Edale Skyline Fell Race

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Originally Posted by Corniceman

Is anyone coming from Nottingham or that direction or up via J29 of M1/Chesterfield? I am very happy to meet and car share with you, happy to drive. Either meet you in West Bridgford, J26, J29 or somewhere between Chesterfield and Hope. let me know. i can get 5 plus gear in.

Regards

Simon

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Thanks. I now have a lift sorted.

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Originally Posted by Don Keycock

I think this is a really good point which no-one seems to be addressing-I think it would be wrong for it to still be classed as an English Championship race when the conditions are this extreme and it isn't possible for runners to make it to the start. Obviously it will effect the championships if potential championship contenders cannot make it to the race. Also if we have to carry all this extra kit its more like doing a mountain marathon than a championship fell race which is not what we have all been training for.

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Surely fell running/racing is about battling the hills and the weather as much as the rest of the field?

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Originally Posted by IanFitz

What makes you think this is not being adressed? For information I'll lay out the facts as I know them currently.

I am the Race Organiser for the Edale Skyline race, this is my sole responsibility and I'm doing everything I can to make it happen as safely as possibly. I have made it clear (after liaising with Edale MRT and others) that if the Edale valley Road is open then the event will be on.

It has been clearly communicated (both today and previously) to me that championship status should in no way interfere with my organisation of the event. I have absolute confidence in the systems and people who will be monitoring and marshalling the race.

Ultimately if the results are unrepresentative (for example 200 runners from sheffield as no one else can get over the pennines) then the FRA will have make a call on whether it can still be considered reasonable for the Edale Skyline to be 'a counter in the English championships' they could then identify another event later in the year.

So, if your local road conditions make travel risky or uncertain you should exercise personsal responsibility and NOT TRAVEL.

If, based on the MWIS forecast you do not have absolute confidence in your fitness, running ability and mountain craft you should exercise personsal responsibility and NOT TRAVEL.



lastly, if you've managed to train in mountainous conditions in this country over the winter with out carrying the amounts of kit I've specified for the race then you've been lucky!

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Ian
Thanks for your considered reply and good luck with the race.

The FRA need to make a decision NOW based on the conditions today and forecast. If it's not going to be an English Champs race I'm not going to battle for 6 hours trying to get there and its not fair on the guys who do battle to get there in risky conditions to then find actually its not going to count as a championship race.

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Originally Posted by IanFitz

lastly, if you've managed to train in mountainous conditions in this country over the winter with out carrying the amounts of kit I've specified for the race then you've been lucky!

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It's great to see the race "dynamically adjusting" with the weather conditions, putting extra things like a fleece and bothy bag on the kit list, instead of cancelling or shortening. It's also great to see a lot of people really excited about the added challenge it's now presenting. This is what fell running is all day, surely!? Just wish I could come and join you all.

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Originally Posted by Stolly

Surely fell running/racing is about battling the hills and the weather as much as the rest of the field?

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This isn't about battling in the hills, its about being able to get to the start of the race

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Originally Posted by Don Keycock

This isn't about battling in the hills, its about being able to get to the start of the race

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The roads are not too bad, despite the snow (at the minute)

For what it is worth I have pulled out as I think the drive there is going to be dangerous.

109 users browsing this thread!!

Im in Hathersage now, just a few miles down the road, the snow is deep and showing no sign of letting up! I got out for a trot upto Froggatt Edge today with the dogs, pretty much in full walking gear....very cold and rough.
Definitely a 4 or 5 layer kind of race Sunday....good luck folks and keep safe, this was the route that stopped me running on the fell so a bit of a unsettled fight for another time.

Assuming race is on and ability to get there, anyone wants a place to stay in South Manchester Sat night is welcome at Mr Longdogs house, and a lift-share to Edale (usual 45 mins but obviously will be allowing alot extra). And if no race for any reason we can have a reet good party :)

I'm going to try and head up to Mam Nick on mountain bike tomorrow so will let folk know what it's looking like

Food for though on this thread! I've started http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...971#post532971 a new thread where it may be a better place to discuss the philosophical question - What is a fell race anyway?...

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Originally Posted by nikalas

I'm going to try and head up to Mam Nick on mountain bike tomorrow so will let folk know what it's looking like

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We'll be in and around the village hall. pop down and say hello

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Originally Posted by nikalas

I'm going to try and head up to Mam Nick on mountain bike tomorrow so will let folk know what it's looking like

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We will be at Edale tomorrow from midmorning and will be up on the course I will send out reports photos/video too probably via the @edaleskline twitter account, it would be good if anyone who has the know how could link that to here to a different audience...

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Originally Posted by AndyA

Really excited now! Washed my lucky shorts!

Only worry is that we might not be able to actually get to the start.

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shorts? are you crazy!

As Duncan Ballantyne famously announces "IM OUT!"(after much deliberation) Phew...Can have a glass of wine now and concentrate on the fantasy fell running league?
The last time I did it was 2007 (completed)and almost got blown away , starting to think the race is jinxed for me. Its just too extreme and I really want to see my kids graduate from uni some day...Think Ill do the Grisedale 10 instead-bit safer in the trees and a lot nearer....GOOD LUCK EVERYONE Guess im just not hard core enuf !x

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Originally Posted by IanFitz

We will be at Edale tomorrow from midmorning and will be up on the course I will send out reports photos/video too probably via the @edaleskline twitter account, it would be good if anyone who has the know how could link that to here to a different audience...

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Hi Ian... I've e-mailed IDP about putting something up on Planet Fear tomorrow and then tweeting/FB etc... if there's anything in particular you want saying, get him to let me know in his reply.

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Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

We'll be in and around the village hall. pop down and say hello

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Not sure I'll drop down into Edale.. that said, I'd have a hell of a tailwind pushing me back up...

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Originally Posted by IanFitz

We will be at Edale tomorrow from midmorning and will be up on the course I will send out reports photos/video too probably via the @edaleskline twitter account, it would be good if anyone who has the know how could link that to here to a different audience...

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I would appreciate that Ian :thumbup: and anyone else close to the location who can provide info on the roads. I am more concerned with getting there at the moment but I will take any info on the course into consideration as well.

Will there be an extra whisky stop with all this snow?!

Take it off the Championship List? Oh god they've started already, someone fetch the shotgun, the idiots are loose again!! Based on your logic the Great Lakes wasn't representative of a true championship race either because clearly most of the top runners can't navigate particularly well, and some people happen to be stronger swimmers than others too!! I didn't see it affecting the final standings though.

I expect to have a damn good crack at scoring points again on Sunday, but if I can't make it I really wouldn't expect them to start adding other races in at this stage. Just take your medicine and crack on, there's always Wasdale to get your AL in but I guess we'd better pray there isn't a fine blanket of drizzle or a few extra wisps of cloud in the air first.

As an aside to the organisers, the communication to competitors this week has been outstanding and extremely helpful in ensuring we have no excuse for not making a sound judgement on kit/ability etc. Many Thanks for your hard work on our behalf, top job indeed!

Why don't we calm down and let the RO make his decision about his race and then the FRA committee if they need to get involved about it being a championship decider. It's only Friday and as it's a Sunday race things have got time to improve. Go get a brew or a beer and take it easy.

In '98 we ran the High Peak Marathon in these conditions....

And...there's lots of cut off places on this route if runners feel its too much...as for it no being a champs race...if its on it a champs race surely....

Finely, Ian Fitz you re doing a damn good job...ignore the forum and make your own call based on discussion with club elders and MRT !

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Originally Posted by Crows den

And...there's lots of cut off places on this route if runners feel its too much...as for it no being a champs race...if its on it a champs race surely....

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It's the thing about people getting there that is the issue with it being a champs race. Fine if you live locally but if you've got to travel a fair way then perhaps it will be unfair. We'll have to wait and see. Time will tell. Time for a Friday night beer and watch the weather from inside a nice warm house I think!!!!

i think that anybody who completes this race on sunday should get double championship points regardless of who makes it or doesnt make it.

Sunshine is now the forecast for the day

You don't need to drive right up to the front door of Edale Village Hall... why not park the car at one of the dozens of train stations en route and do the last leg via train?

At the very worst, Manchester & Sheffield will still be accessible via car.

Good luck to any marshalls intending to be out on the hill!

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Originally Posted by TheReverand

Good luck to any marshalls intending to be out on the hill!

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good post - i will second that. well done to everybody trying to make sure the race takes place- it would be so easy to cancel it - I will be looking for the results with interest - just wish i had got an entry in before it closed

I will make every effort to get to Edale really looking forward to the challenge on the day. Happy to carry all the extra stuff. Big well done to the race organiser doing a fantastic job. I think its shaping up to be a really interesting race and a big thank you to the marshalls and mountain rescue guys in advance.

A fabulous trot in the hills (here in Settle) this evening with some huge drifts and an impressively frickingly biting wind :). I suspect the weather around the skyline will be at least the same if not even better(eg worse) on Sunday. Have a look here

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Originally Posted by geronimo

good post - i will second that. well done to everybody trying to make sure the race takes place- it would be so easy to cancel it - I will be looking for the results with interest - just wish i had got an entry in before it closed

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Have you thought of getting in touch as there may be a place for ypu if alot of people are dropping out worth an ask

Ian
I am in no position to tell you what to do. I'm not close at hand don't have great local knowledge and have never organised a fell race, however, I am hoping to run on Sunday and have been following this thread, and as a result I feel certain that you are doing a great job and I for one am totally happy in leaving it to you and your team to make the decisions. I can't believe anybody is making the slightest criticism of your efforts. Thanks to you and your team, hope I see you Sunday.
Richard G.

I don't make many posts, but I have to say well done to Ian for doing everything to ensure this can go ahead. Winter Hill (12 &13) springs to mind as another event where the organizer was not deterred by challenging conditions. Tough conditions are not pleasant to endure but can make a good event into a great one. I will make it to the start and am really pleased I got an entry, champs or not. IDP, put aside a couple of bottles of rescue ale for me.

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Originally Posted by mountainboxer

Have you thought of getting in touch as there may be a place for ypu if alot of people are dropping out worth an ask

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I would love to but have not bothered to reccie thinking i had no chance of getting in and dont think its a good idea to do it in these conditions with no reccie. its a shame as i have trained really hard, no alcohol since 1st Jan etc etc and its all down to dodgy broadband at my hotel on the day the entries opened (i was working away) and by the time they fixed it it was full. i even got outbidded twice on ebay for entries on there.

Firstly let me take my hat off to Ian for his effort in trying to keep the race/walk on but not to his common sense on this occasion, it seems that he is pressured by the........ "forum morons" to get the race/walk started because it suits them!
Firstly it will not be a race as it should as the front crowd will have to plough through the drifts creating routes for the following runners like myself to ease our way through without expending as much energy thus at the end places/ rankings will not be a true result of a true champs race.
Secondly in todays world of blame culture who really would want to put themselves out as a target to any injured competitor or if the worse came to it any dead competitors family wanting to know why in such attrocious coinditions was their loved one running/walking in an "organised" event.
And last of all as a member of the emergency services myself and a member of a mountain rescue team the last thing we want on an allready manic weekend for us is an "organised" event going ahead that is encouraging people to put themselves into conditions that are nothing short of " life threatening " and stretching rescources from what could be more needy accidents.
Lets show some common sense on the matter like other race organisers this weekend and cancel the race for safetys sake is it really worth possible lives and emergency services lives just to have a run !
I certainly wont be running/walking this event there are plenty more to do later in the year.
Thanks again to Ian for his effort but lets show some thought for the people that will have to risk themselves to help YOU

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Originally Posted by sweaty

Firstly let me take my hat off to Ian for his effort in trying to keep the race/walk on but not to his common sense on this occasion, it seems that he is pressured by the........ "forum morons" to get the race/walk started because it suits them!
Firstly it will not be a race as it should as the front crowd will have to plough through the drifts creating routes for the following runners like myself to ease our way through without expending as much energy thus at the end places/ rankings will not be a true result of a true champs race.
Secondly in todays world of blame culture who really would want to put themselves out as a target to any injured competitor or if the worse came to it any dead competitors family wanting to know why in such attrocious coinditions was their loved one running/walking in an "organised" event.
And last of all as a member of the emergency services myself and a member of a mountain rescue team the last thing we want on an allready manic weekend for us is an "organised" event going ahead that is encouraging people to put themselves into conditions that are nothing short of " life threatening " and stretching rescources from what could be more needy accidents.
Lets show some common sense on the matter like other race organisers this weekend and cancel the race for safetys sake is it really worth possible lives and emergency services lives just to have a run !
I certainly wont be running/walking this event there are plenty more to do later in the year.
Thanks again to Ian for his effort but lets show some thought for the people that will have to risk themselves to help YOU

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Do you actually understand fell running at all? 90% of the competitors would be running in the hills anyway whether or not a race was on. And in the right clothing the conditions in the hills will be far from life threatening - Edale is a bowl and its not beyond the wit of man to drop off the ridgeline if you're struggling.

Stolly, 'forum moron' :)

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Originally Posted by Stolly

Do you actually understand fell running at all? 90% of the competitors would be running in the hills anyway whether or not a race was on. And in the right clothing the conditions in the hills will be far from life threatening - Edale is a bowl and its not beyond the wit of man to drop off the ridgeline if you're struggling.

Stolly, 'forum moron' :)

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Understand fell running!!!!!!!!
I have been fell running for over 20 yrs and what i do understand is when common sense should prevail and runs should not be undertaken in hazardous conditions, and to pressure an organiser is unfair to him, other organisers have seen sense and thanks to them there is less risk of unnecassary accidents to all.
Have a nice night