Conditions on the moor. Lot of rain, especially in last few days, and Moors bad in places. Worst places are Between Lion at Blakey and Blue Man (just past Hamer heading east. The bogs can be deep in places. Care needs to be taken, especially near the boundary stones just before Loose Howe.
Track round bottom of Hasty likely to be wet and sticky. Footpath is solid clay in dry weather and a sticky mess in wet.
Late on in walk wet patches after Ellerbeck check-point to Lilla Cross and then again in the drop down into Jugger Howe.
I did this as a walk both ways (though not at the same time) in the 70's. Both times took over 16 hours but I did no training and ate lots of pies in those days.
What else would you rather do after a week on call? At least you can do your week's mileage in one go. We ultra runners are really very lazy-can't be bothered to run during the week, just get the miles in at the weekend.
Hi guys, shall I start with the good news or the bad news? The good - I just saw an item on the local news saying that the future of the Lyke Wake Race is looking more secure, with record entries of 119. The bad - make that 118 - I CAN'T GO! The final straw is that one of my cats needs urgent surgery and can't be left alone for that long. (In case you think that's pathetic, for cat read surrogate baby). To be honest I am also still slightly injured and haven't run properly for weeks trying to get the injury sorted. I was going to plough on regardless, but this is just one problem too many. I would like my first ultra to be a positive experience and this has turned into a bit of a nightmare. So Tim, my seat in your car is now definitely vacant. Thanks very much for the kind offer - hope to meet you at some future mad race. Please don't give me a hard time over this anyone, or I might just go away and cry. Oh I'll probably do that anyway, so say what you like. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you all.
Thanks Hippo. I expect I'll meet you one day as well and will certainly spot you on a Runners World Forum again some time. I saw your bit in this month's mag as well. Don't drop anything on your toe before Saturday. Not sure about the cat - depends on nature of lump.
Of course we wouldn't give you a hard time, I'm sorry not to be meeting you and so on. Its a shame but there you go. See you at Boddington maybe or perhaps Tooting Bec would be better for you? (its not till October) Hope the cat's ok too. Take care now. xx
I dont mind it being wet underfoot (or dont mind as much ) but torrential rain is going to add at least 25% to all of our times and we will require more bacon sarnies and gin to ease the pain
Hi all, Liz, I can totally understand what you're going through, I'm in exactly the same boat, but dog instead of cat. Just been informed today that my dog needs an urgent spinal operation tomorrow and obviously lots of TLC afterwards. So it looks like I won't make either. It's easier when the kids are poorly, at least they can tell me where it hurts. So, if I don't make it, I wish everyone the best of luck esp you camping Tim, hope you've got good tent pegs.
Hi there - just back from Normandy - a week on a strict training diet of chocolate croissants, cream, cider and Calvados.
Looks like we'll need snorkels.
Liz - sorry not to meet you and hope the cat is OK (I have two myself)
Hippo - I am starting at 4 am too and so you will have company at least at the very beginning, though I plan to jog as much as I can of the flats and downhills over the first 18 miles up to the Lion Inn before the bogs take over. Think that is the only way I can attempt to do it in 12 hours!
But Hippo, we also shouldn't forget that it's not just us forumites taking part - there are probabably other 4 am starters who can offer company and mapreading skills, who we simply don't know about
(Bryan - any idea how many 4 am starters there actually are?)
Think you got my order for the bacon butties Bryan - really looking forward to the whole thing despite the bogs.
Just started thinking about how much 5000 calories of food is going to weigh, along with the waterproofs!
"Conditions now are much easier, though there can still be a certain feeling of dread when starting the Walk, often before dawn, in darkness and not fully-awake. Indeed Bill Cowley himself wrote that "A solemn silence should always prevail on the Lyke Wake Walk." This often is the case as hopeful Lyke Wakers stumble off into the dark. With dawn, parties are found climbing up onto Cringle Moor to start the crossing of what is still one of the wildest stretches of moor in Yorkshire."
We all to be solemnly silent then - so no cursing out loud!
Bryan in all seriousness is t toolate to change start times
I dont know whether i am just panicing about the weather but if it start kicking it down then progress is going to be seriously hampered,and just thought an extra hour or so might be a little more sensible.
If not then I'll just grit my teeth and brush off my jet skiis
Comments
Conditions on the moor. Lot of rain, especially in last few days, and Moors bad in places. Worst places are Between Lion at Blakey and Blue Man (just past Hamer heading east. The bogs can be deep in places. Care needs to be taken, especially near the boundary stones just before Loose Howe.
Track round bottom of Hasty likely to be wet and sticky. Footpath is solid clay in dry weather and a sticky mess in wet.
Late on in walk wet patches after Ellerbeck check-point to Lilla Cross and then again in the drop down into Jugger Howe.
definitely walking boots for me
I dont want to die in a Morth Yorkshire bog
am quite worried that the first 'crossing' took well over 13 hours! (according to a website I have seen)
but i was doing it with a wimp, and we had lots of stops
it was overnight
mmm
if it continues like this there os no way I can complete in my allocated time - as I did cound on being able to run for a certain amount of the way!
bloody hell, and im off duty after a week on call, so what do i do?
head out into a boggy wildeness for 42 miles
honest guv
At least you can do your week's mileage in one go.
We ultra runners are really very lazy-can't be bothered to run during the week, just get the miles in at the weekend.
The bad - make that 118 - I CAN'T GO! The final straw is that one of my cats needs urgent surgery and can't be left alone for that long. (In case you think that's pathetic, for cat read surrogate baby). To be honest I am also still slightly injured and haven't run properly for weeks trying to get the injury sorted. I was going to plough on regardless, but this is just one problem too many. I would like my first ultra to be a positive experience and this has turned into a bit of a nightmare.
So Tim, my seat in your car is now definitely vacant. Thanks very much for the kind offer - hope to meet you at some future mad race.
Please don't give me a hard time over this anyone, or I might just go away and cry. Oh I'll probably do that anyway, so say what you like.
Good luck, I'll be thinking of you all.
ill give you a hug
will the cat be ok
Not sure about the cat - depends on nature of lump.
Its a shame but there you go.
See you at Boddington maybe or perhaps Tooting Bec would be better for you? (its not till October)
Hope the cat's ok too.
Take care now.
xx
have you SEEN the weather?
who else is starting at 4????????
wibble
best of luck to your cat
i am a cat person as well and can truly sympathise
or two
have nuts and jellybeans too
and Vitamin water
I plan not eing in calorie deficit to keep my strength up for the following weekend
Liz, I can totally understand what you're going through, I'm in exactly the same boat, but dog instead of cat. Just been informed today that my dog needs an urgent spinal operation tomorrow and obviously lots of TLC afterwards. So it looks like I won't make either. It's easier when the kids are poorly, at least they can tell me where it hurts.
So, if I don't make it, I wish everyone the best of luck esp you camping Tim, hope you've got good tent pegs.
Looks like we'll need snorkels.
Liz - sorry not to meet you and hope the cat is OK (I have two myself)
Hippo - I am starting at 4 am too and so you will have company at least at the very beginning, though I plan to jog as much as I can of the flats and downhills over the first 18 miles up to the Lion Inn before the bogs take over. Think that is the only way I can attempt to do it in 12 hours!
But Hippo, we also shouldn't forget that it's not just us forumites taking part - there are probabably other 4 am starters who can offer company and mapreading skills, who we simply don't know about
(Bryan - any idea how many 4 am starters there actually are?)
Think you got my order for the bacon butties Bryan - really looking forward to the whole thing despite the bogs.
Just started thinking about how much 5000 calories of food is going to weigh, along with the waterproofs!
"Conditions now are much easier, though there can still be a certain feeling of dread when starting the Walk, often before dawn, in darkness and not fully-awake. Indeed Bill Cowley himself wrote that "A solemn silence should always prevail on the Lyke Wake Walk." This often is the case as hopeful Lyke Wakers stumble off into the dark. With dawn, parties are found climbing up onto Cringle Moor to start the crossing of what is still one of the wildest stretches of moor in Yorkshire."
We all to be solemnly silent then - so no cursing out loud!
I dont know whether i am just panicing about the weather but if it start kicking it down then progress is going to be seriously hampered,and just thought an extra hour or so might be a little more sensible.
If not then I'll just grit my teeth and brush off my jet skiis
How many of us are left?