Lakeland 50 or 100 in 2021 😀😀😀

30 watchers

NDWDave Jun 2021 12:28pm, 19 Jun 2021 15,025 posts	0 NDWDave Quick question on poles… What proportion of people use them? On UTMB, it was virtually all of them and clearly an advantage. On the SDW100/NDW100, some people did and hardly any of the front runners. I’m comfortable using them and happy to carry them but wasn’t sure where this race sits. I’ve done some training this year with them and have 5 weeks to go…
Rosehip Jun 2021 2:27pm, 19 Jun 2021 21,498 posts	0 Rosehip someone who knows better will be along soon, but my guestimate from looking at the 2018 and 19 videos is at least 20%, probably more, of the 100 starters are carrying poles on their packs at the start.
FenlandRunner Jun 2021 7:17pm, 19 Jun 2021 6,647 posts	0 FenlandRunner I'm shit, so take advantage of any aid that is allowed with the rules. A couple of points: [1] The front guys and gals at the UTLD100 rarely use poles. [2] The terrain of the UTLD100 is significantly 'harder' than SDW100/NDW100. Not sure the later have climbs that top out at 600+ metres. And also underfoot significantly tougher. The descent from Gatesgarth is not like anything I've seen in England south of the Thames.
NDWDave Jun 2021 7:52pm, 19 Jun 2021 15,030 posts	0 NDWDave Thanks both. I figured it was somewhere between the 250m max hills of the NDW/SDW and the 2,500m+ mountains of the UTMB (which are mainly runnable apart from the horror show after Col de la Seigne) I will hopefully be nearer the front than the back but certainly not at the front!
Rosehip Jun 2021 8:05pm, 19 Jun 2021 21,502 posts	0 Rosehip I'm carrying mine, not least in case my knee needs a bit of support, I expect I will need them for balance on rough bits once I get tired. Am getting excited about my mini recce trip now, think I will save Gatesgarth as a "surprise" on the day though - I've seen enough videos to know it's not going to be fun
FenlandRunner Jun 2021 8:17pm, 19 Jun 2021 6,648 posts	0 FenlandRunner To be fair, Rosehip, it is more my lack of ability, than Gatesgarth being particularly tough. I'm sure the fleet footed will dance down to Sadgill. However with my lack of ability it is too rough and near the top too steep.
Rosehip Jun 2021 8:37pm, 19 Jun 2021 21,503 posts	0 Rosehip I'm most certainly not fleet of foot, been having enough trouble running down the rough tracks of the Chilterns - but I'm going for a long walk in a very nice place, not counting on actually running much of it.
STOOSH Jun 2021 11:01am, 20 Jun 2021 3,276 posts	0 STOOSH I've never used sticks or intend to. It's just something else to carry and annoy me. I'm sure they have benefits but just not for me. Not going to manage down for a recce on the course now so I'll be studying the road book and John kynaston's recce videos over the next few weeks.
Dave A Jun 2021 12:13pm, 20 Jun 2021 23,061 posts	0 Dave A Stoosh, the road books really good. Just pay attention in the dark. As for sticks, train with them if you intend to use them. It’s pointless having them if you haven’t worked out how to use them properly.
Maccathecracker Jun 2021 12:40pm, 20 Jun 2021 620 posts	0 Maccathecracker Stoosh from my experience you don’t have to carry poles to be annoyed by them 😂. I cant recall a great many people using them the last 2 years so would say less than you might think. I’m envious of those who can use them to descend quickly but not envious enough to lug them around for the rest of the race.