Edale Skyline Fell Race

[drmorris]

OK thanks. I think I have it in my head; it's just that I won't get a chance for a recce of the first half again before the day. It sounds eminently navigable(famous last words) it's just not what I recce'd.(I was working off the map I bought from pete Bland Sports with a 2013 date on it) Makes sense if most people take that 'racing line'

I'll either be over this weekend or next for the Mam Nick-Brown Knoll- Ringing Roger section.
As a first timer I will almost certainly be sticking to the 'Skyline' all the way round, i.e.:
- the southern path around the skyline from RR to Jaggers Clough(rather than heading somewhere towards MWstones and missing)
- I will decide on the day whether or not to go for the 'race line' onto Win Hill, or use the nice wide, flat track
- I think I will play it very safe, and 'skyline' it all the way round from Jacobs Ladder, commit the turn to G.Knoll to memory, and then NOT do the down+up!

What does anyone think of these splits, based on my recce:
Ringing Roger 20mins
Hope Cross 45mins
Win Hill 1:15
Lose Hill 1:50
Mam Nick 2:20
(I'm fine on the flat; but climb slowly)

[DazTheSlug]

What does anyone think of these splits, based on my recce:
Ringing Roger 20mins
Hope Cross 45mins
Win Hill 1:15
Lose Hill 1:50
Mam Nick 2:20
(I'm fine on the flat; but climb slowly)

I'd say 35mins for WinHill-LoseHill is a tad optimistic
I'd allow slightly longer for that section and a bit less for HC-WH and LH-MN

[IanDarkpeak]

you won't need to reccie first half, very obvious and lots of runners.

[drmorris]

I'd say 35mins for WinHill-LoseHill is a tad optimistic
I'd allow slightly longer for that section and a bit less for HC-WH and LH-MN

I know, it doesn't look right.
Good point; steep ascents are my weaker spot, I can run the gradient up Win Hill, and Crookstone to Hope Cross should be quicker.
Down into Hope should be fine; it's Lose Hill which will slow me down again

Breaking it down like this(when I can't just run it 3x a week) helps me to be confident I should make the cutoff with a little to spare. <touches wood>

Aiming to be on top of Lose Hill by 1:50 - 2:00

[MickTor]

Not long now till the race!
I've seen quite a few folk out on recces when I've been up that way.

I wonder if it's going to snow before it!

[Will_B]

OK thanks. I think I have it in my head; it's just that I won't get a chance for a recce of the first half again before the day....
- the southern path around the skyline from RR to Jaggers Clough(rather than heading somewhere towards MWstones and missing)
- I will decide on the day whether or not to go for the 'race line' onto Win Hill, or use the nice wide, flat track

AFAIK there's no racing line that cuts the corner to MW stones - there may be a trod but I doubt it gains anything significant as it doesn't cut a very big corner and is likely to be quite heathery and tussocky.

The 'race line' on Win Hill is nicer IMO as its not as undulating. Its fairly easy to pick up, there's a little trod on the LHS just after a little knoll as you begin climbing the whale back of Win Hill.

The main shortcut that is worth seeking out is the one that runs from near Pym Chair to the top of Crowden Brook avoiding the woolpacks.

[Rookie]

The main shortcut that is worth seeking out is the one that runs from near Pym Chair to the top of Crowden Brook avoiding the woolpacks.

What about from Jacob's Ladder path crossing to Noe Stool ??

[Will_B]

What about from Jacob's Ladder path crossing to Noe Stool ??

There is that as well, takes a little more finding.

[fozzy]

The 'race line' on Win Hill is nicer IMO as its not as undulating. Its fairly easy to pick up, there's a little trod on the LHS just after a little knoll as you begin climbing the whale back of Win Hill.

The main shortcut that is worth seeking out is the one that runs from near Pym Chair to the top of Crowden Brook avoiding the woolpacks.

Is the line taking you over Thornhill Brink all that much better? I did it last Sept in the race, having used the path along Hope Brink on reccies and really wasn't convinced it was (a) any easier or (b) quicker. The main path is much better running underfoot from memory as well (I remember the trod being quite narrow and difficult to pass and also quite muddy in places and given all the rain, I'm expecting it to be worse in a few weeks time...)

Was going to post this as a Q for IDP anyway.

I must remember the one round the back of Woolpacks though - reccied it a few years back and it's relatively straightforward I thought, but chickened out on the race last year and stuck to the main path - I'd forgotten how awful it is through the Woolpacks though. Won't be doing that this year.

[IanDarkpeak]

Is the line taking you over Thornhill Brink all that much better? I did it last Sept in the race, having used the path along Hope Brink on reccies and really wasn't convinced it was (a) any easier or (b) quicker. The main path is much better running underfoot from memory as well (I remember the trod being quite narrow and difficult to pass and also quite muddy in places and given all the rain, I'm expecting it to be worse in a few weeks time...)

Was going to post this as a Q for IDP anyway.

I must remember the one round the back of Woolpacks though - reccied it a few years back and it's relatively straightforward I thought, but chickened out on the race last year and stuck to the main path - I'd forgotten how awful it is through the Woolpacks though. Won't be doing that this year.

Richard I think you've hit the nail on the head. It's a nicer trod and is probably quicker if no one is in front but it's narrow and you can't pass. I've timed both ways and it's quicker for me on the race line but last year a runner went up the main track I'd been running with since the coffin Stone on the end of Kinder and he came out about 50m a head of me.