Anyone got a link to where I can find an entry form for this please? And anyone got any tips/hints on routes, survival etc?!?
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Anyone got a link to where I can find an entry form for this please? And anyone got any tips/hints on routes, survival etc?!?
I did this last year and had a fantastic day out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
I presume the address for entry forms is in the handbook (I don't have mine with me at the moment).
As for routes, it's fairly straightforward, really. From the New Dungeon Ghyll, over to Grasmere, Tongue Gill, Grisedale Tarn & Helvellyn. Down to Wythburn Church where there are excellent refreshments laid on. Then it's up Wythburn, skirt round High Raise to Angle Tarn where there is a kit check. Scafell Pike, down to Great Moss, over to Mosedale & down to Cockley Beck where there is another superb refreshments stop. Then it's up to the Old Man, back to the Three Shires Stone, down to Blea Tarn and you're nearly home.
As for survival, my number one tip would be to make sure you eat plenty whenever you can, but most of all enjoy yourself.
The organisation (Achille Ratti club) is superb and it is without doubt the best value for money day out anywhere. You get food & drink at 2 check-points as well as at the end, you get a t-shirt, Ray-net cover etc. all for about 7 quid, I think.
Oh, & did I mention, I really like this race?
Fantastic - just do it!
Thanks for the info GeoffB.
Same here! Will have to check later then.....Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Think I'll go and recce it in 3 sections then. I like the sound of the refreshments :) Was only saying after the recent LDWA event that fellrunning ought to have refreshment CPs!Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Yeah, think I'll have to get used to eating when running. Not very good at it at the moment. Did the Kentmere round the Thursday before Xmas without eating or drinking a thing 'til I got down!! Not good!!Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Wow!! All those sad, sad people paying £££'s to get into London!! Doh!!Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
No, you never said. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Do you know, I think I will!! Got a willing partner for the race (it's run in pairs I believe), although I've told him he'll have to keep reduce his speed a bit for me!
See you in May, then.
As for recceing, I would say the most important bit is from Scafell Pike to Mosedale. Crossing Great Moss & that area can be quite confusing, especially if the mist is down.
I'm very keen to do this and have a couple of potential partners. I can't find much information though - only very basic details on the Achille Ratti website and a good report on the Northumberland Fell Runners site.
Does anyone have a list of checkpoints and cut-offs - and/or a copy of last years results?
Thanks
MH
Here you go Mountain Hare, not all the info you want, but some for starters;
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showthread.php?t=66
Thanks mr1470 and GeoffB - I knew I'd seen something on here!
The old memory suffers a bit past 40...
See you in May
MH
Here are the cut-off times (08.00hrs start, don't forget):-
Angle Tarn... closes 13.30hrs
Cockley Beck closes 15.30hrs
Finish.......... closes 20.00hrs
I've got a copy of last year's result as a .bmp file, but it's too big to attach. So I'll give you a very brief summary:-
Winners - 7.28
Twelve more teams inside 9 hrs
Last finishers - 11.21
36 teams finished, out of about 50 starters.
There, I may have been slow to reply, but I got there in the end. (A bit like my running, some may say!)
Very useful GeoffB, thanks.
I sent off for an entry form yesterday and have a willing partner for the event.
If anyone else is looking for a partner I know someone who is keen to compete but needs someone to do it with - he's a 3hr ish marathon runner and a 5:20 ish Wasdale hobbler:)
PM me if anyone is looking to do it and I'll put you in touch.
MH
Have decided to do this as part of BGR prep (BGR on 30th June). I'm doing the Fellsman the week before and Jura the week after - it's going to be a tough old May!
It sounds like a really good event - food stops on the way round is clearly the future.
SwissToni...that's madness!!:D And there's me wondering whether my legs will recover in time to do Ennerdale on 10th June!!:eek:
Mind you....did notice that Windermere Marathon is the next day.........:p
Got my Lake District Anquet map last week and been trying to plot the route into it (saddo!!) and then fly through it. Relieving the boredom of not being able to run 'cause of a rotten cold.
What time are you planning on doing the Fellsman in cos anytime is going to be hard to get 62 miles out of your legs in a week !!!:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Swiss Toni
Right, with a couple of weekends in the Lakes coming up, I'm planning to recce the route in 2 halves.
Could someone give me a pointer or two please?
The route down off Helvellyn to Wythburn....do you actually follow the path? Or take a more direct line down somewhere?Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
So skirting around High Raise is considered better than going over? Am I right in thinking that at Greenup Edge, you're not far off the top of High Raise and over the top would be more direct, if a little more ascent?Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Now this looks confusing on the map. Think, from reading previous accounts, I fancy the "back to Little Narrowcove" option. If I do this, is there an easy/obvious way across to Mosedale taking a reasonably direct line?Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Apart from that, as GeoffB said previously, looks pretty straightforward route-choice.
Sort of looking forward to it!:p
Well, I've only done the race once, so I hardly claim to be an expert, but here are my ideas.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Helvellyn to Wythburn - pretty much direct, aiming to hit the path just before it enters the forest.
Greenup Edge to High Raise - 150m of climbing, I'd have thought contouring was best. It's all very grassy whichever way you go really.
Scafell Pike to Mosedale - to start with Mickleden is 'out of bounds', so Little Narrowcove is a good bet. After that, prepare for wet feet! In last year's LDMT I followed Scoffer straight across Great Moss - about 0.5km splashing through calf-deep water. Very tiring, but gets it out of the way. This is the bit that definitely needs recceing as it can be confusing in mist.
Enjoy your weekends, and hope to see you in May. By the way, who's your partner for the race?
Thanks for the reply Geoff.
Ok, that's what I thought looking at it on the map. Great, I'll try that.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Did read a comment somewhere about the fact that it was a mystery where the rocks for the cairn on top come from 'cause it's all grass :) Right, I'll try countouring then.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Ok, noted. Will hope it doesn't rain too much in the next week then! I can see a direct line on the map and I've "recce'd" it on Anquet map :) I'll let you know how I get on.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
It's guaranteed that I'll enjoy my weekends up there Geoff :) Look forward to seeing you in May.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
A guy from Mercia who doesn't post on here (I don't think). He's a better runner than me but I know the Lakes better so should be a good team. Definitely NOT going to break any records or trouble the leaders, just looking to finish.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
We're both qualified in sports massage as well.....ready for when we get cramp :D
That's handy - I'll probably look out for on that last big climb out of Cockley Beck! I might just need a good massage then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Just out of interest has anyone tried running up the road to Dunmail top then branching off right up the beck before contouring round west of dollywagon before joining the ridge path?
It looks like it could be quicker to me.
There's a checkpoint at NY339098 (on the bridleway approaching Great Tongue, just near a footbridge I seem to remember). I presume that's there to stop you doing that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dux de lux
Anybody have the checkpoint details?
ta P
Tried to upload from my PC but file is too big. E-mail me and I'll send it over if you like.
MH
New dungeon ghyll car park 296064
path junction 339098
Helvellyn 341152
Wythburn car park 324136
Angle tarn 245078
World of Beatrix Potter 404972
Scafell Pike 215072
Cockley Beck Bridge 247017
Coniston Old Man 272928
Road/wall corner 291031
Lane end Side House Farm (finish) 295063
Thanks for that, thought I might recce NDG - Hellvellyn - Angle Tarn this weekend
cheers P
Arse! hat puts pay to that cunning plan then!Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffB
Think I'll have to recce the Angle Tarn - World of Beatrix Potter - Scafell Pike section soon. Could be some interesting route choices there. (Should be able to get an ice-cream, though).Quote:
Originally Posted by goose fat
Depending on weather and snow conditions....either going to recce the above or go for the Scafell Pike, Cockley Beck recce this weekend :)Quote:
Originally Posted by paulo
Which route is taken over to Grasmere. Do you go along the road from the NDG car park and over the the top past Raw Pike and Blindtarn Gill (which looks the most direct) or do you have to go another way to avoid running along the road?
I hate to admit this, but we just followed the crowd last year. We went along the track from the NDG, a short way along the road then I think we went over by the path that leaves the road near Harry Place Farm, above Chapel Stile, below Silver Howe dropping into the south end of the village.Quote:
Originally Posted by goose fat
Cheers Geoff.
Just checked it on memory map and it saves about 100m of ascent and is a little shorter too despite first appearances.
Hmmm another partial success. Did the above yesterday as planned but too many pies and not enough hills over the winter turned it in to a bit of an epic. We were late leaving Manchester and consequently managed to set off in a bit of a fluster from NDG taking totally inadequate clothing and sustenance. The weather didn't help - overheating in the valleys and freezing the nadgers off in the windchill on the tops but we were basically not up to the job and ended up totally knackered by less than half the race route :( . There's a lot of fell miles to be done between now and May if we're going to get round in one piece.Quote:
Originally Posted by paulo
Descending Hevellyn we came down the spur N of Whelpside Gill and then crossed to the main path on a trod about 50m above the treeline - is this the best line? Going S of the gill looked good on the map but didn't look very promising on the ground.
cheers P
I think there are detail route issues worth looking at on the OCT
For example:
From grisedale tarn, dont follow the crowd up dollywaggon - take a long traversing ascent to the west aiming to hit the ridge at the col behind dollywaggon - whe we did this we picked up at least 10 places on those round us. OK it was only probably 2 mins in it, but every bit is worthwhile!
Climbing a 100' to stay well above the path to angle tarn then follow a level traverse gives a lot better running ground than the main path
Crossing from the base of little narrow cove , straight across the esk bottom to gain higher ground on the other side before heading towards mosedale was certainly a lot dryer than the valley floor
All worth considering?
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulo
The weather was tough wasn't it Paulo? Luckily took a fleecy top with me because, despite being far too hot lower down, it was freezing on the tops!
Did a recce from ODG, up to Angle Tarn, Esk Hause, up to Scafell Pike, back down Little Narrowcove (where it looked like I was the FIRST person in days to have been there, no footprints at all in the snow!), down over Great Moss and down to the road, up the other side at Cockley Beck Bridge but then decided not to go all the way out to Coniston, headed down to Three Shire Stone instead.
Using Little Narrowcove, the route seems reasonably straightforward, although I suspect I should have stayed further left over Great Moss instead of heading across it!!
Will try the Helvellyn recce later in the month.
Time to ressurect this one...having now recce'd it in two halves.
So, a couple of questions and a few thoughts;
i) NDG to Grasmere
As GeoffB said earlier, guess I can follow the rest of the pack at this stage. Had a right game on Saturday, took what I thought was the right path and came up against an 8 foot stone wall with no way through!?! Where did I go wrong?!?
ii) Grisedale Tarn to Helvellyn
Interesting though about contouring around Dollywagon but I'd have thought the straight up to the left of the zig-zags route would take less out of you in the end?
iii) Helvellyn to Wythburn Church
I think I dropped into Whelpside Gill too early...do you stay on that northern spur and then only drop across the gill near the trees? I did pick up the sheep trod to contour across to the path though :-)
iv) The Bog
Aptly named!!!
v) Great Moss
So did I see some suggestion about crossing over straight away at the bottom of Little Narrowcove and keeping above on the left? Seemed like a good idea.
vi) Three Shires Stone onwards
How painful is that 2 miles down on the road!?!?
Had a good weekend, having done 41 miles and 15,000ft over two and a half days.....so feeling a bit more confident now.
Anyone else been out on the route? I met a lass coming down off Dollywagon who said that members of Achille Ratti were out recceing on Saturday as well.
Also met some Bob Graham recce folk nearly back into Langdale. Put my "long" run to shame!
Last year on the start line, we were told that the new road in Langdale is strongly discouraged (i.e. out of bounds, but the Achille Ratti were too nice to say that), so there really isn't any choice but to go on the old road and traverse round into Grasmere (there shouldn't be any confrontations with 8 foot stone walls). We actually did the old road and then took a direct over the top (the only team to do so I think) and we spent the rest of the race trying to catch the time back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Hi Mr1470Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
I guess that was us, 6 men, 2 women, Included in the group myself plus Plumbum who you chatted to. We also bumped in to Batman on the top of Great End. A superb long day with fantastic weather we reckoned about 23-4 miles with 10,500-11,000 ft of ascent.
4 of us did leg two of the bg on Sunday in windy conditions and bumped in to some Totley runners. Clear but very cold.
Ian
Yes, that was me Ian. Nice to meet you all. It was a cracking day wasn't it? Sounds like you had a great weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
We were up on the north side of the Helvellyn ridge on Sunday..Clough Head down to Lower Man and back. THat wind was certainly cold!
Good luck with your training and, of course, your BG attempt...when's it planned for?
Yes, a great day out Ian. We managed to find the direct descent off Great End down to Styhead and had a pleasant sunny run from there round the Jos Naylor Challenge route to Greendale. It's going to be a tough last section on the day - hoping to go for real on April 28 weather permitting. (don't forget to send your form off if you want to go on the reserve list for Jura.)Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Batman
You must have set off after us or we would have passed each other on the ridge. The wind seem to drop considerably after we'd passed Helvellyn trig heading south.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
Our proposed BG date is the W/E 15-16 June.
We set off quite late Ian....but did notice that there were absolutely loads of fresh Walsh and Inov8 prints up there!! A real runners' paradise, one stiff climb followed by a great runnable "ridge" all the way.
Good luck for June. You never know, may bump into you again on the Lakes fells!!
We did a NDG - Angle tarn - race route recce on sat in the beautiful sunshine. Saw a party a few hundred metres ahead on Wrynose - must have been the AR doing their recce - nobody could be mad enough to run down there in fell shoes under any other circumstances could they? :eek:
Anyone know the time outs for the check points please - it's of more than academic interest to us I fear :(
cheers, P
Same here Paulo!! I believe there's a 5 hour cut-off to Angle Tarn checkpoint and I had a feeling there was a 7.5 hour cut-off at Cockley Beck Bridge.....but only pieced that together from accounts of previous races.Quote:
Originally Posted by paulo
Probably most worried about an early cut-off - plan to take it very steady to the top of Helvellyn at least and see how I feel then and push on.