I've run most of the route in the last few years but not all in one go. The hills are steeper than the Surrey Slog but the run is much shorter. IMHO the climb from the Start at Zig Zag Road up the grass slope may be the worst part of the race because it rears up in plain view and the crest retreats as you climb.
The climb from Stepping Stones is thoroughly nasty but shortish. If you can moderate your pace to allow for the irregularity of the steps you can survive without serious internal bleeding.
I'll be leading the run-through in ordinary trainers. It can be a bit slippy, so trail shoes might be OK, if they are comfortable.....it's really up to you.
Great run over the course this morning - Many thanks to the Doc for turning out and leading us round.
The run is a killer, as advertised, and the Steps are dreadful, but I disliked the climb from the Start most of all. It's very difficult to get the pace right on a long steep climb from a standing start.
The countryside is lovely, of course, and the views are spectacular. This is a marvellous run, challenging and rewarding. Congratulations to whoever dreamed it up.
Dear BRM, It was my pleasure - it's a lovely part of the country and the weather was absolutely superb - it was nice to have such great company. The odd thing about the long climb from the start is that the gradient is more or less exactly the same for a mile or so - a well-engineered road. The thing about this run is that you must keep some in the bag...there's enough challenge in the latter stages!
The Cretaceous started 146 million years ago, and ended 65 Million years ago - All the Chalk of the North (and South) Downs was deposited during this epoch, in a shallow tropical sea.
I'm tempted by this, if I can get clearance from the family and there are spaces left!
It's a bit difficult to know what time to estimate, not having done it before; I would have guessed under an hour but then saw the winner did over an hour last year.
Thanks, Dr R. I see I'll have to be quick to get a place. Sadly, I doubt the family will want to get out of bed that early; I'd be coming from a fair way away [Watford].
Hmmm, just looked at last year's results. Are you sure 10k pb +40% is accurate, Dr Robert? On that basis I'd have come third. Maybe I need to revise my estimated time :-S
Mr W, My 10K PB this year is 50mins, so I should get 70mins in the KC - I wish. I trotted round the course in about 90mins last Sunday, so I might do 80mins on the day if the ground's dry.
Probably the hypothesis was derived from observation of leather-lunged steel-sinewed whippets in their bouncy 20s, like the Doc and NickM .... And people who own spikes, JFB :-)
We need a more elastic predictor for tired old g!ts like me - something like, "Subtract 30mins from the best Half-Marathon time that you've achieved since losing any two of your hair, your waistline and your marbles."
As my hair has been receeding since it started growing and I'm not convinced that I was ever supplied with a full set of marbles, my predicted time would be 69mins, which is probably more accurate than 10k pb +40% (63mins).
Should the prediction also take into account the quanitity of alcohol drunk the night before?
Hi guys: the estimated time is used for 'banding' people into starts - there will be 6 starts at five minute intervals, slowest first. In fact, the 10k+40% time may not be an accurate predictor of your finish time (although it works for me and a few others), but it does put you into a start with people that are likely to be of similar overall speed to you.
No spikes - National Trust rules. In fact, they would probably be quite a hindrance for chunks of the route, since it goes up chalky paths.
Dips, I can't quite square your message with your graphic... Is that your usual running kit? This race is called the Knacker Cracker... Oh, come on readers - Help out with the bawdy banter, for Christmas sake!
Comments
All marshals greatfully received for the 1st!
Did the MM earlier in the year so I know the terrain but that's still not going to prepare me for it I suspect!
See you all there!
Chris
There are maps and a profile on http://www.trionium.com/knackercracker/
I've run most of the route in the last few years but not all in one go. The hills are steeper than the Surrey Slog but the run is much shorter. IMHO the climb from the Start at Zig Zag Road up the grass slope may be the worst part of the race because it rears up in plain view and the crest retreats as you climb.
The climb from Stepping Stones is thoroughly nasty but shortish. If you can moderate your pace to allow for the irregularity of the steps you can survive without serious internal bleeding.
Nick, Thanx for the name-check - See you Sunday?
Yes old chap, I intend to be there on Sunday.
A quick question, is Sundays training run open to everyone or just the knackercracker people, as I have another friend who fancies tagging along.
Nick
Is the ground okay for normal running shoes or do most people tackle it in trail shoes?
The run is a killer, as advertised, and the Steps are dreadful, but I disliked the climb from the Start most of all. It's very difficult to get the pace right on a long steep climb from a standing start.
The countryside is lovely, of course, and the views are spectacular. This is a marvellous run, challenging and rewarding. Congratulations to whoever dreamed it up.
Thoroughly enjoyed myself & I am looking forward to new years day.
See you then.
Nick
Excellent background to the geology of the Alpine Orogeny can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Alps. Fascinating stuff.
It's a bit difficult to know what time to estimate, not having done it before; I would have guessed under an hour but then saw the winner did over an hour last year.
Your estimated time should be your 10k pb +40%. This seems fairly accurate in most cases.
Sadly, I doubt the family will want to get out of bed that early; I'd be coming from a fair way away [Watford].
The family will come if the weather's nice (so fat chance!).
Look forward to meeting you guys there.
Does the course take spikes, btw?
Could you add 10-15 minutes please, Rob :-)
Probably the hypothesis was derived from observation of leather-lunged steel-sinewed whippets in their bouncy 20s, like the Doc and NickM .... And people who own spikes, JFB :-)
We need a more elastic predictor for tired old g!ts like me - something like, "Subtract 30mins from the best Half-Marathon time that you've achieved since losing any two of your hair, your waistline and your marbles."
Brings an entirely new meaning to the word "spooning"!!!
Should the prediction also take into account the quanitity of alcohol drunk the night before?
No spikes - National Trust rules. In fact, they would probably be quite a hindrance for chunks of the route, since it goes up chalky paths.
I'm praying for either snow or blue sky.
A friend and myself are considering joining you for this new years day jolly. Are there any (2 preferably) places left?