Edale Skyline Fell Race

[crowhill]

How many people are brave/stupid enough to do the up and down? I was hoping to recce it and have a go, but never got a chance so will have to do it blind if I'm silly enough.

After spenging sunday's race passing keith on all the downs only to have the speedy git come past me on the ups, I think any climb should be avoided at all costs though!

I've done this race the last 4 years and was gutted not to get in this year. If I had got in I would definitely not do the down and up. Don't believe anyone who tells you its a rite of passage etc . Only do it if you want to lose a few places/minutes and you fancy adding several hundred feet of up and down on to tough 21 mile race. One for a casual training run, perhaps, but not on the day of the race. Lloyd Taggart might do it, but he's one of the top 5 runners in the country. Cheers.

[Ginge Whinge]

.......and it is strictly speaking a "Skyline" race, so the pure line is round the edge. It's all about asthetics not athletics............

[Storyteller]

True Ginge

But, as a novice, having previously asked the question of a highly respected Brown Vest (no, not IDP), the answer I got was:

Any route between checkpoints

I'll be Skylining along with the rest of the mortals

Oh and if it looks like I'm smiling after Brown Knoll, it'll be a grimace.

[IanDarkpeak]

.......and it is strictly speaking a "Skyline" race, so the pure line is round the edge. It's all about asthetics not athletics............

Hi Ginge. Where have you been? not seen you in ages. Are you doing the SL then?

[PaulE]

If you search the skyline thread from 2006 & 7 I was on marshall duty on GK and counted them, If I remember it was about 12 of the top 30 and then a few die hards maybe another 10? out of the rest. If it was earlier in the race I think I would do it but at the end you would need to be going well. it's a big descent with tired legs to then reclimb up to RR.

the question is though Paul will you be out the day after for the start of the Summer series?????

Hopefully I'll be at the first Summer Series race - could probably do with joining Dark Peak this year anyway. Probably not doing the shortcut from teh sound of things though!

[noel]

I've done this race the last 4 years and was gutted not to get in this year. If I had got in I would definitely not do the down and up. Don't believe anyone who tells you its a rite of passage etc . Only do it if you want to lose a few places/minutes and you fancy adding several hundred feet of up and down on to tough 21 mile race. One for a casual training run, perhaps, but not on the day of the race. Lloyd Taggart might do it, but he's one of the top 5 runners in the country. Cheers.

People should be encouraged to do it, just so they can say "yes, but I did the down and up". This would add to your overall achievement, and gain respect. It also makes it closer to an actual category A race (but that's a different discussion).

We tried it one time on a recce of the second half of the Skyline. I went down and up and 38DD went round the edge. I got there first by about a minute, but my heartrate during this bit averaged 160, whereas his was 140.

[Ginge Whinge]

Hi Ginge. Where have you been? not seen you in ages. Are you doing the SL then?

Howdo. I'm a slave to the Full Distance Tri training programme at the moment which I have absolutely no chance of actually following.

Been out and about a bit though - Chew Skyline will probably be this year's best day out on the fells, the "new look" marsden race last w/e was a belter. Got Skyline then Lads leap and PPP to do with the odd Trunce thrown in to give the monotony of ploughing up and down chlorinated pools at bay. All excited cos my new push bike will be ready next month. Also doing A Day In the Lakes Tri which has a fell running bent and has the most attractive run course Ii've ever done. Then the main event in August before finishing off with Helvellyn Tri and then back to the mucky stuff.

You participating on Sun or just yelling abuse at competitors from the comfort of a hot flask of tea?

[IanDarkpeak]

Howdo. I'm a slave to the Full Distance Tri training programme at the moment which I have absolutely no chance of actually following.

Been out and about a bit though - Chew Skyline will probably be this year's best day out on the fells, the "new look" marsden race last w/e was a belter. Got Skyline then Lads leap and PPP to do with the odd Trunce thrown in to give the monotony of ploughing up and down chlorinated pools at bay. All excited cos my new push bike will be ready next month. Also doing A Day In the Lakes Tri which has a fell running bent and has the most attractive run course Ii've ever done. Then the main event in August before finishing off with Helvellyn Tri and then back to the mucky stuff.

You participating on Sun or just yelling abuse at competitors from the comfort of a hot flask of tea?

I will be joining you on the run, I might even follow you over Brown Knoll seeing as how you are such a strong swimmer. I'll also be at LL Bg support permitting and then PPP.

[crowhill]

People should be encouraged to do it, just so they can say "yes, but I did the down and up". This would add to your overall achievement, and gain respect. It also makes it closer to an actual category A race (but that's a different discussion).

We tried it one time on a recce of the second half of the Skyline. I went down and up and 38DD went round the edge. I got there first by about a minute, but my heartrate during this bit averaged 160, whereas his was 140.

Interesting. Last year I was way way behind Phil Winskill approaching the penultimate checkpoint (he was a tiny dot on the horizon). He went down and up and I trundled round the skyline and ended up in front of him. Phil went from a guaranteed 2nd to 6th and lost about 8 minutes. My advice is not to do it if you want to finish as quickly or as far up the field as possible.

[noel]

Interesting. Last year I was way way behind Phil Winskill approaching the penultimate checkpoint (he was a tiny dot on the horizon). He went down and up and I trundled round the skyline and ended up in front of him. Phil went from a guaranteed 2nd to 6th and lost about 8 minutes. My advice is not to do it if you want to finish as quickly or as far up the field as possible.

Yeah, but don't you wish you had our respect for trying something so quixotic during such a high-profile fell race.