The Ben Race

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Originally Posted by slowcoach

No, taking it easy this weekend after running the Windermere marathon. My wifes running Hutton Roof, so I'll be supporting and eating lots of cakes. :)

Are you doing Helvellyn?

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Yes I managed it. Outward weather quite challenging and missing marshall at Helvellyn caused me some headscratching but an excellent race and I even managed a semi-good descent at the end although the jelly legs for the last flat 1/4 mile didn't bode well for the Ben!

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Originally Posted by Clive

although the jelly legs for the last flat 1/4 mile didn't bode well for the Ben!

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Don't worry, there's still time to put in more training. That's what I've been telling myself anyway. :)

Only 3 months to go. Hope you're all into some serious training.

I'm taking the hard option this year and running Grisedale but will be back for the Ben in 2008.

my serious training starts this week working all the way up to the ben race
going to start throwing lots more hill work in
was going to start at ennerdale but i cannot make it now
just hope the weather will be kind for my first ben race

I'm just getting back into my training now for the Ben, as I broke my arm at the beginning of april and have been back now for a few weeks but my fitness has gone to the dogs!!

Last year my training consisted of mixture of normal training for the fells but also three 10 mile hilly road races in August and I climbed really well although becasue I hadn't been doing hill races from the end of June my legs went on the way down (on the grass bank to be exact) and it cost me a sub 2 hour time.. am determined to beat 2hrs again this year!!

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Originally Posted by Madmick

I'm just getting back into my training now for the Ben, as I broke my arm at the beginning of april and have been back now for a few weeks but my fitness has gone to the dogs!!

Last year my training consisted of mixture of normal training for the fells but also three 10 mile hilly road races in August and I climbed really well although becasue I hadn't been doing hill races from the end of June my legs went on the way down (on the grass bank to be exact) and it cost me a sub 2 hour time.. am determined to beat 2hrs again this year!!

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I'm not sure when I start the serious training, but I'm after a sub 2 hour after finishing in 2:10 in my first Ben Race last year. How many times have you run it Madmick? What time are you aiming for Daz?

I've done it it 5 times... once under 2 hours in 1.57 and the rest between 2 hours and 2 hours 10 is my slowest.

As a marker I usually try to be at the top around 1.15- 1.20 to give you time for the 2 hours.. I think it usually takes me around 7 mins on the way in from the Ben Nevis Inn to the finish along the road section.

I was about 30 secs behind Sharon Taylor at the top last year in and she simply ran away from me on the way down!

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Originally Posted by Madmick

I've done it it 5 times... once under 2 hours in 1.57 and the rest between 2 hours and 2 hours 10 is my slowest.

As a marker I usually try to be at the top around 1.15- 1.20 to give you time for the 2 hours.. I think it usually takes me around 7 mins on the way in from the Ben Nevis Inn to the finish along the road section.

I was about 30 secs behind Sharon Taylor at the top last year in and she simply ran away from me on the way down!

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I think I was at the top at about 1:20 last year, but lost out on the descent, particularly to the Lochaber runners who stormed past me. I need to go up faster - which I should be able to do as I didn't push too hard last time, and with more training, I should be able to do the descent faster.

I noticed this today on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC8GsC9tm2A

A little clip of the 1978 Ben Nevis race!

Being filmed with an old cine camera, the quality is not great, but there is Billy Bland (no. 49) winning, and no. 364 is Mike Short.

and at the very end the gray bearded runner is the late, great Eddie Campbell