why dont you do it when its a British champs race?it`ll be later on in the year ,so theres more of a chance of better weather and also a larger field with plenty to follow around the course
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why dont you do it when its a British champs race?it`ll be later on in the year ,so theres more of a chance of better weather and also a larger field with plenty to follow around the course
Thanks people. I guess a lot depends on the weather/visibility. Cader in May 09 was a perfect warm clear day, & you could keep to the track on the unmarshalled bits ok. But last year the weather was bad, & I ended up way off the track. So it will be the same for this race I imagine.
With good navigational skills you'd be ok whatever. But I'm not experienced at nav races.....
Ria, the Cadair Idris race route is much harder to follow in poor visibility than Ras yr Aran, which runs more or less in a straight line and follows a fence most of the way (apart from the flagged start/finish section). Just set your compass roughly at 190 degrees on the way out and at about 10 degrees on the way back and if you still go off in another direction, !?@&$£"*-!.
Yiannis
Well, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful spring day with excellent visibility. First time for me this race, also. Looking forward to it. Those who have done it before - what shoes? Cloud 9 threw me the other week (although I'd done it before but forgotten) because I wore my bare grips and massive sections of it were on road. I take it it's not the same here?
You need good fellrunning shoes for this race.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigel
ydt
Good. Thanks Yiannis. Time to try out these new Inov8 Bare grips properly, then.
Almost none of this is on the road - pure fells all the way :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Nigel
Really looking forward to this one and the forecast is looking fab
Thinking of showing up for this. Love these hills but never raced here looks like a little cracker!
Fantastic race yesterday. Perfect Weather and a good course even if there was a lot of uphill on the way downhill! Nice one, Meirionnydd.
There are some pictures up on the site of yesterday's race
http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk/rasyraran2011.html
If you can find this post in a thread for a race 4 years ago....
Al.
Results are up;
http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/dow...ls/aran_11.xls
Surprised that that so few used the opportunity to use the race as a recce.
Very good time by Rich Roberts and Steve. Gutted I missed it, another "on my doorstep" races. knakered my knee on a run last Monday and still sore!! wasn't worth the risk to run it.
Reckon I would of possibly got 3rd as i've done 1:29 in a fast recce and would never of kept up with Rich and Steve on the climb :-P But the weather was perfect!
Will start again steady this week as I've got 3 Peaks in 5 weeks.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one again this year. The weather conditions made it feel like a totally different race - the views were fantastic but kept looking up and the summit wasn't getting any closer - at least last year there wasn't that problem.
I was exceedingly chuffed to knock 40 minutes off last year's time - it was hard work but well worth it.
Many thanks to everyone involved.
Anyone doing it this year (2012)? I'm planning to have a go, did a recce of the route yesterday, seemed really tough but then the longest race I've done so far is 4 miles. Also I'm certain I got lost at some points.
Any advice from those who've ran it before?
Unfortunately I can't make it this year.
The route is fairly simple you just follow the path by the fence which goes along the Aran ridge then cross the stile a few hundred metres below the summit and pick your way through the rocks to the top.
Great, thanks for that; sounds like I took an unintentional detour on my recce!
Don't stray to the left on the way up nor the right on the way down.Quote:
Originally Posted by sphide
Yes, as Emma says, follow the fence.
Will do, thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigel
Yes this one's quite a tough race. Nav-wise it's not that bad.
From the start it's simple to the first stile, then follow the path keeping the fence to your right, over 3 more stiles untill you get to the stile by the board walks (the planks over the wet stuff) after them keep the fence to your left all the way to the summit, but after the planks you need to go right a bit to pick up the quadbike track to the foot of Aran Benllyn (pile of stones) then a scramble up for a bit to a small lake then follow the fence to the foot of Aran Fawddwy then scramble to find the trig point. Same way down.
Note!!!! when you descend Aran Benllyn (what you had to scramble up before) make sure you pick up that Quadbike track, Essential!!! to maintain speed and running, if you stay with the fence your in allsorts of rocks and boulders, totaly un-runable stuff!
I was up there on Saturday the course is running nice at the moment, I'll be there but marshalling as I've a Duathlon the day after.
Enjoy :-)
Brilliant description, thanks very much. I was there on Sunday, shame I missed you!Quote:
Originally Posted by gafrymynydd
This was tough especially in the heat I underestimated
this having not raced for6 months. I also missed quad track on descent
I certainly found it tough too; had nothing left after the summit so my descent was more like a fast walk! Lovely weather though, even if us Brits are not used to the heat!Quote:
Originally Posted by N-dubya
Hi All
Ras yr Aran Race Pictures can be seen here: :w00t:
http://www.sportpicturescymru.co.uk/rasyraran2012.html
Thanks
Gwynfor James
Attachment 5909
http://www.run-meirionnydd.co.uk/Quote:
Race Cancelled.
Ras yr Aran Race, Saturday, 23 March.
Sorry, but due to severe weather Ras yr Aran Race has been cancelled.
At race Registration a detailed weather report made for grim reading. Red hazard warnings give strong winds with a chill factor of -14. Not forgetting to mention possible white out conditions. This was going to be interesting and I was quite relieved when I realised I wasn't the only stranger to the area after spotting familiar faces from Pennine, Rossendale and Barlick. Also it was good to see fellow FRA nav course attendee from last week, Ste Toogood.
Just before the race is about to start the organiser tells us the course is to be shortened on the advice of the Mountain Rescue guys at the summit. Apparently the final climb up towards the summit is treacherous with deep snow, ice and very strong winds. The original route is 10 miles, today we ran 7.5 miles. On leaving the fields and hitting the steep fellside it soon becomes apparent why the shorten route is enforced. The snow starts to get deeper with every footstep and visibility starts to become a problem. I followed footsteps in the snow for a few 100yrds at one point when the lads in front went out of sight.
On arriving at the new summit I started closing in on the runners who's footsteps I'd been following. I thought I was descending well until Chris(Athers) came flying past... Top descending mate. There is a proper buzz to be had when blasting down foot deep snow on a mountain side alien to me, then occasionally seeing partially hidden rocks brings you back down to reality.
The last field on heavy snow sapped legs was tough going and I was happy with 11th. Talking to Chris after the race he said I'd run quicker if I lost the beard, it must weigh 2 lbs. He may have a point but my face never felt the wind chill.
In summary this is a cracking race that I will be returning to for the full course in better weather. Thanks to all involved and hats off to the Mountain Rescue guys for keeping us safe.
Cracking race shame it was shortened, but it was a sensible decision! It were Baltic!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tindersticks
Aye.. I'm normally against shortened races but the top of Yr Aran is lethal. I did it back in 09? and we ran to the first main summit (sounds like the same course) and that was a brave enough call, the actual summit proper would have been too dangerous.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dynamo Dan
Apparently it was sheet ice up on that ridge! It was challenging enough with out the main summit in those conditions yesterday. A great race though - I'll definitely be back next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Cheers Daz, was a good race in the end. Yu went well. Did have a moment at the turnaround where i thought glad we're not going up any higher. Snow was a killer. Made it fun for the descent though. Think i managed to make up about 6/7 places due to some sensible down hilling from most.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tindersticks
thinking of doing this one on Saturday
does anybody know whether there's any snow up at the top?
whether the race might be shortened?
In a similar vein to the Seven Seven's post, entries for this British Champs race opened yesterday, and well over 250 places already gone.
So if you want in, then don't hang about...!
I'm in
Think I may have identified you on the start list...! --- -------
possibly the same --- ------- who 'liked' my facebook post when I absolutely slated that guy who suggested fell race entry should be restricted to locals only, to save on carbon emissions...!
Doing a few of the 'classic' medium Welsh races this year for the first time... Aran, Cader Idris, Moelwyns, Foel Fras, Trefriw Mill, amongst others...
10 out of 10 for your detective skills Travs, although I've not tried to hide my identity.
I'm planning on doing some longer races this year but am struggling with previous race evidence as last winter I did no races due to injury/illness.
I am currently on the pre selection list for Long Mynd Valleys and sweating as to whether my Tour of Pendle of 2yrs ago and my 38th place at last years Wrekin Wrecker will be enough to get an invite.
If so, I'll see you there!
My understanding of the qualifying regulations is that the Wrekin Wrecker alone would be sufficient.
Have a similar situation with my young club-mate who wants to do the race... he’s only done Lee Mill Relay and Cardington Cracker.... the Cracker should be sufficient for him... I have advised him to think carefully about entering the Valleys as it’s a whole different kettle of fish, but he’s still keen, and he’s a grown adult so I can only give him my opinions...
See you at the Valleys...!
I can’t make this race. If anyone would like my entry please get in touch.
This urgent information has been posted on Facebook:
Urgent Ras yr Aran Information
Covid 19 - Instructions for athletes
At present the Government has not ordered nor advised the abandonment of outdoor sporting activities of our size so the race will continue.
However it is important that we take as many precautions as we can to prevent the spread of the virus to fellow runner, officials or the local community through our activities. Please refer to PHE advice
You should NOT attend the race if
• You are feverish and have symptoms of respiratory infection cough cold shortness of breath ( this is sensible whatever the cause of your illness)
• You have been directly advised to self isolate, or is in a group that the government has advised to self isolate.
• You think you have been in close contact with someone who has has the virus, or if you think you may have it
People can have the virus and feel well so there may still be people coming who has it.
To minimise the chances of contamination please remember
• Follow hand washing advice.
• Avoid unnecessary physical contact (!)
• Not to bunch up if queuing for any reason
• If the weather is fit stay outside as much as you can, don’t congregate around registration or any lists.
• If you arrive early consider returning to your car til warm up time.
We will try to make the flow of people through the number pick up as smooth as possible.
Subject to weather the presentations will be outside. We will try to keep them brief.
We will not be offended if those who are confident in their disappointment wish to go home without attending the prize giving.
We can post their prize on to any winners who don't wish to stay.
Looking forward to this tomorrow. The starting line up must be one of the highest quality I've ever been in...
Never got higher than 180th in an English/Champs race. Wonder if the current situation will put a few off and i'll be able to sneak up the placings a little...!
@Manx Legs, I'm interested in your bib, if it's still available and swaps allowed.
Looks like we might have a decent weather window tomorrow lunchtime in Llanuwchllyn!