, and keep training. If you now don’t want torace, then you can remove yourself from the waiting list. Or you can contact meand I can remove you.
Thanks forall your continued help."
Darren Holloway Buttermere race is next weekend. The good news is that over 70 people have made the effort to let me know that they unable to race and have returned their entry. this means that everyone on the waiting list has been offered a place.
This really reflects well on the public spirited nature of Fell Runners. Several people have had invites and have missed their deadlines - I might be able to reestablish contact with them.
I still have 10 or so more invites awaiting a response. the following need to check their emails. If you know them, give them a shout.
Phil Clayton of Black Combe
Damian Kilpin Penistone
Andy Smith York Knavesmire
with thanks for your continued support.
Andrew
Who's ready then?
Must admit I've been looking forward to this since i heard it would be a champs race last year. Although with trepidation after running it two years ago.
Weather looking like it could be perfect, hopefully not as hot and oppressive as at Ennerdale a couple of weeks back though.
Travelling up in a few hours, then a gentle outing from Braithwaite over the Lord's Seat tops to Lorton and the b&b.
Hoping to knock a good hour off my 2016 time. Although i'll be incredibly surprised if that gets me anywhere near my best champs placing of 179th...
400 or so on the start list
I reckon 280 max will show up.
Start list is down to about 360ish now, whether it has been finalised i have no idea...
Noticed quite a few drop-outs over the last week.
A couple of people on facebook saying they are not fit enough... why enter 2 months in advance if you know fitness is an issue, everyone (i hope) knows what they are signing up for with this one.