The 10-year rule also works for me: I ran my first fell race in 1977, and my two best years were 1987 and 1989.
As for peaking at age 35-40: I met my wife when I was 36, which somewhat distracted me from the serious business of fell-running. :)
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The 10-year rule also works for me: I ran my first fell race in 1977, and my two best years were 1987 and 1989.
As for peaking at age 35-40: I met my wife when I was 36, which somewhat distracted me from the serious business of fell-running. :)
I started fell running at 28 after rugby and probably peaked 5 years after that...but that was more to do with career and family competing for time. Performances thereafter held up pretty well till 55, then fell off a cliff, although I turned the clock back a bit by losing a stone in weight a couple of years ago.
I'm 56 years old Wheeze and have also well and truely fallen off a cliff performance wise. In my mid-forties on a very good day I could just finish in the top third of a race. Most of the time better than halfway was the norm. The last 2 years have been terrible, 2 minutes a mile slower at the Cracken Edge race. Losing half a stone or more wouldn't go amiss. It was starting to get to me but I remembered why I took up running 40 years ago and just enjoy being on the hills, even if it is at a much slower pace.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Mmmh. I think when I developed my Pendle Performance Profile (Fellrunner Winter 2016 p48) I did not account fully for the Feminine Factor. I might need to rework my Doctoral Thesis.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
After managing to step-up to a V65/24 hour JNLC in 2016, I just considered that 2017 had been rather barren; then I got to thinking back:- April, 2 day Fred Witton, overnighting at Borrowdale YHA; May, L5 of a clubmate's BG; June, Lancaster to John o' Groats (via Isle of Arran & The Great Glen) on the bike; July, x2 on-hill supports on a clubmate's PBR.
Plus I marshaled at more races than most of you probably ran?
My first year of 'local' fell running was 1983. I peaked in 1984 with a 1-31-?? at Coniston (the year that Kenny lowered the record to 1-06-??) then the dreaded exercise induced asthma set in and my racing days were effectively over.
But as Wheeze stated in an earlier post, once this fell running malarkey is in your blood.....
Similar to Travs I am relatively young at 32, this year was my first year ‘proper’ fell running after several years on road. I have done 3 races, Hutton Roof (finished in top 1/4), Kentmere and Langdale (finished in top 1/2).
High point: loads of great runs but reccying legs 1 and 2 of the BG in December with a mate was probably the highest, although i loved all three races. We intend to attempt BG in May 2019.
Low point: the climb up Stickle Ghyll during Langdale Horseshoe, I felt awful and really struggled, however I then made up 92 places in the second half of the race (I am rubbish uphill, not too bad downhill).
Discovering Fell running has been one the best things to happen to me. I am generally a solitary runner - I go out very early in the morning to avoid it impeding on family time - however this can be great as often I am the only person up places like Kentmere (one of my local runs). I love the atmosphere at races and the community feel, definitely planning more this year with Old County Tops at the top of the list along with more BG reccys.
Target for 2018: get better ascending.
My advantage, having stopped racing in my late 30's and then started again in my mid-50's, is that I never fell off a cliff. I just woke up one day at the bottom of the cliff and noticed that the view was quite nice down here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Some lovely and quite inspiring posts on here! 2017 was going to be another come back year for me, but alas not to be. I started running on the fells in 1980, best years should have been '85 and '86, but did the BG instead of racing - the BG turned out to be the best attended Keswick AC club run of the year - what a fantastic day out it was. Some truly epic 'assists' on other BG's, more or less decided to stop racing in 1999, until a phone call from a certain Helene....''....would you like to be in a disabled team on the Hebridean Challenge? I'd love to but it would take me a year to get fit. That's good, it's in twelve months time'' and hung up before I could protest. Adventure racing at its best, wish I'd found it a few years earlier! Now looking forward to helping on the LAMM out on the Western Isles, an adventure not to be missed!
A nice post Chris - I hope that things come good for you this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris K
I got involved with the Hebridean Challenge in 2001 .... the first year that I had a van ( just a makeshift sleeping platform with all the kit underneath). We started from Vatersay with the intention of 'bagging' the highest point on every inhabited island. I think it was on S Uist that we bumped into Martin & Debbie and as I was around 24 hours behind the last team in the race, I agreed to pick up the Sport-Ident checkpoints from the summits and meet up with them every evening ..... the wife accused me of having it all pre-planned but it was purely coincidental.We even rescued a Greek guy who was competing solo - came across him at 23.00 hours at the top of the pass between Harris and Lewis, pushing his MTB with the rear mech ripped off.
Pat forgave me when we were invited to the presentation meal in Stornaway.
Ian Roberts (Steve's brother)
I'm waiting to get to my peak.
Got to get back to running first.
Nice to read other positives though😂
Hi Ian, Yes Steve would count as an epic BG, the Dodds were not very friendly for us...... 2001 was a tough year........oh hang on they're all tough on the Heb! We 'rescued' the Greek swimmer from the team - they'd just left him at a swim start (cold wind and rain) and drove off to find their paddler and biker from the previous section - got him in the van as our swimmer was getting ready and as we were just ready to go, his team turned up again.
At 68 I am not Sure If I have peaked yet just been checking on what I did record on foot, during 2017 which was 6296 km ( or 3912 miles) with 147,527mtrs of ascent, must have taken my eye off the ball somewhere as I was hoping for 6450 km, or just maybe I peaked in 2016, but I will try harder this year.
99% of the mileage was done off road none of it fast but all with my border collie and extremely enjoyable, for those that know where to look my stats are on Strava.
Off to a slow start this year though only done 130 km with 3265 mtrs of ascent, so onwards and forwards. :)
2018 then for me...
Highs: being generally injury-free, and rising to a number of top 10 finishes across all distances from AS to AL... ok none of them have been Lakeland Classics or English Champs races, but a number of fairly prominent races in there.... Brecon Beacons, Stretton Skyline, Weasdale Horseshoe, and a few others. First time it happened gave me the confidence to believe I could cut it a bit nearer to the front end. Perhaps the most satisfying was Brecon Beacons... hared up the first climb in 3rd and managed to just hold my position, 4th at half way and the leader still in sight... ok I did ultimately fade away and finish 8th, but to be "giving it some" near the front end, in what to me is a well reputed race, did wonders for my confidence.
Other highlights were completing the LDMT classic course with some degree of proficiency, in fairly challenging conditions, around about midway in the results. And building up my training to a regular 40 miles/10000ft weekly average, which has no doubt helped with the results above.
The single most satisfying moment of the year was seeing CP1 below me in the mist in the LDMT, after an hour spent completely alone in the cloud and rain...
Lows: the long distance exploits did not go anywhere near plans... 5 ultras... 2 dnf... 1 did not start... the other two shortened due to weather, and even one of those was blighted with injury. But I shall not be deterred!
Also slight disappointment at not seeing vast improvements in my road/club/xc running... ok I knocked 45secs off my 5km time and am undoubtedly stronger than a year ago, but times in the track etc have not improved much... I guess I do too much racing...
Hardest moment/race: Buttermere Horseshoe was as hard as ever. Ennerdale was not far behind, and doing the 2nd half of it with a shoe missing didn't help. Found a new respect for Peris after racing a little nearer to the front this year... the pain was real. Callow in the heat of summer was probably the single most painful hour of the year though...
Hopes for 2019: would like to continue to improve, possibly get in the top 5 or 6 of a race (a big ask), and get the long-distance exploits back on track. Racing the Tenerife Bluetrail in June, which will be a massive challenge. Also planning a may attempt at Leventon's Line, quite possibly unsupported. If that all goes well I'm planning something even tougher for mid-summer, but I won't shout the odds yet as 2018 has showed me that things don't always go to plan. Of course all the usual favourites are likely to be raced... Haworth Hobble, LM42, Welsh 1000, Peris, LDMT... But continuing to see progression would make 2019 another very satisfying year.
Hope everyone has enjoyed their 2018 and equally looking forward to next year...
Interesting read Pete, all the best for 2019.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
very well done Pete. Its great to read about your training and exploits, very inspirational.Wish more people including myself could/would post on here a bit more often. I enjoy the reads and the info. Good luck with your Leverton. On a map it really does have a line!!have done most of second half and its not so bad. think the nav difficulties are second quarter of the route. Would love to have done it but I think knee now would just not allow. I am hoping to perhaps do a very slow and careful FGR this year or at least a Abrahams Tea room round. The secret seems to be not jarring my knee or ankle as this definitely sets off the pain. best wishes to all on here in 2019. Simon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Cheers Daz, and good to see you at so many races this year!
Thanks Simon, I remember meeting you at Kentmere 2015 which was my first ever Lake District race... things have moved on a little since then! Good luck with the Frog Graham, I was chatting to a triathlete friend recently and they were speaking in awe of that particular challenge... Yes the Leventon's is an interesting route to say the least! For some reason I've never been as inspired by the Bob Graham as compared to most... without meaning any disrespect at all to that particular round, I'm sure I'll "have a bash" at it one day, but I find many other routes more interesting. Wainwright 7 Summits, or the Scottish 4000ers are two that easily spring to mind. That Gofar website certainly has a lot to answer for! But if I'm going to do any challenge i'd much rather do it solo...
Good luck everyone for 2019....
2018. Hmm. A memorable year but not in a way I anticipated.
Started really well with a win in the O50 South Wales winter league snatched away by 0.4 of a point over 8 races. Surely someone could have called that a draw?? But still, 2nd in my last year of that age group is still pleasing. So yes, I was looking forwards to a new start as an O60 next year. But grim reaper had his first glance in my direction and put fur in my arteries which has meant no more racing.
So, for the coming year I,m hoping to persuade a few fellow non racers into ruddles rule attempts at South Wales traverse and Welsh 3000,s.
Nota. Bad year looking back. Ran 6/12 races in the Run further series and managed to win four of them. SW100 was tough. Also successfully completed four MMs. Highlights though were Northern Traverse( what an epic journey) and coming so far up the field and winn8ng by such a margin ( that won’t happen once other women know about it). Also loved the GRP which was also a tougher course than usual, th8nking I had done badly and then a surprise podium. Lows include still not bein* able to sort out my foot issue and getting even slower on short meant to be faster runs.
Karen, you’re a machine!Quote:
Originally Posted by karen nash
A slowish machine that grinds long miles out Darren. Have entered a race here, another 100, butmuch less climb and already I am worrying I won’t be able to walk as much as usual
2019 then.... mixed year for me...
Highs: looking back at my aims, I wanted to break into the top 5 or 6 in a couple of races, and I managed a 4th and a 6th in a couple of the South Wales champs (my three scoring races in the SW champs were 4th, 6th, 8th, which gave me 6th overall but no official placing as not in the WFRA sadly...
Also managing to expand over the usual races and do some different ones... Fairfield, TWA, Snowdon Uphill, Nine Standards, a number of Welsh races, plus several track races.
Thirdly, consistent training which has undoubtedly made me a stronger performer, and another year of experience, meaning I rarely get overawed on the start line anymore, as I finally feel I can compete.
Spending a week in Skye was also a huge highlight... three long runs in particular stand out... Trotternish... Red Cullin... Coruisk/Bad Step/Camusanary... all in biblical weather... didn’t always get the views, but a stunning and wild place.... definitely felt awed by the scenery and force of the weather at times...
I was also rather happy with our team 20th in the Lee Mill Relays. I have utmost respect for all the club members who put large squads together for relays in all running formats... I only had one full team (and another incomplete) and it was a flipping nightmare...
Lows: Long distance plans fell apart yet again. Entered 4 ultras, and due to a combination of injury, illness and personal trouble, only managed to finish one.... two others were dnf’d (one due to injury, the other illness), and one didn’t even start. Also DNF at the Trigger (a sensible decision as I was so cold), and a DNF at the LDMT (simply unable to find one of the more obscure checkpoints).
Also personal/family issues obliterated much of my plans for the second half of the year, and I just raced as and when I could.
Best race: Four Fans... best position ever (4th) but paced it well, descended well, attacked when necessary, just a pleasing performance. Hitting the top of Fan Fawr and realising I was only a mile from the finish with no chance of being caught was perhaps the most satisfying single moment of the year... and certainly justified the pain and hard work of the previous couple of hours...! Especially after standing on the start line and looking round at everybody looking lean, mean and fit, and thinking there weren’t many people here who I’m going to be able to beat...
Hardest race: I thought the LDMT was incredibly tough this year and I didn’t even finish. Also the TWA and the Snowdon Uphill, both in extreme heat, were very hard. However the single most painful race was actually a track mile on a hot summers evening.
Plans for 2020: Dropping the ultra long distance stuff almost entirely, and concentrating on a three-pronged attack on Wales... Welsh, North Wales and South Wales Champs. This will bring a great combination of old favourite races, and some nice looking new ones... also a selection of the fantastic English/British Champs races (Ennerdale and Glenshee to name a couple...)
Could I even dream of a top 3 finish in a fell race somewhere...?!?
Would like to see my Parkrun/5km time down below 18mins but it will be hard work (May need a track attempt to get there).
Anyone else had fun this year...???
Yes I had fun 👍Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
I found it very challenging. The desire to race has not dimmed. Having to stop when you feel perfectly well and able means that you don't have an easy mental 'prop'....such as "ah well, my knee is knackered so I cant race".
I have tried a few races just bimbling along at the back. Its nice to see people and be in the hills but its also very frustrating. I know that I will find a way through and eventually be reconciled to finding other ways to contribute to the sport. But at the moment I would find it very hard to stand there as a marshal when I'm itching to race! Its also really annoying to deliberately blunt an edge that has taken a lifetime to maintain!
BUT....I'm well, able to jog, happy in most other things, so please dont see this as a negative post! How I miss racing though!
Well 2020 obviously didn't exactly pan out as planned for everybody...
Looking back at my aims for the year...
Welsh/S.Wales/N.Wales Champs: Think i managed two races before the season was curtailed.
Top 3 fell race finish: Well i managed to be "1st" at the Four Fans by a large margin, and whilst that was my aim on the day, that very fact probably tells you all you need to know about the competition level on the day... i expect the staggered starts and world circumstances put most of the faster guys off.
Improve 5km time: This didn't happen... mainly due to lack of race/parkrun activities, but did set a decent PB in the 3000mtrs, and my training has became more consistent and i'm definitely stronger.
But there were some other good times had.... finished off the Wainwrights... an aborted attempt on the Welsh 3000ers... a respectable time on the Gill Harris Shropshire Round.
Hardest race: Well the above-mentioned Four Fans in a heatwave was very tough, being the only race i've ever ran topless. But i think the award goes to Conwy Mountain during that Storm Ciara... That was really tough, and the route was unexpectedly technical and difficult in places.
Best race: Taking a competitive team over to the Cardingmill Canter for a Welsh Champs race, and the club picking up overall and U23 winners.
Plans for 2021: We ll like everyone else i'd just hope for an eventual return to some kind of normality and being able to race and train properly once again... am rather loathe to make too many concrete plans due to world circumstances, not to mention my hopeful move northwards...
But i'd like to do the following...
- take a competitive Warwickshire team to the inter-counties fell.
- score enough counters to feature in the Lakeland Classics Trophy.
- 50th Welsh 1000 metres.
- Improve my standing amongst those rivals i see in races (would like to try and give Tindersticks a run for
his money in one or two, although that is probably stretching it!!)