It's in the diary. Will look up the details and probably have a wander along the route at some point...
Printable View
It's in the diary. Will look up the details and probably have a wander along the route at some point...
Attachment 7703
This is a VERY rare picture. It captures a lesser spotted Toffer actually RUNNING (well it was downhill) towards the Grwyne reservoir.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Hmmmm, I dunno, he's quite a long way off and I fear you could have mistaken identification. That looks like a fell runner to me :D.
Cheers Dave, I owe you. Will update the website to reflect that if that's OK. If you do 'wander' along the route, can you kindly post your time and comments on here please? Will help others wanting to judge the route. Ta muchly.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMadRunner
I do have a closer one (for ID purposes au naturelle) but I wasn't sure if the delicate forum members would be quite ready for such a horrific image.Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
As Huw Edwards says before a juicy news item 'viewers are warned that this report contains some disturbing images'!!
Anyway, must stop littering my thread with idle banter. Any more volunteers out there???
Will call you this week!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
No problem, update away. Will probably recce early July for a bit of training. Will pass on any feedback...
Entry in and campsite booked! I went for the Radnors End campsite which looks handy. I'll be bringing the family for a weeks hol, sorry i can't volunteer them to help as my nippers are a right hand full sometimes and may not come home in one piece if my missus has to keep them entertained in one place all day!
Had another volunteer from the great Forum population!
Top man Manhar!
Stop making me blush Wheeze....:D
Anyway - accomodation booked, jazz gig tickets sold out-boo hoo....but I'm sure there will be some obscure free form band busking somewhere...
Nearer the time - give me a heads up if you need a hand on the Friday setting up or putting out dibber controls etc
likewise if anyone's around on the Sunday am and fancies a social run.
Nice one Manhar. Might see you there..Quote:
Originally Posted by Manhar
Anyway Mr Wheeze, are you reading your emails - I sent a couple to the b@o address in the last few days..
Wheeze, quick question. Is the route on your website to be strictly applied? I can see the section at the start/finish across private land will be a keep to the footpaths affair and the one or two places on route that cross private land but once onto the mountain are you free to choose?
The idea is that runners will keep to the Offas Dyke path till they get to Hay Bluff. After that it is a 'free' route choice but to be frank, there's little leeway for radical lines because of the checkpoint arrangement. Let me know if you spot something otherwise!
If there are these limited rules, is this not very similar to the disclaimer that some people think is 'not worth anything'?
Ian, happy to discuss that, but people seem to have little interest. So I will be brief: It is not "rules" that are the alternative to a "disclaimer" it is a "statement of risk" at the time of entry, and it is learned opinion that thinks that ( both from common law and in the light of 2008 legislation) leading to other sports advising not to use a disclaimer at all, where previously they recommended both were used.Quote:
Originally Posted by biara
The statement of risk is useful regardless of law anyway because perception of risk does help with greater caution / less complacency and that in turn makes things safer : ( FRA are just going to have to take qualified safety peoples word for that - there is always a first time for everything)
It is also clearly useful to put the main points of an agreement, including limitations on support, in the place people sign up for it, then nobody can dispute who was told what. But if runners obligations , undertakings and instructions are splattered across several documents, briefings, and notices, who can say?
Biara, I don't care what 'some people' think, I only care that people doing my race understand what they have signed up to.Quote:
Originally Posted by biara
Selwyn wright put it perfectly when he said 'running up a hill should be the simplest thing'.
I strive for simplicity but recognise that to achieve that takes work!
That is why, although I am a reductionist at heart, and a contrarian (aren't all fell runners?), I accept where AI and fell hound are coming from and have embraced the tedious process of writing event management plans etc.
So, yes, the rules look limited and simple. But they are backed up by detailed planning and explanation. Full explanation of why I am doing this is in the ethos bit of the website.
Wheeze, there's really only one bit that my spidy senses are tingling about.... Will pass on any info after my recce on Saturday
Marshal volunteering/armtwisting going well! A merry band of old and new aquaintances have stumped up with promises of assistance. Welcome back to Doug 'Duracell' Adlam and Derek 'spit' Thornley. Has anyone heard sight or sound of Boy Wonder??? Gone very quiet in Bath!
Wheeze,
Been out for a full recce this morning (and some of the afternoon). 5 hours 4 minutes includes 10-15minutes stopped checking route etc.. Adusting for a few bits off route, checking stuff, I've got it at 23.5miles. It's not a bad little route and we had cracking weather for the views.
My route variation (out on the mountain not on the out and back section) was in the region of two minutes quicker. I ran it was Pat who ran the suggested route. Can't be totally accurate but we tried to maintain the same effort level.
Dave
Great stuff dave....thanks for this very useful info.
how long did it take you to get to grywne road crossing the first time?
Recce Stats (which do include a bit of stopped time);
HTML Code:<PRE>
Accum Split Dist (km) Ascent(m)
00:58:00 00:58:00 6.3 585 Hay Bluff
01:17:00 00:19:00 2.9 140 Lord H Knob
01:47:00 00:30:00 5.5 20 Capel-y-ffin
02:23:00 00:36:00 3.6 315 Grwyne Valley Rd
02:54:00 00:31:00 2.1 370 Pen-y-Gadir Fawr
03:08:00 00:14:00 1.9 60 Waun Fach
03:29:00 00:21:00 2.2 35 Reservoir CP
03:44:00 00:15:00 1.4 110 Twyn T Cairn
04:05:00 00:21:00 3.1 75 Lord H Knob
04:27:00 00:22:00 2.9 135 Hay Bluff
05:04:00 00:37:00 6.2 5 Finish
TOTALS 05:04:00 38.1 1850
</PRE>
Thats beyond helpful! Given your standard, I think I need to reset the time-out at Grwyne to 3.30.
Would appreciate comments regarding things for others to watch out for. Can put that into the FAQ bit of the website.
Well Wheeze, after fighting my way back to fitness over the spring, I now have this race date pencilled in my diary.
I am feeling good after running 45 miles of the South Pennine hills this TdF weekend (40 on Saturday and 5 recovery on Sunday).
Just need to get Holme Moss fell race done and dusted in a fortnight and will then finalise plans for entry and accommodation.
So, just over a month to go and race entries building nicely.
So far, paid up entries have been received from:
Simon Neville
Janet Richards
Ben Beaumont
Paul Beeson
Helen Fines
Jerome McAllister
David Powell
Gareth Jones
William Darby
Runners will soon outnumber the organising team!!
Confirmed marshals are:
Manhar
Mike Bates
Ian Lewis
Doug Adlam
Derek Thornley
Toffer
Matt Hand
Jane Hand
Rod Jones
Stan
and there are some lurkers who may become more evident as time goes by!
and I have the services of Paul Chester and Dave Austin as sweepers.
All looking good.
Mr Wheeze asked me to update some notes about route and other things...see here.
http://steambunnybluff.co.uk/updates...s-please-note/
Wheeze, the route is fairly straightforward in most places. Obviously the most 'open' bit is the descent from Waun Fach but then that's fell running... The only bit that I think could be confusing is the section out from Capel-y-ffin back onto the mountain, where, 400m up the road, from the junction, you turn left by the footpath signpost, go up the road 50m and then bear right up someone's driveway... I've run down that way before so knew that was the way but it could seem a little odd to others.... Maybe worth a few photos/detail description for the faq.
Looking good lads. I know i've banged this drum before but i liked the name 'Steam Bunny's Knob' soooo much!:cool:
Thanks Dave. As regards Capel y Ffin I think it's important to require people to find their own way. At least on the low level sections where the only danger is frustration if they get it wrong!
I know.... I lost my nerve!!😃
If you give us some clues about where you lost your nerve we may be able to help you find it. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Was it just one nerve or did you loose your bottle as well?
A nerveless Wheeze on the forum could be rather dangerous ;)
One month to go!
A gentle plea, those of you who may be toying with idea, please don't leave it late. The equipment hire is pretty expensive and I need to have an idea of numbers sooner rather than later. In subsequent years, I'm sure this will get easier!
Imagine a nice saturday afternoon in Sunny Wales,. Parked up deep in the heart of the Black Mountains. Cricket on the radio, a thermos of refreshing tea by your side and the finest home made sandwiches nestling in your tum. Overhead, red kites hover and dart, looking for lunch. Sheep bleat, bees hum and, every now and again, a wretched sweaty human passes by, suffering for your entertainment.
All this and more is offered free of charge in return for your time. Volunteer marshals, sign up here! (could do with a couple more!!)
Entry Update:
Simon Neville
Janet Richards
Ben Beaumont
Paul Beeson
Helen Fines
Jerome McAllister
David Powell
Gareth Jones
William Darby
Karen Elvers
Steve Long
Jonathan Gledson
Runners now outnumber the organising team!!
Confirmed marshals are:
Manhar
Ian Lewis
Doug Adlam
Derek Thornley
Toffer
Matt Hand
Jane Hand
Rod Jones
Stan
Andy Mullett
Some new photos and notes have been added to the website...please look up the relevant pages if interested.
A new prize category has been added....the best excuse for NOT entering.
So far, way out in the lead is 'I cannot do the race because I will be artificially inseminating 5 cows that day'!! Way to go!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze;590126
So far, way out in the lead is [I
Could be better: "I cannot do the race because I will be inseminating 5 sheep that day"
Sorry about that, I shall crawl back down my hole!
Or how about (& this does not apply to me btw, I hasten to add ;)) - I cannot do the race because I am being inseminated by 5 sheep / cows...........:p
Hope the offer of the finest home made sarnies & the majesty of the black mountains has enticed 1 or 2 more marshalls for you Wheeze.
Barring illness/strife, I think we are up to strength now mate.
Did the Waun Fach race yesterday and the tops are much drier. Somehow we seemed to miss the torrential downpours that strafed the country over the last 48 hours! Beautiful race made utterly special by the Red Kite that was hunting right over the dragons back as we barrelled down that amazing rollercoaster. Every race has its special bits but you'd have to a long way to beat that.
OK people, with the closing date for online entry being Friday 1st Aug, it means that there is just this weekend left for people to get their act together and enter (most entries seem to be made at weekends!).
A few people have been asking about entering so its obvious that numbers will swell past the 12 currently paid up to race. But, not unreasonably, the IT providers are asking for an idea of final numbers. Taking a pragmatic view (comparing with how many people ran Brecon Beacons race for example), its been decided to cap entry numbers to 40.
So, if you are still thinking of entering, please do it now to avoid disappointment.
If anyone was planning to do the race and misses the cut, well apologies. But we are on a learning curve this year. And, should you really leave stuff like that so late??
Come on people. You don't expect to enter Ennerdale on the day do you? I've reccied this route in its entirety and it's good. If you live south of Manchester just enter the damn thing! Thinking about it, if you live north of Manchester just enter the damn thing...
Oh look... techie stuff to keep tabs on you and keep you out of mischief...
http://maps.opentracking.co.uk/sbb2014.cfm