I know I asked this on the old forum but all the info's lost :-(
I know the area quite well but don't know the exact route of the Valleys race......has anyone got details of CPs etc? Want to go and recce it over the next couple of weeks.
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I know I asked this on the old forum but all the info's lost :-(
I know the area quite well but don't know the exact route of the Valleys race......has anyone got details of CPs etc? Want to go and recce it over the next couple of weeks.
Longmynd Valleys Checkpoints
Start/Finish :608787Checkpoint 1 :592779Jonathans hollow stream jnct'nCheckpoint 2 :592779Ashes Hollow stream jnct'nCheckpoint 3 :592779Minton BatchCheckpoint 4 :592779Minton Batch stream jnct'nCheckpoint 5 :592779Callow summitCheckpoint 6 :592779Yearlet summit
This is all on mercia's website.
See you there
Brilliant, thanks Invisible.
Was up there on Sunday....ran into 3 Mercia runners who offered to take me around the route but I didn't have time :( But I might try and get out there next weekend instead.
Strange that, I never seem to be able to view Mercia site properly. I'm using Firefox rather than IE.....is this why?
Their website seems to be back up now. It was down for ages last year.
www.merciafellrunners.co.uk
(teaching granny to suck eggs) ;)
In fact Juicer, it is a Firefox v IE issue!! I'm not as daft as I look ;)
Mercia site doesn't work properly in Firefox - can see Clee details but no others!
Right, I'll go and get the 1:25000 map and study the route
Although it hasn't been updated for a long time!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Juicer
Ach, just noticed that the CP grid refs don't look quite right!! Not unless they're all in the same place?!?
(or am I just being stupid?)
Sorry about that I copied without checking.
Done roughly from Get A Map
The real checkpoints are Start 445 944 CP1 Jonathans Hollow 446 964 then it’s up over the top to CP2 Ashes Hollow 423 932. Straight up then down to CP3 423 924. Then right up the valley and left over the top to Minton Batch CP4 410 918. Then a fast flat stretch to stream junction 418 909.
Then it begins for real over Packetstone Hill (no checkpoint) to Callow 431 918 then Yearlet 436 935. Callow to Yearlet can be done in a straight line but a lot of people go left here back to the col into Ashes Hollow for a slightly less scary descent. The route from Yearlet to the finish in the valley is also up for debate. The finish is down into Carding Mill Valley 100 metres nearer Church Stretton than the Start.
The grid refs on the mercia site are for Titterstone Clee
Thanks Invisible....that's brilliant.
Aye, I think I can follow that part....although I believe there are one or two sheep trods to be followed if you know about them ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by invisible
I can QUITE understand that!! I headed left to the col the other day....I know what those slopes further down are like!Quote:
Originally Posted by invisible
"Up for debate"....I like it :) And the finish is down that steep slope at the side of the house isn't it?! I came down there on Sunday....it was a mudslide, can't see may people staying on there feet if this weather continues:DQuote:
Originally Posted by invisible
Just checking Invisible....you weren't one of the 3 Mercia guys I chatted with last Sunday, were you?
I wish.
I'm a lowlander from Springfield, Essex. We've been doing the Long Mynd since 1989. Still finding little short cuts every year.
There are over 20 of us giving it a go this year.
Wow, I'm in awe! Will try to make sure I say "hello" :)Quote:
Originally Posted by invisible
Mr Invisible...are you still there? I can't see you! :D
Ran the Valleys route today following your CPs and route description. Just a couple of things I could do with help on...if you can remember the route.
i) Up to golf course and down to Jonathons Hollow was fine...but then I turned up "Long Batch" - is that the way you've gone? Followed it all the way to the top, but there was an absence of fell shoe prints :confused: Then made my way across to the Portway and followed that to the road and top of Ashes Hollow, which seemd ok.
ii) Dropped into Callow Hollow and turned up the batch. I then turned left at the prominent stream and followed that up and over the low point on the Minton ridge to drop down into Minton Batch. I think I just about dropped down to the CP. Does this sound correct? Again, there was an absence of footprints up the narrow path.
iii) Made my way on a contour path around slightly to the east of Packetstone Hill. But then had to contour a fair way back to drop down into Callow at the point where a steep "path" goes straight up Callow Hill. Looking at the map again, slightly west of Packetstone might be better?
iv)See what you mean about the choices from Yearlet!! I dropped straight down an obvious gully directly towards Church Stretton which meets a prominent path, contouring around the base of the last hill before crossing straight over the Burway just above the house where you turn right down the last slope. Have you tried other ways?
Think I'll probably try and get out there again later in the week to try some deviations from today's route :)
I'm back
i) The checkpoint is further up Jonathans Hollow. Turn left up stream at Jonathans Rock. Then across plateau to the Portway then road to Boiling Well.
ii) Seems OK
iii) Most people go east of Packetstone
iv) Some stay on the ridge (very fast running on grass) all the way to Long Mynd Hotel. I followed the Burway down once but that is road running and not much fun.
Aha, only just noticed your reply Mr Invisible....thanks for that info.
Off to run it again today in clearer but colder weather. Will look out for those couple of places where I seem to have gone a bit wrong. Glad the wind's dropped since yesterday....wouldn't fancy 80mph+ winds on top of the Mynd :)
Mr 1470 how did you get on?
Had a grand morning out Invisible. It was actually quite warm out there...ended up running in just shorts and shirt, coat left in bumbag :)
I hope the breeze stays as it is now...it's behind you on the way back over Packetstone, Callow and Yearlet.
Tried a couple of alternatives today....best one was to attack Yearlet head on rather than contouring the side. Felt much easier that way.
One new rather large tree down in Minton Batch which I ran straight into:eek:
Only other point of note...it'd be nice if the ground dried up a bit. Certain descents are like mudslides...I ended up on my backside several times coming off Packetstone and down off Callow.
Might run it again next weekend for fun :)
Ran over some of course today - wind was fierce in places
where can i get a map of the course cos me and a mate are thinkin of doin this one
s'called Ordnance Survey! See ya there. Maybe Gina will sell you a map?
wheeze i know that but wheres the routeQuote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
i like to be prepared
dont want to have to lug round a full map
i can photocopy the route here at work
my mate wants to do it as well
Details are supposed to be on the Mercia site but they are listed as "coming soon".
cheers davidQuote:
Originally Posted by david
i will go to decathlon and buy an o/s and photo copy the area around church stretton
just hope AJ will let me do it
Oh, well the route is on the Mercia fell site. You need north as far as Jonathans Hollow, as far West as Boiling Well and as far south as Minton Batch.
Oh Sh*t!!! this is gonna HURT!!!! Just to warn anyone who has not done this before, don't think that just because it is in rural Shropshire it can't bite yer legs.
Last time I did it I was in agony of cramp for the last 40 minutes. I mean just look at the stats...5,000 feet in 11 miles? Thats a bigger cumulative climb than Ben Nevis. This race is a BAST*RD.:eek: :eek: :eek:
So there I am, all juiced up for this epic and the phone goes. A pal is offering me a ticket for the Wales Ireland game which, of course, is on the same bloody day. What to do? Hmm, can't really turn down a free ticket can I?? Keep the hills warm for me!
Wheeze - very disappointing, a poor excuse!! :)
Daz....go on, you know you want to do it!!
Weather update.....very clear skies, so route-finding should be easy. Damn!! Was hoping for low cloud :p
Tis a very cold morning though with frost still remaining in the shade. Supposed to be as cold tonight so expect frosty bits :eek: in the batches and hollows.
Correct descision. The hills will be there another day - hope the team put on a good show, or you'll be really pissed off, it's going to be a hard game to win.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Wrong result but a fascinating contest nevertheless. Never mind losing to the Paddies...they are great winners! So, how where my favourite cuddly littlle hillocks of Shropshire??:D
It was great! Sun shining, but also some unexpected patches of frozen ground in the shade to catch out the unwary.
I really enjoyed it, thanks Mercia. And somehow those last two climbs up Callow and Yearlet didn't seem so bad as before. I was obviously not trying hard enough!
Nice to meet "invisible" from this forum - I'm resisting the temptation to make a corny joke :)
Nice to meet you too Stevie.
What a fantastic day for a run. Unfortunately one of our boys tried to get to checkpoint 3 rather too quickly and took a bad fall. Big thanks to all the runners who stopped (there were quite a few) and especially Rick Robson of Mercia who seemed to know what to do with a first aid kit.
He has a suspected broken ankle and wrist and had a night in Shrewsbury Royal.
Thanks Mercia for your prompt action.
And to the runner who didn't take any kit, What clothes would you have put on if you had fallen?
Well done Mercia on naming and shaming him.
Twas a grand day out in the hills :) Perfect conditions and I was very happy with my time which was at the "if I have a really good run" end of my estimate!
Invisible....sorry I didn't see you at the end :p I did talk to "Daft as a Brush" heading up Callow who said you weren't running. (I say "talked", more like "gasped"!)
Hope your runner recovers quickly and is back out on the fells soon.
Agree with your comments about the "non-kit" runner! DUHHHH!! I think I passed him at some point.....I honestly thought, with no kit and wearing the clothes he was, he was out for a sunday morning trot on the hills and had just got caught in the middle of the race. There's always one (unfortunately) isn't there! :rolleyes:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Mr 1470,
Good to see you out and about yesterday.
Hopefully you will be out in your fair County again in the future??
Wasn't it a beautiful day for a run in the hills.
Hope to see you there again next year, or maybe somewhere else beforehand.
Nice to see you too DaftasaBrush.......even if you did call me a "girlie girl" for the way I descended off Packetstone Hill :p
Not too many local plans at the moment....going to be away in the Lakes when the next of the Winter Series takes place although I may well be at the Wrekin race on 1st April.
Otherwise, my gaze is turned north for the spring and summer....to some classic long Lakes races.:)
Are we expecting to see results on the Mercia website or should I have left an envelope? The was a computer in evidence at registration.
Signed,
Mr impatient
Stevie, results are up on;
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/fellrunner/
Thanks for that Mr1470.
Invisible, I hope your clubmate is not too badly damaged after his fall.
I'm afraid he broke both his ankle and wrist and has spent a couple of days in Shrewsbury hospital. He seemed in good spirits but is obviously going to be out of running (and cricket) for some time.
You had a good run Stevie. Have you ever beaten the 2 hour mark. None of us ever get anywhere near, even when our top boys came they struggled to cope with the last two climbs.
Thanks. It was a long time ago that I last did the race, and I know I was around the 2 hr mark then. Keep meaning to dig out my last result.
I'm kind of annoyed because I took a poor route out of no 3, climbing the first gully which was certainly shorter, but the length of the climb and the deep heather afterwards meant I lost maybe 30 seconds into no 4 compared to the people who went further up the valley from 3 before climbing. I was keeping an eye on certain runners to find out how much I lost / gained. So if I had only followed the locals out of no 3 I'm sure I would have broken 2 hrs!
Next time...
Ach, tough luck there Stevie.....I'd tried that in one of my training runs. The gully looks really easy and, on the map, it looks like you can cut off a corner.
BUT!!!
the heather is really difficult to run through.
Must admit I followed a couple of other runners at the top of the further gully, who found a great way through.
Invisible....hope your runner has a good recovery and trust it hasn't put him off running the fells?!?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e77uzsWv-U
found this on you tube a lot of ground but might be of intrest to people who did the race i have not done it since 2004 :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by hillybear
What on earth was he thinking and how in the hell did he film whilst running?
It's not like you get to see much of anything really from it is it.
Do you reckon it was a spectator who just ran the first section of the race?
Will anyone admit to being behind the camera/phone on this forum dya rekon?
The last thing I would have thought of on Sunday was "must remember to film my run"!!
Mr 1470 - How's the screaming coming on?
You must lower your voice a few octaves first - tee hee.