Bath Hilly 10 - Events - Runner's World

Elizabeth Taheri

23/04/2005 at 14:02

Has anybody raced this event? Just wanted to know how hilly it really is!

Thanks

Brian McIntosh

01/05/2005 at 13:00

Not raced it, but am planning to this year. A friend due to race it with me this year reckons its bloomin' hilly. Having been to Bath I can say that the city is very up and down. Should be good fun though. Beer will taste all the better at the end ... ;-)

Elizabeth Taheri

01/05/2005 at 19:57

Hi thanks for that - not sure whether i'll do it or not. I'm a bit scared...

PinkPanther

04/05/2005 at 22:43

Anyone got an idea of the route?

Elizabeth Taheri

05/05/2005 at 09:04

I've no idea of the route - the organiser did send me a graph of the gradients though...

Brian McIntosh

05/05/2005 at 09:07

Now that I've entered (along with 2 friends) I've got the route map in my house. Will bring it in and tell you the rough route tomorrow.

Elizabeth Taheri

05/05/2005 at 09:09

Do you live in Bath? Are you going to test it out beforehand? I want to try it before entering

Brian McIntosh

05/05/2005 at 09:11

Live miles from Bath, in MK. Shall test it out with fingers crossed on the day. Much more fun. ;-)

Brian McIntosh

12/05/2005 at 11:33

Rough route for race is out from Roundhill Park down through Englishcombe to Priston then up towards Marksbury, turning right at the Grendons (before Marksbury), past Wilmington Farm to Newton St. Loe before turning sharply back down to Roundhill Park. That should give you an idea - apologies for any unintentional mis-representation.

Cheers.

PinkPanther

14/05/2005 at 17:00

Ran the route as a training run today, there are some good bits and bad bits. The start 1-2 miles are up and down. 2-4 is generally downhill towards Priston, then it is a bit of pay back time. 4-6 is a steady uphill then a harsh up before flattening out. 6-8 is again generally downhill and time for some steady running. 8-10 is a steepish down then a hard last mile up. Not much chance of a PB or sprint finish. Character building can best describe this one.

Ollie -

15/05/2005 at 05:52

Hey,

Yep I've run this one a few times.... it's a fairly tough course, 10 miles (as the name suggests) on mostly traffic-free roads out into the countryside. To be honest you really don't notice the hills too much at all (it's more steadily undulating) - with two exceptions!! There's one hill I remember in the second half of the race, twisting through a woody area, and another climb shortly before the finish, followed by a sweeping downhill and then the mother of all hills (short but very steep) at the end. On reflection I've always enjoyed this one (I must do... I keep doing it) even though there's nothing that really stands out. Definitely worth a run. Weather always seem to be great for this one too ;) See you all there!

Elizabeth Taheri

15/05/2005 at 10:05

Ollie - it's called the Bath Hilly, not the Bath Undulating! Are you just optimistic/super-fit/Kenyan? Still undecided...

Ollie -

15/05/2005 at 17:19

"Still undecided..."

My advice - do it!! It's a good run. Honestly, apart from the hills it's not that hilly (that made sense in my mind at least)

Elizabeth Taheri

15/05/2005 at 17:23

"Apart from the hills it's not that hilly"?!?

I have never been in a race before (despite training a lot) and I fear that this run is not the place to start...

Ollie -

15/05/2005 at 18:45

lol yep I guess a 10miler makes for a more 'challenging' first race - though that said you gotta start somewhere and going on last year and previous years there'll be people coming in from 55mins all the way through to 2 hours 10min (-> that's more than 12 minute miling!), so you can always take it at your own pace with no pressure whatsoever and enjoy the run...

there's loads of reasons to do or not do a run (including this one) but please don't discount this one out of fear of some insanely tough course - I promise it's fine for anyone who's done a bit of training (like yourself ;) - instead make the choice on whether you'd prefer your first race to be one with big crowds or a fast course or loads for the family to do etc :)

Elizabeth Taheri

15/05/2005 at 19:03

Big crowds and family aren't really incentives to me - I'd be running it for myself. In fact I wouldn't even tell my mum. She'd probably organise a coachload of supporters/custom-made T-shirts/banners/packed lunches etc.

Not so worried about the distance either as I'd been envisaging that my first race would be a half and have been roughly following a marathon training schedule.

I think what worried me was that I somehow got hold of a list of times for last year's competitors and there were lots and lots of very nifty times (around 60 mins). I'd be gutted if I was the last home. Being somewhat competitive by nature my ego may never recover! Your last post re finishing times leaves me feeling a little more optimistic...

Brian McIntosh

16/05/2005 at 07:55

Hi Elizabeth.

My wife is also running with me and is a bit hesitant. She's not that hot on hills and hasn't run that many races - she started racing this year with a 5 mile multi-terrain race (very hilly!). I'd go for it if I were you. Best way to get over the first race 'aaagh am I going to be last!!!?' feeling is to give it a shot. Next race is waaay less daunting. Everybody is very friendly.

Hope to see you there!

Elizabeth Taheri

16/05/2005 at 08:43

Thanks Brian. I'm glad "aaagh am I going to be last!!!?" is a recognised condition amongst us runners and I shall endeavour to get over myself!

Brian McIntosh

16/05/2005 at 08:47

Oh, yes, a very common and recognised condition. However, after your first race (of a given distance) it completely disappears. Great!

Geoff R

28/05/2005 at 18:48

Elizabeth - did you do it? I did having read through this thread this morning... hope you had a good run!