In the second of her Guide To Ultrarunning series, ultra-runner Emily Cartigny takes us through the basics of going long; having chosen the right format for you, it’s now time to prepare for your race!
54th OMM, Eryri: Event Director’s Report
Stuart Hamilton
The Eryri OMM – the 54th iteration of a Corinthian test of mountain ability. It is an event that means many things to anyone who is involved and everyone who takes part does so for a wide range of reasons: as competitors, support team or stakeholders facilitating the event. As an organisation I view our role as custodians of the event and key to this is maintaining the integrity of the event as a not for profit event that allows competitors to test their mountain ability, primarily against the mountains, at whatever level they wish to do so.
Maintaining a constant over the years is not a straightforward process, nor is it simple to do so in different locations every year. Whilst many things change around the event (tracking, communications, access permissions, finance, social etc) we have developed processes over the years to try to ensure consistency of the courses and the fundamental experience of ‘what is an OMM’. The former two groups of people: competitors and support team are vital to this. Without competitors to take part the event is pointless, without the team to deliver, it would not happen. There are many similarities between the two groups, vastly experienced v first time, those pushing their limits v those staying in their comfort zones, older v younger and so the list goes on.
within the current Hill Team on the most recent event, there are more than 150 years of combined experience of this OMM/KIMM event alone which a truly humbling resource to turn to.
Key to maintaining a constant is the experience retained within the competitor and support team base, for those not aware the Year Club awards are made to those individuals who have completed events in 20, 30 and 40 years and this also applies to those supporting the event. As an example, within the current Hill Team on the most recent event, there are more than 150 years of combined experience of this OMM/KIMM event alone which a truly humbling resource to turn to.
The 54th event presented some good challenges, the competitor side has been referenced in both Dave and Graham’s reports, I would like to highlight a few of the organisational elements briefly.
LOCATION
The last time the OMM visited North Wales was 1987 when the event was hosted from Blaenau Ffestiniog, various options have been explored since, none have been found to be workable. Without the support from National Trust, Richard and JenTemple Morris and the community of Bethesda we would not have been able to enjoy such a unique area with significant climbs and occasional views of the sea (as well as a significant amount of work on behalf of Dave Chapman).
There are always compromises involved when we develop event areas, much like a competitor experience, you never have a perfect run and the same is true of the delivery of the event. 15 acres of flat well drained ground with immediate access to the open fells and a suitable flat, road accessible site no more than 10km away in a straight line does not exist in the UK, unlike in Japan or the Alps for example.
The logistics of the event centre this year were interesting
The logistics of the event centre this year were interesting and required an unusual approach of separating registration from the event centre, but by doing so we removed the need to bus competitors to a start line and just about managed to reduce the impact of additional traffic on the local community to an acceptable level.
CATERING
Due to changes in personal circumstances three weeks out from the event we were without catering provision, our worst case was to provide freeze dried food from Adventure Nutrition but we were exceptionally fortunate to start working with the senior management at Amaze Hotels who jumped behind the event, whilst we can never provide food for such large numbers that is everyone’s favourite, from my perspective they did an outstanding job and the food provision was excellent. It is certainly the first time we have ever been contacted post event to ask for recipe details for some of the items! I am eternally grateful to Claire, James, Lee, Pat and Jess for stepping up and ensuring we all got fed.
VOLUNTEER TEAM CATERING
Ian Whittaker has been involved in the OMM for more years (across start line, overnight, parking and infrastructure roles as well as OMM Teamfeeding) than he cares to admit and even met his wife on the event.
Unbeknown to me within two days he had worked out a plan and spent every spare minute for the next 2 and a half weeks preparing food and getting things ready
For many years (29) his mother in law, Wynn Cliff, looked after the support team ensuring we all got fed whatever time of day we needed it. Wynn was a well-known character within the fell running community and was a true force of nature who sadly died last year, when the catering function was in question this year, I was overseas with work and rang Ian to ask for advice on how we might deliver the catering requirement for the support team. Unbeknown to me within two days he had worked out a plan and spent every spare minute for the next 2 and a half weeks preparing food and getting things ready, all I was told was when I got back was “don’t worry about it, it is sorted’. The event rolled around, North Yorks Scouts turned up with a ridiculous amount of extra gear including a catering trailer, Ian turned up with chest freezers full of prepared food and was ably supported by his wife Alex, daughter Ruby and son Olli alongside the usual suspects to ensure the team of over 90 remained functional for the duration of the event with genuinely fantastic food.
It is a privilege to work with and for such an understated, humble and truly inspiring group of people
There are so many outstanding efforts that go into the delivery of this event, what was amazing to be a part of, was seeing every available member of the team pushing cars, emptying bins and cleaning toilets. Attending the detail to ensure the right outcomes, exactly the same, as is required when you are there as a competitor.
It is a privilege to work with and for such an understated, humble and truly inspiring group of people on both sides of the event, thank you to competitors, volunteers and the stakeholders, you are all essential to what we do.
Every year we conduct post event reviews to see what we can improve on and learn from going forwards, all of this is based on feedback from across the groups of people involved in the event. Please let us know what we can do to improve your event or come and get involved behind the scenes. Any of the team working on the event automatically get a free entry onto any OMM event, fed and accommodated, travel expenses covered and access to staff price on product, if you are interested please email emma@theomm.com
Happy hill time and see you soon
Stuart
The Eryri OMM – the 54th iteration of a Corinthian test of mountain ability. It is an event that means many things to anyone who is involved and everyone who takes part does so for a wide range of reasons: as competitors, support team or stakeholders facilitating the event. As an organisation I view our role as custodians of the event and key to this is maintaining the integrity of the event as a not for profit event that allows competitors to test their mountain ability, primarily against the mountains, at whatever level they wish to do so.
Maintaining a constant over the years is not a straightforward process, nor is it simple to do so in different locations every year. Whilst many things change around the event (tracking, communications, access permissions, finance, social etc) we have developed processes over the years to try to ensure consistency of the courses and the fundamental experience of ‘what is an OMM’. The former two groups of people: competitors and support team are vital to this. Without competitors to take part the event is pointless, without the team to deliver, it would not happen. There are many similarities between the two groups, vastly experienced v first time, those pushing their limits v those staying in their comfort zones, older v younger and so the list goes on.
within the current Hill Team on the most recent event, there are more than 150 years of combined experience of this OMM/KIMM event alone which a truly humbling resource to turn to.
Key to maintaining a constant is the experience retained within the competitor and support team base, for those not aware the Year Club awards are made to those individuals who have completed events in 20, 30 and 40 years and this also applies to those supporting the event. As an example, within the current Hill Team on the most recent event, there are more than 150 years of combined experience of this OMM/KIMM event alone which a truly humbling resource to turn to.
The 54th event presented some good challenges, the competitor side has been referenced in both Dave and Graham’s reports, I would like to highlight a few of the organisational elements briefly.
LOCATION
The last time the OMM visited North Wales was 1987 when the event was hosted from Blaenau Ffestiniog, various options have been explored since, none have been found to be workable. Without the support from National Trust, Richard and JenTemple Morris and the community of Bethesda we would not have been able to enjoy such a unique area with significant climbs and occasional views of the sea (as well as a significant amount of work on behalf of Dave Chapman).
There are always compromises involved when we develop event areas, much like a competitor experience, you never have a perfect run and the same is true of the delivery of the event. 15 acres of flat well drained ground with immediate access to the open fells and a suitable flat, road accessible site no more than 10km away in a straight line does not exist in the UK, unlike in Japan or the Alps for example.
The logistics of the event centre this year were interesting
The logistics of the event centre this year were interesting and required an unusual approach of separating registration from the event centre, but by doing so we removed the need to bus competitors to a start line and just about managed to reduce the impact of additional traffic on the local community to an acceptable level.
CATERING
Due to changes in personal circumstances three weeks out from the event we were without catering provision, our worst case was to provide freeze dried food from Adventure Nutrition but we were exceptionally fortunate to start working with the senior management at Amaze Hotels who jumped behind the event, whilst we can never provide food for such large numbers that is everyone’s favourite, from my perspective they did an outstanding job and the food provision was excellent. It is certainly the first time we have ever been contacted post event to ask for recipe details for some of the items! I am eternally grateful to Claire, James, Lee, Pat and Jess for stepping up and ensuring we all got fed.
VOLUNTEER TEAM CATERING
Ian Whittaker has been involved in the OMM for more years (across start line, overnight, parking and infrastructure roles as well as OMM Teamfeeding) than he cares to admit and even met his wife on the event.
Unbeknown to me within two days he had worked out a plan and spent every spare minute for the next 2 and a half weeks preparing food and getting things ready
For many years (29) his mother in law, Wynn Cliff, looked after the support team ensuring we all got fed whatever time of day we needed it. Wynn was a well-known character within the fell running community and was a true force of nature who sadly died last year, when the catering function was in question this year, I was overseas with work and rang Ian to ask for advice on how we might deliver the catering requirement for the support team. Unbeknown to me within two days he had worked out a plan and spent every spare minute for the next 2 and a half weeks preparing food and getting things ready, all I was told was when I got back was “don’t worry about it, it is sorted’. The event rolled around, North Yorks Scouts turned up with a ridiculous amount of extra gear including a catering trailer, Ian turned up with chest freezers full of prepared food and was ably supported by his wife Alex, daughter Ruby and son Olli alongside the usual suspects to ensure the team of over 90 remained functional for the duration of the event with genuinely fantastic food.
It is a privilege to work with and for such an understated, humble and truly inspiring group of people
There are so many outstanding efforts that go into the delivery of this event, what was amazing to be a part of, was seeing every available member of the team pushing cars, emptying bins and cleaning toilets. Attending the detail to ensure the right outcomes, exactly the same, as is required when you are there as a competitor.
It is a privilege to work with and for such an understated, humble and truly inspiring group of people on both sides of the event, thank you to competitors, volunteers and the stakeholders, you are all essential to what we do.
Every year we conduct post event reviews to see what we can improve on and learn from going forwards, all of this is based on feedback from across the groups of people involved in the event. Please let us know what we can do to improve your event or come and get involved behind the scenes. Any of the team working on the event automatically get a free entry onto any OMM event, fed and accommodated, travel expenses covered and access to staff price on product, if you are interested please email emma@theomm.com
Happy hill time and see you soon
Stuart
Stuart Hamilton has worked on OMM Events for 13 years and has been Events Director for 11. When not negotiating access permissions, repairing bridges and walls for landowners or pushing cars out of muddy fields he occasionally finds time to compete in the ITERA Adventure Race and Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon plus various OMM events from the other side; as a competitor both here in the UK plus the Alps and Japan.
Stuart Hamilton has worked on OMM Events for 13 years and has been Events Director for 11. When not negotiating access permissions, repairing bridges and walls for landowners or pushing cars out of muddy fields he occasionally finds time to compete in the ITERA Adventure Race and Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon plus various OMM events from the other side; as a competitor both here in the UK plus the Alps and Japan.
If you have a story to tell, whether it’s from the OMM, another race or challenge or just how you use our kit, get in touch! Just pop an email to james@team-ark.com and who knows, you might just earn yourself some free kit!
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