Edale Skyline Fell Race

[IanDarkpeak]

Hi Guys

I'm back from the frey, My god what conditions, I've never seen a race like it, Respect to all that finished( or even starters) When I had left all runners were accounted for, a number were escorted off with Hypothermia, I'm sorry I didn't see most of you, I had to escourt a lady off who was in a bit of a state and by the time I'd got back most of you had gone thorough

For the record

LLoyd,Simon,Rob in that order, Lloyd winning by about 5 minutes (Good Effort)

Around 40 runners took the 'Short cut' but nobody followed Lloyd until the positions got in to the 20-30's, A number of midplaced runners did it to get out of the wind?

I guess you know now why the kitcheck was so severe.
Re shorts, I can think of lots of more pleasant ways to exfoliate your legs!!!!!

Met Manhar and Joe but missed every one else, See you at the Three Peaks

[Swoop]

Lloyd won by 5 min from Simon Bailey and Rob Jebb.
I was timed out with 50 or more others at Mam Nick.
Had picked up a lot of places on the climb up Lose Hill thanks to Darth's encouragement at the bottom.
The headwind from Lose Hill to Mam Tor was horrendous with a lot of hail thrown in.
Felt quite good at Mam Nick but being a couple of minutes late was directed down to Edale.
Felt sorry for Stagger who only missed out by a few seconds.
Felt even sorrier for those who had to carry on!
Hope Fellmonster is ok. I believe he was one of those taken off by Kinder Mountain Rescue suffering from hypothermia. They were taken down to Hayfield. Hopefully Fellmonster has been returned to Edale by now so that he can drive Pike, Twig and Roger home.
Might go out and do the second half tomorrow!

[ajohns352000]

Lloyd won by 5 mins!!? - amazing. I was spectating on the ridge between Lose hill and Mam Nick and at that point it was Simon Bailey by about 1 1/2 mins, then Lloyd, then one of the Heneghan boys ( in shorts) and then Rob Jebb. Never thought that Lloyd would catch him.

There will no doubt be a debate on here about whether this race should have gone ahead in its full route. The fact that Mountain rescue took loads off the route and some with Hypothermia shows that its a topic worthy of debate

I am very humbled by some of you guys and gals who even had the "balls" to get to Mam Nick. Swoop - fantastic effort. The ridge conditions on the way to Mam Nick were simply awful. DazH - you were goin well mate - hope you got through

[gyppo]

Hi Swoop

Nice to meet you at the start. Sorry to hear you were stopped at Mam Nick.

Was hoping I'd arrive at some checkpoint to find the race had been stopped- no such luck. Tired badly at the end (or more accurately from Half way round)- must have been near the tail end of finishers.

Thought the race was superbly organised (although letting it run in such interesting weather was a brave decision. All credit to the marshalls- virtually every checkpoint was in a gale- thank tou all. Also many thanks to mountain rescue- sounds like we kept them busy.

Fast registration, good timing system, sensible kit check and great to see Wilf's at the end- think I'd have keeled over without their tucker.

A fun day out. Even though I lost the will to live at several points...

[bill]

Mighty relieved that combination of cold & sore hamstring gave me a reason for not running. Respect to everyone who finished, and to the marshals, mountain rescue.
I only managed about an hour at the top of Jacob's Ladder before fleeing for lower ground. Got to the checkpoint in time to see Simon & Lloyd come through, and Lloyd to regain the lead on the stretch beyond. The first few runners took an interesting line towards the Wool Packs: a low, rising traverse across the hillside. Most of the field went up the path to Swine's Back.
By all accounts, the section along to Brown Knoll was particularly nasty.

[Luv Shack]

Without a doubt, in my book, toughest Skyline I've done!

The organisation, marshaling, start/finish etc was absolutely bloody marvellous - all the marshals deserve a winners tankard (& plenty of grog to boot), it must have been desperate hanging about up there in the bitter cold, being peppered by driving ice flakes & snow pellets!!!

After a hot bath it doesn't seem quite as horrible as it felt at times... and the gravity defying wind off Ringing Roger was from another planet!

Well Done Jim & the massed ranks of Dark Peakers & Associates who made it all happen.....

And next weekend it will most probably be shorts & t-shirts up there.....

[Timo Austino]

"There will no doubt be a debate on here about whether this race should have gone ahead in its full route. The fact that Mountain rescue took loads off the route and some with Hypothermia shows that its a topic worthy of debate"

No it isn't - because everybody has freedom of choice and for the reasons as stated by Luv Shack and Gypo. Don't start another anniversary waltz witch hunt, please!

PS Darkpeaker - keep that big bad mo til next weekend, please....

[Luv Shack]

Racing in severe conditions is all part of what fell runners do, there is an untouchable magic to be found when we do..... I saw no problem with running the full course today, amongst the stormy conditions there were fleeting moments of bliss, when the sun showed her face & lit up the whole skyline, so those who gambled round & even those who trudged (like me) and those who were timed out or retired due the extreme conditions, will take away some special moments.... and probably some best forgotten!

And of course I agree whole-heartedly with Timo, any kind of criticism is misplaced, the forecast was more than apparent, it had been heralded in all forms of media, all week..... and some were surprised to see me clothed for a change.... well, that's because daft & stupid as I am, I do still value what life I have... and, as usual, there were some splendidly tiny bumbags on show, plainly with superdooper kit in them... but, most I saw were dressed for the more severe moments which the day brought... and what a day!? Lovely & horrific, sometimes at the same time!!!

The post race "pint" rarely tastes better on such days as these... time to bike down to the Royal!

[Mountain Hare]

Fantastic!

Horrendous conditions for sure but, it's March in the Dark Peak - what do people expect???

Great race, great scenery - even better with a bit of snow on the tops - hope those who struggled with the cold are all okay. It was very, very tough but worth it just to finish.

Massive respect to all the marshalls and supporters who braved the conditions - shame my kids gave all the jelly babies to the runners in front of me

See you next year

MH

[Mountain Hare]

Biggest laugh of the day for me...

My team mate who stripped down to his vest and shorts at the start when the sun had been out for all of 1 minute saying something like 'I don't fancy running in all this kit - I always get far too hot a few minutes into a run'.

Wonder how long it took him to put his cag and trousers on in the gales at the top of Ringing Roger?