Borrowdale Fell Race

Done Borrowdale 5 or 6 times and Twa once and and now firmily of the view that the direct line is only faster than the tourist path when you are fresh. I make up places on the tourist path on this section. It's a good run all the way down. The steep and mixed tussocks and rock on the direct route are slow if you do not have the energy to bound down. The path helps keep a rhythm which is faster. Counter intuitive but for us mid packers, true enough. If you're quick, direct may well be better. But I'm not and therefore it isn't.

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Originally Posted by Mark Smith

Done Borrowdale 5 or 6 times and Twa once and and now firmily of the view that the direct line is only faster than the tourist path when you are fresh. I make up places on the tourist path on this section. It's a good run all the way down. The steep and mixed tussocks and rock on the direct route are slow if you do not have the energy to bound down. The path helps keep a rhythm which is faster. Counter intuitive but for us mid packers, true enough. If you're quick, direct may well be better. But I'm not and therefore it isn't.

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Thanks for this Mark - it fits with what I'd been thinking. If I am mended in time for Borrowdale this year, I shall go down the tourist path and enjoy the fact that can still run. I shall take note of a few other runners positions at the top of Dale Head and note where we end up. I suspect - like you, as a mid-packer with tired legs - it will be quicker.

I think I'll have to do it twice this year, just to see which line works best then :p

Seriously though, presumably you've done both variations then Mark? I've done Borrowdale 4 times and AW once, but am yet to try the tourist path - given my finish position in Borrowdale though, no reason why I shoudln't - not much to lose TBH and even if it did cost a minute or two if it less painful it might be worth it!

Interesting discussion-
I've always had a mare descending dale head- for borrowdale you're right (being BACK of the pack by then on that one) and tired it maybe worth just going down the path- but for dale head fell race maybe not?

my training partner is considerably faster than me- next training recce of dale head I might propose that she attempts to take a line while I go down the path and I'll see what happens

I'm in, got my letter today. Best get some hill work done :w00t:

Yep, I'm in too. Glad the forumites kept it quiet when entries opened a few days ago.

Im in, should be fun.

I'm in too. It was either run it or marshall it and 4 hours on the top of Scafell Pike is not fun!!

I'm in. Definitely time to get the hill work going! :w00t:

Beginning to panic now:w00t: I DID forget this year and only posted my entry on Wednesday! Having run this every year since I started racing (2006) it has become my favourite form of torture and I was hoping to break 5hrs this time. Keeping fingures crossed:o