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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I'd just like to add to the comments about the discarded bottles. I found myself getting increasingly upset by this as the race went on - I wonder whether the sheer volume of litter will compromise any future running of the event, which would be a real shame as it is a great addition to the local scene. Would it be unfair to assume they were all dropped by road runners? I really enjoyed the friendly informality of the race, so was amazed by the litter (the ipod wearers were a bit unfortunate too!).
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I don't think you could blame a particular group for all the litter, there were also a lot of tissue/wipes towards the end as well. It's disappointing that there should be so much litter after the warnings that were given by the Organiser.
I had a run over Moel Arthur and Pen-y-Cloddiau this afternoon and surprisingly the control at the top of Arthur is still there. There's also a First Aid kit in an 'ammo' sort of box half hidden in a gorse bush on Pen-y-Cloddiau. It says 'Official' on it so I left that alone as well (and it looks a bit heavy to run with!) Do you think they would leave Brandy in there, just in case? It could be nothing to do with the Excalibur though.
And just to add, my Garmin reading for the route was 26.43 miles on both the Garmin Training Centre and SportTracks but the climb was approx. 1,000 ft difference (5,800 ST to 6,800 GTC).
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
from Runners World Forum:
Hello Everyone,
Thanks to all the runners and walkers who took part!
It was a fantastic day, and we were absolutely overwhelmed with the positive response from all of you!
The race times are just being calculated, and a couple of errors being corrected and I will get them up online for Tuesday 3rd April.
We have learnt a lot from this years event, which was a first year, and after a debreif session with the local council and forestry service we will make a decision on next years event. Fingers crossed that we will have the event again next year!
We are open to all constructive criticism from all the runners, the main points are listed below, so if you do have any other points, please feel free to email me and I will respond to all messages.
The main points moving forwards:
1 - The stamp system, was at times confusing, and it was easy to miss certain stamps.
2 - Sign-age. A big issue for all marathons. Although self navigation is essential, we could have offered more support at certain points, which we will definitely be looking at for the future.
3 - Litter. This was our only major concern. Majority of our runners were very good with their empty bottles and sachets, but we did unfortunately have a number of people littering the route. We did a sweep of the course and removed as much as possible, but for future events we will tackle this issue head on!
4 - The Numbers. The self-adhesive numbers were a great idea in principle, but in practice they were not right of this race. We will amend this for the future events and go for the pinned option.
5 - Parking. Unfortunately, our hands were tied with this because the site is still open to the public. The only area available to us for parking was the top car park. We will look at other options, and possibly moving the finish line and will report back on that one!
I hope you all agree that the above points are all minor issues and that the event as a whole was a really enjoyable day!
Im glad that so many of you commented on how well the route worked!
Thank you to all of you who dropped you sponsorship money off on the day, and those of you who made donations to the hospice!
Anyone who is yet to collect their sponsor money can either pay their money in by cheque, or call me to make a card payment.
And if anyone else would like to make a donation to Claire House in lieu of sponsorship please use the same methods.
I look forward to seeing your event reviews online, please be honest but if you can also take into account that it was a pilot year it would be much appreciated.
I hope to see you all next year, and will let you all know as soon as possible once a decision has been made on the 2012 Event.
Kind regards
Mr Daniel Thomas
[email protected]
0151 343 0883
Event Fundraiser
Claire House Children's Hospice
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
My impression is that they are open to comments and keen to get it right. I spoke briefly to the organiser on the day and he was very aware that there was a problem with litter which needed to be addressed. I only hope that they don't change the course (move the finish to the top). I think if they'd communicated the top car park thing beforehand (mind you I parked in the car park at registration and nobody tried to stop me) it would have been ok. Now the have the course, which was good and challenging, to change for next year would change the benchmark. I've been to plenty of fell races where it is further to walk - is it the Green, Green Grass of Home? (not complaining, Martin, just saying!) and Penmaenmawr - there are probably loads more.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Hi all Just joined forum.
Excalibur was my first jaunt into off road racing, and It was a a cracking event. On the down side mine was one of the cars that was broken into they took my kit bag and I had stupidly put my wallet in it with my wedding rings in wallet.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I think it would have been useful to know that the car parking was not at the start beforehand, just to allow people to factor the walk into the timing that's all. The walk to the start of Tarren Hendre the other week was further but we allowed time to do so.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nigel
I've been to plenty of fell races where it is further to walk - is it the Green, Green Grass of Home? (not complaining, Martin, just saying!) and Penmaenmawr - there are probably loads more.
The amble up to the start of the GGGH is just to get you warmed up. When the Llangynhafal Loop started down at the crossroads, everyone used to moan about the road bit :angry:, so we moved the start due to 'popular demand'! :thumbup:
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I'm not too bothered where they start the route, or if it's ran cw or anti-cw. If parking does become a problem I don't see any reason why they can't start an acw route from Llandyrnog or cw from Cilcain.
Ipods do seem a bit daft on the hills. Early on I kept hearing one bloke hollering encouragement at the top of his voice to walkers as he approached them. He must have scared the bejesus out of them.
Good blog Simon. You get about a bit, don't you?
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kathyf
Not entirely accurate, though. Hopefully they will be more accurate before getting onto the WFRA website.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Excellent run by Andrea, I knew she cheekily set off in the wave ahead of me, but never saw her until I crossed the line.
Don't think the times would've been as quick if the race was run today.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nigel
Not entirely accurate, though. Hopefully they will be more accurate before getting onto the WFRA website.
Despite some claims on their website, Welsh Harrier posted that the Excalibur was nothing to do with the WFRA;
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...189#post472189
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner
Excellent run by Andrea, I knew she cheekily set off in the wave ahead of me, but never saw her until I crossed the line.
Don't think the times would've been as quick if the race was run today.
Oh, good. At least I know now I only had 15 minutes on her rather than half an hour when she passed me at Moel Arthur.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kathyf
Ooops - results have disappeared!! Now what's happened there?
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I suspect they're getting them right, Martin. I noticed a few errors.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nigel
I suspect they're getting them right, Martin. I noticed a few errors.
Apparently the unnamed runners were the Army entrants from British Forces in Germany. The only error I heard of was Peter Agnew who's time was twice what it should have been.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Yes, Peter came up Fenli with me and then went ahead of me to the end but had started 30 minutes after me so we was well out. There was somebody at exactly the same time as me, 5h11m, who had actually DNFd at about 17 miles and one or two other errors I understand. I don't see why Army runners were unnamed??
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Welsh Harrier
Ooops - results have disappeared!! Now what's happened there?
They're back - on the Claire House website. Unfortunately, I have dropped 3 places.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nigel
They're back - on the Claire House website. Unfortunately, I have dropped 3 places.
I can't seem to find them Nigel, do you have a link?
Cheers.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Still not sure if I'll do The Excalibur this year for a number of reasons; injury, lack of fitness as well as the littering problems last year :thunbdown: .
The new course seems to have lost huge sections of road :thumbup:, but on the other hand, also lost a good bit of the climbing; no drop down to the pub, no Foel Fenlli & a lower route around Moel Llys-y-coed . Also looking at where they have the the CP's there would be plenty of opportunity for missing out great chunks of the course :sneaky: .
If the conditions are as good last years, times should be hammered.
http://www.excaliburmarathon.co.uk/t...rse/the-route/
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Well I'm not fit (yet) but I've just entered. :) This will be my first marathon (done longer and shorter but never marathon distance).
Can anyone recommend somewhere to stay on the Friday night please?
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner
The new course seems to have lost huge sections of road :thumbup:, but on the other hand, also lost a good bit of the climbing; no drop down to the pub, no Foel Fenlli & a lower route around Moel Llys-y-coed . Also looking at where they have the the CP's there would be plenty of opportunity for missing out great chunks of the course :sneaky: .
If the conditions are as good last years, times should be hammered.
/
I'm not convinced there's much less climb. The new zig-zag from Cilcain up to the ridge and back adds a fair bit and you don't lose that much by contouring wider around Moel Llys-y-Coed as you end up at the same saddle. The section replacing the drop down to Llandyrnog also climbs a bit. I reckon it's pretty even but only time will tell. Less road is the main thing for me.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I hadn't seen the new route before I went out for a run this morning & ran a slight variation on the "first loop", if I'd been more switched on I'd have ran the first loop properly. Over the next couple of weeks I'll try & get around both loops & post up the Garmin Connect links.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Ran first loop this morning. I had intended to include the loop around Moel Llys-y-coed, but with the weather - snowy & icy for those that are reading this in a couple of weeks :closed: - that would've meant being out longer than I really fancied.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/263977433
Clwydian, do I know you?
(does this link work http://connect.garmin.com/activity/2...SYb5h5hM.email )
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Both links work :) Good run for a Sunday morning. How do you think the whole route will pan out now?
Don't think we know each other but I'm sure we're at a lot of the same events. I run with Denbigh Harriers.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Clwydian
Both links work :) Good run for a Sunday morning. How do you think the whole route will pan out now?
Most definitely less climb :wink: .
Last years total stats were 26.11 miles & 1760mtrs. I'm not sure when I'll manage the other part of the course as we - Wrecsam Tri - have our AGM next Sun morning.
Anyone else going to recce it?
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Recce of first part of race oer to finger post, down zig zag etc, we did a loop back to Moel Fammau, very icy and bitter cold on the top though, 11 miles followed by beer in the Coly
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Ignore the course map. I have been in touch with the organizers recently and have revised the course. It is 26.3 miles and 5500 feet. No roads at all. Cut back along path toward cilcain after reaching the ridge is gone. Instead I've gone right over and done reverse loop of clwydian race down into llangynhafal valley and back up. Also added a small loop after moel y Parc. I'm pleased with the route. Should beup on website in a few days. PM me if you want thecourse sent.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Aaaaargh, I was going to do the second loop this morning, wish I'd seen your post earlier.
I'm still uncertain as to how they are going to stop the littering of last year. I''ve stopped asking on Facebook as it it looks a bit negative - & I want the race to raise lots of funds & be successful - but they're not replying to emails either. Do you have any idea what they intend doing Nigel?
Until I've had some sort of reassurance I'm not going to enter & I feel a little bit dirty even talking about routes & recces :closed: .
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I too am not overwhelmed with warm feelings about the organisation. Littering was a real issue and so was the crazy start / registration system. At least one checkpoint was too easy to miss when you consider a lot of the runners were seeing their first ever punch on the day. The fancy looking website seems to be powered by a narcoleptic gerbil and the event was announced too late for a lot of people to get themselves trained for something of this distance. Now the route has changed but there isn't even a note on the site warning that this might happen. When you look at the comments and responses on the Facebook page you get the feeling that they just don't quite "get it" but then they clearly see the event in a very different light to those of us who intend to run it.
That said, I enjoyed it last year for all it's faults and I'm looking forward to a lot less tarmac this year. I'm willing to risk that it all comes together on the day: for one more year anyway.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I had many of these concerns which was why I arranged to meet with the organisers. To be fair to them they are not fell runners but are organising an event to fundraise. Last years organiser has left the organisation leaving others to pick up but ..... I am assured that many of the issues from last year are sorted. There is an electronic timing system which will record your time as you start and as you finish )and send results to your mobile seconds later). There will also be marshalls ticking you off at crucial points on the course (not just those on the map you see but at points that it would be easy to bypass - I will mark these points out for them). The chaos at registration won't happen because all you will need to do this year is pick up your number. The start will be one start but in pens with fast (sub 5 hours etc) at front pens and walkers at the rear. They have addressed the litter issues by placing bins, not handing out bottles etc.
To be fair the route changing is my fault as I reccied the one on the website but thought it's too easy with less climb etc so I have devised another which is far more challenging. Only finished reccying it and measuring distance Wednesday and it'll be on the site soon.
They are wanting to get it right. They are listening. Please give them a chance. I don't work for Claire house or have any affiliation - just trying to help them get it right. Any issues or concerns please let me know and I'll pass it on. But if we work with them this could be a cracking local event for us.
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Cheers Nigel, things are sounding a bit better. Also, thanks for the email. If you think that the route will be updated on their website soon it shouldn't be necessary to send along the route.
Bloody tough work in the snow today but a very enjoyable 10 miler.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/265780397
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Now, if my feeble (technologically speaking) mind has got this right this is the course .... (in two bits)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/264177398
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/265240035
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Thanks. Keeping an eye on this and might enter closer to the time. The Clwyds are great running hills, I reckon I've covered most of the ground apart from the lower level stuff earlier on (and will have biked that years ago)
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Let's hope that people close those gates after them on the new section............I'm a right whinger aren't I :closed: :) ?
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
I think I've done all the sections now as well;
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/263977433
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/269068395
My totals come out at 26.45 miles & 5593ft/1705mtrs
Bloody muddy today on those bridle paths.
Made sure I shut all those gates behind me :closed: .
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
That looks good. Yes those bridle paths are muddy at the moment aren't they. Not sure whether they were better with snow or not. That section coming back up to the Moel Arthur car park before you hit the road really saps. I like your name for the little loop down into the valley! I assume you mean the one off the ridge that is a reverse of the Clwydian race route? Glad to see verification of distance and climb too. Slightly more than I had it but only by a whisker. Do you approve of the route?
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Re: Excalibur Off-Road Maratho
Oh well, in for a penny in for a pound. I should be having a go at this on Saturday. Way further than I've run in months so it could be a 'journey' in X-Factor parlance :)