Angelsey Ring of fire Ultra- marathon...Stupid idea?

[Lordi]

An accomplished runner "mate" of mine (marathons etc), on hearing that I survived a marathon (I was keeping a low profile up to now), has rekindled a desire to run the Angelsey Ring of Fire ultra (216km over 3 days) ringofire.co.uk as a "warm-up" for his attempt at the Dragon's Back Ultra berghausdragonsbackrace.com

There is no way on this earth I'd do the Dragon's Back but the Ring of Fire combines two passions of mine, stoopid long hiking and running (I'm assuming I'd be walking half of the way tho') I'd be coming in a few hours behind him each day...but you get the idea...

Is this a bridge too far or is there no limit to middle-age stoopidity?

Luckily for me the Ring of Fire is only run every 2 years so the next one is 2020 and I've got plenty of time to become a proper runner (or give-up/wimp-out) before then!

Has anyone done something like this? I know Abi does Brighton - London etc. I'm looking at you to talk me down from this one....Please!....

(Yes I know I only did my first marathon a week ago, and yes I may be being swept along on an irresistable updraught)

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

DO IT DO IT DO IT and then tell us everything 😁

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

Talk me down! Talk me down!

[Sqkr Half Marathon in reply to Lordi]

Nope! It sounds amazing. It's a way off yet so you've time to prepare, it sounds like it's something you'd relish—I can think of no reason to talk you down. Day 2 though. Oof!

[Macmac Marathon]

Looks like a very picturesque route and having walked some of it I had a desire to walk the route one day but perhaps now I’m a runner I could run/walk some of it 😀. I note there is a time limit of 10h, 20h and 10.5h for the 3 days, with the option of just stage 1 - so lots to think about there. I think the sleep deprivation would be the worst thing for me, going into day 3. I’m reading ‘Eat and Run - my unlikely journey to ultramarathon greatness’ by Scott Jurek at the moment. Well worth a read to get some insight!!

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Macmac]

Yeah, the time limits are quite generous but you'd be short of sleep if you were bang up against the slowest possible times etc. Still looks interesting tho.

[Macmac Marathon in reply to Lordi]

Yes, true I guess. Not sure what sort of pace you could go on the terrain. Definitely looks interesting 😀. Why not eh?! Might even do day 1 myself, but I’ll start with 26.2 before I get too carried away. But I have been looking to walk this someday so who knows..

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Macmac]

Fab book 👍😃

[Tbae Metric Marathon]

Hi Lordi,

I thought the RofF was annually and day1 is an option-event in its own right.

Used to be annually, where the dragons back alternates with the Scottish ultra marathon 5 day event.

Would love to do this but the day two cut off point I just could not make unless they allowed motors on Zimmer frames.

The R of F finishes with Holyhead mountain but that is tame really.

Love to see you enter and would love even better if I could find a mysterious gear from anywhere really and enter myself.

I plan to do the three sections individually in my own time.Easy for me because I live on Ynys Mon.

Atb Lordi and go you.💥🏃‍♂️💥🔥👏👏

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Tbae]

You're a local!

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to Lordi]

A Scot but lived here for 30 years.

Still an interloper.🤔🙈😂😂

[Lordi Marathon]

Will have to recheck that. Maybe I'm getting mixed up witht the dragon back which is once every 2 yrs, Yes I saw the first day event only option. That could be something to look at as an option too if not too keen on full circuit.

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to Lordi]

No drama but you got me interested in looking at the cut off times and actually there is less float in the first day.

The second and third days are much more generous on both pace and time.

Nonetheless head torch for some needed Friday night and Saturday night.

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

I enjoy running, but I think this sort of thing takes a very special type of person. If you enjoy the longer distances and you liked the marathon you did, then this could be for you. I admire your dedication, but I will not emulate it.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

I could be tempted to do that one in 2020 😁

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Hi Abi,

Just checking, no drama, but I am sure this is an annual event.Last one was 31st Aug- 2nd Sept., Frid/ Sat/ Sun, 2018. The first one day event ,called the firelighter, was started in 2017 and is on the Friday, 35.7Miles/ 57.2 km from Holyhead to Amlwch. With a 10 hour cut off and starts at 1300 for both events.🤔👏👏

The event organisers like to keep the runners together and organise accommodation on Frid and Sat evening in both Amlwch and Aberffraw village halls.But lots of great choices and everyone is free to make their own arrangements.

Limited to 150 entries.🤔

Take good care of you.💥🏃‍♀️💥🔥

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tbae]

Yes I know, just can't do it next year 😊

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Great info Tbae! If it is run every year I might have some serious thinking to do for 2019! Sounds like the first day's Firelighter event is the one aimed at mass competitors? If the whole circuit has such a strict 150 max competitor limit then I'd likely not make the cut as a "beginner"? I need to do some serious investigation!

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to Lordi]

Hi Lordi,

Do not know the historical demand or uptake. 🤔

Just got the impression it is early days for the event and maybe remote and certainly a good challenge that uptake is low.🤔

I know of one local gym instructor who entered couple of years ago and unfortunately did not get through the second day.

Much worse my son in law’s best man came all the way from Melbourne to the Dragon’s Back and got through the first day, Snowdonia range including Crib Goch Arête, only to have to withdraw.

Unfortunately he seriously underestimated the enormity of the challenge due to limited information on the web.🤔

Yes serious investigation needed.

I have began reading your posts and of course they reflect that depth of investigation.💥🏃‍♂️💥

Good luck with your enquiries and it is a help that you have an accomplished mate that is aiming towards the events.

You are reawakening my interest by posting this.🙈😂

Atb Lordi, 💥🏃‍♂️💥🔥

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Ha ha! Excellent! Cheers for the info again. Some serious thinking ahead....

[Decker Ultramarathon]

You are hard core Lordi! Go for it!

[Lordi Marathon]

...or nuts Decker!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

In seriousness I would say have a go at some shorter, and two-day, ultramarathons first 😊

[Lordi Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Cheers. Will do Roseabi!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

"Stupid idea?" A little mad maybe😉...but nothing wrong with that, if you ask me! As you point out, you have time to prepare... and my complete respect! I am in awe of ultra runners - I have a neighbour who does them...I think he may not actually be human!🙂😂

[pinkaardvark Half Marathon]

You can do it But please take pics of your feet when they burst

[ju-ju- Marathon]

How exciting I rather fancy that too. I think anything is doable if you put your mind to it and train properly... I’d say go for it....

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to ju-ju-]

I agree with you Ju.

It’s a case of how do you eat an elephant🤔🙈.

Just broke it down into bite size lumps.

You have to do 215.96km in 40.5 Hours, in 3 days , 10+20+10.5.

At a pace of 10 mins / km, theoretically you would complete the course in 36 hours.

More importantly for me and because I live locally I could run and walk 7k+7k each day for 32 days.

That would allow me to check the terrain and actual walking and running times on it and check out the CP’s and the sections with a head torch at the end of both Frid and Sat.evening finishes.

Early days.

Take care of you.

💥🏃‍♀️🐆🐌👑💥

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Sounds like a plan! Love it!

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to Lordi]

Enjoyed reading your posts.

Go you Lordi.💥🏃‍♂️💥🔥

Does your mate know both events 2019. Spring and end of summer.🤔👍👏👏

Take care of you.💥🏃‍♂️💥🔥

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Yep. Seems like the plan now might be to run the RoF but hike the Dragon's Back route unofficially.