Chasing the Dragon

[BZealley]

This thread followed last years race and there are some links to blogs by the compititors.
It gets a little political near the end!

http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...Back-Race-2012

I would have though you should set your sights on a Paddy Buckley first as that would give a fair indication of what you would be facing.

Brilliant - I'll give that a read after work (I've already pre-ordered the "Chasing the Dragon" DVD about the 2012 race). I'd not heard of the Paddy Buckley Round - but that does look like a better idea than the Bob Graham, since it's practically recce for some of the Dragon's Back course - interesting that it's so similar in length and total ascent.

Ambitious!! But you're young and...well lets just stay at young! I think, personally, I'd not be bothering with any road marathons and be looking to get out, off road preferably in the hills or coastal paths. LDWA events are good. Then I'd look to see what other ultras there are in your vicinity, I think there are a few. Even just going out over weekends etc to do long distance footpaths such as Ridgeway. I'd keep off the roads as much as you can as it may be gentler on your joints etc as you have such a steep adaption/fitness curve to follow. I'm sure there'll be others along in a bit to give thier thoughst!!? GOOD LUCK!!

I wish I'd had your blinkered self-belief when I was your age, or even now!! (...thats a good thing btw!)

Thanks! Healthy disregard for limitations and all that

I am indeed planning to keep off roads as much as possible (per the previous episode with shin splints, which I blame partly on running on pavement; I'm currently training on a field near my house, which seems to be fending them off pretty well). I'll definitely check out the LDWA events.

Interesting that you'd suggest skipping the marathon - it seems like a sensible interim goal/progress check to me - can you elaborate a little on why not?

ETA: re LDWA - I tend to regard walking as "not really exercise", because I don't get out of breath or feel tired the day after (apparently regardless of distance, though I've never done more than 15 miles or so in one go; this might be another hyperactive-bastard trait) - to what extent is walking a long distance over a given terrain, good practice for running it?