KIMM AGAIN

As has now become our practice, the last weekend in October saw me and Derek heading for the KIMM (Karrimor International Mountain Marathon). Regular readers will have followed our exploits over the previous 2 years as we struggled to obtain a Certificate (awarded to finishers above a certain score). Despite finishing in both previous attempts we had not quite attained the grade. This year it was to be different..…

The KIMM is an annual mountain marathon. Teams of 2 are required to be self-sufficient (carrying tent, sleeping bag, stove, etc.) and complete a course against the clock in a mountainous area. The 2000 KIMM was in the remotest corner of the SW Lakes. Our previous events were in the Howgills, and Cowal (in Argyll). We entered the short score, one of the KIMM courses where only the start and end controls are defined, the route between chosen by each team to visit intermediate controls to maximise the points obtained, each control having a value dependent on its location.

For a start, we had prepared more than ever. In early September we had met (by chance) a KIMM Guru who gave us all sorts of useful tips:

• Train for the event, i.e. run for 5 hours or so over rough terrain. 50 minutes down the gym isn't specific enough to the event
• To optimize the choice of route, carry a string marked for how far you can run in the allotted time. Use the string to compare route options
• Remember the influence the weather has on the route, e.g. if low cloud, avoid the tops. If recently very wet, avoid any marsh areas on the map, etc.
• Pare down the equipment and kit to the minimum
• Eat something every hour

The cloud was low and the rain started as we were handed our map at the start control. First problem, the string didn't reach from the start to the finish control - we would have to be going very fast just to avoid time penalties. We quickly settled on the most direct route possible. At the start there was also an announcement about a control change, but as not on our route we took no notice. The navigation to our chosen early controls was quite tricky with the low cloud and we dropped a bit behind schedule. The major part of our route was following a wall up the side of a moor, a route chosen by many other teams. We seemed to be making better progress than many but the rain wasn't relenting and progress was always slower than our string target. Eventually we emerged from the moor, with just a (quick) downhill dash to the final control. Our spirits rose. But, the dash was a bit longer than we expected and had a cruel twist. About 1 km from the final control we had to cross a river using stepping stones, unfortunately with all the rain these were about a foot under water (remember the changed control not relevant to us?!!). We had to go an extra 3 km to the nearest bridge. We were very despondent when we finally made the control and realised we had scored –29 points for our efforts. The target for certification was 250 over the 2 day event.

Pitching the tent and getting out of wet clothes, together with Derek's clam chowder, raised spirits a bit and any thoughts of not starting the second day were dismissed. Studying the leader board suggested we were doing rather well (in relative terms).

Day 2 was much brighter and again a direct route was chosen. The first half of the day offered many route possibilities but the second half was a long snake of weary competitors. We scored reasonably well in the first half and kept up momentum in the second. Eventually we finished.

The published results showed us finishing 60^th out of 131 finishers (and 229 starters). A Certificate was awarded to only 42 teams but for a lowered target of 100 points, not 250. Our final score was 44. Even better, on the handicap system Derek's extreme age gave us bonus points to arrive 22^nd.

So what do we do now? We trained pretty hard and still failed, but perhaps were slightly unlucky with the weather. Do we give it one more shot or do we give up on KIMM as a bad job? If we do enter, should we try a different category – studying the results suggests a certificate appears easier to obtain as you go from short score to medium to long.

Watch this space!

Sandy December 2000