Devil o' the Highlands
2 lurkers |
46 watchers
Dec 2014
9:53pm, 7 Dec 2014
1,831 posts
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57.5 Degrees of Pain
The WHW seems better suited to a large field for the Devil than the Fling. As mikey_a says there are wider paths, and anyone who walks it in August will have had enough midgie hell that a few runners will not ruin the experience for them.
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Jan 2015
9:32pm, 11 Jan 2015
14 posts
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johnnyD
Hello all, Just came across this thread and all the chat is really interesting  Many thanks for all the kind words. From my side, 2015 will be a learning year. One thing I do not want to do is to just put on "another Fling". The Devil has been running for 15 years (5 longer than the fling) and from talking to a few runners many love the event the way it is. I want the Devil to keep it's own identity, one that is distinct from the Fling. From running it in 2014, one expect I loved was to enjoy the amazing scenery in solitude (which won't happen if we had 1000 runners). I don't plan to change too much in 2015, apart from the support aspect, drop bags & water. From the feedback I have had I think most runners would agree that these changes make a lot of sense. The one thing I have noticed from being at the event over the last 3 years was the lack of post-race fun for those who want to stay over somewhere after the race, so I have been looking into trying to coordinate this a bit better. This ties in with some chat on Facebook regarding the potential for an organised bus from Fort William to the start on the morning of race day. There has been a lot of interest in this, so we will probably sort this out. One other thing that might change is the finish line location, which Garry had been thinking about as well. The area is so scenic & ending the race at a busy roundabout, in my opinion, could be improved upon, so am looking into other options. We expect to have about 150 runners on the start line in August, so no huge increase. Hope this gives a wee bit more info about the 2015 race. All comments and ideas are extremely welcome Cheers Johnny Devil |
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Jan 2015
11:33pm, 11 Jan 2015
1,915 posts
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57.5 Degrees of Pain
Liking the idea of a different finish line, though frankly I could have been anywhere last year with a body sized piece of grass to lie on and been happy to be at the end ;-).
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Jan 2015
1:48pm, 12 Jan 2015
9,534 posts
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_andy
Finish line: Having it any earlier would just be daft in terms of it being a race to Fort William and the "end" of the whw. Moving it the Leisure Centre would be similar to the whw race and might be a slight improvement (depending if facilities were available, etc.) I would love to see a UTMB sort of finish in the centre of Fort William - with the locals lining the streets obviously. Cow Bells and fireworks would be nice too. Seriously though, something that the town might embrace in terms of a dramatic race finish and bring people to the heart of town - around the Sore feet statue - news.bbc.co.uk That would make the race 43 miles. From that article link, I'd guess that the local council would support a finish there. Lots to arrange and sort for this Johnny - you are a star for taking this on. ION, I'm doing the Lakeland 50 the weekend before so won't be able to race this as well (run it maybe, but not race it), so if we're not off on holiday for the Devil, I'll hope to volunteer in some way. |
Jan 2015
5:40pm, 12 Jan 2015
437 posts
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M1nty
Johnny - everyone's so pleased you've taken it over. Dropbags and water is an excellent start, and loving the idea of some evening party fun - no comments please anyone about my inability to stay awake for some of these Have to agree with _andy that the finish at the new WHW statue would be quite nice. Not only is it a defined end-point, but of course Wetherspoons and Travelodge are right next door so runners and families would have somewhere to chill while waiting for other runners to finish. Then you'd get a bit of the Cateran effect where the crowd swells for the slower runners and builds up into a nice atmosphere. Also, there's the huge West End car park nearby so less parking issues than the Devil used to suffer from at the woolen mill. Would have liked to see a few more than 150. Given it's in August and reduced proximity to Glasgow, I don't think you'd get the Fling numbers entering anyway, but why keep to such a low number if, say, 300 people wanted to enter? |
Jan 2015
7:52pm, 12 Jan 2015
5,197 posts
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Duchess
*makes no comment to m1nty*
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Jan 2015
11:16am, 13 Jan 2015
9,535 posts
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_andy
With regard to numbers: I'd also like to see a lot more than 150. Now, I have been known to 'stir' a bit by suggesting much bigger numbers (5000 entries might be pushing it a bit), but the route could certainly cope with greater numbers than the Fling. There's no Inversnaid narrow section to contend with - it's all runnable, with wide tracks most of the way. Lundavra is a possible bottle-neck, but that can be solved with a strict, "no motorised support allowed" up that wee road. Or just no external support at all at that point. I'm sure that Kinlochleven would benefit from people visiting, and Glencoe has plenty of space at the ski-centre. Cars to Victoria Bridge could be a problem if numbers went up, but this can be dealt with clear instructions. So this is a call for making it a wee bit bigger. However many hundreds it is, it would sell out on the day it opened, like the Fling. |
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Jan 2015
2:55pm, 13 Jan 2015
439 posts
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M1nty
Johnny - if I may caution against being too sentimental for the auld days... The only good thing previously about the Devil - but overwhelmingly so - was/is the route. And the only reason it had less than 150 starters was that folk voted with their feet. 4 out of 5 (non-scientific survey) of ultra runners I speak to avoided it like the plague because it was: - Over-priced and overtly run for profit - Frustrating withdrawals policy - Little and late (almost non-existent) communication - Don't-care attitude pervaded from owners - Unable to be run unsupported - No water or drop-bag provision - Crap finish "line" - Useless, tacky novelty "goodie bag" item / no medal (Devil car sticker would be cool) - No social side / after-party (no jokes please - I do try...a bit) - Very poor web-site - no prior year results listed I would love to see it run properly, addressing these issues and catering for the market out there. So if the Fling can pull in 1,000. surely the Devil can attract more than 150? Why limit it to 150 people having a great time during and after the race? |
Jan 2015
3:06pm, 13 Jan 2015
23,737 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
In defence of G and his helpers, the atmosphere and attitude at start (year I did it 2010) was good, very friendly, the wee glass Devil momento was quite cool and the finish area was bril (OK, it was just us lying on the grass on a lovely sunny day, with ice cream and good friends, but I had a great time!) G
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Jan 2015
6:15pm, 13 Jan 2015
440 posts
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M1nty
And I had a great time in 2012 when I did it. I'm dying to do it again; it could be one of the best ultras in the UK if the other bits were addressed.
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