£4 race maps now - so a Bowness pint I guess
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£4 race maps now - so a Bowness pint I guess
Less than the price of a pint down this way(outside of Wetherspoons!)
Thanks for the info and map chaps - most useful
Afternoon all,
Can anyone confirm if full FRA kit is needed for this race? I'll probably bring it all anyway given the current weather, but just wanted to confirm.
Thanks!
Full 'best practice' kit is now mandatory for any AM, AL or BL event, the definition of this can be found in the 'runners' rules' part of the FRA rules.Quote:
Originally Posted by BumblingIdiot
Why not bring full kit to every race?
Probably?Quote:
Originally Posted by BumblingIdiot
Last year there was a full on blizzard on the tops for the duration of this race, you really wouldn't have wanted to be there without hat, gloves and decent waterproofs, even if you didn't wear the legging you'de certainly have wanted them if something went wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by BumblingIdiot
Thanks for confirming, just wanted to make sure. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by No map, no compass
(And to confirm I'd likely take it all anyway!)
Winter has returned to the high fells, and its flippin freezing even here in the valley near Ambleside just looking at the snow plastered Coniston range. Given these conditions I am not surprised the organiser has posted this message:
"The arctic blast continues, though it does seem to be easing this afternoon. I'm considering running an alternative course, after consultation with the Mountain rescue team tomorrow morning. I'll make the decision by about 11:00 am. The conditions could make it very dangerous descending from the Old Man. The Alternative would be :
Checkpoint 1 Wetherlam GR 288011
checkpoint 2 Swirl Hawse GR 278007
checkpoint 3 Levers Water Dam ( East side ) GR 282993
checkpoint 4 Windy Gap 284981
the race re joins the route at this point.
Please take time to familiarise yourselves with this route, I think it is the safest option, and you still get a summit ( most of the climbing)
I hope that you understand that I have a duty of care, and my decision will be made for the safety of all competitors and Marshals .
Sam.
Well I was in two minds about whether to head across to Coniston on Saturday once the shortened course had been confirmed, but in the end the chance to be on the tops in some interesting conditions and the prospect of a bit of adventure tipped the balance and what a cracking race it turned out to be. While part of me quite fancied the extra challenge of the full route in wintry conditions, I can definitely see why the RO made the call he did and fair play to him for doing so - it felt like it wouldn't have taken much for someone to get into a sticky situation. All my Lakes races to date have pretty much been AM or AL so it was really interesting to do one where there was a single long climb and an extended descent, sort of like a double Great Whernside, with more rocks. And snow. Having been caught out last time in a long queue up Mouldry Bank I made an effort to get further forward and had a much clearer run and all was going well unitl I was heading over Black Sails when I hit a deep drift and my calf went 'pop'. 20 yds later and I did the same again to the same calf, so the second half of the race became an exercise in fast downhill hobbling - more possible than I would have thought actually - amazing what a bit of adrenaline can do. Couldn't walk properly by the time I arrived home but having recently read 'Wild Trails' by Mike Cudahy, I tried hard as I ran/limped past Levers Water and on down the valley to channel his borderline insane tolerance for extreme discomfort and soft tissue injuries. This thread seems to have been a bit quiet so not sure how many are reading, but many thanks to the RO and all involved in organising, marshalling, support - the whole experience made my weekend.
The FRA page states this race is entry on day.... is this correct?
I can't find anything to indicate pre-entry is required, but i'd not be too pleased to drive up from Cov next Saturday and find I couldn't run...!!
There is a discussion on the Pennine Facebook page asking the same question. It seems to be that it is pay on the day.
A quick scan of their Facebook page and it does appear it was ‘pay on the day only’ last year...
Try asking the question on here :-
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/coniston-fell-race-164161
I paid on the day last year
It's one of our club championship races just looked on our site and it's not down as pre entry I'm going to be doing it . I can make enquiries with some of our members if it's pre entry I'll post it up
Hopefully pay on the day as I will be making a weekend of it.
Anybody know what time registration opens?
Registration from 9am according to their Facebook update.
Have a good weekend PeteS. It’ll be a there-and-back Dash on the day for me.
Cheers. The M6 twice in a day? Such commitment!Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Race registration is in the institute from 9:00 am sat
ENTRY ON THE DAY £10
FULL KIT .. full body cover, map , compass , whistle, hat gloves as a minimum.
race starts 12:30 on the coppermines road.
finish in the field behind the institute
Check point 1 Wetherlam summit
Checkpoint 2 Swirl How summit
checkpoint 3 Coniston Old Man summit
make sure your number which should be pinned to your vest is visible to the summit marshals and at the finish.
IF YOU RETIRE FROM THE RACE - YOU MUST REPORT TO THE FINISH AND HAND IN YOUR NUMBER.
parking is at the junior school on shepherds bridge lane there is a small fee please support as it is a major school fundraiser.
NO PARKING ON COPPERMINES ROAD .
Toilets in the finish field and the institute
Pete Bland's van will be in attendance
Prize giving will be at around 3:00pm please attend - this year's race is part of the Lakes Grand Prix series there will be an extensive prize list with sponsorship from Pete Bland Sports and i nov8 including spot prizes.
Coniston Junior school will have a tea and cake stall in the institute to raise funds, again please support .
Given my hectic upcoming schedule, and yes, the thought of the 5 hours on the M6, I've decided to give it a miss, and get some quality training in instead...Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Good luck PeteS and everybody else running tomorrow...
Cheers Pete.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
I have a similar dilemma next week. I was thinking of doing Buttermere Sailbeck but can't stopover Friday so contemplating a mad dash up the M6 on Saturday morning.
Well that turned out to be a really great and (mostly) enjoyable race, in almost perfect running conditions. Had a good start up Mauldrey Bank but felt seriously sick and nauseous on the slog up to Wetherlam not helped by poor route choice. Managed to get some calories down on the way up Prison Band and a good swig of water on Swirl How and then started to feel much better. Must recce the descent off Coniston Old man, though. I lost a lot of time on the upper part but thankfully made up a few places on the grassy trods approaching the miner's Bridge. A comfortable run in and easily under 2 hours which given my (lack of) training of late, I'm really pleased with. Aim today was just to get round and enjoy it. Mission accomplished!
Well done Pete... after my weekend plans have fallen apart somewhat, I’m now rueing not travelling up! Sounds like a great day.
Shame you missed it. I think I have a new favourite fell race!
So many fell races have sections that I dislike - for example ascending Wetherlam and descending Blisco in Three Shires, the descent off Thunacar Knott in Langdale Horseshoe - Coniston is one of the few that doesn't. But that descent off the Old Man needs care if it is wet.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
The Old Man of Coniston was the first ever Munro I remember walking up with my parents. This is despite the fact that it is neither: a) above 3000ft, or b) in Scotland. Having grown up North of the border, with parents who would occasionally drag us haphazard gang of children up the odd hill, asking if something was a “Munro” was simply a way of gauging how long and awful the day’s outing would be. It didn’t have specific criteria that must be met to earn the badge, it was just a way of figuring out if our efforts would include a really big hill. It wasn’t until I was far too old for it not to be embarrassing, did I realise that The Munroes were a defined set. Anyway, the memory of slogging up to the slate mine in sweltering heat, while pouring with sweat, is very clear in my mind. The steep rocky path seemed never-ending. Chimes of “are we nearly there yet?” rang in the air almost constantly. I remember the twisted and rusted metal relics of the old mine and how impossibly cold Low Water felt. I even remember my disbelief watching a speedo clad old man happily wade in before pushing off for a swim. I couldn’t keep my toes in the water it felt so cold, never mind popping in to do a couple lengths. I’m not sure if we even made it up the Old Man, but in my mind, we’d definitely climbed a Munro.
I ran the race for the first time last year, and I’d been mightily happy with my result. I’d come much further up the field than usual and I simply assumed that the race must’ve suited me really well. In reality, it was because there was a championship race the next day, which had massively thinned out the field. Ignorance is bliss. I had run well though, by my standards at least, managing the steep descent straight off the Old Man and hanging on to the speed right until I ran straight past the bridge I was supposed to cross in the final kilometer. The guy who had been just in front, suddenly appeared on the other side of the river about 10m to my left. I instantly recognized my mistake, but enthusiastic descending left me unable to run back uphill to the crossing. In the heat of the moment, I dashed straight down the mini ravine separating the two paths and scrambled back up the other side. I’d lost 10 places and a couple of minutes but at least I’d never make the same mistake again. It’s not a route choice I’d recommend.
Race day was warm with promise of colder winds higher up – ideal conditions really. It went as it always does, heads bobbing up the road in waves before the turn onto the fell. I felt great going up this bit last year, my legs can’t be bothered now. It keeps coming. Step, step, step, occasional scurry over a flatter section, step, step, step. Reaching Wetherlam is a relief as I join running my running mate Bill. I’m both glad to have someone to run with, but also cursing the pace. We leapfrog back and forth, gaining and losing distance as the terrain panders to and protests against our merits and shortfalls. Up and over Swirl How, and it speeds up again. Trying to gauge our contours correctly, aiming to skip unnecessary summits without shooting too wide. I’m on the fence about the efficacy of our strategy, but that happens no matter which way you choose. Coming off the Old Man, Bill takes the rightward line directly East, and I take a crap line sort of North East and our company parts. The steep and tufted grass is hard to descend with its jutting rocks and uneven surface. I find myself cutting sharp turns as if I was skiing moguls, twisting left and right, highly focused on not going arse over tit. The crappness of my line is made clear as I rejoin the path at the disused quarry. I’ve barely saved any distance on the path, and I’ve still got most of the awful flagstones to descend. I was however fortunate enough to find myself in sight of people better acquainted with the route, following them as they minimize their time on the unforgiving rocky path. Flying down, last year’s missed turning is at the front of my mind, as I cross the bridge and join the path back to the start. The steep and feet slapping tarmac makes my battered feet wince, but it’s short lived with even enough beans left for a sprint finish.
The rest of the day was spent with a quick visit to the slightly bizarre Ruskin Museum, with its interesting juxtaposition of information about the humble origins of life in the Lake District, and Bluebird, the jet engined hydroplane. Informed, if a little baffled, we sauntered along to the pub to enjoy a great post race pint of Bluebird X7, and to chat running related nonsense with the other runners.