Fellsman

[Hes]

I've got to say that, as one of the least experienced long distance runners, I still went into this knowing what I was up against and I would be very surprised if anyone didn't. I wasn't sure if I would be able to get round and was fully prepared to retire at a checkpoint if I thought I would put myself or anyone else in real danger. As it was, I knew I had the strength to finish even though it was really, really hard and I am very fortunate that I was one of the few slower runners to be allowed to carry on and complete after the cancellation. I carried extra kit because I knew I'd find it harder than a lot of experienced Fellsman entrants. The majority of people I met and talked to were taking the event very seriously, had lots of experience and were well prepared in terms of kit. I feel that the organisation is really brilliant and the pre-event information is detailed and stresses the need to carry decent gear. At some point we all have to take responsibility for ourselves and I think the majority of entrants do but ultimately the Fellsman is an 'event' for runners and walkers and the conditions on the top of Buckden Pike and Great Whernside were truly awful and were getting worse. In my opinion, the organisers made the right decision for the entrants and the staff and I have only got praise for them, they were totally brilliant.

[AlanB]

I agree with that completely AndyA but I also think other factors come into play. For my part I get hot while running really easily and, especially during a long run, I find getting my temperature control just right really quite tricky. There's no easy way to say this but I sweat... a lot - heck I can still remember when I used to go to a gym in Skipton for a while to do body combat and shower all those (mainly horrified) women around me with sweat and be the only person in a class of 40 to finish standing in a pool of sweat at the end (I was politely told to always bring a towell and stand in my own corner after a while). So, even in cold weather, I worry about getting hot and I especially worry about getting hot and then cooling really quickly, as I can then get super cold super fast. I've run the HPM three times and completed the fellsman twice before and pretty much each and every time I've had problems with getting too hot/too cold and its very hard to get it right.

Coupled with that going into this years fellsman I was up for really giving it a good go so I agree I did start quite quickly. I also agree I shot myself in the foot at Dent by not taking on enough food - this though was probably weather related as I was just burning far more calories than expected. Jez Bragg in his Grough write up said the same thing so it wasn't just me . Sooo... when I finally did get cold coming over Dodd Fell, coupled with a low energy moment, my mistake (I think) was to put on too much body cover at Fleet Moss and then ironically get too hot running to the Middle Tongue checkpoint. And then gradually freezing on what I found to be mostly unrunnable ground going towards Hell gap.

All the same another valuable experience to put into the memory banks

Hi Stolly - dunno if you've tried Merino wool tops ? I (like you) sweat loads and have to take on loads of water, so cooling has always been an issue. I got into wool tops about 6 years ago and I didn't know it then, but I do now - when they get wet, the natural fibres swell up (I assume they absorb sweat) thereby keeping you warmer. Yes, warmer when wet ! I've run in some pretty stupid conditions when everyone around me is wearing a jacket and I've just got my (Icebreaker Mondo ?) top on (and windproof gillet).

I would never go back. They cost a bit, but I buy one a year and now have various vintages in various states of decay ! Apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs...

There's been a good healthy debate on here about all the issues in this years event, and as a first timer, I have to say the professionalism of the organisation and volunteers is staggering. How do they get so many helpers ?!? Redshaw was checkpoint of the year for me too - thought there might be debate about that on here but not. Now - there was one other control point (remain nameless) where I walked in and they looked at me gone out. No smiles only grunts. It wasn't a problem, in fact I found it funny. Anybody would have thought that they had to run 60 miles !!

Great to be back in time for last orders too - something I've heard other people talk about, but never thought I'd achieve !

[MarkL]

Race organiser: you obviously need to be very very organised I suppose, unflappable, good in a crisis, a great multi tasker. You must be also very, very public spirited, want to provide a great experience for a lot of strangers. You must also have have a great love of and belief in your event, willing to work long hours for no reward...

Do you also need to be very thick-skinned as well?

[IanDarkpeak]

Race organiser: you obviously need to be very very organised I suppose, unflappable, good in a crisis, a great multi tasker. You must be also very, very public spirited, want to provide a great experience for a lot of strangers. You must also have have a great love of and belief in your event, willing to work long hours for no reward...

Do you also need to be very thick-skinned as well?

..and not be swayed by pressure from people on the outside

[IainR]

Good to hear you are ok Stolly

I've long thought that we ought to have a thread on treatment of Hypothermia. It's probably the biggest problem we can face in the mountains.

yeah good call Stolly.. Not a great response from Dog Breath.. any knocking of DNF'ers makes it seem like DNF is some admitting of failure.. so we get people battling on not wanting to lose face..

Agree Ian.. I think this should be regularly covered in fellrunner.. I've suggested it before too..

For runners I think it's a huge problem. Didn't a runner die in Skye a few years ago? twisted his ankle and died of hypothermia.

It was only by luck and great camaraderie that know one died in the welsh 1000m peaks race the other year..

I don't think people realise how serious it is to lie down on the floor in just waterproofs in cold weather.. do it as a test in your garden after a run.. see how quickly the heat strips out of you..

We did our first aid course with Nicola Pickering from the peak, cold time of year, and lay as 'casualties'.. even wearing warm clothing you chilled off so fast..

[old un]

Well I think the r.o. Has all of the above attributes and displayed them admirably and the event was a credit to her and the army of helpers who as said earlier do this for the love of it. If these people are not happy with it then why not run your own anytime challenge/route or even an event then come back and see if your veiw is the same ! I can't believe there's any -ve remarks on the way this event was handled. I was run/jogging with enough kit to run and keep warm the same as most mid packers and wouldve been gutted to be pulled out well into the event but this event isn't run for any one person and I think the call was the right one for a few reasons. I have nothing but praise for my first fellsman and thanked as many staff on the way out as I saw. And will be back next year on this years expeirence alone . Weldone again to all involved.

[emma7027]

Well I think the r.o. Has all of the above attributes and displayed them admirably and the event was a credit to her and the army of helpers who as said earlier do this for the love of it. If these people are not happy with it then why not run your own anytime challenge/route or even an event then come back and see if your veiw is the same ! I can't believe there's any -ve remarks on the way this event was handled. I was run/jogging with enough kit to run and keep warm the same as most mid packers and wouldve been gutted to be pulled out well into the event but this event isn't run for any one person and I think the call was the right one for a few reasons. I have nothing but praise for my first fellsman and thanked as many staff on the way out as I saw. And will be back next year on this years expeirence alone . Weldone again to all involved.

Well said old un

I was pulled out at Park Rash and I was really disapointed but fully understood why it had been done - there were some very poorly looking people at the later checkpoints.

The organisers and checkpoint staff did an amazing job under very tough circumstances - can't thank them enough.

It is very easy to moralise about people not taking enough clothes etc and maybe some people didn't but ask yourself how many times have you have gone out for a run and not taken that extra layer or decided it was only a short one so I won't bother with the head torch today and just got away with it. I bet none of us can honestly say we never have.

I was suprised by how bad the conditions got - fortunately I did have what I thought in the morning was totally excessive gear and remained warm enough.

[Twinkletoes]

Race organisers definately made the right decision -a very very hard decision indeed.

Are there any results anywhere - I suspect not just yet, cannot imagine trying to put all that into order!

[Stolly]

My sport sunday picture confirms I had the right gear by the way. Here's me just starting up Whernside wearing my Ron Hill top with a long sleeved thermal underneath. In my bag was my wind proof, waterproof, woolly hat and sealskin gloves all of which I later deployed.



Thanks for the Merino woolen thermal tip AlanB. It sounds just the job. And as for Dogbreath, his smugnessometer obviously overflowed

[emma7027]

Race organisers definately made the right decision -a very very hard decision indeed.

Are there any results anywhere - I suspect not just yet, cannot imagine trying to put all that into order!

Think Suzanne Carter said on the Facebook page she was going to work on it tonight