I think the DNF rate is rarely below 50% but this was back in the pre UTMB days with no course markings and few aid stations. It’s ‘easier’ now, so that’s an alarming %. I suspect a lot was to do with the cold. Lamorna Cove sections and zombieland are friggin scary in the dark for different reasons.
I haven’t heard from Craig. I know that when I DNF’d, I just wanted out of there the next morning as quick as I could and I was fortunate that the drop bags from LE were already at the Eco Park by 9am, so I picked up mine and drove home.
Not sure how that works now with UTMB? But I hope Craig does not have to long hang around listening to people talking about how well their runners are doing, or be around the folks that are excited about their races tomorrow.
I think it only another ultra-runner (and I use the term loosely for myself) truly knows the utter disappointment and ‘I’ve let everyone down’ feeling that comes with a DNF. It’s not rational but it is raw.
The very nature of long, expensive ‘all or nothing’ races pile a pressure on a person that’s not always easy to get over, but of course, you do in the end.
I heard from Craig last night. As with most ultra DNFs, he’s standing by what sounds like a sensible decision but he’s obviously gutted.
I think he was just exhausted with the weather, the horrendous state of the path, the bog and he said he fell over 8 times between the start and Porthleven. He just didn’t have it in him on that day to carry for another 10hrs of darkness and storms before daylight.
He said 58% DNF and some folks were getting knocked off their feet by the storm and sea hitting the cliffs.
First race of the year, part of the build to Northern Traverse at the and of March, then a one off return to that try-ath-a-lon thingy to celebrate aging up.
Yeah NC110 km ( I can’t speak to the 110 mile) is a lot less technical, save for the Wool to Lee section but even those steps drain well.
The main road section is Marazion to Mousehole ( via Penzance ) in pre UTMB, if you had a crew, many runners would change to road shoes and then back again. You’d think you’d be able to make progress but it really saps you.
That film didn’t really show the absolute worst bits, which is Pendeen to St Ives.
Craig is already talking about going around again.
I’m not exactly sure, from memory when I entered the 2025 race (but DNS) it opened around late Feb, but that was because the sale to UTMB had not been announced. Might be earlier this year.
It’s not an instant sell out but I suspect it will get quicker. It’s all about those Stones these days
Hypothetical question for all the ultra types. Similar to the question of how much cycling is equivalent to a mile of running, how much elevation is equivalent to a mile of flat running?
I want to come of with a way of ranking different distances / elevation gains by difficulty. Just a bit of fun, but for example would 12K with 600m of elevation gain be harder that 16K with 200m?
I’d really struggle to find equivalence. For me, hill running (both up and down) use very different muscles and breathing techniques, so equivalent distance with flat runs is largely impossible.
Training for a hilly ultra was almost impossible in the Cheshire plains so I sought out runs on the south coast and in mid-wales to make sure I got the hill training.
They don’t really really correlate due to the different muscles systems but in general, I’ve found that cycling supports running much better than the other way around but neither is a substitute for the other.
16km with 200 D+ is way easier than 12km with 600 D+. of course, that depends on your climbing ability and flat running speed, same as cycling. Some people can charge the hills but shuffle the flats and vice versa.
One of my dedicated vert sessions sees me hit about 1100 D+ and that covers about 13.5km and takes me about 3hrs!
