The Club's Results
Welsh 3000's, Summer 2008
1st men's pair (Elite 2-)
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Laffan beats ham sandwich, verdict easily
http://xkcd.com/77/ and I was bored of the internet.
BPBC had put in a pretty good time for the 3000s in 2005 with their elite 4-. But I had two days to spare so added some extra peaks (including a second ascent of Snowdon by a different route) and took all my camping gear with me making it the 3000s - extra. Throughout the year I'd had my suspicions that a ham sandwich would in fact be quicker than Laffan. I was time to put it to the test. So the FaT elite 2- trekked into Wales with the sandwich in the bow seat.
We made a strong start from Nant Gwynant and the first ascent of Snowdon was pretty rapid. Then off the top via Y Lliwedd and back up Crib Goch for the second ascent of Snowdon. After coming off the start we hit a reasonable rhythm and were still moving pretty well at this stage. The ridge at Crib Goch turns out to be quite narrow and, with 10kgs of kit, we had some issues with balance, particularly as there was a reasonable cross wind.
The next climb came, after descending to sea level, up Elidir Fawr which in English means calorie deficit. By now we had fallen below race pace and I was beginning to suspect that the bow man wasn't pulling its weight. At the top of the climb it was clear that the ham sandwich was quicheing, and I was pretty hungry so he would have to be cut from the crew. So the elite lightweight 1x proceeded through the Glyders to Tryfan to conclude the first day. Jumping between Adam and Eve on the top of Tryfan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryfan for photo) was entertaining but probably not the best idea without the bowman to provide assistance if I screwed up. So I took JPD's advice - "Just don't spaz it up".
At least for the first day I could see where I was going. The next day, though the Carnedd section, I might as well have been playing blindfold navigation games. Luckily I managed to avoid doing a Garrod and kept it within the lanes but was significantly slowed down by taking the scenic route. The latter half of the course was over fairly quickly but I'd gone off too hard having underestimated how difficult 14,000ft of ascent with camping gear would be. Unable to sprint (or walk) for the line I was now back to coxing weight and maybe that's the best option.
Results: Laffan beats ham sandwich, verdict easily. Single sculls are pretty boring. Sub 10 is achievable - in fact, the 4- probably would have done it if they had stayed at the top of Snowdon overnight and started from there, as the official route requires.
BPBC had put in a pretty good time for the 3000s in 2005 with their elite 4-. But I had two days to spare so added some extra peaks (including a second ascent of Snowdon by a different route) and took all my camping gear with me making it the 3000s - extra. Throughout the year I'd had my suspicions that a ham sandwich would in fact be quicker than Laffan. I was time to put it to the test. So the FaT elite 2- trekked into Wales with the sandwich in the bow seat.
We made a strong start from Nant Gwynant and the first ascent of Snowdon was pretty rapid. Then off the top via Y Lliwedd and back up Crib Goch for the second ascent of Snowdon. After coming off the start we hit a reasonable rhythm and were still moving pretty well at this stage. The ridge at Crib Goch turns out to be quite narrow and, with 10kgs of kit, we had some issues with balance, particularly as there was a reasonable cross wind.
The next climb came, after descending to sea level, up Elidir Fawr which in English means calorie deficit. By now we had fallen below race pace and I was beginning to suspect that the bow man wasn't pulling its weight. At the top of the climb it was clear that the ham sandwich was quicheing, and I was pretty hungry so he would have to be cut from the crew. So the elite lightweight 1x proceeded through the Glyders to Tryfan to conclude the first day. Jumping between Adam and Eve on the top of Tryfan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryfan for photo) was entertaining but probably not the best idea without the bowman to provide assistance if I screwed up. So I took JPD's advice - "Just don't spaz it up".
At least for the first day I could see where I was going. The next day, though the Carnedd section, I might as well have been playing blindfold navigation games. Luckily I managed to avoid doing a Garrod and kept it within the lanes but was significantly slowed down by taking the scenic route. The latter half of the course was over fairly quickly but I'd gone off too hard having underestimated how difficult 14,000ft of ascent with camping gear would be. Unable to sprint (or walk) for the line I was now back to coxing weight and maybe that's the best option.
Results: Laffan beats ham sandwich, verdict easily. Single sculls are pretty boring. Sub 10 is achievable - in fact, the 4- probably would have done it if they had stayed at the top of Snowdon overnight and started from there, as the official route requires.
Links
Full Summer 2008 Coxless pairs results
Welsh 3000's Coxless pairs results archive
Compare this time with all Welsh 3000's times in the archive
