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Mountain Marathons

and QO members

A Mountain Marathon on Dartmoor, 2010

A Mountain Marathon on Dartmoor, 2010
Credit: Paul Foot

Published: Sun 23 Jun 2019

Several of our members take part in a variety of adventure races further afield. These are variously known as mountain marathons, ultras, fell running...and sometimes a Long O, the orienteering world's version of a mountain marathon.

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon

Angela and Spencer Modica (W45 / M50) and Pete and Sam Shirvington (M45 / M16) successfully completed their courses at Howgill Fells on 6/7 July. The Modicas are tackled a 56km 'advanced' course while the Shirvingtons have chosen the course aimed at newbies, a mere 41km.

Pictures/ article here


If any members would like to contribute a few words or pictures illustrating their Mountain Marathon experiences, please get in touch (website@quantockorienteers.co.uk)


Long O
Up until 2017, we had an annual weekend on Exmoor, the Quantocks or Dartmoor for those seeking a mountain marathon style challenge. Several other orienteering clubs ran these 'Long O' challenges but they proved too 'niche' and very few events now exist. Our Long O section (link) features many entertaining reviews of these adventures in the wilderness.

An intriguing possibility would be to resurrect these events as permanent courses, using GPS controls via the MapRun app. This would allow folks to compete against each other in their own time, with very little organisational burden on the club.

Stephen's Lake District ultra - June 2019

One of our resident fell runners Steve Lysaczenko really mixed it up on a recent trip to the Lakes- an ultra on Saturday, then a fell race then an orienteering course!

Read more here


Terrific Tom's Ten Tors Triumph - May 2019

Well done to Tom Hasler for completing his latest Ten Tors challenge. He trekked 55 miles (88km) across Dartmoor. He was part of a team of six, who carried tents, sleeping bags and all the other kits between them. Dad Chris reports he could barely lift Tom's pack!


Long O using the MapRun app?

The latest MapRun-based format to emerge from North Gloucester OC is a mountain trail experience. Pat Macleod's 11.5 km course sticks to paths and locates each of its six GPS controls on a clear track junction. What is most impressive is the phone batteries on two of the test runs lasted for the full duration, all three hours, of Pat's attempts.

Routegadget


Previous mountain marathons

Black Mountains, Wales - 2018 OMM

Well done to Angela Modica who with husband Spencer finished 5th on the veterans' medium score course at the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) in mixed weather in the Black Mountains in late October.

OMM results

Photos (from Wimborne Waffle)

Also there was ultra runner Adrian Edwards with his long standing race partner Richie Hill.

LAMM & Great Lakeland 3 Days, 2018

John Abbott completed both days of the LAMM on the Isle of Harris, Scotland in early June. In early May he did two of the three days at the Great Lakeland 3 Day. We tend to see John running the Brown course on hilly, open areas, so the penny should have dropped that's this is his thing!

Ten Tors, May 2018

Congratulations to Tom Hasler and Owen Maynard, who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Ten Tors expeditions in mid May. Tom's team did the 45 mile expedition and Owen's the 35 mile one. Tom was tasked with navigating for his injury-hit team, which finished with 17 minutes to spare.