The map is good but its not all that necessary. I only learnt about one minor short cut from it. It's not a particularly complicated route, there is lots of scope for time saving dodges but if you're doing lots of reccying you'll discover these anyway.

The forum did a reccy last year and there were loads of time saving advice there.

BTW the lakes runner map isn't laminated. I think they get them back in stock each year nearer the time.