Yeh, it is a great route. Did the bit from Hazel Grove to Peak Forest on saturday. Stunning section.
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Yeh, it is a great route. Did the bit from Hazel Grove to Peak Forest on saturday. Stunning section.
Looking at the date, I won't be playing ou as I'll be in Fontainbleau. Well there's always next year. Good luck to all;)
Britnick's your man for this one. He's done it lots of times and presumably can offer all sorts of advice. I might be tempted this year. (Now that Rotherham's gone all soft...!)
Ooh, Socks, hold me back. Restrain me and contain me. I'm getting all excited at the sight of this thread. I've started the BSH every year since 1996 (13 starts and 12 completions, but I had a pretty good excuse for my DNF in 2003). It was my first ever event and I'm addicted to it. It's also my local (I too was born in Stepping Hill, I work in Hazel Grove and I live half an hour's walk away from 3rd Hazel Grove Scouts). I got a shedload of entry forms after last year's event to leave at all the events I do this year. Unfortunately I don't think I can enter this year, since I'll be doing the UTMB the week before. If I don't do it, I'll volunteer to help instead. Time to pay back, methinks.
Few of us from Goyt valley striders are attempting it this year. For 3 of us it will be our first UM, The furthest we have done before is 26miles.
WE have recced the first half over the last few weeks, This sunday we are attemping to run/walk all of the first half to millars Dale, we can then concerntrate on the
2nd half. Hope to see some of you on route.
Food - there's plenty - quite enough to keep you going all the way round - sandwiches, biscuits, rice pudding, doughnuts, fruit, sweets, hot dogs (uurgh), etc, etc. Not all of these at every checkpoint though!Quote:
Originally Posted by George
Road route choice - I've tried lots of alternatives over the years - not many give much time advantage. The only stage where I differ significantly from the 'official' route is Walker Barn to Whitely Green.
Grouping - it does happen but it's not happened to me when I've run it (and I've always finished inside 12 hrs). I have the impression that walkers are grouped at Earl Sterndale from dusk onwards so that they are in groups before the tricky sections to Brand Top and Cumberland Cottage. I suspect that if you arrive 'at a run' you'll not be grouped but if you really want to know you could contact the organisers.
HTH, Steve
I'm easily pleased George.
Spot on Steve with your comments. I'd expect nothing less from a veteran like you.
I'm nowhere near as fast as Steve but I've never been threatened with grouping. I must look faster than I am. :D
Thankfully the hinted compulsion in the instructions is not borne out in practice, in my experience. Quite right too. If you (look as though you) want to be grouped, you will be. If you're dressed for speed and appear keen to run back out the door, they'll leave you alone. Having a familiar (BSH veteran's) face (meaning you won't get lost) probably helps as well.
Steve's right about not following the suggested route between Walker Barn and Whiteley Green. Picking the most direct route via roads and footpaths is the way to do it.
Even the most 'linearised' and 'short-cutted' route from beginning to end will not be less than 56 miles, not that it's possible to 'short cut' on this event, since there is no official route. The original aim was always to make your own way between checkpoints via legitimate rights of way. Having a suggested route since the New Bullock Smithy Hike route after Earl Sterndale was introduced in 2000 hasn't changed that. That's why I love this event.
Did recce the last 20 miles on Saturday with George & cousin Gill. Hot day. Lovely views. Glad I've seen them cos it will be dark. Have just got a few revised hints from Britnick - the question is whether to recce again, stick to original route I've recce'd or risk a new route on the day. Knowing me I'll do a mixture of old & new bits and get totally confused!
Does anyone know the best map for the event....was going to go for the OL1 - Dark Peak Area and OL24 - White Peak Area with a photo copy of the missing west section but wondered if anyone has any other ideas........I know Harvey do British Mountain Maps : Dark Peak Area but dont think it has the full route on.
First time for this one and really looking forward to it !
Recce'd the section from Peak Forest to Brand Top on Sunday... in pouring rain and clag. A bit tricky to follow the route notes in places, but we got that section done in five hours. Personally, navigation is going to be a challenge, so I am glad to have recce'd the area I don't know well in daylight, though I'll be trotting with a few other Macc Harriers.
Got a couple of blisters in the process due to new Inov-8s, so the the old Montrails may come out of semi-retirement!
Looking forward to Saturday now.:)
Worried now, it's getting close, been on the route a few times, still not sure of it, first time over marathon distance also, so a real step into the unknown.
They're on their way. I saw them off at midday. Nice to meet TomS finally. Live progress updates are available on the BSH website.
Pictures so far up to the start are here.
I'll be off out again later to help out at Walker Barn, penultimate checkpoint 10 miles from the finish.
Go Bullock Smithy Hikers!
Cor blimey - a big experience for me! I can't walk very well today and have lots of blisters. The weather was really kind - would have been ideal if the wind had just been a bit lighter. Had some really good company on the way round, didn't get lost (thanks Nick for both of them), and smashed the time I was aiming for (not good preparation in the last couple of months and last weekend I ended up walking on my 2 hour Sunday morning run!). Lovely route and usual friendly checkpoint helpers. Just don't ask yet whether I'm going to do it again next year!
That was a special event, special enough to do next year???? That will be decided nearer the time. The organisation was faultless and the marshals and all the helpers were outstanding and could'nt do enough for you (have they got links the the big man upstairs, how did they get the weather so perfect after the week we have had?)
Really enjoyed the fry up at 2 in the morning washed down with copious amounts of tea. A bit achy and only 1 very small blister, so the weekend could not have been any better
Ah Tom - reckon I saw you too judging on you having breakfast at 2am! I was the woman running with a buff like a head band. Saw you a couple of times en route after you'd changed your shoes - before you headed off into the distance!
Was you the lady that ran back with Nick, if so well done, you left that young lad for dead, youth can't beat experience;)
Well run, socks. You showed grit and determination, pushing through the hurt to keep up the jog to the end. Well done to you too TomS.
What happened to the lad by the way (was he called Andy?)? He can't have been that far behind.
Yes well run Socks. Think you came in 4 mins before me. I was running in the same group as you quite a lot. Was it the lad with the two poles that you overtook ? I did too on the middlewood way - think he came in in 14.41 britnick.
That was a great day out: thanks to the organisers and marshalls for a top event and, like Tom said, for booking some excellent weather. Here's a pic I took in the fields just after the Peak Forest checkpoint:
I wore Inov8 Roclites this year in a break from my usual Flyroc tradition and had my best year ever foot wise - no blisters! I'm a total convert :)
I went with my trail shoes Muddy, and wished I hadn't when sliding down that muddy bank in dowlow dale and ending up in a bed of nettles. :)
Marvellous event. Drive past sections of the course every day on the way to work and look forward to doing it again.
Thanks for encouraging comments, but not sure I deserve them! The lad I was with (with the poles) was called Dave. He was brilliant up the hills so went charging ahead of me. I then caught him whenever we went flat or downhill. Knowing we'd done most of the hills by Walker Barn, I was fairly sure I'd be back before him. Nick was very persuasive in getting me to jog when I felt absolutely knackered! What he didn't say is that he was walking at the same pace as my jogging (if I cared about that sort of thing I'd be quite embarrassed!). Just read back over the earlier posts - well done to Tom for first event over marathon distance. You picked a hard one to start with! Rotherham coming up in October and the Woldsman in April will seem a doddle!
Now that was tough, but what a glorious day AND night:D.
I could burst into poetry about the way the harvest moon lit up the scattered clouds and rugged hills, etc... but I won't... you know what I mean.
Did this with my mate Dave and spirits were high as we left up towards Bowstones and beyond...
Once warmed up, felt pretty good and we were making respectable if unspectacular progress... darkness fell and still good spirits... the dramatic peaks of Earl Sterndale behind us and we got upto the A53... but then the navigation fairy turned nasty (as well as the wind getting up) and despite making confident judgements about the best way to pick up the route again, had a sinking feeling that,
"Hang on... shouldn't be able to see the Cat and Fiddle from here....!":confused:
"Well how the hell did we cover that rough ground so fast... and in the wrong direction??!!:mad:"
Now Dave had been suffering with shin splints since about mile 20, but they were bearable. Not now... all the ground we had gained on some other groups was gone... they had gone from A - B without going via the scenic (tussock and marshy plus about 3 miles of road to compensate) route, and so were well ahead. No amount of subtle, "Ready to try a trot along yet?" was going to make his legs feel better and so walking was the order of the night.
Very gradually, we made progress through the moonlit lanes and trails, and very pretty they were too... the never ending Middlewood Way to finish in 19.14... so it cost us less than a pound an hour to take part!!!;)
And Dave went to A&E on Monday with a suspected stress fracture in his foot...
I know where we went wrong and will have to recce this section again. The winner was another Macc Harrier, Julian Brown in 9.40... well done that man.
Another adventure and the longest expedition yet... back next year? Probably... and go for sub 17.
Thanks to all who make this institution happen... if it's a mammoth to participate, it must be something very large indeed to organise!!! And is it well organised!? I've never seen so much food! Great day.
lantern - Great Report! :cool:
I know a few of the Stockporters that finished in about 11 1/2 hrs (including the two lasses that set the new record), and they are already planning a sub-11 assault for next year :eek:
I'm planning on doing it too, but more likely in the 15-17hour range! :D
Full results for this year's Bullock Smithy are now available here...
http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/~temples/bs/
Cheers, Steve
Cheers Daz.
Yes it was quite a day / night... I'll be back.
It's like getting timed out at Borrowdale... at the time you think 'Oh, bloody 'ell!', but before long you're focussing on where you went wrong and what to do next time!
Just hope next year, the weather is as good.:D
Next up Windgather... might do two laps to get the mileage and climb up a bit, and then The Roaches... can smell that cow slurry already;)
Well done Simon and mate, he's got a good name for the order of the night;)Quote:
Originally Posted by lantern rouge
lantern - surely you jest about doing 2 laps of Windgather? :eek:
it nearly did for me last year
I'd like to wreak my re-wengee this year but not sure if I'll make it
Three Shires is next up for me, then Sandstone Trail
Gawsworth 10k tomorrow though - that's your way on isn't it - don't you fancy sneaking across for it? ;)
No... not joking about 2 laps... I am seduced by the simplicity of it... if you need to find a way to cram more mileage and climb in, just do it twice... Planning a similar scheme for the Roaches.
My lad's doing the Gawsworth 10k... but I won't get there myself.
And how's it going Merry? BG plan going to... plan?
The Bullock Smithy didn't go to plan, but I know where we went wrong; I still had fire in my belly after 19 hours and had plenty of trotting potential left... not a bad experience overall... and it was 19 hours on my feet with NO breaks.
Everything's going to................plan mate, 19 hours, no break, you desreve a break for that;)Quote:
Originally Posted by lantern rouge
Have a break.... I'll have a KitKat;)
I prefer Double Deckers mate;)Quote:
Originally Posted by lantern rouge
Has anyone done the Bullock Smithy? I know very little about it and wondered if it's a similar set up to the Fellsman.
Thanks
there might be some useful info on the 2009 thread:
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...bullock+smithy
Thanks Daz! Very interesting.
I really like your avatar Mrs Stagger, what a cutie :)
I've done the Bullock Smithy for the last few years and am doing it this year, it's great. It's kind of a run of two halves, it gets most of its climbing and rough stuff done in the first thirty miles or so, to about Peak Forest. After that it goes into gentler terrain as the sun goes down.
The food's great (although personally I can never stomach the hot dogs at Brand Top!) and its really well organised, I recommend it. PM me if you'd like to discuss the route - it's straightforward but there are a few variations that people suggest to save time :)
Yep, it is the same type of thing as the Fellsman but not as long or tough, scout organised. They are a little bit easier on the kit check and grouping for the more experienced runners.
Many thanks Geofpet, things are starting to come together now.
You can get a bit isolated in the later stages so make sure you have the map sorted!
right, might as well use this one as the 2010 thread
I'm in.
<gulp!>
final long training run yesterday (a measly 27M but it'll have to do)
time-wise think I'll be looking at 15-16 hours
Enjoy it everyone. Did it last year and was mad keen to go for it again, but having entered, something else has come up and I won't be there.
Great event though and well worth supporting... have to try and have an informal trot round another time.