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Echo SS's comments. This is a brill race and tough cos it's just about all runnable on the stonking climb. It's worth doing for the crowds in the village alone at the finish. You can just about get away with thinking the top is the finish even though it's only half way as the descent goes on forever and gives plenty of time for recovery for the bit in the woods at the bottom. Janet McIver ran a stormer at last year's race I recall.
Why do you have to carry waterproofs in summer? :confused:
Even if I sprained my ankle and had to wait for help, I wouldn't want to wear waterproofs while I waited.
It's the end of May! I'm hardly going to get hypothermia!
If it was raining I'd already be wet anyway!
If I was out walking on the hills I'd carry emergency gear, but this is a marshalled race, and they know you are out there, so why do you need to carry all this gear in summer for just a 10 mile race??? :rolleyes:
it's perfectly possible to get hypothermia if it's windy at 3000ft at any time of year
waterproof full-body cover is ESSENTIAL
It's possible that mountain rescue would be split however:Quote:
Originally Posted by Amber
casualty in waterproofs or casualty in bikini?
I had stomach cramp when I got back down to the road which reduced me to a pathetic plod. I've never been so overtaken in my life - I was gutted. Threw up at the end! Like I said, it was great! Don't think I can make it this year :(
Wahey! I'm in!
Number 25 :D
Do the marshalls show you the way, like on road races??
Or are they just at the check points to record your number?
Tell me they show you the route! I'm still scared of getting lost! :eek:
It says the last bit to the summit is unmarshalled.
I presume the path is an obvious one then? :confused:
Do you just get to the top, check in, then come down the exact same route?
That would be good, as the people coming down would show us slow ones the way!! :D
You have 1 hour 15 to do the first 6k up the thing, right?
Well that's 20 min miles, so even if you plodded up you should do it in that time I would think???? :p
correct - no problemoQuote:
Originally Posted by Amber
just get your entry in and I'll see you on the start line :)
Amber, Ive only done this race in good weather so the route usually seems 'obvious' but in answer to your questionsQuote:
Originally Posted by Amber
...the path does seem obvious
...you go down the same way as you go up.
...don't think the marshall show you the way but just remember the only way is up and I'm sure you won't go wrong.
...I'm usually in top third of the field and have plenty to follow so those behind should also be following many people.
I would say don't worry and go for it (but gently reminding myself of my performance at Black Combe this weekend and getting lost in the mist and being disqualifed for missing a check point:o).
See you there
Onwards and upwards!
Gaz
Let's hope there's no fog/mist then.............:eek: :eek: :eek:
:p
This is my first race, I've signed up, got my race number and am getting excited but have a quick question. Will maps be available at the start and if not will a photocopy of an OS map be good enough?
Thanks
OS photocopy will be fine.....you're always best arranging your own map...don't rely on being able to pick one up at the race start......some people have expressed the view that race organisers should provide race maps for competitors.....these people have usually been railroaded off by old timer grumpy gits who probably do as little running as I do these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by JPJ
The more technologically able and keen race organisers do try where possible to put a printable copy of race route on the net / race website (if applicable)......this is always a good idea if it can be done.....
Always make your own arrangements however......the FRA statement....that it doesn't seek to attract new members kinda speaks volumes about the level of self sufficiency required
EDIT: good luck by the way....don't be put off
Are there still spare places does anyone know or is it full now?
ooh, time to bump this one up
taking family down camping at some point next week - anybody got any campsite recommendations near Dolgellau/Barmouth..? :)
I hope to be doing this one, will enter on the day. I don't have campsite recommendations but can pass on an embarrassing story about the last time I ran the race some years ago.
Me and a mate (Brian) entered the race. We stayed at the Corris hostel on Friday night so had plenty of time to recce on Saturday morning. We checked the bottom section including the part before the woods near Llyn Gwernan.
In the race I was reasonably well up when we got to there and Brian was further down. Anyway the leaders went wrong and everybody followed them, including me, thinking it was wrong but not wanting to lose touch... just in case:o. Pretty soon back they came! We went back round the field and down the right path, and there was Brian calling me a plonker because I knew the way really, and the leaders (including a Tarren Hendre guy!) were having trouble getting places back on the narrow forest path.
Hope to see you all on the 30th.
PS if the organiser sees this - any chance of fixing the 1992 results link on the website? I think that was when I last ran and want to know how I did. Thanks.:)
Last 2 years we camped at Tan y Fron;Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/de...id=3281&map=on
Great location - 5-10 mins from all pubs, town square and race start, great showers and all that is needed for camping.........only thing I recall is a little expensive but can't remember how much.....
Daz, Try this place.Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
Cefnmaelan
Dolgellau
Gwynedd
LL40 2LT
Tel: 01341423338
It's an elevated camp site about 1/2 mile South of Dolgellau town centre. Fantastic views of Cadair Idris. Good facilities. Run and owned by Archie the poorest farmer in Wales!!
I work with farmers in mid/north Wales. They're all bloody poor:D
Thanks for the advice guys :)
I've rung a couple of campsites (one near the coast and one inland) and they both sounded pretty relaxed about having to book, so think I'm just going to potter down on Thursday and scout one out
really looking forward to the actual race! :D
My first fell race this weekend. Very excited!!!! Weather report for saturday, SUN, SUN, SUN.:eek:
well good luck dyl-dwl enjoy :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by dyl-dwl
oh and welcome
Hi dyl-dwl (is that Welsh for something!?)Quote:
Originally Posted by dyl-dwl
Welcome to the madness!
Say hi on the start-line - I'll be the one in the fluorescent green Fell ponies vest :cool:
I don't want to piss on the good weather parade, but I facking hate the sun......
What a bloody misery guts:D
This is my first attempt at this race- is there water available at checkpoints, or is it advisable to carry some around with you? I'd like to carry water with me but my bumbag/pack's gonna be fairly heavy already with the waterproofs, compass, map etc. Any advice would be greatly appeciated!
Unusually for a fell race there is a water station it's at the farm near where the route crosses the road at the National Park car park. As it's an out and back race you go through this point twice which in time terms is about a quarter of the way out and 3/4 of the way home. In the past marshalls have had some water where the pony path emerges onto the main ridge but they can't carry much up to there and I wouldn't rely on it.
Thanks for the info eddie- that's really helpful. Very excited to get stuck into my first fell running race.
Ran this last year a great race with a good atmosphere - remember the final run back on the road being hard work - so worth saving a bit for the end - for anyone who hasn't run it before.
What a cracking day.... pictures from the race, taken just below the summit, are beginning to appear on my site
www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk
Have not up loaded them all yet, rest tomorrow morning....
Alastair.
Great photos!
This was my first fell race and I had a fantastic time. I was looking to break 2 hours (no particular reason for this time but I wanted a goal) but came in just over at 2.01.
I think the heat and a lack of technique on the decent held me up a bit. Going up wasn't to bad, I made it to the top in 1.05, but plenty of people came past me on the way down and I struggled to get into a steady rhythm. I guess this just needs more practise.
The memories of the last couple of miles are starting to fade now so are there any other similar races in the North Wales area that you would recommend?
Jon
1st fell race for me also, Sorry JPJ, but 1H.55M.09S for me. We must have passed each other at some point. I was the one with the orange backpack, white t-shirt and severally dehydrated. Stupidly I didnt take much water in at the water stops and paid for it at the end. Great day thinking about it now, but boy did we suffer. Talking to a guy in the ship afterwards and he told me about WFRA, who hold regular events. http://www.wfra.org.uk/
Good time, what sort of training did you do? Any tips for going down hill faster?
Sorry, forgot to say thanks for the link, looks interesting.
Run fasterQuote:
Originally Posted by JPJ
Of what I saw on saturday, there's no really technique to running down hill, just concentration on where to place your feet and a bit of balls. Seeing some of the front runners running down was very impressive. Dont think i'll ever be silly enough to run like that.
I actually mean what i said. Practice descending by really pushing it. Watch your step cos im notorius for twisting my ankle and try to keep on a straight path instead of bouncing all over the place
Cracking day, cracking race. They said leave some in the tank for the lower descent. Did I listen? Did I feck....
Had a good climb, a half-respective descent, but when I hit the road, I just died. I had nothing, nada, zilch. It took me until I got through the woods, round the lake and back out onto the road that I shaped up and got sorted.
The cake and tea at the end was top scran.
Looking forward to next year already:D
What a MONSTER of a race that was! :eek:
Glorious views, but bit too bloomin hot for my liking,
like Silly Big Fella I really "went for" the descent, enjoyed it tremendously:D... but dismally failed to keep anything back for the run-in :o
was hoping for about 2:20 but happy enough just to get round in one piece in 2:40 under the conditions
I found the end section OK. I'd heard so much horror stories of people blowing up there I think I'd put it in a similar category to the last 5.5k of Jura, so when I got to it it's just a few k around the lake, then hit the road which is almost all down hill. I had a shocker on the climb though, just couldn't run, walked almost all of it and just thought I'd save something because going up quick just wasn't happening, struggled in the heat and just off the summit was only just in the top 10, but had a strong descent to finish 4th. Passing people struggling certainly helped me along the bad bits, always gives you a kick when you pass them, it's almost like you drag a bit more energy from them, horrible when it's the other way round though..
Anyone thinking of doing this?
It's 10.5 miles up & down Cader Idris in Snowdonia. (3,000 ft! :eek:)
I did it last year, but missed the cut-off time, so didn't get in the results.
I've got 3 people coming with me so far, but they are all whippets, & won't be running with me. :(
So I'd quite like to pair up with a slow person for safety this year, as it can be a dangerous race if the weather closes in.
It's a really great race, with incredible views at the top.
http://www.cader-race.co.uk/
We camped last year which was nice. So anyone up for camping? :D
What's the rough time/distance for this?
Does it follow a set route, or just willy & indeed nilly over (agreeable) Farmers land??
I ask from an aspect of motoring history, as 'Motor Sport' magazine took a (still relatively recently released!) press-fleet Range Rover up Cader, & got to within 120feet of the summit!!
The journey from their chosen start (south-western side) took less than 3 hours (so it says)
For the other Landie-lovers on here;
The Rangie in question was; PXC 540J
It wore Dunlop 'Trak-Grips' in 7.50 x 16 (usually a Land Rover fitment)
Had a Warn winch (4,000IB)
It was featured in the October 1971 edition of 'Motor Sport'
You set out from the town centre, & it's well marshalled on trails most of the way. You follow the pony track or something. There's a cut off time of 1 hr 15 about two thirds of the way up. From then on there aren't any marshals until the summit, but the track is obvious.
Previous years results are on the website to give you an idea of how long it takes.