Quote Originally Posted by Marvin View Post
OK, here is my assessment based on Tracklogs. The route I took round the edge was 2.2 miles and 416ft climb - sounds a lot of climb, but it does go up and down a bit. The route from GK to RR via the bottom of Golden Clough is 1.1miles/630ft, and the direct line GK to RR is 1.0miles/555ft -going via the bottom of Golden Clough takes you slightly further down Grindsbrook clough than the direct line.

So how accurate is all of this????

I don't believe that the elevation model used by any of the digital mapping companies is able to accurately reflect the small ups and downs you encounter when running this sort of race. However the trackpoints recorded by the GPS are not accurate enough to position you accurately on the path - a few feet of error to the right going round the edge could easily reduce your apparent height at one point by 30 ft, and if the next one doesn't have that error, you've climbed 30ft.

I think the round the edge route I've quoted is a substantial overestimate of the climb, whereas the down and up is probably not far out. The overall distances are probably about right.

So what does everyone else think?
tell you what i think
you and briggs have to go down and up next year maties