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Couldn't have expressed it any better myself. I read a wonderful quote from Killian Jornet (the Spanish Ultra runner) who when asked what sort of a runner he is, he said "I'm not a runner, I'm a mountaineer who likes to move fast". I enjoy racing too, but only because it provides me with an opportunity to go and find other places to run that I've not been too before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark G
You'll still be retelling that tale in heaven!;)Quote:
Originally Posted by christopher leigh
Where's the "I'm mainly a forum poster option?" :w00t:
[QUOTE=Hes;466583] And I don't turn down the odd bottle of wine!
Em the odd bottle of wine, you are nearly falling over with the weight of your stash!!Attachment 5712
[QUOTE=Masham Man;466954]Busted Hes, looking forward to Today's Piddled Poetry;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hes
[QUOTE=Masham Man;466954]And that was after Dave, the race organiser, had unfortunately overlooked Hester as qualifying for a prize. She soon sorted him out though and grabbed her crates worth :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hes
Totally aggree with that sentiment. I used to spend a lot of time in the mountains - walking, climbing, scrambling - either alone or with the wife. Then along came kids etc. and its not realy possible to dedicate the time nor the distance (especially in all weathers). Having always been reasonably fit and done quite a bit of XC in my teens, fell running seemed to be a natural progression. Do the same mileage, explore the mountains - only quicker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Smith
I only aim to do one race a month (XC, Fell or Trail) , and as I live in the midlands, only 3 or 4 may be fell races in any year. That said, I could quite easliy live with out any races and non-race runs are never seen as training per se - they are a just way of enjoying and exploring the wilder parts of this marvelous country of ours. I admit to doing the odd road race, but never normally run on tarmac other than to get to the start of a footpath - I just find it soul (or should than be sole!?) destroying.
That said, I've had to go with the middle option in the poll but definately fall into the wilderness end of things.
Wilderness or Sheep-erness??!!Quote:
Originally Posted by sbrt
Today, I finally made it up Moel Hyrddod without ending up knee deep in moss & heather! (It's on the way to work). The first trip involved brambles & gorse too.. Give me a rocky mountain anytime, as long as the lawns are kept in good order!
I'm wanting to do some lake district runs this year, hence my quest to lose some weight. I'm lucky really though, round where I live it's mainly moorland, heather and bog, and the southern bits of the dales. I think my favourite days are calm and misty days on the moors, but a change is always nice.
Yep sheep and goats definitely keep the grass neatly trimmed.Quote:
Originally Posted by LissaJous
I forgot to put a smiley after "what wilderness?" It wasn't meant to sound snotty. When the clag comes down it all turns into a be-wilderness for me.
For me i am just excited to get the opportunity to get out in the wilderness. I'm that inexperienced that its a bit like the start of a new relationship- all exciting, daring, craving more of the experience more and more. Living in Norfolk (flatter than flat!) i get a bit kiddy and adrenalised just making the journey up to the wilderness and some proper terrain! I am well and truely hooked and can't believe i spent so long running on pavement, local runs now take place in parkland/woods/riverbank and 'proper' runs need a bit more travel and planning- next one on 02/03/12!!!
Sounds a bit like me. I know just what you mean. Driving up to the Lake District, seeing the landscape change (rise!) is an amazing feeling. Just looking at those mountains in the distance! Makes your heart beat faster.Quote:
Originally Posted by lazydayswill
This Friday for me!! :)
I didn't take it that way, I just forgot my smiley too! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sbrt
AMEN :closed:Quote:
Originally Posted by L.F.F.
And hopefully this weekend I might just see you there, although I get to drive through hilly bits much much sooner than you would coming from Leicester:p
This really does bring home how lucky some of us are to have hills and wild moors on our doorstep. I remember well living in London and the frustration of having nowhere pleasant to run without a two hour drive. The only "Fell" was Ally Pally.
Indeed - I always thought I was badly placed having an hour or so to drive for a sizeable hill that hosted a fell race. I guess I should count myself lucky as I have a couple of 1000ft hills 10 minutes away.Quote:
Originally Posted by manothemoors
Mainly the wilderness for me, i've been fascinated with the outdoors since i was a kid. I rarely enter races, just the odd challenge like a mm. Having said that. When i'm running, and look up at the lovely surrondings, i usually catch my toe on a rock and end up nosediving! Perhaps i'll learn to stop one day first
This is a really great question. The attraction for me has always been wilderness, and fell running just a great way to access it. I started out with hill walking and wild camping, always part of a pre-planned trip with friends as I never had the fells immediately on my doorstep unlike a lot of you lucky buggers. I occasionally saw fell runners scamper across my path and thought they were mad - dressed in skimpy vests in all weathers with a wild look in their eyes - but deep down the seeds were being sown. A few years later and now its more of an addiction.
I agree that wilderness is often a state of mind. Sometimes it's when you find yourself on your own near dawn or dusk in a deserted landscape feeling giddy with excitement, like that kid you used to be. I definitely see myself as a fell runner rather than a fell racer - partly because I realised early on I was a bit crap at racing, but mainly because I'm not that bothered about 'winning', I just love being out in all that glorious countryside.
love being in the hills and racing. not vaguely interested in racing if it isn't in the hills (except round rotherham- which is just different)..At the moment so fat and slow that races are mostly just runs with lots of other people around...and a quick sprint at the end to beat the other fat sods or faster non navigators.
To Jake Winter Hill is a wilderness with lots to see, we don't go racing though if Jake wants to that would change , Jake loves the quietness and just being able to be himself , Jake will often just stop and look at plants or insects or the view , Winter Hill changes both with the time of year and the weather which means some runs have had mist , sleet ,rain and brilliant sunshine and the views change , we can look out to Blackpool Preston Manchester Horwich as well as the Lake district and Wales plus other more local hills. Jake just loves exploring fell running allows him to get to places quicker,
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/
For me it's about the 4 F's. Fells, Freedom, Friends and Fun:)
Sometimes I wonder if there is a kind of moral/ethical obligation; surrounded by open countryside and hills and being fit and able bodied, I owe to those less fortunate to make full use of both!
That's something I often tell myself. It is rarely a chore to get out on the hills (I usually can't get enough), but I often thank my lucky stars that I am well and healthy enough to do it.
Whenever I go for a run in the fells it reminds me of how fortunate I am. It also means that no matter how crap my week at work has been or how annoyed I have been about some trivial occurrence - it is completely forgotten within minutes of being out on the fells. It usually stays forgotten for a while too.
It's a lot of things for me but three main 'categories': -
- standing around in a big duvet jacket and flask of coffee to get hundreds of sweaty generally very smelly bodies safely round what ever race it happens to be;
- being on my own with Blue getting rid of the day, feeling alive, revelling in where I live and love, where seeing other people is mildly inconvenient but I'll nod and say hello; and
- feeling my lungs explode and legs on fire as I race uphill to stay ahead of the sweeper.
And it's many other things. But mostly I'd agree with Steve, Eardstaper and Lantern Rouge, it's the freedom to do what we do, when we want to do it in the most stunning and spectacular scenery and landscapes we are so lucky to be able to experience to the full.
I originally started running at all as a break from the bike. After a bit a running buddy at work encouraged me to take to the fells. I did some races to have something to aim for but now....I've done a couple of races this year but mainly as a means to find new places to run...These days so long as I am out on the moorland with no civilisation in site...I'm happy as larry.