Dartmoor Mountain Marathon

Fenella and Chris Higgins along with son Rich and friend Add travelled 'well south' as they say to take part in the Dartmoor Mountain Marathon over the weekend of the 24th and 25th July.
Starting in Princetown, Dartmoor nick was a fitting backdrop as teams and individuals made good their 'escapes' over the moors and tors. The weather was ideal with little sign of the notorious shrouds of mist out of which murderous Dickensian villains emerge soaked in bog water wearing Inov8's!
The going was surprisingly, hilly interspersed with some proper boggy ground that sought to suck the strength from your legs and shoes from your feet on numerous occasions. One competitor was eventually hauled by their arms by four strong men from some very wet ground. Getting him out was made the easier when he took his feet out of the stirrups! ( An old one I know but couldn't resist it)
Fenella's 'sensible' navigation ensured our arrival at the overnight camp. A welcome relief for tired legs. Son Rich and mate Add arrived soon after on what was their maiden outing. Camp was basic, water and pretty limited numbers of loos. No shortage of pitch space and some great views to wake up to. Day one completed and in first mix vet position about middle of the field over all.
Day two, dehydrated spag boll perked up with hot chocolate, no wonder sleep was hard to find the night before, so exited about breakfast was I.
Weather spot on again, pretty cool, high cloud cover and only occasional short lived blankets of mist. There was the inconvenience of random kit checks. We, Fenella at least must have an honest face as straight through to 'dib' and off. Son and mate not so, ha! Very soon, son and mate sprint past laughing on way to first checkpoint. Time will tell son.
Working through the checkpoints a 'reckless' but undeniably critical navigational decision (I still assert) was taken. This led through very thick gorse, no sign of a track not even a rabbit run. We made ground and time but poor Fenella, legs cut and as sore as a very cut and sore thing, fell over. More injuries including a pierced water bottle to boot.
Things went much better after that, so well in fact that son and mate rapidly came in to laughing range, Mrs Higgins promised she would still do the Rab and I found two jelly babies I thought I'd eaten earlier.
The finish? Second mixed vet, 39th out of 61 finishers and one ahead of son and mate. Whey hey.
Take care
Chris

Chester Marathon 2011, New route

http://www.chestermarathon.co.uk/

9 October 2011, pre registration open now



posted by Sue

Moel y Gamelin

Looks like the results for the Moel y Gamelin race (27 June) might never appear, so for completeness Jez had another superb run, finishing 2nd in uncomfortably hot conditions. Simon R was 4th and 1st v40, but a very long way behind. Dave B used his marathon conditioning to good effect, cruising the six peaks to finish 9th (I think) with Paul S very close behind (10th?) - picking up a v35 prize. Chris and Fen had good runs in what were very trying conditions, especially for the final climb over Gamelin.

Saunders Mountain Marathon

Simon Roberts and partner did quite badly in this event last weekend! Cumulative time of just under 15 hours for the longest Scafell class, which hardly anyone seems to enter (60k/3000m-odd over two days). Held around Haweswater in the Lakes, a fine camp in Longsleddale was some compensation. Perfect sunny weather on day one for a big loop of the High Street range, driving rain and gales on day two with tricky route-planning and navigation. A real contrast: the essence of the mountain marathon experience!

The Fairy Freckled Cow Trail Race - 4th July 2010

After one of the driest and hottest Junes in recent history, the forecast for July 4^th said wet and windy. They were right, certainly on the Denbigh Moors for one of the best trail races around. A field of 131 set off on a cold, wet, windy morning on this 11 km circuit of the paths and tracks around the Alwyn Reservoir. But what a good race! Excellent running, twisting and turning, undulating, sometimes in the forest, other times out on the open moorland. Just after half way there is a 300 foot climb up a hillside, then the route drops down into the forest for the run back, finishing over the dam.

Loads of prizes as always for a Denbigh Harriers race, a good way to spend a Sunday morning! Jez Brown was third, behind Neil Parry today. But a good run nevertheless.

The results

3 Jez Brown 41.2

38 Michael Jones V40 50.14

46 Peter Roberts V60 51.32

80 Margaret Ludden L40 57.57

94 Robert Mackey V60 59.59

97 Susan Ridings First L50 61.01

98 Tracey Colligan L Buckley????? 61.11

(Not sure about the last one. Not sure if it s a mistake in the results, or somebody new to the club.)

Was I happy.? It was my first outing on this race so I was pleased with my run but disappointed with the time on my watch. 60.05 was not what I wanted, I tried to beat the hour but just couldn’t. But I am much happier about the official time so the answer is “yes”.

And if you have ever wondered why “The Fairy Freckled Cow” follow the link for the full story. http://www.urbanmyths.ca/Myths/Y-Fuwch-Frech--The-Freckled-Cow.html.

Posted by Rob