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The Spine (260-odd miles Edale-Yetholm in 7 days) and Spine Challenger (108 miles Edale - Hawes in 60h) - the latter including a Mountain Rescue team fundraising challenge - kicks off Saturday morning. 7am for the Spine Challenger, 10am for the Spine proper.
FOr all you dot-watching fiends there is of course tracking available
Website is here: http://thespinerace.com
Thanks for the reminder Nic. Very best of luck to anyone doing the full, or the Edale - Hawes fun run
Very wet underfoot, I was on Kinder yesterday and Bleaklow today...sloppy is the best description I could come up withQuote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Good Luck to Tim (Cyclops other half) Glossop. Woodhead are too busy with the Trigger...That's my excuse;)
Went out to watch few people cross the Longdendale trail. Bumped in to 2 Oldham MRT guys waiting for their team-mates... 2 miles away from the actual road crossing! :confused:
Compulsive viewing. Some of the Challenge back markers are being over taken by full Spine competitors. Hopefully see some competitors when I am for my portly bog trot this afternoon.
I had a walk up Pin Haw from Lothersdale this afternoon with the dog. We saw several Spiners who all seemed to be going well, especially "Tim from Ambleside", who looked in very good nick on the full. A three mile walk (albeit on a short race route) was a useful microcosm of what is involved with this epic outing
. A three mile walk (albeit on a short race route) was a useful microcosm of what is involved with this epic outing[/QUOTE]
That's like going to the toilet �� peeing on yer leg and saying " you have an idea of how captain Webb felt swimming the channel " ��
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Exactly DT. I was on one of my local routes over Monk's moor this afternoon, dealing with relentless curtains of sleet and snow flurries all generously being hurled my way by a strong westerly wind. Looks like the leaders with be at the MIT check point in a few hours. At least this year they'll not have to deal with iced conditions of 2105 over Cauldron Snout.
Even the Challenger is a hell of an event Mossy. Lord knows how you cope with those conditions for days. I wore wellies, which were perfect for my dog walk, but hardly suitable for a hundred mile bog trot!
Appears that the three leaders have settled for taking shelter @ the Tan Hill Inn - their first proper rest since Edale!Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
The next four in the main gig are bunked down in Hawes.
Andrew, Fleetfoot in Lancaster (later to become Reebok Wholesaling then asset stripped by Adidas), back in the 70's, imported New Balance from the USA and "Nokia Bog-Trotter" wellies from Finland. The latter only came up to mid calf with a couple of tensioning straps to stop them slipping off, plus steel dobs on the soles, as per pukka Scandinavian 'O' shoes. I think they may well have been suitable for current conditions.
Our mutual friend Nippersmith of this parish called it a day @ around 09.00 Sunday a.m. at the road-x by Ponden reser; feeling extremely hypothermic and starting to stumble - couldn't risk the next fell section. Otherwise I would now have been heading for Fountains Fell with a flask of coffee and other sustenance.
I'm trying to come to terms with my first ever DNF on the Challenger this weekend. I aggravated what I thought was a niggle in my ankle I picked up on my last long run before the event. I suppose an event like that will expose all weaknesses. Right decision by me to hobble into the pub at Malham, no point risking anything. Looking forward to the start line next year. Hope others in the same boat as me are keeping chins up!!
Hard luck Jezzlar. Tough conditions over the weekend
Jezzlar, I am in your boat and keeping my chin up, just. I will make use of any early bird discount that is offered for the Challenger 2017.
As Wheezing Donkey says, I withdrew at Ponden Reservoir. I was blown about Top Withins in a blizzard around 7 am Sunday, and by the time I got to Ponden my hands were too numb for me to get to my food. I thought it would be foolish to set off on an 8 mile stretch in this state.
This whole experience from Edale to my finish at Ponden was pretty epic. I was skipping across the moors from Hebden Bridge checkpoint at 4.30 am thinking "this is what I call playing out" one minute and tearing through a driving blizzard to get to shelter at Top Withins bothy what seemed like the next.. Not being able to get into the bothy sealed it for me.
Wheezing Donkey - thank you for your advice and support with my preparation for this event. I am only sorry I did not keep going and meet you further along the Way.
Sarah
Eoin Keith 1st finisher 95 hours 17 mins 18secs
What!!
Fantastic, makes those 100's in usa that they crow on about look like a tea party.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nippersmith
The bothy at top withens is mentioned in several PW guides, but is sometimes locked. Don't know who looks after it, ranger service/bradford met?
What's the point of a bothy if it's locked? Madness. Too close to civilisation?
Following the spine is a great diversion at work, with special interest as a member of my club is heading north - Go Sarah Fuller. Eoin has had an amazing run and probably deserves a pint!
the weather got a bit epic, and the underfloor heating on the Pennine way needs replacing.
Congrats to eoin for a superb finishing time on the full Dealio... very impressive.
at the risk of repeating myself, as I know a lot of those on here are a part of the fb group, here is a link to my race report for th Mountain rescue challenger event.
http://testedtodestruction.blogspot....-mrt-2016.html
apologies as its a bit on the long side.
I was supporting Mark Dalton this weekend on the Spine and he told me a similar story about blizzard-like conditions at Top Withins. He also thought he couldn't get in at first as wasn't able to open the door, then somebody shouted something from inside like "push it harder". He did and got in. So it was open at this time (8am-ish Sunday), but the door was apparently really stiff.
Huge thanks for posting and well done for accomplishing. That's a massive achievement. I really enjoyed reading your post and especially the heady mixture of total admiration but also schadenfreude it induced ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by zephr
Yes very well done
Apparently Eoin was inteviewed on Irish Radio last night. A guy from IMRA put this on facebook.
http://cdn.rasset.ie/manifest/audio/.../manifest.m3u8
Eoin Keith 2FM interview. 42:40 (2FM would be the irish equivalant of BBC Radio 1)
Been following on social media, another epic race well done everyone! Look forward to the dvd..
Followed all week. Only on-and-off (no stamina!!?). Simply awesome. Now following Ryan Wood(81) who has a good chance to complete being at Byrness, with about a day to go!! Brilliantly paced, and organised by himself and his support! Unbelievable affort in any winter condition. I like one or two other sampled the delights of the weather with a jaunt over and round Ingleborough. Put the whole thing into perspective quite firmly!!
According to their facebook page, nobody is able to leave Byrness for the rest of the day due to severe weather conditions. I don't know if this means the race is over for everyone, or if they can make a dash for it 1st thing in the morning...
means its over :(
The Bothy at Top Withins was open, the door was seized up, with a strong push some racers got in.
I was giving the Spine a miss this year after three starts, instead I was on one of the safety teams.
Pavel who finished second is returning in the summer to attempt on Mike Hartleys record of a 2 day 17 hour PW.
Pavs account of the race and his summer attempt plans, and Eoins race report.:-
http://ar2.palonc.org/2016/01/20/spine-race-2016/
https://eoinkeith.wordpress.com/2016...to-the-breach/
Dave.
Such a good race, the weather over the Cheviots made that last section crazy hard!
I've written a report here if anyones interested: https://jurarunner.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/fancy-an-adventure-maybe-the-spine-race-is-for-you/
Nice one Luke, I am Dave Lee, aka Slogger and dav657.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jurasource