Grizedale Horseshoe Race

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Originally Posted by Huw

GR for hole in the wall.....(it ain't a hole just 3 stone steps set into the wall) is roughly
NY 371 160. I seem to recall a CP at gate-ish/side of the barn NY370 149 then its straight down and cross the river at NY369 150.

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So far as I can gather, everyone's gone camping already, but in case anyone's still reading, I've been emailed an Achille Ratti flier for the 2010 race which includes a new (?) CP between the Elmhow Plantation barn and the style you mention - the bridge at 362143 - if correct, this'll add about a mile of relatively flat running either side of Grisedale Beck before the climb to the style ...

The 7 CPs mentioned are: 1. Catstye Cam summit; 2. Grisedale Tarn (eastern end); 3. St Sunday Crag summit; 4. Barn (370149); 5. Bridge (362143); 6. Wall stile (373160); 7. Finish (village hall). Hoping they're right. See some of you tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by GreenFlash

So far as I can gather, everyone's gone camping already, but in case anyone's still reading, I've been emailed an Achille Ratti flier for the 2010 race which includes a new (?) CP between the Elmhow Plantation barn and the style you mention - the bridge at 362143 - if correct, this'll add about a mile of relatively flat running either side of Grisedale Beck before the climb to the style ...

The 7 CPs mentioned are: 1. Catstye Cam summit; 2. Grisedale Tarn (eastern end); 3. St Sunday Crag summit; 4. Barn (370149); 5. Bridge (362143); 6. Wall stile (373160); 7. Finish (village hall). Hoping they're right. See some of you tomorrow.

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This was the same route a couple of years ago when I did it. Apparently there was some dispute with a farmer/landowner as I recall so instead of going straight across from the barn you had to head SW up the side of Grisedale Beck and cross over. The beck was running pretty full that year and so I went over the bridge but some people went for the beck crossing a bit lower down but there was not much in it. There was no checkpoint there at the bridge though that year?

It's looking good for an awesome day. Nice blue sky over Birk fell and Place fell.
In fact one of those mornings I wish I'd have seen the sun rise whilst on top of Helvellyn.
Still, we'll be there later!

Many thanks to the organiser and marshalls for volunteering your free time today, much appreciated.
You ordered perfect weather as well - think this was the first time I've ever run a Lakes event without helly, today just shorts and a running vest.......or perhaps I'm just a big girls blouse!
I had my usual torrid race, slowly blowing up as the race progressed, but do you know what, the views made it all worthwhile, I just love the view from the top end of Grisedale, it's stunning. Maybe July and August off due to twisted ankle didn't help...excuses excuses blah blah blah. 25 minutes up on last year, but why o why do I always go backwards up the last climb, boo hoo!
Bring on Helvellyn Tri tomorrow I say, c'monnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Thanks again, and well done to all, hope you enjoyed the awesome views as much as I did?

That was one tough race. I found it far harder than 2009 although I don't know why.

The marshalls were all great and very supportive. I feel sorry for them having to hang around for back-markers like me.

I forgot to note down the email address for the results. Can anyone remind me what it is?

Thanks

Well that was certainly the toughest race I've done this year. Many thanks to Achille ratti for putting on the race. Was feeling light headed early doors for some reason so had to scoff a Mars bar going up to Helvellyn & but as Clive (good luck with the tri today) has said awesome views on the tops & perfect running conditions.
Fantastic performance by Nourh - hope the knees aren't creaking too badly today. Healthy turnout of old skool forumites too.

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Originally Posted by djnisbet

That was one tough race. I found it far harder than 2009 although I don't know why.

The marshalls were all great and very supportive. I feel sorry for them having to hang around for back-markers like me.

I forgot to note down the email address for the results. Can anyone remind me what it is?

Thanks

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There was the added mile this year due to not being able to cross the stream?
Was shown a great little shortcut on the last climb, I must try and remember that for next year.

Thanks to all from Achillie Rati and Lostock AC (time keeping), a great race and see you next year!

....excuse my ignorance, but who was the awesome Derek Price that this race is named after?

my legs are just starting to feel human again - I must be out of practice on those kind of downhills, soft, grassy, long and steep - there are at least three of them like that in this race - I'm writing this so I can remember next year! It was a brilliant day on sat - everyone was so friendly - I met loads of new people - I hope to know the route a bit more next year and not have to keep relying on the kindness of others checking I was still with them! The second half of this race - from grisedale tarn back to the start I reckon is worth a recce - or a run over with someone who knows - Hope the triathletes enjoyed their race the next day too. A great leg loosener the following day!

perhaps the triathletes can answer - which was the better day out sat or sunday!! I've seen the photos of the triathlon and apart from it looking very hard - it kind of looks fun!

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Originally Posted by Daleside

my legs are just starting to feel human again - I must be out of practice on those kind of downhills, soft, grassy, long and steep - there are at least three of them like that in this race - I'm writing this so I can remember next year! It was a brilliant day on sat - everyone was so friendly - I met loads of new people - I hope to know the route a bit more next year and not have to keep relying on the kindness of others checking I was still with them! The second half of this race - from grisedale tarn back to the start I reckon is worth a recce - or a run over with someone who knows - Hope the triathletes enjoyed their race the next day too. A great leg loosener the following day!

perhaps the triathletes can answer - which was the better day out sat or sunday!! I've seen the photos of the triathlon and apart from it looking very hard - it kind of looks fun!

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Heh heh, Daleside, agreed, I'm still having problems walking and don't even talk about walking downstairs!
Agree with you, such an awesome race, I guess we're lucky the Ben is the same day, as such a nice (quiet) Lakes Classic, without the crowds, previously mentioned.
I like the thought of reccie also as there appeared to be many route choices after the tarn. Mind you even down to the tarn, some took a right off the track too early. I learned that lesson last year in the clag when a few of us found ourselves going towards the road d'oh!
The better of the two days, very difficult for me as I just love the whole weekend. The different race types, competitor types and different types of camraderie and racing. I really love both days, not sure if that's allowed?
My legs felt pretty shot the tri day, but I think that's purely due to having July and August off after twisting ankle, so no mad descents really since Ennerdale. Boy my legs are telling me about it now!
Helvellyn Tri is a great event, with plenty of fell runners, there were other Tod harriers, Clayton lot and Ben Abdelnoor (Ambleside), who was 6th (awesome!). I'm sure there were plenty of others, apols if I missed you.
Would deffo reccommend it to any fell runner. Doesn't really matter about the swim (unless you're Ben) as it's only about 10-20 mins difference, so have a good bike and run and near enough to everyone else.
Although I do prefer the smaller tri's, Old Man, Wensleydale, Ben Nevis, there's something about Helvellyn, and maybe the weekend, that will always make this a fixture for me, fitness permitting.
So c'mon fell runners, lets have more of you staying for the next day, in 2011!

Has anybody seen a copy of the results yet? Would agree with previous comments that this is a great race and had a great day out and will be back next year!!

Tuesday night and legs still trashed walking down the stairs. Oh if only I had known a short cut on that last climb I might not have got so much sheep muck under my nails grovelling upwards on all fours .

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Originally Posted by Manhar

Well that was certainly the toughest race I've done this year. Many thanks to Achille ratti for putting on the race. Was feeling light headed early doors for some reason so had to scoff a Mars bar going up to Helvellyn & but as Clive (good luck with the tri today) has said awesome views on the tops & perfect running conditions.
Fantastic performance by Nourh - hope the knees aren't creaking too badly today. Healthy turnout of old skool forumites too.

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thx Manhar, good to see you there, hope ur recovered now? It's sometimes nice to be the only representatives from the Valley (even if 2 diffo clubs!)

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Originally Posted by Barry

Tuesday night and legs still trashed walking down the stairs. Oh if only I had known a short cut on that last climb I might not have got so much sheep muck under my nails grovelling upwards on all fours .

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The year I did this race, I crawled the last ascent on all fours too, so can empathise.

It was great to get back to a proper fell race after at least a year 'away'.

My entry was an afterthought having already committed to racing the triathlon on Sunday.

I really enjoyed the race - apart from going over on BOTH ankles - the right one was very swollen and sore for the tri the next day...

I suspect I may have been 'running' with Daleside for a large part of the race - whoever it was, she was very friendly as we plotted our rough course around the hills.

The final climb was definately an 'all fours' job for me - I can't believe someone went 'round with a 'cross bike the whole way!

My legs are nowhere near recovered yet - as for which day was most enjoyable - definately the Saturday for me - the Sunday was a little painful...

ah i know who you are - going over on one ankle is unfortunate - but going over on two is a disaster!!! especially the day before a triathlon- i think it was my fault you went over the second time - did i ask you how cold the water was. sorry!

Hi,

Could someone point me to the thread on the Grizedale Horshoe race? It is one I have been meaning to do for a while and should be able to do it this year. I want to check out the route.

Thanks

a gpx of the route can be found here
if you open it in the bikehike website or some such you can see the route in all its glory on an OS map

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Originally Posted by Fellfarer

Hi,

Could someone point me to the thread on the Grizedale Horshoe race? It is one I have been meaning to do for a while and should be able to do it this year. I want to check out the route.

Thanks

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Elvet Striders have a version of the route on their website here. From reading the blog, I think there are a couple of places where the route could be 'optimised' :)

I have never found the scree. I've recced the race twice by doing it; perhaps I should recce it by recceing it!

Right now I'm staring at my Garmin trace onto the 1:25000 map and also Google Earth, trying to figure out where this famous scree portal is of St Sunday Crag and how close to it I might have been. Any clues? Like a really nice grid reference? On both 2009/10 I've turned left to descend Blind Cove around 373140. I'm guessing I could have turned left a lot earlier.

Dougie

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Originally Posted by djnisbet

I have never found the scree. I've recced the race twice by doing it; perhaps I should recce it by recceing it!

Right now I'm staring at my Garmin trace onto the 1:25000 map and also Google Earth, trying to figure out where this famous scree portal is of St Sunday Crag and how close to it I might have been. Any clues? Like a really nice grid reference? On both 2009/10 I've turned left to descend Blind Cove around 373140. I'm guessing I could have turned left a lot earlier.

Dougie

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I went out and reccied the route on Thursday following in the footsteps of Dark Peak's Will Kitchen via the gpx track on their website. That took me bang on to the scree portal. It's a pleasant surprise to find it at this point in the race. I hope I'll be able to find it again on the day.

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Originally Posted by Mark L

I went out and reccied the route on Thursday following in the footsteps of Dark Peak's Will Kitchen via the gpx track on their website. That took me bang on to the scree portal. It's a pleasant surprise to find it at this point in the race. I hope I'll be able to find it again on the day.

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Thanks for the pointer. I found the GPS track here: http://www.dpfr.org.uk/googlemaps/track/174 - assume that's the one you mean.

It's fascinating watching someone else's race route. Educational! I don't think I've overshot by too much in the last couple of years so I don't feel too bad. However, I have taking some pretty bad lines along the top from Helvellyn; perhaps due to over cautiousness about descending inadvertently to Wythburn. I've tended to hug the East side of the Helvellyn ridge more than I need to. And I'm sure I could take a more direct-line descent down to Grisedale Tarn.

There's an interesting wobble on that GPS trail at the top of St Sunday. Looks like the runner continued North-East after the checkpoint towards the spur at Gavel Pike before turning sharp-left. Wonder if they overshot.

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Originally Posted by djnisbet

There's an interesting wobble on that GPS trail at the top of St Sunday. Looks like the runner continued North-East after the checkpoint towards the spur at Gavel Pike before turning sharp-left. Wonder if they overshot.

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I'm guessing here, but I reckon the wobble is to get to the checkpoint which is on/near Gavel Pike. I reckon that's where the checkpoint is rather than on the top of St Sundays. I'm also guessing that they put the checkpoint there so that no one will take a direct line from the checkpoint across craggy and potentially very dangerous ground.

Overall the track seems to be inch perfect - whoever recorded it seems to know the route very well.

I've done the race a couple of times and I've not been on the scree yet :o

I've seen a couple of GPS traces for this race, one with a detour up Grisedale Valley and back after descending St Sunday Crag (the DPFR one) and one where the runner went straight across the valley (seems the better way).

Was this a one-off for one year, or is it just a case of route choice?

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Originally Posted by DinoF

I've seen a couple of GPS traces for this race, one with a detour up Grisedale Valley and back after descending St Sunday Crag (the DPFR one) and one where the runner went straight across the valley (seems the better way).

Was this a one-off for one year, or is it just a case of route choice?

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We headed back up the valley last year, but I've been told we should be straight across the valley this year.

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Originally Posted by hopey

We headed back up the valley last year, but I've been told we should be straight across the valley this year.

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Great. I'll follow you Adrian.

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Originally Posted by hopey

We headed back up the valley last year, but I've been told we should be straight across the valley this year.

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That's good. The detour added a bit on last year. I measured it as 12.12miles last year.

Dougie

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Originally Posted by MarkL

I'm guessing here, but I reckon the wobble is to get to the checkpoint which is on/near Gavel Pike. I reckon that's where the checkpoint is rather than on the top of St Sundays.

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I'm pretty sure that it's bang on St Sunday. Here's my GPX trail from last year and it looks like it's right where it should be. Then again, it was a bit tough and I might have false-memory syndrome! Perhaps I missed it altogether and the organisers were too kind to tell me!

Dougie

PS: Looking soggy tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by djnisbet

I'm pretty sure that it's bang on St Sunday. Here's my GPX trail from last year and it looks like it's right where it should be. Then again, it was a bit tough and I might have false-memory syndrome! Perhaps I missed it altogether and the organisers were too kind to tell me!

Dougie

PS: Looking soggy tomorrow.

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Love all the photos you took in 2009 Dougie, although by the look of the forecast, visual navigation is not going to be much of an option this year.

Is there many out there going in this race?Only done a few short races so far so its a big step up,any tips?:)

I was hoping to be there but can't get there unfortunately - Middlesbrough Parkrun it is, getting to know my new surrounds...

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Originally Posted by dave13

Is there many out there going in this race?Only done a few short races so far so its a big step up,any tips?:)

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Doh !!! Already a thread going for this.

Some challenging conditions today with all the rain and mist not least being the crossing of Grizedale Beck. I felt my tired legs being pulled out from under me :w00t:


Great job done by all the marshalls in the bad conditions :cool:

What a great race, conditions were tough and hard goingLoved the route though Big thanks to the marshals up there in the mist and rainAnd the organisers ,and ace tea and butties after !

spot on stevie, great effort from the marshalls, there was a bit of keeping warm disco moves from the marshall on St Sunday crag. great event - food was brilliant too. well done steve (again) and the pennine army, developing quite the raiding party these days!

aww man, tales of a Pennine Raid, now I'm even more hacked off I was stuck on Teesside!

bugger carnt believe i missed this one didne see it in the book un till now! could of done it to as i was up that way, ran coledale horseshoe and causey pike (nasty weather)
not many out!

Amen to all the above: didn't envy the marshals - thanks to all of them. What a marvellous horseshoe this is; didn't see much, but thoroughly enjoyed it, especially after finding the much-discussed little scree-run off Sunday.
Thanks to the organising team - fantastic event!

The weather forecast was right for a change - but did it matter?
It was more pleasant running in shorts and tee shirt than it was walking from the car to the village hall before the race. And what else would you do on such a day in the lake district?

A brilliant day out - lovely camaraderie out on the route - enjoyed every minute of it, even that last climb.

Hats off to the marshalls and thanks for the tea, juice, cake and butties at the end.