Bogtacular!
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Bogtacular!
Now then all. Going to be testing out the old / repaired hips tomorrow on the Rombalds. Have recce'd the route, and know most of the areas well, but a couple of questions.
1) Does everyone go over teh stile after the railway bridge/tunnel in Esholt woods, or do some go around the big track?
2) Does everyone go straight up the nose of the hill to the checkpoint on entering Baildon Moor section.
3) Will I get disqualified if I use my direct from Lanshaw lad to masts route instead of those bloody slabs? (near miss on bad ankle twist on them when I had to use them the other night)
4) When coming down off red bog to Piper Crag, where exactly is the checkpoint? I checked the GR, but It doesn't match with Pipers Crag and teh description from what I can tell. Is it inside the mini enclosed bit and should we enter through the top of that? or is it best to go down one side or the other? The public footpath is marked as entering the enclosure at the top.
5) Where exactly is the checkpoint on the climb up the grassy back onto the Chevin? is it low down near the road, or is it closer to the steps just before the woods.
6) when finishing, do we use the little path from the Leisure centre to the school, or is there another way in?
7) do I need to carry a mug for drinks? :)
Thanks all.
I haven't had a chance to recce, been injured most of January so just going for a trot round. In addition to the questions above, will we get disqualified if we don't stick exactly to the route? Marked it onto my OS map last night and unsure of a few bits - will I be ok as long as I get all the checkpoints?
Cheers
1) It's a straight through to your right after the railway bridge (the fence has been kicked in/removed).Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMoosehead
2) Straight up
3) You should (typically) follow the specified 'route'. Also note that the marshals may lurk a fair bit prior to refreshment checkpoints so you may end up having to double back if you try and short-cut it. It's good form to follow the route described though (I.e adhere to the challenge, no point going up Everest on a escalator!)
4) Marshalls will be lurking about so you will see them.
5) Half way up on a post just before the gradient eases slightly if I recall correctly.
6) Main entrance (up the side of the staff parking area).
7) Don't need to but lots do (I will).
Wrap up warm - looks like a chilly one. Enjoy the day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RachFR
Well if you're just trotting around there will be plenty to follow so don't worry about getting lost. Trickiest bits, as covered in detail in previous posts, are the conduit and Menston village sections. A good review of the thread is well worth it, some good detail by experienced forumites.
Keep your head up for the self clips at Coldstone and Chevin, might be easily missed if you're in the zone.
Have a good one!
Cheers Pragmatic, looks like it'll be a nice sunny (if chilly) day for it!
Oh, I'm not cutting corners, I just hate running on the slabs. I go cross country about 10m away from the slabs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pragmatic
Well Said Mr Moose ! I always run to the side of the pesky things !
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMoosehead
I have a place and can't run, if anyone would like it and can arrange transfer with RO please pm me
1) Does everyone go over teh stile after the railway bridge/tunnel in Esholt woods, or do some go around the big track?
Plenty do the big track. I will be doing so. Basically, it splits up the field, which is still packed at that early point. Makes little difference though.
2) Does everyone go straight up the nose of the hill to the checkpoint on entering Baildon Moor section.
Yes. Don't see a real alternative (assuming you mean the bit from the golf course up the track to the trig). If however you mean the checkpoint near the rugby club, most people do the short sharp scramble but take your pick. Again, advantage either way is marginal.
3) Will I get disqualified if I use my direct from Lanshaw lad to masts route instead of those bloody slabs? (near miss on bad ankle twist on them when I had to use them the other night)
No. People go different ways.
4) When coming down off red bog to Piper Crag, where exactly is the checkpoint? I checked the GR, but It doesn't match with Pipers Crag and teh description from what I can tell. Is it inside the mini enclosed bit and should we enter through the top of that? or is it best to go down one side or the other? The public footpath is marked as entering the enclosure at the top.
I can never work that out if I look at the map. Just head down and you'll hit it. Try to follow someone!
5) Where exactly is the checkpoint on the climb up the grassy back onto the Chevin? is it low down near the road, or is it closer to the steps just before the woods.
Quite high, near steps.
6) when finishing, do we use the little path from the Leisure centre to the school, or is there another way in?
Straight down the road, over the mini roundabout, past the church, left into the school.
7) do I need to carry a mug for drinks?
Not essential, but I do, and the marshals appear pleased. It's Good Form.
I do agree with Pragmatic that on LDWA events you ought to adhere to the published route. If my answers differ at any point, it's because I know that people do sometimes choose alternatives, and there's nothing on the route that would constitute a major 'cheat'. In my experience, the marshals seem more intrigued than annoyed by 'experimental' lines, especially because most finish up taking longer!
Great morning.
Great marshalling.
Great Pie.
Pleased with my time for my first go at this (3:25). Told myself on the last descent never again, after a good bath now looking forward to Stride 2014!
Well done to the organisers and all the finishers.
Saw a fella who'd smashed his nose in on my way out, very nasty, hope he's OK.
Big thanks to all those who've provided useful advice throughout the thread, made life a lot easier today!
That hurt. I'm sure I'll be back for more (my bath is running so I'm a bit behind Pragmatic) but I really didn't enjoy the trek across the valley from Burley Woodhead; my legs had gone by that stage. Surprisingly I didn't mind the climb up the Chevin as there was absolutely no pressure to run at that stage. I got round in 4hrs 6 which was a little slower than I would have liked, and I'm sure that I've actually put on weight in the race having eaten so many cakes.
Lovely race, ace marshals, awesome cake, great pie (basically what Pragmatic said). I took the first 5-6 miles very slowly as I've had a bad calf all week, but once we hit the moor I felt really good (apart from the soaking in a bog when I slipped off a stile, and a later faceplant on the flagstones). Luckily the faceplant was only about half a mile before a checkpoint so I got some millionaire shortbread to cheer myself up very quickly ;)
I finished about 4 mins behind you anonymouse, nearly missed the finish though as I didn't realise it was inside! :o Just pleased to get round really, and was a lovely day for a trot out
Yes, lovely day for it and the marshalling and pie were superb. Don't think you could have asked for better conditions, a bit slippy here and there but generally good. Not at my best today, but enjoyed it all the same.
p.s. I ate a lot of cakes too. I feel you have to :)
Good day for it today. Quite icy, but much better than last Saturday would have been in the deep snow.
Richard Pattinson won in 2:43 and Jo Waites in 3:09. I might have sneaked under three hours if the Pipers Gate checkpoint had been in the usual place but ended up with 3:01.
Cracking day for it, I struggled for pace in the second half which wasn't surprising given my longest run since last August has only been 13 miles and only 10 miles this year. Kept pulling away from BritNick only to be caught at checkpoints before he finally got well away from me after Ilkley Bottom. Looks like I finished half-way between Anonymouse & RachFR (in DP top?), finishing in 4:08 compared to 3:51 last year. Managed to stay on my feet but saw quite a few slips.
Thanks to all organisers/checkpoint marshals etc, missed the millionaires shortcake but the choc flapjack at Whetstone Gate was my fave goody.
Thanks to DinoF for the lift & also good to see plenty of forumites including the aforementioned BritNick, Karen Nash, Tussockface, Rob Furness, Fozzy, Martyn P & v briefly Chevinbytorchlight.
I had a reasonable run considering I've felt off form for a while. Major cramp after the Chevin stopped me getting close to last years time, but still managed 3:21 and 16th place which is pretty good. Happy enough with that. The pipers crag thing was a bit annoying. Had the grid ref changed? I ended up cutting across the heather to the checkpoint and I asked why it had been moved and the marshal said "because we were told to go here" which is accurate but not overly helpful. I think it added about half a mile on the distance which isn't really a big deal.
Yup a really top day out that - I've never run over there at all so all new to me, but some great views! A touch, well a lot, chilly on the climb to 12 apostles, and a bit uncomfy on the slabs, but other than that falling for no reason whatsoever, I really enjoyed it.
As has been said, great marshalling and refreshments; the rice krispies cakes with smarties at whetstone gate were particularly good!
Got round in 3.37 which I'm well pleased with, considering I didn't have a clue where I was going, although there was plenty of folks about I felt the need to run with the map, and I did need it at times....in fact I felt like the Pied Piper once or twice when people tucked in behind me, and slowed down suspiciously when I slowed to check the map and route.....hmmmm maybe not enough nav experience out there!
Dave & Eileen Woodhead were out on the moor, photo's on http://www.woodentops.org.uk
I saw them, but can't find the pics on the site yet. Are you sure they're up? It'd be very quick.
The grid reference was the same as has been given since the route changed in 2009 but it is marginally out for where the checkpoint has usually been located and doesn't quite match the route description. I think the marshals there today hadn't done the checkpoint in previous years and had gone by the grid reference and ended up about 200m further west than normal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness
Yea saw them after Ladshaw, Sport Sunday were alson in attendance I noticed, their pics are up too - http://www.sportsunday.co.uk/rombalds-strideQuote:
Originally Posted by Seymour Hills
Dave's photos are up now.Quote:
Originally Posted by anonymouse
Yep, DP top was me, hello!Quote:
Originally Posted by Multiterrainer
Also thanks again to the guy who let me run through Menston with him, managed to drop my route description and really didn't want to have to faff with the map!
Ditto to the guy who let me follow him across Ilkley Moor... I did admit to him that I was just too lazy to get the map out and he didn't seem to mind! :)
My legs are nicely aching. Not satisfied with just running round this morning, I've been marshalling and helping out at the AIRE event on the chevin and standing around in the cold hasn't helped!
Echo what everyone has said so far. Enjoyable run and with great marshals, organisation and cake as usual.
In fact, one or two of the orienteers this eve were surprised to see marshals still around in Yorkgate this eve for the walkers.
Not as good a run as last year (3.30 compared to 3.17 last year), but I was just treating it as a long run ahead of edale, so in terms of that, I achieved my aim. Fewer stomach cramps and issues to previous attempts as well, so that was handy.
Just had a nosy on a few routes on Garmin Connect, looks like for the most part all went the same way with the usual differences in crossing Backstone Beck at the end of Rocky Valley. Also noticed that some did indeed go straight down the track in Spring Wood to pick up the sewage works road at it's south-eastern end (road-runners?!;)) and of course the usual one or two missing the Menston ginnels. Most intriguing was one runner who from Whetstone Gate followed the main track northwards then the decent path west to Buck Stones from Cowpers Cross - must admit I've looked at this on the map before but not considered it on the day.
My route is here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/268649549
Ouch. that hurt.
Came in at 3.22 - the last 8 miles were full of cramping in my calf muscles, so no fun, had to slow right down and lost about 7 places between there and the end. And the road sections through menston, down to otley and the finish were agony. I was actually looking forward to the climb up the chevin.
Ran really well and steady until White wells where the cramping kicked in. Think I was dehydrated.
Some wild route choices.
Most people dropping down the road from keighley gate and in from cowpers cross. I went cross country and looped around the really wet bit next to the wall, but rejoined it.
Some people going direct from red bog across the heather - crazy choice as path is great there. Caught 200m on them.
I think first lady went up the steps above white wells - must have been some cunning plan there.
Pipers crag location matched the GR and description I think, but nearly everyone went between the enclosures. I almost did, but have saw the tent and redirected people halfway down, so cut in the corner of the enclosure, but ended up in deep heather crossing it.
Still not bad, considering still only 18 months post hip ops. :)
Big up to the friendly marshalls. If only I had taken more liquid on board.
Saw 3 runners drop down that track just as I got clipped at Whetstone, considered sheeping after them as I was briefly worried I'd got confused but thought better of it. Felt very lonely plodding straight up to the Buckstones all by myself but the end result was pleasing; passed by the aforementioned 3 after clipping at PC checkpoint with them on their way to it. Can only assume they got lost, possibly dropped down too far, as they were a good 50-100m in front of me at Whetstone (maybe mistakenly running the old route?).Quote:
Originally Posted by Multiterrainer
Pretty much took the same route as you MT with the exception being, as you mentioned, crossing Backstone Beck (I stayed 'high', never got a chance to recce alternatives).
I've used this route once - think it was the year I ran with DeeJay - and it's better underfoot but longer than staying by the wall. You pays your money...Quote:
Originally Posted by Multiterrainer
I ran with a dodgy knee, posting yet another PW. The knee's worse than dodgy today. I've emailed my physio. Here we go again.:thunbdown:
Still, great weather and running conditions, and the quality of the pie afterwards almost justified sustaining yet another injury.
LOL - that would have been for my group of scouts - we were last ones to finish (10 hrs 24) and hit the top of the Chevin at 6.55. Nowhere near my youthful best of 3 hrs 40 but I have a bunch of very happy scouts with a massive sense of achievement (they are from Essex!)Quote:
Originally Posted by fozzy
I think I was one of the lucky ones who finished strong and took places back up and down The Chevin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness
I mustve got you and MrMooseHead right near the end there. Thanks to which ever one of you it might have been who gave me the final directions, I was able to take off and chance making a break.
Maybe it was you Rob that I was following (I was in red) before the Pipers Crag? moved checkpoint, lost you when I twisted my dodgy ankle a tad. And had to drop back to the another group (thanks Jim R and Neil R +1) and almost lost them too after another double ankle twist before Burley Woodhead but just managed to reconnect and keep em in sight before the elastic snapped.
One last fast downhill surge to catch up with another fella just b4 the school to give me joint 11th in 3h17, pleased with that on my first attempt and openly parasited my way round not having a clue where to go. I was desperately trying to keep leading lady Jo in my sites but she was just too strong, fair play, and lost her before West Buck Stone outcrops (i think) but luckily it may have been Rob? who caught me up again here.
Fabulous day for it, perfect conditions, just cold enough it was frozen n not boggy, superb sunny day, just a cool wind. Wish I'd worn shorts now, was too hot on the latter half with the backwind. Will definitely do this race again.
Many thanks to Linda M for transferring her place (must pay you!) and to FLopsy ditto for Jon S's place. :thumbup:
Think it was me. I have recollections of rattling off the directions to someone on the climb, but my head was a bit out there at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyota_Crown
Calf muscles still really sore and tight. So why am I thinking of where I could have done better and how much time I could shave off next year?
yup cheers Moosey, it was great to finish on a high, made my race ta :thumbup:
Just been looking at my splits for the past for 3 years I've done this, and I know they're pretty meaningless in terms of absolute values (i.e. exactly how many m/m etc), but interestingly, the big difference in time for me, apart from the out and back to the Piper's Crag CP and walking a bit more on the Chevin, was between the Moorside CP and Lanshaw Lad. I pretty much lost most of the time on that section.
I remember that it was frozen underfoot, but I can't remember how more or less runnable this section was last year?
The reason I ask is that I am a lot less fit than I was last year, but it seems as though I did lose the time from getting tired (apart from up the Chevin), but much earlier in the race.
You think about it too much. Different day, different race.Quote:
Originally Posted by fozzy
True, but analysis and logical reasoning is the way forward in all things.Quote:
Originally Posted by anonymouse
I see you've changed your mind and entered 3P!
I dithered all day but, as has been mentioned already on this thread, runners have short memories. The worst case scenario is the bus of shame, but the hope is that I'll get a time to aim to improve on and the self-confidence to know I can do it. I'm still very apprehensive though.Quote:
Originally Posted by fozzy
Correct! that was me. I was planning on running round with Jo but let her go when it became obvious she was much fitter than she had thought. You went past me at the top of the chevin just before the last cp when I was having problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyota_Crown