Who's in?
I absolutely loved this last year the mud made it a real tough race.
The organisers take a battering on this site but I have nothing to moan about. I've run at three of their events and race day has always been very enjoyable.
So I'm in... Hoping for the mud again!
Comments
I wouldn't piss on Extreme Running if they were on fire, biggest bunch of useless, feckless, uninterested in their customers tossers I've ever had the misfortune to have any dealings with. And you can quote me on that.
Do tell Lirish?
I've run a few of their events. They've been 'ok', and just about only 'ok.' They weren't worth the money. And as they've put their prices up on all events by a squillion pounds since then, they've priced themselves out of the market for most, I hardly know anyone going back to their events, they're just going elsewhere as the prices are now a complete and utter joke for what the events are and what you get for that money. Doyen was ok last year, but I'll be doing a different event on that day this year.
I entered the London to Brighton in March this year but in April I injured my patellar femoral tendon and took the decision a month ot two later that because of my enforced lay off I wouldn't be able to regain enough fitness to have a decent chance of completing the course within the cut off time limit.
I e-mailed Extreme Running asking if I could transfer my place or defer it or get a part refund bearing in mind that my cancellation was still almost our months before the race and I had checked their website for their T&Cs to confirm that transfers weren't forbidden. I e-mailed them seven times before they finally deigned to reply and when they did it was quite literally a one line e-mail saying ' We don't give refunds/transfers/deferrals'
I emailed a further twelve times over the next couple of months asking a variety of questions like where are your T&Cs, who is your board of directors so I can take a small claims out etc etc but each and every e-mail was ignored.
When they finally started sending out the race packs to other runners, bearing in mind I had just asked about cancelling, I expected mine in the post as I had another runner who was willing to run in my place but I found out that, despite the run being full for the past couple of months, the organisers were still re selling the places of runners who had dropped out due to injury or double bookings. Needless to say I never got my race pack and all e-mails asking where it was were ignored.
I'll shut up then...
Dill that's just my experience but from chatting to others who've used them they seem at best disinterested in their customers. In comparison with Extreme Running I paid I think £84 for the L2B which was just for one race, I've just entered the mightcontainuts series of a 30 miler on the Black Mountains, a 40 miler on the Brecons and a 50 miler in the Wyw Valley all for the princely sum of £70
Hey I understand your pissed and I would be too.
I'm just keeping things light hearted although I do agree the events are way expensive.
That said they are localish to me and run in one of the most stunning areas in the south of England which is probably why I like them.
And if we all stick together these rip off race event companies will have no choice but to rethink why they exist and what they want to achieve.
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?en=58049&sp=&v=2
Cheers for the tip off - Shame I liked the DotD last year
It was my first step up to Ultras last year as its a small step-up from the marathon distance and a good challenging and varied trail, however if you read our points above its definately not without its faults. Still, its a good distance to start with, its just a big price to pay for it!
I'm still undecided....
If the conditions were like last year it will be ankle deep mud most of the way round. That just adds to the fun.
As for coming last I wouldn't worry in those conditions it is an achievement just finishing.
I ran L2B and Doyen last year and really enjoyed both.
Unfortunately Extreme have priced me out of their market for me to return.
Jelly baby - Doyen not much harder than Beachy, even with the rain and mud.
I ran the inaugrual race in 2008 and then last year too. The first one was great as it was my first ultra and I didn't know what to expect. Last year was less attractive as many of the areas were flooded and the course was redirected on a less challenging and more boring route. 1st time round was cheap. It went up last year. It is now £49!!!! Ridiculous. It is for what? An assortment of corner shop biscuits in the latter stages, water and a t-shirt and shot glass.
There is a lovely photo of me running through the frosty stages of 2008 on their website but Extreme Running have been equally frosty with me. Within 24 hours of signing up for another event, L2B, I was given a work committment that I could not change. They refused to refund my money (£86!) and refused to defer me a year and even when I requested that they allow me to enter a much cheaper event of theirs (Brighton Trail marathon - £35) and keep my entry fee they did not return any of my 6 emails.
Ultra running is a close-knit community and I hear more and more negative press about these guys at runs across the country. If they treat their customers so badly, these races will be the stuff for first time ultra-runners and those that are not affected by these austere times. One interesting point is that following such negative comments on their own forum, they shut it down. What message does that send to us Ultra-Runners?
Check out LDWA events as these are well stocked events for water/food and support........ or for the ultimate challenge, including such a huge amount of food (jacket potatoes, soup, quiche, sandwiches, hot dogs, tea, coffee, chocolate, energy gels and every other food you could think of at 9 checkpoints - the Ridgeway 85 miler (best race in 2010!) Only £37.50.
I am not going to run an Extreme Running event until these guys lower their prices to realistic levels and provide a level of customer service that even the VLM can do with 35,000 entrants!!!
I am doing the winter tanners as an LDWA member - £3 entrance fee!
Hmmm, I've heard mixed reviews - and they haven't replied to a couple of emails. I think i'll probably still do it, unless anyone can recommend an event down south in december of around 30 miles?
Also, what shoes would you recommend for this? I did beachy head last year in my road shoes (it was a very very last minute entry) and they were, as expected, totally inappropriate. Something like the inov8 mudclaw, or something a bit less mud specific?
Cheers
JB
Hi ultrab and benyo
Like you guys I did the L2B and the DotD last year - both great races but not for the support/goodies. I thought the L2B at £80+ quid was ridiculous but the DotD for £47 .... last year I got a shot glass and 2 stale bourbons! Sticking to better supported/managed races now.
Who is up for the London Ultra and Thames Trot next year?
For anyone that doesn't know - doyen of the Downs has been cancelled. I only found this out by accident - the organisers haven't thought to email all those who have actually entered to tell us this.
Winter Tanners it is then. Saved myself some money too