Latest News... January 2008 UpdateGL3Day 2008 – Ultra Mountain Trail The latest news is that GL3Day 2008 info is now available. Following a bit of a shake up, the event returns to The Lakes but will be a bit tougher, and smaller, and with a retro return to it’s roots. Be prepared for long magical days out and remote campsites. Recent feedback and review has decreed that over the past few years the days’ had become too short, run times had become too quick and some campsites too fluffy and tame. Hence, this year the total distance has been increased to 100 miles over three days, and there will be no readily available pubs meals or cafes close by. This change also reflects the growth, popularity and improvement in Ultra running standards. Entry numbers are restricted to just 50, due to logistical and environmental factors; ie, all the gear needs to fit into one smaller van! Participants will notice a few changes next year … all for the better, of course. Enter soon to avoid disappointment.
NAV+art – NNAS at April’s course. 5/6th April Borrowdale YHA Our weekend Navigation course for runners and adventure racers continue to be very popular. The next course in April is located at Borrowdale YHA upon a semi-board basis. Full details are available on the site. Bookings are steadily filling up and places are limited due to finite resources. Don’t miss out. New for April 2008 will be an opportunity to undertake NNAS (National Navigational Award Scheme) assessments. www.nnas.org.uk Details of this will be finalized soon. There may be a small admin charge for this, but we are not sure yet.
NAV+art Master Classes Master Classes continue either on a ‘One/One’ basis or ‘Team Days’ for both flourishing and proven Adventure Race teams. Tailoring your tuition and coaching to your own specific needs is an excellent investment for enhanced AR performance, and can be very cost effective. (from £150 per day per team) ‘Team Days’ are highly recommended for fledging teams undertaking big races. Please email me for further information or with your ideas, requests or questions.
NAV+art 2007 Seasonal Round Up Our quest for the NAV+art end of year ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ do, has moved to January (See Camping Barn info) but it has been a good and satisfying end to the NAV+art season. John and Louise just missed out on third place at the last Open5 at Coniston. This also mirrored their fourth place in the Open5 series and the 3rd place in the Open5 Endurance series. Considering this is against some very top class/international athletes, and the lack of training John has been able to do this year it is amazing. Personally I enjoyed my solo ride/run at Coniston, having recovered from the ‘beasting’ that Wilko gave me at The OMM, even though a ‘school boy error’ caused me to miss the final checkpoint on the run in against the clock! It must be something about getting old or not being able to multi-task by trying to run fast (itself quite a challenge for me) and navigating at the same time, Doh! On a more positive note, Louise and I were third mixed pair in the OMM Long Score, and having been knackered for weeks I’m now up and look forward to 2008.
NAV+art Camping Barn January 2008 Team NAV+art kick-off with an activity/social camping barn weekend near Hesket New Market on 12th January. Classic MTB loops and The Old Crown Round fell run of The Northern Fells are on the agenda, along with a few beers at The Old Crown. They may be a few spaces in the camping barn if anyone is keen and brave enough to join us.
Open5 – Group Accommodation with Team NAV+art After that the season rolls on with Open5’s in January, March and May. Team NAV+art will be there and building on James’s ‘Make a Weekend of It’ idea, we are offering Camping Barn accommodation for the May event near Broughton in Furness. Open to everyone, these cheap and convenient ‘bed spaces’ are a great idea and a sociable occasion. By arriving the evening before an event you lessen the early morning panic, and remove any stressful early morning drive from home. Obviously a short ride or shake down run during the day before sets you up for a good event, and a few beers. We are not averse to a few beers the night before, either, so overall it’s pretty good option. The cost is just £8pppn if booked and paid for in advanced. You do need a sleeping bag, etc, so it’s only for real Adventure Racers …. no fluffy bunnies please. Please email me if you are interested – spaces are limited.
More 2008 Sadly, there are no ACE Two Day Races for the majority of 2008, and in the absence of any Wilderness Arc or World Championship Race for team NAV+art the year may seem a little empty. However, the Open Adventure Endurance series, with the Open12 and 24 looks really exciting, as do the new ‘6x6’ Dark and White Races. I’m also looking forward to getting ‘fell fit’ and running some classic Lakes fell races, a few Tri’s and having a good run at The OMM. The Heb Challenge will be my big event of the year. Lindsey and myself will be going to The Hebrides for a two weeks+ holiday. I can’t recommend the islands or the race high enough. Hopefully a team will materialize that needs my services and finds a space for me.
I think that’s all the news for now. Have a good Winter … be safe, but have fun out there.
Joe
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