Long Tour of Bradwell

Gosh! I wasn't expecting that response, I thought I'd be getting a flaming for being a cantankerous old cow! ;)

It is certainly is annoying...but saying that, I have made numerous friends though navo's on the ultras - mostly those who have had map in hand and said 'I know I am here, I think this way is next'...there is a huge difference..they know who they are :) I've also made friends with people who are just totally crap at navving, but at least they admit it!

I just think its very silly - I often say 'do you know where you are on the map' ...as my offer to help, met with a blank face...not only are participants putting themselves at risk, but it also puts the race organisers at risk too, and in turn fecks up racing for the rest of us. If you can't work out where you are, how the feck can you tell the emergency services where you or a fellow runner is in the case of emergency? Ultras take us waaay out from race support.

I do call people back too - I always will - sometimes people go the wrong way not through numptiness, but through disorientation through lack of fueling or dehydration. It's the blatent piss taking that riles me.

I should hasten to add, I am not the best navigator either, but I start every race with the intention that I will need to use my map and compass if I need to. I've had some interesting experiences!!

gazb - exactly, it's not hard to nav, it's a tough route, but more trail/tracks than fell.

Lol, Racethesweeper, it was the same description as last year ;) Apologies fro my not very ladylike wording!

Dispite all that, LToB is just a fantastic event, bring back having to swing off the river bank from a tree to get the dibber under the bridge and I will be a happy lady!

Anyway...mountain marathons have become my thing now, I get lost loads :p

I'm certainly glad I reccied the bit from Upper Burbidge down to Bole Hill (CH 13?) - I would've got hopelessly lost in the maze of Bracken!

Here's a link to a video I made of the run:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGbtoBvfjUg

A BIG thank you to all the volunteers for organising such a great event. It was my first time and will hopefully be back next year :-)

Cheers,

James

I'm glad I kept my lack of navigation to myself when I was running with you. Its one thing to keep people within sight / be very pleased when you spot them as you know you haven't gone wrong, I just don't tell people when I'm running with them.

Not done it before and found the running tough, gave up on the idea of racing as I knew I wouldn't have found the druid stone checkpoint without following other people so I was happy to let people run away from me, plus I felt terrible between stanage edge and CP15 so was resigned to just finishing and stopping running as soon as possible.

James that video is great, was good to talk to you for the 1st few miles.

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Originally Posted by hitthenorth

I just want to say many thanks to the marshals for waiting for me. Speed was not in my quiver today. A stunning route route though that turned out to be a 33 mile nature trail. Tadpoles, ants nests, Highland Cattle and glorious changing scenery. Pity about all the gel an bloc shot wrappers I noticed along the route though. Carelessness or deliberate, I don't know but not good regardless.

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The problem is events like this can attract marathon runners who have shocking standards. They expect to drop stuff and have others pick it up. I have ranted at a few for dropping drinks sachets and wrappers on such as LDWA's before, who met me with mindless stares. One argued the toss and told me to mind my own f*** business ( on the old defunct 3 towers race) I said - keeping the countryside clean IS everyones business, including yours, and I will bet it made no difference at all . Thankfully Fell races by and large, don't seem to have the problems that trail races do with mindless idiots dropping stuff, since they are people who appreciate the countryside.

Great video there James. Thanks for taking the time to edit and post it. Usually the LToB clashes with Teggs, so I am busy. It didn't this year, but still couldn't make it...Maybe next year...looks a lovely route.

First time on LTOB and enjoyed it immensely. Good weather and conditions and superb marshaling. Lost my Map and instructions on checkpoint 7....:-( Too bothered about filling my bottle and stuffing my face. I then only had my little garmin gecko for NAV which only directs as the crow flies. I didnt know the course after burbage north and missed checkpoint 14 and had to track back half mile for it :-(. Still, very happy with 6:19 and reckon the error cost me 15 mins. I'll be back next year if it doesn't clash:thumbup:

Many Thanks to the RO/CP marshals etc for another superb event.

no excuses for me - ended up clocking a time that was 25 seconds slower than last year - 8:25:13 cf 8:24:48 - how's that for consistency?!
I just had a bit of a "bad day" performance-wise - legs felt "wooden"/uncooperative - so didn't go quite as well as hoped, but still enjoyed it nonetheless in the perfect conditions :thumbup:

I was a bit disappointed with all the extra orange arrows/tape - thought it altered the character of the event a bit too much - can't imagine how anyone managed to go wrong tbh

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Originally Posted by JanSoLo

First time on LTOB and enjoyed it immensely.

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Glad you got round OK - I think it was you I was with on the road up to Stanage.

[QUOTE=Splatcher;553842]Glad you got round OK - I think it was you I was with on the road up to Stanage.[/QUOTE

Thanks bud, Were you wearing the bandana and with karen Nash when i had to track back to 14?

Thanks to all, especially Nick Ham and the rest of our little gang for guiding me round (I'm one of the really bad navigators/followers mentioned:o. I will improve my etiquette next time.), helping to maintain my pace and mostly just for their excellent company. Hope to see you all again.