Non racers in the race/course

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Originally Posted by fellboy

i totaly understand where fellmonster is coming from and agree 100%.i help putting on our club race in the wyre forrest which is open to the public but i expect competitors to show respect to other people enjoying the forrest even if they are out for a run. i realise the world doesn't revolve around our running club and if its their local training route they have more right to be there than entrants who have come from miles away just for the race.the real f*ck*ng self centred,me,me,people are the ones who expect everyone else to put their life on hold just so you can put a race on.if you show consideration to these people they might enter the race next year, with the kind of ignorant attitudes shown on this thread they would never join in.:mad:

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More eloquent than I could have mustered. Well said sir.....

In most fell races somebody has chosen a course, worked out the distance and the height gained (and possibly even produced a profile), marshals have been posted, in many cases facilities at the start and/or finish have been provided, etc., etc. To run, without entering the race, is simply taking advantage, and it is difficult to see why anyone should do it.

I think this problem depends on the extent to which non-entrants attempt to integrate themselves into the race e.g. baulking competitors, confusing marshals at check points, running through funnels etc. This is plain stupid and unnecessary, when done by fell runners. The worrying aspect is - is it deliberate?

By all means follow a race to spectate, learn about the course, support friends etc. BUT, people who are fell runners should know better than to cause these sort of problems. It isn't difficult to step away from and bypass check points or speak to marshals and make damn sure you haven't been counted. Mis-counting of competitors can cause no end of problems with results never mind safety. I once finished the Noon Stone race 10 feet and 6 minutes behind the chap in front thanks to some idiot who went through the funnel and put the recording out by one. That also meant that the last competitor was in effect already accounted for, while he was still out on the 9 mile course on a very bleak day.

After last year's OMM furore, I suspect the media are eager to spot another 'outdoors' problem. On that occasion it was created by the actions of an outsider, but we really shouldn't self inflict problems.

Applying FRA Rule 7 and for that matter Rule 8 could deal with these apparently deliberate actions by some people. Banning irresponsible culprits from events, naming and shaming - definitely. It's been done in the past - I recall someone getting banned from all FRA races for 9 months as a result of breaking Rule 8 (by not even starting the race and going home!)

Sadly not taking responsibility, being selfish seems to be the modern culture.
An increasingly grumpy old man!:(

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Originally Posted by TurboTom

What races do you organize Dux de Lux

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Loughrigg and Wansfell

Have you ever organised a race Fellboy?

It would appear that the only excuse that COULD stand up is that someone who likes to run in wild places, just happens to go out on a bit of land, which just happens to have a race organised on it, that just happens to be taking place at the same time:-Not very likely is it

I ran am just coming to the end of an injury and coincidently there was a local race on Tuesday night.

I paid my money, let the field start and jogged along near the back. Once we reached the main uphill bit I was obviously fitter than some, and jogged my way past a number of struggling folk, I guess they would have been somewhat disgruntled if I had been a ‘non-paying trainer’.

So the results will show that I was someway behind my normal position – will anyone else be bothered. Will I lose any sleep:- No, I slept soundly knowing that even though I am the proverbial tight Yorkshire man, I was happy to support one of my local races.

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Originally Posted by fellboy

i totaly understand where fellmonster is coming from and agree 100%.i help putting on our club race in the wyre forrest which is open to the public but i expect competitors to show respect to other people enjoying the forrest even if they are out for a run. i realise the world doesn't revolve around our running club and if its their local training route they have more right to be there than entrants who have come from miles away just for the race.the real f*ck*ng self centred,me,me,people are the ones who expect everyone else to put their life on hold just so you can put a race on.if you show consideration to these people they might enter the race next year, with the kind of ignorant attitudes shown on this thread they would never join in.:mad:

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Originally Posted by Wheeze

Have you ever organised a race Fellboy?

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Jeez Wheeze, he says he helps out with putting on a race.....clearly the sticking point here is with "deliberate" offenders.......Fellboy has made a very good point.........life doesn't have to stop for a race being put on

People seem to be confusing some points. The complaints seem to be the person running around all the course and 'finishing' the race as if they'd paid for it, then seemingly claiming that they 'didn't realise a fell race was on'. Chances of this happening by accident are pretty slim.
Few people I would say think that the world stops for their race and no-one should be near it. Some seem to be arguing for the sake of it and quite frankly loads of people are arguing from the same side!!
I do think that the health and safety point especially on a potentally high peak is important. I also think that if you want to go into the outdoors and see loads of runners coming through or potentially starting, you'd probably want to give them a wide berth or go elsewhere as from a personal point of view if I go off road I want the piece and quiet away from others so I can run slowly (I don't do quick!!) alone.