Is anyone else doing this?
http://www.excaliburmarathon.com/
If not, I'll allow this thread to die.......
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Is anyone else doing this?
http://www.excaliburmarathon.com/
If not, I'll allow this thread to die.......
When I rang the organiser a couple of weeks ago he said there were about 100 entries so far (some will be walkers)
Usually at the back, you're being a bit coy there. Are you in or not ;) ?
I put the route through MapMyRide to have a look at the course. I'm sure the reason it comes up short is the amount of corners I cut while mapping as a few of the people I've spoken to reckon the race may be a wee bit longer than 26.4 miles.
http://classic.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/-ruthin/418132449858221976
I ran past the farm at about 6.5 miles - where we turn left off the bridleway - & was chased by some dogs the other day. Hopefully they'll have had their fill of walkers by the time runners get their on race day.
yes entry confirmed with my friend, we are starting with the walkers though to give us half a chance of getting to the first checkpoint before 10.15am, the organiser said the later start was for 'elite' runners.
Think we will avoid a recce past the farm, don't like dogs
Parked up at the Moel Arthur car park & did the Penycloddiau loop this morning. Bridleways were quite muddy & this will only get worse as winter goes on, the road section seems very long but enjoyed myself when I got back on to Offas Dyke. Hope to recce the other loop from the Bwlch pen Barras next weekend.
Can't see this race attracting many "elite" runners. Strange choice of word.
Just spoke to the organiser who said he has about 160 entries to date and is expecting 200 by the event (not clear of the foundation for that expectation, but I've never organised a race...).
He's going to email the entrants next week with some further route guidance (I asked him about the waymarking through the initial forest stage).
(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner, just curious, what makes you say it won't attract many "elite" runners? As a newbie I thought it looked like a good route - takes in lots of the good bits around there and has the potential for a decent level of support.
I totally agree that it looks a great route & I'm really looking forward to it. I think the race may attract some of the good local runners, but I can't see it attracting any "elite" athletes. Perhaps in a year or two when it's grown we might expect to start to see some talent.
btw, set off with my headtorch at silly-o-clock on Sunday morning & ran the loop from start through the forest, Cilcain, Moel Arthur car park, Moel Fammau, Foel Fennli, forest to the finish & clocked it at 14.9 on my Garmin. A friend measured it at 15.1 the previous week.
So what does an event need to attract "elite" athletes? Is it just a case of publicity, or is there something inherent in the race route/format that is lacking? Like I say, I'm just interested to understand your view.
Which route did you take from the start to the back of the forest? There seems to be a plethora of tracks and forest roads, which is why I asked the organiser about the waymarking for that section. Don't fancy micro-navigating in the first couple of miles!