Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Hiking, Walking, Running, Orienteering and Geocaching => Topic started by: LandyLiam on April 23, 2011
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my challenge this summer is the get to the summit of Donard in 1 hour :o
I did a trial run today and managed it in 1hr 12mins, thats probably about 15% jogging and fast walking the rest with only a few very brief of stops of maybe 20 secs each (used the Glen River route via the saddle)
so i've a good idea where i can make up the time, especially if i take the correct route through Donard Forest ::) , is anyone else up for trying this, nothing like a bit of competition to spur me on :D
and does anyone know the quickest way up? i think it might be via the black stairs but i've never gone that way before.
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aye the quickest way is by the black stairs,or keep sligtly right but still on the rock,as long as you are competent at scrambling and not afraid of the exposure,you will beat the 1hour, as you gain height after the stairs keep to the left side of the boulder field
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is that a safe route when alone? i like to stick to the main routes in case of injury
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I like the sound of Donard in an hour, good challenge :) Great effort getting up in 1hr 12mins! I'd love to tag along sometime but wouldn't be until July I'm afraid. Kat would be a bit annoyed if I had to cancel our summer hols in June because I broke my ankle jogging up Donard :D
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Its the jogging down that worries me ;)
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Aye - i'll give it a go sometime. At least the route you did I know the way.... The black stairs does look more direct but you would need to know how to get over to that area and hope for a path up because deep heather is very slow no matter how direct.
Running down from the saddle is great and I'm confident enough there - it's the bit from the summit to the saddle I'd have to watch. Slippy track + proximity to granite wall = pain. Steep deep heather = hidden pain. If there is a trail down Black Stairs direction it might be more gradual and thus better for up & down. We need info!
Stirling effort by the way: you're getting back into this rightly ;)
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Its the jogging down that worries me ;)
But you only need to make it to the top in an hour... right?! ;)
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Bloo** H**,
It took me over an hour to get to the wall from BB.
I think I will give this one a miss. ::)
Good luck everyone.
Gerry
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this time last year i think it took me 2 hrs to get to the wall :o
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1 hour 12 is some going I reckon. I'm having a go at Donard in the morning and I mean morning. I want to back home for about 10:45, and that's a hour+ from Donard.
Setting my alarm for 5:45am, why am I still on the computer?! Nighty night.
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So what time are you starting, I might be tempted ! Although I'm in the pub at the moment rather worse for the wear, hic
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Sorry Liam, I logged off straight after that post. I got to sleep about 12:15 but woke up for an hour between 2 and 3am, couldn't work out whether I was wise to still think about going. When the alarm went off I hit the snooze once then dragged myself out of bed. Four and half hours sleep!
I left Donard Park at 7am and was chuffed to hit the top 1 hour and 20 minutes later. Didn't see another soul until the bottom of the steps up to the saddle, on my way back down. Good way to blow the cobwebs out though.
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i had quite a bit to drink last last so was glad of my lie on till 11am this morning ;D i thought of going up this afternoon but donard looks very cloudy and its VERY windy out there.
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oh no, i'm getting slower not faster, took me 4hrs to get up donard yesterday :o but i had 4 donard virgins in tow so was taking it easy, my legs still hurt a bit today though :( doing it again tomorrow but with a load of kids this time, i know i'll end up carrying my 6 yr old so could be an even slower walk up!
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oh no, i'm getting slower not faster, took me 4hrs to get up donard yesterday :o but i had 4 donard virgins in tow so was taking it easy, my legs still hurt a bit today though :( doing it again tomorrow but with a load of kids this time, i know i'll end up carrying my 6 yr old so could be an even slower walk up!
Have fun tomorrow
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I had another solo charge at it this morning. 1hr 20 mins again.
I reckon that is my level, if I was super fit there could maybe be ten minutes I could take off it. Not sure I could go any harder than 1 hr 10 without actually speeding up to a run on some sections.
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well the wee cubs did alright today and most of them made it to the summit (even the 4 year old !) but i had to sit at the saddle with a few stragglers and wait 1.5 hrs for the main group to get back down from summit, still the weather was nice :) total time for the group was 7 hours up and down, painfully slow :( but no major injuries ;D
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i might enter this one to get me back on track as i haven't done donard in 3 weeks now :o#
The annual Slieve Donard Race will be held this year on Saturday 2nd July 2011. The race will start from the Newcastle Centre at 2:00 pm. Changing facilities will be available at the Newcastle Centre. There will again be a ‘beat your age to the top’ category. All runners must carry full body cover. A preview report will be posted soon.
http://www.newcastleac.org/?p=1944
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Well I never made it to that race and just as well as I'm not on form, up here now in 1hr 7mins (well what else would I be doing today. ::) ), an improvement but not quite there yet. Just bagged the geocache up here so not a wasted effort ;D
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Well done Liam. Getting there gradually... it'll be sweet when you get it. 60mins vs 67mins, 3600secs vs 4020secs to look at it other ways...
Basically you need to go 11% quicker. It's doable, but may take a little time. Saying that, remember you lose 10% performance for every 1% dehydrated, and most people set PBs in late afternoon due to circadian rhythms etc. so these can be factors to use to your advantage when you feel ready for another blast!
The times those racers do it in are insane - inspiration for sure!
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The weather was perfect for the trip, cloud from half way up to keep me cool(ish). I tried walking most of the way (approx 95%) in the hope it would conserve energy enabling me to walk faster up the steep bits, so i reckon i'll just have to jog from the top of donard forest to the river crossing and if i can muster the energy to walk the rest i'll have the hour cracked :) interestly it took me the same time getting down :o despite some fast jogging down, but i did stop a lot to chat again :D i wore my road running trainers for a little extra bounce but they had no grip whatsoever coming down, it was like wearing skis at times :o
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050351Small.jpg)
thick mist from half way up
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050352Small.jpg)
oops i found a boggy bit
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050354Small.jpg)
i reach the summit
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050359Small.jpg)
with my makeshift sash 8)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050362Small.jpg)
then nabbed the donard cache which i have struggled to get to before due to satnav problems
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050365Small.jpg)
met a dirty dog on the way down
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050366Small.jpg)
he literally rolled in every puddle he saw!
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050369Small.jpg)
back down, met the family in town for a bite of lunch at mauds
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050395Small.jpg)
then in the afternoon my sister wanted to go up the mournes so i picked slieve croob, a nice easy one ;D
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050420Small.jpg)
it was the first time i'd been up here without mist and the view of the mournes was spectactular
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20110712%20donard%20and%20croob/P1050423Small.jpg)
happy families...
until we got back to the car park and found my sisters car had been broken into >:(
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67 mins is pretty impressive Liam! So how many times do you reckon you've summited Donard in the last year?! Think they are going to have to re-name that mountain Slieve LandyLiam :)
Not so good about your sisters car though, that sucks! Whereabouts was it parked? Do you think it was a planned theft or vandals?
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So how many times do you reckon you've summited Donard in the last year?!
11 times, plus as many trips to the ice house, and i still think its a boring mountain :)
Whereabouts was it parked? Do you think it was a planned theft or vandals?
dree hill car park at slieve croob, when we arrived car park was near full (about 10 cars) so it felt safe, only 3 cars when we got back, fortunately one other walker saw a blue 306 acting suspiciously and they sped off when he arrived so could maybe have been worse.
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The break-in sucks, but that dog couldn't be happier ;D
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Crackin views of the hills from Slieve Croob.
Thats shitty bout the car mate.
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oh my legs hurt today :-[
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had another go at this today for my birthday (i like doing donard on my birthday :) ) and only managed to equal my best at 1hr 7mins again, although it didn't knacker me as much, had to slow a bit near the end due to cramps in the leg, otherwise might have knocked a few mins off but still not enough for the hour, will try again soon
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So close! Start closer ;)
Happy birthday mate!
had another go at this today for my birthday (i like doing donard on my birthday :) ) and only managed to equal my best at 1hr 7mins again, although it didn't knacker me as much, had to slow a bit near the end due to cramps in the leg, otherwise might have knocked a few mins off but still not enough for the hour, will try again soon
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that's some going up donard in an hour,all the fell runners use the black stairs,but as you pointed out it would be better to have someone with you just for safety,again the weather is also a factor,you doing want to be running in wet condtions,anyway i'll speak to a few mate i have as they run it all the time ,see if i can get some tips for you
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that's some going up donard in an hour,all the fell runners use the black stairs,but as you pointed out it would be better to have someone with you just for safety,again the weather is also a factor,you doing want to be running in wet condtions,anyway i'll speak to a few mate i have as they run it all the time ,see if i can get some tips for you
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well tried again this morning, i've been doing a lot of short jogs (1-3miles) every second day for about a month so i was feeling up for it, very little wind today and overcast so perfect conditions, but despite all that i seem to have slowed down, only 1hr 9mins >:( may try again next week :) but gonna be sore tomorrow
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keep at it Liam. Will get there soon enough! Good to have a project and work on it like you have been :)
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true, i often wonder if i crack the hour will i sit back, rest on my laurels and turn back into a couch potatoe ;D
well it was a real struggle after the saddle, wish i'd brough my camera up as there were some nice shots to be had of the mourne wall with 2-3ft of snow beside it, when i got to the top i jumped off the wall into it and lay for a few minutes, it was like a big duvet, then eventually i got cold :)
only pic i got was from newcastle
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/P1120423Small.jpg)
according to my gps it was 4.7km to the top (from gate at donard park to summit via glen river path)
total ascent was 866meters, moving average 4.0kmh (was 5.1kmh until i reach the botttom of the steps - for comparison, my jogging pace is 9kmh, thats pretty slow)
i might have been a bit faster but they've started repairing the footpath near the ice house and they've blocked the wee smooth running track near the edge to force everyone higher up near the forest, anyhow thats my poor excuse, feelin some muscle tiredness now, and my toes are burning hot, but no blisters :) (yet!)
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maybe try this with you in a few weeks,on the first stage,ie the forest have you tried going up via the trail that runs to the other side of the river,then keeping to the wood trail right until the gate at the ice- house,the clear choice after this is the black stairs,then straight up the face,or doulbe time it to the saddle up the traditional route :P
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Was reading the posts there and gave it a go... absolutely busted myself and got 1hr 15min was very happy with that time! Used the Donnard Car Park, Forest, Glen River, Hare's Gap route.... Gonna explore the Black Stairs though and give it a go that way... I'd love to be able to say I did Donnard in less than an hour! :) Good Luck with any attempts!
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Forgot to say keep at it Liam! ... you'll get there!
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Hare's gap route James,do you not mean the saddle?Hares gap is up from the trassy track between slieve bearnagh & slievenaglough ???
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This boy can fairly shift it! Hare's Gap ;D
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I've been calling the Saddle the Hare's gap for ages now.... wondering why people sometimes looked at me a little funny! :-[ .... I've shown myself to be the city boy I am lol!
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Fair play to ya Rusty, has the the pain set in yet? was worse for me the day after ;D my dander up Hen yesterday got the muscles moving again and the pain dissapeared, today i did a wee jog up Slieve Croob aong the road, nothing strenuous but some hill work to test the muscles and i think i'm ready for another stab at Donard this weekend, maybe saturday morning at 10am
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Cheers Liam! ... Yeah I thought I was grand until I went to get out of my mate's car back in Belfast and realised my legs had siezed up and it took a minute before they obeyed commands from my brian again! :-\ Working Saturday but would love to get up with a few of the folks here on the forum... Will give a wee shout when I'm next going!
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failed again today, the weather was WILD up there, snow, ice, gales, the lot :o but i did manage a 1hr 15m which i'm happy with due to the conditions (wind pushing me sideways at times) best of all i've no pain (yet) from my legs, seems my muscles got such a good workout last time :)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120603Small.jpg)
snowing on the way up the steps
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120606Small.jpg)
icy on the steps after the saddle so had to keep out from the wall so little shelter from the wind
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120609Small.jpg)
summit in sight, i actually managed to put on a little jog from here
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120610Small.jpg)
shelter at last :D
(got some weird looks from people as i was wearing shorts 8) also forgot my hat and gloves, well its not like i had to remember many things ::) )
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120608Small.jpg)
coming down again it got really bitterly cold and the wind was now against me, think i lost feeling in my fingers a bit too, but sun came out as i approached the saddle and i was toasty warm again, yer man in the yellow top passed me 3 times, he did donard, then commedagh, then donard again :o i felt sorry for his poor dog who seemed a bit shattered :D
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120613Small.jpg)
snow all gone
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120617Small.jpg)
will be easier when the path is finished, looks like a good job so far
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120621Small.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120619Small.jpg)
spotted a bonzai tree ::)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/20120218%20donard/P1120624Small.jpg)
soon followed by some giant redwoods 8)
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Dam wish i was fiter, but ill start training again :P
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Keep at it mate,sure you'll get it,but what this madness with the shorts ???,crazy dude ,legs must have been cut off you
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Must have just missed you yesterday Liam, we passed that fell runner with the dog on the way off Comedagh. You're right about the dog, the poor thing really didn't seem up for it.
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but what this madness with the shorts ???,crazy dude ,legs must have been cut off you
cold legs don't really bother me when i'm moving, they were bright red for a while and the snow was sticking to them too :D
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but what this madness with the shorts ???,crazy dude ,legs must have been cut off you
cold legs don't really bother me when i'm moving, they were bright red for a while and the snow was sticking to them too :D
Liam you're on a slippery slope, next it'll be like this:
(http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww89/fatty_arbuckle/DSC_0069-2.jpg)
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Dude, lol, how would you ever find a pic like that!
Youve went onto the web and typed in 'naked hairy man standing ontop of a mountain', thats probably one of the more timid pictures too, im gonna have to talk to your missus about this behaviour!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D
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interestingly that picture looks very familiar to me, definitely seen it before somewhere ???
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Just what I was thinking rumblebum, search, - near naked man in mountains,lol ;)
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interestingly that picture looks very familiar to me, definitely seen it before somewhere ???
think you seen it here ;D
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1093.msg9423#msg9423
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coming off binnian down the wall today there was a near naked man in pink jeans continually climbing over a large boulder about 500 mtrs from the summit,i believe he was a rock climber loosning up!!!! wots wrong with these people it was freezing!!!!
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interestingly that picture looks very familiar to me, definitely seen it before somewhere ???
think you seen it here ;D
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1093.msg9423#msg9423
Indeed it was ;D That was a trip I'd love to have been on. And not just to have met "Crazy-legs".
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coming off binnian down the wall today there was a near naked man in pink jeans continually climbing over a large boulder about 500 mtrs from the summit,i believe he was a rock climber loosning up!!!! wots wrong with these people it was freezing!!!!
haha - maybe they're training for, or just back from, somewhere really cold. I refuse to wear a jumper in September even though I feel like it, so that I reset myself for winter :D Our bodies rely on stimulus to adapt.
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Know I'm probably covering old ground by ressurecting this post but I'm gonna give this Donard Challenge a go Next Thursday (16th) If anyone else fancies it too!
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I managed 55mins to the top in the 7 7s, but that was starting from the far end of the car-park, not the gate which I think is what we are measuring from. Probably take a minute off ;D
Heart rate was in the 170s, if I was just doing Donard I could maybe hold it around 180 but not sure how much quicker I'd be. Went up by the Black Stairs, although with the new path it may be quicker up the Glen River if you don't mind the steep climb at the end. I wanted something a little gentler to start the longer day.
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Fair play to you.... that's some going.... I'm really going to try and break the 1hr mark.... even if it's by seconds. Forgive my ignorance but where are the black stairs in relation to the Ice House?
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You literally cross the river at the Ice House and there are small trails leading up the right-hand side of a tributary to a scramble up 'the Black Stairs' it's a cleft of rock on Thomas' Mtn that the tributary flows down. The trail then gradually winds up to the summit. It's wet and mucky, but in the mist and damp it feels like a mini version of the black stairs in Lord of the Rings (which may or may not have you talking to yourself in a Cornwall accent..."come on Mr Frodo, it's not far now, we've got to keep going". Personally, I didn't have the breath ;D )
Here's a link to my GPS route (http://app.strava.com/runs/16490889). You may not see too much detail but may get a rough idea of the bearings.
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Cheers! Definately give that one a go: might just be the ticket for cracking the hour! Let you know how I get on!
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just reading a report on last year's donard race and 3 of the first 4 to the top went via the saddle!
I have never been up the black stairs route (so what would i know) but it looks grim from the Glen River.
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i'm itchin for another go at this soon, very soon, maybe thursday, i like to do donard on my birthday ;)
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1hr 8mins >:( (PB is 1hr 7m) although i'm quite pleased with that as i've done no training in 2 weeks and i had a small rucksack on. Got cramp just when the summit was in site so couldn't go for a sprint finish to beat my PB, although i still wouldn't have broken the hour. Maybe next year :)
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You'll get there yet...and it'll be all the sweeter.
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Had another go this morning
1st checkpoint @ 3rd bridge: 15 mins - on schedule
2nd checkpoint @ river crossing: 37 mins (section time 22mins, 7 mins behind schedule)
[I really really struggled on this section and thought about giving up many times, the wind was in my face and twice stopped forward walking never mind jogging]
3rd checkpoint @ saddle cairn: 47 mins (section time 10 mins)
Got a 2nd wind, i quite enjoy these steps now, it makes a great change from the windy valley and i get a chance to walk for a while to regain my breath and let the legs to the work, 11 mins is my usual time, so I regained a minute.
4th checkpoint @ the summit: 1hr 5 mins (section time 18 mins)
woohoo, a personal best :) no cramps to slow me this time, even managed a wee jog on the very last bit, a tail wind really helped though.
So I now have the hour well withing my sights, I have to knock 4 mins off between 2 and 3, and 1 min off the last leg, doable with the right weather (calm and misty day)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/P1220368Small.jpg)
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Very good, you'll get there eventually.
Wasn't that handy that there was a camera positioned perfectly and took a picture just as you arrived at the top. What are the chances
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Wasn't that handy that there was a camera positioned perfectly and took a picture just as you arrived at the top. What are the chances
you have to make your own luck, i left the camera up there, set it on a 2hr timer, and ran down and up again ::)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/donardSmall.jpg)
here's the proof!
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another attempt completed this afternoon, weather was great and my wife went shopping leaving me with a few hours to avoid gardening ::) managed to get my time down to 1h 2mins, nearly there :)
1st checkpoint @ 3rd bridge: 14.5 mins - 30 secs ahead of schedule and feeling good
2nd checkpoint @ river crossing: 33.5 mins (section time 19mins, 3.5 mins behind schedule, still feeling fairly strong and aiming for the hour)
3rd checkpoint @ saddle cairn: 45 mins (section time 11.5 mins, strangely slower than last time, don't know why ??? )
4th checkpoint @ the summit: 1hr 2 mins (section time 17 mins)
so another personal best :) no cramps or stiches, lost time going up the steps, i think i got a bit too complacent there :( but i wasn't busted at the top so fingers crossed for the next attempt, soon hopefully.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2012/mix2600pw.jpg)
a little messing around with the camera at the saddle :)
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You're so close now Liam,,you could almost smell it :P maybe now it's just down to pure technique,ie-foot placement,breathing.I'am sure you'll crack it :)
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Just give up Liam, you'll never do it. Your whole life is a disappointment and you've let everyone down.
Are you getting angry enough yet? Go get that bad boy :P
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(http://forums.maxima.org/images/smilies/nutkick.gif)
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Keep er lit! 2 mins is so close: at the risk of sounding boring try resting for a week and doing it with fresh legs, carb load the few days before and maybe try sports drinks while you'e on the way up. Gonna try this again over the winter myself
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Just give up Liam, you'll never do it. Your whole life is a disappointment and you've let everyone down.
Are you getting angry enough yet? Go get that bad boy :P
I've peed my pants reading this, you tell him how is is Graeme!!!
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he'a a very naughty boy ;D
Keep er lit! 2 mins is so close: at the risk of sounding boring try resting for a week and doing it with fresh legs, carb load the few days before and maybe try sports drinks while you'e on the way up. Gonna try this again over the winter myself
Got to work around the good weather so will take the first available opportunity, my previous preparation was a few beers the night before ::) i did bring 500ml of lucozade sport up with me, don't know if its any better than water but i make it think it gives me a little boost each sip. My body can do it, just have to convince my mind to make that extra push to run a bit more on the 2nd stage, then i can walk the rest of the way.
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carb load the few days before and maybe try sports drinks while you'e on the way up. Gonna try this again over the winter myself
No no, don't carb up, they'll bloat you up and leave you with no energy.
Get the fruit and veg into you a few days before hand, they'll give you all the macro nutrients that you need. Then have a few beetroots the night before, for some nitrates. Sorted.
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Can anyone with relevant knowledge settle the carb loading debate? I thought carb loading was pretty much scientific? (glycogen levels in the liver etc) I don't know enough about it but conflicting scientific advice always annoys me: I'm pretty open minded either way but someone give us a definitive answer! :)
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You don't need to carb load for something like this. If you eat normally your regular glycogen stores will have enough for at least 90mins of intense activity. People 'hit the wall' or 'bonk' when they run out of bodily carb supply... this normally happens to marathon runners around mile 16-18 - which for most people is well over 2hrs. You would get by without even eating/drinking anything, but probably safe to have something with you at least incase you are delayed in the hills.
Oisin is also right in that most people who consider carb-loading do it wrong. Eating loads of pasta the night before will leave you bloated. It works best with athletes who routinely deplete their glycogen stores so their bodies are sensitive to it and efficient at filling it back up again. You then should deplete your reserves with some intensity or by lowering your carb intake 10-7 days before event, then start piling in the carbs (pros will consume up to 7-10g/kg body weight a day in this period). You also need to drink loads of water as it is needed to make the glycogen molecules. Combined with a taper in training volume this will ram their reserves with double the normal amount. The day before the event you should take it easier and avoid fibre to rest your system, then fuel during the race with easily digestible carb sources.
Beetroot is also showing signs of being effective supplement to improve aerobic performance. Many cyclists are naturally/legally-doping on beetroot juice.
Anyway - if you are doing more than a half-marathon you could consider carb-loading as above, but it's really unnecessary for most people. You will likely not feel the best or just put on weight. Easier to just top up with a few sweets or a gel if you feel you are flagging.
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Forgot to add - as Oisin mentioned you may feel you have less energy... this is because the mega pasta feed will cause a big insulin spike that will overcompensate and leave your blood sugars low.
The Tour de France riders may eat loads of carbs at dinner each night, but they are burning 6000 a day and are well used to it. Even doing multi-day treks you can eat a horse each night...the body needs it so bad the downsides don't seem to materialise....it uses it all.
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Good stuff: sounds definitive enough for me. Wasn't being awkward it just winds me up when there's so many schools of thought knocking about all sounding credible.
The best example of this I find all the time is when people kick off with the old "They say...." Before making crazy statements ;D
I once had a guy say to me "They say you can bend the trajectory of a bullet by putting a spin on it"
My response was a swift: "who's they?" followed by "you've been watching Wanted haven't you?" .... There was a denial followed by an embarrassed silence and then a meek ... "yeah... " ;D
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And where did you get your PHD in nutrition again Craig? Your knowledge always blows me away.
Would I be close to the truth if I said that "carb loading" is one of these things someone has took from a professional athlete's training regime and thought, "if I do that too I'll be like them, even though I'm only going to be playing football for an hour down at the park."
Could we stretch it to say its similar to, or related even, to everyone all of a sudden everyone buying Whey and Protein supplements and thinking this will make me a body builder.
In my head its all just marketing mumbo jumbo.
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I have been watching this thread thinking I wouldn't mind a timed run up Donard.
The weekend as part of The wall Duathlon I got the chance. I was injured but thought I would give it a go anyway. We were using Si Dibber timing so I didn't have to look at the time. Before reaching Donard we started at silent valley, ran up the steep grassy bank of the dam then a 3km trail run around silent valley nature trails. (16:03) Onto the bike and cycled the 20km along head road onto the main road to Donard park. (43:11) My time for Donard started on the main road as I turned into the car park. Total time at this point was (59:14) I racked the bike took off the bike shoes, helmet and put on trail shoes time still running. Started running from the the entrance of the carpark killkeel rd side. We ran the river trail all the way up. Right to left to right of the river. Then up the glen river path. Total time at the saddle (01:50:15) Then up the steps to the summit (02:10:41) I stopped for a few photos on the way up too.
On the way down I was slow. I was in a lot of pain and couldn't get up to speed. Total time at the saddle (02:18:15) then time back at the carpark (02:56:14)
Transition and back onto the bike to cycle out through bryansford, slievenaman road up past spelga and back to Silent valley (04:31:23) I had to call it a day at this point and didn't do the final 13km run. I am gutted not to have finished the full course but my back was gone.
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Well done regan! It sounds beastly enough without an injury.
Oisin, I just amass information when I look into stuff that interests me. I do have some biology and PE qualifications a long time ago, but mainly got into nutrition a few years ago to counter fatigue...and now that I'm into ultra-running and have experience of long-distance treks it all is of interest...some I agree with, some I don't, and some I do but am not ready for yet! Probably the main books I've picked up fitness and nutrition info from are...
The Primal Blueprint, Racing Weight, Body by Science, Relentless Forward Progress, 4-Hour Body, Trail Life, & Book of the Bivvy.
I view whey as a 'protein gel'... it provides easy optimal intake, and it can be cost effective as meat & fish are expensive and you may not believe beans to be that optimal or good for eating in large quantities.
Sorry your thread has been hijacked Liam, we should maybe move these posts to a 'carb-loading' thread?
And where did you get your PHD in nutrition again Craig? Your knowledge always blows me away.
Would I be close to the truth if I said that "carb loading" is one of these things someone has took from a professional athlete's training regime and thought, "if I do that too I'll be like them, even though I'm only going to be playing football for an hour down at the park."
Could we stretch it to say its similar to, or related even, to everyone all of a sudden everyone buying Whey and Protein supplements and thinking this will make me a body builder.
In my head its all just marketing mumbo jumbo.
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Hi there
Glad I stumbled across this thread as I am currently in ther midst of this challenge myself with another friend.
We are having another attempt this Sunday 21st Oct. I am hoping to get under 1hr 5m which would be a new PB for me, My firend has a good chance of breaking the hour, conditions permitting.
Will post our times on monday, but interestingly we use the same markers - 3rd Bridge, bottom of staircase, cairn at the saddle, summit.
The target for one hour being 15,17,11,17
fingers crossed
Ste
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Interesting read on this. I was up SD in about 1hr10 during the 7 7s. Knocking the 10 off would be tricky enough and would have to come mostly off the flatter section before steps to col.
I was wondering what route you take up the river. Dunno if the following is any different but it might save a little time
1. Go right at the first bridge and continue up the road for 150-200m. There is a path to your left just as the roads turns hard right. Follow to next road.
2. Ahead and slightly left pick up another path that leads through the trails to the next road. These trails can be deep mud in parts. Reach the next path.
3. Straight on to nice open forest path that brings you to the wall but instead of going left to the rocky path - veer slight right to gap in wall to pick up another path. This is parallel to the rocky path until to come to a small open grassy airy just before the gap in the forest. Cut left to the main path here.
1 and 3 should offer some small saving. Not sure about 2 as I never seem to be able to take the same trail twice.
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I was wondering what route you take up the river. Dunno if the following is any different but it might save a little time
I've tried many routes up the river, and i've ended up using the tourist route beside the river on all my latest attempts, basically its a lot drier, and straighter, and there is the odd wee flat bit you can jog, the forest route is too slippy (i use road running trainers for donard) and i lose time circumnavigating obstacles. One downside though is that during afternoon attempts you have to wade through the hoards of descenders, mornings are fine though, not many coming down at 10am :) the only deviation i use is about half way bewteen 2nd & 3rd bridge i veer right into the forset where there is a little stream to cross, then there a good track upwards there (through the fallen trees).
I've always used the main path after the 3rd bridge, have been tempted to try the one in the forest, but never wanted to waste an attempt by getting lost ;D
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED (http://forums.randi.org/images/smilies/bananas/Banane21.gif)
1st checkpoint @ 3rd bridge: 14 mins
2nd checkpoint @ river crossing: 32.5 mins (section time 18.5mins)
3rd checkpoint @ saddle cairn: 43.25 mins (section time 11.75 mins, again i'm getting slower on this bit, must be becasue i pushed hard on the last section)
4th checkpoint @ the summit: 1hr 20secs, rounded off to an hour of course ;D (section time 17 mins)
it was like the inside of a ping pong ball at the summit so i rested for 4 mins then jogged back down giving me a total time of 1hr57mins (53 mins down), then met a friend and started back up again :o only to the second bridge though :)
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Well done. You sure are a glutton for punishment. How are they legs and I suppose the rest of you?
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If that was me i wouldn't be happy with actually being over the hour even if it was only 20 seconds ;)
I would be trying again!
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maybe as you go higher time goes more slowly so an hour and 20 secs is really just an hour!!
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oh i'm well happy with my time :) i'll put the 20secs down to stopping to let a few groups past on the narrow section, and stepping aside to avoid that mountain biker coming down the glen river path trying to get 88mph to activate his flux capacitor :o
How are they legs and I suppose the rest of you?
thats the great bit, i don't feel a thing, after doing donard 4 weekends in a row i've now got a good set of mountain legs :) i did have a sore back when i started (thanks to lifting a piano last night) but the pain seemed to mysteriously disappear by the first bridge :)
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There were 4 of us attempted this on Sunday morning at 9.am - we timed as follows
Jon 54.30 (13.15, 29.19, 39.20, 54.30)
Ste 58.20 (13.35, 30.42, 42.17, 58.20) **Me
Mar 1.02
Dav 1.07
Dont know the other 2 lads split times.
In summary - the biggest gain over my last times was part jogging / fast marching the first section up to the 3rd bridge i gained a minute and a half on this section vs my target of 15 mins - the second section i was 17.12 section time which was about right against my target of 17 this was part walked / part jogged. I was a little slower on the staircase than hoped. The main thing which got me under the hour was sheer bloody-mindedness on the last section, I was close to vomiting a few times and was pulling myself up with my arms using the wall on one or two parts but pleased to put this to bed at my 5th attempt. I was right on the limit of stamina and willpower and hence I am in no rush to do this again anytime soon!
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Well done good work.
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There were 4 of us attempted this on Sunday morning at 9.am - we timed as follows
Jon 54.30 (13.15, 29.19, 39.20, 54.30)
Ste 58.20 (13.35, 30.42, 42.17, 58.20) **Me
Mar 1.02
Dav 1.07
Dont know the other 2 lads split times.
In summary - the biggest gain over my last times was part jogging / fast marching the first section up to the 3rd bridge i gained a minute and a half on this section vs my target of 15 mins - the second section i was 17.12 section time which was about right against my target of 17 this was part walked / part jogged. I was a little slower on the staircase than hoped. The main thing which got me under the hour was sheer bloody-mindedness on the last section, I was close to vomiting a few times and was pulling myself up with my arms using the wall on one or two parts but pleased to put this to bed at my 5th attempt. I was right on the limit of stamina and willpower and hence I am in no rush to do this again anytime soon!
well done on breaking the hour lads, i've just spent the last 2 day travelling and sitting a lot through elf & safety courses so my legs haven't had much chance to stretch so are feeling a little sore now, still pondering another attempt this weekend though, NO, no more, i gotta move on to a different mountain now ;D
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There were 4 of us attempted this on Sunday morning at 9.am - we timed as follows
Jon 54.30 (13.15, 29.19, 39.20, 54.30)
Ste 58.20 (13.35, 30.42, 42.17, 58.20) **Me
Mar 1.02
Dav 1.07
Dont know the other 2 lads split times.
In summary - the biggest gain over my last times was part jogging / fast marching the first section up to the 3rd bridge i gained a minute and a half on this section vs my target of 15 mins - the second section i was 17.12 section time which was about right against my target of 17 this was part walked / part jogged. I was a little slower on the staircase than hoped. The main thing which got me under the hour was sheer bloody-mindedness on the last section, I was close to vomiting a few times and was pulling myself up with my arms using the wall on one or two parts but pleased to put this to bed at my 5th attempt. I was right on the limit of stamina and willpower and hence I am in no rush to do this again anytime soon!
Well done,that's some going,are you hurting :-[
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Thanks for the comments
Monday was tough, still some soreness yesterday, but am feeling good as new today. My last 2 efforts I was sorer but then again we ran back down afterwards, this time we decided to 'leave it all on the ascent' to try and get under 1 hour and come back down at a leisurely pace, certainly feel the better for it.
Funny how quickly you can go from "im in no hurry to try it again" to lets go back down and try the black stairs and see what sort of time we can register going up that route !
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good point about the black stairs, and the weather is looking good this weekend ::)
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im away this weekend, but might have a go at the black stairs on the weekend of 3rd / 4th
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i think i'll give it a miss too this weekend, i want to do a walk that i'll actually enjoy for a change :)
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Done the donard run this morning and knocked 5 minutes off my personal best, which now sits at 52.02, we used the black stairs
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Wow, did you use the bike ;D excellent time, I tried walking the black stairs route last month, took me 2hr20, went the saddle route a week later in 1hr20, just seems more of a struggle up the black stairs even though its shorter. Are you having a go at the Hill & Dale series?
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No hill and dale yet Liam I'm training for a trip to Everest base camp in September , also done a few climbs on the Womble wall on Ben crom yesterday it's a good crag