Hmmm, for the summer one I did the fellsman, the welsh 3000ers and 4 multi BGR leg days - all were over 10 hours. Plus many 4-8 hour days.Originally Posted by alwaysinjured
Hmmm, for the summer one I did the fellsman, the welsh 3000ers and 4 multi BGR leg days - all were over 10 hours. Plus many 4-8 hour days.
Might as well use this thread for other useful BG reccies that are not simply doing legs.
One worth considering is Keswick to Great Dodd and Back which is more or less Half way in time and naismith miles, with easy drop location at threlkeld to pick stuff up, and plenty of water en route - whilst the numbers don't lie, it seems surprising that it is true - it sounds shorter than it is.
Last edited by alwaysinjured; 21-06-2013 at 11:30 AM.
For my Ramsay this year I did none. longest run was 6 hours in Feb
For me it wasn't worth doing the long runs as it would have resulted in too long of a recovery after, preferred to run most days and at a faster pace so on the actual round it felt a very relaxed pace.
Consistent training rather than big days out works better for me
Bill
It's pretty subjective. On the last two BG attempts that I supported (the past two weekends actually) both contenders did as you described and ran along the edge of Rakehead Crag before dropping down the grassy line in front of Green How (ie. the line most ACW contenders go). I think it's slightly longer, but if that's what you prefer, so be it .....
My own opinion is that there aren't many easier screes to come down than the one under Rakehead Crag, the shale is small and it's just a question of wading down until you hit the grass. I also like to aim for the corner of the wall rather than hopping over it and then take the steep grassy descent down to Lingmell Gill. Through the gill, over the tourist path and then onto the nose of Lingmell for a nice grassy descent down to Brackenclose, much easier than the gnarly tourist path. I'll admit there are drawbacks to this cunning plan - the first is that by going down the scree your shoes fill with all that brown shale, meaning a potential sock change and shoe-emptying moment, the second is that if Lingmell Gill is in spate it's going to be far from easy getting across. The wife and I found this out one day when the gill was really full of water and we got more than just wet feet.
Martyn Price
North Leeds Fell Runners
This year aside from "normal" running in the hills, whatever that is, I've done two or three biggish days out in the Dales, half a dozen biggish days out in the Lakes including leg 4 support for Stef, the High Peak Marathon in the Peak, the Haworth Hobble in Bronte Country, the Fellsman in the Dales and a week long running/trogging of 140 miles of the north Cornwall coast path. I'll tell you if it was enough on Sunday afternoon
I've done all three descents. On my own round I went all the way left to the gill dropping down from Green How - I can't say I was quick as my quads were shot! I think I bum-slid quite a bit :-)
On a recce I went down the narrow gully about 200m before Green How. This is very rocky and might be OK in ascent but I don't think it's a suitable descent as it requires quite a bit of care.
Supporting a round we took the screes to the east of Rakehead Crag, the ones Martyn mentions, which has a slightly tricky top section (though nowhere near as bad as option #2) then good scree which unfortunately gives out way too early! I found the grassy bank lower down about as steep as that on option #1. Then cross the beck and follow the nose of Lingmell down, i.e. the finish of the Wasdale race.
In order of preference, I'd choose 1) the screes, 2) Green How, then a long way to 3) the central gully.
Bob
http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bob_graham.php
Without me you'd be one place nearer the back
Good luck stolly!
Think you guys are brave.
I have supported a few ACW albeit some years ago, and I think it is tough.
My abiding memory is a lot of long uphill drags, followed by rough descents - gable , kirk, yewbarrow, scafell, hanging knotts, steel, fairfield.
Even such as seat sandal are not very nice in reverse. Although there are some good off path running lines going that way on a few such as red pike if you know where to find them. Good for mountain goats! As someone noted go left of the beck to come off sergeant man. I have run that way down a few times, and it is a soft easy descent.
Was most impressed that such as Mandy G chose to go that way and succeeded.
People seem mixed between those like Bill who never did more than 6 hours, and such as Mark S who did a lot of big days.
Seems to me there are two separate problems. One is getting physical condition, and I have no doubt baggins is right - that limiting long days allows you to train more overall and at higher intensity. But there is also belief. And to believe you can go four times longer than your longest run must be a mental battle. OK if you have done it a couple of times and "know" you can.
Last edited by alwaysinjured; 21-06-2013 at 01:58 PM.
Interesting Bob. Thanks. Very interesting. I guess I prefer steep grass, (spot the sedbergh race fan!) am certainly quicker than I am pussyfooting down RakesHead which I hate with a passion.
I like the sound of some of these routes. Might run a few for a 50 at 50 prep in many years time of course.
Need to get into the Welsh mountains for Paddy prep before that so any suggested circular recces would be good.
Never measure the height of a mountain until you reach the top, then you will see how low it is.
Clive this is a bit of a hijack of a thread, but whilst on the Paddy subject a few I do to get a circuit or almost a circuit are:
1)Nant Gwynant to Moel Mirch then follow paddy route taking in Cnicht and following Cnicht descent there is a good path back to Gwynant with a little minor road at the end.
2) Llanberis to Snowdon. then Paddy Route all the way to Llanberis, up to Elidir, round to Y garn and drop from Llyn y Cwn into Nant Peris. Hitch or bus back to Llanberis.
3) Park in Beddgetlert and along river path to Nantmor. Follow paddy route over Hebog etc over to Snowdon and down to Moel Cryngorian. Then take Snowdon Ranger path down to road and hitch or bus back to Gelert.
4) A version of Peris Horseshoe but after Cryngorian take in FG and Moel Elio.
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