Nice and runnable would be one way to describe it, piss wet through and blowing a howler would be another. It's an uncomplicated route; there's a descent about one mile in that you want to make the most of, as a lot of people just freewheel down it.Originally Posted by Croberts
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent
Entries still open, 320 entered, with Helm and Ambleside running all of their members by the looks of it.
Not sure if i'm in PB form. I think it will be the flat section on the way to the final CP that will make or break it; i could easily gain time there.
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent
Just looked up the route and I've realised that I thought it went the other way round! Luckily it looks like I should be able to follow someone else as early weather forecast is ok for Saturday, breezy but dry.
Take a map, it's required at kit check, they may have a few printed up.
The only route choices are coming off stickle pike, there is a backdoor way off that avoids the trod up, but in previous years i've found it a bit craggy and slow.
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent
I'm totally convinced the direct route off stickle pike is slower, you're just constantly hampered by crags and 1m drops. The old way off where you backtrack down the trod a bit and go right is faster, I remember it from years previous.
Cheers to the BC runners guys today, weather wasn't ideal, a bit too bright and a bit too warm. The low sun was blinding you for half the race and made running at speed awkward, rocks not always easy to spot.
I need to get back up some time and scrutinise the course for alternate lines. I want to find a more direct drop off the CP at ravens crag, and a potential alternative route down to the road. The main descent to the road is so congested and I'm not fast enough over the preceding section to get in front of the stampede off. Plus I need an alternative off stickle pike, as mentioned.
I see what you mean about the low sun - it makes analysing the terrain jolly tricky.
Great race and good day for it, really enjoyed it. Managed to be fairly near the front at the start so didnt get too boxed in, was 34th at first checkpoint and didnt change much after that to end up 33rd at the finish. The sun was tricky on the way back at times making it difficult to see the lines/rocks.
I took the a fairly direct line off of Stickle Pike and managed to get ahead of 2 people who went further back so I am not sure what is the quickest route, definitely would have been useful to have recced that section.
Again on the last descent I took the main route and was lucky to not have anyone slower in front. Somebody did seem to take a slightly higher line and come out in front of me there as well, though they are faster than me in general and had been boxed in at the start and making up places all race.
Will definitely be doing it again at some point, though not quite as runnable as I thought it might be from looking at the map.
I'm going to try and find an alternative route down to the road crossing off the second summit, a spot height which i think is CP1 as ravens crag is not a CP. That crappy little trod is too slow, mainly due to traffic not roughness, i could go faster if i had a clear run. I'm developing a theory that the first part follows the line of a weakness in the rock strata, and that further north there will be a similar weakness that follows the same direction. Once off the fell crags, i'll need to find a way over to meet the little beck in the bottom. Should be fun.
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent
Not a lot of love for this one I see! I'm on it today, I'll report back...
Currently sat in the blacksmith's arms after a run round the route, its astonishing what you don't notice or consider when you're in the race and otherwise occupied, things have really jumped out at me today that I've never noticed before.
I've found a route around that annoying little traverse on the way to cp1 after the dip. It's slow because the rock slabs are slanted and the people in front of you cause a bit of a queue. The alternative just moves some climb forward by 20secs and goes round the slabs.
I've found a route round the descent to the road off cp1 that entails visiting the mines over to the north. It leaves about 50' of climb out of the picture but is longer, and approaches the road crossing from the other side of the lump. The route through the mines is not one you'd like to take a tumble on, but it's fast and twisty.
I've found the elusive easy route off cp2, and by the looks of it I can straight line the bog on the way to cp3. Most go round to the left and veer right at the last moment, but I'm light enough to go as the crow flies.
My new route off cp3 to the wall leaves the race route at the first left swing and drops straight into a depression with a reed bed in the bottom that turns into a beck. The way down needs some balls, but once you're following the beck it's fast as lightning and sheep trods zig zag you down to the wall further back. Again it's longer, but there will be no traffic.
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