The Spine - Page 2 - Ultra / Adventure racing

Rich1

16/12/2011 at 11:12

Agree with you Ian - its all decisions, decisions now!

Like you, i Need to clarify the rules on checkponts. And if we can use shops etc for provisions, that will make quite a difference! I fancy the answer may be "no" though

ian bowles 2

19/12/2011 at 22:27

If anyone wants to join me on 100miles of the Spine( Challenger Class) the the organizers are still taking entries . The Open and Elite entries are now closed . Race time limit is very generous (70 Hrs) as you will probably take time out to sleep at some point.

Rich1

24/12/2011 at 19:56

In a moment of complete and utter madness I entered this crazy event.

I'm hoping to raise some money for Help for Heroes and have set up a Just Giving page.

http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Lendon

I'd be really grateful for any donations - they may just ease the pain a bit.

Cheers and Merry Christmas everyone - will keep you updated

Rich

Edited: 24/12/2011 at 19:58

Rich1

28/12/2011 at 18:33

A bump for charity!

ian bowles 2

14/01/2012 at 18:56

They started 9am today . Conditions ideal (clear and dry for now)
Had to drop out due to a family bereavement but gave my place to Mark Brooks. He is under strict instruction to win the 100mile class. Part of Ist prize is race entry for 2013( No pressure there then !)

ian bowles 2

15/01/2012 at 22:11

Mark has nearly finished the 100 mile class. Rich1 still going strong for the full 268miles. (did the first 46 in about 18 hrs) . 30% of the runners have dropped out already .Several of the field have teamed up which has to be a good move . Conditions are -5c before the wind chill (not much fun with 150+miles ahead of you!) Looks like at least one team plans to bivi out on the trail tonight. It all makes summer Ultras look a walk in the park compared with the Spine.

Edited: 15/01/2012 at 22:23

ian bowles 2

16/01/2012 at 20:01

Mark won the challenger class in 36hrs 30min. Impressive for what turned out to be 110 miles in sub zero conditions!
Two more competitors have pulled out. Looks like they are in for another freezing night. With wind and rain on the way.
At this rate anyone actually completing the whole 268 mile course will have gone through hell and back.

ian bowles 2

17/01/2012 at 22:04

Now down to 5 in the race Rich1 had to pull out as he could not maintain his body temperature. To get as far as he did shows just what a strong spirit he has.
Looks like the temperature is due to rise now so lets hope the rain/cloud does not close in .
According to Mark777 wet feet and the long hours of darkness will be taking its toll.

mark777

17/01/2012 at 23:11

Well done Richard.! Great effort.!

Mark B
Challenger

Rich1

18/01/2012 at 06:54

Cheers, Mark - awesome run yourself.

What a great adventure I had - the camaraderie was amazing and it felt like one big family. Horribly tough.....but great. The 2nd stage - 63 miles, 27 hours - was horrific, soul- destroying, awe-inspiring and such a great feeling to finish!

.....and amazingly un-sore today......but probably not going for a run!!

mark777

18/01/2012 at 10:36

Hi Rich,

Yes, I agree, there was great comaraderie there, and more each day i suspect.. That second leg to Hawes-( the finish for me) was neverending, my feet took a battering, so did my head.. Was talking (shouting) to myself towards the end, as tiredness took over rational thought. I made a couple of daft nav errors, ending up sprinting uphill to get back onto the PW right at the finish coming off Dodd Fell. (dont really understand why i was sprinting) but the adrenaline was flowing, thats for sure.

Great reception at the finish from the Spine Team and from the locals at the pub opposite the Checkpoint- beers and food on the house! Great stuff.

The Spine is going to be one of those must-do events for complete nutters... like us i guess.
Admiration and respect for those still out there!

So whats next for you... once you can walk again?

Mark

Rich1

18/01/2012 at 13:14

I've just been into Lincoln and done some shopping!! Feet feel pretty battered but amazingly my quads and calves have never felt better after an ultra!

I agree that this is a must do for anyone wanting a massive challenge - both physical and mental. I would love to have another crack next year but fancy I would have to do it without my gonads if I asked my lovely wife. I think she went through a lot too and was really worried especially as she saw the weather getting colder and colder and saw the length of time the sections were taking.

My only firm "booking" is the Lakeland 100 in July. Will probably do Caesars Camp again in October - open to suggestions for others. Would love to do the Grand Raid Pyrenees some time - perhaps next year. UTMB? But getting harder and harder to get into. Perhaps we should all have a go at Tor des Geants - Gary's done the recce!!

The Spine has whetted my appetite!

mark777

18/01/2012 at 18:30

Im in the lottery for the UTMB again, so fingers crossed, the draw is friday morning. Ive done it twice before, 3 times if you include 2010 which was a shortened version due to abandonment after severe weather. Did the TDS last year. If I dont get in the UTMB, im going to try the Grand Raid Pyrenees in August, but i agree, the Tor Des Geants has to be done.

Before that.. many and varied actually, but the Fellsman in April.. you done it? Fantastic event. South Downs 100 end of June, and im on the waiting list for the Lakeland 100-(which i did previously in 2009). May do the Old County Tops in May, never done, but always wanted to..

Feet are still a bit sore, but have to recover by tomorrow as ive a group of potential ultra runners im guiding in the evening around the lovely hills of South Devon..

Take it easy,

Maybe see you around this year's events

Mark

ian bowles 2

18/01/2012 at 22:50

Hi Rich fantastic effort , wish i could have been there. Tackling the full spine with not much idea of what to expect takes real guts!
Been chatting to Mark about his race plan on the challenger. (Run the race non stop at a pace fast enough to stay warm and arrive at CP2 with nothing left in the tank)
The full spine must have required a different plan. How did you manage your sleep/rest periods? What equipment worked ? Is it possible to get yourself from racing mode into your sleeping bag with out loosing body heat too fast? or is the best option to sleep at checkpoints.
I know Mark had wet feet for his whole run. Did anyone use long sealskin sox and did they work?
I appreciate that the conditions next year won,t be the same but whatever information you might feel helpful would be appreciated.
Looks like I am signed up for the spine in 2012 and this is the start of my nerves.

Rich1

19/01/2012 at 04:00

Thanks Ian - yes I'm really chuffed with what I did - a small pang of regret that I didn't go further - but also pleased that I was able to make what was definitely the correct decision to withdraw.

Your questions seem similar to what was going through my mind on Friday night - I have never been so nervous in my life. Quite frankly, I was scared - really didn't want to be there.....but so glad I was.

I'm planning doing a full report on my blog in the next few days and will hopefully cover most of your points - http://richrunnings.blogspot.com/

Just quickly - and these are just my opinions! - definitely go checkpoint to checkpoint re rest/sleep. Bivvying was strictly for emergencies only - it was soooo cold. I wore Montrail Badrock Outdries - waterproof membrane equivalent to Gortex - Hilly Xstatic trail socks and Raidlight debris gaiters. Unfortunatly pair 1 ripped and sprung a leak leading to trench foot and blisters. Got pair 2 on at CP2 and had almostly completely dry feet through stage 3. Very comfortable shoes. For this race and in these conditions, I'd recommend something similar. The gaiters were excellent too. had some Sealskin socks - wore them for a bit - but didn't find them very comfortable.

Will try and do my report soon!

Need to plan my season out - need another adventure

PS my sleep pattern is still wrecked

ian bowles 2

21/01/2012 at 09:26

They made it in just over 152 hrs!!!!! Joint winners. Third place 6 days 14 hrs.
Before the start there was much talk that racing the full Pennine way in jan was not possible.
Now we know it is, then this race could join the the list of races to do by ultra runners who are truly mad (even by ultra runner standards)
16 starters , 3 finished. Somehow i expect that the 20% finish rate may not change much unless the race format is changed.
This race will probably fill up fast next year. Before you consider entering i have only one thing to say : TRENCH FOOT. Its real and it will be one of your main concerns.

Edited: 21/01/2012 at 09:55

Rich1

21/01/2012 at 10:58

Amazing effort by the guys - I am just in awe.

Personally, I can't wait for another crack. I have a place in the MdS next year but am seriously considering binning that, saving a wad of cash, and doing some of the great events on our doorstep.

Rich1

21/01/2012 at 11:02

Ian, Mark - Fellsman sounds great. How much nav really is ther and what sort of percentage is not patched ie on the fell/dale cos I ain't no fell runner (yet!)
Cheers

Rich1

21/01/2012 at 17:51

For anyone who is interested, here is my initial account - more to follow

http://richrunnings.blogspot.com/

ian bowles 2

21/01/2012 at 18:22

re fellsman . First 20 miles --run with the crowd(no need to nav) Second 20 miles thinning out so nav dif depends on viz but by then you will have slotted in with others at your pace. Even if you are shadowing an experienced naver try to keep track of where you are on your map. (if you don,t do this you will never learn and will be lost if you can,t keep up!) Relying on your own nav will cut a min of 10% off your pace. Anyone who knows the course has a huge advantage on all nav events. Third 20 miles you will probably be compulsery teamed up for the night . This happens at the checkpoint you reach just before dusk. You will have some choice of who you team with (try to pick a good navigator or butter still someone who has run the course several times) If you are delayed at this point the marshal will stop the clock on your time, Its also worth checking if the team wants to really go for it or just plod through the night. GPS is allowed on the event but in practice unless you can use one without having to think about it they are not much use while racing.