High Peak Marathon

[stevers]

A bit different from the last time I was up there with you Sarah. but......

Where was my invite? Russ lives across the road from me If he thinks he's got a secret line I'll know it.

Did you see our tracks? How long did it take?

Wouldn't have wanted to hold you back IDP - if you overtook the Farmer's Wife then you are way faster than us!

Russ's secret line goes from the LU weather station via Skarratt's stone to the B-17 wreck, but don't tell anyone else.

We saw a few sets of tracks, having had a relaxed start mid morning by the time we were out there were a few groups looking like HPM teams on the hill (and MRT c/w helo on Bleaklow) - I think it must have been the official HPM recce weekend!

S

[philt1]

Where you starting from Phil? I was up for a long run on Friday but it could possibly be put back for a night run.

Ian,

we are probably looking at starting from Cut Throat bridge and going as far as Snake Pass.

all depends on the weather i hear were in for a bad weekend... will probably end up walking a lot of the route from sort of Cut Gate up to wainstones just to make sure we have the route sorted its not too bad in the daylight its in the dark that concerns me.

[IanDarkpeak]

Ian,

we are probably looking at starting from Cut Throat bridge and going as far as Snake Pass.

all depends on the weather i hear were in for a bad weekend... will probably end up walking a lot of the route from sort of Cut Gate up to wainstones just to make sure we have the route sorted its not too bad in the daylight its in the dark that concerns me.

Send me the time you are setting off. no promises as I'm now going climbing in the lakes on Friday but if I'm back I might run up Cutgate and join you to swainshead before heading back

[PlumBum]

Been onto Bleaklow this afternoon from Fiddlers Green. Found it very tough going with about 3" of fresh snow but some of the bogs underneath not supporting my weight several times.

[Stolly]

Been onto Bleaklow this afternoon from Fiddlers Green. Found it very tough going with about 3" of fresh snow but some of the bogs underneath not supporting my weight several times.

Yeah I'm starting to get the feeling that the bogs will rise to the surface just in time for the main event; I was running in an inch or two of fresh snow last night fairly high (above 450 meters) and, whereas for much of the last two months the grounds been rock hard, it was definitely getting squidgy

Mind you who wants to run Bleaklow with firm ground?

[IanDarkpeak]

Been onto Bleaklow this afternoon from Fiddlers Green. Found it very tough going with about 3" of fresh snow but some of the bogs underneath not supporting my weight several times.

For reasons Andy be will aware I never made it to the Lakes

so to relieve the stress I did the next bit as a HPM Reverse Skyline recce. Pretty much Snake to Finish then ran back to Snake via reverse Tanky's( this i've always thought is the easy bit. Not today The path just wasn't there which left me running in 5-8 inches of fresh snow over boulders with the occasional knee deep drift in thick fog. Compass out all the way to Brown Knoll. I'm glad I know the bearings as by Sandy Heys i went to check the map to find I'd dropped it! about 90 minutes of 20ft vis later I dropped off BK just as the fog/cloud broke.

Conditions under foot were very energy sapping. The best bit was the 6 minute crossing when a plastered bleaklow popped out. Breath taking. Will try and post pics later

4 50 hours!!! 19 miles 2800ft

[southernsoftie]

Couple of practical questions for HPM:

1) Food - how substantial is the food provided at each CP? Will I be okay with with small snacky things (cereal bars, sausage rolls etc.) or should I pack something more filling, like sarnies?

2)Sleep - how do people work this on the day of the race? I was thinking of sleeping until gone lunchtime. Hoping to keep me as fresh as possible for the race. But then sometimes the longer I sleep in, the less I wake up...if you know what I mean.

[Stolly]

Couple of practical questions for HPM:

1) Food - how substantial is the food provided at each CP? Will I be okay with with small snacky things (cereal bars, sausage rolls etc.) or should I pack something more filling, like sarnies?

2)Sleep - how do people work this on the day of the race? I was thinking of sleeping until gone lunchtime. Hoping to keep me as fresh as possible for the race. But then sometimes the longer I sleep in, the less I wake up...if you know what I mean.

The food stops are excellent and you can cram as much of their stuff in your bag as you like - sandwiches, pies, cake and flapjacks etc from memory. After the last food stop at Snake Pass last year, I found I ran out of energy after dropping off of Kinder maybe 6 or 7 miles on; luckily my life was saved by a team mate with a hot cross bun with Wensleydale cheese in it- absolutely delicious

On the sleep front I heard a story last year that somebody had purposely stayed up all Thursday night with the intention of sleeping all day Friday before the off. Needless to say come Friday he couldn't get to sleep though . I will maybe go to bed a bit early on Thursday and lie in a bit on Friday but then have a glorious day to myself lounging on the sofa, watching the odd film, cat napping and basically being a complete lazy bastard.

[ydt]

Don't forget to grab a banana before you leave the feeding station!
Up to Moscar you don't need much food. You need more between Moscar and Snake and a lot more in the morning after Snake. Best to have a good supply of your own running food, to make sure you don't run out in the last few miles. Have hot drinks at the stops and remember to refill your bottle.
ydt

[RachFR]

Yeah I'm starting to get the feeling that the bogs will rise to the surface just in time for the main event; I was running in an inch or two of fresh snow last night fairly high (above 450 meters) and, whereas for much of the last two months the grounds been rock hard, it was definitely getting squidgy

Mind you who wants to run Bleaklow with firm ground?

Me! The firm ground is much nicer . We went from Fairholmes to Howden Edge last night, intended to carry on all the way to Snake Top but the snow was knackering and not being able to locate any tracks at all was a bit worrying (we don't all know Bleaklow as well as IDP!), so dropped back down the valley to the car... Hoping it refreezes a bit before the night! Also we were once again following some Walsh tracks for quite a bit of it