Wasdale

[Bobster]

From the results there were 194 finishers, 49 dnfs. So what happened to the rest of the people who entered?
The last start list had around 370 names on it.
A huge number of people just didn't show up. I'm amazed. Any ideas?

I didn't show due to an injury picked up on the Saunders the week before. Thinking there would be a big interest due to it being a Championship race and, being limited numbers, I thought there might have been a reserve list. So, I posted my reserve entry on the forum in case anyone wanted it. No takers. As for the others, I've no idea - maybe January optimism when the calendar is glanced at turns to grimness when, six months later, people realise that there intentions to get fitter have faded into the bottom of a beer glass and Wasdale is just a bit too hard.

[Graham Breeze]

From the results there were 194 finishers, 49 dnfs. So what happened to the rest of the people who entered?
The last start list had around 370 names on it.
A huge number of people just didn't show up. I'm amazed. Any ideas?

I may be wrong (!) and I do not have the stats to hand but I presume 2009 was the highest ever total finishers.

There were 141 in the "furore" Championship year of 2005 after which Richard extended the cut offs by up to 15 minutes and finishers have since been 128, 105 and 125.

In its dark years Richard kept Wasdale going with tiny entries and it was after talking with him around ten years ago and realising that he was subsidising the race out of his own pocket that Brian Martin and I set up the Lakeland Classics Trophy to support him (and, to a lesser extent, Ennerdale).

Last Saturday was the 37th race. It is a huge exercise for one man to organise and I think all fellrunners-not just those who compete in it-should be grateful that people like Richard are willing to keep these great, great races alive.

It is a privilege to compete in the Wasdale and as race organisers go, in my book, Richard is a hero.

[LM]

Least you had a go, my long friend
One day, me, you an Mrs.Stagger will cross the finish line

Yes Merry and Deejay, we will! (I love your optimisim)

[Oscar]

I may be wrong (!)......).

Last Saturday was the 37th race. It is a huge exercise for one man to organise and I think all fellrunners-not just those who compete in it-should be grateful that people like Richard are willing to keep these great, great races alive.

It is a privilege to compete in the Wasdale and as race organisers go, in my book, Richard is a hero.

Don't always agree with you Graham, but I'm with you 100% on this. We need to value race organisers as without them races like Wasdale would be long gone.

Slightly OT, but it cracks me up when I hear people whinging about certain aspects of races ("late" results, "onerous" kit requirements, entry methods etc) which usually mean they are having a go at the organisers. Race organisers deserve some respect and people should remember that when they have a moan about a race, litter the course or attempt to get round kit requirements....

[Pudgy]

Good lord, even I agree with Graham! (whisper it softly)

The additional objective hazards of these long races also add to the feelings of trepidation any organiser must get (the what if it all goes horribly wrong aspect), so the mental strain must be considerable, together with the greater investment of time and even money. And it wouldn't happen without the organisers.

I think the Lakeland Classics Trophy is also a valuable innovation. Instead of picking one race (possibly the nearest), runners are more likely to go for the series, and give remote races like Ennerdale the support they deserve. I thoroughly enjoyed the trophy races I did last year.

And Ennerdale felt tougher than Wasdale

[Double Dee]

I've not done Peris but Wasdale killed me on Saturday having had a good run for me at Jura this year. So for me Wasdale is the tough one - but I'll be back next year to try to do it justice.

I felt like I was going well until near Styhead where I got cramp up my inner thighs and had to sit down for the first time. I then climbed reasonably quickly to Esk Hause, not running but only a couple of people overtook me.

Just after Esk Hause I had to lie down to massage the cramp away taking about 5 minutes - a lot of people went past me. Found a good line down off Scafell Pike to near the col but as soon as I started the grassy running, cramped up big style. I then alternated slow, painful stagger with lying down all the way to the finish getting passed by people I'd not seen since Seatallan.

I've suffered with cramp on Jura but usually because I'm not fit enough but I felt fit for this weekend. I drank 3 litres on the race, 2.5 l of it with Nuun in it. Also had three gels, a bar and jelly babies. I'm wondering whether having too little to eat on Thursday and Friday (and not much before the race considering the early start to drive up) could have contributed.

A good day out and I'm glad to have got round. Thanks to all the organisers, marshalls and food people at the end.

On the litter front, I finished with two more gel wrappers than I started with and a couple of other bits, but I don't think we need to get too worked up. Considering the number of gels consumed, I think those wrappers dropped could easily have been dropped by accident, trying to fiddle them into a pocket while running or dropping out when retrieving something else from a bum bag. As a community, I think (hope) we cleaned up after ourselves.

Well done to everyone that set off on Saturday.

I agree with your comments Rich, I was one of the 50 or so dnf's sorry! thinking now that I should have walked the last bit from Styhead, shouldnt have tried to stick with the Geoff B for so long, I still cant walk properly, and now on reflection can abosolutely say that was the hardest fell race experience I've ever encountered. Well done to all that finshed and most of all to the marshalls and organiser for putting such a spectacular race, I'll be back next year for more..and to finish.

[Storyteller]

I didn't show due to an injury picked up on the Saunders the week before. Thinking there would be a big interest due to it being a Championship race and, being limited numbers, I thought there might have been a reserve list. So, I posted my reserve entry on the forum in case anyone wanted it. No takers. As for the others, I've no idea - maybe January optimism when the calendar is glanced at turns to grimness when, six months later, people realise that there intentions to get fitter have faded into the bottom of a beer glass and Wasdale is just a bit too hard.

Ditto Bobster. I got injured at Rhinogs (see DPFR Blog w/e 4th/5th July - if you are not squemish) the weekend before and offered my place on forum but got no takers. Will be back for 2010, Championship Race or not.

[AJF]

Good lord, even I agree with Graham! (whisper it softly)

Not that it matters, your not elite enough to have an opinion

Oh and not that it matters either but yep, got to agree there! Glad that it has been kept alive. fell running would be poorer for the loss of Wasdale. Cheers also to Graham for the Lakeland Classics. A great series!

[brett]

results

[TurboTom]

Very interesting looking at the split times. Especially for the retirees as you can see some obviously set off far too quick and slowly slipped down until they were either timed out or just quit