I have entered this, as I kept hearing good things about it from fell runners.
Any advice from those that have done it?
I know it's a tough one.
If they are allowing 1 hour 15 to get two thirds of the way up it, I'm guessing it's STEEP!!
What kit do you need to take? Will waterproof trousers, cag, whistle, map & compass be enough??
Comments
Anyone doing this?
Thanks Jason....
Oh my poor knees......
Ria - have you been asking about this on the FRA forums, or is that someone else?
I haven't done Cader before, but I did Snowdon last year and Ras yr Aran last month, so am hoping to survive OK
It is an excellent race. It starts off fairly flat (but up!), then goes through a swamp (at least the year I did it), before you get to the real up. It is the slowest race I hve ever done - over two hours for 10m, whereas my PB is about 62 minutes - but this is all the up.
You are meant to have full body cover. You'll see a lot of people use Montane Featherlite top and trous. I took waterproof trousers and a Rab vapourrise top. This was really useful at the end, so be able to take off the running top and just put this on. Can you say toasty and warm! HOwever, if your kit is nearby or you have a person holding it at the finish, then you will be able to put on what you want. You should also havea map and compass. I used a OMM rucksack, but now I'd use a bum bag I bought (like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Karrimor-raid-5-bum-bag-hydration-belt_W0QQitemZ390045285320QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090420?IMSfp=TL0904201210003r25272). It works very well for me.
The tea, sarnis and barra brith is excellent
took last Friday off work to do final big hilly training run - about 13M/4000ft ascent going up/down Kinder Scout 3 times - if I'm not ready for Cader now, I never will be!
wow Daz that's what I call a hill session. I'm doing this as my first fell race longer than 7 miles, and walked/jogged the course the other week - though had shin splints (from CYCLING of all things) so took it v easy indeed.
The first section on road is an uphill grind but nothing spectacular, the path through the wood is pretty boggy (there is a slightly alternative path a few yards further up which is less boggy though, if really wet might be worth the detour), then there are some rough steps up to a wall (90% at least of people walk these) then a steep zigzag up to the ridge, then another 1000ft of fairly gentle climb to the top. If it's a nice day you can't possibly miss the path or the summit. Then back down the same way. Came out as 11 miles on my Garmin.
I am very slow as fell runners go but hope I will make the 75 minute cutoff on the ridge - it would be so ignominious to be sent back down!
Off to Box Hill on Sunday to go up and down it a few times in prep for the Trionium half, should double as final preparation for Cader, at least the steep bits!
Also doing Snowdon this year for the first time gulp.
See Slug and Ria Saturday week then
Hi GRB!
Don't want to worry you, but I did Snowdon last year and it nearly killed me! and Cader takes longer!
I'm sure you'll be fine if you take it nice and steady
Ria - How's your training been going? Looking forward to it?
I did my last few "medium" hills last night up/down Frodsham Hill a few times
I'll probably do some steady road stuff this weekend (trying to avoid injury!) then taper down for the big day!
hi Daz
yes I know Cader will take longer - the record is 1 20 something while Snowdon is a ridiculous 1 02:59 I think! Will go at whatever speed necessary to make cutoff then doubtless slow down considerably lol.
Looking forward to it in that weird way one does when takes on somethign just a tad too difficult!
I'm not ready!!
I need another month......
How many miles is it to the cut-off point of 1 hour 15? I keep hearing different distances. Does anyone know exactly?? I'm worried I'll be too slow.......
hi Ria
I'm not ready either but not sure ever will be! Cutoff is between 4.2 and 4.4 miles I'd say depending on one's gps and route. It's about 1750 feet up from the start to the cutoff which is around 1900 feet, and the summit is 2900ish (smebody can correct my approx figures I'm sure!). It's not particularly rough country and there is a path all the way, it just goes on a bit. My half marathon time is around 2 hours on a good day and I think I will be there or thereabouts for the cutoff though not too sure - only one way to find out! I've decided just to go for it and enjoy the experience, anything else a bonus. It's a very friendly race with lots of food and drink, I've watched it before.
Will let you know my race number if and when I get one
go for it - worst that can happen is you (or I) get sent down again after a good workout on a beatiful mountain!
GRB
Hi Ria - Great to hear that you are still on for this - don't worry, I don't think anybody is truly ready for it!
cut-off looks to be at about 3.5M, which equates to roughly 20min miling - no problemo for a lass of your undoubted tenacity
you won't be able to miss me at the start line - I'll be wearing a "radioactive green" Fell Ponies vest!
carting the Slug Family down with me at some point next week - can anybody recommend a campsite in the Dolgellau/Barmouth area...?
Oops must have worked out the cutoff wrong - sorry if made it sound harder than it really is! I also would plan to keep going independently if miss the time limit. Bet the adrenaline propels us up the mountain though .havent decided what to wear yet lol but will let you know so we can say hallo. I tried to get Trail Running Association kit as we were encouraged to wear it but they havent got back to me yet.
actually, I was just going to say I'd worked out the cut-off wrong! On reflection it looks to be more like 4M, so still only 19min miling
I'm gonna ring round some campsites asap...
ha ha Daz, let's call it 4 then and call it quits lol. gd luck with campsites
Hope Ilkley trail went well Ria. I did a fairly leisurely, well slow, didnt really feel leisurely, reccie of the Trionium Monro half marathon course at Box Hill yesterday - got slightly lost so closer to 14 miles, and certainly felt like 3000 ft of ascent - I think doing it in bits made it harder tbh!
I will certainly be doing the "fast walk" up on some of the up, that puts me well into my lactate threshold zone without actually running on the steep bits! Oh well, we'll see - hope the promised good weather returns at the end of the week.....
(Daz here)
Ria - Well Done at Ilkley Now for the BIG ONE!
I've rung a couple of campsites (one near coast, one inland) and they both sounded pretty relaxed about not having to book, so think I'm just going to potter down on Thursday and scout one out...
final prep last Sunday was Buxton Half Mara!!
v.hilly, but took it nice and easy (esp considering heat) and mugged my way round in 2:10
I am SO looking forward to Cader now...
Eeeeeeeek........not long now....
Hope we'll be able to appreciate the views. Every time I looked up to admire the scenery at Ilkley I went over on my ankle...... I tend to stare at my feet on races like this as I'm so bloody clumsy......
eek indeed. Am now a bit stiff from my very enthusiastic training run on Monday which will at least make sure I dont overtrain this week . Feel a bit better about Cader now I have discovered that the route I ran/walked/staggered on Monday has a race record of 1:40 so is significantly longer than Cader with same amount of ascent.
Stupidly busy and stressed at work this week so just looking forward to escaping to Dolgellau on Friday night!
Ria and Daz I will be wearing probably a tasteful (not, but very comfy) pale green/blue adidas SS shirt and a blue cap with maroon writing (like a blind date lol) - will look out for Fell Ponies!
Good weather forecast too
Not long now......
Good luck everyone.
I'm going down tomorrow afternoon.
Eeeeeeeeeek.......it's haunted......
http://www.garthyfog.co.uk/cader_idris.htm
*Lurks*
Having read these posts, I really want to run this - but maybe next year! Dolgellau & area are stunningly, spectacularly beautiful but I stayed close to sea level the only time I ran there. That was 10 years ago and it was a ten-mile road race in the valley of the river Wnion. Had to stop at 5 miles to be re-oxygenated & hydrated and was v. close to being dead last but I enjoyed it so much, it kickstarted my running again.
Good luck to you all - you have my respect.
RR - all the best mountains are haunted! I've camped on the top of Cader before, but still can't write poetry, so I guess I must just be mad!!
Good luck all! I'm going to be driving up Saturday morning and staying over Sat night I think. I'll be the one wearing the "TROTS St Clears" vest, say hi if you see me at the start or as you overtake
For inspiration.......hehehe.......
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl6ls_kate-bush-running-up-that-hill_music