Wasdale

[theNoor]

I remember talking to a bloke at Wasdale last year who'd recently done a triathlon (Canary Islands or somewhere, maybe?). He was pretty young and looked fit enough, but he was timed out at Seatallan (I think). Said he found the hills really hard (and the real hills hadn't even started by then).

I spoke to an Ironman at the start of the 2008 Great Lakes Fell Race. He pulled out around the second checkpoint; bitten off more than he could chew...

[delicious]

If you need to ask how hard Wasdale is then you really shouldn't be doing it. It is a Lakeland AL in Wasdale, Billy's record of 3 25 was set years ago Mark Rigby and Colin Donnelly have been closest at about 15 minutes outside. Most people can't get under 4 hours. It is tough.

Maybe you should be thinking about doing Kentmere and Coniston first.

[DazTheSlug]

I did Three Shires this year
targetting Duddon next year
intend to do Wasdale "one day"
some people like the challenge of leaping into the unknown
but not me
"progressive overload" is my mantra
ramp up general training, recce the b*&&%^$ to death, "test run" sections to be confident of making cut-offs, then ENJOY the actual race

[alphandomega]

If you need to ask how hard Wasdale is then you really shouldn't be doing it. It is a Lakeland AL in Wasdale, Billy's record of 3 25 was set years ago Mark Rigby and Colin Donnelly have been closest at about 15 minutes outside. Most people can't get under 4 hours. It is tough.

Maybe you should be thinking about doing Kentmere and Coniston first.

Tough? It is THE toughest.

It isn't just getting round, it is being fast enough to beat the cut-offs.

Anyway, I've just started rock climbing, where exactly is this Mt Everest then?

[FarFromTheFells]

I did Three Shires this year
targetting Duddon next year
intend to do Wasdale "one day"
some people like the challenge of leaping into the unknown
but not me
"progressive overload" is my mantra
ramp up general training, recce the b*&&%^$ to death, "test run" sections to be confident of making cut-offs, then ENJOY the actual race

Yep, that's pretty much my strategy...

My fell-running route chronologically so far has worked through: -

AS
AM
BL

so next it has to be an AL, and my big aim for 2010 is to do Borrowdale...!

[ZootHornRollo]

but it does depend how fit you are and how much experience in the hills you may have, from walking or whatever.

I felt I had enough of both to tackle Borrowdale in my first year, as I'm sure a lot of other people have.

Not Wasdale though maybe!

[alphandomega]

but it does depend how fit you are and how much experience in the hills you may have, from walking or whatever.

I felt I had enough of both to tackle Borrowdale in my first year, as I'm sure a lot of other people have.

Not Wasdale though maybe!

Billy's Records:

Borrowdale 2.34

Wasdale : 3.25 or 33% longer. Go figure!

[ZootHornRollo]

read my post

I said 'Not Wasdale though maybe.'

[abd]

This has been my first year fell racing, did some tri last year and been orienteering for 18 months and some AR.

For what its worth I built up albeit it quite quickly but have lots of hill / mountain experience through walking etc:

My first race was Lloughrigg in April, then several mid-week races locally (short up and downs), did iRoc in May, Settle Hills in June (1st AM), Skiddaw (AM), Heart of Lakes (AM), Sedbergh Hills in August (1st AL), Mountain Trial in Sept (more below), Rab MM and OMM.

Of all of these the LDMT was by far and away the toughest and a serious day out and probably the closest to Wasdale (be interested in the view of people who did both this year). I recorded it (MT) as 27 miles and ~9000' (forget the advertised 16m!) and was out for over 7 hours (how Steve Birkinshaw got round in just under 5 defies belief) and was grateful I had some serious hill miles / days in my legs, but I didn't feel as though I was out of my depth in doing it.

I would be seriously worried though if you were not properly prepared by way of conditioning and experience (hill sense and nav) though.

Hope this helps.
A

[trilathon]

If you need to ask how hard Wasdale is then you really shouldn't be doing it.
Maybe you should be thinking about doing Kentmere and Coniston first.

what a daft argument...

.for your info the Coniston Triathlon takes in Coniston Fell Race after having a cold mile swim in lake, then a cycle ride over Wrynose, Hardnott, Birker Fell then a few more climbs before back to Coniston for the run....just about all the triathletes who competed finished quicker than a good proportion of those fell runners who just did the actual fell race on it's own

maybe be you are trying to be well meaning ..but it just looks over precious and negative