Edale Skyline Fell Race

[DrPatrickBarry]

We have been very lucky with the three Triggers so far as the conditions have been good. Bleaklow & Kinder would be a serious undertaking in driving wind and rain. The skyline would be a better "first one"

[barnyc]

if i remember rightly, the entry form is a case of listing your experience which is then vetted for suitability.

[IanDarkpeak]

4 guys from the Cheshire Hash did the Trigger, but I bottled that one as a combination of logistics,distance, nav, terrain, weather, lack of training put it out of sensible zone for me, and I'd have been thinking about it all over Christmas!
I know the area a bit, I reckon I have run most/all of it in bits on either D+W miniMM or DIY routes over the last couple of years. The Rushup-Brown Knoll-Jacobs Ladder section certainly looks the most challenging, in terms of Nav and terrain underfoot, esp as late in the race
There's no race Entry Requirements on the dpfr site yet, so I wondered if there was a definite bar, or just a reasonably sensible entry requirement.

Hi David

Ian F has the final say as it's his race but looking at what you have listed you should be fine. just reccie the second half a few times ,get the bearings written down and do a full trip skyline as practice.

[luxinterior]

A little advice please. The Edale Skyline is on my 'bucket list'. I note the significant challenge involved, and the requirement to state experience.
This would be my longest (single-day) race, but I think I am there or thereabouts. I usually enter medium distance events
Would people kindly comment on the list below to see if I am being reasonably sensible(training and recce will be done)
In no particular order:
Sandstone Trail A race 2013, 17m, 84th/180, 2:38
Roaches Fell race 2013, 15m, 95th /142, 3:16
Passing Clouds 2013, 9m, 85th/198, 1:41
Cloud9 2012 9m 106th/406, 1:12
OMM 2012 Medium Score, finished in top half of class. Several D+W miniMM
I can managed a road Half in about 1:40, but mostly run off road these days. Off road 10K 47mins 2013.
Previously walked/jogged 3 Peaks in 9hrs and run the Gritstone Trail (35m)North to South solo in a day.

I have kit, but as I say this would be my longest actual race. Got to start somewhere, but got to get experience first...

Comments appreciated, thanks

I have done Roaches 3 times all around 3 and quarter hours. I have done Skyline once and took 4 hrs 40 mins and was amazingly not last.

I found with the skyline the first half, to get within the cutoff for someone with our pace, was pretty speedy. This left me knackered for the second half. Nav could go wrong on second half if visibilty isn't great.

If I was you - give it a go and if you are going to do a recce do the second half.


Should also mention if you have a bucket list make sure you do Langdale - amazing race

[Splatcher]

A little advice please. The Edale Skyline is on my 'bucket list'. I note the significant challenge involved, and the requirement to state experience.
This would be my longest (single-day) race, but I think I am there or thereabouts. I usually enter medium distance events
Comments appreciated, thanks

I'd say the Skyline is about ideal as a step up from what you've been doing. You were 6 mins slower than me in the SST A race, & the last time I did the Skyline (2012) I did it in 3:56. You may come in around 4:15 to 4:30 depending on how much hill climbing you've been doing. There's just over twice the climbing on the Skyline compared to the Sandstone Trail race. You should be fine getting through the Skyline cutoff.

[drmorris]

That's really useful advice, thank you all, esp Splatcher and lux for the comparisons and IanDP for the nav tips. Like the blog, DrPatrick
I'll train up, and if I get a place, will follow this thread.
This forum's great :-)

[DrPatrickBarry]

This forum's great :-)

Obviously you have not read any of the "Safety" threads

[Splatcher]

Obviously you have not read any of the "Safety" threads

Well I think that part of the forum's great too, although not necessarily easy going. Just think where we'd be without that sort of debate. None the wiser about a lot of things that have been going on, things that are likely to affect us all significantly.

[drmorris]

I have been following the ... discussions? on safety.
Ever the Boy Scout, I'm on the 'Be Prepared' side of the fence, but am staying out of the arguments. I figure I'll do what any RO asks, and turn up fully loaded. But then I don't leave home without a load of kit even on a sunny day. That's just me, sad, but warm and dry!

[noel]

I read on the DPFR site and twitter this morning that the half skyline is cancelled. Shame - but I appreciate it's tricky with landowner permissions.

Of course, you can still enter the main event and run round to Mam Nick in more than 5 hours (or whatever it the cut-off is).