FT - I went from 11th to 2nd during the race - but I don't remember seeing you en route- I passed a guy in UJ shorts, a young lad from Blackheath and Bromley and a guy walking at 18 miles. What vest did you have on and did you run a strong race working your way through the field or were you in the group of 5 who sped off at the start?
GB, that's an interesting stat - does anyone know how it compares with the other Downland marathons, i.e. Steyning Stinger, 3 Forts, Windmill and Beachy Head?
Mike Some feedback for you on the idea of a split start next year with slower runners going off early, then relay, then the individual race. I think it's a good idea that will reduce the burden on the marshals. They did a great job on Saturday, especially at the road crossings, but that's a long old day for them.
My one concern would be that the slower runners have cleared the single file path up to the Monarch Way before the quick relay runners come through as it's really difficult to pass there.
I reckon you could ask anyone predicted over 4:45 to start early. It will take about 50 minutes to clear the single file bit and the fastest relay runners would be there in about 20. So as long as you have a minimum of 30 mins between the two that should work well.
You could also consider still having 2 starts, with the slower individual runners combining with the relay runners. But I guess that would only save 30 minutes from the marshalls shifts.
This would probably mean more coach logistics to sort out as well as it would be a long wait for the later starters if all travel at the same time from finish to start.
I use a polar foot pod which doesn't use GPS but can monitor ascent. I've never been sure what technology it uses, magic perhaps. Anyway, mine says it was only 3120 feet of ascent and that felt about right to me, not that I'm disputing Garmin's stats.
Sole Runner / Goldbeetle - I use a Polar hr monitor with altimeter and it came out at around 3000 feet of climbing. In my extremely humble opinion, beachy head and 3 forts are a bit tougher on the legs and I clocked both of them at 3500 feet, which concur with their organisers' respective descriptions. Steyning came out at about 3000 feet from memory.
That said, I should recalibrate the Polar to the appropriate altitude at the start of each race and I generally can't be arsed, so that could explain the discrepancy between my measurement and yours.
Barnsley, I was wearing a white Seaford Striders vest with a black band. I started off in the first ten or so, stayed well clear of that initial group of five (which included the Blackheath guy), stopped to answer a fairly explosive call of nature at about 6 miles (and got passed by several people) and then just plodded along, picking people up again. I think the guy you saw walking may have done something to his leg. Was he wearing a green vest? I passed the guy in UJ shorts within a half mile of the finish, but I thought he was a relay runner. Maybe not. Anyway, I was very surprised to end up 4th.
Congratulations to you on a great run. What do you do a road marathon in? I seem to do ok on these off road runs, but my best on road is only ten or so minutes quicker. What to do?
I'm thinking of seeing if we can get a better start area if Duke of Norfolk Estate can allow us to start in Arundel - it would need police support to get across the A29 but would mean we can get straight on to the wider SDW and miss the Monarch Way. The estate office wouldn't give us permission when we asked last year but things change.
Interesting looking at all your different gps readings - I haven't downloaded mine from laying the course on friday yet - but I haven't had the same reading twice in the 8 or so times I have been over the course. Tree cover etc. is always going to affect any reading - the first time we measured it as a full circuit it said 26.2 on my 305 - since then it has been +/- 0.4.
FT, having done all of them quite a few times, I would agree that the others seem to have a bit more climbing. However I was feeling good on Saturday and the weather was ideal.
We wanted to start in the Castle grounds behind the cricket area - which is the obvious place and there is a nearby Junior school we could use for assembly.
br- the blackheath guy was me. my calves went bye bye at about 17m, from then it was a slow walk!! great event, needs a couple of tweaks, but very good fun!
Mike, I doubt the police would agree to the race crossing the A29 as it's a busy road, whatever the Norfolk Estate say.
However another alternative would be to use the Monarch's way up to Bignor Hill (to avoid the narrow path from Whiteways to the SDW) and then put in loop later on the route (possibly going straight down to Hooksway at the drinks station between Cocking and Harting, and back up the valley west of Beacon Hill).
I haven't measured this, but there are other options involving loops to the south of the SDW.
Comments
you know you want to
Dickie, i will mail you now
http://timwatt.smugmug.com/gallery/3015086
Prints and downloads can be ordered via the site.
Well done to all finishers - many were even sprinting the last few metres!
Tim
.....and I did my hair and everything
What was your number, and can you describe yourself in Cilla style?
Didn't get everybody but I have more to upload...
Tim
Does anyone know where to find the results?
Thanks
http://www.raceahead.net/SearchEvents.aspx
if thats accurate give yourselves a pat on the back
Some feedback for you on the idea of a split start next year with slower runners going off early, then relay, then the individual race. I think it's a good idea that will reduce the burden on the marshals. They did a great job on Saturday, especially at the road crossings, but that's a long old day for them.
My one concern would be that the slower runners have cleared the single file path up to the Monarch Way before the quick relay runners come through as it's really difficult to pass there.
I reckon you could ask anyone predicted over 4:45 to start early. It will take about 50 minutes to clear the single file bit and the fastest relay runners would be there in about 20. So as long as you have a minimum of 30 mins between the two that should work well.
You could also consider still having 2 starts, with the slower individual runners combining with the relay runners. But I guess that would only save 30 minutes from the marshalls shifts.
This would probably mean more coach logistics to sort out as well as it would be a long wait for the later starters if all travel at the same time from finish to start.
Thanks again for a great event.
I got 5066 ft Ascent, 5046 ft Descent...
SR
anyonelse use a garmin?
we could total them all up and get an average
blimey that sounds really geeky
That said, I should recalibrate the Polar to the appropriate altitude at the start of each race and I generally can't be arsed, so that could explain the discrepancy between my measurement and yours.
Barnsley, I was wearing a white Seaford Striders vest with a black band. I started off in the first ten or so, stayed well clear of that initial group of five (which included the Blackheath guy), stopped to answer a fairly explosive call of nature at about 6 miles (and got passed by several people) and then just plodded along, picking people up again. I think the guy you saw walking may have done something to his leg. Was he wearing a green vest? I passed the guy in UJ shorts within a half mile of the finish, but I thought he was a relay runner. Maybe not. Anyway, I was very surprised to end up 4th.
Congratulations to you on a great run. What do you do a road marathon in? I seem to do ok on these off road runs, but my best on road is only ten or so minutes quicker. What to do?
I'm thinking of seeing if we can get a better start area if Duke of Norfolk Estate can allow us to start in Arundel - it would need police support to get across the A29 but would mean we can get straight on to the wider SDW and miss the Monarch Way. The estate office wouldn't give us permission when we asked last year but things change.
Interesting looking at all your different gps readings - I haven't downloaded mine from laying the course on friday yet - but I haven't had the same reading twice in the 8 or so times I have been over the course. Tree cover etc. is always going to affect any reading - the first time we measured it as a full circuit it said 26.2 on my 305 - since then it has been +/- 0.4.
oh dear you just made me chuckle
"im not sure what technology it uses-maybe magic"
hahahahahahaha!
they should quote that in RW!
I have tried to find the race online without success, do you know the link to the web page?
http://www.50milechallenge.co.uk/
However another alternative would be to use the Monarch's way up to Bignor Hill (to avoid the narrow path from Whiteways to the SDW) and then put in loop later on the route (possibly going straight down to Hooksway at the drinks station between Cocking and Harting, and back up the valley west of Beacon Hill).
I haven't measured this, but there are other options involving loops to the south of the SDW.