Tour de Helvellyn

[karen nash]

I wore fellraisers. Glad of the grip as you say, the guy in front on me as we descended down to Thirlmere took a big slide. I find them comfy. they let in lots of water but then it pours out fast too (well it does under normal conditions, not on Saturday). Don't mind the lack of padding and think they are similar to La Sportiva crosslites. My Speedcross had a bit more padding.

[Toreador]

mudclaw and sealskinz combo...wet but warm feet...

Same here. I find mudclaws are the only shoes with a low enough heel not to start aggravating my achilles on long races. The downside is the soles of my feet keep me awake the next night.

[fellgazelle]

I wore fell raisers too, and found them to be very comfortable and pretty much ideal for this event. They do lack a bit of grip compared to mudclaws though. I took about half a dozen slides on the grassy descents either side of Boredale Hause, and from Sticks Pass to Thirlmere. Having said that I would gladly sacrifice the extra grip for comfort on a long event such as this.

[Richard36]

I struggled in the same places. I'm surprised you had problems. I thought the fellraisers had aggressive enough lugs to stop slipping but clearly not.

[fellgazelle]

Ah, that's just my general ineptitude at descending. I normally average 3 falls per race in short events so 6 in 38 miles is pretty good by my standards.

[Knightrunner]

I wore More Mile Cheviots which I find very comfy over long distance - Old County tops this year they were fine - and also very good on slippy ground with large lugs for grip but even these weren't enough to stop a couple of slips on the steep grassy descents eg to Thirlmere. I think there a point with short grass and mud especially where anyone can be prone to slipping, I've slid about in mudclaws before once they have some goo stuck on them. May have to get new shoes soon and the Fellraisers seem to be winning a lot of fans and generally I've found Salomon very comfortable

[Murt]

In 2012 we stopped at the George Starkey Mountain Hut (we run past it on the event) and this was booked thru the race org but this wasn't avail this year for this year......which was a shame as it did indeed have a roaring log fire (i know as it was me chucking the logs on the fire ;-)) It's self catering too.

I did this years event too - memorable in all sorts of ways....I'm rembering the driving rain / wind across Askham Common at 5:30pm ish with a lot more fondness sat here at home nursing a malt whiskey that's for sure....GREAT day out though.

I'd stop at the George Starkey hut again next yr if avail........it looked empty when we ran past at the weekend. Not sure what the sketch is re: booking it privately - but here's a link if that's any help to anyone.

http://www.abmsac.org.uk/huts.html

Maybe the upside down caravan in the field at Patterdale will have righted itself and will be taking bookings for next year!

I will probably be spending the week there with my wife and our dogs so was ideally looking for a smallish 1 or 2 bedroomed cottage...I'll have a look around on the internet tomorrow.
I'm following the comments on shoe choice with interest. I know my feet won't cope with that distance in Mudclaws and I'm considering Fellraisers as a Xmas prezzie to myself

[geronimo]

i wore mudclaws but replaced the footbeds with sorbothane shock stopper double strike insoles that seemed to stop the lugs coming through to the feet. i mainly bought them because of the plantar but will probably keep them in. god knows why inovate are not doing a mudclaw sole with a more comfy shoe as they are losing out to salomons

[tinyman]

god knows why inovate are not doing a mudclaw sole with a more comfy shoe as they are losing out to salomons

I think that people stopped trying to figure out how Inov8 make decisions about what runners need or want a long time ago.

[Toreador]

I think that people stopped trying to figure out how Inov8 make decisions about what runners need or want a long time ago.

I thought their strategy was to produce lots of different shoes, and then as soon as they find one that people like, they change it.