Topic: Mourne Mountain Marathon (Read 23348 times)

MG1 · « **on:** September 03, 2009 »

Does any one have any tips for the MMM cause myself and Billy Backpack are in the D-class and any help would be great? :'( :'(

chris · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2009 »

I did the d class last year so I'll note down a few things I found out/did

when you get your route cards plot all the points at once. Take 10mins and do it there that'll save u makin mastakes under pressure.
Take a change of socks and as spark said freezer bags but definitley a change of socks!
Dont for get the wee things (I didnt take a spoon or a mug!)
Look for other uses for items (Forgot my mug but was able to cut an empty bottle in half!)
Take some hot chocolate for the campsite its amazing!
A jumper and some trousers would be uselful at camp (Guess what i didnt bring!)
When you get to camp take a bit and find the best area to pitch your tent, you'll appreciate that extra 5-10min dander when you dont have a clump of grass poking into your back!
If i think of anything else i'll say, these are just some things from a newbie perspective im no vet so please feel free to add delete ignore whatever!

MG1 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2009 »

Thats great mate thanks

Spark · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2009 »

Cant think of much to add to that tho if you have anything that you are wanting to clear in your own head run it by us and will see if we can help....only other thing is make sure you keep your route card safe even if you do plot up before you head off, in case you have made an error and plotted a cp wrong you will still have it to look back on......also i find a diff colour pen for day 2 is handy so you dont get mixed up with day 1 controls.........write cut off times beside the cut off point and number your cp's...!

My start time is 9.28 and im doing the C class, i can also be easy spotted with my bright pink hair......!! so make sure to say hi..!

I also dont carry a load of water first year i set of with 2ltrs of water in a bladder now i just bring a small bottle there is sooooooooo much water in the mournes you can top up when needed have never used water purification tabs either, if you want to gain on other ppl in the D class dont stop to eat do it on the move keep food handy ask your partner to reach it out of your pack instead of stopping removing pack and so on....if you stop 3 times even just for 4/5 mins it adds up even in the D class.

Oh and have fun...........!!

chris · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2009 »

Just to let you know final instructions have been posted on the mmm site. The event centre is in tullymore this year. Lookin forward to it! Oh and keith we start 2mins before you!

ulsterwalker · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2009 »

Cool mate, will catch you for a chat then, you running with that tiny bag you had up Bearnah? Trying to decide between 20 and 30 litres at the mo.

There will be a mini race between us then to see who can finish first!

Looking forward to it now as well, but think me and my partner might be pulled into an all day boozing session on Thursday, which I'm sure won't help matters, but will be fun

Not that I've raced before but would agree with Spark on the water, you could run carrying nothing but a small ladel to scoop water out of streams, saving you a good bit of weight. However I'll be running with a 500ml bottle and gonna carry an empty platipus for the campsite, to stop numerous trips to streams.

Red and purple would be my colours of choice for marking the maps, a la orienteering

My friend who is racing in D class was wondering if you can run/walk with trekking poles? Couldnt find anything bout it in the rules

Spark · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2009 »

Yes there is no rule against walking poles, or tow ropes if your partner not as strong as you, so if your partner is constantly way ahead of you stick him on a lead and get hil to pull you along just be carefull on downhill sections and jumping streams and hags.......lol

chris · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2009 »

yeah poles are fine, people had them last year and no probs, same as those toe rope things! lol dont think theres any danger of us posing much of a threat to your time! tried my good old british army issue g-tex socks on a wee run up slieve croob there and they were amazing! Nah not using the karrimore bag, went a little nuts when i got paid and ended up buying a bag i've been pining over for months! although its not much bigger! I'm turning back into a gear freak!

ulsterwalker · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2009 »

Fink I might bring a pair of poles myself in that case, split them betwenn the 2 of us and go for some proper kamikaze descents! Have seen the bungee's being used before at a rat race, but wouldn't fance having to pull my mate up the hill!

Inov8 do make some very nice bags, there was one in Hilltreker in Newcastle which looked quite nice, but I really need to stop buying kit that isn't neccesary.

G-tex socks are the mutts nuts, will be sticking them on sat night but will prob run without them on sunday. They certainly make returning your feet to wet shoes a more pleasant experience.

Anybody else planning on "running" in shorts and t-shirt?

weather looks pretty decent, better than it was a couple days ago, overcast day and sunny evening would suit me. 30% chance of percipitation will do me rightly

chris · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2009 »

i wore shorts and t shirt last year and was planning on something similar this year.

ulsterwalker · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2009 »

this might be of interest to some peeps

http://www.theomm.com/forum/index.php?topic=999.0

RedLeader · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2009 »

Best of luck on the Marathon to all the NI-Wild peeps that are doing it this weekend. Someone try and take some photos (if you're not too lightweight for a camera

) and tell us your stories next week.

Oh, and don't forget to spread the word.... More members ahoy!!!

chris · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2009 »

frig me boys, just did the mmm there and I am bust! Its a struggle to walk not looking forward to work tomorrow! How'd the rest of you find it? was talkin to ulster walker at the end, what about billy_backpack and mg1 last I saw of you guys you were slumped at the donard saddle about to hit comdagh! how was your route? summit anything crazy! hope you got your t-shirts!

ulsterwalker · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2009 »

Not in the greatest condition myself! Think walking will be interesting tomorow! 2 good days in the hills pushed myself harder than I usually would and think it was worth it, bit sore mind. Except for the bottlenecked start, today was better with a bit of competitiveness when around others, think we were having a really good run till Alan's cramps, which pretty much binned running for the rest of the day. But very happy with where we ended up and will hopefully return next year and finish a bit higher!

Hope nobody got injured on their way round (I totally scrubbed it on the first morning

) and enjoyed it enough to consider returnign next year

Oh aye, and the weather was SWEET! perfect for the shades

billy backpack · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2009 »

Oh my word what can I say, was just on ebay looking for a cheap wheelchair or crutches........LOL

Commedagh wasn't really summitted.....our marker and cut off point was at Hares Gap at the stile, so we scooted up Commedagh a bit then done a contour around and dropped down around Slieve Corragh onto the Brandy Pad and up to the gap instead. We then litterly bombed down the trassy to Tollymore to bag our t-shirts at the end... ( that sounds like we are pro's

)

Seriously though was great fun however there def is more training to be done.

Both MG1 and myself were sort of happy with the performance and obviously we've gained some tips for next time ie route choice, when to really push and so on.

Congrats to Chris and Ulsterwalker on completing and I hope you were pleased enough with your overall times.

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Author Topic: Mourne Mountain Marathon (Read 23348 times)

MG1

Mourne Mountain Marathon

chris

Re: Mourne Mountain Marathon

MG1

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Spark

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chris

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ulsterwalker

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Spark

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chris

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ulsterwalker

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chris

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ulsterwalker

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RedLeader

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chris

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billy backpack

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