Me neither
And I'm donald ducked if I'm going to join a team as a replacement again, having done that for the previous two years.
Me neither
And I'm donald ducked if I'm going to join a team as a replacement again, having done that for the previous two years.
Didn't enter this year due to continuing injury.
But we were up on Bleaklow on Sunday, nice deep powder, took us over an hour to go a mile
A real disappointment as it would have been brilliant to run this event at least once as part of a proper team rather than a last minute hanger on. Thinking about it though I reckon that nowadays its statistically really difficult to get into the HPM. Their selection is based on the following criteria:Brian,
Thank you for entering High Peak Marathon 2011. Unfortunately your entry for team The Bog Monster's Breakfast was not successful in the draw for the available places.
We had 96 entries for 40 places, which is the number restriction that the National Park Authority imposes on our event.
We appreciate the effort it takes to get a team together but please try again next year, your chances increase every time you enter, successfully or not.
This email has only been sent to team organisers. Therefore, please let the rest of your team know.
We wish you all the best for other events this winter and Good Luck with next year's entry.
Matt & Becca
HPM Co-ordinators 2011
and the High Marathon Committee
PS - if you are very keen and willing to join another team, please send us an email so we can pass your details to teams looking for replacements.
I'm not sure how many categories there are in the race but, from a quick glimpse of last year's results, there are at least 4 (V, M, L, MV). So any team with two of last years top three in each category could account for 12 of the teams entered (and feasibly as many as 24 although thats of course pretty unlikely). They then say that half the places (half of the rest?) are reserved for teams with the most HPM experience (what ever that means) and before you know it the lottery might potentially be for something like 10 team places. Okay my maths are almost certainly wrong and my assumptions take the worst possible view but if it was the case and 30 of the 40 team places were already taken up this year before they drew lots for the remaining places, given that 96 teams entered, our chances of getting in could have been as little as 10/66 or 15%.After entries have closed, places will first be given to teams containing at least two members of the previous year's top 3 finishing teams in each category. Half the places are reserved for those teams with the most HPM experience. To decide the remaining places, a draw will be made from all entered teams not already accepted who have satified the organisers that they have the experience to compete safely in the event
I'm not knocking the process by the way and, having done the event twice, I can see why past 'experienced' teams will always want to run it and want to be up the pecking order to get in too. The organisers host a brilliant event and they can of course organise how the hell they want to. In the round though I can only see the lottery getting tighter and tighter year on year with the rest of us poor wallers having to be willing to fill gaps in other teams,as subs for drop outs. I had a poor experience last year running as a '200 yard back' tail end charlie in my 'team' which had been cobbled together at the last minute - after the event I found out I'd been running with a high temperature, a mild fever and an absyss on my top gum (which I only got to know about when it burst two days later - blurgh) but, even if I'd been on top of my game, two of the team will have wanted to have run faster than any speed I could muster and the same would have happened. It sure as heck isn't so much fun running a third of the distance all on your tod in the dark, over fabulously rugged terrain, in deep snow and only meeting up with your team mates at each checkpoint
Last edited by Stolly; 08-12-2010 at 10:35 AM.
I'm not 100% but I think only the top 3 plus winners of catogries get automatic entry. There was talk last year of changing selection to give more chance to fresh blood
Not quite as bad as you Stolly... i entered a full team last year and managed to get in first time.. did quite good finishing in 19th, entered the same team this year with one minor change.. and not succesfull.
i am willing to run in another team if a place becomes available, but fully understand that its not the same as having your own team. I now have a team that are disappointed at not getting in and have to try and find individual places for themselves.
theres always next year Stolly you never know...
Just throwing an idea into the ether, which won't make a blind bit of difference in 2011 for sure, but why not make the team size 3, rather than 4. That would allow for an extra 13 teams to enter and, given that there are always a fair few last minute drop outs, probably not disappoint so many potential runners. A team of 4 is harder to organise and hold together uninjured over the winter and surely 3 is as safe as 4?
Phil you utter bastardsOriginally Posted by philt1
. I just looked up the results and you beat my team into 20th by the huge margin of 15 seconds last year
If someone is injured then if you've got a 4, one person can stay with them while two go for help.
With a 3, someone would be on their own.
Ha Ha sorry Stolly....15 seconds, just think if you hadnt stopped for that pee you would have beat us....
I agree a team of 4 is hard to organise and keep together so 3 would definately make it easier for us as we had one drop out last year last minute and had to find a new team member this year, but as Toreador said it certainly makes sense if someone was to get injured during the night..
Fair point buts its all conjecture - what if two people get injured or three or all four for that matter?
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