Fellsman

Whatever the question is, the answer's of course Walshes!

But for some of you, with your massive fell shoe collection fetishes, I imagine the choice before every event must be bewildering :)


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OSZlFYiLjh...otsofshoes.jpg

When I did it, my Highlanders were rejected at the kit check because they had a hole in the uppers. So I wore my Mudclaws (which also had a hole, but it was hidden by the laces), and was pleased I had - the extra grip was very reassuring after dark when I was tired. When I do it again I'll probably stick with the Mudclaws.

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Originally Posted by Toreador

When I did it, my Highlanders were rejected at the kit check because they had a hole in the uppers. So I wore my Mudclaws (which also had a hole, but it was hidden by the laces), and was pleased I had - the extra grip was very reassuring after dark when I was tired. When I do it again I'll probably stick with the Mudclaws.

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I need to glue a couple of areas on my roclite 315s - the integrity of the shoe is fine but the debris gauze has split which does not affect anything but I can see an over enthusiastic checker getting excited about it and an area of the flashing around one of the toes is starting to peel - again nothing serious. I remember last year some 'debates' going on around the checking tables on the Friday evening about what runners and the checkers thought was acceptable.

So are (good condition) Trail shoes generally accepted at the kit check? Don't want to wear my Walshes and Just bought some New Balance 749's to replace my Kanadias which are starting to fall apart. I think they would be fine on this terrain, but not sure what is allowable.

Still building mileage? There's a 26 mile training run from Heptonstall on Sunday (about 20 of us running) - following the route of the 6 Trigs / Mag 7.
Mixture of Tod Harriers and CVFR plus a load of forumites from various clubs - all welcome.
See Mag 7 thread if you're interested.

Does anyone have the cp list with grid refs? I'm sure it used to be on the website but I can't find it now (perhaps it's been taken off now the reccie season has started?!).

Looking at the new Middle Tongue cp location, I'm pretty much convinced that the best bet is to follow the road round and simply miss out the whole fleet moss bog problem. The cp is about a mile off the road and there's even a footpath that leaves the road at Deepdale (just at the bridge) with a fingerpost to point the way. It looks like you could just follow the fp until you're over the access land boundary then follow a bearing up onto yockenthwaite moor (there's even a field boundary to point the way). It's barely any longer by the road and it's got to be the quicker/safer bet, especially if you're losing the light.

Any thoughts?

Andy most runners take the southern crossing of Fleetmoss heading south from the road checkpoint and then picking up a fence line east and almost running the southern edge of the ridge in the direction of Middle Tongue. If you follow the road I think you'll end up going down hill and you don't want to go down knowing that you'll have to come up again. I've only ever taken the across ther bogs route towards Jeffrey Pot before but, unless the ground is very dry, I can't help but assume the southern fence line is best

Edit: Blimey I just checked the map and if you followed the road to Yockenthwaite you'd add 1500 feet of really steep climb to the route - good luck with that!

I take your point about the ascent from yockenthwaite, I was thinking of leaving the road a bit earlier at deepdale bridge and angling up the hill but 1500ft is still 1500ft!Presumably though, there's a down and up involved if you stay on the fell because you've got to cross deepdale gill? What's that bit like?Ultimately it'll depend on whose around on the day and the visibility. If the clag is down then the road is the safer bet for a newbie I think. It's a shame I'm not planning to reccie it!

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Originally Posted by AndyA

I take your point about the ascent from yockenthwaite, I was thinking of leaving the road a bit earlier at deepdale bridge and angling up the hill but 1500ft is still 1500ft!Presumably though, there's a down and up involved if you stay on the fell because you've got to cross deepdale gill? What's that bit like?Ultimately it'll depend on whose around on the day and the visibility. If the clag is down then the road is the safer bet for a newbie I think. It's a shame I'm not planning to reccie it!

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You don't go down and up Deepdale Gill, you follow the ridgeline around the top. Although the ground does undulate up there, the advantage of sticking to the ridge is that you avoid downs and ups and stick to trods where you can. That said with the new checkpoint placement there might be a bit of a corner around the top to cut, dropping a couple of contours but not much. And like you I doubt I'll be recceing either so it will be suck it and see on the day

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Originally Posted by AndyA

I take your point about the ascent from yockenthwaite, I was thinking of leaving the road a bit earlier at deepdale bridge and angling up the hill but 1500ft is still 1500ft!Presumably though, there's a down and up involved if you stay on the fell because you've got to cross deepdale gill? What's that bit like?Ultimately it'll depend on whose around on the day and the visibility. If the clag is down then the road is the safer bet for a newbie I think. It's a shame I'm not planning to reccie it!

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You pass the gill along the wall line near the top(Hand rail) until the wall junction then aim for the tarn (attack point) from there you can pick up the fence line to the CP

From Memory any way

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Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

You pass the gill along the wall line near the top(Hand rail) until the wall junction then aim for the tarn (attack point) from there you can pick up the fence line to the CP

From Memory any way

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Ian I think the tarn is irrelevant this year as they've moved the Middle Tongue checkpoint to the southern tip of that curve in the ridge

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Originally Posted by AndyA

...... I'm pretty much convinced that the best bet is to follow the road round and simply miss out the whole fleet moss bog problem. ....

Any thoughts?

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don't do it!
the crossing of Fleet Moss really isn't that bad, especially if you take the southern route which the new CP location pretty much dictates. it has a fearsome reputation, but if you are used to running in the Peak District (or similar) terrain you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. Personally I can't think of anything worse than pounding down 1500ft and a couple of miles of road only to have to reascend, think of your quads! I seem to remember the concensus at breakfast last year was that the southern ridge route was marginally quicker and much kinder on the body (plus it is in keeping with the 'intended' route)
as Stolly says Deepdale is not really an issue, maybe a 100ft descent/ascent.

either way enjoy!

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Originally Posted by Stolly

Ian I think the tarn is irrelevant this year as they've moved the Middle Tongue checkpoint to the southern tip of that curve in the ridge

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Well I did say from memory! so It's not by the trig, where is it now I may enter on the day and will be using old route cards;)

I'm convinced! (well maybe!)

Andy,

I was just on google earth looking at the HH route and thought I would have a look at fleet moss, you can actually see the faint trods running along the south side of the moss and how they skirt round the top of deepdale, gives an interesting perspective other than the map.

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Originally Posted by AndyA

I'm convinced! (well maybe!)

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Just to throw a spanner in your works :D Last year was my 17th Fellsman. I have always previously taken the southern route across Fleet Moss even before they decided to move the Middle Tongue CP for the first time last year.

But last year I decided to go down the road a re-ascend from Deepdale, and I can say that this was MUCH faster, as long as your are prepared to jog the tarmac section - I'm talking about 10 minute/miles. The re-ascent is only a little over 1000 ft and not 1500 ft as previously mentioned so is not that far, and it's over pretty good ground.

You've already done 38 miles when you reach Fleet Moss CP, and it depends how strong you are feeling as to whether you can continue to run across the rough moorland. I think the proof was that I did my fastest ever Fellsman last year.

DB

DB - where exactly did you cut up from the road?

And another thing.... running the road defeats the spirit of the event and misses out the very 'best' stretch.

Or maybe we should rename it the roadsman ;)

Agree, can't see the point with running down the road. After doing 38miles the last thing I would want to do is run on tarmac when I don't have to, its bag enough doing the last few miles from Yarnbury when yer feet are on fire. Anyway being high up doing the southern route you get a fantastic view looking down Wharfedale.

Each to their own. If people are so repulsed by a bit of tarmac then you need to plan your route to avoid the mile of road at Dent and the last 2 miles from Yarnbury! I have done the route so many times from Fleet Moss to Middle Tongue and know precisely what it's like and that the road is quicker, if you don't mind the climb. I know what route I'll be taking and won't feel in any way that I am somehow not doing The Fellsman.

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Originally Posted by Stolly

. running the road defeats the spirit of the event and misses out the very 'best' stretch. )

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I know you put a little smiley after that and you are probably just being mischievous, but basically that's a load of rubbish :))

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Originally Posted by irish

DB - where exactly did you cut up from the road?

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Here's the tracklog of my route up from the road...

Attachment 5750

DB - that's almost exactly what i was planning. I couldn't see an exit off the footpath out onto the fell (theer's a limit to what you can see on Google Earth!) but I guess you found one ok.

Decisions, Decisions!

If you climb up the narrow pasture, there is a gate in the wall at the top. You are then in a large pasture (access land) with a wall/fence on your right - this is obliterated by the tracklog a bit. Again there is another gate at the top which takes you onto the open moor. There is a short steeper section up a bit of an escarpment and then onto the plateau where the going is typically rougher. Just a case of finding the CP then, which wasn't obvious as it is not by any particular 'feature'.

Anybody got a contact number for the Fellsman?

Emailed them twice but no joy!:confused:

Thanks

Matt

Hi

Don't suppose anyone has got a entry for the Fellsman they don't want?

Ta,
(hopeful) John

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Originally Posted by johnsski

Hi

Don't suppose anyone has got a entry for the Fellsman they don't want?

Ta,
(hopeful) John

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Entries are not transferable. This is stated in the rules. Rule 6(b) states:

COMPETITORS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR:

b)	The transferring of places. In the event of any entrant being unable to compete, the Event Administrator must be informed. Fees will be refunded up to 16th March 2012, less a small administration charge;

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Originally Posted by dmd

Entries are not transferable. This is stated in the rules. Rule 6(b) states:

COMPETITORS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR:

b)	The transferring of places. In the event of any entrant being unable to compete, the Event Administrator must be informed. Fees will be refunded up to 16th March 2012, less a small administration charge;

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I've had to give my fellsman place up and told the comittee so one lucky person will get it, hope its you johnsski

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Originally Posted by johnsski

HiDon't suppose anyone has got a entry for the Fellsman they don't want?Ta,(hopeful) John

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Not convinced that I really want mine but its too late now!

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Originally Posted by Masham Man

I've had to give my fellsman place up and told the comittee so one lucky person will get it, hope its you johnsski

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Nothing serious I hope?

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Originally Posted by Chris H

Nothing serious I hope?

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Hi Chris, no nothing serious mate, still not back running after hernia op and won't be for a couple of weeks yet, so got to far behind with the training. I will be there on the day giving you all my support.
Hope the training going well for you.

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Originally Posted by Matt-pt

Anybody got a contact number for the Fellsman?
Emailed them twice but no joy!

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I emailed them and they took about a week or so to get back to me. Guess they are quite busy!

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Originally Posted by Masham Man

Hi Chris, no nothing serious mate, still not back running after hernia op and won't be for a couple of weeks yet, so got to far behind with the training. I will be there on the day giving you all my support.
Hope the training going well for you.

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Speedy recovery mate. Will look out for you on the day.

Anyone have any idea when the handbooks are being sent out?

Is anyone reccying this Sat (31st), was going to do Blubberhouses, but cant now, however, have a pass out for Sat as consellation.

This might sound like a silly question, but at what point do people stop training before the Fellsman?

I've got some more long walks planned for next weekend (7/8 Apr) but was then going to stick to low impact, low/medium intensity training like swimming and cycling in the build up with no excercise in the week beforehand. Does this sound sensible? I'm also nervous of picking up an injury before the event too!

Thanks
JP

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Originally Posted by thedatastream

This might sound like a silly question, but at what point do people stop training before the Fellsman?

I've got some more long walks planned for next weekend (7/8 Apr) but was then going to stick to low impact, low/medium intensity training like swimming and cycling in the build up with no excercise in the week beforehand. Does this sound sensible? I'm also nervous of picking up an injury before the event too!

Thanks
JP

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I will carry on running right up to the day but thats more down to the fact that I don't want any particular race or event to get in the way of normal running in the hills than anything else. You still need to maintain the miles and hills in your legs for at least another couple of weeks or so though, don't you?

That said I do appreciate your nervousness about getting an injury especially if this is your first fellsman - I did the ligaments in my ankle during the 3P race, two or three weeks before my very first fellsman. I still did it and managed to get round.... but it wasn't pretty :).

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Originally Posted by thedatastream

This might sound like a silly question, but at what point do people stop training before the Fellsman?

I've got some more long walks planned for next weekend (7/8 Apr) but was then going to stick to low impact, low/medium intensity training like swimming and cycling in the build up with no excercise in the week beforehand. Does this sound sensible? I'm also nervous of picking up an injury before the event too!

Thanks
JP

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I think it depends on what's best for you. Are you competing or completing? If competing, then you will start to lose running fitness after about 3 weeks of no running. I'll probably taper from about 2 weeks out, with no running at all (but some cycling) in the 5 days before.

Unlike Stolly, these races are the only chance I get to run in hills, so I can't coment about maintaining the hills in my legs, since there are none there to start with. ;)

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Originally Posted by thedatastream

This might sound like a silly question, but at what point do people stop training before the Fellsman?

I've got some more long walks planned for next weekend (7/8 Apr) but was then going to stick to low impact, low/medium intensity training like swimming and cycling in the build up with no excercise in the week beforehand. Does this sound sensible? I'm also nervous of picking up an injury before the event too!

Thanks
JP

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Like Stolly I run i the hills for the love of it and seldom enter a race to actually compete against others, it is more a case of of assessing my own fitness ( still nice to push myself and see how I do though ).
Personally I never taper as it does not suit me, and I prefer to incorporate a race into my running as a high intensity workout, for future events that I target for a time.
As to picking up injuries I find that maintaining a constant intensity is better for me than easing off for a period of time and then expecting my body to come back for an intense workout,which I.M.O. leaves me more prone to injury during an event.

Don`t know if that makes sense,but at the end of the day we are all different and have to find what works for ourselves personally.

good luck

My personal dilemma is whether to go FLEET MOSS or ROAD

Training??? Taperig??(only joking- I do try to get out) Last big run Howarth Hobble. Hope to Blubberhouses. Have managed a few small runs in meantime and cycle to work 1/2 the time, have done some O races but nothing long. Suspect Claderdale will be my prep for Fellsman and d perhaps a few recees of Claderdale over easter along with some o races.
Hey ho- perhaps my legs will feel fresh (I wish)