3 DAYS (of Madness!?!) IN MAY

[GeoffB]

Just a reminder that this all kicks off again this evening.

Hayfield May Queen - Friday 7.30pm
Mount Famine - Saturday 11.00am
Lantern Pike Dash - Sunday 11.00am

All the details, as usual, here.

[Free Ian Brown]

Any idea of the (likely) kit requirements for tonight? Thanks

[DrPatrickBarry]

I guess strictly speaking it should be the recommeneded FRA kit list, but for a such a short race...

[Tindersticks]

First of the 3 is Friday nights Hayfield May Queen.... sounds easy, it brings about visions of running through village streets lined with children throwing petals as we run past?

Don't be fooled by the race name, it's fast and frantic!

In homage to fell racing and the music of Queen, how many Queen song titles can you find in the following race report:

At 6:30pm I'm the only one here," blimey this is going to be a quiet one " so I thought. Then as if by a kind of magic, an hour later 106 hardy souls are awaiting the start. The weather could be better but the show must go on and I want to break free and following the countdown we're off like a flash, straight away I'm feeling under pressure to keep up with the leaders. Once we hit the climbs I start to pick people off, one by one another one bites the dust. The final climb has me protesting at my legs, "come on legs play the game before I have a sheer heart attack". Phew, now I'm here, at the summit of Lantern Pike...Lantern Pike, you take my breath away. Now the fun begins, a chance to spread my wings on the descent, it's a miracle I don't take flight. My mudclaws save me from a tumble, don't stop me now...the bottom of the fell is in sight. On the final run in I can sense by people's body language that they're struggling...thankfully it's not just me then, it's a hard life. Thanks to Dave Soles for shouts of encouragement, his lads are quality runners showing father to son talent being inherited.

We are the champions...step forward race winners Alasdair Campbell and Caitlin (Killer Queen) Rice.

Many thanks to Mary and all her helpers.

Finally with the song titles...at no point did I see any fat bottomed girls.

Race 2 Mount Famine

Feast or famine?

If climbs are your thing followed by fast runnable descents, then you can certainly 'dine out' on Mount Famine....Mount Feast would be more fitting for this absolute belter of a race.

I've done a fair few fell races and I can't recall one with a start like Mount Famine....in a word, it's bonkers. We're all lined up at the foot of the woods awaiting the signal to charge. It's steep, blimey it's steep....littered with nettles, brambles, rabbit holes, tree-roots and fallen trees...sounds horrendous? It's not, it's bloody great...most unique start in fell racing?

After the woods we descend only to climb again up the fell side. The reward is a fantastic ridge run along what's known as the dragons back..great name which is very fitting for this undulating section. When Mount Famine is finally reached the descent is brilliantly fast over good ground that demands you hammer it down. Trouble is, the last climb is experienced with drained legs...maybe less hammer on the descent next time. Great return back along the dragons back then fast? running on track to the finish....who'd have thought 5 miles could be so hard?

Many thanks to Mark and helpers.

[Luv Shack]

Pheeeeeeeewieeeee....Survived Day 2 of the Madness :-)
Really Great Running Up the "Front" & at the Back too...
Very Well done to all who are taking part and those the make it all happen :-)
Great to see a good bunch of the Usual Suspects & plenty of the Forum Crew enjoying the Madness!

More than wet this eve below the Dragons Back :-o
Famine & South Head are in & out of the cloud too...
We were very lucky with the weather today :-)
Nice to have a few cooling showers!

So, hoping to see plenty of 3 Day'ers at the Lantern Pike Inn, in the Morn',
For the really totally crazy Madness that is the Lantern Pike Dash!!!!!
Plus SteveT has very kindly posted results of the first 2 Days of Madness...
Can be found here www.t42.org.uk/hayfield/

See you in the Morn'......if I can walk that is
PS - Hope you can make it Darren

[Tindersticks]

Lantern Pike Dash: 3rd and final race in the '3 Days in May' fell race series.

From the start line the entire race route can pretty much be seen. It's one of them manic straight up, straight down as fast as your legs, lungs and general wellbeing allows you. There are a few obstacles along the way in the form of a stream crossing and a couple of stiles....they're the only rest you get. Races like this really hurt, especially when it's off the back of the 2 pervious race days....but we love it don't we?

Thanks to Richard and his helpers, you even sorted the weather for us.

Really enjoyed my weekend in and around Hayfield.....Great races, lovely area and smashing company....beltin.

Just to round off the weekend nicely I nipped over to Meltham for the 2:30pm West Nab. I'd highly recommend this race, but maybe after a quieter weekend.