Dragon's Tale Revisted

Dragon's Back Race - 2015

So, the DBR is over for another two years and there will be so many different memories and stories from a wide range of people.

Firstly, I'd like to thank Shane, Heather and Tom for amazingly professional delivery of 'The Third Edition' which appeared to be faultless to me.  Backed up by a highly competent team of hand-picked marshals and with the generous title sponsorship of Berghaus, this was a very slick production.

There is no doubt this is a tough race. It's a tough week on everyone; at least we runners get more sleep generally than the event team, who work tirelessly to make the event happen.  Some 'big names' bailed out, some due to injury and some realised mid-week that it wasn't going to happen for them.
I was sad to see to the two 'Jim's, and my Spine mate Mark, all very experienced mountain running men,  choose to stop through 'SMJ' decisions when things weren't going there way.

There are other people to thank as well,  I spent a bit of time with Carol, initially on the Glyders and especially on Crib Goch, but she is much faster runner than me and quickly gets away on the flat. My tent companions whittled down to see me sharing with Damian Hall, Pavel, Jonas and a certain Mr Tobias Mews who were all great entertainment and a source of inspiration in various ways.  ('Stop Faffing'  Tobias...)

I'd also like to congratulate our NAV4 Adventure clients who did so well: Lizzie, Tremayne, Michelle and Richard for completing the full race, and in very good times, along with Louise, Anna, Carlos, Katharine, Wayne for going so well and so far.  I was really pleased to see Braddan complete this year after being so close in 2012.  I actually didn't see much of him all week, as he started early, got to bed early and was wary of any cut-offs.

More Than Just a Race

'More than just a race' is what Angie from Berghaus quoted today; and she should know having been there working all week and running the complete Day Three, the long tough day, in tough conditions. In some ways it's a family affair, although with different branches of the family.  I've been taking my time to catch up with some social-media, and have particularly enjoyed Helene Whittaker's videos, if only to see what else was going on around me during the week.  Helene is very much part of the DBR team, as is Wendy Dodds;  Steve Doobie....you were conspicuous by your absence.

Great Videos and Media Coverage

There are hundreds of photos on the web, and with more surfacing each day.  Helene's video presentations were the highlight of yesterday's media catch up, and before we all become yesterday's chip paper please take a look at a few videos on the dragonsbackrace website

If you only watch two video shorts then please try these those of Jim Mann, Huw and Glen Davies and myself from Day Five   Jim's words are very poignant, and the bit about Glen and Huw Davies is pretty special for me too.    The camera does lie: the twenty or so seconds of me walking up that lane doesn't show how steep it was.  Plus, I would have answered questions with a more lengthy response especially if Helene or some had asked me something interesting. And....I think Ian Corless's camera has a special filter on it to make us look more rugged and knackered than we really are.

'So, Three Dragon's Back Races in 23 Years?'

I was often asked which was best , or which was hardest, or whether this one was tougher than The Spine.  If truth be told I found this one the easiest.  1992 was very daunting and way beyond the physical limits of what any of us had done then.  2012 was hard from an emotional and psychological point of view as it came just a week after the Sting Exped Adventure Race in Scotland. So, I started a bit battered and sore but was fit that year.  This year in 2015 I was far from running or race fit, but had enough mountain miles in my legs from working outdoors, usually with a sizeable sac on.

I'm just not running fit any more.  Someone once described my running as similar to an old 2.0 litre non-turbo Diesel Transit van.  There the ones that look tatty, and you'd never think they would pass an MOT, but they just keep going.  As long as you keep putting the right fuel in they keep going.

Well, if that is so, in DBR 1992 I (think?) I would have been and 'L' reg Transit. That 'L' plate means a lot to me. In 1992 I was just thirty, and coming into my long distance prime (the media hadn't invented the word 'ultra' then, in fact social media was invented!)  But I was surrounded by the great and the good of long distance mountain running;  Stone and Diamantides, Belton and McDermott, Walsh and Clark, Cudahy and Kyle, Wendy and Sue, Turnbull and Jones, someone called Crane, John Redmayne....you get the idea.  So, I was the young unknown tea-boy, the fat 'mid-packer' (sic) who survived and came to the fore.  I was just lucky to be born when I was and be invited to take part.

However, in '92 I was also quietly confident. I'd chalked up 3 Bob Graham Rounds, a good handful of hilly '100' milers, dozens of mountain marathons (proper two day jobs, not 26.2 miles of trail)  and so I had miles in the tank, topped off by an eagerness and passion to have specifically made a Soft Option 'Event' running sac.  In other words, well prepared and with eyes wide open.

Enough of memory lane; but when someone asked if I was going to finish 2015, I immediately thought of Sir Steve Redgrave, when he was asked, 'When did you know you had won?' after that amazingly close finish for his fifth gold medal.  'After ten strokes,' said Sir Steve. Now, Sir Steve isn't arrogant, and I hope I'm not, but having started and got through Day One, and baring injury such as befell Ed or Pavel, I was going to finish this jaunt down the wonderful Welsh mountains.  The destination was a certain, just the speed / time and maybe condition I'd finish in being a little unknown.

Speed Kills

So, just like a 23 year old Transit van, the body work is knackered, the paintwork very much past it's best, and the chassis may be a bit twisted, but inside the engine block refuses to die.  No amount of lycra will hold the wing mirrors on and there's no i-pod socket, tinted glass, nor electric windows.
Air condition involves removing layers of clothing.  Thankfully, smart new Berghaus zip neck short sleeved shirts negated the need to be shirtless this time.

Start Day Four - Bed Hair - Photo by Angie and Berghaus 

Any stage race or 'ultra', or expedition requires you to look after yourself, preserve energy and limit body damage.  The evening's recovery is crucial and a skill set within itself; eat, drink, stretch, (self-medical?) eat, drink, sleep, drink, drink, eat, run...repeat.  Pacing yourself is key, and most of us are only racing yourselves not others.  Although some seem intent on following and steal minutes of others.

Route Choice

Fortunately, this transit hasn't got a Satnav to go wrong; but it does have a map, and good solid navigation skills.  It also grow up in Shropshire and spent it's early years roaming around Snowdonia and Mid-Wales, especially. Seriously, I was efficient throughout with my route choice, 'Yes' in some ways from prior knowledge but you still have to navigate, which at times includes slowing down rather than going the wrong way. I made some small errors, everyone does, but often those are because of 'race head' and trying to gain time on people around you.  One was within a mile of the finish following the 'marked route'! (NB- There is no such thing as a marked route )

I was very happy with my navigation and route choice.  Day Two is the awkward one and I took a direct, and consequently lonely line, enjoying some solitude overlooking Tremadog Bay.  I messed up the end of Day Two, getting swallowed up by some runner-eating-boulders and vicious heather which had me travelling a mile in about one hour and subsequently suffering a mild hunger-bonk on the mandatory route run in. Bit of a sad finish to that day.

Overall, I really enjoyed navigating in poor visibility and certainly passed several people in the 'clagg' with slick lines. However my biggest strength is just keeping up a steady pace,  (as seen in the video on Day Five) which makes it surprising easy to pass people at the Support Point, or even at gates, road junctions and hill tops. Indeed, the ability to navigate effectively is a core mountain running skill and so mastering this will enhance your mountain running performance without doubt.  'Yes' - check out our NAV4 Adventure courses for details.

Diesel Fuel

As long as I keep putting the right fluids in, I keep going. Fuel, water and 'oil' in the right places.

I don't have any complicated nutrition and hydration strategy, but I do like food and drink. I drank water all week, with just two quick tea stops.  I eat sandwiches, 9bars, cashew nuts, cheese and tomato cubes, oat cakes and Peanut M&Ms.  I have been using some Mountain Fuel powders before during and after the race, which make up great milk shake based drinks.  I also had a few Bounce Balls and Cliff Bars from previous expeditions but find them hard work at times.  No gels for me  #gelfreerunning

Gear - Less is More

I bought home more food than I eat.  Heather's catering was great - plentiful food and I've no problem with being vegetarian.  But, I did run out of Early Grey tea bags, had the usual cravings for odd foods and missed semi-skimmed milk.

Clothing: I was lucky enough to earn some Berghaus shorts and base layers, along with a Vapourlight Hypertherm Reversible Smock which is really useful for its weight.   These base layers fit me well, have great length neck zips for ventilation, which is an essential for me.  The Vapourlight Hyper smock also kept me dry in tough weather on the Brecon Beacons during Friday.   That was the only time I put a waterproof on.

Overnight Kit needs careful thinking about. Again 'Less is More', and it's about flexibility and thinking through needs, not necessarily wants.  I know many of you kit fanatics will be after details, but as Helene said at the original briefing, 'Its' not about what you wear, or what you eat .....It's in here (inside) what makes a difference.  Naturally, a NAV4 Adventure course will be a source of further knowledge if you need more advice and input.

So...

The Dragon's Back Race has had a successful third edition.  Well Done Shane and team.  Of course, Shane wasn't in charge in 1992, but I reckon it takes any event to get to three years before it's matured and found it's groove, so he's done it early.  What next for 2017, I wonder.

Finally,  I'd like to thank Mr Stuart Smith. I'll single him out from the many hard working Event Team as he quietly gets on and does the do without any fuss or bother.  I always feel safe and sorted when he's on board.

Thanks for all the messages, support and I wish everyone a happy and swift recovery.
See on in Conway in 2017.

Joe

NAV4 Adventure

ITERA - Further Faster

All packed and Ready for ITERA

They say getting to the start line is the hardest part, and I'm very proud to have two strong and competent NAV4 Adventure teams lining up for yet another Expedition Adventure race.

It's been a busy day, indeed a busy few weeks and months, as we have all been preparing for a full week's adventure 'racing' down the length of Wales. You will be able to follow the race via live tracking here - watch out for our two teams - 'NAV4 Adventure One' and 'NAV4 Adventure Two'.

I guess I was the first to see this!

Just writing that last sentence throws up two key names; Sharon MacDonald and John Allen, our respective team Captains. Both of these people are excellent athletes in their own right, and deserve my thanks for being team leaders.  John (Gentleman John) Allen has come to the fore since he inherited Team Two secretarial duties when Hannah Munchkin eloped to serve the British Army.  John has done a great job of blending Dave Johnson, Ben Shannon and Louise 'Wilko' Wilkinson into a well oiled, and well-gelled team.  John is a natural leader and skillful adventure racer, especially in Expedition length races.

The other key name in this operation is Sharon MacDonald.  Ironically, Sharon came into our Terrex 2012 team at just three weeks notice, and first met team mate Dave (Atkinson) on the drive up to Stirling although to be fair Dave had been in Corsica topping up his fake tan for three four weeks.  Sharon immediately fitted into our TERREX 2012 Sting team and it does feel like I've known her a lot longer having raced well together in the LAMM, two Elite Dark Mountains plus lots of other great days out on bike and foot.  As we all know, it's all about team work, not one individual, we all have diffferent strengths and 'allowable weaknesses', if you are familair with Belbin.  
     
John and Sharon allow me to simply enjoy a role 'just' as team member, lead navigator and contribute to the team effort.  I suppose I do retain a little bit of a 'Directeur Sportive' overview of both teams, and I have been known to say that I'm on the verge of EXPED AR retirement and look forward to seeing a younger, fresher, strong and faster NAV4 Adventure team go forward in future years. Incidentally, if you want to get involved with NAV4 Adventure ....you know what to do, don't you?

Last Team outing / kit sort

Team Dynamics

There has been many a time that I have questioned that I should be racing in the same team as John and Wilko as well have a strong track record in previous races, but  I believe there is no clear divide or distinction as to which team is stronger and faster (although I have my own hopes!). I was mightly pleased to receive an email a few weeks ago from 'Young Ben' when he apologised in advance for when NAV4 Adventure Two beat NAV4 Adventure One, as at least it proves we all have a sense of humour.  Of course, if this happens, I'll be genuinely very pleased as long as we have both teams have raced to our maximum.

Setbacks, Profit and Loss

All teams suffer set backs and losses and we have been no less afflicted. First we lost Hannah, then Gareth, but gained Ben and then Dave. And then ... just when we thought we were set and after a huge amount of good training Andy Moucey suffered a stress fracture in his foot, which was so sad and a disappointment for us all.  Fortunately, we found Eddie Winthorpe waiting in the wings 'fresh' from the Marathon de Sables (which will be ideal training for biking down Wales in the rain.) Andy contributed greatly to our team and I hope to see him racing with us again soon.

Me in a hole, them on a lump.

Seriously, Eddie is strong, fit and skilled and has fitted into the team excellently with two Team Traing Days already completed in the past few weeks.  His all round bike skills, especially mechanics skills, compliment the team.

My other team member is Jill.  I've riden with anyone who just looks so comfortable on a bike. Sometimes I think her primary role is to make me laugh, but she has just gets on with everything, especially if Sharon gives her 'the look'.  Jill has done an excellent job on the nutritional side of our build up and I'm looking forward to eating my way down Wales. We had a fascinating session with Sarah Garton a nutritionalist and have welcomed the support Wholesome Bee in Settle. I've introduced the team to 9bars and now need therapy due to addiction.

So we have two teams; are with good experience, skills and comitment. And so just for completeness, these are our final team line-ups:

Sharon MacDonald, Jill Eccleston, Eddie Winthorpe, Joe Faulkner
John Allen, Louise Wilkinson, Ben Shannon, Dave Johnson

'Racing'
It's about the Expedition rather 'racing'.  To finish first ... first you have to finish' and I've seen many teams implode or break themselves or something by not lasting the pace.

Pacing is important.  One of my fears and worries are what I call 'Race Gates'; key points that we must get beyond, usually by a certain time and sometimes quite literally such as before the tide turns or the weather craps out on the mountains.  However, we are strong and equipped, bad weather doesn't frighen us and we have the mountain skills and gear to cope with many things.


We've learnt alot of the past few years;  WARC 2006, ARWC 2007, TERREX 2010, Swift and Sting 2012, not to mention the Open5s and Open24s we've all done.

We prepared wisely;  We are indebted to Distant Horizons for on-going support with our paddling activities. Being based on the shores of Ullswater they have an ideal for water and mountain activities and they don't mind us truning up at all tiems of day during our training sessions, trying out differnet boats and rigs and trims.

It's not about the Bike - nor the drugs you take.
All the Gear and No Idea?  No - we are selective in what we use  - LESS Is MORE. . We have chosen our gear wisely. For example, we have chosen Petzl Meteor III+ multi-sport helmets which saves time as they serve us on the water, bikes and mountains and in caves, too, maybe! 

Petzl Meteor III+ Multi-sport

Ortleib Rack-pack duffle bags are simple strong and waterproof, and without any zips to break or jam up. I'll be using a Petzl Nao and my trusty Myo RXP throughout the race, supplemented by Hope R4 for MTB sections. I went on an excellent tour of the Hope factory in Bar'lick and it's amazing to see such quality items being produced right here in the North West.

Not taking the entire shed!

Our bikes are well serviced and fit for purpose; all on 3x9 speed 26 inch wheels in order to remain compatible (well, with the exception of the young dude who has more bike knowledge than all of us put together)  We have paddle bags and team bags sorted, Drybags and not so Drybags, all borne form experience.

I made my own lightweight group shelter many years ago, and now  Paul Vousden - Mapdec - has made some brilliant 'LESS' group shelters (and I have one or two spare so will bring them down to Cardiff!)

I've worked predominately in Montane gear for many years and the both teams have a passion for Montane, especially due to our links with the North East.  However, our team will each wear what they choose, they know what works for them, and we won't try anything new or radical. 

Ultimately, I've packed the Sporks, and my BIG mug obviously, along with the Jetboil and wholesome food.


We are prepared...And Finally:

I'd like to thank my wife Linz, and all of our partners and friends as without their support this would not happen.

Joe

Thursday 11.59pm



 

Basic Navigation for Runners - A Two Part Evening Course

I recently spent two pleasant Monday evenings with some great people teaching -'Basic Navigation for Runners'.  They each gained confidence and had their eyes and minds opened, as we de-mystified the magic of maps, learnt that 'Contours are Crucial' ... and that 'Compasses are not Complicated at All'....( Yes, this was a quote from a client!)

The following is an edit from a previous article which sums up why I think it's imperative that runners and walkers a like, need to think about their navigation and 'hillskills'.

'Beautiful evening ... magical maps de-mystified'

Hill Skills and Happy Hill People        

How we access is the hills is changing:  the outdoor industry is far bigger than it was just a generation ago and majority of people are introduced to and engage with the mountains  through some form of guide book, magazine article, organised event or challenge.  There are some brilliant courses and ‘providers’ out there but sooner or later it’s time to go forth on your own.   Developing your own ‘Hills Skills’ is a very worthwhile and satisfying.

We Learn by Doing

I’ve walked, climbed, biked and paddled in all corners of the UK and beyond.  However, it has been in those far flung places that I’ve realised it is the exploration that gives most satisfaction, together with the appreciation of the freedom we are privileged to have in the UK.

Risk and Responsibility

Looking after your self in the mountains is as paramount as looking after the environment. Being warm and comfortable is quickly mastered – get your layers right and be flexible in your clothing.  Modern fabrics make life a lot less sweaty, our rucsacs are lighter, our understanding of food and hydration a whole new science.   We have better maps ( it’s not that long ago that maps of Scotland where only One Inch to the Mile) and now have a proliferation of techno gadgets that will get us to within metre of a known point on the globe.  We have phones that can reach all corners of the world; if the signal is there and the batteries are sound! 

Sound Mountain Judgement

We learn by doing.  We can be taught skills and techniques whether it is knot tying or fire lighting but until you need to do this for real you have not mastered the skill.  You learn; ‘When to turn back, How to respect the mountain environment, and be flexible in your plans’.   It is often said, there is no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothes  .... Or the wrong activity!

It is our responsibility in to make ourselves safe and in doing so we greatly enhance our performance and enjoyment.  And the biggest factor in doing so is by learning how to navigate. By being out there in poor weather and gaining skills and experience so that we can go further and maybe, even faster?

Hill Skills - Navigation isn’t Rocket Science

OK, soon as you mention the ‘N-word’, some people glaze over or become freaked by childhood memories of geography teachers or Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.  Another group reach for their smart phone and then spend a while bringing up some form of mapping software which struggles to scan and sweep to the desired scale and location, whilst fearing the basic skill of navigation.

Contours are Crucial

All those wiggly lines are the most important things in the hills and mountains. Don’t worry too much about compasses; they are often over rated (especially complex ones just like Smart phones!)   Yep, you need a compass and a map too of course but don’t get hung up on compasses bearings and magnetic variation.  Good navigators ‘read’ the contours of map far more than they dial up a compass bearing. 

Good basic navigation is easy!  There – I said it.  We can all do it, if we want to.

About  Joe Faulkner;

I’ve spent 30 years walking, climbing, running, biking and paddling in the UK and gained a reputation as a competent ‘Mountain Athlete’.    I coach all forms of mountaineering with a specialism for Hill Skills and Navigation.    Further details can be seen at my NAV4 Adventure website  - www.nav4.co.uk

nav4adventure@gmail.com

So, You want to buy a head torch

OK - I confess - I'm a Petzl-phile!   But please read on ....

Whilst many other brands are available, Petzl is by far the market leader and also the originator of the head torch. I have used Black Diamond torches - for a while the BD Gemini was a great torch but the build quality and warranty at the time wasn't good, and as I know from first had experience,  Petzl's is first class.

Just selection from the shed - missing an e+lite of course.

My NAV4 Adventure colleague, Stuart Smith is a great fan of Suprabeam torches, which are modular and rechargeable.  Team Mate Sharon favours her Aye-Up lights which are awesomely bright, long lasting and expensive. I also bought a 'Hope Adventure One' and year or so ago and wrote a full blog post about it here. The Hope was bought it after much thought and research, as explained in that blog, but unfortunately it disappeared only a few weeks after I had bought it and I never got around to replacing it. Now it seems that things have moved on again.  



One of the bi-products of spending a week of my life deep in the Peninnes providing Safety Cover for The Spine Race, was the chance to get to grips with Petzl's (relatively) new Reactive lighting technology.  I got a a chance to sample the Nao last Summer, but that isn't exactly the best season for headtorch testing, plus I'm always reluctant to commit to anything new without a thorough testing, especially a techy thing like this.

During the Spine I used the new Tikka RXP extensively and really got to like it.  It has the same reactive technology as the top of the range Nao, but in many ways in a much neater package. It has a simple elastic headband, has the rechargeable battery mounted within the headlamp unit and recharges from any source including my car USB.  It can also take 3x AAA batteries if you track down the adapter as a spare part, which makes it possible to use it away from base on an expedition.

Petzl Tikka RXP (left) and Nao (right)

Rechargeable Verus Battery Fed?

One of the biggest factors in choice of headtorch is the power source; rechargeble battery or battery fed? Afterall, I'm very unlikely to head off on a multi-day expedition solely with a rechargeable head torch or enter a multi-day race expecting to find a charging point - (who needs that stress!)

Therefore, for forthcoming adventures, such as ITERA, The Spine or Dragon's Back Race, the powerful rechargeables probably won't be featuring as my main line torch.  Perhaps as a secondary torch but more of this later.

Power!!!! 

If Jeremy Clarkson was to buy a headtorch it would be the most powerful, but light output isn't everything.  Not many people by cars purely based on maximum speed or power. Economy, useability and various differing features are equally import as is price; both the purchase price and that required to run it, ie cost per hour in use?


Over the past few years I have regular used a Petzl Ultra - high powered MTB type use, a Tikka XP2 with rechargeable Core Battery, and of course ... the humble Myo XP or RXP.  The XP2 with it's rechargeable and programmeable Core battery was a significant development a  few years ago, and this torch became my 'goto' torch as it lived my car's door pocket and got used extensively for a range of activites. It was certainly cheap to run, eco-friendly and pushed out quite a beam although for a relatively short period of time. However, it got me in the way of using a rechargeable and, at the time it's mini USB charging lead was quite a new idea.

Petzl Tikka XP2 - Core rechargeable and programmable

Dark Mountains - Technical Navigation

During the recent Dark Montains mountain marathon I used the Tikka RXP. The Reactive lighting technology is brilliant for night navigation when you are constantly looking at the map and back at the ground. This point was highlighted (no pun intened) to me I was out on a night run recently and came across a few mountain bikers coming the other way, all taking part in a Night Orienteering event. Each rider was probably loaded up with inexcess of 1000 lumens, some purely head mounted and some head and handlebar mounted.

The immediate effect on myself was to ruin my night vision .... but I averted my eyes as much as possible, and of coure the Tikka RXP, being reactive dimmed down a little.  Interestingly, one of the bikers had over-shot a control and came back past me, screeched to a partial halt and the tumbled into the bushes. He picked himself up, I asked how he was, and whilst he sorted himself out he muttered something about being 'OK' and starting jabbing at his map.

Not only was he shaken up, but I he was over simply powered - too much power, too much speed ... trying to navigate as fast as he could ride, etc.  But what really struck me was that he couldn't see what was on his map simply because it was 'washed out' with so many lumens reflecting back off his map.

Petzl night run ....I'm not biased, honestly!

So this is where Reactive lighting comes in ...

During Dark Mountain I used the Tikka RXP with Reactive Lighting. OK, my race partner, Sharon, was using a high powered Aye-Up light which has it's advantages when picking out reflective control markers at 100metres+, but I found that the Reactive Technology really preserve my night vision so running along the rough technical terrain of the Dark Peak was made much better using Reactive.

All bases covered; perm any two for any event

The other great advantage of Reactive Technology is that it preserves battery life when you don't need maximium power. I suppose it's a bit like stop-start techology on a new car.

Overall, it does take a bit of getting used to it.  If you've been using something as simple as a Myo XP for many years switching to Reactive doesn't seem too natural to me, but now, after a week of Spine Race Safety cover - in and out of the car, writing notes, out on the trail looking for runners, charging the thing from the car USB, etc it all became second nature. 



So much so, that I have now gone out and bought a Nao, and I have a second battery as well. Maybe they will be going to ITERA with me, but I can promise you one thing - a trusty Myo RXP will be going as well, along with a good stock of lithum batteries.

Two Myo XPs nearing the end of The Spine ...with very experienced owners.

Lessons Learnt - Lakeland 100 postscript

Short and succcinct, this posting, following on from Lakeland 100 Parts One & Two....

Lessons Learnt:

1) Complacency - You are only as good as your recent training. Road Bike mileage is no substitute for time out on your feet.  Unfortunately, the heatwave conditions of the preceeding few weeks led me to getting out and riding some epic rides ... which was great fun but didn't do much for my running legs. Hence, the cramps and early stiffening.  No excuses here, just pure fact.

Having said that, skills and experience got me to the end in reasonable shape and time. 

2) Speed Kills - I've said it countless times, but this time I (intentionally) pushed the speed just a little too fast and it proved that this is very true.  Correct pacing is paramount in any race, whatever the length.

It was a good experience 'running' with Sharon for 70 miles, and knowing I was pushing my pace out a wee bit, but don't try and keep up with her ... she's one tough cookie! But, I'll be fit to keep up with her for Dark Mountains.

3) Ultra Running is 50% mental, 25% physical and 25% all you can eat.... 'nuff said.  I could probably have done with a couple more bits of pizza or one of Sharon's excellent Massive Tuna Mayo Baps in the first half.  Once we'd picked up our half way drop bags, with the forementioned goodies, I was much happier.

4) Hillskills are essential for successful completion, especially in poor weather.  Recce-ing of the course is very useful but to dis-regard 'Hillskills' - navigation, hillcraft, nutrition, gear selection, use and application is a core skill.    

4) My gear worked marvellously (with the exception of the stinky drinks bottle!)  Many have asked for my gear list so here goes:

Shoes - La Sportiva Raptor. A vastly under-rated shoe
Much of my running is done in Inov-8 315's but for an event of such length and with such hard trails a big heavy runner like me needs so more support/protection and cushioning. Hence, the Raptor has served me well for the past few years.

 Inov-8 15, (20 has side pockets), Raptors and Platypus.

Socks - Smartwool 'Outdoor' - Thick woolly ones.

Sac - Inov-8 Race 20 - Light and simple, no gimmicks. Hipbelt pockets, side zip pocket for medium sized bottle, or folded up 1litre platypus.  Plenty big enough for such an event.

Waterproof - Montane Atomic - Midweight and properly waterproof / durable jacket.  Proper peaked hood and 'features', including two massive pockets for goodies, map, torch. pizza, water bottle.

Overtrousers - Montane Minimus - Light and a good fit. Not often worn, but when they are needed they are good enough. Fearful that they will wear quickly being so light.


Headtorch - Petzl Myo RXP - must be market leader. Does all you need, batteries will last all night on low/medium.  Or use 'High' when needed, and carry AND USE spare Lithiums to maintain maximum output. I'm actually currently using / testing a Petzl Nao, and will report on this very clever torch soon.

Shirt - White Endura 'Humvee' Cycle shirt due to the heat.  Rear pockets useful too! White colour very beneficial.

Base Layer - Helly Hansen Lifa, long sleeved and well proven.

Base Legs - Helly Hansen Lifa ..... ditto.  Just don't tell the fashion police ... Do I care?

Warm Layer - Haglofs microfleece gilet - very warm for it's weight due to a good fit. Would be needed if I was incapacitated.

Gloves - in good weather, Berghaus Power-Stretchlite.

Hat - Buff for cold, Peak Inov-8 cap for sun and rain protection.

On the matter of clothing I finished at 2.00am in heavy ran wearing shorts and cycle shirt, and the Montane Atomic jacket. There had been no need to put on extra layers until I finished.

Drinks Bottle - Platypus 1 litre collapsible bottle with a sports cap
I've used these (1 litre, 1/2 litre and even 2 litre) for most of my running, mountaineering adventures.  The fact that they fold down and can be squashed into any shape means you don't get any slushing about.  And, 'Yes', you can get a Nuun tablet or similar in my breaking it in half.  Powders are a bit more tricky, but a small funnel helps in stage races.  Pre-loading a number of these with powder can work very well, too.

Compass - Silva - Field 7

Emergency / First Aid / Misc
First aid is very personal, and I won't go into detail.  My emergency kit includes a Petzl e+Lite emergency mini-strobe lamp, a Adventure Medical Foil Survival Bag, a 'Simple Phone' - Nokia 100 PAYG - so much lighter than a smart phone and with amazing battery life for when you need it in an emergency. .

Ok that's enough gear geeking.  I could write much more on how to use this stuff but that could from another blog post.  Furthemore, just having the gear is no substitute for good 'hillskills', so please do think carefully about what you carry and why, along with the skills you have.  Please consider investing a bit of time, money and headspace on upgrading  your skills for safe, effective and an improved performance on the trails and in the mountains. Take a look at NAV4 Adventure or our facebook page for more info.

And finally, Have fun, be safe ... and enjoy our wonderful mountains.

Rewards / Recovery !

Joe

Lakeland 100 - Part Two

One week on a few things have changed and life moves on from Lakeland 100 Part One

This last week consisted of only a couple of days rest and TLC before being out on the fells again working on Mountain Leader Assessment Expedition.  My blisters are healing nicely (plenty of old skin 'exfoliating' nicely) and the knee I managed to hyper-extend gave me some grief on rough and gnarly ground, expecially in the dark.

Thanks for all the feedback and comments; I'm sorry if Part One was a bit blunt, but people seem to appreciate my honesty, and races don't always go well and result in happy-clappy blogs.

'So, How was The Lakes 100?'

Well, I set off nice and steadily with Sharon McDonald running her first 100. The route climbs steadily for the first four miles, and with a strategy of 'not running up any hills' we quickly slipped towards the back of the field, but I was happy with this on a warm and very humid evening.  We we had good company with Ant Cooper and Sally Ozanne, both very experienced adventure racers, with some epic events under their belts.

So, over Walna Scar and steadily on down to Seathwaite where I made a quick stop to scoop up some stream water in my bottle. Unfortunately, this proved to be the first little problem; as soon as I removed the cap a strong musty smell belched out and despite rinsing it thoroughly the after taste was to stay with me for 60 miles.  Bit if a school boy error. Incidently, I tend to use Platypus collapsible bottles with sports caps and have half litre and one litre sizes; this one litre size hadn't been used for a while. These are excellent 'bottles' that can be folded away small or folded into a pocket of any size, and the contents don't slosh about.

A quick 'in and out' at Seathwaite - Checkpoint One, avoiding the temptation to stop and eat too much, but why was the 'dibber' buried at the back of the small crowded hall? Out across the fields and with the first real flat section everyone starts to settle into a rhythm. After another steady climb then undulating terrain around underneath Harter Fell we start to pass a few fast starters and still have good banter with Ant and Sally.  Every opportunity to walk, rather then run is taken in an effort to conserve the legs.

On the rough and tricky descent into Eskdale we gain a few more places past people not quite as used to The Lakes as ourselves but still keep the pace steady.  A flat couple of kms along Eskdale means that I'm obliged to jog along with Sharon close behind and a pied piper trail of a dozen or so others behind.  I feel a little bit like a marked man and many people say 'hello' but that could just be that we all have our name printed below our race numbers on the back of our sacs.

My ex-employers sponsor the event and the Eskdale checkpoint is staffed by ex-colleagues, so after a bit of 'fat boy banter' I start to relish the long easy climb over Burnmoor towards Wasdale. Again it's an easy steady pace and I smile inwardly at those who seem to be 'racing' and keen to gain a few seconds by upping their efforts, knowing that we probably will be passing most of them a bit later on.

Perhaps I should say a bit more about our schedule and expectations. I was aiming for sub-30hrs, having done 30:30 in 2011 and finished really strongly.  Just a few days before Sharon had been talking about a 28 hour target and so I had roughed out a 29hour plan.

Now I like Sharon, and I like schedules but I'm also experienced enough to know when I'm going fast enough.  But, I'm also happy to accept that I'm a bit lazy and appreciated Sharon's attempt to get me to race harder and faster.  So, strangely, knowing that we were ahead of the 2011 splits and feeling the pace was just about right I was happy to let The Captain handle the schedule, especially as she was well prepared with a small laminated copy tucked in a pocket.

Darkness fell as we reached Wasdale and the surreal 1970's disco themed checkpoint. Another quick 'transition' - no time tasted and a quick word with 'Mrs Sportident', the very experienced Debbie Thompson, as she carefully watched over the dibber box.

With hands full of food a drink, head torches already set prior to the checkpoint, I was ready for another big steep climb up to Black Sail Pass. Again we'd passed 10-12 people in the checkpoint (why do people run fast the stand still and waste time?) and was looking forward to gaining more time on the climbs and descents over to Buttermere. And so it was; our legs are definitely hill fit and we coped with the rough dark terrain much better than many who obviously lacked experience and confidence on rough Lakeland fells.

After another few flat runnable kilometres along Buttermere, Sharon was beginning to stretch the invisible elastic a wee bit, interpreting 'flat' and 'up' differently to me.  Ant and Sally both had need of some preventative foot taping so they pushed on to the checkpoint as well.  There was more jolly japes at Buttermere as 'The Chuckle Brothers' Charlie Sproson and Mr Burton were running a slick checkpoint.

Sharon and myself were away again quickly looking forward to another big climb. This one, over Sail Pass is actually a lot bigger than Black Sail but the terrain is less rocky and the climb more gradual. Again a steady pace took us passed one or two people and gains a few minutes despite me feeling a but wobbly just before the final steep pull, and resorting unusually to a 'gel.' Sadly, we seemed to have dropped Ant and Sally as they hadn't caught up. On dropping steeply towards Braithwaite and then jogging the log rough track towards outer side, I suffered my first twinge of cramp but it was short lived.

Early Breakfast - Pasta?

Braithwaite is the first checkpoint that does 'real food', meaning pasta and sauce, and as I much prefer savoury than sweet food, and we've done a third of the route with a big chunk of climbing a few minutes of stationary eating was time well spent.

'Beware the Chair' is a sound bite I heard a few years ago, referring to sitting down at checkpoints and the nullifying effect it has on momentum and pace, and it was very evident here as we stood and stuffed our faces. Once again we left quickly having past another dozen or so people enjoying an over-leisurely food stop.

More flat kms and I feel I'm moving OK but twinges of cramp in the quads are a worrying sign. I took a bit of a tumble on the flat, but dark railway path, which resulted in a comedy tumble before getting up and starting to run the wrong way. Fortunately The Captain was there to sort me out.

The route up Spinney Green Lane is familiar to all Bob Graham runners, and the easy climb leads to a great run around the Glenderterra valley. Dawn started to break around here which was a little worrying as I'd hoped to be further along, and past the Blencathra Checkpoint before daylight. Not too worry, we are still ahead of schedule and moving OK.  The long stretch from here to Dalemain is not without interest but I find it a drag despite the very good views from the Gowbarrow traverse path. All these sections I know very well, and, with hindsight it's actually 27 miles from Braithwaite to Dalemain, much more than it feels from my local knowledge.

Our underlying aim, and that of many Lakes100 'runners' is to get through Dalemain before the 50 runners start along the same course. We certainly achieved that arriving just after 9:30 and leaving by 9:45, so two hours or so head start on the 11:30am '50' start. Consequently, we'd be over Whether Hill before the lead runners would pass us and the field would be strung out by then.  My friend Marcus Scotney was running in the '50' with high expectation so I was keen to keep a look out for him.

One of my dislikes of the event is how the '50' route parachutes it self onto the main 100 route even after a their four mile loop around the fields of Dalemain. I can't imagine what it must be like being wrapped up into those crowds, but I am a bit of a cynical old crock and like my own space!

Dalemain (at 59 miles) is where you have access to your 'Drop Bag' so it was a quick sock change for both of us, great service from Laura (www.sportsunday.co.uk) with tea and drinks, etc. Sharon made good work if patching her quite badly battered feet, I picked up a pre-cooked and partially frozen pizza for later and we both devoured a large juicy Tuna Mayo roll.  All good food ...great fuel.

Homeward Bound

So ... into the second half; well last 45 miles.  Time to start counting down rather than up, and keep an eye on the rising temperature. The route drags on through Pooley Bridge and it's tourists and up to The Cockpit Stone Circle. I climbed well but had been struggling with water intake due to the musty smell and after taste in my Platypus.  Fortunately, Sharon had collect a 'FGS' Shake at Dalemain, so I was able to use the empty bottle for water, once we'd drunk it's Chocolately contents. Again on very familar ground, from there down to Howtown is one of  best MTB trails in the Lakes, and so suitably frustrating with sore and tired quads. It was also becoming evident that Sharon had more running in her legs than mine! 


We had been lucky with the weather; there was some minor cloud cover and a bit of a breeze, so even in the shelter of the valley the temperature was OK.  The Howtown Checkpoint marks the start of the last big climb; up Fusedale and over Whether Hill - a total climb of 530m on quite open lakeland fells. It's certainly got a tough reputation and coming after 67 miles is not easy.  But it's a good steady climb on nice small 'trods'.   Towards the top, just as it steeped for the last time, I needed to keep the pace steady and once I stopped for a pee.  From here, Sharon started to draw ahead and once over the top she was a soon a couple of hundred metres ahead and wanting to run fast, where as I was struggling to get the downhill legs going at all.  It was with some regret but much relief that I watched Sharon run effortlessly on the long descent towards Haweswater, but having lost touch with Sharon I enjoyed the company of Max Howard for a while.

The descent is actually quite easy and grassy, before dropping steeply through thick bracken to the Lakeside path.  The path starts off easily enough but becoes narrow, rocky and very undulating and the breeze had dropped to compound the hot temperature.  Marcus did coming screaming past us here, with at least a ten minute lead over second and third placed runners, and then a total of around a dozen more before Mardale Head.  There was very little running water in streams we crossed but I did manage to scoop a few half bottles as well as dunk my cap in before placing in back on my head.

Mardale Haven

The Mardale Head Checkpoint - staffed by Delamere Spartans - was very well run.  They seemed very well organised and empathetic to the runners' needs; no gimmicks, no unnecessary fuss.  Bear in mind here, that they have both '100' and '50' runners coming through each with quite diverse needs.  I stood quietly in the shade by the water bouser, drinking tea and a quick (*warm) tea and munching on my cold pizza whilst Nick filled my water bottle with Coke.  (* warm is good - not point giving us boiling hot tea)

'Oh, its nice to sit down for a while' said one runner - 'Beware The Chair' - was very evident here!
I might have been hallucinating here, but I'm sure I saw Charlie Sproson come into the Checkpoint on the '50' route. Charlie had been our host at the Buttermere Checkpoint - good effort Charlie!

Gatesgarth Pass is yet another easy / steady climb and it passed without incident. The descent into Longsleddale is quite 'boney' with large cobbled sets on much of the ancient by-way.  So, I was well aware that I'd be losing time but not running well down here and the passing of '50' runners shows just how slowly you are going.  Pushing on as best I could, I felt I was climbing well but losing time on the descents.  Bizarrely, I didn't feel the need to consult my schedule preferring to carry on based on gut feeling.  With hinsight, I was still on schedule for a 30hr finish here, if only I could move well down hill and on the flat. Sadly the blisters were starting to creep around the front of by 'pads' and on the side of my right heel just like it had done at The Dragon's Back Race last September.  The heel blister only causes pain when twisting and turning but the 'pads' (around the front edge of the ball of your foot) is a liitle more disabling.

The Kentmere checkpoint appeared chaotic (busy with too many people including a very beautiful young lady in a stunning dress bearing a supporters sticker - Ying and Yang)  so I quietly got what I need and marched on. Garburn Pass is rocky, but not so warm; more 'supporters' (who shouldn't be there) I found irriating, but that's my problem not theirs, so I quickly forgot about them.

The route from here is very 'runnable' if you are fit and without sore feet.  On the final tarmac descent into Ambleside my rright 'pad' blisters nearly erupted and I decided that I should look after them and avoid them popping.  I'd just made the decision to stop at Ambleside and take a look at them, when the heavens opened with torrential rain. It was very welcome at first but with only a few hundred metres to the Checkpoint I was saturated and the road was awash with running water.  Consequently, inside the checkpoint was busy and the floor wet and there was little chance of treating the blister with any success.

The Long March of Doom

The was nothing to be gained by staying - so out I went into the rain. The first part of the route is sheltered by trees and the rain was still a welcome relief.  Higher on the slopes of Loughrigg I needed to but my jacket on and strode on keeping plenty warm enough in shorts, T-shirt and good mid-weight waterproof smock.
The descent off Loughrigg was painful and slow.  The Cumbria Way (that the route follows up Langdale) is very fast, quite smooth and runnable and I managed to maintain a good 3mph on the flat section to the Langdale Checkpoint.

The very experienced 'Team Howard' host the Langdale checkpoint and I had a quick chat with a very busy Ross Howard (brother of Max who would be along shortly)  Standing once again (Beware The Sofa, here, not chair!) I had some excellent soup and bread, before pushing on with The March,  knowing that I'd be out a few more hours yet and a racing finish was dwindling away. I smiled quietly as a few '50' runners passed me for a second time, having taken a longer break.


Darkness began to fall towards the top of Langdale, sort of opposite the New Dungeon Ghyll pub.  It's great to hear the noise from the pub as you slip quietly by, climbing up towards Side Pass.  The '50' runners were comng past now in pairs and small groups, many of which were very complimentary and good company, but I must admit it is hard being past by those who you wish you could keep up with.   Last year I was able to keep pace with some of those passing me.

On the very rough ground around Blea Tarn it became very dark and wet.  The '50' runners seemed to come through in very gregarious gaggles; some very lightly dressed and still without waterproofs on.  The path is easy to lose but I stayed high and true to the instructions to arrive at the extra unmanned control at the bottom of Wrynose Pass.  Looking back there was many people not taking such a good or efficient line.

'Just one more climb' one of the passing '50' runners said as they ran down the tarmac.  'Well, not really!' I thought ...'There's a little lump between here and Tilberthwaite before the last climb.  'Just One More Climb' passed me again and as I started the climb; I'm not sure where they had been.

Strangely, it went very quiet on the next section with no-one passing me for a long while.  I was very conscious that I was working hard physically and mentally, and momentarily worried that I'd drifted off onto the wrong route.  Around the same time I spied a half eaten '9Bar' still in it's wrapper on the track, so stabbed it with my walking pole (I'm not adverse to clearing litter or gaining additional sustainence!)  Luckily I missed as the '9Bar' quickly jumped away and revealed itself to be a frog - same sort of colourings but not as tasty I assume.  After that I saw many frogs and at least I knew I wasn't hallucinating.and another couple of runners came past just as we reached the descent to Tilberthwaite ... er, just by the bit that usually wipes me out on my mountain bike!

The Final Count

My most vivid memory of the Tilberthwaite checkpoint was having a great cup of tea (with a top-up of cold water) with my hood up closed tightly around my face, whilst watching a runner being treated for mild hyperthermia.  He was sat in a deck chair with a foil blanket wrapped around his shoulders, topped by a tarten blanket and appeared to be dressed in just shorts and shirt.    I spoke quietly with the checkpoint marshal, mainly to prove I was very awake and quite normal, but suggested the runner put some spare clothes on. Apparently, he had none ...

The Steps mark the start of the last climb and 3.5 miles to the end.   I knew it was now past midnight as I'd asked if it was Sunday yet. Since we started this event on Friday ... it was turning out to be a long plod.  I don't know why I hadn't been looking at my schedule since Sharon had headed off, but new I'd missed my 30 hr target. Once again, I climbed really strongly, only stepping aside off the track when a train of '50' runners came past and even then they weren't going much better than me.  Simply finishing was the game now; conditions were deteriorating and the humid rain had become cold and persistent.  I was still comfortable in shorts, cycle shirt and mid-weight waterproof as I climbed and psyched myself up for a fast and painful descent.

 A stiff breeze heralded the top of the climb and arrival at the subtle col before the final descent.  It's rocky and wild and I was prepared to burst blisters if needed and run the final descent on painful quads.  The first few minutes went OK, but then I slipped and hyper-extended my right knee, bending it backwards in a sickening bout of pain.  I sat for a few seconds thinking that this might be a '999' call, but the pain subsided and I grounded my walking poles more vehemently than before.

It was a long slow descent.  I finally sunk below the glow of some skylights meaning I'd reached the houses in valley bottom and there would only be a couple of km down the rough valley road. The rain was coming down as heavy as ever and I was chilling rapidly. I tried just once to run, but without success.  I finished in a very 'flat' mood.  No elation or sense of acheivement, just a small glow of satisfaction that it was over. Once I'd put my dry spare based layer on, topped by the correct race T-shirt ('Yes, I've done the 100!') I soon warmed up, and felt OK. After what can only be described as very average pasta meal, I was way to my bed.

No beer for me this year ...

Lessons Learnt:

Hope Adventure One

It’s Not All About Lumens!

Head torch technology has moved on rapidly over the past few years and there are a plethora of new models with some pushing out a huge amount of ‘Lumens’. Battery technology has also come on in leaps and bounds and so it’s good to have a bit of a think about what you really need and where you are coming from in terms of expectation. The marketers would like us to believe that the bigger the Lumen output the better the torch, with Lumen being the industry measurement for light output, although there doesn’t seem to be a consistency of testing.

Baseline

Any review, or new purchase use requires a baseline from which to base opinion, and move forward. My standard ‘headtorch of choice’ for a huge range of activities over the past five or six years has been the Petzl Myo XP or RXP, which is probably the market leader for very good reasons.

Format

Headtorches come in a variety of different formats; rechargeable batteries, remote (long lead) battery boxes, etc.  However, I’ve recently bought a Hope Adventure One as a future replacement for my trusty Myo, if only because I wanted to see what was new in the same sort of format, ie, a headtorch with self contained battery box, that takes standard AA cells.

Hope Adventure One

Anyone who is familiar with Hope bike parts will be aware of the high quality reputation that Hope quite rightly deserves.  Right from opening the box, the Hope oozes quality with everything neatly packaged in a foam box. The Hope ‘A1’ is actually a modular system, so it does come with a long extension lead for sac / belt / pocket mounting as well as bike helmet mounts and handlebar mounts.  I wasn’t really expecting these additional features but these are an added bonus and will become doubly useful over the next few winter months.  My primary reason for buying this particular Hope was the simple fact that it takes standard AA cells which for multi-day use away from charging facilities is essential.  Furthermore, the ability to whack in a new set of batteries when the current set fail is a basic safety feature for me.

Do We Need Remote Battery Packs?

I have more powerful lights which I use for Biking, both on and off road, but the bigger and heavier battery units require the use of the extension lead.  Having the battery inside a pocket or rucsac is always a bit of a faff and can be prone to lead snagging and damage. Historically ‘belt-packs’ were needed because of two reasons; batteries were too heavy to wear on your head or helmet, or needed keeping warm in cold weather in order to get a decent amount of light output and duration from a set of batteries.  Whilst some of this remains relevant, even the standard AA battery has increased in ‘umph’ over recent years and if you use Lithium batteries for winter then the need for a remote battery pack is largely irrelevant.

Back to the Hope Adventure One

It simply oozes quality!  With a chunky aluminium headset, quality elasticated head band, battery box, extension lead and rubber connectors the overall look and feeling is superb.  As mentioned you also get mounts for a bike helmet and handlebar for I’ll leave those for now, suffice to say the quality of those is excellent.

The Hope A1 takes 4x AA batteries, which is one more than the Petzl XP/RXP, and so offers more ‘capacity’ for output and duration.  The A1 gives three simple outputs from Low, Medium and High, plus a flashing strobe for the maverick biker or safety function. The ‘numbers game’ reads nicely with High setting offering 215 Lumens for around three hours, Medium giving seven hours and the Low setting offering twenty-four hours.  These figures are very reasonable and a step or two above that of my baseline Petzl Myo.  Light quality is good with crisp clear light and a nice beam pattern on all three levels which makes walking, running or biking a pleasure. 

Don’t forget that this model takes standard AA batteries so simply carrying and inserting fresh batteries extends the duration indefinitely and, of course, you can use rechargeable AA batteries if you wish.

Just one last little thing, well two really, about the Hope’s functionality.  You switch it on via a reassuringly chunky rubber button, and it comes on in Low setting.  This is better than starting with High and clicking through to Low as it preserves your night vision and that of your mates.  A further click moves up to Medium and a third click takes you to High.  A fourth click gives you flashing strobe, but a two second hold turns the Hope off at any time.  Simple.  Most the time I stick with one click and Low, or perhaps up to Medium ... with only curiosity or a technical descent or control search needing High output.

Usability

Having used the Hope A1 for a few weeks I have appreciated its simplicity as well as its quality. Little things matter so, as illustrated by the head band, all three elastics (two sides and one over the top) have an adjuster so that adjustment is quick and easy and the headset and battery box remain central.  The elastic itself is firm and feels secure. The front and rear plastic moulded brackets are nicely shaped and comfortable.  All leads and connectors are quality rubber and feel relatively ‘bombproof’. 

I’m a multi-sport athlete with a reputation for endurance events for my purposes this set up offers the ultimate in functionality.  I’ve previously completed multi-day Expedition Adventure Races with Petzl Myo XP and so with the Maximum output of The Hope A1 being increased from the Myo’ 140 Lumens max, this is sizeable step up.

The Future is Bright

I ordered this model without actually seeing it, so when it arrived with the modular format I was nicely surprised.  I’m looking forward to using it on a cycle helmet for some multi day adventures and will try the handlebar mount as well.

So, What did I learn?

After using The Hope for a few weeks I’ve become very accustomed to it and appreciate its simplicity, output and quality.  I’ve also realized how good a torch the Petzl Myo XP/RXP is and how familiar it was too me.  The Myo is also that little bit lighter and more compact than the Hope A1, so if it’s a matter of carrying weight in your sac the Myo wins on that front.  Ok, the RXP is ‘programmable’ and you can customise the output, (if you can manage it) and is made by lovely French ladies in France where as the Hope is made in Lancashire, or is it Yorkshire?

Both companies offer good customer service and warranty, with one being quicker than the other, maybe?

Decision Time

Ok, so I like the Hope Adventure One, and highly recommend it, but what else is new?  Well, the techno geeks out there are already raving about Petzl’s new ‘Nao’ which is a development of the Myo and offers ‘Reactive’ lighting – lighting which measures how much light you need and varies accordingly. Interestingly, Petzl’s marketing blurb highlights how this preserves battery life by powering down when not needed, (looking at a map, or running a well light trail, for instance) rather than just quoting the maximum output.  The reactive function can also be over ridden and you can blast away with up to 350 Lumens output but it runs off a specialist rechargeable battery that is not readily available as a spare, and puts it outside of the parameters of this test.   But, I’m looking forward to trying The Petzl Nao at some point in the future ...

For Reference:  Typical MRP's Hope £100, Myo RXP, £75, Nao £135....
www.hopetech.com    Headtorch bought via Pete Bland Sports as a special order.