Wansfell Race

[mr brightside]

Looking at the splits i've got the same descent time as the first lady, so maybe i didn't do all that badly on balance. I think if i'm going to have a serious crack at my PB i need to stop going the wrong way and also know what's coming on the way down and not be surprised by things all the time. I'd probably have to stay up at Stainmore over xmas and pay a couple of visits to the pike to get familiar with the descent. I'm still not running sub 20 for 5k, so i can expect to be down on V02 for as long as that persists.

[Mike T]

Coming down the race descent today I had a look at the route - from the wear on the hillside - that most people seem to have taken when the gradient eases temporarily and the route tends left. I usually go horizontally for a short way before going down and right - almost all on grass so no trip/slip concerns. The popular way descends more abruptly but there are rocks in there so it is dodgy if you do not know it well. I will keep using the higher horizontal path most of the rime.

[mr brightside]

There's another storm in the forecast for the 28th, rainfall totals averaging 10mm/hr with snow on the tops. I sense cancellation.

[Mike T]

There's another storm in the forecast for the 28th, rainfall totals averaging 10mm/hr with snow on the tops. I sense cancellation.

The race is on the 27th, but yes, the forecast looks pretty grim.

[mr brightside]

Yes, 27th, and yes, shite.

[mr brightside]

I'm giving this one the old heave ho. I'd have been running for a post covid pb and that's not going to happen in drenching conditions, the grip won't be there. I'm going to focus on giant's tooth.

[mr brightside]

Newsflash. Now upgraded to Storm Gerry or something.

[mr brightside]

I've realised that my adventure up crag fell has set me up for a shot at this. As I've been heard to grumble on many occasions, the problem with this race is good preparation. I think a few thousand feet of boring reps up the big end of elbolton hill might shore me up.

[Mike T]

I've realised that my adventure up crag fell has set me up for a shot at this. As I've been heard to grumble on many occasions, the problem with this race is good preparation. I think a few thousand feet of boring reps up the big end of elbolton hill might shore me up.

I find the initial ascent on the road fairly grim - at least once on the steps walking is the norm. I will do the route on race day but before the race. Given how wet it has been I imagine the descent will be interesting on the day.

[mr brightside]

Mike, every time you've explained your descent route for this you've lost me in the amount of detail you go into. I usually dib, go left a bit into a bowl shaped hole on the summit, left a bit down a slippery ramp, then arc left on a troublesome line to meet the old wall. The last time I tried to decipher your route, it sounded like it was different to mine and involved a u-turn of some sort very soon after dibbing. Can you try and explain it again?