Any body going to do this...
I've just got my entry back, Another in the Montrail series, this one is classified long...
Fellsman
Ian
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Any body going to do this...
I've just got my entry back, Another in the Montrail series, this one is classified long...
Fellsman
Ian
Hi all,
I've entered the Fellsman on Saturday, and I was wondering what kind of times people were expecting to do it in so I can set a sensible goal for myself.
I completed 30 miles in about 7hrs (Walk to'Ell and Back if anyone knows it It was actually probably closer to 33miles due to a slight navigational error).
Based on that, and the fact that, being a lazy sod, my training has been a bit lax (although the carbo loading's going great!) I figured an overall time of 20hrs would be reasonable.
What do people reckon? Overoptimistic? or the opposite (can't think of the word)?
Cheers,
LS
20 hrs will put you in the top third of the field based on past years
Where do you finish normally?
OK - so it sounds like 20hrs might be a bit hopeful.
I tend to be in the top half (by the skin of my teeth).
Judging by the stats from last year (thanks - you made me look at the website to see if there were stats for last year - obviously not thinking at the moment) that would put me about 22hrs........Assuming no navigational f*ck ups...
Cheers,
LS
If you can keep a good BG pace up you could manage it around 18-20 hours easily. There alot less climbing than the BG. I did it many years ago in walking boots in 20 hours.
Any one been over Fleet Moss recently? thats the key get over to Cray before dark if possible.
We have sort of set our selves the target of 17-18 hours weather and legs permitting but would be happy just to finish as part of our BG training.
We are going up Friday night and sleeping in the school. Any one else going up?
Ian
Looks like a rainy start brightening up after dinner but windy.
Just had a look at the LDWA site, and the tip there is to get to Fleet Moss before the grouping point.
As for target - my real target is to finish without crying, but I'll probably need a bit of a time target to keep me moving in the second half. From past experience I generally fade after the 30 mile mark.
Talking about groups - once you get grouped are you in those groups for the rest of the event?
Cheers for the answers,
LS
The real tip is getting across fleet moss and to hell gap with out too many navigational hick ups...
Yes I'd go with that. you don't want to get held up crossing Fleet Moss. Once you are at Cray you've cracked it, That said , I packed in at Cray in '85 or 86 after heavy rain for 10 hours:eek: it was hell.
if you take 20 hours you will probably be grouped until finish but if you are longer then at a road checkpoint they can de-group you at dawn.
Ian
If Robin Price is entered and anywhere near you stick like glue to him over Fleet Moss - he knows it like the back of his hand!
Ian, I have not checked for this year as I'm not doing it - going for the TCT instead, but it was correct the couple of years before - they have moved it back up the track (well I think did so 2 years ago) to stop people going over protected ground I think - so yes a couple of years ago it did make it longer and its been the same since
enjoy
that should be OCT - always check before you post..
Lazysod, the rules say you'll stay grouped until daylight, which is dependent on the say-so of the checkpoint officer. This will only happen at a roadside checkpoint. The exception is if you arrive at Yarnbury, the last before the finish, where we'll be degrouping even during darkness, on account of it being two miles to the finish, all on road. I'll be manning the checkpoint, so say hello! Getting to YB before dawn means you're on for a finish around 20 hours or so.
When I did the Fellsman (I walked it) most navigational errors were around the Middle Tongue checkpoint and immediately after it, so keep your wits about you there.
Hell Gap was moved further up the track three years ago because competitors were taking a short cut across a SSSI site, which caused concern. This has added a little distance so the total course length is probably close to 62 miles now.
Good luck everyone!
Good Luck guys Fleet Moss could be nice and wet have fun.:D
What's the cumulative ascent for the Fellsman? How runnable is it?
I am quite tempted by this for next year, but wouldn't mind getting a better idea of the sort of time I'd be after so I can plan food as you have to carry it all.
Cheers
Iain - check out the website - its 62 miles, 10000ft of climb, most is on runnable paths (but there are places where for some its quicker to go direct), the record is just over 10 hours
You have to carry 100g of food with you at all times, plus most people carry additional stuff to eat on the way round, however there are at least 7 places where food - hot and cold is provided and a couple more drinks only if my memory is correct
Early on maybe. But once you get past Redshaw there isn't. And then it's the hardest type of ground - tussocks, peat hags etc etc.Quote:
most is on runnable paths
How many I wonder flounder the direct way across Fleet Moss and how many have sussed out the dry route following walls & fences further south ?
I know which way I go and I don't put a foot wrong. No navigational catastrophies. I've heard of so many people packing in at Cray after spending hours lost on Middle Tongue. If you can get through this part unscathed, then you've cracked it.
DB
Is it errrrr... underoptimistic?
Wall for me DB after all who wants to climb 6ft peat Hags?
..or overpessimistic?
Thanks for all the replies. I'm half looking forward and half thinking "ohmigod ohmigod". But then I guess you can only go so far wrong - I mean Yorkshire's not that big a place..
agree dodd fell to hellgap is pretty pathless, but then its paths again - or it should be if you go the right way
It's actually 300g Check out rule 5f
I'm with you DB Walls and fences for me.
LOL we're hardly scratching it!
Good luck every one, rain to start with but brighter later. We will be up at Threshfield for 8.30 ish.
Ian Race number No60
Weather very wet and foggy at start as predicted made worst by tha fact you could see sunshine down the valley. Lots of people missed the marked stile on the Whernside descent mainly because it wasn't there!
Weather picked by late dinner which allowed us to dry out.
Fleet Moss flew passed on the walls/fence route.
left Cray around night fall as the rain and fog came back. Visibilty dropped to 5m at times, Finished in 17.28 in a provisional place of 34th which we were happy with considering we slowed down so as not to get lost which a number of other groups did.
Brilliantly organised for something that goes on so long. The Great Whernside checkpoint would have still been up there when I got home to Sheffield this morning. well done guys
Ian
DB/LS/Saz how you do?
Grough sorry I forgot to hello, we were the group of 5 that split up around 2.00am at your checkpoint.
I'm not doing it this year, but yes the check point did move so I assume that unless they have moved it back, which I doubt, then it is correct.
My advice: Go like stink up to Cray then fond someone there who knows the route like the back of their hand and stick with them through the night section. You don't want to be left waiting for people behind you to group with you as you'll just get cold.
Best of luck both of you.
And also best of luck Ian with your BG attempt. When are you doing it?
Wylie
Ian - sounds like a good one to me, I was at home, although I admit I kept thinking 'its such and such time I should be at x' - all hopefully in good stead as will be doing the old county tops next w/e instead
happy recovery
Congratulations to Mark Hartell on his 10th win! Macc runners were 1st/2nd in the mens and 1st Lady - Mandy Calvert.
Enjoyed that! 19 hours at a canter - excellent BG training. Feel quite fresh today although the jaw muscles are sore from all the eating i've done since finishing.
I've never done an event like that before and found it to be a pleasant and interesting coming together of walkers, runners, advernture racers etc etc.
Well done to all that got around and a huge thanks to the organisers and checkpoint crews.
ST
Well done to all those hardy souls (or should it be soles) who entered, competed or even dropped out this year. I was with you in spirit if not body all Saturday.
Who is fed up of he thought of another cheese and jam sarnie now !!!
hi all,
Well that was an experience. Summary of my Fellsman:
First 20 miles : "Oh jesus what have I let myself in for. I'll just get to the next checkpoint and I'll retire then.."
2nd 20 miles : Neurofen super plus pain killers kick in, and I latch onto three cheerful lads from Doncaster. Mood improves - good section.
3rd 20 miles : "Christ it's dark, and why am I wading through mud? Oh well I'll just get my head down and follow these guys who seem to know where they're going." A bit of a slog...
Overall - definitely a good event, and I think I may even do it again. Although I may try to train a bit more for it beforehand.
Cheers for the advice in the previous postings - I see now the wisdom in them.
Cheers,
LS
Glad you all enjoyed (!?) the event so much. I'm working on a report for grough.co.uk right now, including a post-race interview with Mark Hartell.
Glad you made it to our checkpoint Ian because if you make it to Yarnbury, you've made it to the finish, though those last two miles of Tarmac really tell on the feet.
I didn't want to start on the report any sooner because, after 36 hours with just half an hour's sleep, it would have been gibberish!
Thanks for the kind words about the organisation: it is hard work and there are an awful lot of people put a hell of a lot of work in but, as those awful people say on the ads: you're worth it.
Sorry about the missing Whernside stile. These little glitches do happen in such a complicated setup.
I'll add a photo gallery as and when I can through this week. There are lots of pics from the route up to Ingleborough, just above Crina Bottom, a few from Kingsdale and an odd one or two from our checkpoint at Yarnbury. Well done to all who took part!
Report of Fellsman now online at www.grough.co.uk, along with a few pics
Grough,
Let me add my sincere thanks to you and the rest of the team for doing such a fantastic job at the Fellsman. I really felt for the marshals at Buckden Pike and Gt Whernside - that must be a tough job.
The whole event is an example of organisational excellence - you should be very proud of what you achieve!!
I had a great day on the hills and despite a few navigational howlers, even managed achieve my ambition of getting back to Threshfield on the same day I started (with 1.5 mins to spare) - now I have to try and achieve the next Bingley Harriers target of making last orders at the pub!!;)
N&G
excellent article.
First time for me this year and I absolutely loved it. Thank you to everyone involved - organisation, checkpoints and food (especially the mango salsa!)were all amazing.
I'm going to find it very difficult not to do this event next year, probably because I'm sure I could go faster.
As an unwilling checkpointer ( I would much rather of been doing the event ) I can only admire the endurance and tenacity of you competitors . I was at Cray from 1600 Sat -0400 Sun and to see some of you setting off into some truly horrible conditions up Buckden Pike was amazing . Well done to N & G -a great effort :)
Cheers Duracell - you're my Fellsman hero - I can only dream of getting round as fast as you. Thanks again to you and all the others for marshalling - without you guys we have no event!!
Duracell, when do you hope to be racing again???
Hope to start running again in about a week and racing when I get a bit thinner:rolleyes:
will kepep fingers crossed that your marshelling days are on the decline again - racing fatter just means you don't need to carry as much food with you...
We're continuing to post new pics on the photo album on the website, so keep checking out www.grough.co.uk. It's quite a time-consuming task uploading them all, so please bear with us.
Hope all your aches and pains are subsiding and you're getting that warm retrospective glow from taking part.
A little birdy tells me Mark Hartell jumped straight in his car after the race and headed north for a spot of Munro bagging.
I can only admire!