Count me in then :)
http://www.amblesideac.org.uk/races/our-races/wansfell/
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Count me in then :)
http://www.amblesideac.org.uk/races/our-races/wansfell/
It is definitely on. Usual arrangements, more info here:
http://www.amblesideac.org.uk/races/our-races/wansfell/
It's the only race I did last year. I always said it was a race you could do without doing any training. Sadly I'll miss it this year as it clashes with the final fixture in the North West Cyclo Cross League at Macclesfield making it the first time in more than 50 years that I haven't done a single fell race.The mind is willing but the body is knackered.
Don't get me wrong, I look forward to Christmas......but blimey I'm glad it's only once a year.
I'm what's known as a 'greedy sod' and the festival period shouts out, "fill your boots and eat as much crap as you like...it's expected".
Every jacket or pair of jeans seems to contain leftover Celebration wrappers tangled in amongst the dog poo bags. An evening watching TV usually ends with a look of disbelief as yet more chocolate wrappers form a pyramidal mass on the arm of the chair. I should really put the wrappers into the empty Pringles box to hide the evidence.....crikey, I'd almost forgot about the Pringles I've popped...like the saying goes "once you pop, you can't stop".
Just like previous years at Wansfell, by the time I'm at the cattle grid I'm wishing I hadn't 'popped' the Pringles and consumed all the Celebrations in such quantities. But I have, so stop whinging and get on with it...surprisingly, the pocket in my running shorts contains no chocolate wrappers but does contain one cashew nut....I have no idea why.
The climb up the tourist path is hard and I'm reduced to walking. Waste not, want not...l ate the cashew nut and it was awful, it tasted like washing powder. Undeterred I plodded on and was relieved to eventually see the lovely summit marshals, thank you one and all.
Once around the high-visibility jacket that marks the turning point, it's a free fall descent back to the finish. On such a straightforward race route there are surprisingly plenty of good and not so good choices to be had whilst trying to keep upright over the greasy surface.
Wansfell has become as much as a festive period tradition as eating like a pig....oink,oink.
Many thanks to all involved and well done Sam Tosh on his incredible run.
It's a tradition for me too, one not to be missed. I jumped the cattle grid this time, haven't done that for a couple of years. Cheers to the organisers, a great event all round, and very good soup.
Results are out here:
http://www.amblesideac.org.uk/2016/1...-race-results/
Wansfell fell race.
Boxing Day night is traditionally a family get together. I always try not to over indulge as I usually do Wansfell the following day. For this years ‘family do’ my wife’s older sister and her husband were the hosts.
Charlie, their grandson, is the youngest member of the family and he seems overwhelmed by the occasion. He proves the point by frantically running throughout the house whilst screaming and barking like a dog at regular intervals. His parents say “it’s just a phase he’s going through” as they seek acceptance by enquiring “he’s loud, but isn’t he funny?”. With a hint of sarcasm I said, “yeah he’s hilarious, why don’t you put him outside in Archie’s dog kennel?”. His parents laughed, I was being semi-serious but my tone of voice implied I was joking. Alison nudged me, she can read me like a book...I said no more and kept schtum.
Just the mention of Archie’s name makes his ears prick up. The portly little Jack Russell had awoken from his slumber by the hearth of the fire. He makes a beeline straight for me. On route he picked up a tatty cuddly toy which he then gently dropped at my feet. I’m guessing the toy was once a rabbit as now all that remains is a fluffy tail. With expert precision, using only his nose for guidance and leverage, Archie nudged his bedraggled toy onto the top of my foot then gazed adorably up towards me. A tilt of his little head had me in fits of laughter. I find Archie’s antics extremely funny. My great nephew Charlie runs past screaming and barking, I’m less enthusiastic about his antics but I keep my feelings to myself otherwise I’ll end up in the ‘doghouse’...after all, it’s just a phase he’s going through.
I wandered off away from the kitchen and buffet as I was making a pig of myself. I took refuse in the living room, Archie came trotting behind me. His multi-tasking nose had picked up the scent from my plate of cheese and crackers. For such an active dog it becomes apparent how he’s obtained his roly-poly appearance. His insatiable appetite is to blame.
The living room is where the ‘men’ are congregated. Chris, one of my in-laws was holding court regaling us with a tale from his recent works do. The first pub they went into had one of his work colleagues completely surprised to find his coat from last years outing was still hung up on the coatrack. He’d misplaced his coat last year and thought it gone for good. What does this tell you about Chorley? It’s townsfolk are good honest citizens? Or the coat in question was simply too shit to nick?...I’d go with the latter.
In the living room I’m sat down on a pouffe near the door. One of my other in-laws says “I bet that’s not the first time you’ve sat on a pouffe?”. This prompts my other two in-laws to join in. Apparently I resemble a ‘hobo’ and all that’s missing is a begging cup at my feet. I inform my in-laws that a ‘bum’ is considered to be of lower social standing than a ‘hobo’ and would’ve been a far better pisstake. I asked them to put more thought into their derogatory insults or simply don’t bother...even Archie looks less than impressed with their poor put down. I also inform them that no, it isn’t the first time I’ve sat upon a low footstool.
I noticed that Alison’s sister had used blu-tack to stick Christmas cards to the living room walls. The grease within the sticking compound had left marks on the painted surface, a fallen card had revealed a stain. I said nothing in fear of being the bearer of bad news during a social gathering. I hope the realisation isn’t too upsetting when the cards are removed after the festive period.
In truth she’s a pretty laidback character. I expect she’ll just ask her husband to repaint the walls. He’ll do this without question as he’s now retired and likes to keep busy. However he’s extremely careful with money. He’s not a ‘tightwad’ but he’s certainly frugal to the point that he drives his car with the windows always closed as wind drag plays havoc with a vehicles fuel efficiency. Thinking about it, buying fresh paint isn’t going to get his new year off to a good start.
The talented Mr Riley:
In the car park before I’d registered for the race I bump into my friend and running rival Paul Riley. We exchange pleasantries...I call him a knobhead, he asks Alison if I address everybody in the same manner? She replies, “no, just you”. I don’t recall Paul’s riposte as there has been so many over the years: Yeti, Sasquatch, Tramp, Gimmer, Caveman...to name but a few. Paul excelled himself earlier this year when he sent me a gift through the post. Paul was thoughtful enough to supply me with a roll of white sticky labels like the ones often seen containing results after a race. Accompanying the labels was the following letter:
Dear Darren
As you seem to be getting shitter and shitter I thought I should send you these in case a race organiser just doesn’t have enough labels left to include your result!
Kind regards, Paul x.
The race that followed my ‘gift’ from Paul was Coniston fell race, which coincidently is Paul’s favourite race. I took great pleasure in comfortably beating my friend on the day. When he’d come over the finish line I stuck white sticky labels all about his sweaty torso. Each label contained a pre-written message, many of which are too explicit to air in public. Paul’s gift towards me turned out to be a great incentive...Kind regards Darren x.
Wansfell fell race is pretty straightforward...logistically. Physically it gets me every year. A fell race in late December is always going to hurt. Personally it’s been another busy year: 95 races and a Bob Graham. In truth my legs always feel fatigued with all the races but in December it’s the excessive food intake that gets me.
This year we tried but failed to be less gluttonous. The aforementioned white sticky labels come in handy. On the biscuit tin we’d stuck a label with the message “Little pickers wear big knickers”. On the bread bin reads the message “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”. The fridge door displays the message “Nothing taste as good as being slim feels”...all are subsequently ignored. My message of “This is where the magic happens” was removed from the bedroom door and stuck to the kitchen door. Alison has a great sense of humour...at least I think she’s joking?
Fair play to Mr Riley, he ran well at Wansfell and soundly beat me. I look forward to our good natured rivalry next year...all the best pal. Well done Josh and Kelly on their impressive wins. Many thanks to Michelle and all helpers for another great Wansfell. A special mention to Jim Tyson for his fantastic fell running cartoon calendar...we purchased one and love it.
We had a walk up Wansfell today and I had an epiphany moment. My great nephews antics at the family get together make perfect sense. Charlie was simply enjoying himself, just like I do when out on the fells. His boisterous behaviour just looks and sounds manic in the confines of a house. Try running around screaming and barking outside...I did it today, it’s liberating. Thank you Charlie...you’ve enlightened me.
Does anyone have any runner pics from friday? I'm preparing a report to circulate at work.
Just to prove to Tindersticks that he's not the only one who can waffle here's my effort:
Wansfell Pike Race 2019
Venue- Ambleside, Lake District
Course- 2.1m/3.2km length, 1330'/405m climb
Record- 18.56, Kenny Stuart, 1984
Conditions- Low cloud, drizzle, 8 deg.c
Checkpoints: Wansfell Pike summit
1st male- 20.47
1st female- 22.54 (11/181)
My time- 26.42, new PB (51/181)
The Sulzer in Motion Ninja Fell Racing Team braved the tourist trail over Christmas to line up for a record turnout (181) Wansfell Pike race. This is quite a good race to get stuck into if you think you might be any good at fell running; the minimum age to enter is 14 and it's in the heart of England's biggest fell running hotspot, the Lake District. The race begins at the bottom of Stockghyll Lane, but finishes further up at the college with a visit to the summit of the Pike in between.
It's very hard to get a good start here because everyone sets off at full speed and it's very narrow. I've been tripped here before, and it's like being decked in a Boxing Day sofa shopping stampede; you're better off safe than sorry. My race got off to a painful start when I was slapped in the eye by a tree branch that sprung off the shoulder of the person in front of me, but there was no permanent damage done. I'd done my homework this year and was hoping to avoid the painful and calamitous events of previous encounters with this hill. The biggest mistake you can make here, and the one I normally make here, is to underestimate or underprepare for the lung busting climb. You find that when you want to stand up to start back down, that you've got the legs of a jellyfish; like Shakin' Stevens on roller skates, and you definitely ain't got time to fix the shingles as you plummet off the craggy edge into the jaws of hell.
Predictably, the first runner to the turn was a 14 year old boy, who it later turned out had to pull out of the race with a stitch. However, he would have been caught, because juniors lack the descending skills of seniors. A very silly person overtook me at the checkpoint funnel which confused the marshals and cost us a few seconds, but overall my legs were feeling quite good. It was business as usual as we dropped off the summit buttress into the confusing maze of crags and sheep trods that comprise the upper reaches of the descent. The guy in front of me slipped straight on his arse and set off down the hill flat on his back, much to my amusement; an inescapable consequence of worn out shoes. I tried to navigate through the crags that separate the upward and downward routes, but screwed it up and almost fell off a small cliff. A wayward puff of wind would have forced me into jumping for it. By the time I hit the lane I’d picked up about 8 places and thankfully lost a chap behind me who was heaving and groaning like he needed the toilet very badly; I credit my swift negotiation of the stream bogs to having a dire need to get away from him, it was a bit like being chased off a hill by Chewbacca. I jumped the cattle grid 50yds from the finish because it secures your place and keeps any chasers off your tail; everyone else seems to go round it for some reason. I refused the free mince pies afterwards mainly because I can't stand them, with anything, hot or cold, they're plain awful; I splashed out on zesty Lakeland craft pale ales from the booze shop instead. Cheers!
Great report, and well done on the pb...
Having done that run in “training” I agree it must make a fantastic and simple race, but that descent at full speed in winter is certainly no easy task...!
Brilliant Luke and now your only a couple of races behind chopsticks.
Confused me too - seems that you passed through the funnel before beginning the descent!Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Good start, though you're going to have to up your game if you want to compete with master Daz.
My review is: Climbed like I'd eaten too much turkey, cheese and booze, had just got past Sarah Mac at the start of the descent and was getting into the downhill groove when I went over on my ankle, double crack job. Jacket on and hobble off the hill, not run since but swelling and bruising has subsided and the biking weather's not been too bad.
Who's in then?
Just trawled the results for my pb, seems to be 27.13. Rob jebb has been very consistent at this race! I'm going to try and follow Mike t's descent advice and pop a sub 27, not that I'll be able to make sense with my eyes full of tears, rain and sweat, and my legs burning. If I reach the top compus mentus, it'll be a saturnalia miracle. It all looks so simple on Google earth...
Jubilee Plunge for me on 27th I'm afraid.
Downhill race from the summit...
Cheers to all the team today, great to see it was still on. Didn't have a very quick run, took the usual route off, but had a good look at the route Mike T advised and will try it next year i think. There doesn't look to be a lot in it time-wise.
Entries are now open for the best short race in christmas fell running. I mean consumermas, the year's biggest consumer event disguised as the birthday of the world's oldest celebrity after dinner speaker.
Thanks to the marshals today, utterly wretched conditions, won't be going up in this kind of weather again. Very hard to stay upright on the way down, never seen it so slippery. Everyone was in the same boat, don't recall seeing anyone change places on the descent. I had so much left in the tank at the road i dusted about 7 between the stile and the finish.
Agreed, it wasnt very pleasant today, even though i was working pretty hard and had a base layer on I was still a bit cold on the climb further up. The descent was certainly slippy, bum sliding was utilised in a few places and fell over a couple of other times as well, made up 3 places though. One junior flew past me and looking at the results he went from 28th to 14th with the 2nd fastest descent so he certainly made the most of the conditions and his youthful lack of care for potential injury.
The fastest descent was 4.49 - unbelievably quick. Well done to all in those challenging conditions.
Sub 5m is very nice going, especially nice on such soggy ground. I had decided not to even bother going for it after the grassy traverse, the lower bit is the worst and i'd never have forgiven myself if i'd have gone down on my buggered hamstring. I need to try a pair of LSR Talons on that descent some time, maybe next year.
Looking at the splits i've got the same descent time as the first lady, so maybe i didn't do all that badly on balance. I think if i'm going to have a serious crack at my PB i need to stop going the wrong way and also know what's coming on the way down and not be surprised by things all the time. I'd probably have to stay up at Stainmore over xmas and pay a couple of visits to the pike to get familiar with the descent. I'm still not running sub 20 for 5k, so i can expect to be down on V02 for as long as that persists.
Coming down the race descent today I had a look at the route - from the wear on the hillside - that most people seem to have taken when the gradient eases temporarily and the route tends left. I usually go horizontally for a short way before going down and right - almost all on grass so no trip/slip concerns. The popular way descends more abruptly but there are rocks in there so it is dodgy if you do not know it well. I will keep using the higher horizontal path most of the rime.
There's another storm in the forecast for the 28th, rainfall totals averaging 10mm/hr with snow on the tops. I sense cancellation.
The race is on the 27th, but yes, the forecast looks pretty grim.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Yes, 27th, and yes, shite.
I'm giving this one the old heave ho. I'd have been running for a post covid pb and that's not going to happen in drenching conditions, the grip won't be there. I'm going to focus on giant's tooth.
Newsflash. Now upgraded to Storm Gerry or something.
I've realised that my adventure up crag fell has set me up for a shot at this. As I've been heard to grumble on many occasions, the problem with this race is good preparation. I think a few thousand feet of boring reps up the big end of elbolton hill might shore me up.
I find the initial ascent on the road fairly grim - at least once on the steps walking is the norm. I will do the route on race day but before the race. Given how wet it has been I imagine the descent will be interesting on the day.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Mike, every time you've explained your descent route for this you've lost me in the amount of detail you go into. I usually dib, go left a bit into a bowl shaped hole on the summit, left a bit down a slippery ramp, then arc left on a troublesome line to meet the old wall. The last time I tried to decipher your route, it sounded like it was different to mine and involved a u-turn of some sort very soon after dibbing. Can you try and explain it again?
Would it help if I put some photos on Facebook?Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Starting at the top, there is the black metal gate in the wire fence, then a short section of engineered rock steps, then a dirt/gravel path going around/slightly down to the left leading to a short steep rocky zig-zag, then another dirt/gravel path with a bend to the right, and finally the top of the long long section of engineered steps.
The race top is - or has been - on the Ambleside side of the wire fence.
I go down on the grass on the left of the short section of engineered rock steps, then leave the top dirt/gravel path - the one going around to the left - as it starts - it is a bit steeper than further along that path but it is nice grass rather than rocks barely covered by grass. There are 3 steep grassy descents with short sections where the gradient eases, then the path starts to drift left - here choices need to be made. Follow the muddy rocky slippery path down, or go left just above it on grass - horizontal for a short section. This is the only part of the descent where a fall could be grim. A descending grass trod appears under foot, next to, then crossing an old wall, the path then enters a grove of trees/bushes and crosses a little stream, then a short very steep section before the path goes down between dead bracken on either side - keep going down until streams on either side stop you - cross the stream on the left, cross the steps, a short section on grass and you are at the kissing gate.
Unless you are at the front, it should become obvious on the day. It could of course be icy at the top to add to the challenge, but it does not look like it will be.
Yeah, go on. Tag me in them. So after you've dibbed you go back down the same way? It's the part before the tumbled down walls I think you do different to me, it's always sounded like you have a radically different route to the one people take on race day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
I will take/post some photos as soon as it clears up a bit. The only spot where I know I take a slightly different route is where I go left horizontally for a bit on grass, above the rocky muddy slippery path where a slip could be grim. At the very top the marshals will no doubt direct people on the initial part of the descent.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I turned up today promising myself an easy run. My biomechanics are screwed and i've got an appointment with a movement specialist in the new year, meaning i haven't put the training in and have hardly been getting out at all; the situation is simply too fluid and unpredictable. I had a run at Crag Fell, and some walking hill reps to set me up for the event, i knew my legs could handle it without going to jelly.
The morning did not start auspiciously when it transpired that the ale shop on the one-way system had been turned into a sodding print gallery. Fortunately an old guy in Tescos told me about the one near the library, so libations were secured. I kept on popping back to the car behind The Salutation to nudge my parking disc on a bit, and got a total of about 3h without being ticketed.
As i came through the first wall on the way up i started to pay attention to the ground off to the left, as this might be where i ended up. It looked safe, but slow; the grass was tall and bunched up into clumps that could trip you easily, and the dead bracken situation was 'inconsistent'. Same story at the second broken wall, nothing that looked fast, lots of leg lifting required. It was a bit deep and pretty steep. My legs were feeling alright so i knocked a notch on and made sure not to get overtaken.
As i summited the foggy old thing, i was met by a brass quartet playing ghastly christmas songs and a load of people staring at me like i was about to pull a rabbit out of my hat. I had to keep asking where the dibbers were/where do you want us etc. and i eventually located them amongst a forest of pink flags. I know from summit marshalling myself that people need clear information shouted at them like they are either deaf, blind, or stupid; only that way do you get exhausted and confused runners to reliably comply with simple commands.
With the sounds of 'Silent Night' getting mercifully fainter, i began my descent and braced myself to the task of implementing my descent plan. I swung left back towards the ascent route after clearing the flags and found the path with no problem. The margins of the path were a bit slippy and full of lumps, finding good grippy ground wasn't easy. The broken wall turned up and, as i went right and round the end of it, i found a grisly bog and fell on my arse, followed shortly after by two other runners going my way; this i did not expect. There was a couple of small crags to contend with and shortly after a trod and footprints appeared in the ground, several people had come this way too. In total i dispensed with 3 other wearly souls who appeared through the mist like lone ships, and tried to keep heading downhill was much as i could; as i knew the further left i went the sooner i'd find the path again. The descending was safe, but slow; there was good grip, but the undergrowth was taller than what would be considered desirable for a brain off/brakes off approach.
It turned out i was actually too far left and i readily located the path; the rock steps were a pain to descend. It got faster lower down when there were more options. My descent time was only 2s slower than when i had last opted for the 'race route' in 2022, so this alternative route i found isn't any slower really. If the ground was really saturated it would probably be favourable due to having virtually no footfall on the open fell sections. There will be a better way to do it and drop nicely onto the 'race route' somewhere near the slippy ramp through the copse that takes you down to the beck crossing.
Well done Luke. Sounds like you had a decent run, all things considered.
I'm doing Nine Standards Rigg on NYD. Travs has given me some good advice on Discord and I wonder, if you have done it, whether you have got any route choice tips?
Nine standards? There's no route choice from what I can recall. There's a hell of a lot of tarmac road, and once you've left it, only one muddy track leading to the cairns. The road is a bit of a joke on the way back, take shoes with some padding in the soles.
Thanks Luke. If it was summer I would be tempted to leave a pair of road shoes at the end of the tarmac for the return run but in wintry weather with cold, wet hands the idea is a non starter.
Have just watched Olga Wo's video of the race - from about 13 minutes onwards there is obviously a line high up very close to the steps - no obvious path on the video but it may be visible when running it - I have not explored this - Mr B features and descends it well, but from what he says he joined the steps far too early.
Thought i looked a bit slow there, hardly surprising i suppose. I think i was about 6.20 to the finish compared to those around me that were over 7, i ought to be under 6 really.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T