Running in bad weather

[Alan Lucker]

If fell running was safe most of us wouldn’t bother. It is a large part of the appeal. Having said that being self reliant, and not a liability, is part of it and something runners should have learned if they are truly a fell runner. Weighing up the danger prior to setting off, and knowing your margins for getting out of trouble i.e. fitness level, knowledge of terrain, warmth of kit, should be obvious.
I got caught out in bad weather on the Mamores early this year with 2 others. It was severely cold and we cut it short. We knew escape routes and so new we would be as safe as is possible in February high up in Scotland. I wouldn’t have done anything different if I was Solo, but I may not have attempted such a long route, in winter, in the first place if on my own.
I would be embarrassed to need MR for almost anything other than a bad fall.

[ZootHornRollo]

I would be embarrassed to need MR for almost anything other than a bad fall.

spot on

when I'm running alone I often want to be up there for a good part of the day, almost as if I'm on a BG training day - so you're obviously going to need more food and gear than if you were up for two hours, or even a four-hour race

Even in an AL, the pace you run at dictates that you don't need so much gear to keep warm, and you're not going to be stopping for lunch. Also, as stumpy points out, if you have a bad fall you know you'll be able to attract assistance.

I do think races are different for these reasons - I'm fully confident when I go up there on an AL that navigationally I'm capable of finding my own way around, knowing escape routes and making the right decisions.

That doesn't mean I'm going to run round on my own in the winter with just a bumbag.

[IainR]

Even in an AL, the pace you run at dictates that you don't need so much gear to keep warm, and you're not going to be stopping for lunch. Also, as stumpy points out, if you have a bad fall you know you'll be able to attract assistance..

I'm not that sure that is the case, in poor vis on a proper mountainous race like Jura you could have a bad fall and be invisible, in strong wind no amount of shouting or whistling will be any good really.

I never descend like I do in a race when on a solo run but I don't take those risks expecting help if something went wrong.

[ZootHornRollo]

I'm not that sure that is the case, in poor vis on a proper mountainous race like Jura you could have a bad fall and be invisible, in strong wind no amount of shouting or whistling will be any good really.

well then, in that case none of should go up there ever, eh?

[stumpy]

[quote=IainR;260190]I'm not that sure that is the case, in poor vis on a proper mountainous race like Jura you could have a bad fall and be invisible, in strong wind no amount of shouting or whistling will be any good really.


That's true, and I did point out that each individual needs to accept this is not 100% reliable, but as I said the odds of being spotted or attracting attention are going to be much better in a race with a swarm of runners nearby than when you're out alone on a winter's day - judging by the size of bum bags I see in races 90% of runners seem to think it's a risk they are prepared to take cos they certainly aint got the stuff I'd take with me if I was out on my own in winter over the same ground....

It's just like any other risk assessment - you have to weigh up ALL of the factors, including the likelihood of potential help and come to a view about what YOU feel is reasonable.