The Green Man Ultra – March 3rd 2012

How has the Green Man Ultra developed?

Ultra Running Limited has developed ‘The Green Man Ultra’ in conjunction with The Gaveller and existing Woodwoses on a very similar basis to The Green Man Challenge, but with the following exceptions:

  • The event is under race conditions and entrants will be issued with race numbers
  • Check-points will be provided (4 in total) to (a) monitor times & wellbeing of competitors, (b) provide water and occasionally some nutrition.
  • At the end of the race finishers will receive (a) Bespoke Green Man T-Shirt, (b) Bespoke Green Man medal (year dated), (c) signed certificate to confirm entitlement to either a Woodwose or a Woodwight.
  • Hot food will be available free to competitors at the finish, together with shower facilities within a reasonable distance.

The Green Man Ultra follows the same route as ‘The Green Man Challenge’ and consists of a 45 mile course following the Community Forest Path around the city of Bristol, which was developed by the Forest of Avon Trust team.

The Green Man Challenge is an open challenge available at any time of the year, needing full self-sufficiency in completing the challenge.
Anyone who completes the challenge within twenty-four hours will be entitled to be called a Woodwose and their name entered in the Forestal Book of the Honourable Order of Woodwoses, which can be found in digital form along the pages at Gaveller’s Web blog. There you can also find a list of those who have earned the title Woodwight, which is reserved for those who have helped a Woodwose, for example by keeping them company for part of the route.
Anyone who is part of a successful “baton” relay team that competes the circuit in under twenty-four hours will also be described as a Woodwight. This implies that the relay team must be regarded as a virtual Woodwose.
The term Wistman shall be reserved for anyone whose achievement suggests that they have the magical qualities associated with this term.
More information together with useful maps can be found by clicking The Green Man Challenge

Green Man Terminologies

Woodwose: Anybody who conquers the 45-mile Green Man Challenge around the Community Forest Path is termed a Woodwose, from the Old English wuduwāsa or wood-being, regardless of gender. Woodwose is the proper name for the wild men and wild women that haunted the imaginary forests of medieval Europe and is entirely appropriate for anyone mad enough to conquer the Community Forest Path! Woodwoses completing in under twelve hours are deemed to be Running Woodwoses and those who complete between twelve and eighteen hours are deemed to be Walking Woodwoses.

Woodwight: A wight is a general term for a living being or creature, often with supernatural connotations. A Woodwight is a wight associated with woods. I like to think of them as kindly helpful beings. Anyone who helps a Woodwose is a Woodwight.
Virtual Woodwose: Heroic History proceeds more like Fennimore-Cooper Indians: “Each man, as they walk single file, careful to step in the footprints of the one ahead, so as to leave the impression of One Giant Indian.” (Marshall Sahlins Islands of History 1985) Thus a relay team can produce Woodwose.

This is entirely consistent with Buddhist ideas, in which the original symbol of the Buddha was a giant footprint!
Wistman & Wisthound: Wistman’s Wood is described on the Legendary Dartmoor website – www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk – where it is said that it is “a wood of dwarf oak trees”.

“Once you walk into the tangled web of trees you are transported into a mystical world of moss carpeted boulders, lichens of all descript, finger like oak branches, all engulfed in a wonderful smell of earth and age. For millennia this small, mystical, stunted woodland has been held in awe and for many fear. Tales of Druids, ghosts, the Devil and a host of other supernatural creatures abound, some dating back to the long lost ages before man could write. Many writers have described the wood as being ‘the most haunted place on Dartmoor’, others warn that every rocky crevice is filled with writhing adders who spawn their young amidst the moss and leaf strewn tree roots. Locals will never venture near once the sun begins it slow descent over the nearby granite outcrops for it is when the dark mantle of night draws tight that the heinous denizens of the wood stalk the moor in search of their human victims. So be afraid, very afraid, as the wagging finger of fate warns you to stay clear and risk not your mortal soul in the ‘Wood of the Wisemen’.”

Wistmen are evidently creatures to be reckoned with and may be recognised by their actions. Matt Edwards has already been entered as a Wistman, because he has shown himself to be a mystical Hierophant.

Record holders shall also hold this accolade.

Occasionally, a Woodwose may be accompanied by a Wisthound, one of those mystical creatures that are said to be kennelled in Wistman’s Wood.

Green Man Ultra Rules

The Green Man Ultra follows the 45 mile route of the Community Forest Path around Bristol. The course is very challenging and for competitors own safety and fairness the following rules must be adhered to. Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification from this and future events.

The Event

The Green Man Ultra (GMU) is organised by Ultra Running Limited and is open to runners, walkers, teams of three or more, and relay teams of maximum six. All entrants must be 18 years of age or over at the start of the race. Each competitor must ensure that they carry with them all of their individual requirements needed to complete the race.

Every entrant must confirm that they have read these rules and other event information and therefore understand the nature of the event and that participation is at their own risk.

Race Entries

Competitors must register on-line prior to the event day. On the day registrations will be at the start location at least one hour before the start of the race, where competitors will present their kit for examination on request.

Each participant will be given a race number which must be clearly attached by safety pins, one to the back and one to the front chest. If this is not clearly visible you may be delayed at checkpoints.

All Teams must have pre-registered before the day and consist of at least three competitors who will also count as individual competitors amongst the rankings. For a Full Distance Team to successfully complete the race, a minimum of three members of that Team must finish. Relay team members in categories 2, 3 or 4; all originally designated members of a team must complete the leg they have chosen, and the following team member must not start the race until the person they are handing over from has arrived at that CP station.

  • Checkpoint details and maps (available to registered contestants only)
  • Competitors must be self-sufficient, and carry the following mandatory items:
  • Backpack or equivalent
  • Head Torch with spare batteries
  • Ordnance Survey Maps 155 & 167 (our downloadable maps are fine)
  • Compass or GPS device
  • Whistle
  • Mobile phone
  • Emergency foodpack consisting of two chocolate bars, Mars or similar
  • First Aid Kit

Checkpoints and Water Stations

The GMU should be viewed as a totally self-sufficient race with the exception of water supply. Water stations are located at all checkpoints at pre-determined points along the race route. However CP stations 2, 3 & 4 may have some nutritional nibbles to help you on the way.
Competitors must go through all check points and it is their sole responsibility to ensure that the check point attendant has recorded their race number; failure to do so at any check point will mean the competitor has failed to complete the race and will be disqualified.
Any competitor found to not follow the pre-determined race route will be disqualified.

Competitor Retirement

If any competitor has to retire for whatever reason they must contact the race organisers immediately, either by advising a checkpoint attendant or by telephoning the emergency number which will be written on the race numbers of each competitor.
Time Restraints
The GMU consists of 44 miles of challenging track. The organisers want to give every competitor the opportunity of completing the race and will, where reasonable practicable, allow generous opening times of CP Stations; the allowance should be within the ability of a walker at 3.5 miles per hour

Accommodation

Camping facilities will be available near to the start and finish of the GMU. If any competitors require this, Ultra Running Limited would appreciate knowing in advance. Payment for this service would be required in advance, payable to Ultra Running Limited. On site toilet and shower facilities will be available at the camp site. It is requested that these facilities are respected and all litter etc is removed by the responsible competitor.
The organisers are more than happy to source alternative accommodation such as B&B or hotel, subject to availability and cost. This service is provided also for any family member or supporter who wishes to attend the event.

Registration & Entry Fees

The Green Man Ultra options:
Individual entries are £45.00 per person
Team Relay entries (min 2, max 4 people) are £30.00 per person
Canicross entries are £45.00 each
Raise money for the Ultra Running preferred charity and run for FREE (please ask for details)
To complete entry into the GMU the applicant must submit the following documents
Online registration form
Full payment (see above) payable to ‘Ultra Running Limited’
Optional:
Emailed photograph of competitor which may be uplifted onto the site for promotional reasons.
Brief description of your reasons for doing the GMU event which may be uplifted onto the site for promotional reasons.

Cancellation

In the event of cancellation of the race, Ultra Running Ltd. Undertakes to refund payments received, less any out of pocket expenses which are determined at 25%. Cancellations within four weeks of the event will not receive a refund but at the discretion of the organisers may be transferred to the following year’s race.

Photo coverage

Ultra Running Ltd. reserves all exclusive rights for photo coverage of the GMU. Participants agree that Ultra Running Limited may use exclusively their individual or collective names and pictures for anything related directly or indirectly to their participation in this event.
Finishers Medals & Trophies
All finishers will receive a GMU 2012 medal and a T-Shirt
Men’s individual trophy
Ladies individual trophy
Men’s veteran trophy
Ladies veteran trophy
Team trophy
Relay Team trophies for categories 2, 3 & 4
Canicross trophy
Barefoot Men’s & Ladies trophy
Men’s, Ladies & Veterans winners will receive free entry into next year’s event.
The organisers reserve the right to change or amend any part of the event.