Fellsman

I was determined to do a steady start his year after suffering from Dent onwards last year.
It really paid off as I was able to switch from easy mode to steady mode and keep it going all the way to Buckden Pike.
I didn't think I was on for much of a pb until I ran into two fellas who gave me the impression that a sub 14hrs was possible. I went a bit bonkers then on the run in to Park Rash. As soon as I sat down waiting to be grouped I knew I'd overdone it and I ended up hanging on to the back of the group - it's very humiliating. Valuable lesson learned and I like to think that I didn't cost too much time.

It was nice to see a lot of familiar faces.

The lady on the desk on Saturday morning asked whether she looked tired as she had had very little sleep. And that's before we heroes had even started! It's a big team and they do a heck of a lot. I'm not sure how many times I'd be willing to volunteer to sit in a tent on a bleak moor all night clipping tallies and shouting out numbers. Or putting out beacons, or telling the 150th person "there's tea, coffee, soup, hot chocolate...", or cooking, cleaning, driving...... When you think about it, it's such a massive operation. And it's been happening for more than 50 years now. Thanks everyone.

What time did you do Mark. Looked for you on Sunday but perhaps you had gone home?
Agree - they all do an amazing job. As I was showering at half past midnight a lady was refreshing after a 3 hour kip before driving out to a CP etc! They have as many volunteers as runners/hikers.

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Originally Posted by karen nash

What time did you do Mark. Looked for you on Sunday but perhaps you had gone home?
Agree - they all do an amazing job. As I was showering at half past midnight a lady was refreshing after a 3 hour kip before driving out to a CP etc! They have as many volunteers as runners/hikers.

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It was great to see you Karen. Running behind you over Whernside I was thinking - flippin' heck, this woman's on her 25th ultra of the year, I'm on my second!
I got into the finish at 11:25 ish. I'm waiting to see what my official time is.
It'll be a big improvement on last year but I'm already analysing where I could save a few minutes here, gain a few minutes there. Though I hate to say it, not wearing Hokas might be a good start!
We had the caravan in Settle so I shot off that night after shower and chilli.

WOW. That's an impressive time. Are you sure were you behind me- I thought you were heading down as I was still plodding up?
I did see you slip and fall once but so did Jon and he had Salomons on I think

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Originally Posted by karen nash

WOW. That's an impressive time. Are you sure were you behind me- I thought you were heading down as I was still plodding up?
I did see you slip and fall once but so did Jon and he had Salomons on I think

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You're thinking of Gragareth. It was the other way round on Whernside, honest! I then followed you along the Whernside ridge until you stopped to tie your shoe laces. I then saw you again on Gregareth. It'll be interesting to see the hi tech split times this year.
I frequently see people in fell shoes fall over while I stay upright in my Hokas. My problem is that I usually make up significant time during descents while recovering at the same time. The Hokas wouldn't let me descend as fast as I would have liked, and the ground was so wet that I didn't really get any benefit from the Hokas' ample sponge. I'll have to be a little more discerning in my shoe choice in future. OR - get my Hokas resoled with a fell sole recommended by Mrs Stagger - now there's a thought!

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Originally Posted by Knightrunner

That was us Simon: they're a cracking bunch at Dallam, me being a southern imposter though a member too. Fellsman is a great event and abusive encouragement is all part of the service!! Good to run with you again - Chris

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Good to see you again too, Chris. I won't say good luck for June because you obviously won't need it based on Saturday.

I'm no Stolly, but there are some pictures of the day in my blog, and a few more mentions of Dallam!

http://10peaks2013.blogspot.co.uk/20...n-round-2.html

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Originally Posted by Mark L

You're thinking of Gragareth. It was the other way round on Whernside, honest! I then followed you along the Whernside ridge until you stopped to tie your shoe laces. I then saw you again on Gregareth. It'll be interesting to see the hi tech split times this year.
I frequently see people in fell shoes fall over while I stay upright in my Hokas. My problem is that I usually make up significant time during descents while recovering at the same time. The Hokas wouldn't let me descend as fast as I would have liked, and the ground was so wet that I didn't really get any benefit from the Hokas' ample sponge. I'll have to be a little more discerning in my shoe choice in future. OR - get my Hokas resoled with a fell sole recommended by Mrs Stagger - now there's a thought!

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Sounds like you needed to get a grip so to speak.....pointy lugs on the bottom would have been perfect! Well done on a very impressive time too.

Well done to all those who finished, commisserations to those who withdrew en route and a huge thanks to all the organisers and volunteers. Thanks to Carl, Russel, Toby for their company through the night! I made it round in give or take 21 hours. Not as fast as some, but I am chuffed to have got round :)

See you next year!

Really impressed with some of the times recorded here - fantastic effort, well done all of you! Well done Protodoc, a great time and makes up for you not being able to compete last year. This was my first Fellsman and definitely the hardest running event I've ever done. The triple-whammy of Ingleborough, Whernside and Gragareth made for a tough start and nearly broke me. I ran with my mate Tony George and ended up being grouped with two guys, Phil and Barry at Fleet Moss who we'd been running close to since the Blea Moor section. Phil had done about 13 Fellsmens and had the nav nailed. The 4 of us made a good group and weirdly we seemed to speed up as the night wore on. We flew up Buckden Pike (although I nearly puked with the effort!) and ploughed on to the finish stopping for the shortest amount of time at the checkpoints. With a dawn chorus of curlews and lapwings all around us we were happy to finish in just over 20 hrs. Quite amazing to meet all these cheery marshalls standing in the perishing cold in the middle of nowehere and all the organisation with the catering and everything - amazing people - we are VERY GRATEFUL!

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Originally Posted by Erich K

definitely the hardest running event I've ever done. The triple-whammy of Ingleborough, Whernside and Gragareth made for a tough start and nearly broke me.

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Yep, it's up there comparable to the big rounds and the L100, in my opinion.
As for the second oint - too true. You have to do an AL fell race just as a starter!

Interesting point: there is a lot written about the terrors of Fleet Moss. However, going up Gt Knoutberry I was longing for Fleet Moss for a bit of "flat" running.