The legendary Picnic marathon will take place on 21 June 2014 after a two-year gap following the ridiculous 'Olympicnic' in 2012. This is an event that will take you to your physical limits and beyond. Over 3000 feet of ascent and 3000 feet of descent - not for the faint-hearted. Strictly limited numbers in 2014.
Anyone interested?
0 ·
Comments
Sorry, sorry, that should be 6000 feet up, and 6000 feet down. D'oh.
Hi Dr R,
if I can figure out where to stay I'm in. I've moved up North now so should be better at hills than the last time. I am doing another mara the weekend before though so this one will just be for fun.......
Excellent run, recommend it to everyone. Great camaraderie as you cheer and encourage each other
'For fun'? Oh woe is you! Abandon hope all ye who enter this race!
Perhaps there should have been a tad of an ironic smiley face after my statement
I'm in!
Doing Brathay 10in10 in May........ So need a challenge for the summer, I reckon this will fit the bill..... Ouch!
But the 10in10 is a running event......this is more of a climbing and 'crueling' thing
Am I pushing my luck by signing up for the Picnic? What the hell...since I am going to be there, I might as well give it a shot!
Only comes up every other year - daft not to give it a go...
I am at least very tempted, but I have a lot of other tough events next year, so I will have to see.
Consider it a good training run? What else are you in Ben?
I'm in
It's tougher than those three. Mostly due to the nature of the course. It's like a hill rep session from hell. With great atmosphere, plenty stairs, great views, brilliant medal and shirt, friendly organisation/marshalls etc.
Recommended.
I've signed up. Great!
How does this compare to the Greensands marathon? Obviously this is tougher, but is it "tougher", or "much much much tougher"?!
Perhaps two 'much's' instead of much much much.
It's more the mental aspect of this event. You never get that far away from the start/finish. It's a procession of ups and downs along numerous finger like paths. So you go up the dreaded stepping stone stairs 4 times. You visit the halfway mark twice??? You visit the end once but that's only really the halfway point??? It'll all make sense when you doing it.
I guess with conventional out and backs or point to point races there is a sense of 'there's only one way to the finish line'. This one tests you much much more mentally. IMO.
I've done the half a few times and have never understood how people have the mental strength to turn around and do it all again.
Thanks. I was hoping it might just be one "much".
It sounds like it's going to crush me and spit me out if I'm not mentally 100%. I need to get my mind focused sharpish....
I've now registered for what will be my 4th Picnic - I must be mad!
Really looking forward to the picnic 2014. I love the trionium. don't feel the pressure in hilly marathons of thinking 'I could have done it faster', know what I mean?
Totally agree with Sleek Lemur (never typed that before!): time is irrelevant; I wouldn't even bother wearing a watch. To give you a feel of the difficulty: I'm a 3.45 road marathon guy. Did Picnic in 5.40, Greensand in 5.15. You're not pushing for a PB, so times are a bit slow, but you get the drift............ I've done all sorts of silly things, but Picnic and Helvellyn Tri are the pick of the bunch.
Picnic newbie- wasn't ready in 2012. Running as many hills in the local area as poss. Are stairs worthwhile? Any other advice (no you cant tell me not to do it) from seasoned picnickers.
Good point about stairs, Steve....hadn't considered that ! Living in central London, hills are a bit scarce. But council block towers are not . I head up to Muswell Hill and Hampstead Heath at the weekend. Colin, your email frightened me a bit ! My mara PB is 3.25, did Trionium in 4.14. I think they call it the picnic, because we'll need to stop for a meal break.
Really don't want to dwell on the time, its not about that; which is good.
BUT.... only one person broke 4 hours in 2011, in 2007 4.23 won it!
2011 was very wet; the stepping stone were under water, so it was wet feet very early on.
running downhill is as important as step training. Running down steps mashes the legs.
Toying with the idea of entering this!
Hi Steve - I missed out on the Olympicnic for a reason that is long forgotten - maybe it was too soon after the 2011 event when I had a rough time. This is a unique event and I will just be aiming to meet the cut-off and get to the finish. Will the rest of the Squirrel committee be returning aswell?
I am doing Man v Horse in Wales the week before so may struggle at this year's Picnic
Hi Robert, looking at doing this but just waiting on an appointment for possible knee surgery. How are spaces looking?
I am in.
Any doubt that this will be a marathon personal worst?