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Hmm, just been looking at the TRA website and on the AGM minutes it says that the race is blacklisted for previous non-payment of unaffiliated fees??

http://www.tra-uk.org/downloads/TRA%20AGM%2011052012.pdf

Is this right?

Perhaps it's not got a permit this year - hence same price for affiliated and non-affiliated?

Hmm Last year we followed the route shown, but I think that we did get to miss the upper path on the way out. I didn't know that you could use any trail to get back after CP3, that would be good, because the "official" map-route was pretty bad from the very last CP down towards the Reservoir. Then at the bottom, we missed the Trail and ended up going up the lane by the res and having to get back on course. It would be far easier to use the same route back as out from there.

2 years ago, the snow and ice were so bad that the Landrovers couldn't get to Checkpoints, so it was an out & back run. We went up following marked trail, then the Taff Trail, to the road & then up to 1st Res, then back on the upper trail (map marked for the way out).

It's a shame that they don't produce a more accurate and clear map/route. It would save confusion of thinking that you have got the designated trail, to hear and see lights on parallel/easier trails up or down the valley.

Still, we are looking forward to doing our 3rd Sleepwalker next week. 

Alternative to reform crystallised honey, warm in the microwave.

On long runs I mash Half a Banana with 3-4 teaspoons of honey & spoon into a small sandwich bag. Tie the bag with a knot, pushing the mixture into a corner. When you are ready for the boost, just bite the corner to pierce, then squeeze out. Make enough "Bombs" for 1 every 45-60 mins.

I find it helps to keep you & your backback clean & unsticky, to tie a low & high knot in the bag.

It's a good idea to time the Bomb taking so that you have it just before a Drinks Station & wash down with a swig of water.

Our longest recent training run was 15 miles about 3-4 weeks ago and although I would have said that it was hilly, like a lot of our training runs - it wasn't a patch on this terrain.

Suffered in the 1st half with sore knee joint, but popped a couple of ipobrufen at Sidmouth & the final 2 sections were better. Unfortunately the climbs were so severe and long in the 2nd half, legs were like lead by the finish. One of our guys was so drained of energy at the end, it was all we could do to keep him moving. Thank heavens for will power.

We mainly walked/staggered the last few miles and quite a few passed us. Finally we jogged accross the finish in 4 39.

As we usually find on this type of event, everyone was very friendly and the encouragement & banter is a great boost. Most of the runners seemed to be local or from South West Clubs, but we met a couple who came all the way from Manchester!

Found out how hopeless my "Trail Shoes" were on some of those mud walls - and if anyone wore road shoes and managed without a rope and grapple, I would like to know how! My friends had Mizuno Harriers and both had a lot more grip than my Kanadias.

Hope to do it again next year, but only after better training, more hills and perhaps some climbing wall sessions?!