Fellsman

[stevefoster]

S

Hey up Merry, Mrs C got round in 16:47. Said she felt good but it was a cold un. Despite the sunshine for most of the daylight hours the head wind all day was bitter coupled with a few snow showers. Not surprising it was abandoned, the makers of foil blankets must have made a killing! Wouldn't want to be out there now it's still v windy & hail stoning, it would have been a long night for the walkers and checkpoint staff. Who as usual did a brilliant job.

Well done Gerry, that's the same time we did it in 2009, thought you'd be faster without me:wink:. And well done to everyone else who finished or had a go, sounds grim but that's Yorkshire for yer! Hope everyone's ok today

[stevefoster]

Just heard Hes is home in 18.25. Amazing.

Great effort Hes, well done:thumbup:

[protodoc]

Just spoken to Ali (leedsflyer), she made it to park rash and was told the race was abandoned, she had to wait 50 mins in a tent with a few people in body bags with hypothermia for the minibus. Apparently approx 20 with hypothermia, she confirms bitter headwind most of the way round. She felt awful at Dent but seemed to rally and felt fine for the rest of the time. She was on for a time of 19 hours, bloody good in those conditions for a first ever Fellsman!

[sore legs]

Well that was a good day out - 14:44 for me, beat my previous time by 1:20. That wind was bloody cold, annoying and energy sapping. Anyway I was back home in north London for 04:45 ready for my little princess's first birthday being woken up at 08:00 after sneaking into the spare room.

I hope everyone survived ok and congratulations to everyone who took part. I'm surprised to hear that it was abandoned though.

[karen nash]

well my ankle made it! So pleased to be able to get round. Wind was fierce all day but I was only cold from Buckden Pike- but how cold. Must remember to carry more layers. Those I was grouped with were fantastic- Thanks guys. I could not have hoped for a better grouping. 16 hrs 21 slower than 2 years agao but still very pleased. Biggest thanks to all the marshalls.

[Tussockface]

16:21 on that ankle in those conditions is phenomenal!
Well done to all who completed, and tough luck to anyone who couldn't finish, for whatever reason.

Sounds as if the sub-19 hours people got through but that anyone slower had to withdraw. Is that about right?

It must have been a nightmare for all those wonderful organisers and volunteers, but if they to managed abandon the event without serious casualties it's a real tribute to the planning and systems they have in place. Seeing the 'Body Bus' arrangements first-hand increased my appreciation of the thoroughness of arrangements, but also my understanding of how fiendishly difficult the logistics are, with 400 competitors strung over a vast area with few road crossings.

Once the dust (hail? snow?) has settled, it'll be interesting to hear the discussions about the date of the event. I know the date change was forced on the organisers by access issues, but one would think that the new April slot increases the chances of poor weather as well as extending the night length.
They evaluate the event meticulously, and I would imagine that we haven't heard the last of this.

[Toreador]

Don't see that the change of date is that significant - it's only a week or two earlier than usual, and I've been out in worse conditions in May. It would have been worse if it were 10 degrees warmer but with today's wind and rain?

Anyway, congratulations to everyone who started, regardless of whether you finished or not

The weather had better improve before the GL3D next weekend...

[Multiterrainer]

16:21
Sounds as if the sub-19 hours people got through but that anyone slower had to withdraw. Is that about right?

Could be right there TF...I've just seen DinoF's update on Facebook & he was withdrawn after 17 hours with 9 miles to go - Park Rash?

[karen nash]

I don't think the date is significant either.
I tried a JNC last year on 29 May
Ended up wearing full winter gear and full waterproofs and then calling it a day at Dunmail having been blown off my feet so many times, plus the joy of torrential rain for 6 hours

[Mark L]

Those marshalls in their little tents on top of those hills for hours and hours, in the dark and howling wind - what commitment!
And at the roadside checkpoints, cooking and organising and grouping and dealing with withdrawals.
And all those people at the event centre dealing with the logistics and admin.

What a monumental effort! And people have been doing it for fifty years.

And all those people who can get round that monster of a course and retain their sense of humour and can actually enjoy it - such as Karen - the ankle didn't seem to be hampering her too much.

And those people who had the guts or good sense to retire - I was sorely, sorely tempted...

And how can you fit a thousand miles of tussocks into a 60 mile course?