Doh! After being adamant that I was going to wait until 2011 to do the UTMB after having finally got round the CCC this year what have I just gone and done.......... pre-registered for the UTMB for 2010. Am hoping I come to my senses by the end of the pre-registration period!

I have used poles for both my failed and succesful CCC and don't think I would have coped with the descents in the dark without them based on how bad I was with them! That is just me though and I can understand people would rather not have to faff with them and are not such a shocking descender as me.

I have noticed a lot of the Europeans fling their poles around and aren't conscious that their poles are lethal weapons though. Have only used them in the Lakes 50 here and would obviously not even think about taking them to a fell race.