Beachy Head Marathon

Nice 10 miles across Ashdown Forest yesterday, felt fine so here's hoping I'll be ok, was my last run before Saturday.

Just hope that there's no standing water, trail running in this weather is not good for the feet, mind you, by the Seven Sisters it looks like it will turn into a crawling competition anyay 

Oh dear Tracey   What's Ripped in 30?

Less than a week to go Hope everyone is looking good

Last longish run done...............looking forward to running this Normally do Snowdon but am told Beachy has some hills too

Phew, that's a relief Tracey 

Forecast is that it's getting colder by the end of the week.

you wouldn't want to be doing this today - you wouldn't know where you are!  it's as foggy as hell at the mo - densest fog in Eastbourne for a long time.   it's "forecast" to stay dry unti Thursday with perhaps some drizzle, but little in the way of sun or wind to dry the trails out.   and then cold at the weekend but hopefully dry on race day after the Friday rain has cleared through.

time to break them trail shoes out and winter kit by the looks of it 

cold and sunny i can cope with. foggy would be my worst enemy as i'm hoping the sweeping views will make me feel more positive as i'm crawling up the hills.

feeeling very relaxed about it at the moment. i'm sure that will change during the week.

Fog still hanging around here too.

agree with FB, having done Greensands yesterday on north downs it's very much trail shoes and winter clothes! (or at least it is at my pace)

Looking forward to south downs adding some sea views - if we can see them through the fog... Just hope that it's dry or drizzle at worst on day

latest forecast for Saturday is sunny - max 13C from a low of 6C, with a NE breeze.

sunny is good, cold isn't, and a NE wind isn't eiter as that will be in your faces on the Bitches

hey ho - the weather is what it is!

anyone thinking of run/walking it, and carrying walking poles for the worst bits? Or would poles just add more weight and not help?

any thoughts?

I always take my poles.  Although they can be a bit of a nuisance their advantages far outweigh their disadvantages as far as I'm concerned.  This year have invested in some ultra light Z poles and intend carrying one on my waist strap and using it as required and the other in my back pack and bringing it out for the grand finale of the Seven Sisters.

Thanks, Bear B.Hind.

i'd have to carry mine in my hands all the time (never run with backpack, too late to try now).  i know they could be very useful on the climb out of the forest,. and after the 3rd CP,  on the steps, and on those long slow uphill bits, but i'm worried that if i have them i'd walk even more than i usually do. on the other hand,if they made it easier, i might have more energy for the 7 bitches. In all that mud, it might give me something to hang on to, though!

I need mine to stabilise myself downhill rather than helping going up as I've got weak ankles and ancient dodgy knees.  I try not to use them when I don't need to as I do find they can make me even slower than I normally am.

sounds like you've got my legs, Bear B.Hind! you're right about the downhills, though - poles are brilliant and save your quads a lot of work. Get a full body workout, as well!

Grrr. Never been this indecisive. Had a good 18m road run (I very rarely run on the road, don't enjoy it and prefer to do all my long runs on the Downs) on Sunday - really torn as whether to bank that, have a light weekend and be fully refreshed for New York, or turn up and do my all-time favourite event.........any advice from multiple marathoners out there ??

If it's cold and dry it'll be great for the views (although agree with FB in that an E/NE wind will be a bit cruel to say the least). In 2009 I could hear marshalls shouting on the b*tches but couldn't see them......