Old County Tops

[No map, no compass]

I might be in the Lakes Friday undecided about ice climbing or a recce of the OCT.

any one got a gps track of the route they don't mind sharing PM me if you want to keep it secret
Ta ian

There is a GPS route on the OCT 2009 thread.

[IanDarkpeak]

Ian

Me and the noor are hoping to go round some of the course tomorrow (ice permitting!) - Langdale - Angle Tarn - Scafell Pike - Cockley beck - maybe the climb up towards Swirl how - back to langdale. You are more than welcome to come along

Dan

Cheers Dan

I got a PM from Ben but I've agreed to go ice climbing tomorrow. Might take you up on the offer another time though

[IanDarkpeak]

There is a GPS route on the OCT 2009 thread.

Excellent I'll look in to getting up some time.

[andyLJ]

Would my younger brother and I be mad to take this on as our first race in the Lakes? I switched from road running to trail running last year (down south so no mountains). I raced some mid distance ultras including the Ridgeway Challenge (85 miles, 2750m+, placed 5th). My only experience racing in the Lakes is the Helvellyn Triathlon.

We do have time to make a couple of recees before May. Would this be sufficient? I've heard this is a pretty tough race! Thanks, Andy.

[IanDarkpeak]

Would my younger brother and I be mad to take this on as our first race in the Lakes? I switched from road running to trail running last year (down south so no mountains). I raced some mid distance ultras including the Ridgeway Challenge (85 miles, 2750m+, placed 5th). My only experience racing in the Lakes is the Helvellyn Triathlon.

We do have time to make a couple of recees before May. Would this be sufficient? I've heard this is a pretty tough race! Thanks, Andy.

Fittness wise you should be ok but whats your hill experience like. can you navigate if the clag is down? Do you have the entry requirement races?

[andyLJ]

Fittness wise you should be ok but whats your hill experience like. can you navigate if the clag is down? Do you have the entry requirement races?

Hi Ian, thanks for your reply.
Hill experience is walking rather than racing and we would recee the whole course before the race. The entry form/rules are not completely clear about entry requirement races. It does ask for a list of long distance events completed in the last 3 years, but doesn't stipulate fell events. Probably best if I email the organisers. What it does say is that the race is "deemed unsuitable for novices", if by this they mean unsuitable for fell racing novices, then we're out! Shame, I'd already pencilled this in in my head.

[ZootHornRollo]

so this is like doing two Borrowdales pretty much. Mmmm!

[IanDarkpeak]

Hi Ian, thanks for your reply.
Hill experience is walking rather than racing and we would recee the whole course before the race. The entry form/rules are not completely clear about entry requirement races. It does ask for a list of long distance events completed in the last 3 years, but doesn't stipulate fell events. Probably best if I email the organisers. What it does say is that the race is "deemed unsuitable for novices", if by this they mean unsuitable for fell racing novices, then we're out! Shame, I'd already pencilled this in in my head.

I think we had a similar discussion on another event.

If you can show for eg you've done 100+ munros, Walked the Welsh 3000's etc then you would probably get you in with hill exp, you have your long race to show fitness so putting them together why not.

Give the RO a bell with what you've(and partner) have done.
Good luck

[andyLJ]

I think we had a similar discussion on another event.

If you can show for eg you've done 100+ munros, Walked the Welsh 3000's etc then you would probably get you in with hill exp, you have your long race to show fitness so putting them together why not.

Give the RO a bell with what you've(and partner) have done.
Good luck

Didn't manage to get hold of RO secretary (full answerphone machine) but I've got a good race diary together for the season which includes fellsman & lakeland and I'll return to look at OCT for next year. We will be up training in the area soon, so plan to reccee the course this year nonetheless.

Thanks

[gyppo]

Remind me not to have beers on my birthday again. I appear to have agreed to have a crack at this. Better get some long runs in. Have run most bits of it but don't know the line off Scafell unless going down Narrowcove. Should be interesting event, although I suspect it could be classified as deliberate self-harm.