Does anyone know if the Longmynd Valleys race has a website showing the route or listing the checkpoints?
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Does anyone know if the Longmynd Valleys race has a website showing the route or listing the checkpoints?
I've been wondering that. It's organised by Mercia, but there's no course details on their website,
http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/node/236
It was discussed here http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...g+mynd+valleys last year.
Seems you need to go down to post #8 to get the real info
What's this killer descent like then??
In fact, whats the whole shebang like?
Not done this, but done the Cardington Cracker, some of the ascents are very steep, as in pulling on grass time, nice area to run in. Mainly grassy descents so no real worry about falling.
Sadly i've got the Abergele Border league Road race that day so that will take preference.
I'd say, for the hardened fell runner, the race is not that tough, but it is enjoyable. The section south along the top of the hill (although fast) can get a little dull, especially because you will see cars, dog walkers etc up there, but wait until you get out on the spurs in the second half of the race. That is where it's best.Quote:
Originally Posted by FellMonster
About the "scary descent": most people go to the cross dyke after Callow because that seems like the fastest option. With all due respect to Invisible, the descent to Ashes Hollow is not that scary - unless frozen when you can go A over T.
The interesting part of the race is the final third, the climbs of Callow and Yearlet are pretty steep, though grassy, and the combination of steep climbs and associated descents is hard on the legs. I really like this race, short enough to run hard, but hard enough to sort the men out from the boys.
Just had a nasty image of people dropping off cliffs.....glad that is not the case.. sounds like a good un'
Our faller last year has recovered and will be returning for more this year.
Dare say he'll be taking it slowly down to checkpoint 3.
See you all there.
Excellent, got the info now - thanks chaps... :)
Looks like a nice map-fondling session is in order :D
i'll be there
For anyone interested I have posted the route that I used in last years race (which was the route most people seemed to take).
Here is a link to the map image
The race starts on the small blue square and ends by the car park.
Hope that's of use to you.
Regards, The Mad Runner
Brilliant TMR! Thanks for that. :)
Good evening, Is there anyone out there who has taken the more direct route from Callow to Yearlet, rather than contouring off to the left. I've always gone left but it seems to take a long time before you start the descent, and was wondering if anyone's carried straight on after CAllow and gone up the front of Yearlet?
thanks andrew
I have taken that route or somthing like it in the past. The decent is fairly knarly, deep heather for a bit too mush and you have to pick your way up the far side as well. the ground is better the other way. Time wise I neve convinced myself either way...Quote:
Originally Posted by oleg beaviz
Ifor
Parking info, check points, cut-offs, etc from Mercia website;
http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/node/236#comment-30
I have used the direct route from callow to yearlet several times but for the last 2 races, I have contoured left as per the race route map. I think this is better because the climb up yearlet on the direct route is so steep, its virtually scrambling. You cannot get a rhythm and its too rough on the legs.
Whats the best route from Yearlet to finish? Along the top of the ridge or drop down into the valley?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
I always go straight of the edge steep drop to townbrook down the valley and cut the last little corner off at the bottom of townbrook
whats the weather like down there?
Wheeze - mid-pack runners tend to drop just off to the right off Yearlet and then use the ridge path rather than dropping straight into the valley. No idea what the leaders do!!!:D
Callow to Yearlet - not used the direct route but agree with what you're saying. I've also played with going quite a long way up the valley and then straight up Yearlet to the top rather than traversing up - easier on the legs and a bit quicker I find.
Fleeter - a light dusting of snow but nothing much. Cold and sunny, about to head over to the Mynd for a few hours now - lovely! See you tomorrow.
Fleeter, the Mercia website has been giving updates on the weather & travelling conditions for The Titterstone Clee race. Hopefully they'll be doing the same for The LMV.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fleeter
See you tomorrow.
http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/tracker
Wales won today ........ I fear Wheeze may have a little hangover in the morning (and why not :D ).
Have a good run anyway, I'm working:(
I will sleep well tonight.
Me too,i was a little bit slower than last year and annoyed i didn't break 2 hours,albeit by a min.I think the conditions were harder than last year (wetter under foot),and racing fri didn't help.How did your leg hold up Fellrunner ? I had a quick word with you on the start line.That last climb up yearlets is something else :eek:
Ah, so that was you Rodders. I thought I was just having a chat with your average chatty friendly fellrunner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodders rambler
Shame you got so close to, but didn't manage to crack 2hrs. It was my first run at the LMV & I'm sort of heartened that conditions were worse than usual as I was hoping to get a slightly better time.
Young Stanley did well to race Friday, Saturday & still have enough energy to kick my arse again today.
Leg was okay during the race, but didn't like the drive home.
Well that was only my second time i've raced it,it was cold but flat calm last year and alot of the ground was frozen which made it quicker.Stan was very much the man this weekend,3 races and 3 great finishes.Well done to him.... the one fella who amazes me is Ed Davies,the man is a complete animal,a great example to everyone !! I don't want to guess his age but he is well over 50
was good fun today,pleased to finally meet wheeze had a good chat after the race,and good to see the usual suspects around,bloody tough race that
http://dcn-mercia.make247.co.uk/node/489
Results are up,good turn out ! :)
Exactly the same position as last year for me,with a slower time !
cheers to mercia for the organisation and the quick results,will be back next year me thinks
Wot a weekend! Wales won and I managed to do Long Mynd without cramp....in fact was passing people going up Callow and Yearlet. Result!
Bad news about not being able to use the school. After 2 and bit hours in the freezing cold mud of the Mynd, one really needed a warm shower but the social club did not quite run to that!!
Twas a good day out wasn't it? I really enjoyed it, not racing but accompanying 2 others who did superbly well to complete the race in a very respectable time.
Nice to see you again Fleeter, definitely come back next year won't you! Good time for a first timer by the way.
Conditions were slippy and muddy but not as bad as they had been on Saturday when the ground was solid with ice and some of those steep slopes were very difficult.
i was actually quite surprised with my time thought i did more 2:30 than 2:20 but oh well :p
Are you sure about your position? The positions seem a bit random in a few places after position 21.... :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodders rambler
A good race, and an interesting area (totally new to me). Having been training well on the run up to this one I was disappointed with my run (107th in 2:31 :o ) but I am reminded that there's a massive difference between training and racing fitness! The campaign starts here..:mad:
Depends what you're training for as well Trundler!! The Valleys is tough because it saves those 3 climbs for last. The temptation is to go zooming off across the top of the Mynd early on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trundler
I've been running the route in training and noticed that, now I'm putting in some serious long BG training, I'm rubbish on the running bits....but those last 3 climbs are no problem at all at a strong walking pace.
Plus, don't know if you were able to follow someone, but there are one or two places where the best line saves you a wee bit of time and effort.
Anyway, hope you'll come back to Shropshire next year...and don't forget the Stretton Skyline in September, a 19 mile 4500ft race which takes in the Mynd AND those shapely little hills across the other side of Church Stretton.
I was 19th....:)Quote:
Are you sure about your position? The positions seem a bit random in a few places after position 21....
Yep, the fast section on the track and road (!) did catch me out (the Tour of Pendle has a similar profile with all the climbing concentrated at the end). I'm sure there are a lot of cunning lines to be discovered as well!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr1470
I will be back! It's an interesting area and must make a great training ground.
Bottom line for me is just not enough race fitness but it will come with a few more races under my belt - might even be properly fit in time for Stretton Skyline :D
Pound for pound, probably THEE most enjoyable race I ve ever run to be honest. The course was fantastic. I will try to refamiliarise myself with the route for next year.
There's was quite a few walkers down in the hollows got a shock with runners charging towards them.
I'm glad you liked it. There's nothing worse than travelling a long way by car to a race that turns out to be pants! The race has been one of my faves since I first did it in 91.
Ahhhh at Callow and Yearlet, you probably passed the runners like me who started at 1030!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
I had a really bad race, leading the 1030 pack at 1 stage and then making 2 (yes 2 different!) navigational errors. Ended up doing about 12.75 miles!! 3h09m = not as good as 10 years ago 2h31.
Thoroughly enjoyed though, thanks to everyone for helping, much appreciated.
Seemed to have the strength at the end which was good but by that stage was totally deflated by doing so cr*p navigationally, and also having to bash through off-route vegetation! Schoolboy errors = must do better next time.
D'oh.
Sorry to hear about your plight Clive. Where did you go wrong? Coming over to Mintons Batch?