Lakes 10 Peaks

Want a really tough challenge next year? Here's one .
Entries for these bad babies open tomorrow 10/10 at 10am

http://www.10peaks.com

Having done the 'standard' long course last year and Xtreme this year, I will definitely be returning. The Xtreme definitely was "an adventure in a day" - 100km, 20 peaks, 8000m ascent - brutal but superb.
These are great events - well organised, truly challenging yet truly enjoyable.


My race reports are here if you want the gory details
http://richrunnings.blogspot.co.uk/…/the-lakes-10-peaks-rac…
http://richrunnings.blogspot.co.uk/…/lakes-10-peaks-xtreme.…

Sounds fab!

They are - I really recommend. Great routes

Race day draws near! See you there if you're going, good luck everyone.

Yes Good luck folks. Injury has put paid to me being on the start line so will see (some) of you at Nichol end marine.

Race reports and updated Runfurther leaderboard are now on Runfurther.com. It was an epic day out on Saturday, & I wasn't in a fit state to write it up until today. Dick Scroop, Runfurther committee member, had a bad fall on Great Gable and is currently in Carlisle General with a fractured pelvis. Everyone else made it back home in one piece as far as I'm aware.

Dick now transferred to Newcastle for probable surgery on pelvis tomorrow, pins or plates I guess

Anyone else on this at the weekend?

I'm on the long course, in terms of time it will be the longest race i've done.

I have a rough target in my head of 16 hours (roughly based on mph and the fact that in terms of mileage and climb, it's about 2/3rds of a BGR, and would hopefully give me a vague indication of where i sit in relation to that).

But to be quite honest that's a shot in the dark and i could well take longer.

Anyone got any thoughts as to whether taking the Old County Tops descent from Helvellyn down to Wythburn is massively beneficial in terms of time saved, not too much early stress on the legs? I've only done it in ascent and it hurt!

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Originally Posted by Travs

Anyone got any thoughts as to whether taking the Old County Tops descent from Helvellyn down to Wythburn is massively beneficial in terms of time saved, not too much early stress on the legs? I've only done it in ascent and it hurt!

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It is quite soft underfoot so makes for a nice descent.

I'm doing the short. I'm definitely going that way. Did think of going even straighter down missing the path entirely (I think Rob and Josh went that way on OCT) but haven't had time to look at it. Good luck with it.

Pete, I did long in 2015, short in 2016. OCT descent absolutely both times. It’s not that bad on the legs….. just take it steady. I don’t know of the exact route Rob/Josh took, but I saw a photo of them and they were still in Comb Gill quite close to Wythburn carpark which I don’t think is good and there was an accompanying comment which I think implied they had made a bit of a Horlicks of the descent nav.

I can send you my gpx plots from 2015/16 if you want. For the long I took the option to descend into Wasdale rather than go via corridor route (hated that on the short course…..had never done that section before and that route up Great Gable…. hmm, not fun). Plus, the scree descent into Wasdale is well worth it on the long.

I made a last minute decision to go from Honister to Keswick via Grange (low level). Mistake, as wasn’t able to run as much as I thought and would have been better going via Dalehead tarn.

On the long I couldn’t face the climb up Carl Side on the day (but had only previously reccied the descent), so went up/down the BG way. Probably cost me a lot of time, but it was my way of managing myself in the moment. Finished in a pretty slow 23:53…. but remarkably won 1^st pair prize. Don’t think they have that category anymore…. after such shame was brought onto the event ;)

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Originally Posted by MarkClayton

Pete, I did long in 2015, short in 2016. OCT descent absolutely both times. It’s not that bad on the legs….. just take it steady. I don’t know of the exact route Rob/Josh took, but I saw a photo of them and they were still in Comb Gill quite close to Wythburn carpark which I don’t think is good and there was an accompanying comment which I think implied they had made a bit of a Horlicks of the descent nav.

I can send you my gpx plots from 2015/16 if you want. For the long I took the option to descend into Wasdale rather than go via corridor route (hated that on the short course…..had never done that section before and that route up Great Gable…. hmm, not fun). Plus, the scree descent into Wasdale is well worth it on the long.

I made a last minute decision to go from Honister to Keswick via Grange (low level). Mistake, as wasn’t able to run as much as I thought and would have been better going via Dalehead tarn.

On the long I couldn’t face the climb up Carl Side on the day (but had only previously reccied the descent), so went up/down the BG way. Probably cost me a lot of time, but it was my way of managing myself in the moment. Finished in a pretty slow 23:53…. but remarkably won 1^st pair prize. Don’t think they have that category anymore…. after such shame was brought onto the event ;)

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Thanks Mark for your thoughts... i recall seeing you last year at Honister as i was struggling through the Buttermere Horseshoe race on a warm day.

Yes i'd planned to rejoin the tourist path on the OCT descent at the point where the path comes back close to Comb Gill.

I'd already planned on going down into Wasdale. This year it is compulsory to to Pillar before Great Gable which makes it an even simpler decision. Unfortunately Wind Gap is totally out of bounds, so will have to do the out and back from Black Sail.

With regards Skiddaw, i'm going to recce an alternative route tomorrow afternoon. I'll keep it under my hat for now, as it may be a load of rubbish. In that case i'll grin and bear it and go up via Carl Side.

I did the Long a couple of years ago and most people took the oct descent, although there didn't all take the exactsa,e line!

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Originally Posted by Travs

Thanks Mark for your thoughts... i recall seeing you last year at Honister as i was struggling through the Buttermere Horseshoe race on a warm day.

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Slight role reversal. I’m doing Buttermere…..but have switched to the short course, as don’t have enough hill fitness at the moment to sensibly tackle the full route. So no chance of seeing you again at Honister. Good luck and have a great day out. Forecast looks a bit windy/chilly on the tops.

Yes i noticed the MWIS forecast was a bit chilly. Although probably preferable to the heat we've had this week!

Good luck at Buttermere. Certainly the full route is incredibly difficult. I was starting to feel the strain at Honister last year, and the second half was considerably harder, so possibly a wise decision to do the "short" course (which i believe is still an AL!!!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Travs

Yes i noticed the MWIS forecast was a bit chilly. Although probably preferable to the heat we've had this week!

Good luck at Buttermere. Certainly the full route is incredibly difficult. I was starting to feel the strain at Honister last year, and the second half was considerably harder, so possibly a wise decision to do the "short" course (which i believe is still an AL!!!)

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Nearly the same stats as the OCT race. 31 miles and 10,400 feet. More like An A+L!

Incredibly hard day yesterday, toughest I've ever encountered and I probably reached my limit.

From Angle Tarn all the way over the Bowfell-Scafell section was zero visibility and many people seem to have got lost or missed checkpoints, allowing me to sneak up the field a bit.

Started to really suffer on the way up Black Sail pass and it didn't really go away. Although I made up 10 places on the hellish ascent of Skiddaw via Carlside, and the final descent into Keswick.

17hrs 37mins. Not the 16 hours I hoped for but I'm not disappointed. I could physically go no faster over the Scafelll section as it was so wet, slippy and dangerous. But really the main factor was the pain and fatigue I was in, really just gave it everything so I can't ask any more. I do know that I'm a good way off being up to a BG. Maybe in perfect conditions I'd have been on pace, but I can't see me keeping that up for an additional 8 hours anytime soon.

Stunned to finish 28th, which I think is more down to good navigation than being a better athlete than many who I beat.

Massive well done to Alan Lucker...!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Travs

Incredibly hard day yesterday, toughest I've ever encountered and I probably reached my limit.

From Angle Tarn all the way over the Bowfell-Scafell section was zero visibility and many people seem to have got lost or missed checkpoints, allowing me to sneak up the field a bit.

Started to really suffer on the way up Black Sail pass and it didn't really go away. Although I made up 10 places on the hellish ascent of Skiddaw via Carlside, and the final descent into Keswick.

17hrs 37mins. Not the 16 hours I hoped for but I'm not disappointed. I could physically go no faster over the Scafelll section as it was so wet, slippy and dangerous. But really the main factor was the pain and fatigue I was in, really just gave it everything so I can't ask any more. I do know that I'm a good way off being up to a BG. Maybe in perfect conditions I'd have been on pace, but I can't see me keeping that up for an additional 8 hours anytime soon.

Stunned to finish 28th, which I think is more down to good navigation than being a better athlete than many who I beat.

Massive well done to Alan Lucker...!

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Thanks Travs. It certainly wasn't an easy day on the Bowfell to Sca fell pike section. I'm rubbish on slippy rocks, so I definitely slowed down there. It was a lot easier when I recced it 2 weeks earlier in sunny conditions. I thought I might be capable of sub 7 1/2 hours. In better conditions I think I would have. I Struggled with ideal lines on the high plateau too. Also messed up the G Gable descent a bit in the thick fog.

Worth remembering that on a BG you won't be carrying a pack weighing 2 to 3kg (more when wet), plus less stress navigating. Well done you for toughing it out, I was really glad I didn't have to go up Carl Side to Skiddaw, and could just run to the finish!

Yes I would estimate the conditions put at least an hour onto times.

I did notice a few people descending back down from Great Gable to Beck Head. I messed up a bit getting down to Windy Gap but I then took the Borrowdale race descent rather than the recommended Moses Trod route, and made up some decent time there.

The Carlside ascent was an utter misery, and I had to wipe away a tear at one point, god knows why, just mental exhaustion and lack of sleep I guess. But I flew down Skiddaw markedly faster than a lot of people who finished ahead of me. If I could have just seen out my bad spell a bit quicker I could have finished well up. Happy with 28th though, I've just seen the official results and only 56 finished the long course, which with an entry list of 110 tells quite a story of the difficulty of the race...

Pete, well done indeed. That’s a great effort, especially with the challenging conditions. Sounds like you were right on the limit near the end!

Congratulations Alan with your short course victory and new course record. Fantastic stuff!

Thanks Mark... it's undoubtedly a massively tough event, the lack of sleep just ups it even further.

I'm still learning, I think that was my 5th ultra, and now I've rested and can look at it objectively, there's lots I can take from it, and improve on for next time.

Well done on your Buttermere race, I was pretty gutted to miss it this year...

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Originally Posted by MarkClayton

Pete, well done indeed. That’s a great effort, especially with the challenging conditions. Sounds like you were right on the limit near the end!

Congratulations Alan with your short course victory and new course record. Fantastic stuff!

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Thanks

I'm not doing it this year, but noticed a route change has been announced... Broad and Ill Crags have been omitted, and replaced with Green Gable and High Spy.

I have no reason, or any wish, to criticise any race event. In fact I have to say that this event was absolutely superb last year. But it does in my eyes take a little something away. The 10 Peaks being supposedly the 10 highest Peaks in the lakes.

On the other hand I can see exactly why it was done. The report I saw suggested that it would make the race more "enjoyable and logical". In my eyes it is probably to allow a higher percentage to complete, given that the Bowfell-Scafell section in last year's appalling weather, was a bit of a disaster zone for many people, and only 50% completed the long course. Certainly from Esk Pike until Mickledore I didn't manage a step of running, and it was an incredibly tricky (and some would say dangerous) section. People going all over the place on Great End, Broad Crag and Ill Crag. But that's the challenge of the race to me.

From Windy Gap I took the Borrowdale race route back towards Honister, so passed fairly close to Green Gable anyway. The High Spy addition probably improves the course for those who want ridge running, although I personally enjoyed the valley run down Newlands last year.

Doesn't detract much from the magnitude of the challenge though.

I think the new route looks better. I don't think Ill Crag and Broad Crag added much to the route - they're both short, easy little detours. High Spy and Green Gable are at least proper hills, and the addition of High Spy livens up the Newlands Valley trudge. I'm quite tempted by the new route but I think I need more time to forget the midgey bog grimness of Wythburn...

Fair points... although it would appear that a lot of people found them to be very difficult detours...

Even Wainwright couldn't seem to decide if Ill and Broad Crags were mountains, not giving them their own chapter.

Green Gable is barely off the current route, and a very small ascent, although undoubtedly a 'proper peak'.

Maybe I took a good line, but the only real issue I had in Wythburn was the two minute stop at the CP when I got bitten to buggery by the midges, and the half a mile straight afterwards into the valley proper was a bit of a boggy nightmare, but didn't find the section up to High Raise half as bad as I was fearing (although it certainly wasn't easy).

The worst section for me was Black Sail to Honister. After stopping for a coke at Wasdale Head Inn, I was flying, and got tempted by the shortcut up onto the Pillar ridge, this ruined me and plummeted me into a 'bad spell' which lasted for several hours. Should I do this race again in the future, i'll definitely be taking the normal route up Black Sail...!

An idea would have been to just include High Raise and Esk Pike as the two additional peaks.

On the long course they were not compulsory, but pretty much on route, and I don't think anyone could doubt they are major peaks, without any real changes to the course, and then avoiding Ill and Broad Crags.

But i'm not the orgsniser, and they did a fantastic job last year. I personally witnessed the organiser deal with a potentially very difficult situation with a participant on the early hours of the Saturday morning last year, and was full of admiration.

True, the conditions definitely made them feel tougher last year. I'd recce'd that section two or three times in perfect conditions before the race and they'd felt totally trivial. But with slippery rocks and poor visibility they felt a lot trickier, even though I knew where I was going and what terrain to expect. I still found them a bit pointless though, and I didn't really even count them as peaks when I was mentally going through the day.

I don't know why I found Wythburn so bad. I think it was partly because I hadn't recce'd the section between Steel End and Greenup Edge and it just seemed to go on forever! Also, I was on the short so maybe there were more midges an hour later? Plus I got loads of gravel in my shoes from the bog/mud and had to stop and empty them twice on my way up to Bowfell.

Including High Raise and Esk Pike on the long would definitely make sense, more so than High Spy. The short still needs the extra peaks though. I guess it's a balance between the purity of concept of getting people to run up the 10 highest peaks in the Lakes versus sending people round a nice loop which is more runnable. Maybe because I did the short (which is already watered down) I'd rather they prioritised a great course and I think the changes will make it a better route.

Yes it's strange the way the 10 'peaks' fall in different parts of the race. Helvellyn all on it's own at the start, then a few hours before you hit the 2nd Peak, then about 5 in the next hour over the plateau to Scafell. And the climb up Skiddaw all on it's own at the end is an absolute horror-show! I've never really felt such collective togetherness with the half dozen people who were around me as we hauled ourselves up Carlside, with barely a word being spoken. We all knew we were suffering, it didn't need saying.

Mind you all that was forgotten on the top of Skiddaw when I sprinted off ahead to never see them again!

Ha yes, I can imagine. Skiddaw is the main thing that puts me off ever doing the long - I remember looking up at it pretty much all the way back along the Newlands Valley, thinking how glad I was that I didn't have to climb it!

Skiddaw is an hour of additional hard work, followed by however long it takes you to get down (which may also be quite hard work!)

It's a stiff climb up Carlside, but it's the other circumstances which make it so daunting... coming after 12/16/20/22 hours, depending on your speed. Plus coming after a long flattish section from Newlands. Plus knowing you're so near yet so far from the finish!

I saw people last year doing the long course, diverting into Keswick and taking the tourist route up Skiddaw, which is certainly an easier climb, but in my view just prolonging the agony, and must add on another half hour. In my view (and it's easy for me to sit here saying it having done it), if at that point you're still capable of climbing Skiddaw then you might as well dig in and take the route up Carl Side...

Personally the worst section of the race for me was round the side of Kirk Fell and that horrible climb up onto Great Gable. Large sections spent in the depths of despair on this section.