Latest Ultra Running news
Pumlumon Challange
Report by Clive King
The Pumlumon Challange is a 27 mile and 5500ft event with classes for both walkers and runners. Walkers setting off 2 hours prior to the runners. A field of 40 runners starting and finishing at the Nant -yr-Arian forestry centre over a varied route combining rough moorland tracks, forestry tracks, rough bog trotting and open heather hillside. The route took in the summits of Pumlumon and Drasgol, passing the source of the river Severn and river Wye, around the Nant-y-Moch reservoir and a fair amount of rough ground in between. Conditions were warm, with a light breeze on the hill tops. I was the only Eryri runner, finishing 18th in 6 hours and 4 minute.
EUROKIMM - 9th/10th August 2008
report by Ellie Salisbury
Adrian & I won the EUROKIMM, which was held in Pras de Lys, above Morzine in the French Alps, the same w/e as the Swiss KIMM. Our win doesn't really compare with Chris & Tim's, but non-the-less, the event has never been won by a mixed pair. There were lots of well naffed-off French men - it's bad enough being beaten by Brits, but when one's A WOMAN, & they're both old gits.........................??!!!!
It's always a great week-end. Adrian & I have completed the last eight EUROKIMMS, & we've always managed a podium finish. All competitors run the same course, which is a score event, & you're basically competing against the other pairs in your age category.
This year, we collected a total of 690 points, which was 20 points more than the winning men's pair. The highest-scoring controls are often at altitudes of at least 2000m, & on at least two occasions, we have been running in ankle-deep snow....
The overnight camp is usually at quite a high altitude, with stunning views - often of Mont Blanc - & after sunset, the organisers serve vin chaud, or similar, to all the competitors, who chat for hours round a camp fire. SO..
Look out for the EUROKIMM next August/September. It's well worth buying an Easyjet flight to Geneva, booking AVIS car hire with your Tesco vouchers, & going out for a fantastic wekend's running/orienteering in the French Alps, knowing you've got a buffet lunch & wine, courtesey of the Mayor,waiting for you when you finish on Sunday.
Forward thinking: Highland Fling Ultra Marathon
report by Iain Ridgway
Entry is now open for the Highland Fling Ultra Marathon (25th April 09).
It's a scenic 53 mile run along the West Highland Way, from Milngavie (edge of Glasgow) to Tyndrum. The first 18 miles are very runnable, there's then a small climb up Conic Hill, with a lovely view point over Loch Lomond, then an undulating section along the first part of Loch Lomondside to Rowardennan, the half way point. From here the next 13 miles or so are very rough and great terrain for fell runners, before finishing on good trails in the glens with great views of the hills.
For pence / mile ran it must be one of the cheapest events in the calendar, costing £12. It can be ran unsupported as the organisers transport 'drop bags' around the course. A great choice for an Ultra marathon debut.
The race organiser, Murdo, would love to see a Welsh or Eryri Team at the race, 3 blokes or 3 woman to count. There's also a relay race which is roughly 4 half marathons. It makes a great weekend.
Swiss KIMM Mountain Marathon - 6th-7th August 2008
report by Iain Ridgway
Well done to Chris Near and Tim Higginbottom who won the Swiss KIMM
mountain marathon at the weekend, this follows on from victories in the
Lowe Alpine and Highlander Mountain Marathons.
Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon - 7th-8th June 2008
report by Iain Ridgway
Following on from the success in the Highlander Mountain Marathon Eryri's Chris Near and Tim Higginbottom won the Elite class of the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon held this weekend in Glen Finnan.
Well done
to Chris and Tim.
Iain endures the GL3D - 5th May 2008
report by Iain Ridgway
The Great Lakeland 3 Day Event was held this bank holiday weekend (3rd/4th/5th May).
Following a 'shake up' this was promised to be a longer and tougher event, as it had been concluded that the days had become too short and campsites too tame.
The GL3D is a mountain marathon type event, restricted to around 50 runners. Day's 1 and 2 were equally brutal, both being around 34 miles long with over 3000m of ascent. Only a handfull finished each day inside 9 hrs, some taking over 15 hrs with many not finishing. Day 3 was a slightly shorter 27 miles, but still with almost 3000m ascent the descents especially were painful on the knees and feet.
It's basically 3 ultra's in 3 consecutive days, with partial recovery possible at the campsites, and having to navigate as well as keep on running. An extremely Tough event, definately recomended for the future, a great friendly well organised event.
Starting from Bampton, Day 1's route went over the westen fells, past Haweswater Lake, visiting Kidsty Pike, Angletarn Pikes, Low White Stones, Bowfell, Three Shire Stone and Dow Crag before finishing at Turner Hall Farm. Day 2 (56 km 3500m ascent) visited Lingmell, Brandreth, High Crag, Scale Beck, High Snockrigg, High Spy before finshing at a camp in a farmers field W of High Seat. Day 3 (48 km) visited Nethermost Pike, Hart Crag, Red Screes, Mardale III Bell, Adam Seat, Selside Pike before finishing at Bampton Village.
I finished 3rd overall, with splits of 8:20, 8:30ish (I think) and 7:10 (ish). First long run for quite a while so happy how the event progressed, good to see the Lakes that I don't know well. I only made a few bad route choices - one resulting in sliding on my arse down a gully on a crag on the side of Scafell and one silly error descending towards Wasdale for a few hundred feet before realising I wasn't on the traversing path around Gable, which was a poor choice anyway..
Chris matches Paddy Buckley record - 4th May 2008
Congratulations to Chris Near who completed the Paddy Buckley round on Sunday in a time of 18hr 10min.
Rob's Reasons for doing the High Peak Marathon... 7-8th March 2008
...even though the 40 mile bog-trot around the wildest part of the Peak District really hurt.
The idea of the High Peak Marathon was right up Rob's street, so when Iain Ridgway and Sarah asked him to be in their team he jumped at the chance. The team, however seemed doomed - first Iain broke his arm and then Sarah surccumed to a knee injury, but with a few last minute ring ins he got his run.
Rob's Reasons for not getting out when he had a perfectly good chance:
1) It was long (42miles) and yet of a soul destroyingly runnable gradient so no shandying out and walking
2) It was a nice aesthetically pleasing loop allowing you to 'tick' all the main tops in the Peak
3) It wasn't in North Wales so it gave him an excuse to purchase a shiny new map
4) Theres tough navigation through featureless bogs (adding some spice)
5) You start it at 11pm at night (i.e. when its dark)
Rob Greenwood, alongside teammates Francis Blunt, Richie Cunningham, and Stewart Barrie, finished 8th overall in a time of 10hrs 55mins (10mins behind Team North Face!!!) in the High Peak Marathon on Friday/Saturday 8th/9th March. Well Done!!!
Applications are now open for the 'HARDMOORS 110 ULTRA'
Forward thinking from Jonathan Steele
Hardmoors is a 110 mile single stage Ultra race following the Cleveland Way National Trail. The race starts at Helmsley N.Yorkshire on the 26th September 2008 and competitors have 36 hours to arrive at Filey N.Yorkshire, passing over Moorland, Hills, cliff tops and through Scarborough, Whitby and Robin Hoods bay along the way. Anyone interested in entering the race please visit our website www.hardmoors110.co.uk
Round Rotherham 50 mile trail race - 8th December 2007
Report by Sarah Ridgway
Despite what were considered the worst conditions in years, the Round Rotherham was well supported by over 230 competitors. Matt Giles of Stourbridge RC was a mere 15 seconds off the record in a time of 6:17:54, while Eryri's Sarah Ridgway was 1st woman and equal 14th in a time of 8:22:20. Read Sarah's report on her blog.
Iain successfully completes Paddy Buckley - 11th August 2007
Iain Ridgway took 21 hours and 30 minutes to complete the Paddy Buckley challenge, a time that ranks him as the 6th fastest finnisher since the challenge was set. The challenge involves around 60 miles and 8000 m of ascent over 47 peaks in the Snowdonia mountains.
The West Highland Way 96 mile race - 23rd June 2007
Often, when you run along way, you go through a roller coaster ride of extreme highs followed by deeply depressing lows and doubt, followed again by a high... and so on. In the West Highland Way Race on Saturday, Iain went into a low and stayed there for the entire 96 miles. Despite this, he finished in a fantastic time of 21:26:30 and finishing 13th overall.