I'll be doing it, Andy. Apparently the route is the same as last year. It's just over 33 miles. Fuel and hydrate well, and be prepared for a long day out.
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I'll be doing it, Andy. Apparently the route is the same as last year. It's just over 33 miles. Fuel and hydrate well, and be prepared for a long day out.
Nice one Nick and a very well done with your 100, stunning stuff:thumbup:, we will be camping there the night before, I'll be taking plenty of provision's with me, that's for sure.:)
Andy
Can't not really with it being on the doorstep and most of the route visible from the house. Enjoyed it last year though it got a little warm, but the forecast shows we'll be starting in the rain and maybe getting some sun for the finish...
See you there tomorrow
Hi,
Is the event still on? There is a event suspended note on the web site that's all, the phone number just goes to answer machine at the moment.
Cheers
Andy.
Andy, got me worried then, bag all packed. There is nothing on thier facebook page, or the news section of the site nor have we had an email. I believe what you are seeing is the online entry has been suspended, not the actual event
Just hoping we miss the rain,
loved this route! Really enjoyed it - bit tough navigating at one point! But will be back next year!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DronfieldRunner
Sorry about that, obviously wasn't suspended or anything.
Really scenic course, (except for the cement factory) Stanage Edge was great:) so a great run out in all and super running weather:thumbup:.
Good to meet you again Nick:), well done with your run yesterday, especially after completing the 100 the week before,wow.
Andy
Having only decided to actually run it on Thursday after a prolonged illness, was pleased on the whole with my run. Knew most of the course so there was just a bit of joining the dots to do. Was holding steady in 6th until about 18 miles when I made a slight nav error and got passed by a rampant Mark Hartell and his chasing pack, that threw me a bit but I think I must have been nearing a blow up anyway as I never really got back on track until Stanage Edge (The climb out of Bamford felt terrible!), just chugged round the rest of it in good company.
Fantastic organisation, very friendly people both organisers and runners, and I'd highly recommend this one. Nice to meet Nick Ham / BritNick finally at the start too.
Also enjoyed this one a lot. Weather really did its best for us considering they got a fair bit north and east of us (OH text from Hull during and read when I got back, "hope you didn't get too wet..." haha). I had similarly timed blowups to you Simon, Bamford clough must be slow however strong your feeling. I got back on track as the hills relented a bit after the Stanagae climb.
Good to see you Andy, Simon and DE.
Simon, that was one impressive time considering you weren't at 100%. You must have long gone by the time I finished.
Andy, I missed you at the finish too. It would have been good to chat a bit more.
DE, good effort (though you did have 46 fewer legacy miles in your legs :wink:)
Mark Hartell has still got what it takes, despite describing himself as an old fart. He's a fit old fart, for sure.
It was great to see Jim Mann too for the first time since the Hardmoors 55. You ran a great time Jim (of course). :thumbup:
Weren't we lucky with the weather? No waterproofs needed when a few miles further north we would have been like drowned rats.
I've uploaded the pictures I took around the route: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2608207...7627387384808/
Thx gives a different perspective on the race, I 'enjoyed' the race this year with far better temperatures than last year
Well done to all who completed this one, particularly Nick after UTLD the week before. Not many left now for the double grand slam.
I was disappointed that I missed it if the heat wasn't as bad as last year. That was the only thing I struggled with and the lack of water en-route.
Special congratulations to DE for completing after the disappointment at UTLD.
Kevin Perry as well for a 5th place at UTLD then a another 5th place at Bradwell only 1 week later. Awesome recovery powers.
To be able to do those two events on adjacent weekends you have to be running well within yourself, as well as being used to the distance and fit, of course. The fact that Kevin can achieve those times while running within himself is indeed awesome. He is a machine.
Stuart Walker was another speed machine who did both, finishing 8th at L100 and 6th at LToB.
We musn't forget the other 'slammer' Greg Crowley, who had to do the double no matter what.
I uploaded my LToB story a few days ago.
glad to hear the grand slam is still going well Nick.
One day I might get to do Bradwell if we don't leave to find heat and sun further south in Europe!
Should see you at the last 2 races I hope
I look forward to it Karen. HP40 and RRR are also good ones to return to every year in my never-ending quest for those increasingly rare PBs.
Enjoy your break in warmer climes if you're still there.
The Long Tour of Bradwell - 11th August 2012 - the 4th running of this tough Peak District event (50km/2070m of ascent). Thinking of doing this, does anyone have experience of this relatively new ultra?
by curious coincidence, I recce'd round most of the route of this on Sunday!
previous thread here:
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...ur-of-Bradwell
Erich as you might pick up from previous the Long Tour punches above it's weight. Combination of potentially warm weather, messing about with dibbers and relatively poor refreshements (be self sufficient is my advice) means the event is harder than it might appear on paper. Good route mind through the Peak and I hope to have a run out again this year
I'd agree with DT. They seem to hide some of the dibbers a bit (maybe due to D&W also organising orienteering events and getting carried away?), but once you know the route, it is a good and challenging one, taking in plenty of hills throughout, visits most in its path. Some of the nav is quite tough also, but they tend to put ribbons to mark the moorland bits. I followed a couple who missed many CPs last year, so make sure you have a map and know where to expect a dib point. Refreshments, food also not the best, but if your fairly self-sufficient anyway there is enough to top up on. It's never going to win an award for organisation as it is, but the route is good, especially if your a non-local looking for a good challenge.
If you do it, look out for the dibber part way up to Stanage Edge, its off the path on a fence to the right, you have to double back slightly. And the dibber a bit later hanging off a tree over water is always interesting :confused:
Thanks Daz, I'll check out the previous thread (I didn't spot it and should have searched - doh!). Thanks also DT and Drunkeneuphoria, some useful warnings. I've done the Hope Moors & Tors a couple of times and the nav gets a bit serious on the Kinder Scout section, but this sounds like it's on a different scale. That dibber hanging off a tree over water might take a bit of spotting!!
entries open...
I'm in! :thumbup:
I did the event last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a great course, but in my opinion not navigationally challenging if you keep the map handy.
The route is intricate as there are lots of turning points/path junctions which would be easy to miss if not vigilant, but almost the entire route is on well established footpaths, trails and minor roads. The maps provided were very well marked and the detailed route description was more than adequate. I expected the most difficult section to navigate (or at least the easiest to make a mistake on) to be from the hanging checkpoint near Burbage Bridge, through Lawrencefield and the woods around Bole Hill quarry, but this was well taped on the day.
IMO DT's point about self sufficiency is good advice.
It's a fun day out :)
A New Boy(!) on here. I'm keen to run the LToB this year & have read the various comments on this thread. I appreciate this is a toughie & wonder how much experience of fell running is needed. I would hope to recce much, if not all, of the route before race day but I wonder what level of competency in map reading do I need to have?
I will need to step up my training for the hills but I expect to be towards the rear rather than mid-pack.
Thanks in advance for advice.
If you can follow a map then you'll be fine on LToB, no need for taking bearings or any of the like as it generally follows well defined paths and tracks, and it is very well marshalled and taped where needed. However, if you are looking at getting into trail and fell ultras in general then it would be very wise to get a few basic map reading skills in the bag.
This is a good starting point http://www.peteblandsports.co.uk/pro...ad-runners.htm - handy little book that covers what you'll need. If you want to take it further then the FRA offer navigation courses which I'm told are excellent.
Back to LToB, the only 'non-apparent' sections I found last year are the field at the end of the Thornhill Trail below Win Hill (just head straight for Bamford), and as FellGazelle points out, the route around Lawrence Field. However in both cases it became fairly obvious pretty much straight away. That said, I can't figure out what the point is of putting that checkpoint in such an odd place by Lower Burbage Bridge. It's supposed to be a foot race, not an orienteering event. And be careful on the climb up to Stanage Edge, as I imagine many people run straight past the checkpoint half way up as it is set back from the track and not at all obvious.
I'll be putting my entry in this week, love this race. Hoping not to implode half way round this time. DT's comments about self sufficiency however are spot on. And yes, it does punch above it's weight. I ran well last year on the whole, and still clocked 6:11, which tells you all you need to know about the severity of those 50kms. A lot of climbing, and the heat really doesn't help. :)
Hi Simgreen, it's the 'non-apparent' bits that concerned me really, although I hadn't realised the route is taped. I did High Peak 40 last year & that's very well signposted.
Comments on this thread suggest the checkpoint near Lower Burbage Bridge could be better placed elsewhere. Praps there will be a change this year. I will need to recce the area & that climb up to Stanage Edge too.
Thanks for the link. Are you in 'Pete Bland' country or is that just a coincidence? I ask cos I was in there last summer for some shoes while on holiday. I'm stating the obvious I know but 'tis a lovely area.
Thanks again.
Hi Jim,
I think only that one bit of route is taped. Its one of these events where your best to take map, route descrip and try and tag on to somebody who know's a bit about the route (but keeping an eye on map, route descrip so your not just blindly following). Chances are you may make a mistake or two on your first go at this one - I often do on new courses. But if you come back next year and do it again you will have recall of much of the route and know the bits to look out for. Recceing will probably help too.
It wasn't always taped either. I've done every one and last year was the best marked I've known it. I recall the tape on the climb through the shrubbery on the barely discernible trod was so widely spaced you'd struggle to follow it anyway. I was glad I already knew where to go on that bit. A map with route marked on is definitely advisable, also to pre-warn you of the off-route dibbing box on the climb up to Stanage Edge (which I and plenty of others missed in the first year) and to direct you on the final descent back to the finish.
I really enjoyed this one last year.
We seriously cocked up the navigation in the Yarncliff/Bolehill Wood area, some how missed the path off and ended up more or less at Grindleford Station, which induced a bit of a sense of humour failure!
I did it for the first time in 2010 and didn't go wrong, but I had recce'd it pretty thoroughly
I think they put the Stanage Edge and Burbage Bridge CP's off-path to minimise the chances of their being vandalised/interfered with, as they're both pretty busy areas
biggest tip I would give is to take it easy during the first half (til Hope) cos that's got all the main hills and if you "batter" it you'll seriously pay for it in the second half (voice of experience :w00t: )
This is a CRACKING event/route, and I'll be back this year to do a proper job of it :closed:
Seconded. I capitulated on Long Causeway having fairly smashed the first half, and spent the second half hanging on for dear life.Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
Jim, I'm a Sheffield lad (which is why I'm probably a bit more blase about the nav on this route, It's all in my training area) but have ordered gear from Pete Bland's site in the past. Its a fell running institution!
DE - I'll definitely want the map & route description with me. I'm aware of the dangers of blindly going with others but know that it 'happens' too :wink:.
Daz - the 'easy start' approach got me through the HP40 safely & I prefer feeling strong towards the end than dying on my feet, so I'm more than happy to go with your advice.
simgreen - I'm a few miles south of you then! Hills could be your forte if you live in Sheffield :wink:.
I had my first recce of the route at the weekend. I went from Hope up Pindale, down Cavedale, up to Hollins Cross & along to Lose Hill then downhill to Hope. Just under 10 miles, so a long way short of 'Long distance'! According to my aching thighs I need a lot more hill work :).
Can anyone post a link to the 2012 route/check points?
Here's a link to the route for 2010, which I believe is the same this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smut
http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/news-a...sp?news_id=160
Thanks. If anyone knows of any post 2010 changes to the cp's I'd appreciate a poke!
I'm entered, but D&W tend not to send out final route details until within the last fortnight/week...
meanwhile... I have fashioned a cunning 8:45 schedule - if I'm slightly ahead of it + feeling good, I'll try to push down to sub-8:30, whereas if I'm falling slightly behind/feeling bad I'll try to hang on for a sub-9...
Thanks Daz and good luck on that schedule.
I really ought to try this one as it sounds right up my street, but it's the same day as the Teggs Nose race for the second year in a row.
As I organise Teggs, I can't really do this one:thunbdown:. Enjoy!
route is confirmed same as last year
God I love maps!:
http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/RunFur...11/LTB2011.jpg