Thanks for posting the Pindale video (and I quite like the random chat on the audio!) I normally only ever see the back end of the field in races I run, so it's quite interesting to see the pace of the leaders on familiar terrain.
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Thanks for posting the Pindale video (and I quite like the random chat on the audio!) I normally only ever see the back end of the field in races I run, so it's quite interesting to see the pace of the leaders on familiar terrain.
Excellent set of photos linked on the Runfurther site now.
Back from a few days in Scarborough with family, so now I can own up to a pretty poor performance on Sunday. I was OK for the first half, but I went off too fast for the current state of my legs, & by Win Hill I'd nothing left in the tank. Mountain Man then disappeared into the distance, I promptly ran past the checkpoint in the wood above Ladybower Reservoir, wasting about 15 mins, & it was all downhill from then (or rather I wish it had been). I was then in stumble trip mode feeling really rough, and the climb up from Bamford was just awful. BritNick stormed past as I bumbled along the top of Stanage, and so did loads of others for that matter. I was too knackered to care, & I nearly packed it in at the Burbage Bridge CP. Instead I just kept on plodding on, wishing I was home in bed from there to the end, where I collapsed semi-comatose on the grass. 7:35. Next year I'll nail it though, honest...
If it's any consolation Splatcher I found it really tough as well. I think all the stuff I have done this year has caught up wth me - I really struggled in th second half. I went full length on that nice easy level route from Burbage which knocked it out of me as well. All that tarmac and track did not really suit me either - l found it tougher than the Lakes 50!! No doubt I will probably be back next year either to get a better time or come up with yet more feeble excuses!!
It was amazing to me that I didn't do the same somewhere along the way. I tripped up more times than I have done all year, but somehow just managed to avoid hitting the deck. Two trips were reasonably spectacular - out of control for many paces, luckily without an audience as far as I'm aware. My legs were just so tired. I took the track from Burbage as well, despite my earlier intentions. By that time I was after the easiest option, not the fastest. I'd be surprised if it wasn't fastest anyway though.
I'm sure the track was fastest anyway, Splatcher. The distance is barely a fraction of a mile longer than the valley route, yet the going is so much easier. I took the track in the end and I was glad I did.
Considering you were so wrecked and on the verge of dropping out at UBB, I was amazed how soon after me you finished. You wrecked and me on top form (make that almost on top form but for the L100 and Dovedale Dipper), our paces are quite well matched. ;) You should feel well pleased with your finish under the circumstances.
What time did you manage after the L50, Mountain Man? Do you think the L50 affected your performance? I suppose it must have done if you thought this was tougher than the L50. :eek:
My words of consolation are, no matter what I have done leading up to this, there always comes a point when it becomes tough to make forward progress and the survival walk/shuffle begins. The climb up to Stanage Edge is where it starts for me. I have to slow down, take care of the fuelling and take advantage of the second, third, fourth ..... winds as and when they occur. Then it becomes the familiar balancing act of 'speed' without blow-up until the end.
I clocked 6-57+ on the LTB but my quads became really tight which I have never experienced before. Yes I hope it was the L50 - I found the first half of that really hard work which in turn was probably due to 50 miles/21000' only 10 days before albeit at a steady pace. The LTB is certainly a tough one to do so soon after the L100 - in that context yours was an excellent time.
Enjoyed this event again, no doubt helped by having a good run, about 45 minutes quicker than last year. The sun being hidden in cloud the first few hours and the much drier underfoot conditions made for a lot easier going. Definitely taken more of me this time though, had a much more average run at Belper Rugby Rover today than last time, and legs were refusing to work properly going uphill still.
It was still far warmer than I'm comfortable running in though, took my vest off on the climb up Kinder and it was wet through, and though the cloud began to get a bit menacing over there and Lose Hill it stayed off to the finish. Although I took on a couple of drinks at each station plus carried some to get me between them, I suffered from dehydration and couldn't get more than 1 of those chewy peanut bars they were giving out and 1 gel as feeling sick, so by rights should have blown up massively somewhere down the line. Never happened though :) Drunk loads of fluids the rest of that day and Monday and still felt dry until Monday night.
I'm never much good on big climbs and was relatively slow on the first few, but from the car park up to Stanage and up Abney clough near the end went really well. Tripped on a tree root coming down the old quarry works and had a bad calf cramp, but a quick massage from Moorlander hit the spot and though twinges were there several times on the way back to the finish it never really struck in full until after I'd stopped.
Shame for those of you who came to dry checkpoints, not sure I'd have made it without, and it must have got warmer throughout the day too once the sun had been out a while.
Now this is near enough 34 miles, it's a tad longer than both the Marlborough Downs and Osmotherly Phoenix, both of which are mediums in the Vasque whereas Bradwell is a short... Wonder what will happen for next year's series?:confused:
Sorry I didn't get the chance to chat with many forumites (or maybe I did I just didn't know their alter egos...) as it seems there was a good turnout.
Well Done SteveS :thumbup:
we had a "Full Set" of Fell Pony vests out:
You - Pink
Me - Black/White
Tussockface - White/Black
Moorlander - Fluo-Green
my cramp was triggered big time by tripping on a rock hidden in the bracken on the valley route down from CP12 - I never got going again after that :thunbdown:
I think I stored up the problem in the first place by overcooking the early descents - nooby mistake I suppose - I'll know better in future :sneaky: