Agree - actually found the Fleet Moss to Cray section fairly good going (particularly the route south of the fence-line) while the long haul up to Gt Knoutberry from Stonehouse via Arten Gill a bit of a monster!Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
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Agree - actually found the Fleet Moss to Cray section fairly good going (particularly the route south of the fence-line) while the long haul up to Gt Knoutberry from Stonehouse via Arten Gill a bit of a monster!Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
I've mulled over several of the tough sections since finishing and there was definitely more than I remember there being. I found the following the worst ;Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkL
* Out of Redshaw - it's a climb all the way to Dodd Fell. Barely one step down hill !
* That Great Coum ridge - very bogy this year at the Gregareth end and then slowly uphill for miles
* Dent to Blea Moor - steep then just runnable, not pleasant with a sting in the tail too.
* Fleet Moss to Hell Gap was long, very long but wasn't that bad generally (southern route)
* The bogs after Gt Whernside being way longer than I remember, plus loads of running still after Capplestone Gate.
Clearly, I've not mentioned the first triple whammy but I had a little bit of spring left in my step there so didn't find them too bad ! There really are just so many BAD sections on this bugger !
Arkengill we walked most of it so it wasn't bad (and saved us a lot of wasted energy I think).
Any other thoughts ?
Personally, I think it's only about 2/3rds as painful as a BGR too Mark
By BAD sections I assume you really mean 'good' Alan ;). The fact that so much of the terrain is properly off piste is what really makes the Fellsman a great challenge I think. If you think about it, most of the climbs are on pretty good trails (although the first bit of Great Whernside is a tad swampy) whilst most of the flat running and descents aren't. And as for Fleet Moss, it gets loads of bad press for being boggy, based on the now seldom used northern line across 'the Somme' to Jeffrey Pot - Fleet Moss and Middle Tongue are more about tussocks than mud and bogs and really aren't that tricky to navigate unless you can't follow wall lines and can't find slightly north of east on your compass :).
When are the results usually published?
Stolly, from Yockenthwaite Moor I've always gone NE to wall gap and E from there to the gate, but the terrain is horrendous with peat cliffs, valleys, groughs and various other impediments to progress to deviate your intended heading. Do you suffer the same horrors on the N of E from the checkpoint, which would take you on a slightly more southerly route?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
I've just uploaded my snaps. Hope they bring back pleasant memories. :)
Nick if that means you go to the top fence line, I definitely don't go that way. I just follow a bearing (slightly north of east) all the way from the Middle Tongue CP. To be fair on Saturday I was a little too north I think as I still hit quite a few groughs but it wasn't as bad as my memory of following that top fence line. The first year I did the fellsman with the CP in the old position was better still as you actually crossed the top fence and took a pretty good diagonal to the old higher Hell Gap CPQuote:
Originally Posted by BritNick
Blimy Nick- fantastic effort. I take a few and then start running and forget! I think I took a dozen in total, a tiny fraction of your 175! I have pinched a few of me, hope that is OK
No problem, Karen.
Stolly, I know better than that; I know not to climb to the top fence line. That would be a bit rubbish. :wink: I'm talking about the cross wall, which I cross at the gateway (right-hand of two gaps) a little higher than you would cross it. I also remember the old route across the top to the left of the wall on the 4-wheel track - amazingly runnable it was.
How bizarre!Quote:
Originally Posted by BritNick
I did the three peaks, just don't remember any of that snow on Ingleborough at all. I was topless, in shorts for most of the race!
Sounds like you had a good day out; I missed this event and I think I'll be back next year (PPP is a bit too frantic for me!)
My little account on the Fellman for anyone wanting a little read. http://www.howfast.org/blog/?p=353
James
Must admit I took the line to Jeffrey pot and caught a group who were leaving fleet moss as we arrived about 1840Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
We left about 10 mins later and met them at middle tongue CP (we were not running either) so I'm not sure there is that much in the 2 routes..... What do u think ?
Having done both I think the southern wall line is better. I'm guessing the other guys went a bit wrong but who knows. Did you get through the initial 'trenches' okay :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fidaleo
We followed the "Stolly trod" via Martyn P's GPS and managed very well, no real horrible obstacles, the section from Middle Tongue to Hell Gap seemed to go on forever thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
It does drag on a bit, doesn't it.Quote:
Originally Posted by protodoc
Spot anyone famous? :p Redshaw
Will have to have a word with your misses about this shirt off thing AndyQuote:
Originally Posted by AndyA
I did Three Peaks too and was a bit taken aback when I saw how snowy Ingleborough was on the drive to Horton but the Fellsman set off an hour before we did and would have hit it whilst it was still pretty cold. It had all melted by the time we went over Andy (except the little bit on the ascent).
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyA
Thanks Nick, I'm looking suitably worn out there:w00t:Quote:
Originally Posted by BritNick
I have to say Nick, I don't think you caught me on my best side :D
Sorry Martyn but it was the best I could manage from my recovery chair, which was sinking and trying to recline through the tent wall at the time. :w00t:Quote:
Originally Posted by Martyn P
Grough's video of the Fellsman is on YouTube now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbWHXUeLiEk.
We'll have a report on the event on our site too in due course.
Results are up on the web really pleased with my 16th place
Me too, 31st 8-)
Another tremendous run from Adam Perry. I presume he ran most of the way with his mate, Ian Phillips, and then just out-sprinted him at the end. Not a bad day for the whole family, in fact, with brother Chris in 8th place and dad Kev 29th.
(Adam, Ian & Chris had just set a new record for the Four Inns a couple of weeks ago).
Me too 9th :-)) one place better than last year !!!
Surprised to see 96 of 402 starts didn't finish. I guess underfoot conditions were pretty tough sometimes, but conditions were generally pretty favourable.
Yeah I thought that, it's a big percentage.
That's normal isn't it? When I did it in 2010, in near perfect conditions, there were 102 non-finishers out of 398 starters.
That's what I mean... surprising that so many don't complete in good conditions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toreador
I guess lots of people just over-estimate their fitness.
86th for me out of 402 starters (nevermind the DNFs :) ). That's sounds quite good and helps me gloss over my time ;)
Lets not forget it's a really really hard race. I'd struggle to imagine that it's just 11 miles harder (so 20%) than Lakeland 50 ? But races like that are high profile and attract all sorts of newbies. It's certainly substantially tougher than any 50 mile Ultra I've ever raced. Surely that's the issue ? Also, I bet on any Ultra, there's a good chunk of DNF's ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank
What's wrong, Stolly? Too shy to show how fast you were? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
I was pleased with =162nd because it meant a comfortable sub-20 finish. I was expecting much slower with the speed we were going after grouping. To be unshackled at Yarnbury and be able to let fly (with the group's blessing of course) was a wonderful feeling.
We seemed to get through it pretty quick but think our line may have been more luck than judgement....I think next year I'll try the southern lineQuote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
How quick the memory fades....:-)
I've got Fellsman blues today, wish I was out there doing it all over again!
Me too. Stuck at home doing loads of domestic jobs that I've put off for months. Might try and go for a little run later and perhaps a nice long bike ride tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs Stagger
I went up Ingleborough again this morning to check it was still there :).
Me too - want to go back and do it better justice right now. I updated my route notes on Friday ready for next year. They have been honed yearly since 2003. Route changes apart, I have seen the preferred track change during that time as a 'Fellsman Trod' has evolved. There never used to be one. Is it getting like the 'BGR trod'?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs Stagger
Going to the Lakes on Monday to get my big hill fix.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martyn P