Stuart Altman Shrewsbury 15:40
7th Hike, great event again, perhaps consider food at checkpoints?

Chris Myles Shrewsbury 13:52
Hot, hot, hot! Enjoyed it but tougher than normal.

Neil Fulwood Marshall at the top of Corndon
Kit check seemed a bit onerous, checking for seams on waterproofs!

Annie Dyson Leamore Common 20:40
Appalled at the amount of rubbish thrown away, careless and thoughtless.
Nice to see loads of sweets at checkpoints, at last LMH investing in some sort of food.

Brian Layton Aylesbury 14:41
Great, a sensible decision not to make walkers put their bottoms on! Nice tough event.

Phil Harwood Hereford 20:44
4th Hike. Worst bit was starting in the heat. Everyone worried about wearing long trousers, good decision.

Dave Podmore Hereford Retired Shelve
Chest infection got the better of me. Brilliant event , well run, friendly. Allowed to stay in shorts , great. Tomato soup good. Not doing it again, but give me a week! Tough event good atmosphere. 6th time entered.

Jim Tinnion Telford 13:04
Loads of fruit at Earls Hill, thanks ladies. Grouped at Bank Farm, one group member struggled to Shelve. One poor guy had cramp going up Corndon. From Woodgate steamed along, brilliant.

Geoff Sproson Stiperstones 20:51
Took it nice and steady, spent a lot of time in checkpoints. They did get a bit full. Checkpoint staff great.

Emily Millington Affcot 13:04 1st Female Novice
Absolutely brilliant! Checkpoint flashing lights were good. Best bit was the half pint at Bridges! Worst bit the poor guy who was in pain going up Corndon. !st time, back next year. Grouping is bad news, frustrating, still fantastic event though.

Jane Edwards Coventry Retired Stiperstones Car Park
Never again! Friend retired at Shelve, I think she feels the same, most before was 27 miles, found it really hard. Heat took it out of us, not disappointed, hard through the night.

Kevin Hutchinson Bridgnorth Raynet Operator
Turned up as a spare operator, spent first few hours then out on one of the ,ini buses. Couple of medical incidents, including a lady at Medlicot with a knee injury. Mini bus passengers good fun. 50th birthday on the day.

Chris Dunkerley Much Wenlock 12:04
Really good, friendly staff. Shelve was brilliant with the hats and the lights. Felt okay until the top of Ragleth, the stomach cramps coming down. 1st Hike so pleased, might even do it again!

Tony Francis, Worcester. 21:20
Perhaps they could make it harder! 14th or 15th time on the event.

Steve Mayne, Bournmouth. 11:03
More sun next time please! 6th Hike, best time, I like the Shropshire hills.

Dave Nichols, Church Stretton. Retired Stiperstones Car Park
Led for the first 100 metres then slowed down! Shoes a bit loose, rubbed heal coming off Corndon, retired when second torch started to give up, also had tight hamstrings and feet had had enough.

Pauline Richards, Shrewsbury. 18:17
Wonderful organisation. Friendly faces year after year. Very hot, felt sick at the end. Checkpoints all helpful.

Brian Faulkner, LMH Committee
Congratulations to all who finished and those who got as far as they could. Well done to the stores vehicle crew who transported water to checkpoints, also the setting up and taking down crews and the medical staff who dealt with numerous blisters!

Andy Davies, Church Stretton. Retired Bank Farm – former winner and current record holder.
Suffered from heat exhaustion, rather than prolonging the struggle said enough was enough as I was getting slower and slower.

Gareth Jones, Church Stretton. 21:29
3rd time. Route around Black Rhadley depressing. Checkpoints excellent, plenty of hot drinks and nice to see sweets. Would like to help one year. Why no mention of event in Stretton Focus?

Maria Spurling, Church Stretton. 14:02
Pleased to get around in the extreme heat. Lovely group, nice to see Rick and Jan at Habberley. Checkpoint team at Ragleth very friendly.

Richard Dennant, Gloucestershire. 21:47
th time and best ever! Grouped with local people so did not use map. Can’t fault organisation. Kit check worked well. Good decision on leg cover. Checkpoints good, loved fairy lights at Shelve, worst bit was coming down off Ragleth.

Carol Easthope Little Ness 21:20
2nd time, gave up last time, fitter now and more resilient. Worst bit being shouted at by event vehicle whilst taking alternate route around Habberley. Pleased how I coped with heat, also pleased to hear that a lady had won. Grouped early (Bridges) considering weather and light. Concerned that some walkers do not carry enough food!

Roger Jones, Kitchen
Hot in the kitchen! As usual 500 breakfasts, thanks to all the guys and ladies who helped.

Doreen and Mary. Hike stalwarts and guest trophy presenters.
Doreen involved since 1979 and Mary since 1967! Always enjoy it, good bunch who work well together. Made a lot of good friends and get our leg pulled a lot. Nice to see younger ones coming through. Seems a long time since it used to start in the Scout Hut!

Simon Lumley, Huntingdon. 22:32
Webmaster who is usually behind the scenes during the Hike. Hard work but good fun. Interesting to see checkpoints from the walkers point of view.

The following comments were received via email:

Neville Dewson
Thank you so much for staging a brilliant event.  It killed me, but I loved it.  When it comes to organisation you guys and girls are 'THE BUSINESS'.  everything was  SUPERB.
I carried number 44 and I understand it was the 44th event.  I was lucky enough to be put into a very friendly and supportive group so that we all helped each other to get round.  I'm so proud that I was one of them.
Every best wish to you all and thanks again for putting on the perfect weekend.

Steve Bishop
Firstly I'd like to thank the organisers for a brilliantly arranged event.  My first Longmynd hike and definitely the toughest most gruelling challenge I've ever done.  So much harder than the Yorks 3 Peaks, Black Mountain roundabout, Dovedale Dipper, Brecon Mountain challenge, etc.  I am really proud to have completed such a mammoth personal challenge - thank you.

The only tip I would pass back is the confusing presence of spray painted white arrows along the walk route which I and a few others came to rely on.  As a result we got lost and ended up doubling back adding another 3 miles and over an hour to our time.  Please be assured I am not blaming you or the arrow-painters for our error - I realise we should have relied on our own map-reading instead of getting lazy with the arrows.  So our error was our fault.  But I would urge you to liaise with whoever sprayed the arrows (a mountain bike organisation ?), to avoid similar problems in future.

James Hanmer
Excellent event, can't wait for next year's. Well done to everyone who helped make it all possible.

Chris Price
Please give my congratulations and sincere thanks to everyone who helped organise and run the 2011Longmynd Hike. It was a fantastic day, everyone was so helpful and friendly.  Organisation was excellent even down to the fantastic weather.  Just a little too hot though - please can you make it a few degrees cooler next year.  Thanks again.

Kerry Allison, Pontesbury. 15:31
Thank you one and all for all the hard work to get so many people safely round the Shropshire countryside. A few thoughts from someone who has now done enough events to have an opinion!

• Grouping at night - universally seen by those taking part as unnecessary intervention. It causes a lot of friction between entrants, people slow others up, I have known many an entrant give up completely because of whom they're grouped with. We lost unnecessary time this year due to bad grouping but were not allowed bonus time due to not being at a checkpoint. On the recent Housman 100 (and I understand all the other 100's) there is no grouping policy. We were, by far, more in the middle of nowhere on that course and yet everyone was fine! In fact, many entrants had to survive 2 complete nights without grouping. To be honest, The Hike is not that extreme, you're never really far from anywhere or anyone and so much of it is on road now that I wonder what the safety issue is. Also, the people on the checkpoints need to all be singing from the same hymn sheet as one in particular was insisting it was minimum 4 in a group and was really quite explicit in language that they were right……(luckily not with me).
• Route - too much road work, getting a bit dull.
• Kit check - too subjective. Don't see the point anyway, if people enter with the wrong kit, it's their lookout and responsibility. Depending on who checked your kit depended on what you could get away with ranging from barely windproof jackets to insisting on fully goretexed/hooded jackets which cost my friend £120 in Church Stretton. I've never been asked before if my jacket had a hood (it does) but this is not stipulated on the hike rules. Insisting you have enough food for 24hrs - I'm not going to be out for 24hrs!
• Qualification - if the worry is safety, then how about insisting on qualification routes to be done before the event? To qualify for the LDWA annual 100, you have to have either completed the previous year's event or done a 50 miler in the 12 months preceding the 100.

Just some thoughts……..
Won't be doing another 100 though! Probably do the Wenlock Olympian 50 instead!

Terry Stock
My first Longmynd Hike. Now I understand why people do it again & again. We’re all barking mad. Sam, Luke, Steve & Andrew thanks for your company & support & to everyone else I met. 50 miles before breakfast & never again... After breakfast.... Hope to see you all next year. I will remember this weekend for the rest of my life.

Stephen Mullens
My 4th event and the organisation just gets better, a massive thanks to all the helpers and organisers. An excellent time and I hope to be back next year.

Tim Evans
Another good hike and my 6th finish. Having done the Housman Hundred this year I still think the Long Mynd Hike is a tough event. Was good to help get my mate Roel round for his first (and probably last!) completion.
Having previously worked on the checkpoint at Stiperstones where grouping has traditionally taken place it was disappointing to get grouped at Bridges (far too early) and the attitude of the man grouping us, he thought groups were four people not three and couldn't be swayed from this decision. The grouping seemed to be causing problems at both Bank Farm (where the previous grouping was ignored and we were put in a new group) and Corndon summit where Neil quite rightly was getting concerned with the amount of time people were spending on the summit waiting for group members. There was no grouping on the hundred and this seemed to work well, although I guess everyone on the hundred is experienced in this type of event.
Unfortunately our mate Gav lay down on the road and went to sleep just before Medlicott cottage and had to be rescued but we still managed to finish in a respectable time. Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their time and a big Danke Schön to the ladies on top of Black Rhadley!! The breakfast was also great on our return to the school.

Hiker 334
Thanks.
Once again a well organised event that seemed to go without hitch. I would like to thank the numerous people behind the scenes that make this event possible.

Rodney Jones
Absolutely brilliant, chaps! I just can’t say how impressed I was! Such organisation, such friendliness, such support (drinks, sweets, encouragement)!
What brilliant value - £24 is what you can pay for a city marathon with a fraction of the organisation and personnel that LMH involves – SO A FANTASTIC AND HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THE CHURCH STRETTON / SHROPSHIRE SCOUTS!!!!!!!
I CAN ONLY THINK OF ONE LITTLE IMPROVEMENT – the marked route off Cornden was hard to see – we knew our way down, so were alright, but we didn’t pick up the flags until very close to the fence / gate – maybe bigger posts / more reflective flags next year???
So, again, thank you for so much hard work and genuine cheerfulness – so many brilliant Mums (actual or surrogate)!!!

Jayne, James and Cindypoos
First I must say thank you for putting on a really excellent event, I know you have been doing it for years and practice makes perfect so they say, I was truly impressed and to say it was run by volunteers.
BRILLIANT !!! This was my first time so did not know what to expect as I was doing it with my friends who were younger but I beat them both (not rubbing it in)ah ah. I wish someone had erased those white arrow marks on the roads and grass as I followed them after Stiperstones and took a slight detour until a local on a mountain biker showed me the correct way to the next check point. Yes, I should have read my map.
From the locals directing us,giving us water, dishing out sweets, making muesli bars and sweet little old ladies putting lollies and sweets in her bowl on her wall for us. Even down to the water stations where they were keeping our spirits up when we were tired, some do need to brush up on their tea coffee making skills (joking) their should be a vote for the best dressed tea coffee /tent /water station, especially when lit up at night. What a welcoming sight, knowing just round the corner is a lovely cup of tea/coffee and handful of sweets to carry me through to the next one. I never had a sweet tooth before I did this walk, now my shopping bill has added a few more items. All in all thoroughly enjoyed it and hopefully get my place for next year. Looking forward to that breakfast already .I’d better get on with my training . thanks again Mr Hall.

Simon
Once again an excellently organised event, this being my fourth time.

• Pros:
  • great organisation
  • seemed to be more sweets/drinks etc. at checkpoints
  • friendly marshals
• Cons:
  • knee jerk grouping at Bridges only 12 miles in; numerous reports of inappropriate groupings as natural speeds not reached that early. I was grouped with people who were much quicker than me
  • shambolic online entry system which took nearly a week to work - a better system must be created thanks.It was hard work for me too,

Russell Ball
Really well organised, every one very friendly, weather hot but no complaints, – great event, many thanks.

Tim Devanney
Tim Devanney Thank you all so much for a wonderful day. Each and every Marshall was incredibly helpful and made each checkin a delight.  Time spent at the school was equally pleasurable mainly due to the slick organisation. I have no idea what went on behind the scenes but up front it was a great day.
Many thanks.

Pete Miles
As requested, some feedback on this years event.
Fantastic atmosphere, excellent helpers both at the school and the checkpoints (special mention for Shelve - very helpful as I was throwing up!). The organisation was very slick with great communications. Great breakfast!
I had not done the hike for many years and was slightly baffled by the process on arrival. How about a nice big whiteboard in the reception before the start, saying where to go and what to do (ie. Get checked in then get your kit checked)?
Other than that, all good - an epic event that deserves high praise, well done!

Sue Hills
This was my first Longmynd hike, but having grown up in Church Stretton it has always been on my list of things to do.
The organisation was absolutely brilliant and I was unable to fault it. I can’t believe that you can get so much for such a low entry fee. I really would like to thank the many volunteers who were all cheerful and encouraging. I only wish that I had brought my purse to the check in as I wish that I had bought a T shirt -  I suppose that I will have to do it all again next year!

Stuart Altman (Again)
Bloody Hot !!!!!  Great event as ever - well organised by nice people and fun asmosphere at every check point and the school and presentations.
Having now done the event about 36 or 37 times - my memory is going !!! a few I hope constructive comments.

• Firstly I think it is time for the event to consider putting on some food at check points as most other challenge events do. It only needs to be cakes/flat jack etc but I think it would make the event more enjoyable, safer and I'm sure we would all be prepared to pay a couple more quid if required for it.
• Kit check - set the kit list and get people to sign that they have it - presently we go through all the kit check and then what is to stop people ditching what ever they like ? the event is for adults who must take their own responsibility - with the conditions this year a sun hat and water bottles ( not on the list ) was more improtant than a warm hat, gloves or overtrousers - some of us don't need maps these days !
• Lastley if Black Radley is going to be out of bounds why not use the nice foot path that goes around to the left of the hill (335957) and comes out at Rock and put a check point there ( or you can cut up to the top of the hill once you reach the open access land ?)  Adding more road to the event has been a negative for me.

Diane Morris, Chester
I had the best experience last weekend I had never walked that far before so was thrilled to complete the course. memorable moments were; the views, the company and the sunrise will stay with me forever. the only comment i would like to make is about the marking on the road that led the group i was with do extra mileage. we went past the large tent ,passed a pub went up the hill and then retraced our steps the large tent where we were grouped for the night walking. Hope this makes sense I cant identify which bit of the walk this is, there were a number of hikers who made this same error I know.
However overall the organisation was amazing and I would consider doing it again.

Jeff Campbell. 13:48
Another great event, helped by the unusually good weather and ground conditions.  I was especially pleased to find that we were allowed to continue wearing shorts overnight – a very sensible decision considering the temperature, and I hope such discretion will apply in the future.  We are all over 18 and should by now know when we need to wear additional clothing!
As always, the checkpoint helpers were very supportive and encouraging.  Manning a checkpoint on top of a hill or in some such inhospitable location for many hours must be very tiring, but without exception the volunteers were cheerful and friendly.  Thanks also to the Raynet people, who provided communications to track our movements.

Bec Bostock
My second start, first finish - so I have used all the facilities so to speak. Your hike is fabulous, great people in checkpoint who really look after you, great spirit amongst competitors, great organisation (except payment!!), just a really fabulous event and I enjoyed it even more this year as I completed the event.
I can understand why this event becomes a little bit addictive.
Congratulations on a wonderful event.

Grant Wilson. 16:41
Many thanks for another superbly organised LMH. As always, everything from registration to the presentation ran like clockwork. The event is great fun to take part in and this is due largely to the people involved in the organisation and planning. Particular thanks to all the people on the checkpoints who give a great morale boost throughout the night.

Tracey Hayward
Had a brilliant time – loved all the marshals at the checkpoints, really made it for me – mind you my group were a little nuts so we probably helped in terms of entertainment.
Cannot wait for another hot hike!!
Just one thing, if it’s as hot as hell again, can we have more salted crisps rather than jelly babies? Shelve was a godsend with the crisps (and the bunting!!)
Many thanks to everyone

Ian Froggatt
Dear LMH Committee
I just wanted to say thank you very much for organising such an excellent event. I've never done such a walk as the LMH, but have entered many other timed races in different sports over the years. Most importantly the atmosphere was great, at the start, check points and finish - a lot of fun (even though the blisters hurt like hell). I also thought the safety organisation was excellent, and it was good to know help was at hand if needed.

Noel Hogan
Just to say well done to all involved 2011 was my fifth hike and as it is a local event I still love it. However I do feel it may be time to address some of the out dated rules which I believe were set when juniors could enter.

1. Full body cover at night not required (yes it must be carried) I run in deepest winter in shorts
2. Grouping at night again not required
3. Bank Farm checkpoint should be moved to Habberly, the hall opposite the pub would be perfect
4. Provision of snacks very poor, some savoury items would be nice (hula hoops/crisps /crackers) some cut up apples
5. Electronic timings these have become very affordable and would not need much of a fee increase to cover cost
6. When we finish why not provide a good homemade veg soup with bread up to (say) 4am, then move to breakfast. finishing before midnight and not getting food is pretty bad and hinders the recovery

I am a fairly experienced ultra runner (fellsman/utmb/grand raid Pyrenees/highland fling /housman 100 and many more and I just feel that although I love the hike I think it is very much stuck in the past and needs to move on. I am a member of my local running club and am very involved in the organising of races and understand the sometimes nightmare it can be putting on events. we organise the Wrekin Wrecker fell race and provide warm food at the finish and it is one of the main reasons people keep coming back.

Phil Rudd
I would like to thank all involved with the smooth running and faultless administration of this year’s Long Mynd Hike.
It was my first time and have no gripes but one suggestion; that extra tents be procured for the rest stations. Had all 550 competitors turned up it would have seen a major traffic jam of bodies crowding round a shared check-in and refreshment area.
The Breakfast was extremely welcome; I had been salivating over the thought of it for the remaining 7 miles.

Julie Parker
Just wanted to say thank you to all who helped put this event together, everybody was so nice, just what you need to get you through it. I didn't complete it on my last attempt but absolutely delighted to get round this time.
Many thanks again, I don't think I will be back next year but you never know.

Mark & Alison Chadwick
We really enjoyed the challenge of our first hike, what amazing weather! We feel it would be a good idea if hikers could post blogs and photos on your website as it's really interesting to hear other people's experiences.
Good idea. If we hosted our own blog it would require moderation to make sure nothing illegal or defamatory was posted (and we have enough to do already in organising the hike), but I could provide links out to blogs elsewhere and the option on the hike site to submit the link. Something to consider for next year [Simon Lumley - Webmaster]

Graeme Cumming
First of all thanks for everyone’s contribution on the organising committee and the army of volunteers. Stunning effort.
Great event and that’s why I drove down from Aberdeen.
Feedback – Not a criticism but some feedback. I nearly wasn’t allowed to walk as my Montane pertex coat and trousers were not deemed sufficient. The rule states “Wind and waterproof coat and trousers” but apparently this is interpreted as taped seams and a hood. I think this needs to be clearly stated in the rules and then I would have turned up with kit that complied.
Luckily you arranged wall to wall sunshine.