Information now on Fife AC website
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Information now on Fife AC website
Not far from where the relays were last time in Scotland! I realise that sometimes options are limited but perhaps leg 4 could have been the reverse to leg 2! But then I suppose you might have some head on collisions!
Jez!......teddy bear race looks a bit scarey!
What's the deal with teams/club?Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
Any limit?
also what are the categories, open, female, male Vets, no female vet category is there?
I think there was a feeling that if the event was held north of the central belt it would reduce the number of people prepared to travel from south of the border. And I suspect if "we" hadn't volunteered, it would have back to Alva.Quote:
Not far from where the relays were last time in Scotland!
Yes, they're very limited: from Falkland, you go up either East or West Lomond and the latter is too far away for an A-category short leg. Then one of routes to East was ruled out the landowner, who wouldn't give permission for us to use a particular path (fair play: they were happy for us to the tracks at the back of East). There would have been more route choice if we'd moved the event centre further west, to the foot of West Lomond, but then there would have big problems with getting to it, parking and so forth.Quote:
I realise that sometimes options are limited...
As you might have gathered, I'm on the organising committee. Questions, comments, feedback etc... let me know.
If anyone did go and recce the routes yesterday (i.e. after Dollar), hope you got round without too much difficulty.
Bill
Ah ... this explains why you happened to be leaning against a tree at the foot of Dollar Glen! You've emigrated!Quote:
Originally Posted by bill
When do you think you will have the maps up on your website?
Firstly, I do not know the area as I've never been.
I've been looking at the route descriptions and setting that against the OS map and I have some observations / questions an would be grateful if someone could clear them up.
On Leg 2/4 - The Track/Road Junction 241070 looks more like 241071 - I'm just checking as I'm "self taught" and therefore may be wrong if when you work to 3 places "070" then you round down.
On the same leg, there's no GR for CP3, just a passing mention. Is there a GR for this and any landmark for it?
Right-ho, back from some work travels and have some news.
Harveys will be producing the maps for the event. But the timetable had us getting the final maps in early October. Well, that's a bit too long to wait so I've attached a couple of maps (JPG's) based on the OS 1:25k that you'll have to make do with for now. Hope they're OK.
Note: there are discrepancies between the maps and the published route descriptions. This is because we've tweaked the routes a little, based on advice and testing. Though I've done the maps, not had the time to update the description. The principle changes are extra checkpoints, added mainly to avoid un-authorised short cuts.
The website will be updated with route maps and descriptions once we're happy that there won't be further changes to either, at least for a little while.
Hmm... measuring to the middle of the road with my ruler on the Explorer map I get a distance of just under 4mm between this junction and the 07 grid line. So the grid reference is 070, as you round down.Quote:
The Track/Road Junction 241070 looks more like 241071
Yes, agreed, the description was rather vague. This is one of the changes we've agreed in the last few days and the checkpoing been moved, to a nice, easily described and fairly easy-to-find feature. List of checkpoint locations as agreed on Monday...Quote:
On the same leg, there's no GR for CP3, just a passing mention. Is there a GR for this and any landmark for it?
Leg 1:-
Start Field, bottom 236 071
1 Gully, below crags 199 071
2 Summit of West Lomond, west side 196 066
3 Gate on Glen Vale track 185 061
4 Path junction 185 051
5 Summit of West Lomond, east side 197 065
Finish Event field 242 075
Leg 2 & 4:-
Start Event field 242 075
1 Wall, path junction 242 065
2 Summit of East Lomond, east side 244 061
3 Car park, west end 251 057
4 Boundary stone, on wall line 239 063
5 Summit of East Lomond, west side 243 062
Finish Event field 242 075
Note the extra check point on the way up East Lomond. Don't have to visit this on the descent. Up to you whether to risk cutting corners...
I've started uploading a few images of the Lomonds on Flickr to illustrate the routes. No guarantee how frequently the collection will be extended e.g. only got to take some photos on Sunday because I was too poorly to race at Glenshee.
Bill
Thanks Bill - clearer now - there's a few coming up for the Lomonds of Fife this weekend to have a run on the terrain so looking forward to it.
I'd still query your 4mm - are you measuring to the west junction (from Maspie Burn) or the east junction (as you enter the woods - which looks like the 4mm). The route description refers to the GR being at the west junction - although I can see now from the map exactly where we are.
Just back from a great weekend.
Stayed at Gallowhills Campsite in Kinross - 20 minutes from Falkland so perfect for the relays.
Saturday, reccied Leg 1 - bit of a toughy - especially the second climb of West Lomond. I can tell you the route up East Lomond for Legs 2&4 will test you out as well!
Today, me and my 4 clubmates took on the Lomonds of Fife Fell race. Great race - really testing. Getting over my back problem, this was perhaps a few weeks too early, but I made the (quite harsh) cut-off (by 3 mins!) which was 2 hours back at the road crossing coming off East Lomond and finished in 2:49 and bits.
I had a 3 hour target - so happy with that. Not many behind me though as I think most of those got the chop.
I impressed myself so much that I'm thinking of doing Sedbergh next week :D
Thanks to the organisers for putting on a super event.
how did you enjoy the luge run at the end? Could have done with some more rain as I was in danger of setting my shorts* on fire. ChrisU has put some good photos on the shr site http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chrisu.../LomondsOfFife
*You might have noticed the old hands wearing cycling shorts :wink:
My grass burns are just fading.
At registration, I asked if we needed to take full body cover. The guy advised me it was best to do so, then I could put my trousers on before the slide. Wish I had.
Has anyone measured it? I would guess about 600ft of slide there and hard work avoiding the thistles :/
Just wondering - it states that all runners must be 18.
The Short legs it seems are AS category which would normally allow 16 years to take part and quite a few clubs have some very good U18 Fell runners that may like to be involved.
Is there a particular reason for this rule?
i thought there normally were under 18's in the relays. Thought heather Timmins ran in the Clwydians when she was U18?Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
THat was 2 years ago and she is an U23 now and she was at Uni - 12/2/90 DOB would make her 18 on the day.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
My mistake then,Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
I've been wondering the same, we may be struggling and one of our potential runners is 17..
It's mainly because we've been told "no juniors".
The pairs leg and (probably) the navigation leg are too long for U18s anyway (Rule Ten, FRA Rules for Competition. The same rule also says "U18" means under 18 years on Jan 1st in the year of competition. Seems a bit harsh if your birthday is in January.).
But we have U18s allowed to do up to 6 miles so the solo legs are within the FRA Rules - who actually advised you "No Juniors"?
Many races go a little stricter than the rules - 5K Road is allowed at 14 but often races say 15 or 16 and with 10K 15 is allowed but quite a few races insist on 16. That is often because the race is tougher than a regular race.
But this is usually at the discretion of the organiser.
But the Short legs, having looked at the course, are tough, but I wouldn't say they were any tougher than a typical FRA Champs race such as Clougha Pike and I'm sure one or two of the lads from Helm / Wharfedale/ Rossy etc would fancy joining in if they could.
Agreed, but in addition the inclusion of a junior in a relay is at the discretion of the event organiser. See notes from last year's AGM discussion.Quote:
But we have U18s allowed to do up to 6 miles so the solo legs are within the FRA Rules
Jon Broxap.Quote:
who actually advised you "No Juniors"
And for "advised", read "told".
Anybody travelling up to this event from the Bristol area ????? Lift needed for my daughter please
Just in case you haven't noticed, entries are still open for the Relays and will be so until 10-October.
So, if you haven't entered a team you're not too late.
And if you have entered (thanks!), feel free to enter a "B" team...
Cheers
Bill
My info pack for the Nav Leg says a winning time of 65 minutes. That means that some teams will take over two hours to do leg 3.
I hope we won't have a repeat of the DPFR Edale fiasco were almost all the teams (including Holmsie and Jebbie) were in the mass start.
We've estimated the timings and reckon the leading 'open' teams should finish between 13:35 and 13:55.Quote:
I hope we won't have a repeat of the DPFR Edale fiasco were almost all the teams (including Holmsie and Jebbie) were in the mass start.
Leading teams in some other categories may well be involved in the mass start on Leg 4. Depending on how things go on the day, the mass start may be delayed a little if it means these teams get a clear run. But we'd still like to wrap things up promptly if possible: all too aware that many people face a long drive home and some of the marshals will have out on the hill for several hours.
I'm told there are weekend road-works on the Forth Road Bridge, may be worth investigating more if you're travelling up on the Sunday.
Which clubs have a V50 Team out? DPFR are on our way.
I know Durham Fell Runners have a vet50 team in, and they were 2nd in this category last year, although i heard our top v50 runner is out of this years event :p
Durham has its strongest team out yet, probably the 6th year weve been to the relays I think, although I dont envisage us troubling the top15 teams just yet, but who knows ;)
Which team is favourite to win? Borrowdale or bingley seem to dominate every year.
This is the best event in the fell running calendar IMO, but it gets so little interest going on the forum, whys that? :)
Shame it has such a big carbon footprint. We are a pretty eco unfriendly lot.
Expecting MV50 teams from the following:-
Carnethy Hill RC
Clayton-le-Moors Harriers
Dark Peak Fell Runners Club
Fife AC
Mercia Fell RC
Northumberland Fell Runners
Ochil Hill Runners
Pennine Fell Runners
Rossendale Harriers & AC
Westerlands Cross Country Club
There's a few teams yet to confirm their category (including Durham).
I reckon Mercia might come out on top.Quote:
Which team is favourite to win?
The weather forecast suggests it'll be good this coming weekend. It's been dry but generally overcast since the end of last week but expecting (hoping for) sunshine from Friday onwards.
Yeah if Mercia get out a full strength team and don't try to cheat like they did last year :-) I think they'll be favourites...Quote:
Originally Posted by TheReverand
They've got a lot of very strong runners.
You going up with Wrexham Tri?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fellrunner
Yup, we're staying in Edinburgh on the Saturday evening.....well, the rest of them are. I'm staying with my brother & meeting my new baby niece.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Preliminary plan is for me to be Gil's bitch on the first leg.
I've heard you can't make it, they'll miss you.
Think I'm running it now..Gil's going well, looks a long first leg...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fellrunner
We're staying at St Andrews I think..
Ah, thanks for bringing that to my attention Iain. I've not ran for 90+mins since June.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Will you be doing Leg One with Shorty?
No, think Ill be doing nav leg..
Reckon leg 1 will be a 65-70 minutes, didn't they guess 63 winning time..
team isn't too set yet, think there will be further discussions in the car..
That would be better news for me, but from race pack;Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
"Leg 1: AM (pairs) Estimated winning time 80-90 mins
Leg 2: AS (solo) Estimated winning time 35-40 minLeg 4: AS (solo) this is the same as leg 2."
Leg 3: O (pairs) Estimated winning time 60 mins.
Think I got confused with what Bill said about the Nav leg..Quote:
Originally Posted by Fellrunner
No, I read shorter running times somewhere too, in the early stages. Think they have adjusted them up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
I think we tweaked upwards the estimated winning times for Legs 2 and 4, after I found it took me nearly 50 minutes to get round one Tuesday evening. There were excuses, primarily a race the previous Saturday and a 20-miler in the Cairngorms on Sunday. Gosh, I was fit once.:DQuote:
Think they have adjusted them up
The stats (distance, ascent) for Leg 1 make it a little longer than the Dollar race, if that's any help. There's a lot of good, fast running too, assuming you haven't over-cooked it on the climb up the start field;). No spot prize for being the first team to Maidens Castle.
We'll be setting up in the event field Saturday afternoon. Any questions, doubts, suggestions .. come and see us. Or of course just pop over to say "hello".
Bill.
Thanks for that Bill :) So it will probably take me 50 minutes then... I am on leg 2...
What time is it getting dark up there now? I am coming up from S Wales on Saturday and want to be early enough to have a snoop round before dark...
It's dark by about 6:15-6:30 at moment. Are you driving or flying up?Quote:
What time is it getting dark up there now?