LDWA events

[MorganW]

I reccied the second half of the Blubberhouses Moor 25 this morning with Mrs BGSec and one of the organisers.

The route description for the finish from the Swinsty dam tells you to reverse the outward route. Road running basically.

There is quite a bit of road from CP8 above Timble to the finish. I'd had enough road. Instead of going up the road all the way back, I cut right on a footpath crossing four fields by various stiles.

I walked up here (quickly) while the other 2 ran round by the tarmac. We arrived at the point where I came out on the road about 50 yards from the finish at the same time. I asked if it was ok to go out and come back this way in the race, and was assured it was fine, albeit that no-one does it.

[Drunkeneuphoria]

Next for me, Calderdale Hike (done in 2008) and Wensleydale Wander (virgin). Anyone else down for these?

[swift]

What sort of weirdo would choose to run 4/5 miles on the road, rather than the given route on the dales way.


Why are people like that doing these type of events?

[Derby Tup]

What sort of weirdo would choose to run 4/5 miles on the road, rather than the given route on the dales way.


Why are people like that doing these type of events?

joggers, roadrunners and perverts

[discochesney]

What sort of weirdo would choose to run 4/5 miles on the road, rather than the given route on the dales way.


Why are people like that doing these type of events?

Because we are evil


...and weird

[swift]

Because we are evil


...and weird

....

[Alexandra]

I can't believe some of the discussion going on on this thread And we wonder why some of the LDWA folk don't like the fact that runners have started entering "their" events!!

i) It's NOT a race! They are "challenge events". The challenge is to complete a certain distance within a certain time limit. If someone finishes in 4 hours, he/she has done no better than someone who finishes 1 minute under the limit - both have completed the challenge!!

ii) No "guidance" is needed for runners, just follow the same rules and, more importantly, the same spirit as everyone else, including the walkers.

iii) They are training events....great for enjoying a nice day out, learning how to eat more as you run etc

iv) There are fell races for those who want to race and compare results!

I just have a feeling we'll feel the backlash at some point if runners continue to treat these events in the way they are. For sure, the support of us runners has helped rejuvenate some events, but I can see events being made "no runners" just to get back to the proper spirit of the LDWA.

I joined the LDWA as a retired fell-runner. Doing the Blubberhouses Moor event, I walked across the fields towards Storiths chatting to a male walker. (Runners set off later, and were DIRECTED to take the little road up to Storiths instead of the fields.) When we came to the road junction, I followed the route description left down towards the valley, but he announced without shame that he was taking the road, so cutting off 2 sides of the triangle and avoided the sharp undulations of the path. I went on alone feeling quite upset, reflecting that I was probably the only one foolish enough to take the official route. Then a wonderful thing happened. I was over-taken by two magnificent young men in little shorts - the first of the runners. They were followed by a whole pack of runners. They made the cheating walker seem very shabby.

At the wooden bridge near the Cavendish Pavilion I caught up with the walker again. "Where have you been?" he asked innocently.

In my experience, it is not the runners who sometimes take the road who spoil things for the walkers. They are virtually doing a separate event. It is the deep-dyed cheating of walkers by walkers, even in the sacred hundred, that disillusions me. I think it is partly due to their boredom, doing the same event year on year with little hope of improving times, so being an artful dodger and cutting corners is the only way to maintain interest.

[Alexandra]

I reccied the second half of the Blubberhouses Moor 25 this morning with Mrs BGSec and one of the organisers.

The route description for the finish from the Swinsty dam tells you to reverse the outward route. Road running basically.

There is quite a bit of road from CP8 above Timble to the finish. I'd had enough road. Instead of going up the road all the way back, I cut right on a footpath crossing four fields by various stiles.

I walked up here (quickly) while the other 2 ran round by the tarmac. We arrived at the point where I came out on the road about 50 yards from the finish at the same time. I asked if it was ok to go out and come back this way in the race, and was assured it was fine, albeit that no-one does it.

Trail running most of the way from the Swinsty Dam, surely? Anything is better than the bogs around Round Hill. I once nearly drowned there.

[Brotherton Lad]

Ah, Round Hill. I put my right foot on a sedge there and it disappeared up to the thigh. Fortunately my left foot hit something solid, so I simply fell over.
To think the Romans built a road over there, which you can still see. Was the climate warmer and drier then?

[Sherpa]

It's great to see some of the views on this thread. I had wandered what the etiquette was (so to speak) re LDWA routes. In line with an earlier poster,for me I guess it doesn't really matter as it's not a race so I shouldn't worry if someone has taking a cheeky racing line or two.

I think quite a few people forget that these events are not races, no one wins (or at least no one gives a toss who was in first), there are no prizes, etc. The best thing about the ldwa events are having a good sociable day out, being out in greaty countryside, chatting to the marshalls, seeing your mates, eating, eating and er eating....

I thought Troller's was great and it was my first go at it (and maybe last? ).