Peris Horseshoe

[IainR]

I did the half Peris last year . That was hard enough ! I'm hoping to have a good few months running and build up to the full Peris this year . It will be the longest hardest race I'll have done .

the best advice I was given was get to PyP then think the starts. Don't hammer the descents until Lliwedd, almost treat it as a training run until PYP, then go for it. If you blow up on the Peris you'll lose time like in no other race because it's such a technical steep second half.

Mentally you also get a lift from passing people lay on the ground cramping up or walking and stopping on walking climbing the east ridge of snowdon.

[nightingale]

Thanks IainR . I know it's months away , but , I've been looking forward to it since doing the half peris last year . I love that part of the world .

[A-B]

How bigger step up is the Peris Horseshoe, compared to something like the Edale Skyline?
If I found the Skyline hard and completed it in about 4h 30 mins, any idea how much I might struggle with 8,500 ft of ascent?

[IainR]

Big step up in terms of size of the undertaking and seriousness of the terrain.

If the weather is bad there aren't too many more serious bits of running than Lliweedd > Snowdon, on the calendar. Cracking race.

[Eddie]

Done both the last few years, Peris has taken me about an hour longer than Edale each year. They are different types of tough course if that makes sense, you walk (slog) more of the Peris while legs become knackered at Edale through trying to run much more of the distance as the gradient is less but the second half bogs sap the strength. Both great races, if you enjoyed Edale then build up a bit in terms of time on your feet on steep hills over the summer and you'll have a good day out at Peris - definately one to tick off.

[mountain bag]

How bigger step up is the Peris Horseshoe, compared to something like the Edale Skyline?
If I found the Skyline hard and completed it in about 4h 30 mins, any idea how much I might struggle with 8,500 ft of ascent?

A proper step up. There are few tougher fell races in the calendar (according to people who know about these sorts of things - Jura and the like)

Peris is proper mountains, skyline is part trail race with a good long bog trot to finish once the legs are sapped. At Peris the angles are all greater, the ups are more up the downs are more down, and the ground is mostly a lot rougher/rockier/grassier.

At 4500ft for Edale, a half Peris would be more similar - run on the same day and about half an hour earlier depart. So for a full peris think a similar distance to Edale only twice the climbing on rougher ground and you'll be on the right track.

Agree with Eddie, about an hour difference in time taken, given no route faff.

Are Both A Longs? - Chalk and cheese.

[rocksteady]

havent done Edale but done the peris a few times.
it not a race you take on lightly and your right to ask the question.although all the ascents are steep (6 in all) and rocky(except cynghorion) it is still quite a runnable route,mostly on well defined tracks,navigation is straight forward in good weather,in bad weather the sections that require some caution are between llyn y cwn and glyder fawr.stick to the ridge line on lliwedd and to the path from glyder fawr to pen y pass if your not confident of the route.
other wise it deffo a must do well worth an attempt in good weather
winning times are usually 3:20-30

[nightingale]

I found the half peris hard enough last year. I'm going to try to build up to the full route this year. I think navigation skills and or local knowledge a must as the weather over there can be pretty tough and they don't get the numbers so it can be hard to follow a local.

[Fellhound]

Are Both A Longs? - Chalk and cheese.

I've said it before and some people are probably bored with me saying it so it can't hurt to say it again... There should be a category beyond A for things like Peris. The difference between the milder A races and those at the more extreme end is too great.

How about an A+ or X category (criteria up for debate)?? Peris would surely qualify.

[Storyteller]

Or maybe as Tour de France - HC (Hors Categorie?)

It is a bit subjective and as many have said can depend upon conditions on the day. This last year we were very lucky with ideal weather IMO (there is a previous thread with some photos which I took on the way round). I would have struggled with nav' as a Peris 'virgin' in poor visibility (don't mention Wadsworth Trog)
In the event I had good 'follows' and/or good visibility for most of the race. I posted about 4 and a quarter hours after doing ES earlier in the year in about 3 and three quarters.
One of my all time favourite races.