Welcome home, "fellers".
Good to be back from the cybersilence.
Is anyone coming to do the Trig Point race on 14th Jan?
We don't really have proper fells, but we have Cannock Chase and it's not a bad little outing!
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Welcome home, "fellers".
Good to be back from the cybersilence.
Is anyone coming to do the Trig Point race on 14th Jan?
We don't really have proper fells, but we have Cannock Chase and it's not a bad little outing!
Hi Chugger,
I'll be there.
I'm planning a leisurely recce run Friday afternoon.
Hopefully it'll be better than my last go.
You lucky thing.......I shall send my aura across there for you to remind it of the route (am a bit of a navigation non runner: managed to pass the same chap 3 times in last years race!! He was REALLY confused!).
Hope that the weather stays clear.
ENJOY.
I was considering taking part but won't be able to now unfortunately. Will definitely be attempting it next year if it's on. Looks like fun.
I might give it a go, so I'll be paying close attention to any chat between yoursleves! as I dont know anything about it..........
Ran the course today, a couple of small detours but at least I got round the whole thing this time and checked in at all control points.
just checked my route and it could be tightened up a bit but as I'm unlikely to be anywhere near the top end of the field I'm not too concerned.
Well done, Marshallini! I'm sure that they'll be people to follow on the day.
The best navigation advice I was ever given was: "always suss out the colour of the local club vests.......then if in doubt, you can hope that they'll have some idea (or be friendly enough to tell you that they too are clueless)"
mmm I have to say having just put the checkpoints on the 1:50,000 map I feel like its going to be a bit of a word search this one- the place is a complete maze of footpath and tracks - how on earth can this be done without getting lost - even if you know the area - (which I dont )- so I'm in the position now of perhaps deciding not to do it.:( :(
unless someone can give me the secret to success - with only 80 odd competitors last year i believe you cant always be guaranteed to be able to have someone to follow, especially if youre not so fast .............15 miles seems a long time to spend wandering around the forest, lost, looking for studmarks or morsels of fallen flapjack in the mud.............
mmm im thinkin the same daleside and also ive ot a 10k xc race on saturday so maybe i may consider the lambs longer leg
My situation has changed which means I could now do this. I've spent the evening plotting the checkpoints and route. The trouble I find with forests is that there's always more paths and tracks on the ground then there are on the map and there's already plenty on the map!!
I reckon I'm in the same boat as you Daleside - not familiar with the area and not a particular fast runner either. Reckon I'd be at the back of the field in this one.
I'm still tempted mind you...
its good to read that I'm not the only one thinking this- and it really does seem an interesting race. i'll keep pondering......
for example is it better to use that marquis drive lane rather than try and navigating your way through the forest?
I agree it sounds interesting and a little different from the norm.
I figure it's best to stick to the more prominent tracks such as the marquis drive. Plus the route I had plotted out means I am going to go out and come back on the same track for as much as possible. I figured I would only need to navigate it once and then the second time it should (in theory) be straightforward on the return leg.
does your route take you over the 15m and 1500ft do you know Phil?
I've been meaning to start to fathom a route out but I've been playing on this forum for the last hour instead! Tut :rolleyes:
Just checked and yes it does. 16 miles and 1700 ft. Looks like I may need to review the route again! :o
Either that or pack a machete to hack my way through the forest!
Slight modification to the route and I've got it to 15.4miles, so I'm getting there, will review it again tomorrow (plus whether or not I'm taking part, I'm 75% there).
Don't know if this helps but this is straight from the organisers mouth:
"Check points are on the entry details and can be found without leaving any main track /forest road. All will be manned and numbers taken for safety checks.
Maps will be at registration to check, and lots of advice will be given if needed.
In effect there are really only 2 or 3 real route decisions unless you are brave (or foolish) enough to try to run on a straight line through the forests. This is not advised!
dont be put off..."
Hopefully my intended route is one of those 2 or 3, if not I'm in trouble!
thanks phil - my route works out at just over 15m too so must be on the right lines........... we'll see.........
ahhhh another race from my youth - well mid -20s anyway!!! (I did a couple of the early races organised by Walton Chasers orienteering club in the mid-late 1980s)
From what I can remember the navigation was quite straightforward with the running all on nice wide forest tracks - so it shouldn't be a matter of getting lost in the forest for hours on end.
... and of course you got wonderful soup after finishing in those days.:)
Hi All,
I had great time today. Thank you to the organisers and marshalls.
Weather was spot on. Course maps handed out at the start showed a few different lines to what I had planned and I choose to follow them and I believe these helped bring me home in just under 2 hours, which was my target, so I'm happy.
What a beautiful day!
Couldn't believe how good the weather was......managed to loose my buff (having taken it off in the warmth of the sunshine).
Hope others enjoyed it too!
I know that I will be paying for my efforts tomorrow....who knows how painful the descent of the stairs will be/look!!
(Well done all + organisers!!)
well done everyone - I didnt enter in the end - but came along to watch you all enjoying yourselves in the glorious sunshine (wishing I had entered after all) - lesson learnt - ignore the niggle that you get on a sunday morning that says 'you dont want to do that' - especially when it is the nicest day of the year so far and a sunday too!
I couldn't enter in the end due to an injury. Will definitely be doing this one next year especially as I spent ages planning a route. Don't want my efforts to go to waste!
Thought I'd ressurect this thread as the Trig race is this Sunday 10th.
Anybody on here doing it. While not your average fell race its the best your going to get on Cannock chase. See the Mercia FR site for entry.
If this snow sticks the navigation will be simple. Just follow the footprints.
Reccied it last week and there was a few icy bits around Morse Gorse and Castle ring. Could do with those new inov8 orocs
Enter on the day is about 5 0r 6 quid
This is probably my closest proper fell race (Sorry Mr Denton), and once again I'm knackered and not running. I will get round to it sometime!
Hi Fly - yep I'm doing this one.
Really looking forward to it - recced in two bits between Christmas and new year both lovely crisp sunny days - hope will be the same on Sunday!
I ran this last year for the first time and am also unfamiliar with the area. I am not an ace navigator (having only turned to the fells in the last couple of years), but had no trouble with route finding. The route is predominantly on the main trails and there should be plenty of stud-marks to follow at the moment.;)
The organisation was excellent and the hospitality and post-race cakes/soup/drinks were first class.:)
:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil_N
A couple of years on and I still haven't entered this!
nav on this is pretty straight forward, especially if you're following the general accepted routes and not prancing through the woods like bambi
uphill start, crest the ridge, descend the valley, thru stream, up valley to trig
pretty straight run to southern end of chase to check point at the hillfort
double back to checkpoint at top of mtb bike downhill course
run back home, visiting slight detour for final two check points....
loads of runners do this...so always in company really:)
Mercia have just updated the website:
"Please keep an eye on the website, we will keep you updated on local weather conditions as the weekend approaches, currently the forecast is for O degrees on Sunday but windchill factor will make it -6. The Race will still probably go ahead but may be shortened to about 12 miles. Organiser is currently out checking the course but with the real danger of dangerous icy patches and rough re-iced over ridges on the paths, care will definately need to be taken, and a further bulletin will be issued this evening."
http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/node/1431
I'm sure Judge Dredge will do his utmost to make sure it goes ahead!
(A BIG thank you to him and the team who always do such a good job with this one!)
Just a shame that I am royally crocked (as usual) and can't run this year.
Just done the Morse Gorse to castle Ring & back part. Seems to be more grippy now than it was a week and a half ago as the snow is still softish on the surface.
Did some from the start on Thursday night in the dark, that was o.k too.
UPDATE FROM THE MERCIA FR WEBSITE
WEATHER - SATURDAY 9th JANUARY - 10.00 am Please keep an eye on the website, we will keep you updated on local weather conditions as the race approaches, currently the forecast is for O degrees on Sunday but windchill factor will make it -6. Unless there is a severe change in the weather the Race will still go ahead but will be on a shortened of about 12 miles, omiting Castle Ring ie Moorse Gorse-Brereton-Moorse Gorse, but with the real danger of dangerous icy patches and rough re-iced over ridges on the paths, care will definately need to be taken on the rest of the course.
FULL KIT is neccesary and a FULL KIT CHECK will take place, anyone not having the correct kit will NOT be allowed to take part, FULL KIT means:-
waterproof whole body cover,
other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions
Map and Compass suitable for navigating the course
whistle
Because of the exceptional conditions it may be good to carry a mobile phone with you to use in the case of emergency,
Does "omitting Castle Ring" mean still crossing the road and going to the trig point at the top of Stile Cop (CP3)?
Whatever the shortened course it should still be a good run / race & I hope for the organisers sake they still get a decent turn-out.
Ironic that the race HQ is in the Summer Pavilion at the Cricket Club!!!!
Results and photos are up:
http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk/node/1432
Big thanks to Bob dredge, Keith Richards and the team for putting on the event in the uncertain weather conditions. Would have been easy to just cancel it but turned out to be a great race anyway even with the shortened course.
Pete Vale winner
Some pictures from the race can be found at:-
http://www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk...trace2010.html
AlTye
www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk
Thanks some more to the organising team, no drama, they made the most of the conditions and put on a cracking race. Decent turn out as well. Full kit requirements were right, as the weather got worse a twisted ankle and long walk to the finish would have been a close call.
Tip for next year - the shortcut through the downhill MTB area may be shorter but is no faster. The short cut over the ridge coming back to the road crossing maybe shorter but is definitely slower!!