Confused about club membership

[helix]

Hi all,

I'm a very casual runner; I always have been. Previously a very awkward shift pattern and presently a very young family has and does mean I fit a spot of running in when life allows. I would like to enter some of the shorter fell races with gentler gradients to build up again. I have found since moving back to the Wirral from Cumbria that the 3 - 12 mile trail running sessions I have been doing locally just don't cut it like flinging myself up and down Dent, Heckbarley, Blengdale and Cold Fell.

I have had a good look around this excellent website along with many other sites and there is one question I just can't seem to get a solid answer on. Do I have to be a member of a running club to enter fell races? I know that for some of them you definitely do like Ben Nevis and Snowdon (I have no delusions about entering these at present); but what about the likes of Moel Fammau etc...

Work, family and evening classes would mean I would be an extremely erratic member of a running club. Despite the benefits of experience, support, advice etc..... I just couldn't really fit it in regularly enough to make it worth while; but the idea of attending the odd fell race event as my calender allows is appealing.

I hads a fantastic jaunt from Moel Eilio round to Moel Cynghorion last weekend as the final part of my training for the Three Peaks Challenge this coming weekend. I could resist breaking out into a run despite boots, gaiters and so on; I definitely need to scratch this itch but as I can no longer close my back door and run into the National Park I need something to give me a little focus.

All comments and help appreciated,

Paul

[IainR]

No, you can race unattached at most races, certainly the Moel Famau ones. I can't think of any evening races where you'd have to be a member. You may pay an unattached fee, but I think that is now waved and there is no extra fee... not certain on that.. but anyway you can certainly run..

If in Wales look at joining the www.wfra.me.uk?

[Stolly]

I'm not a member of any running club and usually just enter as FRA or unattached. Come to think of it my FRA membership may have expired.....

By the way you can enter Ben Nevis without being a member of a club too

[Dynamo Dan]

By the way you can enter Ben Nevis without being a member of a club too

But you still have to be a member of the FRA and put that down as your club.

[DrPatrickBarry]

My Mother-In-Law lives over the Wirrall (Meols) so I have run over at Thurstaston Common many times. Gets a bit funny doing 5 or 6 laps of the common to take in the sandstone ridge and trig point and keep meeting the same people, they think I am mad, probably because I am. But it is the only way of getting a bid of assent over there.

[drmorris]

at risk of repeating myself(from other threads)

you could have a look at the Cheshire Hash Harriers website http://www.cheshirehash.co.uk/cheshire/hashruns.htm which is free to join(you only pay each night for the beer, any extra goes in the float which pays for England Athletics membership for those that want it.) Turn up as little or as often as suits.
A lot of our runs are in Central and East Cheshire, but we do get across to West Cheshire a bit.
One of our number is training for the Lakeland 100, and there are several OMM veterans and others interested in hill and trail /fell racing

Usually a 5 to 6mile off-and-on road run each week, always Tuesday, good chat and advice etc afterwards

[DazTheSlug]

as above - just join FRA (for the princely sum of £12/yr) and you're away! (barring relay events!)

if you did want to get involved with a club, I'd've thought Helsby would be your best bet - you might even bump into me on Frodsham Hill/Helsby Hill/Sandstone Trail

[idler]

Cheers for the plug Daz. You'd be very welcome to join us at Helsby ...have a look at the blog linked down there VV to get a feel for us. Last Clwydian evening race we had 22 out! Always nice to have a friendly face to compare notes with. But you could equally just turn up, pay your £4 and run. I did that for a bit. Pensby might be another bet, they always have a few out on the fells.

Free for the Green Green Grass next Wed?

[Nigel]

Well, if you lot are going to try - and Paul is living in Wirral! I have to point out that Pensby Runners are the Wirral based club that caters for fells. We take part in all the local fell races plus those further away, we have a burgeoning number of people entering fell races and our own competitively fought club fell league. We're based in Heswall just past the Glegg Arms, have a bar and a very social outlook. hic!

Oh, I just noticed Idlers plug for Pensby above. Thank you for that - Helsby are great, too.

See you all tonight at GGGoH

[idler]

Green Green Grass was great wasn't it? I meant to look out for you Nigel - have you got a beard? This is me...
https://picasaweb.google.com/1011797...38399881286834