[Mad Stuff] The Spine Race

sconhome

Update for anyone tracking this afternoon, from the MOntane facebook page:

Don't be deceived about the gap between Eugeni Roselló Solé (ESP, second) and Columbia Sportswear's Eoin Keith (IRL, third). Keith is going through a notorious tracking blackspot and is likely much closer. #spinerace #britainsmostbrutal

Eoin is #1 and the '!' indicated that the tracker is not moving / updated.

Neady83

To quote FB

"@montaneuk Spine Race course record holder and @Columbia1938 athlete Eoin Keith told us an early fall, where robust GPS unit met chest, may be the cause of why he's feeling slightly below par. To be performing this strongly, while suffering unexpectedly early, is a tribute to the man."

He's some man to be performing like this with an injury.

Jakey Rolling

Time gap between Eoin and the leader was about 4h30m at the most recent checkpoint in Dufton.
Probably less than 40hrs left to the finish at the current pace (course record)
Excluding injury to the 2 leaders, the only way I see this gap being closed is by taking less rest/sleep.

Fantastic effort by all 3 to this point.
Awaiting developments with bated breath...

Jakey Rolling

22:50 Pavel on the move, looks like Eugeni ready to go too.
Eoin about 7 km from the checkpoint with Hollins on his heels- probably about 1 hour deficit at this point.

Didn't realise Hollins has his own vehicular support which he is sleeping in at CPs.

sconhome

Jakey Rolling wrote: »

22:50 Pavel on the move, looks like Eugeni ready to go too.
Eoin about 7 km from the checkpoint with Hollins on his heels- probably about 1 hour deficit at this point.

Didn't realise Hollins has his own vehicular support which he is sleeping in at CPs.

The support vehicle baffles me. I would expect he is unranked.

Paved seems on a mission. I expected him to need a solid sleep which would allow Eoin back into it. EugenI is on same sleep as Eoin so in best position right now.

Savage racing from Carol. Putting her stamp all over the ladies race.

Keeks

What the support vehicle is allowed to do...still not sure how much of an advantage it is.

Carol also seems to be supported.

You are allowed a support team if you choose. Support teams should not access the course
but use the many road crossings on the route. They are able to move your drop bag for you.
Your support team can offer resupply, medical support and assist other athletes at their
discretion. You can use your support vehicle to sleep in, if you wish.

You must complete the course on foot with no assistance from vehicles of any kind for
transportation.

Looks like Eugeni is trying to put a gap between himself and Pavel....or at least put him under pressure when he has less rest

mloc123

I guess the vehicle is a camper van? So they can cook food/have somewhere consistent to sleep (if they chose to)

Keeks

that would make sense....the support personnel would also need somewhere to sleep

Bulmers

looks like Eoin had retired unfortunately, great going to take this on again,it's just a crazy race, no doubt he will be back again.

Keeks

that a pity.....hopefully nothing serious has happened.
that fall early on must have final put paid to his adventure......especially when trying to chase down the front two

good show all the same... much better man than me

Neady83

Disappointed for Eoin, wise move if he's injured though. Such a shame.

Bulmers

Will be interesting finish, Pavel and Eugeni still neck and neck. was trying to see how much sleep they've had but cant be more than 6-7hrs? I think Eugeni has had a little more than Pavel as Pavel had a lead yday morning but Eugeni caught up, so we have Pavel with less sleep but maybe more steady pace and Eugeni with more sleep but chased down Pavel..

Course record must be on given the comparatively not so bad conditions this . the record set by Eoin is 95hrs last year and he finished Wed morning after a Saturday morning start, just under 4 days. think weather was worse last year aswell.

the two lads currently at 70hrs with 72 miles left, should know the winner this time tomorrow.

sconhome

Fecks sake! Internet coverage has been like those trackers up the Spout so I've missed all the last updates.

Gutted for Eoin. No doubt he'll be back more determined than ever. Hope it's nothing serious. Pavel seems to be on an absolute minimum amount of sleep, wonder if this will catch him out?

Bulmers

seems Eoin had fractured rib from fall on the first night..

"Eoin Keith (IRL) in good spirits despite DNF at Alston. Confirmed fractured rib from a fall on the first night. He continued on anyway. "I wasn't going to retire in a podium spot," he said. But once Tom Hollins (GBR) passed him he decided to drop"

summit2summit

The two lads are just about to arrive into CP5. Still neck and neck. Will be very interesting to see who makes a break for it. Just 52 miles left out of 268!

RacoonQueen

Interesting to see Carol Morgan firmly inside the top ten as well. Well ahead of second placed female.

Neady83

Pavel and Eugeni still moving together but while they took a nap at Bellingham, Tom Hollins was creeping up behind them. He's less than a mile behind them now. How exciting is this.

Looks like Eoins record is still intact though

Bulmers

yep, they had 2 hours rest at cp5 but he trucked on through and nearly up with them now

Keeks

looks like they are all together now

Neady83

They're together now ..... so what kind of tactics come into play in a race like this? Does one of them decide to bolt and hope they have enough in the tank to sustain it? A bit like the Keirin in track cycling.

Keeks

Neady83 wrote: »

They're together now ..... so what kind of tactics come into play in a race like this? Does one of them decide to bolt and hope they have enough in the tank to sustain it? A bit like the Keirin in track cycling.

And that is exactly what Tom seems to be doing.....

RacoonQueen

Feck the mens race. Look at Carol Morgan - 52 miles ahead of her nearest female competitor!

Now I don't know how impressive this actually is, the rest of the women against her could be like me racing against Daniela Ryf, but on paper it looks pretty freakin impressive.

Neady83

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Feck the mens race. Look at Carol Morgan - 52 miles ahead of her nearest female competitor!

Now I don't know how impressive this actually is, the rest of the women against her could be like me racing against Daniela Ryf, but on paper it looks pretty freakin impressive.

She's doing unbelievably well, top 7 is phenomenal regardless of whether she's male or female - the saturation rate in this race shows just how tough it is. She seems to have done very well in the ultra scene in Ireland

Bulmers

wow, Tom has a lead of 6 miles on Eugenie and Pavel, 23 miles remaining and he's 88hrs on the go.

there was an update at 2am saying there was 0.5miles between the 3 of them so Tom must have put the foot down.

Carol up to joint 5th..great going, she's only 20 miles behind Pavel and Eugeni, 62 miles ahead of 2nd place female

Jakey Rolling

Looks like Tom will be due a penalty for missing out a dog leg at the Roman Camps at 3:30 this morning. The other 2 took the correct route. No more than 1km extra distance.

At this point even a 30min time penalty applied at the finish shouldn't impact on his winning lead. About 10 miles left to go.

EC1000

Jakey Rolling wrote: »

Looks like Tom will be due a penalty for missing out a dog leg at the Roman Camps at 3:30 this morning. The other 2 took the correct route. No more than 1km extra distance.

At this point even a 30min time penalty applied at the finish shouldn't impact on his winning lead. About 10 miles left to go.

I know nothing about this type of racing but surely not completing the course would result in a DQ? Otherwise where do you draw the line - i.e. if you skip half the course do you just get a bigger penalty?

Keeks

The 2 currenty behind have already been penalised for a similar offence. The officals determined they gained 20 mins by doing so and add a 50% extra time to it and gave them a 30 min standing penalty at one of the checkpoints.

RacoonQueen

EC1000 wrote: »

I know nothing about this type of racing but surely not completing the course would result in a DQ? Otherwise where do you draw the line - i.e. if you skip half the course do you just get a bigger penalty?

I suppose in a race where you are navigating your own way around the course allowances need to be different.

Neady83

EC1000 wrote: »

I know nothing about this type of racing but surely not completing the course would result in a DQ? Otherwise where do you draw the line - i.e. if you skip half the course do you just get a bigger penalty?

Keeks wrote: »

The 2 currenty behind have already been penalised for a similar offence. The officals determined they gained 20 mins by doing so and add a 50% extra time to it and gave them a 30 min standing penalty at one of the checkpoints.

The length of the race, the difficult self navigation and the sleep deprivation, especially at the pointy end of things, lend themselves to mistakes being made on the course. I've no doubt that Toms mistake and Pavel and Euginis mistake were unintentional so the best way the organisers have to deal with it is to implement a time penalty, as per Keeks above. Eugini and Pavel served their time penalty at one of the checkpoints two days ago so the rankings are correct at the moment.

summit2summit

Fascinating finish. I did not think Tom would be able to catch the two lads let alone open up a 7 mile gap as of ~10am.
Carol surely has this won unless she is unlucky enough to pick up an injury. Mammoth running from her!
Pity about Eoin's injury, you cant help but think it could have been an Irish 1 - 2 in the standings!

Djoucer

Nav errors are allowed in the race. You just get punished for them.

No need to draw a line as everyone who enters the race understands the rules. You're not going to get someone cutting half the course etc. It would mean they would be heading in wrong direction for days.

Some performance by hollins. I do wonder if the two lads spent too much time racing each other.

summit2summit

Looks like Pavel has made a break for it. He is .5 miles ahead of Eugini

summit2summit

I think Eugini has taken a wrong turn!?

Bulmers

TOm was supported from what i understand as they said on a few updates he was sleeping / taking breaks in a camper van at the various CPs, but does doing it supported give him advantage over non supported people?

i guess given the outcome it's not viewed that way but just wondering how it works

mloc123

Bulmers wrote: »

TOm was supported from what i understand as they said on a few updates he was sleeping / taking breaks in a camper van at the various CPs, but does doing it supported give him advantage over non supported people?

i guess given the outcome it's not viewed that way but just wondering how it works

They all have the option to be supported... I am sure they all have some support team, maybe not to the same extent but I would guess they have somebody at each CP with food, supplies etc..

RacoonQueen

Looks like Carol Morgan finished in joint 6th place with a new women's course record!

68 lost souls

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Looks like Carol Morgan finished in joint 6th place with a new women's course record!

107:26:01 tbc she did not want cameras at the finish apparently but what a fantastic achievement. Well done!

sconhome

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Looks like Carol Morgan finished in joint 6th place with a new women's course record!

Smashed it by 43 hours or something mad!!