The FRA and the Media

Good idea! :)

A very well thought and and written piece!

There was a shocking article in the january issue of runners world. "the ten best mountains in britain to run up" no safety was mentioned, nothing about even telling somebody where you are going. No mention of kit requirements - which surprised me that they missed thf chance for a sponsored tie-in from a big brand.

And in the January edition...

I've always fancied attending the top of Ska Fell or similar in winter in a sports jacket, slacks and grey slip ons and asking directions to the nearest pub or chip shop. There is a lot of myth in this game; it's a safe caper compared with driving a car. (The missis of course would be in white stiletto slingbacks and a shawl)

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Originally Posted by Mark G

there are other running sports that are close but not fell running - trails, cross country etc and I think a lot of the perceived wariness we have of newcomers is because we fear that they will seek to make fell running more like some of these other sports because thats what they expect.

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spot on, that's exactly it

As if to prove the point about the sport being reliant on the goodwill of others, the Noon Stone race has been cancelled: http://todharriers.co.uk/noonstone.htm

Sad.

One side effect of this kind of thing is to drive the sport more underground. Not literally (!) but there are already a number of shady hush hush events going on.....

Always an interesting debate. I'm constantly amazed that fell running isn't *more* popular even with the current level of promotion/media profile/general awareness. Fun, cheap, friendly, low key, fairly accessible. You just turn up with the kit and some common sense (and some proper hill sense for tougher events). But I guess we're all used to being spoon fed so much more elsewhere in real life, and maybe common sense isn't as common as you'd think?

Shame if races are disappearing, road racing is also under threat. A number of local events have gone under recently because of 'traffic management' faff.

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Originally Posted by Mark G

I think a lot of the perceived wariness we have of newcomers is because we fear that they will seek to make fell running more like some of these other sports because thats what they expect.

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What, like change from imperial to metric for example?

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Originally Posted by L.F.F.

I think he should change the bits in black to fit the acerbic tone of the red:)

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Seconded - go with your gut, keep it controversial!

I think this is a great piece, especially the acknowledgement that those who enjoy racing/running in the hills will find their own way to fell running. No encouragement is needed. I applaud the philosophy of keeping the media at arms length and avoiding commerciality. Those things are anathema to our sport and one of the drivers of runners from other types of events to the more naturalistic feel of fell running.
And yes, a bit of acerbicity is quite alright. I'm sure most MR members would identify with plonkers 'bleating' into their mobiles....great imagery!

Thinking of changing my handle to 'ninja fellrunner'!