Details - Navigation Classes
The event follows the now infamous format of a mountain marathon, with competitors navigating over tough terrain to visit check points whilst carrying enough equipment to remain self sufficient. The event is designed to achieve 2 goals:
- To challenge the adventurous athlete; testing endurance, self reliance, navigation and outdoor skills
- To enjoy and explore this beautiful and mystical National Park, including a night under canvas in a wilderness location
There are 5 recognised mountain marathon classes; Elite, B, C, Long Score and Medium Score. The 5 classes on offer should entice and accommodate athletes with differing abilities, from many outdoor sporting backgrounds - runners, adventure racers, orienteers, mountaineers, fell runners, hill walkers and enthusiastic give-it-a-go-ers. Unlike any other mountain marathon, the DMM will have a solo category in ALL classes. All competitors (particularly solo entrants) will need to provide adequate evidence of ability and experience in order to participate in the event.
Competitors have the choice of 5 different classes to match their standard and ability: Elite, B, C, Long Score & Medium Score. Competitors must be realistic when choosing the class they wish to enter and will be asked to provide evidence of their experience and ability on booking. This will be submitted to the event organisers for review. Competitors deemed to demonstrate a lack of experience or ability will risk being downgraded or even losing their place. If you have any questions relating to this, please email
support@endurancelife.com.
Classes:
Elite - Linear 70km
A long, tough course catering for the most competent and experienced runners. Significant vertical gain. A select number of controls assigned, to be visited in a specific order.
Entrants should have completed an Elite or A course in a mountain marathon event, have completed a wilderness based multi-day adventure race, or demonstrate high levels of navigational ability and endurance.
B - Linear 55km
A demanding course with noticable vertical gain. A select number of controls assigned, to be visited in a specific order.
Entrants should have completed a course of similar difficulty at a mountain marathon event, have completed a long navigation based fell race or demonstrate high levels of navigational ability and endurance.
C - 40km
A less demanding course, covering a shorter distance and with some vertical gain. A select number of controls assigned, to be visited in a specific order.
Entrants may have limited experience in mountain marathons. Strong hill walkers with good navigational ability, and others of a similar calibre willing to push themselves over two days.
Long Score - 13hr (7 & 6)
Two long days of competitive activity, visiting as many controls as possible within the given time period. Penalties for lateness.
Entrants should have completed a long score, Elite or A course in a mountain marathon event, have completed a wilderness based multi-day adventure race, or demonstrate high levels of navigational ability and endurance.
Medium Score - 11hr (6 & 5)
Two days of activity, visiting as many controls as possible as possible with the given time period. Penalties for lateness.
Entrants may have limited experience in mountain marathons. Strong hill walkers with good navigational ability, and others of a similar caliber willing to push themselves over two days.
SAFETY NOTE: Competitors must be aware and realistic of the challenge that they plan to undertake when deciding a class to enter. Although Dartmoor is not the grandest of mountainous regions in the UK, there will be significant vertical gain experienced in each class. The ground underfoot can be particularly tricky, making progess slow and sapping of energy. The moor is susceptible to bad weather making navigation particularly difficult- when the mist descends competitors navigation skills WILL truely be tested. Competitors are expected to make a realistic assessment of their capabilities and choose a course that best reflects their mountain skills - one should not enter the event merely to finish the course, regardless of the time
Entry Information
All entries are made online and in advance of the event. The booking process is quick and simple. If you are new to Endurancelife events, you will be asked to set up an
Endurancelife account which is a very quick, simple and easy process.
Entry Fees
Elite, B, C, Long Score, Medium Score:
£40 per person
£80 per team
Discounts
Book two or more places in the DMM and immediately receive a 10% discount off your total entry fee. So why not get your running club, orienteering club, friends and colleagues involved?
To benefit from the savings, simply fill out all the relevant fields in the online booking form and the system will automatically calculate the discount for you. You can also buy the places up front, and assign them to people later.
Please Note: Discounts are ONLY available at the time of booking. No retrospective discounts can be offered, i.e. if you want to take advantage of the discounts available for booking more than one event or by introducing friends, this must be done as part of the original booking.
Included
- Professionally managed & hosted event
- Waterproof pre-marked map 1:40000
- Hire of Sport Ident electronic chip (dibber) for each competitor
- Overnight camp (Saturday)
- Free parking for the event
- Quality photos available to purchase post event online
Prize Categories
A fantastic prize pool of £1000 worth of Endurancelife cash credit and some superb medals will be up for grabs! This is a unique and innovative system where winners' Endurancelife accounts are credited with cash. This can be redeemed against entry into future events, spent in the online
Endurancestore (on clothing or kit), or used to purchase event photos (the best souvenir from an event - you can't forget it!).
A prize giving cermony will take place once all participants have returned safely, downloaded and the event data has been processed. Prizes will be awarded to the best performing athletes in each class. Any queries or issues relating to the results must have been addressed prior to the prize giving (please pose these at the download station). Each class will be broken down into the following categories:
- Open
- Ladies
- Mixed
- Vets (participants over 50)
- Mixed Vets (participants over 50)
Entrants must be over 16 unless accompanied by a team member of over 18.
Pre Event
Following making a booking online competitors will NOT receive any information via the post, prior to the event. An event update and reminder will be sent to all competitors by email approximately two weeks prior to the event. Please keep checking the website for latest news in the meantime.
Event day:
Parking
Parking will be available for the duration of the event (vehicles to be left at the owners risk). This will be located in Princetown, close to the Event Base. Please follow the Endurancelife Parking signs on entering the town.
Registration
Registration will take place at the event base which is situated at the Plume of Feathers Inn, Princetown,
Dartmoor. Devon. PL20 6QQ. Map
Please down load and fill out a medical and indemnity waiver prior to arrival at registration. Your participant number and timing chip will be issued to you at registration.
Mapping
A specially prepared 1:40000 map will be used for the event. One map will be issued per participant. Any surplus maps may be purchased at an extra cost of £5. This will be pre-marked and waterproof, and will be given out on the start time. You will also receive a printed handout of the control location descriptions and their correlating values. A map case is highly recomended.
Timing & Scoring
The reliable and robust Sport Ident system will be used for the DMM. Each participant will be given a chip (dibber) to wear, and its hire is included in the entry fee. Participants are asked not to use their own chip but use the one provided. Please look after your chip or you might be liable to pay for a replacement (£18).
Electronic punches (controls) will be marked on the map and numbered. along Point values will be on the separate control descriptions sheet. On the ground, a control box will be fixed and located by its description. Control boxes will be accompanied by the standard orienteering flag (symbol - red and white opposing triangles).
Start Times
A specific Saturday start time will be allocated and emailed to each participant prior to the event, between 08:00 and 10:00. Please ensure that you arrive in good time for your start time. The clock will be ticking from that point onwards regardless of whether you have actually started or not!
On Sunday the Elite and B classes will having a chasing start. This will involve the higher place finishers from Saturday starting at one minute intervals. The chasing starts will take place between 07:30 - 08:00 at one minute period intervals. All other competitors will be able to start at their leisure during the 08:00 - 09:30 start window.
Overnight Camp
The Overnight Camp will be made known on commencing the event. Participants must safely navigate a route to the Overnight Camp and spend a night under canvas. This will be located in a remote and certainly very scenic location. Portaloos and drinking water will be available on site. All litter brought onto the site by the participant must also be removed from the site by the participant.
Participants are welcomed and encouraged to relax, enjoy the camp fire and soak up the friendly, well reputed Endurancelife overnight camp atmosphere.
Please note: Unfortunately friends and family will not be able to access or stay at the overnight camp.
Timetable
Friday
Registration: 19
:00 - 21:00
Saturday
Registration:
07:00 - 09:00
Starts:
08:00 - 10:00
Sunday
Starts:
07:30 - 09:30
Course closes:
16:00
Prize giving: 1
6:30 (approx)
Kit & Rules
Kit
Every competitor must wear or carry the following mandatory items:
-
Trail or
fell shoes - road shoes not suitable
- Waterproof trousers
- Leg wear - no cotton based material
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Compass & whistle
- Snacks & emergency rations
- First aid kit - inc triangular bandage
Each solo entrant and every team must have between them, the following mandatory items:
- Tent
- Food for the duration of event (for 36 hours)
- Mobile phone (in waterproof case)
SAFETY NOTICE:
The DMM is a tough and challenging event that may have an increased element of danger during inclement weather conditions. Please be aware of the dangers of heavy rainfall on Dartmoor - rivers are prone to swelling rapidly thus rendering them impassable. Take necessary precautions, do not attempt to cross (particularly any submerged stepping stones) and seek a safer alternative route.
Competitors must be of a good fitness level, have competent navigation and mountain skills in UK hills/mountains and be able to manage two days of physical and mental exertion.
Rules
Please follow and adhere to the following rules at all times or risk disqualification from the event and from future Endurancelife events. They have been implemented to create a fair, safe and enjoyable event!
- All competitors must report to registration having completed the event or not, at the earliest opportunity. Rescue teams will be dispatched to search for unaccounted competitors, so please do not waste valuable time and resources by not returning to registration prior to leaving the event site.
- Each competitor is completely self sufficient and self reliant during the event with competent mountain skills.
- Team members must stay within sight and voice contact at all times and must both visit (and dib) each control.
- Competitors must wear or carry all mandatory items as listed above at all times. They must be prepared to be kit-checked at any point. They must not dump or off-load kit at any point.
- Competitors must be courteous and considerate of other trail and moorland users.
- Follow the countryside code at all times; close gates firmly behind you even if found half open, do not litter, and respect land owners and other out door enthusiasts.
- Competitors must not enter marked out of bounds areas.
- Competitors must assist each other in times of severe difficulty or immediate danger; look out for each other.
- Cut off times at certain locations on each day will be implemented on the linear course (Elite, B, C). These will be made known to competitors at event registration.
- GPS devices are not permitted. Altimeter and odimeters are allowed.
- Results queries will be dealt with as fairly and effectively as possible. The organisers decision is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you know of any other events that may be suitable for training?
A: There are numerous fell races in the UK that make for excellent training. Check the
FRA and
British Orienteering websites for information. For useful and well run orienteering events on Dartmoor, check out the
Devon Orienteering Club website.
Q: Are the distances outlined on the 'Course Details' tab, the distance covered each day or over the two days?
A: The total approximate distance covered over the two days.
Q: Are there likely to be any prizes for the 'old gits' teams of 50+ ?
A: Yes, there will be a prize category for Vets, competitors aged 50 or over.
Q: How do you suggest carrying all the required kit?
A: We recommend you use a backpack of around 30L. A pack of this size or larger should allow you to carry all of the required kit items comfortably. It is advisable to choose an 'active' pack, designed for use on the move / whilst running. The pack should be a snug and comfortable fit, limiting horizontal and vertical movement on your back whilst running. An additional useful feature is a water bladder compartment which allows you to take sips of water whilst on the move.
A suitable and highly recommended pack for a mountain marathon event is the award winning
Inov-8 Race Pro 30. You can purchase this and other required kit items at our online
Trail Store.
Q: Can you fill up with water at the camp?
A: Yes, there will be fresh water available at the overnight camp
Q: I understand that the event is a 2 day event. Does that mean 2 days of running or 1 day of running and 1 night of camping and then going home on the second day?
A: You will be running on both days, AND will carry your full pack on both days as well.
Q: For solo competitors at the DMM, will a hooped bivy be acceptable as a tent?
A: Yes, a hooped bivi bag is acceptable for solo competitors. Drawcord hood bivi bags and fully enclosed (alpine) bivi bags are not permitted.
Q: I am looking at flying in to Exeter, but am struggling to find transport to Princetown. I could hire a car but it seems a bit of a waste and will be quite expensive. Any suggestions?
A: The Transmoor Link bus goes across Dartmoor between Plymouth and Exeter. Pick up a copy of the 'Discovery Guide to Dartmoor by Bus and Train' from Dartmoor Information Centres or call DevonBus on 01392 382800, email
devonbus@devon.gov.uk or visit
www.devon.gov.uk/buses.
Q: I am entered in the event and note there will be 1:40000 map issued on the day. Is it allowed as part of the rules to bring along your own standard OS map of the area?
A: There is nothing to stop you from doing this.
Q: I have never competed in anything like this before, but I am a very experienced hillwalker and feel I meet your entry requirements. I have one simple question: does the C category event assume competitors will run the entire distance, carrying ultra lightweight kit, or is their room for walkers with less specialised lightweight kit? Or to put it another way, is the event purely a race or is it an endurance event, where competitors can complete the route at their own chosen pace?
A: The DMM is an endurance event and you are able to complete it at your own pace. The nature of the event lends itself to participants moving quickly over the ground, and those who wish to take a more comfortable pace are asked to enter the C class or Medium Score class.
It is not essential to have specialised lightweight kit. Provided that your kit is in good condition and complies with the standards, you are able to use whichever kit you wish.
Q: By 'hydration system' do you mean that competitors will actually be required to carry one of those Platypus/Camelbak things? I've always just carried a mug and a half-litre water bottle on the OMM/LAMM/Saunders/AL fell races, and never had any problems with it.
A: By 'hydration system', we simply require that you have accounted for and have some means of re-hydrating during the event. Users of water bladders find them highly useful and pratical, but a water bottle and mug is perfectly acceptable as well.
Just to say I've never run a slower 1/2 before, and never run one that was so interesting, in such arresting scenery; beats running 3 times round Silverstone! Now I know the difference between a mile and a country mile. The organisation was exceptional, Scrambling, thick sea fog, steep hills, knee deep mud and great fun people to spend a day with! This was a hoot - great job guys!