I'm trying to get some idea as to where does a BG stand in comparison to a Fellsman. Is it twice as hard??
Does completing a Fellsman mean that you have a good chance of completing a BG?
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I'm trying to get some idea as to where does a BG stand in comparison to a Fellsman. Is it twice as hard??
Does completing a Fellsman mean that you have a good chance of completing a BG?
Certainly completing the Fellsman is a good steppng stone to building up the confidence in your own mental and physical stamina that is necessary to do the BGR. Others may have a different view but I don't think you can compare the routes as one is boggy and rough and the other is relatively rocky, firm going with mostly good paths and, of course well over double the ascent. There is no simplistic answer as it would be misleading to say one is twice as hard or 150% as hard.
An 18 hour Fellsman is considered by some as an indicator of a sub 24 hour
BG
I think the two things to think about
1)is the amount and type of climbing much rougher and steeper.
2)the lack of stops, There is always plenty of resting spots on the Fellsman with plenty of food but on the BG you have 4 of which depending on shedule might be a total of 40 minutes
The first 3 times I did the Fellsman were in the 19-24 hour time bracket as a walker. Last year I did 17.27 and felt really good at the end. I have no worries of the distance or being on my feet for 24 hours but the climbing....
It depends on what you are good at, but I would put it at least 50% harder if not twice as hard.
There are plenty of attempts going on in the next 6 weeks so why don't you try do a couple of legs, It will give you an idea of what it's like.
My first experience of the BG was helping Plumbum do his and I was wrecked after the first leg!
I take it you did the Fellsman this year centaur what time did you do?
Having failed on the Fellsman and succeeded on the BG, I'm in no position to comment. However the Fellsman was the first really long event I had tried and hadn't got feeding and pace sorted out.
A friend did the Fellsman in just over 19hrs and did the BGR the following year in 23:30
I managed to get round the Fellsman in roughly 17hrs 30mins and felt Ok at the end. Was planning to focus on mountain marathons up until the end of the year and then kick of my BG training in January. However, if the BG is twice as tough as the Fellsman then I might have a major rethink!!!!!!!
Never done Fellsman, did a double Tankies before attempting BG, but from talking to others I would say a 17hrs 30min fellsman is a good foundation to launch from.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Centaur
A BIG desire to complete the BG is the main qualification, in my humble opinion, its what kept me going, and going, and going, and going, and going :eek: and finally completing :D .
I think the two routes are totally different in character so not really comparable. BUT, doing either of them requires huge staying power and mental strength so if you can do one in a respectable time then you should be able to do the other (with adjustments to your training focus).
For the BG you need to concentrate on climbing and descending BIG hills! :D
This year's Fellsman was my 15th time on the event and was by far my fastest in 17hrs 33 min feeling pretty fresh at the finish. This was the culmination of my training for the BGR in 2 weeks time, so I'm about to find out how the 2 compare :eek:
I'm under no illusions that the BGR will be much MUCH tougher. Just hoping for good weather.
DB
The fellsman is a fantastic event for giving you the experience of the highs and lows of these Ultra endurance events. It gives you a good lession on how you deal with feeling rubbish with 20 miles to go etc.
I think it defintely is a good indiction of how a BG would go. If you can complete the Fellsman in a decent time (171/2 is decent) then you can train yourself to complete the BG as long as your happy with the mental side and you don't panic at the size of the undertaking. Time on the route will help here!
Yes the terrain is different but I don't think it makes a massive difference. I completed my BG a couple of weeks ago and I hadn't done half the training in the lakes that I hoped I would. (mainly cause the weather was too bad - I was out in it but found it very difficult to get whole legs covered when the wind so strong or the show was so deep!)
I got loads of climbing in on a stair Master at the gym and I was worried about the descents as I hadn't done the 10000ft days that I thought I would. I needn't have worried as I was still able to fly off hindscarth like I was racing. I actual found the decending easier than the climbing! Of course my quads where trashed and I couldn't walk for a week but then I was expecting that.
This is just at the glint in the eye stage but I've been doing shed loads of running for a while now and feel pretty much fitter than I've probably ever been. Also I've been doing all my running in the hills too and for sure circa 7,000 feet plus of climb each week, albeit Yorkshire Dales type hills. So the idea of having a crack at a BG has once again raised its little Roger Moore like eyebrow at me :)
I'm fellsmanning again on 28th April and I'm also then running the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path (circa 186 miles) in May, so it will be really interesting to see how I get on with them both. After that injury aside I don't think I'm planning on losing fitness or curtailing my running every day so maybe, just maybe a BG could be worth having a go at next? What do you think?
Count me in for leg 4Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
The running you're doing now would be a great base from which to start BG training for a 2013 round Stolly. I'm up for some recces and supporting a leg
Ooo how exciting. I'd be up for supporting you on it (of course) and you could come with me when I support my friends who are doing it in June. You'd get a feel for some of the legs and it would be good fun too. I just need to not sprain my ankle after 6miles this time!:)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
At a boy Stolly!
Im up for a leg!
Which leg(s) Harry on? ;)
Sounds like a pretty good base for a 2012 round to me... do some recces in June and pack in as much climbing/descending as you can, then taper and peak for mid/late July.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Why put it off? Carpe diem and all that :)
Hey Stolly, since you LOVE Pendle Hill so much, you'll have to start doing reps on Big End.
If you see reference to the "Care to join me thread", and according to Scotts height of Big End, you'd only need to do 14 reps to bag your 10,000ft a week of climbing! ;)
Yeah I'm inclined to agree (I had to look up carpe diem by the way :) ). I've just checked my garmin records and so far this year I've averaged 45 miles a week and almost 7,300 feet of climb. The climb admittedly won't have included lots of bonkers steep stuff like you get in the Lakes but, on the other hand, I do my best to run all hills rather than walk if I possibly can. I think my hill climbing is pretty darn good all in all although, funnily enough, I have a feeling that steep descents might give me some problems, as will all the frigging rocks and rubble and slate you get in the lakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by elliptic
I quite like Pendle actually (although not nearly as much as SS :) ) but honestly hill reps up any hill can f**k right off ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Fowler
Only one way to sort that out!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
Regarding hill reps, I actually found 'em worthwhile as much for the extra descending as the climbing if you do them somewhere steep enough... mine were up & down Glastonbury Tor, did get tend to get some odd looks from the resident hippie/spiritual/chanting types as I was rounding the tower on top and dropping off again for the 3rd/4th/5th time...
Didn't go overboard with those sessions though, just used them as a weeknight top up.
Sounds like there's enough mileage in the bag,ascent too,more than I was doing when I completed in'87,(No 487).I recced the route several times,so you know whats coming and no need to look at the map.State of mind is just as important.I also had a mate on broadstand with a rope,saves quite a bit of time and effort,there is a good stance with a couple of pegs just above the awkward bit,followed by a short scrambly bit to the top.It works both ways,up /down,depending which way you are going.It's not all rubble and frigging slate,theres more than enough good running to be had if you've a mind to! GFI.
Dave