I've done loads of road races and have a good base of fitness, but much prefer running off-road and would like to enter a fell race if I can find one that wouldn't kill me or require the services of the mountain rescue teams! I'd really appreciate some suggestions for "beginner-friendly" races in Yorkshire/Shropshire/Derbyshire areas. I'm also thinking about entering the Yorkshireman Half - would this be achievable for someone with so little experience?
Your thoughts would be much appreciated!
Your next local race would be the best to start with as you can have a practice on the course.
They are all friendly, find a race where other forumites are and make yourself know.
yorkshiremans more a trail race. By the way does anyone know if the start/finish is changing this year? Did it start at Haworth in the early years?
Yorkshire to Shropshire is a wide area! If you want easy starter races in South Derbyshire, try www.runningwithdavid.com . Mostly based a bit north of Derby.
Down Shropshire way keep an eye on www.merciafellrunners.org.uk for some of their races. As said above the Yorkshireman 1/2 is more trail race, but make sure you know the last couple of miles of the route along the millenium way - it's not that obvious. A lot of the summer mid week races are fairly easy intro races as well.
Trunce, Bunny Runs [both start soon] are not fell races as such - but a good place to start, or Saddleworth, the James Blakely [if you can wait that long]
longer event at Ravenstones, tougher race at Belmont Winter Hill
Last edited by Richard Asquith; 24-03-2008 at 01:12 PM.
the trout race in wincle, which is sort of on the border of cheshire and derbyshire. might be a bit out of range, but its a good race for novices/ beginners.
I'm just helping others to feel the glory of winning....
+1 for the Trunce - not really a fell race but a damn good chance to practice going up steep hills after pounding downhill faster than you think you dare. Plus three river crossings.
Then head for the Crowden Horseshoe in May - still not very long at 8 miles but enough to give you a chance to get used to true fell running conditions.
Thanks for suggestions. Will definitely look at the two websites mentioned and enter a shorter race to see how I get on!
You'll do ok, stilldreaming, great atmosphere at fell races and folks are really friendly, good luckOriginally Posted by stilldreaming
Hills and Guinness!
The Trunce site would usually be http://www.trunce.org.uk/ - it seems to have exceeded its bandwith restriction!
(if anyone from the trunce is reading this and wants a webhost with more bandwith, drop me a line - I've got a full server lying idle at the moment and at a guess there's bags of available bandwidth on that)
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