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Outdoor Activities => Exercise, Fitness, Training, Competitions and General Health => Topic started by: yungmannfuzz on January 08, 2012

Title: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: yungmannfuzz on January 08, 2012
Hey guys

I could really do with some advice about the Mourne Mountain Marathon. Basically I'm getting bullied into doing it, and my mates assure me I will be fine doing it.  I have no intention of competing to rank or get good times, just finish it.

Friends are telling me to do the "C" group, (But i'm thinking maybe the "D" group may be better to start with?)

Fitness wise, I do train a good bit, but its mostly boxing, circuits, weights, with high intensity cardio.. Any running is done as sprints/hill sprints. At the minute I run a max of 2 miles.

Love walking the mournes, but have never done any running on them.

I'm wondering looking at times of previous years, people are getting 14,15,16 hours- I take it this is because they are walking the whole time? Do many people walk the entire way?

Also my mates are saying, they walk up, run down- is that what mostly happens?

Love the idea of the 2 day trek, but not sure i'm up to it or not..

Sorry for the long post!
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: LandyLiam on January 09, 2012
if your not sure then go for class D, the vast majority of people walk, if your not used to running downhill then be careful, its bloody dangerous, especially with a tent etc on your back  :)  and try the 77s to get a feel for it, thats more suited to running


some more reading here
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2799.msg29949#msg29949
and
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2766.new#new
and
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1423.msg13045#msg13045
and
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1396.30
and
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1294.msg11393#msg11393
and finally  ::)
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1975.msg25910#msg25910
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: yungmannfuzz on January 10, 2012
Cheers for the reply Liam..

Sorry for being stupid, but when you say the vast majority of people walk, do you mean in the D class? or in other classes too?

Going to check out these other links now. I thought a lot of guys here would be doing it..
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: LandyLiam on January 10, 2012
Yes class D mainly walkers, class C too, i assume classes B & elite are all runners, when you look at the times its fairly clear who ran and walked
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: brendanmcc on January 10, 2012
I was having the same conundrum in 2010.
I entered the C category and came bang in the middle of the table with 51 out of 102 teams.
Sounds like your doing the right kind of training as long as you add in a few longish hikes closer to the time you should be totally fine with the C category.
Even try a couple of old routes from the MMM website to put your mind at ease.
We tried to run on the flat and down hill but consistently got overtaken by a few teams who just mainatined a steady walking pace. 
Bit more navigation needed with category C than with D.
Plenty of good advice on here about lightening your back pack to give you a more comfortable time.

After about 2 hours I cursed every hill and swore that I wouldn't do it again but when the dust settles..
Hoping for category C again this year.
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: LandyLiam on January 10, 2012
and remember you want to ENJOY the event, so fitter the better, and if you take your time it'll be easier to get a better result next year  ;)  i ran a wee bit at the very end of day 2 (the feet couldn't get any sorer by that stage!) and probably made up 3 places, i should have slowed down  >:( 
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: yungmannfuzz on January 12, 2012
Cheers guys for all the advice...

Think I want to do it, but I just don't like the sound of running it.

Now the decision between C and D...
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: twentyclicks on January 12, 2012
I like the sound of your training. All those sprints and intensity is good for your cardio endurance too, you just need to learn to use it for the long stuff. Once in a while try running slower but do 40mins or so... this will get you used to settling into 'the zone'. Add in a pack with a bit of weight if you like.
Mind you running in the hills is different: it's slower again, apart from crazy downhills (if you've the grip) and the ground is a lot rougher/varied so you might want to practice running some bits on your hillwalking days. Most are prepared to tumble in the heather and mud if their ankle goes rather than injure it - a bruise and a graze is a lot better than a break or torn ligaments, you just bounce up and carry on.

My partner and I marched uphills and jogged/ran flats and downs (or slid). We went light (5kg) and never stopped slower than a walk to check maps, eat, get something out of your mates pack for him, etc. Add in good navigation we got 2nd in C class that year. If you can run any of it do C.

If I can get off work I'd like to do B this year.
Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: jonnycrutchley on January 12, 2012
Youngman just get out there and do it.  I'll do it with you and we can enter as a team.  I've started into some 'light' training, plus my dog is helping me out with some possible mountain running this weekend.

Title: Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon
Post by: Rikster on February 19, 2012
Sounds like you'd be grand in the C class. Have done it the past 2 years, mostly at a fast walk with some running, especially on day 2 with a lighter pack (minus the beer  ;D)