Langdale Horseshoe - Final Details

With the race approaching fast, please see below some information which should be read by all entrants. 

SiEntries Pre-event Details On The Day

You will have received a separate email from SI entries asking you to update details online. This must be done before you travel as we will not be using paper forms on the day and it is vital that we have this information on record beforehand.

Getting here...

We are planning to use the normal parking field, which can be found here. Please bring £4 cash per car for parking, but note that to incentivise car sharing we will not charge for any vehicle with 4 or more runners. This money goes directly to the farmer who has supported the race for over 40 years. 

We would also like to remind people of the very affordable bus service – the 516 runs from Kendal to the Old Dungeon Ghyll and back hourly and the timetable can be found here.

Timings…

Parking will be open from about 8.45am with registration opening in the barn shortly after 9am. Registration will then close at 10.30am and all runners should be ready and on the start line at 10.50am for a race briefing before the race gets underway at 11.00am. Please ensure that you allow plenty of time to get through kit check and registration. Following the race, we will aim to start prize-giving at around 3pm at the front of the pub. 

Weather & kit…

As of today, it looks like we are in for a day of frequent showers and strong winds which could make things feel pretty cold and unpleasant on the tops. Things change quickly and the onus is on you to make sensible decisions based on the weather. Have a read of the FRA’s hypothermia leaflet here and, as an absolute minimum, please bring:

• Full FRA kit: waterproof tops/bottoms (taped seams), hat, gloves, map, compass, emergency food, whistle
• An additional long sleeved top

Given the forecast, we may also require runners to carry an emergency bivi bag (not a blanket) - so either bring one or be prepared to purchase one from Pete Blands who will, as usual, be in attendance. They have supported this race for years, so please consider purchasing from them. Please bring cash or physical card given poor reception in the valley.

Trackers…

Some of you will be aware that the FRA are trialling the use of trackers for some of the longer and more arduous races with scope for people going AWOL. Langdale has been selected and you will all therefore be required to carry a small tracker. We wanted to highlight a couple of things:

• The use of trackers is for safety only - there will be no dot-watching and links will not be shared, so please do not crowd around or ask how your pal is doing. Other than carrying a matchbox, the presence of tracking should make no difference to your race.
• Whilst help will be on hand when trackers are distributed, for speed and ease we will be handing the trackers out without clips or tape and expecting you to find an appropriate place in your race vest or bumbag for them. To assist with that, please have a read of this before you arrive. 

Checkpoints and cut-offs…

Please refer to our website for general information on the course checkpoints and cut-off times: https://www.amblesideac.org.uk/races/our-races/langdale-horseshoe/. These cut-offs are in place for runners’ and marshals’ safety, so please respect them. If you are cut off or retire, please return to the finish area via the shortest route and hand in your dibber; under no circumstances is it acceptable to carry on around the course.

LocationCut-off timeThunacar Knott12:05 (after 1h05)Angle Tarn12:45 (after 1h45)Bowfell13:35 (after 2h35)Crinkle Crags14:15 (after 3h15)

Finish line…

At the finish line your number will be recorded by a marshal and you will need to dib. Once this is done, you need to return your dibber and tracker. Anybody who fails to do this will be assumed missing, and we don’t want to call out a search party for a runner who’s sat in the pub with a dibber!

Timing & online Results...

As usual we will be using SPORTident timing and you will all be required to carry a "dibber" for this purpose. Any lost dibbers will incur a charge of £30, so make sure you keep them safe and return them at the finish! There is no mobile signal at Registration and so results will not appear online until shortly after the end of the race at https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/Ambleside/2026/Langdale/ 

Pies and brews…

As usual we will be providing a warm pie to all racers, along with a brew (please bring a mug). These will be available shortly after the first finishers return. The marshals will be the last people back down and the coldest and wettest, so please don't eat more than one pie - to do so will deprive them of theirs!

Finally, a few brief but very important reminders…

• This is a traditional fell race and runners should follow the FRA runners' rules here. As such, navigation using any kind of GPS or display of any form of electronic map is strictly prohibited (whether a “map” or merely a “breadcrumb trail” of either the route followed or a pre-loaded route to follow). Any runner seen to be flouting FRA rules will be reported to the FRA and may be banned from entering this race in future.
• All marshals on the hill and those helping at the start and finish are volunteers and are sacrificing their day to make this race happen for your benefit, so please be polite and do what you can to ensure they too have an enjoyable day on the fells. Please have your number on your vest (not on your shorts/longs) and display it to marshals, even if this means pausing for a moment.
• Remember the golden rule: if you retire from the race, whether through injury or otherwise, you must report to race control at the finish even if you have already reported your retirement to a course marshal whilst on the hill.

 See you all on Saturday!

 Thanks,

Tom & Hanno

Ambleside AC