Wasdale

Oh well still go for the win

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TurboTom

Oh well still go for the win

---

hope it goes well :D

you know i aint gotta chance

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TurboTom

you know i aint gotta chance

---

anything's possible Tom

Hats off to the two young whippersnappers TT and SB93 for the most blatant piece of thread hijacking since the heady days of the Gravy Boys. We're talking about Wasdale here lads.

Could you not have your chat about your junior race on FaceSpace, MyBook or Bobo on the interweb?

So Scott what about that Iron Gym thats being advertised on the tv are you gonna get one :D

I thought the video was absolutely terrific.

Chris Smale

Who needs the the tele when there's awesome video footage (plus stirring soundtrack) of a Lakeland classic.

Sorry to see you didn't finish Mrs Stagger - anything in particular go wrong - I say this as one who was timed out at my, so far, 1 & only attempt at a Lakeland long (Borrowdale).

Wasdale pics up at

www.steve-harling.fotopic.net/c1725689.html

:)

That is a great video - really quite awe-inspiring. One day I will do this race!!!

Thanks Steve. I can look at my photo when I start to forget the pain. At least you didn;t take a picture of me writhing around with cramp shortly after my photographer induced increase in speed ;-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RichT

At least you didn;t take a picture of me writhing around with cramp shortly after my photographer induced increase in speed ;-)

---

Did you do the same? I managed to get a run going just for him..that was about the only section of the last 3rd I ran..another 30 photographers and I may have taken 30 minutes off my time..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GrahamB

TR,

No worries.

Your original posting made a general comparison betwen Peris and Wasdale: not your personal experience of two specific races. And if you remember the furore after the last time Wasdale was a Champ race-it had one of the highest DNFs ever recorded in a fell race- when conditions were horrendous, I suggest Wasdale remains supremely tough. Not just the length/height/terrain but the cut-off times.

It was because of the outcry that the cut offs were increased by up to 15 minutes (which is a lot) from 4 years ago.

Some of the giants of fellrunning just cannot hack Wasdale and in my opinion of the regular races it is the toughest.

But I recognise that someone starting, say, the Welsh 1000 metres this year from a personal point of view may have a different view which is why I like to look at record times because I think this a valid criterion.

Graham

---

This in my view is correct
I think the Wasdale race commands the upmost respect.
For someone who has yet to race it but has done the route I wouldnt even attempt the race If I wasnt at my best. When I do it next year I will make comment but id be surprised if it wont be the hardest thing ive done. To race that distance over that terrain at a good pace must be hard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GrahamB

which is why I like to look at record times because I think this a valid criterion.

Graham

---

Stuc a Chroin - record 1:59..
Brecon Beacons - record 2:28..

Snowdon - record 1:02..
Moelwyns - record 1:17..

Mourne Peaks - record 2:10..
Black Mountains - record 2:16..

Peris - record 3:02
1000m Peaks record 3:27

And there's many more. In all those cases I personally find the races of shorter duration to be the tougher races.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IainR

Did you do the same? I managed to get a run going just for him..that was about the only section of the last 3rd I ran..another 30 photographers and I may have taken 30 minutes off my time..

---

Seems we're equally proud and stupid Iain. :D Your quick trot out on Friday morning can't have helped you. I ran too fast/far on Thursday and didn't manage to eat or drink enough Thursday or Friday. I think that's why I ended up with cramp. I'm still 4lbs lighter than I was a week ago!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manhar

Who needs the the tele when there's awesome video footage (plus stirring soundtrack) of a Lakeland classic.

Sorry to see you didn't finish Mrs Stagger - anything in particular go wrong - I say this as one who was timed out at my, so far, 1 & only attempt at a Lakeland long (Borrowdale).

---

Hi Manhar

How's the achilles? Hope to see you running soon.

It was nothing in particular just didn't have enough long runs in my legs and thought I could wing it but as someone said earlier, you can't wing it at Wasdale! It's very disappointing when you're timed out but there was a sense of relief too as I probably wouldn't have got to Great Gable in time, then it's about 2 hours to get back after that.

Anybody interested in these ?

Brill
IainR had a good run and some valuable points

I think the magnitude of the race is reflected in the list of DNFs, almost 50. Some v. good runners included. Wow. :eek:

Tom Brunt and Jackie Lee notably

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TurboTom

Tom Brunt and Jackie Lee notably

---

And not forgetting me;):rolleyes::D

of course. Im suprised. Did you get timed out at the gable?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TurboTom

of course. Im suprised. Did you get timed out at the gable?

---

Major cock-up on the way to Pillar, thought I had an extra 10 minutes in hand and when I realised I didn't, it was too late to do owt about it:o:mad:. To be honest I was struggling anyway, just haven't done enough long runs recently.

Fortunately no one saw my comedy fall on the FLAT at Greendale:o

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deejay

Major cock-up on the way to Pillar, thought I had an extra 10 minutes in hand and when I realised I didn't, it was too late to do owt about it:o:mad:. To be honest I was struggling anyway, just haven't done enough long runs recently.

Fortunately no one saw my comedy fall on the FLAT at Greendale:o

---

mistake easily made. Ive not run over 10 miles for a while.

Any one know who dreamt up the route? Its an awesome race, I'll be back next time after being given a right kicking this year!

From the results there were 194 finishers, 49 dnfs. So what happened to the rest of the people who entered?
The last start list had around 370 names on it.
A huge number of people just didn't show up. I'm amazed. Any ideas?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by grimmer

From the results there were 194 finishers, 49 dnfs. So what happened to the rest of the people who entered?
The last start list had around 370 names on it.
A huge number of people just didn't show up. I'm amazed. Any ideas?

---

Yeah I was amazed at the number of no-shows -particularly disappointed that one of my FFL runners was amongst them:(, (though at least my other 3 ran well:)). Some may have been injured/other last minute commitments etc but that still leaves a hell of a lot of runners who perhaps decided at some stage that it would be too tough.

well done all who finished

Just dont fancy that one bit,maybe i will one day

and on the note of hardest races,not done wasdale or peris so couldn't comment,done jura found it quite hard but it was nothing on a 3k track race i did a couple of years ago :eek::eek::eek:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deejay

And not forgetting me;):rolleyes:

---

Least you had a go, my long friend:D
One day, me, you an Mrs.Stagger will cross the finish line;)

As a spectator, I took some photos of fellrunners between Esk Hause and Styhead Tarn. Here's the link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Walkerwi...FellRace11709#
Hope you find some use for the photos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by grimmer

From the results there were 194 finishers, 49 dnfs. So what happened to the rest of the people who entered?
The last start list had around 370 names on it.
A huge number of people just didn't show up. I'm amazed. Any ideas?

---

I didn't show due to an injury picked up on the Saunders the week before. Thinking there would be a big interest due to it being a Championship race and, being limited numbers, I thought there might have been a reserve list. So, I posted my reserve entry on the forum in case anyone wanted it. No takers. As for the others, I've no idea - maybe January optimism when the calendar is glanced at turns to grimness when, six months later, people realise that there intentions to get fitter have faded into the bottom of a beer glass and Wasdale is just a bit too hard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by grimmer

From the results there were 194 finishers, 49 dnfs. So what happened to the rest of the people who entered?
The last start list had around 370 names on it.
A huge number of people just didn't show up. I'm amazed. Any ideas?

---

I may be wrong (!) and I do not have the stats to hand but I presume 2009 was the highest ever total finishers.

There were 141 in the "furore" Championship year of 2005 after which Richard extended the cut offs by up to 15 minutes and finishers have since been 128, 105 and 125.

In its dark years Richard kept Wasdale going with tiny entries and it was after talking with him around ten years ago and realising that he was subsidising the race out of his own pocket that Brian Martin and I set up the Lakeland Classics Trophy to support him (and, to a lesser extent, Ennerdale).

Last Saturday was the 37th race. It is a huge exercise for one man to organise and I think all fellrunners-not just those who compete in it-should be grateful that people like Richard are willing to keep these great, great races alive.

It is a privilege to compete in the Wasdale and as race organisers go, in my book, Richard is a hero.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by merrylegs

Least you had a go, my long friend:D
One day, me, you an Mrs.Stagger will cross the finish line;)

---

Yes Merry and Deejay, we will! (I love your optimisim)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GrahamB

I may be wrong (!)......).

Last Saturday was the 37th race. It is a huge exercise for one man to organise and I think all fellrunners-not just those who compete in it-should be grateful that people like Richard are willing to keep these great, great races alive.

It is a privilege to compete in the Wasdale and as race organisers go, in my book, Richard is a hero.

---

Don't always agree with you Graham, but I'm with you 100% on this. We need to value race organisers as without them races like Wasdale would be long gone.

Slightly OT, but it cracks me up when I hear people whinging about certain aspects of races ("late" results, "onerous" kit requirements, entry methods etc) which usually mean they are having a go at the organisers. Race organisers deserve some respect and people should remember that when they have a moan about a race, litter the course or attempt to get round kit requirements....

Good lord, even I agree with Graham! (whisper it softly)

The additional objective hazards of these long races also add to the feelings of trepidation any organiser must get (the what if it all goes horribly wrong aspect), so the mental strain must be considerable, together with the greater investment of time and even money. And it wouldn't happen without the organisers.

I think the Lakeland Classics Trophy is also a valuable innovation. Instead of picking one race (possibly the nearest), runners are more likely to go for the series, and give remote races like Ennerdale the support they deserve. I thoroughly enjoyed the trophy races I did last year.

And Ennerdale felt tougher than Wasdale :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RichT

I've not done Peris but Wasdale killed me on Saturday having had a good run for me at Jura this year. So for me Wasdale is the tough one - but I'll be back next year to try to do it justice.

I felt like I was going well until near Styhead where I got cramp up my inner thighs and had to sit down for the first time. I then climbed reasonably quickly to Esk Hause, not running but only a couple of people overtook me.

Just after Esk Hause I had to lie down to massage the cramp away taking about 5 minutes - a lot of people went past me. Found a good line down off Scafell Pike to near the col but as soon as I started the grassy running, cramped up big style. I then alternated slow, painful stagger with lying down all the way to the finish getting passed by people I'd not seen since Seatallan.

I've suffered with cramp on Jura but usually because I'm not fit enough but I felt fit for this weekend. I drank 3 litres on the race, 2.5 l of it with Nuun in it. Also had three gels, a bar and jelly babies. I'm wondering whether having too little to eat on Thursday and Friday (and not much before the race considering the early start to drive up) could have contributed.

A good day out and I'm glad to have got round. Thanks to all the organisers, marshalls and food people at the end.

On the litter front, I finished with two more gel wrappers than I started with and a couple of other bits, but I don't think we need to get too worked up. Considering the number of gels consumed, I think those wrappers dropped could easily have been dropped by accident, trying to fiddle them into a pocket while running or dropping out when retrieving something else from a bum bag. As a community, I think (hope) we cleaned up after ourselves.

Well done to everyone that set off on Saturday.

---

I agree with your comments Rich, I was one of the 50 or so dnf's sorry! thinking now that I should have walked the last bit from Styhead, shouldnt have tried to stick with the Geoff B for so long, I still cant walk properly, and now on reflection can abosolutely say that was the hardest fell race experience I've ever encountered. Well done to all that finshed and most of all to the marshalls and organiser for putting such a spectacular race, I'll be back next year for more..and to finish.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bobster

I didn't show due to an injury picked up on the Saunders the week before. Thinking there would be a big interest due to it being a Championship race and, being limited numbers, I thought there might have been a reserve list. So, I posted my reserve entry on the forum in case anyone wanted it. No takers. As for the others, I've no idea - maybe January optimism when the calendar is glanced at turns to grimness when, six months later, people realise that there intentions to get fitter have faded into the bottom of a beer glass and Wasdale is just a bit too hard.

---

Ditto Bobster. I got injured at Rhinogs (see DPFR Blog w/e 4th/5th July - if you are not squemish:eek:) the weekend before and offered my place on forum but got no takers. Will be back for 2010, Championship Race or not.:p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pudgy

Good lord, even I agree with Graham! (whisper it softly)

---

Not that it matters, your not elite enough to have an opinion ;)

Oh and not that it matters either but yep, got to agree there! Glad that it has been kept alive. fell running would be poorer for the loss of Wasdale. Cheers also to Graham for the Lakeland Classics. A great series!

results

Very interesting looking at the split times. Especially for the retirees as you can see some obviously set off far too quick and slowly slipped down until they were either timed out or just quit