Trail & Ultra Running Thread

I saw the email but given it is only 11.5km in, I’m not downloading the new route and will just follow the folks in front

Any idea how many doing the 110m and 110km?

No idea but based on previous years I’d say 80 odd for the 110km.

I hadn’t downloaded the new route at all, still had the 2022 version, so did it just now. If I’m right about where it is and where I think they are taking us, it’s more sand running.
That gravel road bit always seemed to go on forever but it was easy to follow!

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Yes it’ll be into the dunes instead of that long, straight gravelly track. Will add about a km in distance and it’ll be slower going.

We were hoping it’d still be open but they’re doing work on it, starting today the buggers!

I’m assuming that whoever is digging that road up will need to place diversion signs as well?

Tunster’s idea will likely be fine. The field won’t have stretched out too much after 11km of pan flat, easy running.

I’m hoping it’ll be light when I go through there.

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I have only attempted the 110 twice but my experience has been that by the time and certainly by Saunton, the field is ‘clumped’ rather than strung out. Tends to be little groups and then gaps.

I’ve tried staying with ‘Claire’ and her group before which was doable until Baggy. They are too fast for me but would be ideal for @tunster to stay with, if they are there.

An extra 1km of sand won’t take a toll at 11km but will add up for me and the cut off at CM, or at least getting there with enough time to actually replenish. That’s becoming a concern but I do know the course, at least up until Ilfracombe pretty well. I’ve only done Ilfra to CM once.

@tunster, one thing to consider, only because it can be confusing. When you climb the hill behind Saunton (which is the first climb of the race) you drop right back down and come up to a wide wooden gate that is next to the road and think ‘that wasn’t so bad’. You must turn hard right at the gate and follow the trail, it starts going up again, quite a lot! :roll_eyes: Don’t go on the road here!

Then runs parallel but way above the road, then drops down to a gap or a very small gate. Then you are on the road and you need to turn hard left, up the hill on the road to the left hand bend (about (100mtrs or so), then on the r/h side drop through the gap in the wall, this puts you on the beach side.

It’s a very annoying climb :smile:

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Meanwhile in Nice - Courtney is 2nd overall in the UTMB 100miler - funnily enough we are in Antibes this weekend and heading over to Nice in a while - hope to see some finishers come in - and check out the course :grimacing: (100km)

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Hey @gingerbongo , did you get a buckle? Gizza look!