At what point...?

...can you consider yourself an 'experienced fell runner'....?

Any serious, or non serious replies welcomed

I've been running on the fells for coming up to two years now. Probably done 30-35 races, well over 20 of them will be either 'A longs' or if not, considered as tough routes like Haworth Hobble, Long Mynd Valleys, Roaches, etc. Done a good sprinkling of Lakeland classics, and most of the big Welsh races, and some longer distance ultra stuff.

To a newcomer I'd probably look like a fountain of experience. But no way... There's people on this forum who regularly knock that many races out in a single year.

So how many races would you want under your belt before you consider yourself experienced? Or indeed, how many non-finishes, near misses, catastrophic navigation errors? Or is it all in your mind and ability to take care of yourself (I've come across far better athletes than me who I would shudder st the thought of them being lost on a bad day at one of the big races)...

Pete

When you have done some Bofra races��

And when you've been last

Lost, or DNF

Marshaled

Taken part in a relay

Ran Langdale after a sesh in the ODG the night before

I can attest to running Langdale with a hangover, desperately trying to get my head together with a can of Red Bull at 10-55am, then sweating it all out on the first climb, with the sense of impending doom over what is about to unfold in the next few hours!

when you're battling the elements and are fine and moving well, but realise that just a trip/stumble, whilst not immediately dangerous, can quickly become so.

When you've trashed at less 4 pairs of mudclaws...!