Have fun all, looks like you might just get a weather window of sorts, enjoy fleetmoss:)
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Have fun all, looks like you might just get a weather window of sorts, enjoy fleetmoss:)
Pretty cold start from Ingleton, breezy and chilly! Met Britnick and had a chat with Jez Bragg (nice bloke:thumbup:), here he is after the Hill Inn check point this morning, he was 4th at this early stage:
Attachment 6052
He doesn't think a record time is on this year due to the wind and the wet conditions, he looked very strong though so time will tell...
Unfortunately my friend Cat had to pull out here due to a pulled calf:thunbdown: but Ali still going on her first Fellsman, go Ali!!:thumbup:
I doubt that there'll be good times this year - there's a strong North Easterly today (well it's strong in the valleys!) and most of the route will be in to it. Some big showers going through but just luck if you get caught in one.
Heres a video I took of the start of the 50th Fellsman this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrlDg7zD_U4
I hope that whoever this was is OK - http://twitpic.com/9es9xb
I've a work colleague who's doing the Fellsman this year to raise money for the air ambulance after he took a bad fall off Stanage Edge in the Peak District about 18 months ago.
He was first through Dent, and looking good. I wouldn't bet against him.:rolleyes:
I'm back early having packed in at CP4.
I knew within half an hour of the start that my injured calf wasn't going to prove up to the challenge.
Going up the steeper section of Whernside, I couldn't put any power through my left leg at all, and sort of 'hopped' up to the ridge.
I didn't fancy repeating the experiment up Gragareth.
It was however great to take a small part in such an event and if I can shake off injuries will be back next year to have a proper go.
The wind chill is likely to cause some problems. Winds were quite strong on the tops and it was distinctly cold even back at Threshfield.
I bumped into several forumites at Ingleton en route, including Pilgrim, Stolly, JP (number 4), and Hes. Hope they're still going well.
How's the Mrs. doing young sir?Quote:
Originally Posted by crumblydown
Bad luck TF, at least you had a dig at it.
Cheers Steve.Quote:
Originally Posted by stevefoster
Being there at all was a bonus. There'll be another day.
BTW, it was interesting on Whernside with the 3 Peakers heading in the opposite direction and 'rival' checkpoints on the summit!
I heard that at least one Fellsman entrant started to follow the 3P flow back down to the Hill Inn....:w00t:
What an extraordinary event. Standing ontop of Whernside this morning(which was like the M25, by the way) I got the full extent of the challenge. 360 degrees from the top you could basically see the course. Amazing.
Last saw her at Dent, Steve, she was looking strong and feeling good,will have a ride shortly and watch them coming in.:thumbup:
Good news, enjoy your weekend mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by crumblydown
Keep going everyone:thumbup:
Jez Bragg has won in 11 hours 2 mins
Some pictures from today's Fellsman from Great Whernside. First pic Jez Bragg on his way up to the summit 2nd pic Mark Hartell giving chase and 3rd pic 3&4th runners reaching Great Whernside SummitAttachment 6053
Attachment 6054
Attachment 6055
Wow! That's some going!Quote:
Originally Posted by protodoc
Hope the runner who was air-lifted off Whernside with a suspected broken leg is ok...
Amazing luck with the weather, tomorrow's forecast is for gales, heavy rain, and snow on the tops. Hope the tail end don't get hit by it...
It is; but the fact that it's nearly an hour slower than his own time last year is an indicator of how much harder the conditions were.Quote:
Originally Posted by fozzy
Race has been abandoned!!! Think it's a first. Too many people getting hypothermia.
Wow, abandoned! Sounds like it must have been pretty bad. Congrats to everyone who had a go andihope everyone is ok, and warm!
Hey up Merry, Mrs C got round in 16:47. Said she felt good but it was a cold un. Despite the sunshine for most of the daylight hours the head wind all day was bitter coupled with a few snow showers. Not surprising it was abandoned, the makers of foil blankets must have made a killing! Wouldn't want to be out there now it's still v windy & hail stoning, it would have been a long night for the walkers and checkpoint staff. Who as usual did a brilliant job.
Sounds like it was hugely testing. Its amazing how rapid you lose body heat out on the tops. It surprises me every time.
Well done to all !!
Well done to everyone that got round and to the checkpoint staff to. The guys checking people through G Whernside had to hold the tent down with rocks to stop it blowing away.
Attachment 6056
Does anyone know how Hes and Stolly got on? Also, two guys from Ripon Runners Pete Chapman and Bill Foreman. What a turn up, hope everyone is in and warm.
Hope no-one seriously hurt. Sounds ROUGH and if the weather down here, this morning, is anything to go by, it'd be pretty testing.
I am a long way South- West of the route, so if any lost running gear (or runners!) blows into my garden, I'll know where it came from!:wink:
Well done Gerry... purge all the bad weather demons before May 25th;)
The guy in the black Helly is Konrad, a running friend of mine and an occasional forumite. He finished in 11:31, I think - blooming good going given he claimed not to be very fit beforehand!Quote:
Originally Posted by markmc
Pete Chapman and Bill Foreman from Ripon Runners finished around 14 hours or so. Well done to them.
OMG! That's a tough course! Managed to avoid any silly mistakes and got round in15h20. Huge thank you to Julian, Stephen and Terry who grouped with me from Cray; with 30+ fellsmans between them they didn't put a foot wrong, thanks guys.
Just heard Hes is home in 18.25. Amazing.
SWell done Gerry, that's the same time we did it in 2009, thought you'd be faster without me:wink:. And well done to everyone else who finished or had a go, sounds grim but that's Yorkshire for yer! Hope everyone's ok today:)Quote:
Originally Posted by crumblydown
Great effort Hes, well done:thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fairyfeet
Just spoken to Ali (leedsflyer), she made it to park rash and was told the race was abandoned, she had to wait 50 mins in a tent with a few people in body bags with hypothermia for the minibus. Apparently approx 20 with hypothermia, she confirms bitter headwind most of the way round. She felt awful at Dent but seemed to rally and felt fine for the rest of the time. She was on for a time of 19 hours, bloody good in those conditions for a first ever Fellsman!
Well that was a good day out - 14:44 for me, beat my previous time by 1:20. That wind was bloody cold, annoying and energy sapping. Anyway I was back home in north London for 04:45 ready for my little princess's first birthday being woken up at 08:00 after sneaking into the spare room.
I hope everyone survived ok and congratulations to everyone who took part. I'm surprised to hear that it was abandoned though.
well my ankle made it! So pleased to be able to get round. Wind was fierce all day but I was only cold from Buckden Pike- but how cold. Must remember to carry more layers. Those I was grouped with were fantastic- Thanks guys. I could not have hoped for a better grouping. 16 hrs 21 slower than 2 years agao but still very pleased. Biggest thanks to all the marshalls.
16:21 on that ankle in those conditions is phenomenal!
Well done to all who completed, and tough luck to anyone who couldn't finish, for whatever reason.
Sounds as if the sub-19 hours people got through but that anyone slower had to withdraw. Is that about right?
It must have been a nightmare for all those wonderful organisers and volunteers, but if they to managed abandon the event without serious casualties it's a real tribute to the planning and systems they have in place. Seeing the 'Body Bus' arrangements first-hand increased my appreciation of the thoroughness of arrangements, but also my understanding of how fiendishly difficult the logistics are, with 400 competitors strung over a vast area with few road crossings.
Once the dust (hail? snow?) has settled, it'll be interesting to hear the discussions about the date of the event. I know the date change was forced on the organisers by access issues, but one would think that the new April slot increases the chances of poor weather as well as extending the night length.
They evaluate the event meticulously, and I would imagine that we haven't heard the last of this.
Don't see that the change of date is that significant - it's only a week or two earlier than usual, and I've been out in worse conditions in May. It would have been worse if it were 10 degrees warmer but with today's wind and rain?
Anyway, congratulations to everyone who started, regardless of whether you finished or not :)
The weather had better improve before the GL3D next weekend...
Could be right there TF...I've just seen DinoF's update on Facebook & he was withdrawn after 17 hours with 9 miles to go - Park Rash?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
I don't think the date is significant either.
I tried a JNC last year on 29 May
Ended up wearing full winter gear and full waterproofs and then calling it a day at Dunmail having been blown off my feet so many times, plus the joy of torrential rain for 6 hours
Those marshalls in their little tents on top of those hills for hours and hours, in the dark and howling wind - what commitment!
And at the roadside checkpoints, cooking and organising and grouping and dealing with withdrawals.
And all those people at the event centre dealing with the logistics and admin.
What a monumental effort! And people have been doing it for fifty years.
And all those people who can get round that monster of a course and retain their sense of humour and can actually enjoy it - such as Karen - the ankle didn't seem to be hampering her too much.
And those people who had the guts or good sense to retire - I was sorely, sorely tempted...
And how can you fit a thousand miles of tussocks into a 60 mile course?