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Poke a welder with a stick and don't be alarmed by the response.Quote:
Originally Posted by Knightrunner
I was merely passing an off the cuff comment which I still believe to be true. The forum contains less in regards to running or helping runners and more about controversy on various issues.
Ok got it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
I'm off out running.
Great to read all the write-ups about this race(amazing what a bit of prompting will do) Definatley on my bucket-list, just the 8hr drive puts me off, but no excuse really, should get my arse up there next year.
Didn't do the race this year after I was mentally scarred from my first attempt last year. I enjoyed the weekend that much last time that I still went up this year to support a group of mates from Clayton and Barlick and to partake in the rehydrating around Fort William after the race.
Still had a run/walk up to watch the race and after reaching the summit and on our way back down, Rob Jebb came up past us closely followed by MB. Both were running whereas Finlay Wild was hands on knees. We then waited at the top of the grass bank where I videoed Jebb and MB come past first and then Finlay Wild must've been at least a minute and a half - 2 minutes behind them at the top of the grass bank. Even caught a local on the video saying Wild was out of it. Haha.
I was told after that Wild overtook them both before the road section, which if true makes it even more remarkable. To say I never did the race, the jog up and down has still left my legs in a state.
just watched it again. Jebb was around 1.45 clear of Wild at the top of the grass bank.
Great to get the perspective on the battle at the front, would be interested to see whether the BBC will show anything of how the race unfolded or whether they will just focus on the celeb. Apparently Jebb was 4 mins clear at the top, so Wild was making up ground quickly! My old man was watching from the bottom of the grassy bank and said he couldn't believe how much quicker Wild's cadence was compared to everyone else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rozzer
Intriguing. Hadn't heard what the alternate route was going to be, will be interesting to see how it effects the race given that, the grassy bank seems to be what makes or breaks the race, for me at least. Sounds like the new route will have its own challenges though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodzy
Did you fall just before the bridge and rip the hazard tape down? If so I was the runner behind you asking if you were ok.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrahamPilling
If it was you, you were flying when you went down and it looked painful!
Forget the eight hours. It's worth it and its not just a bout the race. I love the presentation and the after presentation pub crawls. I guess the latter explains why I came 21st from last.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fozzy42
Seriously, get yourself entered next year. You will love it.
felly.
No, pretty sure that won't have been me, as I fell on the bloody flat path!Quote:
Originally Posted by Scodler
£23 to enter winner gets £50 tenth gets £20 sum thing wrong there.
t shirt certificate & medal same as last year except date of course!
ben nevis committee need to get there act together, beside that its still a great race & weekend
You've convinced me, come January my entry form will be in the post, definately.Quote:
Originally Posted by fellephant
Still up in Fort William after Saturdays race and the weather has been fantastic. Managed to get out everyday this week Munro bagging and today was something special, went back up The Ben via the arête around the back. I once read that going up the Ben on the tourist path is like going to the beach and not seeing the sea. Too true, the arête approach is magnificent and gives a full perspective to the magnitude of this incredible mountain. Really fortunate also today in the fact it was completely cloud free all day and hardly any wind....still buzzing.
Well done Daz glad you enjoyed it. Wish I was still up there mate.
Cheers Trevor, for the last few years after the race we've stayed up in Scotland for the week in the hope of Munro bagging. More often than not the weather has been bloody awful. I suppose we were due a good week and so far we've certainly had one. Two more days of bagging then Hodder Valley on Saturday, if I run shit it's because I'm bagged out, or I'm just shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scodler
Erm, That would be me Scodler and thanks for your concern.
I lost traction on a rock and got a good "dead leg" and rock rash. Once on my feet I had to disentangle myself from the tape and hop on my way. It's funny how focused you get when people start passing and if your leg fell off I'm sure you would say you are okay. so I got back into gear fairly sharpish.
However a bit later it dawned on me that this incident could be a Trump card, I'm sure we've all done this.
The original 10 to 20 secs and a couple of places becomes a bit stretched with every telling of the tale and up to now it's atleast 5 minutes.
By next year Findlay Wild will be looking over his shoulder in the field and expecting me to come flying past. After all he got away with it this year.
Andy B CFR
There is nothing like the Ben Race for incident, drama, controversy and ultimate 'criac'.
SCOOT's fall sounds very much like mine (longer ago than I care to remember) when I went flying coming down the zig zags. I remember thinking 'this is gonna hurt' as I hurtled towards two large boulders. Somehow, I hit the gap between them, bashed both shoulders but got up and felt no pain....until I got in the shower an hour later.....aaaaarrrggghhhh!
My most treasured possession from years of fell racing is the pewter beer mug saying 'Ben Nevis Race - First Place'. The illusion is only shattered when you read the line below that states 'Serviceman Category'. Still, had to beat a few Ghurkas to claim it and, fortunately, I picked a year when Colin Donnelly WASN'T racing it!
Anyone with a genuine passion for Mountain Racing HAS to do this race, above all others IMHO.
Had a pleasant surprise this morning!! Having completed my 21st race this year I was more than happy with my Connechie Plaque and full size bottle of Ben Nevis Whisky that was presented at prizegiving. This morning however I called at the Post Office to pick up an unexpected package (having had a card from the postman advising a signature was required) which turned out to be a whole side of smoked salmon from Highland Salmon in Fort William.
There was no note or compliments slip, but I can only assume it comes from the Race organisors or as some form of sponsorship by the suppliers. In any event a nice touch and a very welcome pressy!!
I know what I'll be having for meals for the weekend now anyway.
Well done Andy, well deserved! Smoked salmon, with scrambled eggs, a breakfast favourite of mine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Also Ran
Any idea when entries open for this, I seem to think its January but nowt on the race website?
Usually 3rd week of January.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fozzy42
Cheers bud!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
I've just received an email with a link confirming that entry forms will be available on Sunday 25th January.
http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/entry-forms-2015/
website says 2015 race entries are now full !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well there goes the idea of doing this race this year!Quote:
Originally Posted by geronimo
Entry form is on the dining table! Oh well.....
tbh I've given up on doing it again. Done it twice and enjoyed it. missed out a couple of years on the bounce and now can't be bothered chasing it. The costs also gone up a fair bit, and it clashes with Bullock Smithy which I've started to do regularly. Pity...maybe one day I'll go back and race it. Good luck anyone thats in...great race!
Was definatley up for it this year just never got the entry form sent off on time, so cant complain, my own fault. Anyhow, its the English champs Guisborough 3 Tops the same weekend, so hopefully have a bash at that, still gutted about the Ben though.
sent my entry in but don't know whether it got there in time yet ?
Ten years since i did the Ben Race, i used to send my entry in at the end of Feb in those days and get in with no problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fozzy42
I remember one year it was the same weekend as a championship race at Shelf Moor and some drove back straight after the Ben to double up.
The race to get your entry in is getting harder than the race itself these days - mind you it has filled up this fast for the last few years now. I'm not sure what the answer is - online entry would be even worse in my opinion.
I know the organisers plan for a level of drop outs, but in terms of finishers there has yet to be over 500 actually completing - and on average the number of finishers over the last 20 yrs has increased by 130 or so.
My entry went off in time, but now we all have the wait to see if we are in. I wont be too disappointed if I miss out this year, but I'll go up anyway to support a fantastic event
Same here AlsoRan. If I don't get in then I'll be up there taking pictures again and hailing some form of 'encouragement'.
Fingers crossed :-)
Provisional entry list up.
http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/pdf/Pr..._List_2015.pdf
Race results up. Finlay six in a row, well done all who took part. http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/pdf/Be..._Finishers.pdf
Filled in the entry form today and posted it, but since there's no postal collections today it probably wont get there until Tuesday morning at the earliest. Fingers crossed I'm still in with the same chance as everyone else, surely everyone cant deliver them personally tomorrow. Can they?
Did similar Fozzy but drove to the town centre post office to post it.
Next collection in village is 5pm Monday evening so would not get there till Wednesday. (far to late)
Hope everyone who wants to be in is in. All the best.
It's very kind of everyone to post reminders that entries are now open, but the more people you tell (ie on this forum) the less chance you have of getting your own entry accepted. Ssshhh........
Race Entry 2016
The entry for the Ben Nevis Race 2016 is now Closed.
Good luck all...hoping for my 1st!
Please excuse this intervention from a rather ancient and ignorant never-was (as opposed to a has-been), but can anyone enlighten me as to the purpose of taking entries 7 months in advance for a race which it is known is going to be over-subscribed? 7 months ahead, no-one can predict whether they are going to be fully fit, or possibly unable to run at all due to injury. And how does it help the organiser to know the identity of all participants 7 months in advance, rather than, say, 1 month in advance? Am I missing something?
PS This is not sour grapes: I did run the Ben Nevis Race once, in 1986 (when one could enter a few weeks in advance, and the word "over-subscribed" hadn't been invented), and decided that it had been an experience worth going through, but only once.
Having the entry fees in the bank for 7mths helps with the financing of the event would be my guess;)