I was talking to Trefor about that, he said Gavin was one of the last to leave the field that year and didn't pass him until way up into the quarries.Originally Posted by rocksteady
Saying that though the course is slower now, less sheep grazing, but also fewer inclines in the quarries, which they used in the past..
I think if I took it as a race of 2 halves I wouldn't make the cut at Pen y Pass!
results are out on eryri site
my time seems to be slightly off (I'm down as 5:30, whereas I'm fairly sure I clocked about 5:42) but I know the marshals had probs with paper disintegrating in the rain, so we can forgive them I think!
oh, and proudly showing off my mug to Lady Slugge this morning... "What's a Horsehoe?" she asked - I hadn't noticed the misprint - guess not as much care had been taken with the English translation :wink:
Daz
Forgive my general ignorance but I can't find the results on the Eryri site. Can you post a link for thickie me?
Cheers
Dave
They were quite hard to find! And they're only of the full horseshoe, guess I'll have to wait to find out where I came!
Results...
Last edited by Sam Harrison; 06-09-2011 at 12:52 PM.
[QUOTE=IainR;431350]I don't know I enjoyed it, its just good fun.
I don't think it should have been shortened, I know others do, and don't think it would have been in any other part of the UK bar Wales and to be honest the lack of proper fell races in Wales explains the general poor ability here. The lakes runners would have just sucked it and coped for sure. Running through the half you could see that people had grouped to the few who knew the way or could navigate.
Firstly I think everyone should respect the decision of those who take on the responsibility of orgnasing races. If you don't like it offer to organise the race or a new one yourself. Look forward to a Llanberis, Rydd Du traverse in the calandar next year Iain.
There seems to be a lot of things mixed up here. One of the reasons for my appalling time was I came of the last top completely wrong, panic sat down and calmed down for 5 minutes and added a mile to ther route. Shaken yes but never really in danger. Partly tiredness, partly rushing trying to shake off someone who could not map read behind. Llewydd would be different. A twisted ankle and in the wet you would be hard pressed to get down without the mountain rescue. Map reading wouldn't help you.
My understnading is that the Welsh1000s is flagged because of the landowners so may be we should do some PR with them. The Rhinogs went by the board because the orgnaisation wasnot good. The WFRA (i.e. us) might have stepped in earlier and helped save it.
More long races in wales would be great but that needs more organisers.
[QUOTE=Mary;431754]TBH I will when i have time..but whilst I'm fit I'll race. Llanberis Rhydd traverse sounds brilliant.......one we may hold an informal race next year on the course, a hush hush race to get feedback...the other I don't know.
the 1000m peaks is flagged for access but then the additional points are safety points, almost no nav on it now.
I find the attitude that you can't have an opinion rather strange though. You pay to race, therefore you can say what you feel. I said I understood, just disagreed. I'm not sure that's so out of order.
Also seems to missed fell running is about racers, fields in wales are pityifully weak compared to other areas so I'll keep doing the odd race here and mainly race in the Lakes, yorkshire et al where the competition is. we need to encourage people to race, and proper races, the only competitive races we really have are the tuesday nighters. the rest the fields are too sparse, you don't get the stride for stride battles you have in the lakes or yorkshire/lancashire/peak, it just makes you run so much harder. I'm not saying uncompetitive as I win, I rarely do, but I can turn up, say '3rd today' and run around with no chance of catching 2nd and no chance of 4th catching me unless i blow. Doesn't bring you on the same.
One of the great runners of Eryri used to say whenever he felt cocky he'd leave North Wales and race elsewhere to get put in his place, so its obviously not a new view I have.
re getting lost of MC? Did you follow the direction of the marshall....if so that could be why..she was pointing too far right as you look down, so a number of people dropped into the wrong valley
Last edited by IainR; 06-09-2011 at 03:33 PM.
I remember needing my map and compass 2 years ago in the 1000m from Aber to PenyPass, since then the course has changed and extra points have been put in, partly to abide by the landowner. In the Lakes there is a lot more tolerance with the major landowner (NT) allowing open access for many years before CROW came into force. Aran Fawddwy is a point - 10 years ago access was a real issue for everyone, now it is more open due to CROW with reluctant landowners mostly abiding.
Iain, you have a real point - at racing at Aran, the difference between this race and others that I've done in N Wales the last couple of was immense, the field being packed with Pudsey, Borrowdale etc... runners of real quality. There is some of that quality in Wales (Davies', Roberts', Jones', yourself, Ifs), just not every week at every race so it doesn't inspire others (myself) to attain to bridge the gap.
I'd love to do a Ridgway Long Race!
steady I'm not in their class by a long way..but that and Snowdon is where we really get a good work out, and I suppose the tuesday nighters, which I should do more of but I'm not a huge fan of short races, but there's a few classics in the series. Math is the one who has been looking at one, we ran around the course this year and there's a 10 mile version we'll do first, but the full horseshoe, nice 14-15 miler will be a classic, problem is I'm constantly away, off for another 6 weeks this weekend, and Maths a supposedly hard working teacher with only 10 weeks holiday a year..
Access was an issue and the national park are actively against any new events, but there used to also be a long in the Carneddau, from the conwy valley side, and the rhinogs has gone, so we should get some more.
[QUOTE=Mary;431754]I really do not get this point at all. In many races a bad ankle could be an issue. So what only race in weather where it would be safe to be immobile..Lliwedd would have been slippy, good fun, its just a few drops though and if you can't handle wet rock why do a fell race over 3000ft peaks in September. I understand shortening it for marshals, it'd be grim for them, but for me if it was shortened for fear of runners not coping in what was just a bit of weather, then I despair at the sport. 35 mph-40 mph winds are just strong winds. Above 50 and it'll start to cause an issue. Many guiding companies in the area have a 30 mph limit on winds to guide on crib goch, and thats a proper knife edge ridge, not a major path like lliwedd.
Rushing over dangerous ground seems a bit silly, over lliwedd it would be take it steady time, both Math and I agreed that as we ran towards it, we'd race up and then be careful across it, then get racing, that's just common sense, and tbh if I'm worried about the competency of the person behind me, I'd stop and help them through. had I not done that at the weekend with math he'd still be up there.
I've raced in far worse conditions that Saturday. What I am saying is that in the Lakes, the full race would have been run without a doubt. I think runners know that, they travel in big numbers because when they get there they know there will be a race. 53 runners for one of the best fell races in the country. Sets of a few alarm bells for me. Great that I have my name on one of the big race trophies but realise the field wasn't exactly strong. Look at the womens field now in Wales...has it ever been weaker? It must set off alarm bells about the state of the sport here.
I do think its a bit rich you have a go about criticising organisers...then have a go at the Rhinogs organisers...I was quite clear that I understood, just disagreed.
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