Old County Tops

[stevefoster]

Well.
That was Epic.

http://testedtodestruction.blogspot....race-prep.html

Great write up, cracking time, Well Done:thumbup:

[IWCharters]

18 DNFs with 30 minutes of the 12 hours remaining.

[slats]

Massive thank you to all the race organisers, marshals, sandwich makers and all the others who make this race happen. Great course, huge logistics, food and a t-shirt all for a modest entry fee - brilliant.

First time I've done it but had a great day with the navigation being pretty accurate despite the conditions and was well matched with a class partner. Coming home with a trophy was a great honour, I'd have settled for just getting around alive at Angle Tarn!

Thanks Achille Ratti

[MarkClayton]

A very well organised race, supported by some fantastic marshals and support crew. A big thank you ARCC.

I did this last year for the first time and missed the Cockley Beck cut-off by 10 mins. Came back this year and thankfully finished.

I can’t quite reconcile in my mind how tough the conditions were yesterday compared to last year as my fitness then was not at the right level. I’d be interested to hear what others thought of yesterday compared to last year. Obviously navigation was a big challenge versus 2012. What about the amount of water…… made for some epic boggy sections and ‘interesting’ river crossings. OK, Hellvellyn was a bit unpleasant last year, but overall my perception is that conditions were tougher than 2012?

The only criticism – as a newbie to the finish line, I ran straight past the gate/ white van like Forrest Gump with people shouting at me to stop running…… maybe a bit better signage required?!

[Theolneywayisup]

Would like to echo other comments about the fantastic organization, great food (I honestly don't think I have ever enjoyed a sandwich as much as I did at Cockley Beck!) and amazing effort of the marshals. Particularly pleased to hear them shouting out of the clag at COM letting us know we only had 10 yards to go!

Went to some dark places in my mind between Wythburn and Angle Tarn and had demons reminding me how near Langdale was if I turned left at the tarn rather than right. Great advantage of a pairs race is it is harder to give in! Got better from then, although was hallucinating coming off Scafell Pike, as I swear I saw the sun at one point!

There aren't many races where just finishing is a victory in itself but this is one of them. Great to spend some time running with other pairs and having a chat - it's what this fell running lark is all about!

[Quinny]

I don't think there can be too many of these threads thanking the organisers and all involved in running this brilliant event especially the marshals who without fail were cheerful and encouraging. I'm very proud to have earned one of the T-shirts.

I also found the section from Thirlmere to Greenup Edge the toughest, just wading through bog for what seemed like forever. My feet were numb and I was unable to warm them up as it was too boggy to run. Knowing that we were barely a quarter of the way round at this point didn't help! Apologies to anyone who followed us across to Martcrag Moor instead of Stake Pass which was our only real navigational error.

Things got better after Angle Tarn which I didn't even recognise in the clag and I think I even recall us agreeing to enter agin next year at some point in Eskdale. Looking forward to it again already!

[Roadkill]

Thanks very much to the organisers and marshals. It was indeed a superbly organised race on an epic course in character building conditions. A tough day out in the hills for my first proper hill run since the OMM... hefty DOMS yesterday and today.

[LM]

Has anyone seen any results for this race please?

[MarkClayton]

Nothing published yet as far as I can see.

Last post on Old County Tops Facebook page was on Monday 20th May - "About to start sorting results. Manual input into excel I'm afraid so it takes a while. Will post them on website as soon as possible."

[LM]

Yeh I bet they do take a while as he usually puts the splits on too. Thanks Mark!