Wansfell Race

[Mike T]

Mike, every time you've explained your descent route for this you've lost me in the amount of detail you go into. I usually dib, go left a bit into a bowl shaped hole on the summit, left a bit down a slippery ramp, then arc left on a troublesome line to meet the old wall. The last time I tried to decipher your route, it sounded like it was different to mine and involved a u-turn of some sort very soon after dibbing. Can you try and explain it again?

Would it help if I put some photos on Facebook?

[Mike T]

Starting at the top, there is the black metal gate in the wire fence, then a short section of engineered rock steps, then a dirt/gravel path going around/slightly down to the left leading to a short steep rocky zig-zag, then another dirt/gravel path with a bend to the right, and finally the top of the long long section of engineered steps.
The race top is - or has been - on the Ambleside side of the wire fence.
I go down on the grass on the left of the short section of engineered rock steps, then leave the top dirt/gravel path - the one going around to the left - as it starts - it is a bit steeper than further along that path but it is nice grass rather than rocks barely covered by grass. There are 3 steep grassy descents with short sections where the gradient eases, then the path starts to drift left - here choices need to be made. Follow the muddy rocky slippery path down, or go left just above it on grass - horizontal for a short section. This is the only part of the descent where a fall could be grim. A descending grass trod appears under foot, next to, then crossing an old wall, the path then enters a grove of trees/bushes and crosses a little stream, then a short very steep section before the path goes down between dead bracken on either side - keep going down until streams on either side stop you - cross the stream on the left, cross the steps, a short section on grass and you are at the kissing gate.
Unless you are at the front, it should become obvious on the day. It could of course be icy at the top to add to the challenge, but it does not look like it will be.

[mr brightside]

Would it help if I put some photos on Facebook?

Yeah, go on. Tag me in them. So after you've dibbed you go back down the same way? It's the part before the tumbled down walls I think you do different to me, it's always sounded like you have a radically different route to the one people take on race day.

[Mike T]

Yeah, go on. Tag me in them. So after you've dibbed you go back down the same way? It's the part before the tumbled down walls I think you do different to me, it's always sounded like you have a radically different route to the one people take on race day.

I will take/post some photos as soon as it clears up a bit. The only spot where I know I take a slightly different route is where I go left horizontally for a bit on grass, above the rocky muddy slippery path where a slip could be grim. At the very top the marshals will no doubt direct people on the initial part of the descent.

[mr brightside]

I turned up today promising myself an easy run. My biomechanics are screwed and i've got an appointment with a movement specialist in the new year, meaning i haven't put the training in and have hardly been getting out at all; the situation is simply too fluid and unpredictable. I had a run at Crag Fell, and some walking hill reps to set me up for the event, i knew my legs could handle it without going to jelly.

The morning did not start auspiciously when it transpired that the ale shop on the one-way system had been turned into a sodding print gallery. Fortunately an old guy in Tescos told me about the one near the library, so libations were secured. I kept on popping back to the car behind The Salutation to nudge my parking disc on a bit, and got a total of about 3h without being ticketed.

As i came through the first wall on the way up i started to pay attention to the ground off to the left, as this might be where i ended up. It looked safe, but slow; the grass was tall and bunched up into clumps that could trip you easily, and the dead bracken situation was 'inconsistent'. Same story at the second broken wall, nothing that looked fast, lots of leg lifting required. It was a bit deep and pretty steep. My legs were feeling alright so i knocked a notch on and made sure not to get overtaken.

As i summited the foggy old thing, i was met by a brass quartet playing ghastly christmas songs and a load of people staring at me like i was about to pull a rabbit out of my hat. I had to keep asking where the dibbers were/where do you want us etc. and i eventually located them amongst a forest of pink flags. I know from summit marshalling myself that people need clear information shouted at them like they are either deaf, blind, or stupid; only that way do you get exhausted and confused runners to reliably comply with simple commands.

With the sounds of 'Silent Night' getting mercifully fainter, i began my descent and braced myself to the task of implementing my descent plan. I swung left back towards the ascent route after clearing the flags and found the path with no problem. The margins of the path were a bit slippy and full of lumps, finding good grippy ground wasn't easy. The broken wall turned up and, as i went right and round the end of it, i found a grisly bog and fell on my arse, followed shortly after by two other runners going my way; this i did not expect. There was a couple of small crags to contend with and shortly after a trod and footprints appeared in the ground, several people had come this way too. In total i dispensed with 3 other wearly souls who appeared through the mist like lone ships, and tried to keep heading downhill was much as i could; as i knew the further left i went the sooner i'd find the path again. The descending was safe, but slow; there was good grip, but the undergrowth was taller than what would be considered desirable for a brain off/brakes off approach.

It turned out i was actually too far left and i readily located the path; the rock steps were a pain to descend. It got faster lower down when there were more options. My descent time was only 2s slower than when i had last opted for the 'race route' in 2022, so this alternative route i found isn't any slower really. If the ground was really saturated it would probably be favourable due to having virtually no footfall on the open fell sections. There will be a better way to do it and drop nicely onto the 'race route' somewhere near the slippy ramp through the copse that takes you down to the beck crossing.

[Llani Boy]

Well done Luke. Sounds like you had a decent run, all things considered.

I'm doing Nine Standards Rigg on NYD. Travs has given me some good advice on Discord and I wonder, if you have done it, whether you have got any route choice tips?

[mr brightside]

Nine standards? There's no route choice from what I can recall. There's a hell of a lot of tarmac road, and once you've left it, only one muddy track leading to the cairns. The road is a bit of a joke on the way back, take shoes with some padding in the soles.

[Llani Boy]

Thanks Luke. If it was summer I would be tempted to leave a pair of road shoes at the end of the tarmac for the return run but in wintry weather with cold, wet hands the idea is a non starter.

[Mike T]

Have just watched Olga Wo's video of the race - from about 13 minutes onwards there is obviously a line high up very close to the steps - no obvious path on the video but it may be visible when running it - I have not explored this - Mr B features and descends it well, but from what he says he joined the steps far too early.

[mr brightside]

Have just watched Olga Wo's video of the race - from about 13 minutes onwards there is obviously a line high up very close to the steps - no obvious path on the video but it may be visible when running it - I have not explored this - Mr B features and descends it well, but from what he says he joined the steps far too early.

Thought i looked a bit slow there, hardly surprising i suppose. I think i was about 6.20 to the finish compared to those around me that were over 7, i ought to be under 6 really.