Borrowdale Fell Race

[Daleside]

Just done my last longi(ish) run 10miles very slow. Im on easy street from now until about half way up Bessy Boot in a weeks time.

Best thing is this time next week, Ill be knackered, aching and 2 or 3 pints for the better.

yes ... I've been doing a bit of 'this time next week' today!

[slowcoach]

if you want a serious answer Stolly then I'd say don't just rely on your Pete bland map when it comes.

Quote from the back of the race map: 'If the weather is bad and there is a risk of getting seriously lost you should also carry a Harvey's map of the surrounding area.'

Last years SLMM map is ideal.

[Stolly]

Do any of the checkpoints provide drinking water? Yeah I realise that there will plenty of mountain streams and I can carry a bladder with me but, from past experience, if I carry too much liquid I just sweat all that extra liquid off and more. (You can see I'm hoping for a warm day here )

I'd like to go round with just the one drink bottle to use if I'm desperate and maybe one of those sickly lucozade saches.

[Stolly]

Do any of the checkpoints provide drinking water? Yeah I realise that there will plenty of mountain streams and I can carry a bladder with me but, from past experience, if I carry too much liquid I just sweat all that extra liquid off and more. (You can see I'm hoping for a warm day here )

I'd like to go round with just the one drink bottle to use if I'm desperate and maybe one of those sickly lucozade saches.

No one able to help then

[Grouse]

Well, personally I wouldn't carry much water unless it was very hot - like you said there are streams and there is usually a bit of a drinks station at Honister. I would think one bottle would be plenty and you could refill it at streams. It's the wettest part of the country!

[alwaysinjured]

No one able to help then

As grouse says, the only "organised" water stop is honister, too late for dehydration.

Some of the mountain streams are cold and clear and as good as you will find.

Others walk up the day before and plant drinks at esk hause and styhead.

There are generally a few carrying drinks to styhead on the day for specific people, so ask around.

[Huwski]

It's not a case of being 'too broken', more will you have the necessary 'mountaincraft' to get round in crap weather using a map and compass, rather than relying on following someone or having reccied it in perfect weather.
Borrowdale does seem to have the image of being a soft touch long race but I can assure you it isn't. Some very experienced runners at the front of the field, including a local (who will remain nameless), got lost last year.
It will only take a day with weather like we've had today to happen and there will be much bigger problems.
It is <highly> likely that in future years you will be asked to pre-enter giving previous experience of long races to be eligible to run at Borrowdale.
There have in the past been some complete numpties (no personal offence to you intended) turning up on the day.
If you have any doubts about your ability could I suggest that you do a few more medium category races and approach it with the confidence of being happy you'll get round rather than having a nightmare and being put off for life.

Stolly, please read and reflect on PurplePlodders pertinent thoughts and advice.

There are NO official drinks stations and NO marked paths.

[Tractorboy]

Less than a week to go - now who's getting excited/nervous??
Any long range weather forecasts yet??

[Stolly]

Stolly, please read and reflect on PurplePlodders pertinent thoughts and advice.

There are NO official drinks stations and NO marked paths.

Given that the downloaded race details didn't mention drink stations, I sort of figured there wouldn't be any. All the same I thought it really daft not to ask just in case.

Set to go and looking forward to it now. Can't wait.

[emmilou]

Less than a week to go - now who's getting excited/nervous??
Any long range weather forecasts yet??

excited??? excited?

well I can see that i'm hardly going to get ANY sleep all week - i'm kind of getting sick of dosing off thinking of different race routes it's the waking at 1 in a cold sweat having a nightmare I'm lost forever that's the most annoying though

oh well only 5 more sleeps!