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Hi all,
I'm trying to build up my fitness again and with it my race portfolio for next year.
I've not done any races in The Lakes yet and I'm wondering in your expert opinions.(although they will differ...no arguments please! :D)
Which Lakeland races do you consider best to start off with. (of 10 miles or more only please)
Many thanks :)
Fairfield Horseshoe, specially for ponies, 9m/3000ft would be a good starter, Anni Waltz was the first ever Lakes races i did, that's a cracker;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
Anni waltz is about may time.
12 miles (just under i think, 3500ft.
Oops...oops....oops...many apologies....just realised I should have put this thread in the beginners section :o :o :o
I'd echo anniversary waltz and fairfield. The first climb up Robinson in the AW is epic; a non-stop, steep as arseholes, 600 meters bottom to top that blows your legs right from the off :eek:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/818/annivwaltz.jpg
This profile, nicked from the internet, is deceiving - the bottom scale is time not distance; the climb up robinson is vertical!
As for the fairfield horseshoe (or rydal round) everybody and their dog has walked round there haven't they? Its a fantastic route with a 4 mile continuous descent coming back that is stupendous. This is a pretty good view of the horseshoe looking back from just below Fairfield - you come up the right ridge and go back down the left.
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/6...otelgrasme.jpg
Plus, at anni waltz.......half the forum is there.:D
Where's the other half? Does Noone know:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Al Fowler
And there's cake....Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Fowler
More for them that time their entries to perfection:rolleyes:;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
I'd agree with Fairfield as a recommendation. You also get basically the same route if you do the Rydal Round; a bonus with this one is that if you're with the family they can potter round the Ambleside Show whilst you flog yourself round Fairfield.
The Kentmere Horseshoe is another good taster.
Just remember that Lakeland miles feel twice as hard and twice as long as miles anywhere else in England!
Looks like you've been courteously plonked into the right section now! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
Thanks guys...and to the forum tidyer uppers who put my thread in it's correct place! ;)
The FH sounds a good un....yeah I've walked it many a time and love it....but from left to right....I don't like going anti-clockwise...it just seems wrong....unbalances my chakras! :D
I was thinking about doing the AW....walked the route a few weeks ago...but clockwise! :rolleyes: and came off Hindscarth (isn't that a gnarly old thing to get down!)....the dilemma is...
I have heard the AW is clashing with 3P!
Why are all these races anti-clockwise?!!! :p
Buttermere sailbeck...my introduction
Fairfield and Kentmere are clockwise races, ie all right hand turns.
Crikey I'm being proper dizzy lately! :p
So the FH is actually clockwise.....I don't know my left from my right these days! :o
I need to get out more! :(
What's involved in the Kentmere TF?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
I've done a chunk of it anticlockwise myself, but that was entirely accidental due to an unforeseen blizzard combined with utterly foreseeable idiocy. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
Ah Buttermere is my fave place in the lakes....did the Buttermere Round on my own last year in lovely sunny weather....fabulous :)Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboTom
Actually, come to think of it, so have I...got up to Fairfield and nearly got blown away....bally baltic it was....couldn't see a thing in front of me....total white out...so retraced my steps back down the same way....without any lunch! :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
2 proper massive climbs.....my favourite lakeland experienceQuote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
A bit tougher than Fairfield, in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
It starts in the village and goes north to High Street via Yoke and Ill Bell, and back over Nan Bield, Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike.
Mmmm never been over that way...might have a walk round in the spring....check it out ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
That must have REALLY unbalanced your chakras.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
The eastern lakes are normally pretty quiet. Only a handful of runners did the LDWA 'Where Eagles Fly' event in that area, but it was well worthwhile.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
I'm tempted by the Rings of Shap event, which takes in even less frequented areas.
Oh yes it did....I get really grumpy when I'm hungry! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
I thought 3 Shires was pretty good, i especially liked working out my own route up Wetherlam.
anni waltz is perfect I think as an intro to Lakes racing: there are long runnable stretches and with the exception of Robinson at the start and the descent of Dalehead, the gradients aren't too intimidating.
And it's navigationally quite easy and there's about 450 people of all sorts of abilities doing it.
And cake.
What about Helvellyn? 11 miles/4500 feet. It's a bit of a slog up Calfhow Pike at the start (and a buggar of a descent at the end on tired legs), but once you're up it's a great ridge run to Helvellyn and back.
Great lakes run sounds a good un' 12m 7000ft maybe bit to much clibing for a first lakes race as i think navigation is key on this as well but its all ways there if ya wanna have a pop :cool:
No idea, old bean.:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by merrylegs
You trying to kill me off Scott?! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by scott baistow 93
I did Rydal Round this year, as my first Lakes race (and only one to date), it was also only my second fell race. I survived it (just,) so if a slowcoach like me did, then it must be a good intro to Lakes racing ;) Oh, and I absolutely loved it :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Stolly
MG - AnniWaltz does clash with PPP
Fairfield probably best bet
there's Coledale Horseshoe in April
and the short Duddon at the beginning of June
I reckon you should do langdale - piece f pi__. NOT!:eek:
Kentmere was a cracker. Apart from the main climb at the start there nothing 'major' after it. I bonked at the halfway point though because i was trying to catch daz h and stay ahead of geoff b....which i did neither.:o
Three shires is one of my favourite races.
Beast of a climb up weatherlam, amazing descent down the the three shires stone, a tough drag up to blisco, a bril descent down past blea water or whatever its called and then up the final fell (your knackered by this point)
I'm gutted about that....I want to do both.....:(....What a dilemma! :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
I think Fairfield and Three Shires look good too :cool:
Must agree with DTZ's championing of the Coledale Horseshoe, it is a brilliant run as is the Coniston Fell RaceQuote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
great lakes run does not strike me as a starters' race: it looks like a tough old route to me
likewise three shires is navigationally tricky - could come unstuck in poor weather - recce advisable
I've not done the fairfield race but have run the route and that would be a good gentle intro
I agree ZHR....GLR....7000ft in one day is too much for a first. :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo
I think Anni Waltz (if not fit enough for 3PPP) and Fairfield....then Three Shires in Sep. :cool:
[QUOTE=Mountain Goatess;286105]I agree ZHR....GLR....7000ft in one day is too much for a first. :eek:
[QUOTE]
it's quite off-piste too by the looks of it: I'm looking forward to having a crack at it next year