Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Outdoor News and Events => Topic started by: clairebear on September 23, 2014
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Entered the C class with paddyman, as we hadn't met before it seemed like a sensible decision.
Great weather and pack was at 9kg with 1.5l of water and food (hip flask too).
Paddyman is machine and we went great on day one but made a blip on the last but one clue and went up pigeon rock. This put on about an hour. But that's the joy of the event, you learn u guess from this.
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/a445c3494f5d3c1e469aeb36019daf19.jpg)
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/97e0986612081645cefb44a925900791.jpg)
Us before in a field near killowen outdoor.
Up round the westerly mournes.
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/2ea6a782692a55bc997adfcb11b52259.jpg)
5hr 37 day one. Not bad but a big boo boo as I said. This had us in 31place I think.
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/2e5cce33fc03e707228df2dc5db80449.jpg)
Bit of food and Craic with spud and rusty and partners. Liam was cramping so walking about as he looked in pain.
Bed at 9wrecked, didn't even drink all the mr beam. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/c942181713a982bb1fb289d93e3caf31.jpg)
Nice sunrise, porridge water and a day 2 that was looking hotter!! (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/fbba98f5961102d13818ee9219451a5b.jpg)
Over worse ground, few tricky clues in a forest, fell over lots on a bog but the big man did a great job with the map.
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/22/c625788766028af4dcb32d22ddd131cd.jpg)
Finished day two in 3.43, shorter distance but tough ground again. Placed 21overall. Had to jump into the sea at the end, lovely!
Fantastic weekend, can't wait til next year. Legs sore but loved every minute. Thanks to paddyman for the partnership!
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Great result Claire, still don't understand how you ended up Pigeon Rock though :o at least it was at the end of the day. I imagine a mistake like early on would really demoralise you and you certainley need all the morale you can get for this event. Great to meet up again with yourself, Eamonn, Oisin, Rusty & Spud too.
I struggled myself, my partner was a lot faster (I reckon he could have got a podium finish without me) and my pack was too heavy (over 11kg all in). I tried running everything flat or downhill on day1, it was hard work but didn't feel too bad, only 2 very short stops during the day when climbing Eagle Mountain. Suffered at camp with very sore shoulders and a bad back, I couldn't sit down! Avoided cramps all day but when I got into the tent for the first time both legs went immediately and I had to lie there for a few minutes laughing with the pain ;D .
Day 2 was a big struggle, just could not walk fast but was able to keep a steady but slow pace. My partner was always a "few" metres ahead of my trying to spur me on, but I think the faster he went the slower I went ;D (I think when someone is so far ahead of you you tend to give up within, whereas if they are closer you feel you can catch up). Anyhow he was a good navigator so by the time I caught up with him at each flag he had already dibbed and plotted the next course so I just kept follwing him like a lost dog.
Came 27th (5h25) on Day 1, 32nd (4h13) on Day 2 - Overall 28th (9h39) out of 65 (I had hoped for a top 20) maybe if I'd taken less photos we could have made up the necessary 23 mins to achieve that, ah well, something to aim for next year. I can always blame the navigator too of course 8)
So here's the photos
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/gpsrouteimage2014mmm-bSmall_zps7b7d4a29.jpg)
The routes
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080454Small_zps487b6b91.jpg)
a few map correction to add, unfortunately we missed an important one >:(
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080459Small_zpsad5895c1.jpg)
off we go and first task is to plot the route, good weather at this point is crucial, imagine doing this in the wind and rain
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080465Small_zps97642584.jpg)
Cloughmore Stone
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080473Small_zps03029cc5.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080477Small_zps9238e176.jpg)
manned checkpoints were dotted along the route, I hope they brought midge nets
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080482Small_zps2738887c.jpg)
The odd time I raised my head I got to appreciate the view, here's Pierce's Castle
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080486Small_zpsabb37233.jpg)
Some teams stopped for lunch, not us though, we ate on the move. I remember trying to eat going up a steep hill and the food was falling out of my mouth as I tried to breath deeply ;D
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080487Small_zpsf0399491.jpg)
Shanlough catches me out EVERY year - must remember to stay wide of the fence where its deeepest (it smelled as bad as it looked :'( )
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080501Small_zps0a86a028.jpg)
top of Eagle and more great views
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080520Small_zps532e1c27.jpg)
finished day 1 and straight to the foot spa to wash Shanlough off me
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080534Small_zps73be6e9b.jpg)
followed by a wee rest in the tent
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080528Small_zpseaec42f9.jpg)
and the lovely feeling of nice dry socks
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080543Small_zps965ec3ad.jpg)
and some delicious dinner
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080547Small_zps2db5bccc.jpg)
looking for those lost minutes
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080524Small_zps639e21af.jpg)
there's always one (and its usually Rusty)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080549Small_zps4487d79f.jpg)
hmmmm nice
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080552Small_zps82cbda4a.jpg)
good idea, never thought of that for camp
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080554Small_zps3e1f7b99.jpg)
my wee luxury item, yes it lookslike pee but it tastes like cider
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080581Small_zpsab133cd8.jpg)
afterburners on and time for supper
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080565Small_zps207e391b.jpg)
warming the paws, it was a really warm weekend, but once the sun dropped it cooled dramatically
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080576Small_zps66b0a1da.jpg)
supernoodle supper
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080589Small_zps94ccf8bf.jpg)
DAY 2 - a lovely dawn
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080595Small_zps457edd11.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080592Small_zps7968b2a3.jpg)
the usual queue for the loo (and I was touching cloth :o )
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080601Small_zps013ef33a.jpg)
what a campsite
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080622Small_zpsf56e5dd2.jpg)
each class starts together on day 2 so there is a bit of a procession, especially with the good visibility, very tempting to follow the crowd but that caught us out a couple of times
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080627Small_zpsde7385cc.jpg)
some fog in the valleys below, now that would make an interesting event
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080636Small_zpsa5543911.jpg)
some confusion among the teams (the flag was behind that tree)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080638Small_zps266a1872.jpg)
sometimes the flag is in a wee dip so you can't see it from a distance
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080640Small_zps30778272.jpg)
this one you could spot from miles away
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080645Small_zps4e3e2077.jpg)
3rd last flag and what a glorious view, there's Killowen below, our finish point, just have to get down a very very steep hill. It was tricky in the good dry conditions, if it was wet i would have stuck the waterproof trousers on and just slid down (many did so unintentionally)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080652Small_zpsd683b4e4.jpg)
many teams just walked straight into the sea at the finish
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080655Small_zpsb45f0bd4.jpg)
he said it was a shortcut that went wrong!
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080657Small_zps73cfc943.jpg)
tempting
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080673Small_zpsc8afba59.jpg)
pretty in pink
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080676Small_zps83bea2cb.jpg)
mourne pride
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Congrats folks looks like it was a good (but very toasty) weekend. Disappointed I had to miss it this year as the course looked great with some good views.
Now the important part, 2015 class C partner needed for meetups and training every 8-10 weeks any offers?
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Great photos guys, was great to see you all there! Well done Claire and Paddy on being top mixed team in class C!
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Thanks for sharing folks. Well done to all the NI Wilders who participated. With the ground so dry I'm sure the conditions were perfect for the MMM.
I was fortunate to have spent the weekend in the Mournes too and the weather was exceptional.
What about this guy? There is always a point when turning back and going around is better than keeping going :o
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/Mobile%20Uploads/P1080655Small_zpsb45f0bd4.jpg)
he said it was a shortcut that went wrong!
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I did laugh at the thought of food falling out of your mouth when climbing and trying to breathe! The weather did make the navigation a lot easier but I did get some more tan lines to add to my already good collection!
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Congrats folks as the kids say I'm well gel.
Anyone want to start training for next years with me
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Congrats folks as the kids say I'm well gel.
Anyone want to start training for next years with me
Do you have in mind what group you want to enter and what sort of times you would like to be hitting next year?
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Played folks. Well done!
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Not to sure about the groups or respectable times but I'm fairly fit and competitive. So I'd say the intermediate class but as I said no idea of a time.
Tho I really would love to do this. Can't believe I only found out about it a few weeks ago
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Great to see you guys at the campsite in the mourne mountain marathon. spud ,rusty and liam, i had a great time camping and hiking, and i had a great teamate in claire, hopefully me and her can partner up next year all going well and kick ass.
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Brilliant, well done to everyone who gave it a whirl!
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top banana - everyone ;D
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Did a writeup of the trip here if anyone's interested! http://www.hikersblog.co.uk/mourne-mountain-marathon-2014/
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Well done guys .The effort required to complete this is quite outstanding .This is something I would like to aim for next year after doing the Extreme causeway half its, lit the fuse. What sort of training plans do you have. I do a half in around 1:50 and the causeway was 2:30 and i have more in the tank if I was after times .
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Well you're already ahead of me in fitness (my mourne way half time was nearly 3 hrs) so C class shouldn't be a bother to you. So keep up with whatever normal training you do and maybe just practise your navigation more (if you need to). Get out into the western mornes on a misty day or maybe some night nav somewhere handy like Tollymore Forest & Luke's Mountain. Only other thing I would recommend is doing some steep hill like Donard a week before so you're legs are used to it, this should stop you suffering on Day 2 of the MMM.
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Whats the differences in the classes ? Does anyone know of a good website with info. Seen Claire's blogs which are a wealth of info on what to take etc.
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www.mourne2day.com should have all the info you need
Elite = 55km
B Class = 45km
C Class = 35km
D Class = 35km
The higher the class the more ascending to do and the controls get harder to find, those distances assume you chose the best route and don't get lost! (C, B & Elite have clusters where you can chose the order you get certain controls)
All the 2014 info here http://mourne2day.com/?page_id=75
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I actually have a theory that you can complete the MMM without having any navigation skills at all in your team. *warning/disclaimer ... Don't actually try it: it's a big gamble and getting lost, exhausted and desperate in the hills can be a killer.
Having said that if your fitness is up to scratch and your memory is half decent the reality is there's always people around going roughly in the same direction. Memorise a few details of packs and clothing of your comrades in the class and it could probably be done without any navigation skill.
Having said that the whole point is the navigation so it'd be a pointless exercise... If navigation ain't your thing there's loads of linear or marked trail running events.
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Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :o
Well maybe in perfect conditions with great visibility, and an early start so if you lose a team you could alway let another catch up with you, and definitely C class only due to largest entry field, BUT, one patch of mist of heavy rain and you wander a little off track you're on your own ;D
I've also followed other teams the wrong way before, silly of me as my navigation is decent, but you do get into a mindset that they must know where they are going :-[
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Berghaus aquafoil or North face Hyvent for a waterproof jacket, apparently the rules state a certain type of waterproof. D class is a good starter it gives those who want to start the sport a chance ,heard a few bandits like to drop down just to win .Me ..its all about completion and accuracy. Looking to compete in 2015 and the wife as a partner .She has no experience so the D class for us might be able to convince her to move up a level if we start the training early enough.
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Berghaus aquafoil or North face Hyvent for a waterproof jacket, apparently the rules state a certain type of waterproof. D class is a good starter it gives those who want to start the sport a chance ,heard a few bandits like to drop down just to win .Me ..its all about completion and accuracy. Looking to compete in 2015 and the wife as a partner .She has no experience so the D class for us might be able to convince her to move up a level if we start the training early enough.
They are actually fairly flexible on the jacket type, last year I used a small packaway type from regatta and during the pre-race inspection they had no problems with it at all. I think the ruling about jackets is mainly there to prevent anyone using the Sunday rambler pack-a-mac types you sometimes see. This type of event means no jacket in the world will still keep breathing for the amount you will be sweating so as long as you have some breathability rating the jacket should be fine.