Clubs in Edinburgh

[albo]

Hello all. I'm very keen to get into fell running and was wondering if anyone knew of any fell running clubs that meet in Edinburgh?

Also, with regard to the navigational apsect of the sport - how would a beginner get the skills and the proficiency required for fell running? I was thinking one route might be to join an orienteering club but are there other options available? Does anyone offer beginners courses in navigation?

[Margarine]

Joining your local orienteering club would be a great idea. There will more than likely be a few (closet) fell runners amongst their ranks too

[bigmoose]

Hi albo,

A couple of options in the Edinburgh area would be HBT
http://www.huntersbogtrotters.com/
or Carnethy
http://www.carnethy.com/

For Short (and maybe Medium length) races, navigation isn't much of an issue as you can generally see what you're aiming for and the courses are marked and/or marshalled (although cloud can change the picture significantly!). Anyway, if you're a mid-field plodder like me, you'll generally be following the person in front (unless they go over a cliff; then it's time to find your own route). I've not done any Long races yet, but based on my hillwalking experience, some sort of navigational experience could be useful there.

I'll probably get round to joining a club eventually, but for now I'm just a freelance masochist.

bigmoose

[Egglett]

LOL.. being dim when I read this first off I thought you meant clubs to go to for dancin and drinking!!!!

[bigmoose]

That'll be Lothian Road on a Friday or Saturday night then...

[Egglett]

I've been to Edinburgh a few times and only managed to last to a club twice - years appart the visits but I am sure it was the same club.. even now I'm a sober sally I cant remember the name of it!

albo.. you'll love the fells.. I'm just about to leave them (going south) and I am really going to miss it - regards the orienteering and stuff you sort of pick it up as you go along and if your slowish like me it doesnt half make you run fast to keep up!!

There are courses - some of our club went on one for a weekend and I know they found it useful.. the club will help you with all that I'm sure - I'll try and find out what the course is

[Egglett]

The course some of my club went on was FRA navigation course in Kettlewell - the Elterwater one is next in September but these book up really quick so worth asking at your club if there's any local courses

I've only had to use a map once on Tiger Torr (Derby's) and by then 4 of us were lost so I wasnt alone trying to fathom out where the hell I was.. having said that it's always worth having a little bit of know how

[Epocian]

Join Edinburgh Southern Orienteers (plenty of 'come & try it' orienteering events - Edinburgh has some of the best orienteers in the UK and I'm sure they'll make you welcome (they've also got some usefull fellrunners!)
http://www.esoc.org.uk/?page=home

[mist cherub]

Most clubs in Edinburgh have regular hill runners in them. Carnethy are the 'specialist' hill running club (see www.carnethy.com for more info) but hbt, lothian, portobello and corstorphine all have keen hill racers (most of city of edinburghs hill runners seem to run for Carnethy )
For most short to medium races navigation is a nice to have but get yourself a copy of the Harveys pentlands map, a compass and get up to the hillend ski slope and go exploring.

If you work in the city and can get away for a lunchtime run there is a regular group that meets on Monday lunchtimes opposite holyrood palace car park and goes for a 40 minute (approx) run up and over Arthurs Seat, Salisbury crags, and surrounding hills. Everyone welcome, turn up at 12:30 with some grippy shoes.

[IainR]

There's some people (no idea who :-)) who run fell running weekend trips in Snowdonia, packages include travel within Snowdonia, accomodation, navigation is taught (soon to be a NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) provider), what to where, running tips, route choice etc. One of the few, if not the only, ML qualified running guides in the UK.

Check www.runsnowdonia.co.uk